Page 7 of Holiday Hostage
“We just finished a job.” Reed chugged the rest of his drink, then washed the shaker cup and mixed another for tomorrow.
“Better pack that up.” Maverick pointed a folded piece of paper at Reed. “We may be gone for a while.”
Reed arched his eyebrows. “Oh really? Where are we going?”
The three of us had been friends long enough that even if one of us had rank over the other in the rangers, it didn’t matter anymore. But Reed and I continued to follow Maverick’s lead.
He’d been the first to leave the rangers, and not of his own free will.
That honor was all mine, and I still didn’t regret it.
Maverick handed me the paper. “Her name is Payton Rivers.”
“Her?” Reed wheeled to look over my shoulder as I opened the paper.
He let out a grunt and grabbed one of his shirts from the laundry room.
He spoke while shoving his arms into the sleeves and yanking the green material over his head, covering the multitude of tattoos across his chest and shoulders. “What’s the job?”
“Possible kidnapping. Her father, Frank Rivers, hasn’t received a ransom note, but there are indications of a struggle at the site where she disappeared.”
Reed gave me a look. “Frank Rivers? As in…”
Maverick nodded. “Yep, that one.”
He showed a careful casualness when he crossed his arms and tucked his right fingers close to his side. “And before you ask, he’s adamant that she is not the type to run away.”
“No.” I took a closer look at the picture.
There was something about Payton that shone from the photo. It was more than happiness and vibrant health.
She had a presence in her smile, a kind of awed beauty as she took in the world around her.
Reed was the one to say what Maverick and I refused to say.
“Any rich father is going to say that, especially one with his prestige and power. Having a runaway daughter is instant death to a business career like his. Means he can’t control his life.”
“I don’t think Frank is that kind of man. Yes, he has more money than he can spend in ten lifetimes, but you didn’t see him.” Maverick dipped his head toward the picture. “He was worried. And he wants her back by Christmas."
“Yeah, see? That’s my point. Why the deadline of the biggest family holiday of the year?” Reed’s pessimism was unexpected. He was usually the first one on board with a new mission.
“What bug crawled up your ass and died?” I popped my knuckles and headed toward the garage, Reed and Maverick on my heels.
“You did.” Reed laughed and slapped me on the back. “I just wanted to see the two of you sweat over it. I’m in.”
“We leave in an hour. And it’s going to be dangerous.” Maverick said it like he thought we’d back out.
Reed snorted. “Good. I’ve been bored to death. All Tarron does is stare at the crossword puzzles. It’ll be good for him to get some fresh air.”
“In Alaska.” Maverick said the words in such a deadpan voice that it took Reed and me a minute to catch on.
I stopped and turned.
We stood in the middle of the garage. Shelves lined every wall, each one filled with totes carefully labeled with all our equipment.
Each of us had a wall, and the fourth was stacked floor to ceiling with an assortment of weapons and shared supplies. “Alaska?”
“Alaska.” Maverick pulled one of the black totes from his wall and cracked open the lid. “Better pack your underwear, Reed. You’ll freeze your balls off out there.”
