The pair headed up the bank and into the woods.
They’d synchronized watches. He had ninety minutes to hop off his boat and run to the bridge. That’s when they both planned to start shooting.
Ezra tapped the bobber keychain, making it sway on his dashboard.
Susan wouldn’t even recognize the violent man he’d been forced to become.
Denver, CO
Petteri spent much of the afternoon moving pieces on his chessboard, which was how he’d come to think of all the dig sites around the nation. When he wasn’t talking to his staff personally, he was considering which of the sites he was willing to give up to the feds. When Stricker had said the president was going to demand two sites if he didn’t give up the first, he was resigned to the fact he didn’t have a viable choice. He needed Stricker to keep the National Guard off his back until he’d collected his ore. Losing one site was worth keeping the larger arrangement.
However, he was going to make Stricker pay for his betrayal at some point down the line. The man had made him look like a fool, and for that there was no forgiveness.
When the phone rang again, he reached for the handset, but instead jolted in place as the floor moved under him.
“What the hell?” He picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Sir! I’m the lobby security supervisor. There’s been a breach of the building. A group of armed police are inside the lobby.”
“Did they blow us up?” he replied.
The man sounded frantic. “They used explosives to come through a concrete wall. They’re shooting at us and now heading upstairs!”
“For me?” he asked with surprise. Catching himself, he continued. “Of course they’re heading for me. Stop them! That’s an order.”
The line went dead before he got confirmation, giving him heartburn. He imagined the security man hanging up and pretending he didn’t hear the order. The guy was probably more interested in his own safety than protecting his boss. Petteri expected the man to lay down his life for him. He certainly paid enough to demand such a minimal level of dedication.
An instant later, Mr. Aarons ran through his office door. “Sir? You okay?”
He stood up. “You better have a plan. The lobby said the police are breaking into this office building.”
The bearded man nodded grimly. “We have a plan, sir. I need you to come with us right now.” He stood aside, inviting Petteri into the hallway.
His heart fluttered. A sudden wave of extreme anger bubbled up, directed exclusively toward the Denver mayor. She must have betrayed him to allow her police to attack in such a brazen assault. That feeling was followed up by sheer panic, as he suddenly realized the police might not be interested in arresting him.
“My safety is in your hands,” he said, hating how vulnerable it made him.
“Follow us, sir,” Mr. Aarons advised.
Other security officers were down the hall. One man held the door to the stairwell, as if inviting him to lead the charge toward the police ten floors below.
Mr. Aarons waited for him to reach his door, then the security chief ran toward the stairwell entrance. He followed at a brisk walk but hesitated at the final doorway.
The guy waited on the first step down.
“We’re going toward them?” Petteri asked.
“We need to get onto the eighth floor. It’s where I have everything set up. You have to trust me, sir. It’s going to be all right.”
Howard had once trusted the man. It was time to do the same.
CHAPTER 11
Somewhere in Central Wyoming
Grace and Misha stood on the grassy slope of the tall hill in the middle of the big blue sky of Wyoming. A moody storm front loitered on the distant horizon, threatening someone dozens of miles away. As majestic as the scenery was, her attention was consumed by the realization Misha hadn’t escaped from his captors. He’d been released from his prison by the crazy woman trying to kill them.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” Nerio’s voice inquired on the radio.
Misha didn’t hold the talk button. He spoke to her and Asher. “Petteri Tikkanen was going to kill me last night. I told you he brought me from the Yellowstone dig site. That part was true. Only fact I left out was Nerio opened my cage and helped me out of the building. I swear to you on my dead family I am not working with her. I found you because I knew you were in danger.”
Asher crossed his arms. “Or she let you go so you’d lead her right to us.”
Misha actually seemed surprised. “This is not possible. I am professional. Do not make mistakes.”
The radio came to life. “Is he explaining away his role in my finding you? I guess I should thank him. He did lead me right to you people.” She sounded like she was having fun talking to him.
Misha became angry. He keyed the mic and held it close to his mouth. “You know what you say is not true. You let me go, yes, but I was not followed. I was careful. I knew you were a crafty sooka.”
“Ouch, my dear Misha. We don’t have to argue like a pair of lovers, do we?”
Misha held the radio as if it had turned into a hornet. He shot a horrified look to Grace. “I am not her lover.”
“It’s not for me to say,” she replied.
Nerio went on. “If you take out both of the targets while we’re on the radio, I’ll put in a good word with Peter the
