Chapter 17 Christopher #2
“You don’t owe me anything. Just let us know when you have this piece of trash. We always want to know when the garbage gets taken out.”
“I will.” Christopher hung up and stared at his phone as the tracking link came through. The little blue dot showed Todd’s current location, exactly where his contact had said.
Now came the hard part.
Christopher turned to look back toward the dining room, where Gabe stood. He swallowed hard, knowing what he had to do. He had two choices, really. Knock his best friend and commanding officer unconscious. Or lock him up somewhere he couldn’t escape from, while Christopher went to get the girls.
Either way, Gabe was going to be absolutely furious when he found out. Court-martial level furious.
Christopher’s eyes caught on Jane sitting at the table, and an idea started to form. She’d been given painkillers by the paramedics before they left. Strong ones for the head injury. If he could get those into Gabe somehow...
No. That wouldn’t work. Gabe was too alert, too focused. He’d never take medication right now, not when his daughter was missing, and especially not if Christopher suggested it. That would make Gabe instantly suspicious, as he knew Christopher’s aversion to any medication.
Christopher caught Logan’s eye across the room and gestured for him to come over. Logan crossed the space quickly, moving with the quiet efficiency of someone who’d had tactical training.
“What’s up?” Logan asked quietly.
“I need to detain Gabe,” Christopher said, keeping his voice low.
He explained the situation with Gabe’s leg —how he might have reinjured it, and how he wouldn’t do anyone any good if he went chasing after the girls and collapsed from the injury.
Christopher might need to focus on getting the girls out safely rather than worrying about whether Gabe could walk.
Logan listened, his expression thoughtful. “Makes sense. How can I help?”
“We need to get something into him to knock him out,” Christopher said. “I was thinking Jane’s painkillers, but—”
“I can do one better,” a voice said from behind them.
Both men jumped slightly. Julie stood there, seemingly materialized from thin air. She pulled a bottle from her pocket and held it up. Sleeping pills.
“This will knock him out a lot quicker,” Julie said with a knowing smile.
Christopher felt a twinge of conscience. Drugging his best friend felt wrong on every level. But Gabe needed medical attention for his leg, and he needed not to do something that would get him killed. Trinity needed her father alive.
“Do you think you could...” Christopher started.
“Already on it,” Julie said, grinning like she knew something they didn’t. She inclined her head toward the kitchen. “Isabella has taken cocoa to everyone.”
Christopher shook his head. “Gabe won’t drink that. He’s too furious and eager to get going. He won’t take time for cocoa.”
Julie’s smile widened. “Leave it to me.” And then she disappeared back into the dining room as quietly as she’d arrived.
Christopher looked at Logan. “Is it just me, or is that incredibly creepy, the way Julie just suddenly appears like from nowhere?”
Logan gave a soft snort. “You get used to it after a while.” He paused, then added, “Oh, and I’m going with you.”
“No, wait,” Christopher said immediately. “I can’t involve a civilian in this. If something goes wrong—”
“Two years Army Ranger,” Logan interrupted. “Before I settled down and became a contractor. Trust me, son, I’m no civilian. I know how to handle myself in a tactical situation.”
Christopher felt relief wash through him. Two sets of trained hands were better than one, especially hands that knew what they were doing. “Alright. Thank you.”
They turned to watch Julie work her magic.
She approached Gabe with the easy confidence of someone who’d spent decades getting people to do what she wanted.
Christopher couldn’t hear the conversation, but he saw her gesturing to Gabe’s leg.
Saw Gabe shake his head, probably insisting he was fine.
Saw Julie’s expression turn motherly but firm.
Finally, Gabe sat down heavily, taking the weight off his injured foot. Julie handed him a mug of cocoa, and to Christopher’s amazement, Gabe took it. Started drinking while he continued speaking to Jane about every detail of what had happened on the beach.
Christopher watched as Gabe finished the drink, his eyes never leaving Jane’s face as she recounted the attack for what must have been the fifth time. He was trying to piece together a timeline, looking for any detail that might help them find Todd and the girls.
A few minutes after Gabe finished the cocoa, his eyes started to droop. He tried to shake it off, sitting up straighter, but his body wasn’t cooperating. His head dropped forward, and Christopher moved quickly, catching him before he could hit the table.
“What happened?” Holly rushed over, panic in her voice. “Is he okay?”
“Sleeping pills,” Julie said calmly. “I’ll bet that’s the best sleep that boy’s had in years.
” She looked satisfied with her handiwork.
“When he wakes up, he’ll be in the hospital getting that leg properly seen to.
” She turned to look at Jane pointedly. “Along with my granddaughter, who will go get a scan of her head.”
Jack stepped forward. “Holly and I will take them while he’s out. He can’t object if he’s asleep.”
Julie’s words and plan brooked no argument. She’d decided how this was going to go, and everyone in the room understood that crossing Julie Christmas was not advisable. She turned to Isabella.
“We’ll stay here with Charlie and wait to hear from Todd in case he calls again,” Julie said firmly. “You stay strong. Trust Christopher and Logan.”
With Julie’s orders in place, Christopher and Logan moved into action. They needed to move fast. The girls had been missing for over an hour already. Christopher had no idea what Todd was planning, but every minute that passed increased the danger.
Christopher checked his weapon, a handgun he’d retrieved from his secure case in his suite. Made sure he had everything he needed. Extra magazine. Phone fully charged. The tracking link pulled up and ready.
Logan disappeared for a moment and came back with a heavy-duty flashlight and a small pry bar from the workshop. “Might need these,” he said simply.
Christopher looked at Isabella. She looked terrified but was trying so hard to be brave. He walked over to her, aware that everyone was watching but not caring.
“I will bring them back,” he said, his voice low and certain. “I promise.”
He kissed her again, quick but meaningful. A promise and a vow. Then he turned to Logan.
“Let’s go get our girls back.”
They headed toward the door. Holly called after them, her voice breaking slightly. “Be careful. Please.”
“Always,” Christopher called back.
But both men knew that careful might not be an option. They might need to be bold. They might need to be dangerous. Because Todd Berkley had made his choice when he’d taken those girls.
And now Christopher and Logan were making theirs.
As they climbed into Logan’s truck, Christopher’s phone buzzed. A text from his contact.
Subject on the move. Heading north on Route 1. Away from the storage facility.
Christopher’s blood ran cold. Todd was moving. With the girls presumably. Going somewhere else. Somewhere they didn’t know about yet.
“Drive,” Christopher told Logan. “Fast. He’s moving.”
Logan didn’t ask questions. Just gunned the engine and peeled out of the inn’s parking lot, tires kicking up gravel.
Christopher watched the tracker on his phone, the little blue dot moving steadily up Route 1, getting farther away with every passing second. They had to catch him before Todd got to wherever he was going. Before the girls disappeared completely.
His phone buzzed again. Another text, this time with an attached photo. A satellite image of a property appeared on his screen.
The subject is turning onto the rural road leading to this cabin. Rental property. Secluded location.
Christopher studied the image carefully. A small cabin in the woods, surrounded by dense trees. A single access road leading in and out. Isolated. No neighbors visible in the satellite view.
Todd probably thought he was being clever, taking the girls to an isolated cabin in the woods. Thought he could hide them there, keep them contained until Isabella gave him what he wanted. Thought the seclusion would work in his favor.
But what Todd didn’t realize was that he’d just made Christopher’s mission that much easier.
Isolated meant no witnesses. No crowds for Todd to hide in. No escape routes that Todd knew better than Christopher. Just one cabin, one road in and out, and two former military men who knew exactly how to handle tactical situations.
Todd had picked the worst possible place to make his stand.
Christopher looked at Logan, seeing the same understanding in the older man’s eyes.
“We’ve got him,” Christopher said.
And somewhere ahead of them in the darkness, two little girls were waiting to be rescued.
Christopher was coming for them.
And nothing was going to stop him.