say the same thing?”
The briefest of pauses gave her the answer.
“I’m going to let him take me. You can track me. He’s acting so against type, there’s a possibility he could have the woman with him.”
“Absolutely not. I can’t allow—”
“Look, I know you have no reason to believe me, but I need you to trust me, Jake. I can do this.”
“Angela, I said, no. That’s an order.”
“This might be our only chance.” When he didn’t answer, she added softly, firmly, “Jake, please…I can do this. I know I can.”
Instead of arguing, he said grimly, “Describe him.”
“A little over six feet tall, but he’s wearing lifts because yesterday he was a couple of inches shorter. He’s wearing a badly cut brown wig with a receding hairline, fake goatee, and wire-rimmed glasses. Yesterday he wore padding, had a bulbous nose and thick, curly hair; today he’s much thinner and has a beaky nose, which looks to be his own. And the first time I saw him, he was medium build and height with brown, thinning hair.”
Even though it sounded as though she were describing three different people, she was relieved when Jake’s only comment was “That’s probably how he’s stayed hidden for so long. Sounds like he’s damn good with disguises.”
“He’s in an older white Volkswagen van, maybe about five years old.”
“Can you see a license plate?”
“No, not from here.”
“Anything else stand out?”
“Looks like there’s a small dent on the left rear bumper.” She stretched her neck ever so slightly…it was awfully hard to look without appearing as if she were looking. “That’s all I can see.”
“Is there anyone else in the garage with you?”
“No. And I can’t stall any longer.”
“I don’t want—”
“Jake, please. I know I haven’t given you any reason to trust me, but I promise you, I can do this.”
Silence filled her ear for several taut seconds and then he said, “You have your trackers?”
Relieved, she answered, “My necklace and watch. My phone too but he’ll probably dispose of it.” And because, despite his obvious misgivings, he was going to approve her plan, she whispered, “Thank you.”
Another long tense silence and then his ragged sigh exploded in her ear. “Partners don’t thank each other until the op is over. Got it?”
Withdrawing the grocery bag from her car, Angela knew she had dawdled as long as she dared. She might be on her own but she would never be alone. At that thought a surge of warmth and comfort surrounded her. LCR was the best in the business and she trusted Jake with her life. Not for a moment would this be a solo mission.
Jake gripped the phone in his hand as he stared at the scene in front of him. Miles of stalled traffic and he was caught in the middle lane, in between two semi-trucks. No way in hell could he get to her in time.
“Dammit, now I’m stuck in a traffic jam.”
“Just track me as soon as you can. I’ll be fine. Really.”
Wanting to scream his frustrations, he forced himself to focus on making sure she knew her options. “Don’t let it go too far. If it’s between your survival and his, don’t hesitate. Take him down. Kill him if you have to. Understand?”
“Yes.”
He had thought watching Angela dance and strip in front of a roomful of salacious strangers was torturous. That was nothing compared to listening as a killer stalked her and being unable to do a damn thing about it.
McCall and three LCR operatives were headed to her apartment but they were even further away than Jake. No one would reach her in time. This man would act way before anyone could get to her. Would the bastard follow Angela up to her apartment and play out the same scenario as he had with the other victims? If so, what had he done with Clarissa Eaton? There was no damn way he would have brought her all the way to Paris. Would her body be discovered soon since he was about to abduct a new victim?
When this was over, he’d kick his own ass for not considering that the killer had already targeted Angela. Had he been stalking her the entire time they were in London? How the hell had the man known her address in Paris? Could he have been on the train with them? Why had he not given any consideration that the bastard would come after her? Just because the maniac was acting against type meant nothing. Dammit, he should have stayed