Deadly Revenge (Pearl River #3)

Chapter 66

66

“I don’t like it,” Max said. After checking the last cabin on the real estate agent’s list, they had returned to the sheriff’s office and were in the briefing room. “It’s too dangerous. And we don’t know who’s in the cabin.”

The registrations returned on the license plates hadn’t belonged to any of Sebastian’s known associates, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t recruited new ones.

“It’s our only option,” Jenna replied. “I’m doing it with or without backup.”

“I don’t like it either, but I don’t see any other options.” Alex leaned forward and pointed at the map spread out on the table. “As soon as it’s dark, deputies will take their positions.” She pointed to a ring of X’s on the map.

“Once Sebastian contacts me and sets up the ransom drop, I’ll drive to the spot, leave the photos, and you and Alex can arrest him,” Jenna said.

Max crossed his arms. “What if he wants you to bring the photos to the cabin?”

“I don’t think he will.”

“If he does,” Alex said, “Jenna will have a microphone she can attach to the outside wall. That way she won’t be caught with a wire on her and we’ll hear everything that’s said. As soon as Jenna says her dad is there, we’ll storm the cabin.”

Even though he wanted to protest, Max held his peace. If he were in Jenna’s place, he’d do the same thing. Didn’t mean he had to like it, though.

“Okay, then, we’re all set.” Alex turned to Jenna. “Sebastian probably won’t contact you as long as he thinks you’re here, so go home and wait. Try to get some rest.”

Max escorted Jenna out of the building and to her SUV. The drive to her house was quiet. “He won’t make a move until after dark,” Max said before they entered the house.

“I know. I just wish he would call so this would be over.”

At 8:30, there was still no call. Max turned to Jenna. “It’s nice out. Why don’t we eat supper on the patio,” he said as she paced the kitchen. Jenna checked her watch, probably for the tenth time in the last thirty minutes.

“Is it that time already?”

“It’s past time to eat.”

“I’m still not hungry.”

“You need to eat.” If they ate out on the patio, they could talk freely. “How about a sandwich? I’ll make it and bring it out.”

“Sure.”

He handed her a radio he’d bought earlier in the day to drown out any conversation they had outside. Max had scanned the area around the patio, and found nothing, but the microphones he’d found in the house were the type that could pick up voices a hundred yards away, and playing the radio would mask their voices.

They both believed Sebastian would make a move tonight. Too bad hunches weren’t enough for a warrant. Alex had deputies watching the cabin, and so far, Sebastian hadn’t shown himself. Either he was inside and staying there or ... Max didn’t want to think of the alternative. In fact, no one had come or gone until an hour ago when the surveillance team had observed a man with a semiautomatic strapped to his waist walking the perimeter of the property. Unfortunately, he didn’t match any of the photos they had of Sebastian’s men.

Max made ham and cheese on flat wraps and grabbed each of them a Coke. Jenna was staring toward the woods when he set the food on the table.

“What if he’s out there, watching?”

“If he is, we’ve got the wrong hiding place.” He didn’t believe they had the wrong cabin, and he’d gotten a key from Weaver and a layout of the cabin, including a virtual tour. He’d been studying it just in case something went wrong and he needed to get inside.

She nodded. “I expected him to ask for the photos by now. What will we do if he doesn’t call before Carter’s event tomorrow at the park?”

“We’ll deal with it.”

They would only have a skeleton crew for tomorrow’s event at the park if Sebastian didn’t make his move tonight. If that were the case, Max hoped it was enough.

He prayed before they ate, asking for Jenna’s protection.

“Thanks,” she said. “I know you’re not on board with Alex’s plan, but there’s no other answer. He’ll demand the photos, I know he will.”

To say Max wasn’t on board was an understatement. He wasn’t at all happy with the plan Alex had outlined if the ransom demand came in tonight. He was certain that if Sebastian had her dad, it was because he wanted any evidence Jenna had. He was equally certain that once Sebastian had it, he planned to kill her.

“I’m good with the fact that all the deputies are familiar with the area, and they’ll be stationed in the woods surrounding the cabin. What I’m not on board with is you taking the photos to Sebastian at the cabin.”

“There’s no one else. No matter what happens, we’ll deal with it.”

Jenna was using his own words against him.

He’d never change her mind, either. She was insistent that if Sebastian demanded that she bring the photos, she was doing it if it meant saving her dad.

“Do you have the—”

“For the third time, I have my Sig P938 under my body armor, and the microphone that I’ll stick on the post outside the door is in my pocket.”

“What if it fails?”

“It won’t. But if it does, the one you put under my dashboard will pick up our conversation.” She turned and looked at him. “What part of ‘God has this’ don’t you believe?”

He flipped his hands up. “I believe all of it. Just making sure we do our part.”

Alex and Max had figured anyone who had sophisticated GPS trackers and listening devices would scan Jenna when she walked in the door. The plan was for her to attach a listening device the size of a quarter to the outside of the house as she entered. It wasn’t as good as a wire or a microphone disguised as a pen or button, but Sebastian couldn’t discover it by scanning Jenna.

“If things start going south, what’s the code phrase?”

“‘What makes you think you can get away with this.’”

Even though they had the advantage of discovering the trackers and microphones, sending Jenna into the cabin was too iffy. There had to be another way to get Sebastian.

Her phone buzzed with a text, and they both froze.

“It’s from my dad’s phone.” Jenna read the text aloud.

Bring what you have. Now. Just you. No cops unless you want a funeral.

Will call once you are on the road with the destination.

Jenna texted back.

No. Not until I talk to my dad.

A minute later, a call from his number showed up on her phone. “Dad, are you all right?”

“Don’t do it,” he yelled.

The call ended and Jenna punched the redial button. It went straight to voicemail.

Max immediately called Alex and put the call on speaker. “It has to be Sebastian,” he said. “He didn’t even name what he wanted. Just that he would give directions once she was on the road.”

“It may not be him,” Alex replied. “My deputy called a minute ago. Phillip Ross just arrived at the cabin.”