Lunar Bound, page 11
part #4 of Sky Brooks World: Ethan Series
My wolf rode a surge of fury to just beneath the surface of my skin. “What do you want?”
“Like I said before, a hundred thousand. Cash, obviously. I’ll call you in one hour with instructions.”
“I don’t have that kind of money lying around.”
“One hour. Come alone. If I see anyone else in the area, I’ll leave and I’ll scorch the earth in my wake.”
He killed the call, probably before I unleashed a string of expletives. Even if I had that kind of money accessible, paying McClintock off wasn’t an option, but I couldn’t just abandon Artemis, either. Checking the time, I called Tim, hoping he’d come up with something about McClintock’s whereabouts.
“He’s like a ghost,” Tim said.
I gave Stacey, my legal assistant, the phone number I’d called from the flip phone, then sped like hell to the retreat. By the time I’d parked the car in the garage, she’d traced the number.
“Sorry, boss. I couldn’t get a lead. That number only made the one call, and it pinged half the cell towers in Chicago in the process. No idea how. There hasn’t been a signal since, which means it’s probably powered off.”
I threw the phone into the Maserati, watched it bounce off the seat and crack the passenger window before clattering into the well.
Returning to the retreat, I walked through the garage looking for Josh’s Jeep. It wasn’t there. Neither was his Ducati. Good. One less thing to worry about.
I found Sebastian lifting weights with Marko in the basement gym. He read my expression, toweled off the sweat, and led me back to his office.
“McClintock’s becoming a problem.” I paced in front of Sebastian’s desk while he leaned against it, arms folded over his chest. “He’s holding one of my informants for ransom.”
He raised an eyebrow, let his arms slip to his sides as he gripped the edge of his desktop. “That’s not like him.”
It wasn’t.
“He wants a hundred grand for her.” I rattled off the possibilities. “He’s looking to retire, gone senile, trying to pay a debt—I can’t explain it. ”
A debt—or some other leverage—made the most sense. Put someone under enough pressure, they’ll do all kinds of stupid to survive. Only, McClintock wasn’t just anyone. Hunting wasn’t a job for the weak-minded. I wondered what it would take to push him over the edge.
I continued, letting out my frustration. “I’ve put the word out, but so far he’s kept his head down.”
“Tim?”
“Will run across McClintock eventually, but I’m out of time.”
“Do you think he’ll hurt the hostage?”
A matter-of-fact question that deserved a brutal answer. I sighed, admitted, “He’ll have to. He’s committed now.”
Sebastian remained silent for a long time. When he finally spoke, his tone was measured—empathetic, but resolute. “The pack doesn’t pay extortion.”
I stopped, rubbed the stress from my forehead as I took in a calming breath. “I need enough to convince him the payoff is real, in case he inspects the money before I make my move. I have the cash in stashes, but not enough time to gather it. I’ll cover anything that’s lost.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand—some big bills wrapped around bundles of small bills.”
He didn’t blink, but it was a tall ask. Artemis and McClintock were my problem.
“Which informant?”
He was doing the risk-reward analysis I’d make if I was advising someone else. She was a valuable resource, but she was also a mercenary working for the highest bidder. Her merchandise was information. For all her usefulness, she could just as easily sell me out, or the pack, if the price were right. Having spent her life as an orphan on the streets, she didn’t fully give her loyalty to anyone, but she’d never turn against me. When a small pack of were-animal professional thieves tried to strong-arm her into scouting their marks, I sent them packing. When she’d drawn the amorous attention of a wandering vampire, I made sure her dust was scattered across a cornfield in South Chicago. For my help, I’d never taken cash or trade. For the information she provided, I paid well and on time. For Artemis, that made me family.
His fingers tapped against oak as he held my gaze. After what seemed like an hour but was probably less, he slowly pushed off from the desk. “I’ll get you what you need. Who are you taking with you?”
Hiding my relief, I answered quickly. “Marko and Winter.”
“You’re sure that’s enough?” he asked, meaning he thought I should take more were-animals. “He’ll be expecting a trap.”
“I’m going to give it to him.”
He considered asking for more detail, but changed his mind. “Josh?”
“McClintock took Artemis to get leverage on me. I’m not going to hand him a shot at my brother.” After a nod from Sebastian, I started for the door, hesitated. Josh wasn’t my only vulnerability. “I’d prefer Sky doesn’t know about the exchange or the kidnapping. She’ll insist on being involved.”
“Agreed.”
I found Steven in the game room, playing air hockey with Hannah. “Stay close to Sky tonight.”
He frowned, decided not to ask why. “We’re having a movie night.”
“Will she be suspicious if you stay over?”
It was an odd request coming from me, considering I’d never approved of his living with her.
“I’m still packing, so she’s expecting me to stay over.” He rose, picked his jacket off the back of a couch. “I’ll head over there now.”
“I’ll let you know when it’s over.”
He nodded, then left.
McClintock was expecting a trap, which meant he’d take every advantage to decipher what form the trap would take. Putting myself in his position, I’d go straight to the source. Once the location of the exchange had been given, I’d want to know how many were-animals left the retreat headed in that direction. Observing the comings and goings of the pack wasn’t hard. It just took a camera with a cellular signal positioned to observe where the road leaving the retreat met the local highway. Random sweeps of the area were a regular part of the security routine, but usually done once a month except in times of crisis. Winter and I made a fresh sweep of the area. It only took me five minutes to find a camera strapped to a tree branch.
I turned the camera over, noted the serial number was filed down to a plastic smear.
Marko noted the hiding spot. “Didn’t hide it very well.”
“No,” I growled. Too easy. “Keep looking.”
After twenty minutes, Winter found another camera obscured by a shroud of foliage. As expected, the serial number had been destroyed.
Winter asked, “You think there’s more?”
“Probably.” I scrutinized the area, then checked the time. “But we’re running out of time. We’ll have to assume there’ll be eyes on us when we leave. I want you and Marko to head out now, split directions here. Make sure you’re not followed before you meet up at the staging area. I’ll text you the location of the exchange once I have it.”
“Is he paranoid enough to spoof a cell tower?”
I scowled. He was. Stingray devices weren’t easy to obtain, or cheap. A crypto phone could detect the spoofing, but I didn’t have one—something to look into for the future.
She offered, “I can call Matthew.”
He was one of the Worgen Pack. They were savvy and paranoid enough to possess both devices.
“No time. I’ll wait to contact you until I’m away from the retreat.” I checked the time again. “You’d better get Marko and get going.”
After prepping the ransom money and stowing it in a blue designer tote bag, I decided to wait for McClintock’s call in the retreat library. With Josh gone, it would likely be empty. While the rest of the pack used the library as needed, the collection of supernatural histories, rare compendiums, and old magical texts were not commonly needed. For Josh, however, the library was an oasis. His frequent and long visits led to jokes about adding on a bedroom for him. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find him seated at the large oak table, bent over one of the Clostra books. He’d probably transported in. From his sour expression, he was as disappointed to see me as I him.
I started to leave when he announced, “Something’s going on.”
Forcing my stress to the background, I put on a casual affect and made a show of browsing the nearest bookshelf. I pulled one out, surveyed the cover. “What makes you say that?”
The legs of his chair dug into the Persian rug as he turned it to face me, legs splayed, hands draped lazily over his lap. He frowned. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
I gave him a tired look, picked up another book. “You’re paranoid.”
“I have to hand it to you, Ethan. I don’t think anyone is better at hiding their emotions. I’ll bet you’re even doing that controlling-your-heart-rate thing, even though I can’t hear it. Don’t bother.” He slowly shook his head. “I’ve known you for too long.”
Scowling, I snapped the book shut, returned it to the shelf. My arms folded over my chest as I waited for the rest of his speech.
Josh didn’t disappoint. He gave me a sideways look as he declared, “You’re not going to tell me. Let me guess, you’re shutting me out in order to protect me?” I didn’t give him the satisfaction of a reaction, but he continued anyway. “Aren’t you tired of that? I am.” His ocean-blue eyes turned midnight as magic filled the room. “Just how powerful does a little brother have to get to earn your trust?”
“You’re the most powerful witch in the region,” I stated. “It’s your judgment I don’t trust.”
His square jaw set before he forced a casual shrug. “Perhaps I can convince you otherwise. In fact, I’ll bet I can pick the perfect book for you. How about this one?” He made a subtle sweeping gesture with an index finger, and a book from the shelf behind him launched at my head. I pivoted easily, letting it fly past me and smack into the wall behind me.
“If you’re looking to fall asleep, this will do.”
With another swipe, a book launched at me from the shelf to my left. I slapped it aside, had just enough time to scowl at Josh before he launched another, a fat and rare encyclopedia that catalogued everything known about the various types of fae. I caught the book at my chest, absorbed the blow.
“Or perhaps you’d like a story,” he growled, “something about a real prick.”
“Enough,” I shouted before he could swipe again. I walked up to the table and set the encyclopedia down. “If you’re trying to show me your judgment has improved…” I stopped myself from continuing, changed tack as I watched the rising anger burn his cheeks. “I should’ve told you about the dark elf magic.”
He blinked, stunned by my admission. The blue slowly returned to his eyes as his magic dissipated from the room.
“If it had been you,” I said, “would you have sought my help knowing you’d be putting me in danger?”
His lips pressed thin as he struggled with an answer he didn’t like.
“I made a choice. You don’t have to like it. But you’re right, I do need to trust you more.” Just not now.
He looked away, turned back to give a mistrusting look. His eyes searched mine for subterfuge. He wasn’t sure if he found it, but he calmed anyway.
“So,” he said expectantly, “what’s going on?”
My mind raced. I had to tell him something or risk another magical tantrum, but I wasn’t about to let him join me in the exchange.
“McClintock.”
Josh’s lips pulled back into a so-what expression. “The hunter?”
I explained the hostage situation, and my plan to get her back, giving as few details as possible.
His expression hardened, determined. He closed the Clostra. “When do we go?”
Now the delicate part. “I don’t need you at the exchange.”
He growled, “Ethan…”
“McClintock’s just pushing my buttons. He wants to see if I’ve gone soft. Once he realizes he’s trapped, he’ll leave with his tail between his legs.”
Josh wasn’t convinced. “You don’t think he’ll put up a fight just to prove something?”
“He’s not the type to waste his energy on a hopeless fight.” McClintock was exactly the type. He wouldn’t put his life on the line, but he’d make sure not to leave the impression that he could be pushed around. Word traveled fast in our world. McClintock couldn’t afford to just lay down at the first sign of trouble.
“Still, I should go with you.”
I tapped a finger on the leather-bound Clostra. “You’ve got more important work to do.”
“Why do I think you’re playing me?”
“You worry too much. If I get into trouble, you’ll be the first call I make.” I clapped my palm on his back with a little too much force because I knew that annoyed him. “You can transport in like the cavalry.”
I started toward the exit when the door swung closed on its own. I sighed, turned back to Josh.
“What if he’s hunting you? This could all be a trap to get you in a vulnerable place.”
“You think there’s a bounty out on me?”
He winced with a smug smile. “You kinda piss people off.”
I grinned. “He takes me and Sebastian will have every pack in the country on his scent. He knows that.”
“Does he? He seems pretty crazy.”
“I’ve known McClintock a long time. I know how he thinks.”
“Do you?” Josh chided me. “Because he seems to have gotten the better of you so far.”
Before I could answer, I felt McClintock’s burner phone vibrate in my pocket, accompanied by an ominous-sounding musical march.
Josh gestured to my phone as I fished it out. “I know you’re not into pop culture references, but that’s Darth Vader’s march from Star Wars. He just owned you with a ringtone.”
I gave him a who-gives-a-shit look as I flipped the phone open. A text message flashed with GPS coordinates, followed by a simple message, Come alone.
While Josh looked up the coordinates, I texted them to Winter and Marko. I’d already informed them to approach from opposite directions and park at least a half mile out from the target. The rest of the distance they’d cover by foot, using whatever cover was available.
Staring at his laptop screen, Josh declared, “I don’t recognize the location.”
Looking over his shoulder, I did—Artemis’s house, her sanctuary. She didn’t have friends or family. No one dropped by or sent her cards. The location of her home was a well-guarded secret shared with none. Having lived most of her life on the street, she valued above all else the safety her privacy afforded. I’d only found the location after a great deal of effort and a bit of luck. McClintock was sending a message—nothing was safe from him.
Josh read my anger. “You know where this is?”
“I thought he’d picked her up off the street.” I pointed to the screen. “He didn’t connect me to Artemis and then find that house in one day. Someone helped him.”
“Chris?”
I dismissed the idea out of hand. She’d left Chicago when she’d left Demetrius.
“You said McClintock and her go way back,” he pressed. “Maybe she went back to him.”
“She’s got the Seethe on her tail. She’s not going to alienate the pack as well. Besides, if she tapped into any of her old sources, I’d know.” I started for the door. “Whoever he’s working with, I’ll find out.”
Josh called after me, “All the more reason to assume this is a trap.”
I turned, read the concern in his expression. “If I need you, I’ll call.”
He objected, but I was already out the door.
On the drive over, I retrieved my clear Bluetooth device from the compartment between the seats. Once I was set up, I put Winter and Marko on speaker phone and gave them the general layout of Artemis’s neighborhood. “Best cover is from the east. Marko, that’s your approach. Winter, approach from the south. You won’t have much time to set up your diversion.”
She answered, “All I have to do is kick a few rocks and whistle while I walk.”
“Don’t be obvious. Keep your eyes peeled. Tonya knows her business. She might not be the only one out there waiting for us.”
“I brought a few surprises with me.” I could hear the swagger in her voice as she declared, “By the time I’m done, they’ll think they chased off the entire pack.”
“Too much.”
“Half the pack?”
Remembering something McClintock had said to me at the Dairy Queen, I said, “Two.”
She sighed, suddenly bored. “Fine.”
“Marko,” I said. “Hole up about fifty yards out, wait for the distraction before you close in. Once the exchange starts, move in on the garden gate. There’s no other way into the yard without power tools. Whatever happens in the house, you stay on that gate. McClintock doesn’t escape.”
He asked almost casually, “Lethal?”
“He and I have some things to talk about, but he doesn’t escape.”
“Understood.”
I glanced at a passing street sign. “I’ll check in when I arrive.”
Half an hour later, I called them back. “Positions?”
Winter answered, “Ready.”
Marko said, “Yeah. In the neighbor’s backyard, watching the gate from behind a stack of firewood. Looks to me like this location is perfect for a trap on both accounts.”
It was, indeed.
He continued, “Whoever goes in first is going to be at a disadvantage.”
I didn’t answer. The odds were against finding McClintock already inside, not unless he’d already cut and hidden a way out through the hedge. He’d had plenty of time to prepare, but I figured he’d make me wait, show up late after taking a good long look around.
I parked in front of a small, rundown rambler in the suburbs. The house was in a state of disrepair because no one had lived there for years. Artemis used it as a mail drop. Her quaint, one-bedroom home was just down the street, hidden from view by a shield of dense, seven-foot-tall privacy hedges. The only way through was the back gate tucked into the green wall.
