Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jozef’s face grew stonier as Cooper talked over speakerphone, telling them of his suspicions. Cooper had been left in charge of the Guard Dog offices while the rest of the team was in Africa searching for Saskia.
They were currently in Kinshasa in the DRC, having come from Pretoria a few days earlier. They’d traced Radik to this point, but no further. They knew he had a compound buried deep in the northern rainforest, but they had yet to get their hands on coordinates.
“I thought it was strange,” Cooper continued, “so I contacted Halil at the estate to find out what he knew. He said Ayaan, Shaun, and Leeza left five days ago to rejoin you in Pretoria.” His voice was ashamed when he added, “We didn’t question it.”
It made sense that neither Halil nor Cooper would question the women. They weren’t supposed to do things like this. Still, Havel wanted to rip Cooper’s head off for not contacting them sooner.
“When Ayaan called me this morning for satellite surveillance, I figured something was up.” He sounded annoyed. Cooper and Ayaan worked most jobs together, but she’d gone AWOL without telling him.
“You gave her the information she requested?”
“Yeah,” he admitted, sounding unsure of himself. “It’s Ayaan and she’s a trusted member of Guard Dog Securities. Why wouldn’t I give her the information?”
No longer a trusted member, Jozef signed to Havel who nodded his agreement.
Ayaan had led their wives into some of the most dangerous territory on the planet.
Leopards, venomous snakes, crocodiles. There were innumerable ways to die.
Though Leeza could hold her own with any man, she could easily be injured while trekking through the rainforest. Ayaan better hope the three women made it to Radik before he and Jozef, because she was going to need her brother’s protection.
“Send us everything you gave her and have our Guard Dog analysts look at it. We need to know exactly where they’re headed,” Havel commanded, trying to keep the fear and rage from his voice. If his wife survived her trek through the wilderness, he was going to strangle her, then lock her up forever.
“Already on it,” Cooper said quickly. “I’ve been following their progress as much as I can and I think I’ve pinpointed where they’re going. Sending you everything now.”
Get the jet ready, Jozef signed furiously at Havel as they ended the call. I want to be in the air within the hour. We need to arrive before the women do. I don’t know what Radik will do to Leeza and Shaun. His face darkened. Or what he’s already done to Saskia.