Chapter 13
“Is your hand broken?” Jax asked, raising one eyebrow and looking back at the door pointedly.
“Oh, s-s-sorry.” Logan ran a hand through his hair.
“What is it?”
“Cowboy's in trouble. We just got a call from the headmaster at the Academy, who was just notified by the New York PD that Abby Granger was found dead in her hotel room this morning two miles from the cruise ship terminal where she was supposed to board the Gem of the Seas with Cowboy.”
Jax stood up quickly. “I thought you said she was already on board?”
“She was. Cowboy told me she was there in his first briefing yesterday. But according to police, she was dead at least twelve hours before they boarded the ship.”
“Son of a fucking bitch,” said Jax. “It isn’t her.”
“No, and it gets worse. Cowboy hasn’t checked in today.”
Logan swallowed against the tension in his throat. He should have realized then. He should have known something was wrong before he found out about Abby. “After the call from the Academy, I immediately tried to call Cowboy. He doesn’t answer his cell phone.”
“So try the satellite phone.”
“I did. I also tried to reach the security director on his cell and his direct line. And I tried his assistant. Nothing.”
Jax leaned forward and braced his arms on his desk. “So radio the ship’s captain, for God’s sake.”
“I did. He said everything was fine.” Logan took two steps farther into the office, facing Jax across the desk. “But I don’t think I was talking to the real captain.”
Jax eyed him sideways. “What are you saying?”
“I think the cruise ship has been hijacked, sir.”
“Hijacked.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Exactly what did the captain say that convinced you he was an imposter?”
Logan shifted his weight. “It wasn’t anything he said, exactly. When I identified myself as being from HERO Force, there was a pause on the line.”
“A pause? People occasionally hesitate in their speech. You can’t assume that an entire goddamn cruise liner has been taken over because of an awkward fucking pause.”
Logan clenched his teeth. He’d been afraid Jax wouldn’t listen to him. None of the guys took him seriously, and this was too important to be ignored. “Think, sir!” He knew when he did it he was crossing the line. A line that needed to be crossed if it meant Jax would take action.
“We know Abby is an imposter,” he said. “Is it that much of a stretch to think there’s more than one?”
Jax just stared at him.
Hell, at least he’s listening.
Logan lowered his voice. “However it happened, Cowboy does not have access to a phone. The ship's radio should only be answered by the captain, the first mate, or someone on the security team, all of whom know we have an agent on board. None of them would have paused. Not for a second.”
“Have you checked with the cruise line? Seen if they think anything is wrong?”
“I did. The crew has reported a problem with their navigation system. They're more than five hundred miles off course and counting. I’m telling you, someone else is running that ship. The prince and princess are in danger.”
“If you’re right, Logan, everyone on that boat is in danger.” He sat down heavily in his chair and brought his hand up to stroke his chin. “Tell Red to get the bird ready. I’ll call the Coast Guard. We’ll need their help to rendezvous with the ship.”
Logan puffed out his chest, turning to leave the room.
“That’s good work, Doc.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“But next time, you better knock on my fucking door or I’ll throw your ass right back out of it.”