Chapter 2
Crap. Lane felt a rare stab of guilt. Hawk should’ve sent Harlan to help her. Lane was the guy in the sniper’s nest, not the one who did the talking when things went to hell.
A trained hostage negotiator, Harlan could talk rust off a bumper and everyone was happier for it.
Too late now. He’d seen her face and followed his gut. He was here and he would help her. Not like he didn’t have skills of his own.
“What’s your plan?” he asked as they rode the elevator down to the lobby.
“My plan is to go out there and find the missing girl.”
She stopped as the elevator doors parted. The lobby was crowded with anxious people. Lane didn’t blame them. The volcano on the other end of the island was a serious threat, in various ways, to everyone.
“I’ve got a vehicle with me,” he said. “On loan from Hawk.”
She turned to him. “All terrain?”
“Yeah. An older Jeep Wrangler, stripped down. Sturdy though.”
“Perfect.” She stretched out an arm. “Lead the way.”
“Who is she to you? The missing girl,” he clarified as they jogged for the Wrangler.
“She’s the oldest daughter of my client. Her name is Josie. She’s thirteen and smart as a whip. I know she can be overpowered, but I also know she would’ve put up a fight. And my partner was with her. He’s good. One of the best really. So the disappearance, the lack of contact, doesn’t make sense to me.”
In Lane’s mind all of that intel, given voluntarily, was a good sign that she trusted him at least a little. He hadn’t liked her immediate dismissal of him as useless. For the first time in his life, he regretted flirting with a woman.
“Can you tell me who you’re protecting?” he asked as they reached the vehicle and loaded up.
“Judith Knowles is the official client. She and her husband and the kids are all here on vacation. My agency has been trying to track down who’s been threatening her these past few months.”
“No leads?”
“Nothing solid,” Cassie admitted. “Believe me, it pisses me off.”
“But you’re sure she’s at risk?”
“Absolutely.” She drummed her fingers on her thigh. “Judith isn’t a woman who gives into paranoia. Someone is trying to intimidate her and control her decisions.”
“But you don’t have any ransom demand.”
“No, we don’t.” She shook her head. “As I said, it’s not making much sense.”
“Where were Josie and your partner headed?”
“The hotel offers zipline and waterfall tours,” she replied. “I’d like to get up there to the trailhead and see what we can find.”
“Sure thing,” Lane said. He knew the general area. “I did one of those the other day. Have you tried it yet?”
“Flying through the trees on a wire isn’t my thing.”
“It’s a safe wire,” he interjected. Couldn’t help himself. “Bad for business otherwise.”
She gave him an arch look that made him want to tease her more. Somehow, he kept his mouth shut.
“Drake, my partner, has more daredevil tendencies than I do.”
Except now both he and the girl were gone. Lane was determined to help Cassie through the crisis. “Are you afraid of heights?” He needed to know if they’d be battling her fear on this search in addition to whoever was behind the disappearance.
“Let’s say I’m height-averse. It’s not such a phobia that it will get in the way.”
He glanced over, impressed by the stern set of her shoulders. The woman had an iron will and he respected that. “Hey, I’m sorry about your client. And I’m not judging you about heights or anything else. Everybody’s got something that trips them up.”
She relaxed enough to give him a half smile. “Oh yeah? What’s your Kryptonite?”
“Well.” He sucked in a dramatic breath. “Officially I am impervious to everything. It’s a Navy thing.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Unofficially,” he continued. “If I never saw another spider, I’d be a happy man.” He thought he heard her chuckle but it could have just been a rough exhale as he forced the Jeep off the paved road and up into an off-road trail. “So, if your partner is with the girl and you’re with me, who’s guarding your client?”
“The protection agency I work for sent temporary reinforcements to keep them safe and guide them in case a ransom demand comes in.”
“You trust those reinforcements?”
Her shoulders hunched. “I have to. Because I’m the only one I trust to get Drake and Josie back.”
The path was clear and well maintained, but the old Wrangler wasn’t exactly built for a smooth ride. The canopy of the rainforest towered over them, filtering the evening light so it seemed as if they were driving through a tall green tunnel.
“If you’re familiar with this tour, can you think of any place they might have been ambushed?” she asked.
“Throw a dart,” he said. “Most of the trails are narrow between the zipline platforms. And if you have been in Hawaii more than five minutes, you know the jungle is happy to keep its secrets.”
“But they were out here with a tour group,” she pressed. “How is it possible that no one noticed an ambush or an attack? Why didn’t they realize people were missing?”
“You’ll see,” he said. Experience was really the only way to make her understand how a kidnapper might’ve created a way to grab the girl and her bodyguard.
“The guide told me he did a head count at every point,” she added. “I guess he could’ve been lying.”
Most likely. Lane kept the thought to himself. It wouldn’t give her any comfort. Besides, he knew from experience that a crack team could turn many “impossible” plans into reality.
“We’ll find the answers you need. If the guide kept counting, then whoever did this was smart enough to keep the same number of people moving along the trail.”
“That’s disconcerting,” she said after a minute.
“More than a little,” Lane agreed. “But that means we should find clues.”
She was silent for what remained of the drive to the head of the trail. “I can push the Wrangler further but we’ll probably have better luck picking up a trail on foot.”
“Is that your expertise? Picking up trails?”
“Just one of many skills that might come in handy,” he said with pride.
They got out of the vehicle, and he was impressed when she checked two handguns, a twenty-two at her ankle and a Glock 19 at her hip.
“Am I supposed to assume you were a Navy SEAL?” She pulled a flashlight from a pocket on her thigh and turned it on and off again before dropping it back inside. “I know Hawk is a former SEAL, so it stands to reason. I guess.”
She doubted him. Big time. “Is there a reason you’re struggling to believe I could’ve served on the teams?”
Her nose wrinkled. “I don’t mean to offend. It’s just… Where are the usual tattoos? For starters.”
“Maybe you just don’t know me well enough yet to get to see them.”
A smile flickered across her face. “The compass on your shoulder is impressive.”
“Nice of you to notice.” That was his only tattoo. The meaning behind his ink encompassed far more than he wanted to explain right now. Would’ve been a better ego boost if she’d mentioned her awe of his shoulders, but that wasn’t why they were out here.
He unlocked the gear kit in the back of the Jeep, pleased to find emergency flares and water in addition to a SIG Sauer nine-millimeter, ammunition, and a knife. He loaded up quickly, grateful for the familiar tools he’d used during his career.
“Tell me about the girl.”
“Thirteen, as I said. Blonde, five feet tall and slim, almost skinny,” Cassie said. “She’s athletic. Plays on the volleyball team and runs track too.”
Good fitness was a positive. “Any survival skills?”
“Yes.” Cassie perked up. “I’ve been coaching her a bit on self-defense and situational awareness. She isn’t ready for any kind of military field test, but she’s no dummy.”
“Only your partner was armed, right?” He braced for an irritable reaction to what could be considered an absurd query. He had to ask. Having the right intel made a difference.
Cassie nodded absently. Her gaze was on the path beyond the meeting area. “How are you going to pick up her trail with so many people coming and going up here?”
He understood that to the average person the task seemed daunting, possibly outlandish. But this was his wheelhouse. Now that they were here, Lane was more confident than ever that he was the right man for this job. On the SEAL teams he’d often been the scout, making sure the path was clear for the safety of everyone involved on a mission.
How much of that should he share? He didn’t want to brag—then again, he couldn’t have her doubting his ability.
“First things first. Let’s hike in. We’ve got to find where they were taken.”
Another nod, resolute. “Lead the way.”
He started up the path, toward the start of the zipline course. It was immediately clear that a tour guide would be beneficial even though the path was marked with signs. Hawaii was a massive and active wilderness. Everything seemed to be growing constantly. Trees, waterways feeding the ground and sculpting rock, the lava well below them and the evidence of previous eruptions… All of that, along with animals, birds, and the ever present threat of rain? A trail could be erased quickly.
Behind him, Cassie’s footsteps were quiet on the path, her breath even. If he didn’t know better he’d say she wasn’t stressed at all.
“Do you think Josie was taken by someone on the tour?” he asked.
“It just about has to be someone who was out here with them,” Cassie said. “The research team that supports me is vetting the other folks on the tour.”
Hearing a hitch in her breathing, he stopped short and she nearly plowed into him.
“What is it?” She glared at the surrounding area.
He was focused on her. “You thought of something.”
“Yes, I did,” she said. “But it’s no reason to stop moving.”
“Tell me.”
Her chin came up and her gaze turned cold as she stared him down. “Who’s in charge here?” she demanded. “We’re out here to find my client—a child—and my partner. Everything else can wait.”
He didn’t move. “If you know who did it or have any suspicions, it could help us figure out where they abducted Josie and your partner. Could even shed light on where they took them.”
She fanned away an insect. “I don’t know,” she said. “I barely have a suspect. Our best bet is to go into this cold, eyes wide open to any possibilities. Any preconceived notions could mean overlooking an important clue.”
“I respectfully disagree,” Lane said. “Information is power.” Her jaw was set and they were wasting the last minutes of daylight. For now, he’d let her hold on to that power.
Having been on this course with the hotel guide, he did have an idea of where someone might get separated from the group. In this kind of terrain, it wouldn’t be hard at all. Even in broad daylight it was a challenge to see anything beyond more of the greenery and shadows within a few feet off the cleared trail.
She was right to be concerned. With night falling, their search didn’t stand much of a chance, but it was clear Cassie wouldn’t wait until dawn. He didn’t fault her for that. No, he admired her dedication.
“Did you ever serve in the military?” he asked.
“Why didn’t you ask me that kind of question out on the beach?”
He laughed. “Cut me some slack. On the beach you were wearing a bikini.”
“And you just wanted to get me out of it.”
“If you expect me to be sorry for that, I’ll disappoint you all day long. If you’d given me your number, we would have had a really nice conversation. Maybe even deep and life-changing.” He ignored the scoffing sound she made. “Who knows, your previous career interests could have come up.”
Her burst of bitter laughter wasn’t flattering. She probably had a point.
Maybe if he tried to be more sincere and open, she would too. Lane had learned early that it was better to own both his faults and his successes. “I know it’s obvious that I enjoy flirting,” he began. “And blue is my favorite color.”
“You flirted with me because my bikini was blue?”
“Call it a level one attraction. Your pink bikini is equally stunning.” For a moment, he simply enjoyed the memory. “I talked to you because you’re gorgeous, no matter what you’re wearing.” Did she catch the compliment he was giving her? If so, she refused to engage. “I had high hopes that we’d have drinks or even go out on a date.”
“Right.”
“You have looked in a mirror recently?” How could she not know she was beautiful?
“That’s not what I meant. I’m here on a job.”
He waited, but she didn’t elaborate further. “I’m all for willing, healthy people hooking up,” he said into the silence. “And yeah, my buddies give me crap, but none of them have settled down either.”
“Would those be your SEAL buddies?”
“The same,” he confirmed. “The five of us came out here for a retirement party over at the ranch where Hawk works.”
“And how long are you staying?”
“No idea. The volcano interrupted the party, and possibly altered our timeline.” He heard a noise and paused, but nothing came of it, so he pressed on. “I take it your clients don’t live in the resort.”
“No, they’re here on a family vacation. They didn’t advertise the specifics of the trip, not even among their friends.”
“Was that your idea?
“It was. We didn’t make it a secret by any means or insist that their phones stayed off. But I felt like we had control of the situation.”
“Famous last words, right?” He wasn’t criticizing her. Operations never went as smoothly as planned. “Every time we were assured we had sufficient intel, I’d want to laugh. There’s no such thing.”
“I get it,” she said quietly. “A gaffe like this is a first for me. Though my assignments have been on a much smaller scale than yours must’ve been.”
He didn’t bother acknowledging that. An operation had to be important to those working it. People mattered, lives saved could make a difference. At least that had been his approach whether or not he understood the full scope of the stakes.
“So people knew the family was coming to Hawaii,” he said, trying to get back to the matter at hand.
“Yes,” she agreed. “We didn’t volunteer specifics of which island or which resort. Granted, it wouldn’t be hard to find out.”
“But you haven’t been worried about personal injury or kidnapping until now?”
“Judith was getting threats. Her children were an obvious pressure point so we took precautions.”
Lane was grateful that this zipline course was fairly basic. Sure, the zip lines went through the trees and crossed waterfalls at two places, but in general the hike from one spot to the next was manageable.
“The last pictures I have from Josie show the fourth marker,” Cassie said.
“That’s not quite halfway,” Lane mused, studying the sides of the trail for anything out of the ordinary.
“You either have a great memory or you’re just blowing smoke.” Cassie said.
“I don’t blow smoke. Never saw the point.”
“Good to know.”
He hoped so. He didn’t take that as acceptance or even belief. Only time and results would prove that he was an asset to her. He couldn’t take her frustration personally. As a professional bodyguard, it was her job to be wary.
Lane searched cautiously around the base of each platform, looking for any indications of trouble before they moved on to the next. He was aware of Cassie the whole time. Her breath, her footsteps, and the general electricity between them.
At the fifth platform, his flashlight caught on a bright yellow wedge of color just a few feet into the forest. “Here we go.”
Cassie pressed in close to his side. “Is that a helmet?”
“Yes. Stay back.” Lane inched forward, mindful of his footing. Not everything was as solid as it appeared. When he reached the helmet, that was all he found. No body or belongings. Uneasy, he picked it up and read the name on the tape. “This was Josie’s,” he called out. He climbed back up to the path, handing it over for Cassie to see.
She swore. Taking a closer look, she noted the busted chin strap.
“I saw that.” He hesitated. “When I was out here the equipment was all in perfect working order. I’d say she fought back or it was torn off.”
“I don’t see any signs of blood,” she said.
“That’s good.” He returned to his search for a trail. It seemed as if the girl had been plucked right out of the tour. “Any chance your man’s in on it?”
Her reply was immediate. “Absolutely not.”
“All right.” He held up his hands in surrender. “That’s good.”
“You don’t believe me?” Cassie demanded.
He spared her a glance over his shoulder. “I believe you,” he assured her. “I asked a question, you answered. That’s all I need.”
She was quiet as they continued along the route. “Why did you ask the question?”
Now they were getting somewhere. “Because if your partner is half as good as you, he wouldn’t have let her go without a fight.”
“But you don’t see signs of a fight,” Cassie observed. Her flashlight swept across the area.
“It’s dark enough that the scene is hard to read,” he admitted. “I’m still looking.” He wouldn’t quit until she called it. He was sure they were both hoping to find a second helmet. His instincts were firing and he was pretty sure she was expecting the worst.
“So what’s between you and Drake?” Might as well make the most of his time with her. If she was involved with someone, he could stop hoping to take her out. After they found the girl.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you partners off the job as well?”
“No.”
Good news.Although he wouldn’t get ahead of himself just yet. “Is there a significant other in your life?”
She stopped. “Are you seriously asking me this right now?”
“Something else you’d rather discuss?” He plowed on when she didn’t react. “When you were out on the beach there didn’t seem to be anyone else around who behaved as though they were close to you. Personally, that is.”
“No. I’m not involved with anyone,” she grumbled. “Even in personal protection, we get some time to ourselves.”
They didn’t talk further, as they continued to search the path. She wasn’t wrong about the challenge. With so many people coming and going regularly with tours, there was no way to discern any activity on the path itself.
Hearing another noise, he paused. Behind him, Cassie froze. His light caught on crushed leaves and a fresh slide of mud that stood out against the thick green forest pressing in. Finally, there was something he could work with.
Cassie pushed past him before he could warn her to wait.
“Drake!” she called. “Josie!”
He heard her swear. And was following her into the forest when she swiveled around to face him. “It’s Drake!” She rushed down the slope, sliding to her stop on her knees near the man crumpled on the forest floor.
If she hadn’t been so adamant about their partnership being purely professional, Lane would’ve believed she was in love with the guy.
Battered and bloody, Drake looked as if he’d been hit by a truck. She asked him questions, but so far, he’d only groaned incoherently. While Cassie tried to rouse her partner, Lane searched for signs of the girl. Finding little to go on, he dialed Waylen.
His friend picked up on the second ring. “How’s life at the resort with your bikini babe?”
“A little uglier than it should be,” Lane replied. “Can you track my phone to see my location?”
“Always.”
Lane couldn’t be irritated with the confidence. It was exactly the expertise he needed right now. “Good. I’m dropping a pin. We’re not too far from the resort. We need someone out here to help transport a wounded man to the closest hospital.”
Waylen’s voice turned serious. “How wounded? And who is it?”
“Cassie’s partner.” Lane studied the pair as they spoke in low voices. “Looks like he was beaten up and left for dead. No sign of the kid he was protecting.”
Waylen swore.
“My thoughts exactly.”
“So there really is a kidnapping?”
“Looking that way. Are you able to get over here or not?”
“Yeah. On my way,” Waylen confirmed. “Want me to bring Fox?”
“Couldn’t hurt. If he’s available,” Lane agreed. He had no idea where Hawk had sent his friends. He’d seen Cassie’s face and known exactly where he was needed.
“He is. We both are. Hawk has the two of us on standby right now. We’ll be there…” His voice went quiet. “GPS says we can get to you within twenty minutes. Assuming it’s correct.”
“Thanks, man.” Lane was forever grateful to his friends. “The two of us will push on to find the kid,” he added, keeping his voice low.
Cassie heard him anyway, giving him a subtle nod. At least she wasn’t glaring daggers at him right now. Even in the dim light, he could read the relief in her body language. She was worried, but he suspected hope and determination were on the rise.
“Good luck with that.” Waylen cleared his throat. “If you need support, call. Tell your man there to hang tight.”
Lane crouched next to Drake and Cassie. “My friends are on the way,” he said. “Waylen and Kian. Waylen loves fishing like nothing else and Kian is one of the best medics I know. They know where you are.” Lane tucked a bottle of the water into Drake’s hands. “Do you have a weapon?”
“Not that I can find,” Drake said, his voice thin and rasping. “They’re not coming back. Got what they came for.” His eyes were swollen, but tears leaked from the corner. “I’m sorry, Cass.”
“We’ll find her,” Cassie vowed. “Take my backup.” She pulled the twenty-two from her ankle holster and handed it to her partner. “I’ll let Claudia know what’s going on.” She gripped his hand. “Hang tough, Drake. You can count on Lane’s friends to be here soon.”
Her declaration of confidence was surprising. Maybe she was just trying to keep her partner hopeful.
As they moved on, Lane felt guilty leaving Drake behind. Which meant Cassie must be feeling even worse. “My guys will help him. They’ll be on site soon.” Reminding himself or her? Probably best not to analyze that too closely.
“I know. We have to find Josie.”
She sounded one hundred percent focused on the task ahead of them. Not that he could blame her. Innocent kids getting caught up in violence was the worst, in his opinion.
Whatever was going on, the first step was finding the girl and reuniting her with her family as soon as possible.
After that, maybe Cassie would let him take her out for a drink to celebrate.