What You See (Sons of the Survivalist #3) - Cherise Sinclair Page 0,98
without learning what you needed to know.” Lillian made a tsking sound.
“Actually, I’d already narrowed the location down to a couple of buildings near the east fence.”
“Had you,” Bull murmured. He tilted her chin up. “And how exactly did you do that?”
His face had the same expression as Nonna’s when her grandmother found Frankie playing with a scorpion. In fact, all of Bull’s brothers appeared dismayed.
Che palle, over-protective men. “I flew a drone over the compound and mapped part of it. There were children playing between two buildings. One of them would be the children’s dorm.”
“A drone.” Audrey grinned. “That’s really smart.”
“Have you got the photos?” JJ asked. “I’d like to see them.”
“I didn’t get pictures of the entire compound.” Frankie pulled out her new phone to flip through the photo gallery. Thank goodness she’d had everything backed up in the cloud. “They killed my poor drone. Shot it ri…”
The silence registered.
Oops.
Anger radiated off Bull’s powerful body like heat waves off a New York sidewalk in summer. More than enough to scorch a person.
Jumping up, she handed JJ her phone.
“Thanks,” JJ lowered her voice to a whisper. “You’re in deep shit with the bull, I hope you know.”
When Frankie rolled her eyes, the cop snorted a laugh…and grinned.
Maybe Bull’s attitude was a touch insulting, yet his protectiveness warmed her more than the blanket he’d wrapped around her last night.
The patrol officer studied the phone’s photos and enlarged a portion of one. “I see the children outside the buildings. You called them barracks. Does that mean the women don’t live with their kids?”
“Kit said the women’s barracks is next door to the children’s. The kids have a matron in charge of their building.”
“That might complicate matters.” Caz turned to Gabe. “So, viejo, how’re we going to do this?”
Frankie clasped her hands in her lap, hope and fear mingling. Because, unlike with her plan, the rescuers would have to go into the compound. “You do know—obviously—that they have guns.”
“They have rifles, woman. I doubt they have artillery,” Bull said.
Dante shook his head. “Let’s hope not. Artillery would be bad.”
They were correcting her grammar? Frankie stared at the two idiots—who both smiled at her.
Beside JJ, Caz flipped through the phone’s photos. “We can get to the southeast fence and those buildings using the trail from Chevy and Knox’s land.”
Frankie nodded. “That’s the one I’d planned to use.”
“It goes past the corner watchtowers, though.” He handed the phone to Gabe.
Gabe’s brows drew together. “This is too small to see—”
“Eff-it-all, give me that.” Audrey plucked the phone from his hand. “I’ll run over to our cabin, download the photos, and enlarge the best ones.”
“Perfect.” Gabe pulled her down for a quick kiss. “You’re my favorite tech goddess.”
“I’m your favorite everything, Chief.” Audrey hurried out of the house.
“Rather than rescuing just one boy and woman, seems like we should get them all out,” Bull said.
“All?” Frankie held her breath. That would be wonderful.
“Hmm.” Gabe leaned back on the sectional and stared at the ceiling for a silent minute. “It has possibilities. Remove the children—as well as any women who want to leave—would keep the PZs from using them as hostages. Handing the victims over to the authorities would minimize the legal problems.”
JJ frowned. “We’ll want social workers as well as law enforcement involved. If a mother is brainwashed or pressured, we don’t want a child yanked back into an abusive situation.”
Picking her hand up, Caz kissed her fingers. “Sí. That will keep the children safe.”
Legal problems? Gabe and JJ were cops. Caz was a licensed health professional. Frankie chewed on her lip before asking, “Can we do this without breaking a million laws and getting you all in trouble?”
“We won’t break more than a handful or so,” Gabe said with a half-smile. “You can testify we have a reasonable belief that a child’s life is at risk. Do you still have the letter Kit mailed you, or did it burn with your cabin?”
“It’s in my office in New York. Safe.” She relaxed slightly.
“Getting out intact is going to be a problem though. Herding women and children through a dark forest will take time,” Bull said.
Dante nodded. “As Frankie pointed out, the PZs have guns.” Despite the teasing words, his tone was serious.
He was right. Frankie considered and said, “A diversion?” even as Bull suggested, “Let’s draw the sentries away.”
“Yes.” Gabe turned to Dante. “Could you round up some rowdy folks to create a diversion near their gate?”
“You betcha.” Dante smiled at Lillian. “We know just the