Page 90 of Avenging Angel

Roger and Owen are talking with Director Finnegan on an encrypted satellite link, while Vinny is doing the same with Director Ludlow.

Roger runs a hand through his salt-and-pepper hair, frustration and fatigue written all over him as he says, “I don’t like it anymore than you do, but with the plane set to land in Scotland, we don’t have a choice but to let the CIA take over…. Do not sideline me, Robert. It’s my team member who’s in danger.”

While the call isn’t on speaker, I can hear Finnegan loud and clear. “You’re too close to this, Roger. Frankly, I am too. Owen is a given since it’s his sister. As for the rest of your team….”

“We’re all dialed in, Robert, and ready to go. Our heads are clear, as are our hearts. This one has to be by the book. I know your reluctance doesn’t have anything to do with a lack of faith in me or my team. So, what is it?”

“Not only are you my best friend and protégé; you’re married to my daughter and are the father of my grandson,” Finnegan says. “Call me selfish, but I don’t want Harper and Tanner to mourn you. We currently don’t know Dominion’s capabilities, who we can trust, or what you’ll be up against.”

“I need you to trust me and to have faith in the Almighty. Daisy has traveled a long road to get here, and we’re meant to be part of the journey. Do not rob my team or me of that privilege. Please.”

“Fine, but we’ll do it together. I’m catching a flight to Glasgow in an hour. I’ll see you soon.”

Roger clears his throat. “I need a favor from you before you leave. I need you to contact the FAA and have them redirect Bennett’s aircraft and lower its cruising altitude. This will buy us some time to catch up. They can claim the need to reroute due to storms, or something. I don’t care. We need to slow them down and close the distance.”

After hanging up, Roger says, “We’re cleared to proceed.”

Vinny hangs up with Director Ludlow. “There’s a team on the ground at Glasgow, and he deployed his secret weapon as soon as the flight plan was filed. We’re pinning everything on Bennett believing he got away with it and left us none the wiser.”

“Bennett’s going to go underground if we don’t stop him,” I say.

Roger confirms this. “As you know, Jerry didn’t actually go to Colorado. The ruse to pressure Bennett into action was a gamble that worked. However, Jerry has been monitoring the offshore account that was put in Brad’s name, and as of an hour ago, the funds were transferred. Bennett’s going to make a run for it, likely get surgery to change his appearance, and disappear into some non-extradition country that hates America.”

Looking down at his watch and then up at the night sky, he says, “Jerry can have the funds traced by the time we land in Scotland, but he doesn’t have the authority to freeze those funds once he does.”

Vinny writes down a name and number, handing it to Roger. “You have been granted full access to whatever you need by Ludlow. Give this name to Jerry and tell him to use the codeword: Southpaw. The person on the other end of the line will handle asset management.”

Owen snorts. “Jerry’s going to love that. Owing the CIA a favor is about the furthest thing on his list of life goals.”

“Just tell him that the CIA is going to take the heat when all of this makes the front-page news. The sooner that happens, the happier he’ll be,” Vinny jokes.

I chuckle because I know Vinny isn’t joking, and that Owen will jump at the opportunity to deliver the news to Jerry.

For the next few hours, we all get some sleep except for Owen. He’s busy pounding coffee and staring at the screen.

“You should get some rest,” I say when I wake up. “I can take over for a bit.”

“I couldn’t sleep if I tried,” Owen replies. “I’m not sure how you did it.”

“Did what? Sleep? I just closed my eyes and let my body take over.”

Owen leans back and closes his eyes. “No, that’s not what I mean. How did you not lose your mind when Faith was taken and held by the cartel? I feel so helpless now, while you seemed so composed back then.”

“I was far from composed then, and I’m far from composed right now. I love Daisy, and I’d burn the world down to get to her if it were in my power to do so. But this is her fight, and we’re just along for the ride.”

He cracks an eye open to look at me. “My sister is pretty resilient, isn’t she?”

“Daisy is resilient, hard-headed, and stubborn to a fault.”

Owen smiles at my assessment. “That she is. It’s a family trait.”

“She’s also tender-hearted, compassionate, loyal, and devoted to those she loves. Those qualities combined with the others make her a force to be reckoned with.”

“Also family traits.” Owen twiddles his thumbs as he formulates his thoughts. “Daisy loves you, too. When you hurt her with your callous words, I wanted to hate you. A kiss should mean everything, yet you told her it meant nothing.”

I figured this conversation would eventually happen, though I didn’t expect it on a plane full of operators and family members. “You said that you ‘wanted to hate me.’ Does that mean you didn’t?”

He opens his eyes and lolls his head toward me. “No, I didn’t hate you. I could see the same look in your eye then that I see now. That kiss did mean something to you. You just hadn’t figured out what it was yet. I had that same look once.”