Now, he must not have found out where Thomas is. Thomas
owns a house in Chevy Chase, but it’s a well-kept secret. The location
of his condo in Georgetown is also a secret, but anyone could
discover its location if they really wanted to. MAX could probably
ferret it out in ten minutes flat. But not the Chevy Chase house.
He’s very careful. I kid you not, I don’t even think the president
knows where his house is. So then Krimakov wouldn’t know, either.
That’s why he got Becca. She’s his leverage. He’ll take her to Washington,
to the condo.”Adam stopped cold. “We’ve got to leave now.”
Savich said, “I think you should call Thomas first, tell him what’s
happened. We’ve put it off long enough, don’t you think? He’s got
to know.”
Adam cursed under his breath at the sound of Tyler McBride’s
angry voice. Tyler came into the kitchen, three agents right behind
him, one holding his arm, and yelled, “What the hell is going on
here? Every light in the place is on? Who are these guys? Let me
go, dammit. Where’s Becca?”
Let him go, Tommy,” Savich said, nodding to one of Thomas’s
men who was guarding the front of the house. “He’s a neighbor
and a friend of Becca’s.”
“What the hell is going on here, Adam?”
“He took her,” Adam said.” We think he’s heading to Washington,
D.C., with her. We’re going to have to clear out soon.”
Tyler paled, then yelled, “You were supposed to protect her, you
bastard! You really screwed up big-time, didn’t you? I wanted to
help but you just kissed me off, I was a civilian, of no use at all.
What about you? All these big Fed cops, none of you could protect
her. None of you were of any help at all!”
Savich said as he closed his fingers around Tyler’s arm, “I understand
your anger. But all these accusations aren’t going to help anyone,
particularly Becca. Believe me, we all know what’s at stake
here.”
“You’re damned incompetent bastards,” Tyler yelled even
louder, “all of you.” He jerked away from Savich.
“Tyler,” Adam said quietly, “don’t go to Sheriff Gaffney. That
would be the worst thing you could do.”
“Why? How much more could things be fucked up?”
“He might kill her,” Adam said. “Don’t tell anyone anything.”
After Tyler McBride was escorted from the house by three
agents, Sherlock said, “Why not tell everyone now?”
Adam shoved his hand through his hair. “Dammit, because if
some cop happens to see them, then you know our guy would kill
her and take off. We can’t take the chance. No, we’ve got to get to
Washington, fast.”
“First you’ve got to call Thomas, Adam.”
Adam didn’t want to, he really didn’t.
Savich and Sherlock listened to Adam flail himself on the
speakerphone.
There was silence on the other end. Finally, Thomas said, “Get
over it, Adam. We’ve been dealt new cards now, we’ll play them.
I’m very relieved that Chuck is all right. His wife would roast me
alive if he’d been killed. Now, if this is Krimakov, then he at least
knows I’m in Washington, probably knows about the condo. I’ll
stay here. I’ll be ready for him. Get back here as quickly as you can,
Adam. Savich? Can you and Sherlock stick with us?”
“Yes, Thomas.”
“Now, I’ve got to get myself ready for Krimakov. It’s been so
many years. Many times I thought he’d finally given it up, but it appears
that he’s just been biding his time.”
“He could really be dead,” Sherlock said.
“No,” Thomas said. “Adam, you, Savich, and Sherlock hang
around there for a while. Try to get a line on this guy. He’s got to be
somewhere. He’s got to be traceable. Find him. Oh, and Adam?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Stop beating yourself up. Guilt just slows down your brain. I
want that brain of yours sharp. Get it together and find my daughter.”
They finally rang off. Thomas Matlock looked at the phone for
a very long time before he slowly eased it back down. Then he
leaned his head back against the soft leather of his chair. He closed