Chapter 5 #2
When he cleared the cabin, packed her car, and tucked Alex securely in the front seat, Nate hoped she’d be all right emotionally from this, but with the way she had been acting, he wasn’t sure. All he could do was get her home and hope Gray Tower didn’t decide to come after him.
? ? ?
Miles Bryant placed his head in his hands and tried to control his emotions.
Alex was still missing, and it was now six in the morning.
She had been missing for over twelve hours.
Miles had pulled every Gray Tower resource possible in finding her, and nothing had worked.
She had vanished with that patient from the Sims Center.
They couldn’t even figure out what direction.
This “patient” seemed to know exactly what routes to go to avoid cameras, and he knew to ditch Alex’s watch.
This guy wasn’t a normal psych patient. This guy knew what he was doing, and that worried Miles.
He had discussed with his team the possibility that this patient could be one of the missing veterans. The guy might not be on the list Miles had of the missing men. Alex’s kidnapper could be special forces. That could cause major problems. And if the guy was unhinged…
No. Miles didn’t want to think about that. He needed to get Alex back. Gray Tower could handle this. He knew his team would find her. Miles just hoped she would be okay when they did.
The doors of Miles’ office swung open, and Ryan Hale strode in, looking tired and pissed. He hadn’t bothered knocking or checking in with Miles’ temp. Miles couldn’t blame him. This whole op was a disaster, and he could only blame himself.
“Any news?” Miles asked, hoping to hear something, anything.
Ryan shook his head, looking defeated.
“As you know, we had Jack go into the Sims Center with some loosely briefed police officers to question them late yesterday evening. However, only the night staff were there. They weren’t helpful and didn’t know who she was because they’re on different shifts.
We’re planning on going back again as soon as normal business hours begin. ”
Miles nodded, but he knew they wouldn’t get anywhere. Sims would put on an act and stonewall them. They had to at least try that avenue.
“What else?” Miles asked impatiently.
“Joel and Valerie are almost here,” Ryan continued, ignoring Miles’ panicked demeanor.
“We’ll get Valerie set up with Jade to go over any relevant information we have and then let them at it.
Joel will be in the field with Jack and me.
Mercer and Gabe will be back from a mission soon.
Logan is running command here because, quote, “My pregnant wife will kill me if I go out in the field, and then she’ll kill you too for making me. ”
“Good,” Miles said, a slight smile forming.
Logan was typically banned from ops. He was head of Personnel Training after retiring from active fieldwork.
That didn’t stop him from going out when it was vitally important, but he usually stayed at Headquarters.
Miles was just glad he had so many elite ops he could pull quickly to find Alex.
They were the best of the best. They’d find her. They had to.
“Uh, do you think Joel is up to the task?” Ryan asked hesitantly.
Miles sighed.
Joel Keller was Gray Tower’s latest Class A acquisition.
Class A employees were the highest paid and were exceptionally skilled.
He was rich, co-owned a polymer company with Miles, and ran a foundation that helped men down on their luck.
Joel also happened to have bipolar disorder, and it had only been a handful of weeks since he had been running around manic as a masked vigilante.
Miles had gotten him help: medication, therapy, and a meaningful job Joel had always wanted.
However, the guy had only been on meds for a few weeks.
The maximum effect hadn’t been achieved yet, and even though he was doing a hell of a lot better, Miles hadn’t been considering him for a field position yet.
However, circumstances change, and this mission was a priority.
“He’ll do fine,” Miles reassured Ryan. “I know you haven’t worked with him, but his performance was amazing when he was hallucinating and suicidal. Some time on medication will only improve that.”
Ryan sighed.
“If you say so.”
Miles rubbed his face, feeling a day’s worth of growth. He was tired, stressed, and desperate.
“This is my fault, sir,” Ryan said quietly after a long pause. “I should have made the op safer. More tracking devices. More monitoring. A newer car that has tracking built in. There’s no way this should have happened.”
Miles shook his head.
“There’s no way you could have predicted this. She had been fine working there. She had said the job was boring. We had no idea a patient that smart and capable would escape.”
“Military training?” Ryan asked. “One of the missing veterans?”
“Possible,” Miles said.
That would be the best outcome. A desperate veteran held there against his will would do whatever he could to get away. But Miles doubted the man would keep Alex long-term if that were the case. At least, he hoped so.
Miles’ cell began to buzz. The only people who had his direct number called. He reached for it at his desk and frowned at the number. It wasn’t in his contacts, but it was a local number. Feeling like this call was important, he answered.
“Hello?”
“Hi, is this, uh…Miles Bryant?” a man asked hesitantly.
“Who is calling?” Miles demanded.
No one should have this number.
“This is Craig Stuart. I’m a paramedic for the Christiansburg Fire Department.”
Miles snapped to attention and blurted, “Yes, this is Miles Bryant.” He knew this had to do with Alex and was proven right seconds later.
“I have a Miss Alexandria Thorn here. We’re on Morning Star Drive.
She was found unresponsive in her car but has since woken up.
” There was a pause as the paramedic shouted something inaudible to someone in the background.
“She, uh, threatened to stab me in the balls if I didn’t call you and let you know. I think she was serious.”
Miles’ heart leaped. That was the street of Alex’s mission “home.” He had two guys stationed at the townhome itself, but if they were further down the long street, they wouldn’t have been able to see.
“Put her on now!” Miles yelled.
Shit. He hadn’t meant to be that harsh, but he desperately needed to talk to Alex.
“Dang. Okay!” Miles heard the guy grumbling.
A few moments passed before a familiar and wonderful voice came on the other end of the line.
“Miles?”
“Yeah,” he answered, closing his eyes.
“I’m okay,” she said softly.
And for the first time in the past twelve hours, Miles felt like he could breathe again.