All Adrian could do was head to the conference, findthose two Navy guys, and make sure they were safe.
Protect Megan’s mother, Sylvia, because that was whatshe would want him to do.
He knew that the same way he knew trying tofind her was futile. Hank wouldn’t leave his phone on so it couldbe hacked. He knew about GPS in their vehicles, so he’d disabledit. If he was part of ElCuervo being here in the US, or the blackmailer’s business,he would need Megan alive. For now.
Adrian figured her time was limited. Dead or alive,she’d still be a scapegoat for them. Someone to blame all thedestruction on. The target was those two Navy officers, so that waswhat he could focus on—stopping the blackmailer. That had been hisjob all along. He was supposed to have protected Megan, and hewould do everything he could to stand up for her. To prove she waspulled into this against her will, just like the rest of them.
If he couldn’t save her life—and he would do what hecould on that—then he could at least keep her from beingconvicted.
It was the only thing that kept him from beingoverwhelmed right now—that, and the constant stream of prayer.
God had brought Megan into his life, because He knewshe would need Adrian.
Help me to know what to do.
He had to focus on what he could do, ratherthan allow what he couldn’t control tostall him. Double Down couldn’t help. Not when he didn’t know whoto trust. The FBI was a long shot, except for the agents in his DCoffice. And that wouldn’t last much longer. Soon enough they wouldfind out that he wasn’t working with Hank anymore.
Adrian prayed the Denver office hadn’t been stainedwith whatever Hank had done. That his home office hadn’t. That theagents in Austin were clear.
The plane landed. He grabbed his backpack and strodedown the gangway, not even caring how much he’d paid for firstclass, just so he could be one of the first ones off the plane. Henavigated to the arrivals area and saw two agents waiting forhim.
He’d called ahead to the Denver office beforeboarding the plane, and asked to be met by agents. There was achance Hank would circumvent Adrian’s attempts to stop Zimmerman,but he had to risk it. He couldn’t do this alone.
They clocked him about the same time he spotted themand headed over. Agents for the FBI just had aparticular…professionalism about them.
For a split second, he wondered if they were going toarrest him. But then the first one stuck his hand out.“Walker?”
Adrian nodded. He shook both their hands and learnedthey were Peters and Bryant. “Good to meet you. Have you locatedthe two Navy officers yet?”
Peters shook his head. “Who?”
“Retired Rear Admiral Frampton and Captain CharlesSt. Germaine. They’re Zimmerman’stargets.”
Bryant said, “Zimmerman, the guy y’all are lookingfor over in DC?”
“He’s in Denver for the big conference at theconvention center this weekend.”
They glanced at each other.
“You didn’t know that.” Adrian pinched the bridge ofhis nose. “You guys were supposed to have been informed. He saidyou had agents there, looking for Zimmerman and rounding up thosetwo guys we know are targets.”
“Who said?”
“My boss, SACCromwell.”
Bryant shrugged. Like he’d never even heard of Hank.“Guess there’s no time to waste, then.” He waved Adrian to go withthem. “We can call it in from the car.”
Adrian left his own phone switched off. For now. Heturned on Megan’s phone and called her mother. Fear for Megansurged inside him. But he was miles away, doing the job he wassupposed to have done with her.
Had he made the right choice?
“Hi honey,” Sylvia Perkins answered. “I was justabout to text. I’ve checked into my hotel.”
“Good,” he said. “Stay there.”
“Excuse me, who are—”
“My name is Adrian Walker. Hank Cromwell gave Meganto El Cuervo.”
No, he didn’t know that for sure. But it was reallythe only explanation.
Adrian said, “I’m in Denver to stop Zimmerman. He’sthere at the convention center. Whatever you do, do notleave your hotel room.”
“You think I’m going to sit here and do nothing whilemy daughter is in danger?”
“Ma’am—”
“I’m calling Remy.”
“You know her?”
Megan’s mother huffed. “Do we have time for thatconversation, considering everything that is happening?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Send me pictures of the two men you’re looking for.I’ll see if I can get word to them.”
“Ma’am—”
“Call me that one more time, Agent Walker, andyou and I will have a serious problem,” she said. “You asked me notto leave the hotel room, right?”
“Yes, m—I did.”
One of the agents with him grinned, then pointed tothe passenger seat for Adrian to get in.
Megan’s mother said, “So get me their pictures. Iknow people, and I can make calls just as well as anyone.”
“Thank you. I could use anything you find out.”Especially if she knew Remy.
“And as soon as you safeguard the two men, you can goget Megan.”
“I will be doing exactly that.”
First, he had to do his job. And for the first timein his life, it was the last thing Adrian wanted to do. Not tomention he had no clue where to even begin the search forMegan.
The only reassurance he had was the fact there werehonest agents looking for her. As a potential terrorist, yes. Buthe would take it either way.
Hank had disgraced the FBI badge. Adrian would handhis in if it meant the difference between duty and being able to goafter Megan. But if she knew he’d let people die, and let Zimmermanor the blackmailer succeed, she would never forgive him. Even whenit put her life at risk.
Why else had she tried to leave him earlier, and gowith El Cuervo’smen?
Adrian had to take care of this first. And until themoment he knew Megan was all right, he was going to pray harderthan he’d ever prayed that she could hold on.
Until he got there.
Chapter18
The metal folding chair was hard against her back.Her breath puffed out in white clouds with every exhale. She mighthave been staring into those nightmarish eyes, so
