Page 58 of The Lies We Tell

“Make sure the backup plane I ordered is a go,” Gabe said. “We’ll be ready for takeoff in twenty minutes. And make sure you talk to the pilot directly. Tell him to take every precaution. I want to make sure he’s alive when we get there.”

Gabe slapped a full magazine in his gun as he heard the sound of boots hitting the stairs and coming toward them. He nodded once at Jack to cover him and jumped over the stair railing, simultaneously firing at two of the guards. Jack covered his back and fired steadily at those blocking the front entrance until they were ducking for cover.

Gabe and Jack ran out the front entrance together, shots echoing behind them. They split off and disappeared into the night and sand as a dozen police cars surrounded the museum.

ChapterTwenty-Two

They were running out of time.

All air traffic into London had been diverted or grounded after the explosion of his building, including private planes with high-level security clearance. They’d finally been granted clearance at the military airfield in Kent after Gabe had called in every favor he’d ever been owed. They still had an hour ride by train into the city and a ten-minute walk to Oxford Park Station with only seventy-two minutes left on Kimball’s time clock. If anything went wrong, Grace would be the one to pay.

“I’ve sent an aerial view of Oxford Park to each of your computers,” Ethan said. “It’s not in a particularly good area of town, and the station is a graveyard of sorts for the old train cars that transported coal.”

Ethan had finally made his way to the safe house sometime during the night. His electronic setup there wasn’t quite as extensive as it had been at headquarters, but it was close.

Jack and Logan joined Gabe on the train into the city, and they sat in a car that was deserted—mostly because they’d blocked the entrance at each end—their laptops open on the small Formica tables, and maps spread open so they could determine the best route to take once they were there.

“We have to assume the place is wired for explosives considering what he did to headquarters,” Logan said softly.

“That’s why you and Jack are going to take that nifty device Ethan gave us and look for a bomb while you’re searching for Grace.”

“You can’t think to meet Kimball without backup,” Jack said, shaking his head.

“I need both of you searching for Grace. He’s going to want to kill her as soon I make the exchange.”

“And what are you going to do once you’ve made the exchange?” Jack asked.

“He’s going to want to kill me too,” Gabe said. “I’m going to try not to let him.”

“I’ll have the station up on satellite imagery,” Ethan said. “Body heat will be traceable. If the area isn’t too saturated with people, I’ll be able to find Grace if she’s there.”

Gabe tried not to think about what it might mean if she wasn’t there. He wasn’t going to give up. There was no way he’d let someone like Kimball be the one to defeat him after all these years.

“Something else you’re going to have to be aware of is the 12:05 train,” Ethan said. “It’s not a passenger train, but it will come through all the same. From what I can tell from the manifest, it’s transporting steel and building materials. Four engineers are on board.”

Gabe barely heard Ethan in the background of his mind. He ran every scenario he could think of through his mind, and still he couldn’t make the outcome end in his favor.

“Gabe,” Jack said.

Gabe looked up and saw the understanding in his friend’s gaze. He knew Jack had come to the same conclusions he had.

“We’re with you to the end,” Jack said. “We’ll find her.”

Gabe nodded at the lie. He would find Grace. Whether it be in this world or the next.

* * *

“Satellite is up and running,” Ethan said. “This place has a lot of traffic for a junkyard. I’m counting twelve men circulating the area. I can’t tell how heavily they’re armed. The metal from all the railcars is screwing with my imaging.”

Gabe checked his watch once more and moved faster until he was all but running through the streets to Oxford Park. Jack and Logan had both taken alternate routes, and Kimball would know he’d bring men with him. They were playing a game in Kimball’s mind, and Grace had become the pawn.

“Kimball’s already at platform seven, Ghost,” Ethan said. “He’s having a telephone conversation with someone, but it’s a secured line, and I’m not able to listen in with the equipment I have here.”

“Renegade in position,” Jack said. “Northeast corner.”

“I’ve got you in my sights,” Ethan said. “You’ve got a man at three o’clock and another at nine.”

“Have you found Grace?” Gabe asked.

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