Chapter 8

"Mama, you mind leaving us so we can talk?"

Tony's mother, who'd been setting out leftovers for the two Navy SEALs who'd pulled up to her home half an hour earlier, firmed her lips and started out of the kitchen. With an astute glance at Tony, Corinna trailed her.

"Not you, Corinna. Actually, go get your camera and bring it down here."

As she hurried off to fetch it, Tony gestured to the spread laid out by his mother. "Help yourselves. You must be hungry after your drive." It was ten o'clock on Friday night. The police had scoured the city for Ruby's stolen Range Rover to no avail. The tag-less Volvo had turned out to be stolen, itself. If its original plates had been transferred to Ruby's SUV, that might make it easier to find her. But there was no guarantee that was the case.

Mama's kitchen had never felt smaller with three SEALs filling the space. Monty was six-foot-three, and Ben was built like a WWF wrestler. They loaded up their plates with leftovers before taking seats at the little round table. Tony waited by the door for Corinna to bring her camera down. He'd already watched the interview with Katz, his gut churning as he beheld the man's false charm, sensed the evil lurking beneath it.

When Corinna returned and placed the camera in his hand, he chucked her under the chin. "Get some sleep, princess." He then listened for the sound of her footsteps on the stairs before joining his teammates at the table. He found the video, started it, then set the camera down so they could watch Katz's interview as they ate.

Monty stopped eating with half his food still on his plate. He laid his fork down. Ben kept eating, but his eyes were glued to the screen.

The burn scar that marred the right side of the CO's face paled to a white seam, while Ben's ears turned a deep pink, which they only did when he got angry.

"Liar," Monty muttered as Katz denied all knowledge of the rumor Ruby had brought up.

When the interview ended, Tony took back the camera and powered it off. "According to my sister, she and Ruby hid themselves in the hallway and overheard Katz's assistant talk about the leak they'd take care of. Pretty sure he was referring to Staskiewicz."

Ben finally put his fork down.

Monty leaned back his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "What have the police found so far?"

The hollow feeling in Tony's gut expanded. "Nothing. No sign of her or her vehicle."

Silence filled the small kitchen, interrupted only by the faint clicking of the clock on the stove and the sounds of the bustling city beyond the darkened windows.

With Monty's whisky-colored gaze resting on him, Tony struggled to maintain his composure.

"I spoke with Katz right after you told me what happened to Ruby. He tried to deny he had anything to do with taking her, but he agreed to my deal. I promised if he returns her to us at Stasky's funeral, I'll hand over the manuscript Stasky mailed me."

Tony drank in his CO's words like they were life-giving elixir. "You really think he'll bring her?"

"Yes, and in pristine condition, as specified. Plus, I suggested in no uncertain terms that he leave politics, or the manuscript may still come back to haunt him."

Relief knocked on the door of Tony's armored heart. "You mean, if he brings Ruby back, we're gonna let him get away with Stasky's murder?" The mere idea made his stomach hurt.

Monty sat back in his chair, threading his large hands together over his flat stomach. He turned his head, meeting Ben's blue-eyed glower. "No. While Katz's actions as a case officer can't be prosecuted, he can certainly be charged stateside for kidnapping Ruby and for ordering Stasky's murder. I already made a copy of the manuscript. We're going to gather any other evidence that comes our way, then hand it all over to the FBI to conduct their own investigation. That way Katz goes to jail instead of seeking reprisal and going immediately back into politics."

Tony pictured Fitz, the special agent who'd worked the ricin case in which Monty's wife, Opal, had been victimized. "Does Opal know what's happened to Ruby?"

"Not yet. You want me to tell her?"

"No." The fewer people who felt as miserable as he did, the better. "We'll tell her when it's over." That was assuming everything went as planned.

Monty stretched out a long arm and gripped Tony's shoulder. "I know what you're going through, Bambino. Don't forget Ruby's a fighter. You know she's unstoppable when she makes up her mind to do something."

Oh, I know. And while James meant for his words to be reassuring, they only notched Tony's anxiety higher. It would be so like Ruby to undermine their rescue attempt by trying to escape on her own. The very real possibility that she could end up getting hurt, even killed, pushed tears of distress into his eyes.

Monty removed his hand to check his watch. "We should probably get going. Ben and I are headed to Harrisburg tonight to surveil Katz, make sure he doesn't leave the country or something. We'll return Sunday morning for the funeral." He pushed back his chair and stood, prompting Ben to do likewise.

Tony followed suit. "Just leave your plates. I'll clean up."

But Ben ignored him, scarfing up both his and Monty's place settings and carrying them to the sink. On his way to the door, he met Tony's gaze. "I have some items in the car for you."

"Oh, good."

Tony had requested Ben pick up what he needed for the funeral. Hoping Ben had brought his sidearm as well as his dress whites, Tony followed his visitors back down the hall and out the front door into the cold night air. Ben's new vehicle, a black GMC Yukon, big enough to carry the three boys he was legally adopting, gleamed under the streetlamp.

While Ben reached inside and pulled out the uniform hanging in a garment bag, Tony kept his eyes peeled for strangers. Dried leaves fluttered along the sidewalk, but nothing seemed out of place. Ben handed him the garment bag containing his uniform, then reached back inside for a bulging sack.

"Here are your dress shoes and your sidearm with a spare mag. Sorry, I couldn't find the right socks."

"No worries. I'm just glad you found the hide-a-key." He kept one hidden in his carport as Ruby locked herself out regularly.

Ben ruffled Tony's hair, his expression sympathetic. "Hang in there." Then he spun away, rounding the SUV to get into the driver's seat.

Monty waited by the passenger door looking vigilant. "We'll see you at the funeral, Tony, if not before. Try to get there an hour early—or will you need a ride?"

Sunday seemed like a lifetime away. "I think I can use my sister's car."

"Just let us know." Both SEALs stepped into the vehicle.

As the engine gave a throaty rumble, Tony backed away, struck by a thought. If Katz had been gutsy enough to kill Staskiewicz, might he not seek to murder the remaining members of his old firing squad?

The Yukon pulled away. Once its taillights disappeared, Tony went back inside, locked the door, hung his uniform over the top of the closet door, then dug in the plastic bag for his sidearm, taking reassurance from its familiar weight. Tonight, he would be sleeping on the sofa in the front room with his SIG Sauer close at hand.

Both Mama and Corinna came creeping down the stairs. At their long faces, he hurried to reassure them. "We got a plan in place. Supposedly Katz is gonna bring Ruby to Staskiewicz's funeral and trade her for the book Stasky wrote."

The relief in their expressions was immediate. But doubt still sat like a boulder in the pit of Tony's stomach. No way was it gonna be that easy.