because once my mother’s disappearance became public knowledge, time is ticking for my father to turn himself in to whoever wants him.”
“Angel, you have to go to the police or the FBI,” Hala insisted. “They’re trained for this kind of thing.”
“I can’t!” It came out more desperate than I intended. I took a breath, tried to calm my nerves. “Please. My dad specifically said no police. Trust me, the police have no idea how to deal with the NSA, and this could backfire and get my mom killed. If what we try doesn’t work, we go to the police, okay?”
Everyone fell silent, thinking it over.
“How can you be sure that it was your dad you were talking to on the phone?” Bo asked. “Maybe the kidnappers are trying to manipulate you.”
“I know, and I am aware of that risk,” I said. “But I believe it was him. He used certain phrases and said things that made me believe him. I know it’s hard to trust my word on this, but I’m asking you to do that very thing.”
“I trust you, Angel,” Frankie said. “We all do. That’s why we’re here.”
No one dissented. I looked at each person in the room, technically my team, but also my friends. It was such a strange feeling to have to rely on someone other than myself and trust them with something as important as my mother’s life.
“Frankie is right,” Jax said. “We’re already in, so what’s the plan? How are you going to keep your mom’s work or her friends from calling the police?”
“I called my mom’s coworker at the pharmacy and let them know she’ll be out for several days. I didn’t offer details. That will hopefully keep them from alerting the police, or anyone else, at least for the next few days.”
“So, now what?” Wally asked.
“When my dad called me today while I was at my mom’s apartment, he told me she’d been taken by the same people who tried to kidnap me.”
“But why?” Kira asked. “And why did they try to kidnap you?”
“For the same reason. They’re using us to get to my dad.”
Bo studied me for a long moment. “What the heck did your dad do, Red?”
“I don’t think he did anything. Just like I don’t think J. P. did anything. I think they saw, discovered or created something that put a target on their backs. I’m hoping my dad will tell me more when I see him.”
“Won’t it be dangerous to draw your dad out if he’s what they want?” Bo asked.
“Yes. It will be really dangerous. That’s why he didn’t tell me where he wants to meet over the phone. He sent me a riddle instead. I have twenty-four hours to solve it and figure out how to safely meet him. That’s my most pressing task at the moment.”
“You’ve got this riddle?” Jax asked.
“I do. It came to an account I don’t use much. It was heavily encrypted, but it’s not unbreakable. He gave me a clue as to how to crack the encryption using a favorite baby name of mine as a clue. If the NSA sees it, I’m sure they can break it, too, given enough time. But he set a time limit and said he’d connected it to something he’s sure only I’ll understand.”
“What if it’s a trap?” Mike asked. “And that’s a legit question after your near kidnapping.” He drummed his fingers against his thigh, which he sometimes did when he was anxious. A piece of dark hair fell across his forehead.
“I know, Mike. It could be a trap, but since I believe it’s my father who sent the riddle, I’m going to take the risk.”
Wally stood up. “Well, then, it’s decided. You solve the riddle, and we’ll get you to the meeting place without being followed.”
“How are we going to do that?” Kira asked.
I held up a hand. “One problem at a time. Let me figure out the riddle first. Without that, we don’t have to worry about the other.”
“I disagree,” Jax said. “We can work on this in tandem. It will go faster if we break down the pieces. For example, Frankie and Wally, you know Angel best, so you help her with the riddle. Kira and Bo and I will figure out how we’re going to get Angel to her dad once she figures out when and where the meeting will be. Mike and Hala, you see if you can run down some more research on Angel’s dad and this J.