Page 86 of Twilight Tactics

“To save my daughter!” Piper’s composure shattered. Tears streamed down her face. “They have Hannah. They grabbed her three weeks ago. Said if Ollie testifies, they’ll kill her. I didn’t know what to do.” Her gaze turned pleading. “I knew I couldn’t do it,” she said, “but I had to play along until I could get Hannah to safety. I promise.”

The room fell silent. Elena moved closer to Ollie, keeping a protective hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Why didn’t you come to me?” Sully asked, his voice quieter now.

“They were watching. Always watching. And I just couldn’t risk you’d go above my head.” Piper sagged against the back of the sofa. “I hired someone—ex–Navy SEAL—to find her. But I haven’t heard back. The man I talked to at the jail—the one holding her—confirmed she’s still alive, but they’re running out of patience.”

Sully’s face morphed from anger to compassion back to anger. “Who’s holding her?” he demanded.

“Bellini’s people. They’re keeping her somewhere in or around Nashville. That’s all I know.” Piper looked up, her eyes red-rimmed but hard and clear. “I never would have let them kill Ollie. But I also had to try and save Hannah. I was simply stalling, trying to find a way out for both of them.” She ran a hand over her face.

“But you told them how to find us at every safe house,” Sully said.

“No, they made me wear a tracker. I simply made it seem like you were the one that got us all out of there in time.”

Sully stared at her, obviously playing the incidents over in his head. “But it was you.”

She shrugged.

A man dressed in FBI gear stepped forward. “This changes the situation. We’ll set up a task force to locate the girl.” He looked at Piper. “Give me the name of the man you hired and his contact information. I’ll get in touch with him.”

Piper did so.

Elena squeezed Ollie’s shoulder gently. The girl looked up at her, confusion and hurt evident in her eyes. “Does this mean she’s not a bad guy?” Ollie whispered.

Elena sighed, looking at Piper’s broken expression. “It means sometimes good people make terrible choices when someone they love is in danger.”

Ollie nodded slowly, her analytical mind working through this new information. “So now we have to save Hannah too.”

“Yes,” Elena agreed, meeting Sully’s gaze across the room. “Now we have to save Hannah too.”

Later thatmorning,Sully watchedthe man Ollie had identified as Rhino through the two-way glass of the sheriff’s interview room. He’d question him shortly, but for now, he wanted tojust observe him. The man sat with his shoulders hunched, handcuffed to the table, his eyes darting around the space.

Caught. Cornered. Dangerous.

The door opened behind Sully. Sheriff Donovan stepped in with a manila folder. “Got his prints back. Real name’s Lorenzo Amato. Two priors for assault, suspected in three murders but never charged.”

“Bellini’s muscle.” Sully took the folder, flipping it open to scan the rap sheet. “And the dead guy?”

“Not in the system, surprisingly enough. You’ll have to get that from the prisoner. But you’re sure you want to do this now?” Donovan asked. “The people at the ranch have no way to communicate if something goes wrong.”

Sully closed the folder. “I don’t like it either, but the FBI tac team is there, some of your deputies are there, and Elena knows those woods as well as anyone coming after them. They’ll be all right, I think.”

The words sounded good and he’d needed a phone signal to fill in Winters, but the truth was, the thought of leaving Elena and Ollie at the ranch with the signal jammers still active gnawed at him. The slice of betrayal still took his breath away. He couldn’t think about Piper right now. “Let’s get what we can from him.” They left the observation room and entered the interrogation room.

Sully pulled out the metal chair and sat across from Amato. Donovan took position in the corner, arms crossed.

“Lorenzo Amato.” Sully placed the folder on the table. “Quite the résumé.”

“I want my lawyer.”

“Sure thing. But before we make that call, you should know your situation.” Sully leaned forward. “Your buddy’s dead and we have the girl who’s going to testify against you and Bellini next week.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Amato’s eyes remained fixed on a point above Sully’s head.

“Let me refresh your memory.” Sully opened the folder. He couldn’t ask questions since the man had asked for a lawyer, but he could still lay some facts out for him and see if he responded. “Four months ago. Warehouse just outside of Nashville. Man named Carletti.”

Nothing.