aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire) (9 page)

Nikki
bit her lip. “I don’t want to listen to your horror stories. It was bad enough
learning that you were involved with mercenaries and have a brother who is now
a drug lord.”

“We
don’t know that for certain.” Selena shook her head. “Juan believes he is doing
what is right for his country. I don’t agree. That’s why I left.”

Nikki
raised an eyebrow. “You’ve told us yourself that you are not the same person
you were in the past. You don’t know who your brother is now, or what he is
capable of.”

Selena
sighed. “True. I still don’t believe he would kidnap family.”

“Well
the FBI think Juan is responsible. That’s why there isn’t a huge concern over
saving
Tarrin
. He’s not in danger, but Gates is.”

Selena’s
hands clenched into fists. “I sense he is in danger. I’ve always had an
instinctive connection with
Tarrin
. He is afraid.
That’s why I called in the Hunters. You need to let them help.”

Nikki
looked at Steve, who shook his head. She shrugged and looked back at her.
“We’re going with the FBI.”

A
sense of defeat flooded Selena. There was no point in arguing. Nikki never
changed her mind once she made a decision. She was on her own now because the
FBI weren’t looking for
Tarrin
. She had to trust that
the Hunters would get her boy back alive.

“For
the boys’ sakes, I hope you’re right.” Selena turned toward the door. “I don’t
believe the FBI will be successful.”

She
left the room. All her years of happy memories had been wiped out in one week
and there was nothing she could do. Nikki and Steve would never trust her
again. No matter what the outcome of the abduction, she had lost her friend and
her home. Hope and prayer were all that was left to her.

That
and the skill of the Hunters.

Catal
was waiting for her when she reached her room. He was standing with his arms
crossed in the middle of her kitchenette. When she opened the door he looked
up. His face was emotionless, but she sensed he wanted to speak with her.

“How
did you get in?” Her voice caught in her throat.

“You
know that doors and alarms don’t stop me. That’s why you called for our help.”
He leaned back against the counter. “We will not stop until the boys are safe.”

“Nikki
and Steve seem to think the FBI will be successful.” Selena sat at the table
and put her head in her hands. “I can’t make them realize that they are wrong
about Juan.”

“Your
brother was an honest man when I knew him.” Catal reached to touch her
shoulder, but she shifted away. “I will find your son.”

His
words sounded like a vow.

It
was too much for Selena. The tears she had been holding at bay filled her eyes.
She sniffed them back, but still they fell. A tissue was waved at her and she
took it, sopping up her tears and fears. She knew that Catal would find her
son. She had never doubted his skill, she just couldn’t trust him enough to let
him into her life again.

“The
FBI are wrong about the drop.”
Catal’s
crouched down
beside her. “They are missing something about this situation. No kidnappers
would change their mind so quickly and easily.”

“You
think the boys are dead?”

Selena’s
heart stopped. Her stomach churned with nausea and her eyes widened as she
watched
Catal’s
face for any indication that he was
going to lie to her. His eyes held hers for several seconds before he shook his
head.

“You
believe your son is alive. That is enough for me.”

“I
feel him here. His distress is mine.” She put her hand over her heart. “It might
sound crazy, but I know something has changed. He’s afraid. That’s why I
contacted aHunter4Hire.”

Catal
opened his mouth and then shut it. He looked away and then stood. “You
shouldn’t have to carry this alone. I’m here for you. Don’t block me.”

“I
had no idea you would come when I asked for help.” Selena shook her head. “I
have questions, but I’m exhausted. All I want is to get
Tarrin
back.”

“I’ll
do what you ask.” He walked to the door and opened it before turning back to
her. “Trust your instincts. We will find your son.”

The
sun was high in the sky. For June it was an abnormally hot day with the
temperature already in the high eighty’s. Catal blinked the sweat from his eyes
and eased the kink out of his neck. The smell of fresh cut lawns and roses
filled the air. He had been waiting in position since early morning. The drop
was scheduled for one in the afternoon. At the rate the visitors were coming,
the gardens would be full by then.

Greystone
Park was located above the city off Loma Vista Drive. Built in the early
twentieth century as the home for the heir to a financial empire, it had been
given the name
Greystone
because of the amount of
stone used in its construction. Now a heritage site that the city of Beverly
Hills operated, it was open daily so people could stroll through its formal
gardens and the mansion. The view was spectacular. The gardens immaculate.
That’s what made it a favorite with wedding parties. The parking and grounds
were free which made it popular with visitors.

Catal
had hidden himself on one of the stairways leading to the pool and change area
from the formal gardens. The brickwork was cool, but not enough to alleviate
the heat of the sun. He was accustomed to hiding for hours on end. This was a
minor inconvenience. What he wasn’t used to was having to avoid all the park
visitors and wedding guests who were making their way to the change rooms.

It
seemed as if everyone decided to get married today. Catal had counted at least
three wedding parties arriving for pictures. There were also guests assembling
for ceremonies at the mansion, the gardens, and the courtyard. At this rate,
there would be no place for the FBI to drop the ransom off that wasn’t being
used by wedding guests.

His
chest was tight with despair. He needed to focus on getting the boys back; not
happy couples. Weddings, even though it was a human custom, were a reminder of
how he had failed Selena. His last conversation with her kept repeating in his
head. His throat tightened and he swallowed hard to push away the pain. She
didn’t have faith in him. Despite everything he was doing to find her son, she
still pushed him away.

Could
he blame her though? He had never told her anything about himself. He’d let old
fears and prejudices about humans cloud his judgement. Selena was his pair
bond. She was the only woman he would ever mate with, and she didn’t know he
wasn’t from Earth. She thought that Hunters were soldiers for hire, not an
alien warrior race. Until he was honest with Selena, he had no right to expect
her trust.

“
Agent
Kelly has arrived.”
Partlan’s
voice sounded in
his mind. He was positioned opposite Catal on the path that led to the cypress
walk.
“She is holding the ransom bag.”

“I’ve
got her in my sights.”
Malac, who was watching the parking
area from high in a basket crane, cleared his throat.
“Do the police on this
planet always look so obvious?”

Catal
snorted.
“You’re pretty conspicuous from your position.”

“I’m
repairing the lights.”
Malac’s
voice held a note of hurt
. “I have blended in. Nobody ever looks up.”

“What
are the FBI doing?”
Partlan interrupted their banter.

“They’re
sweeping the area with a small dish receiver.”
Malac
heaved a sigh.
“They probably trying to pick up either our communications or
the kidnappers.”

“Have
they spotted you?”

“They’ve
glanced at the truck, but moved on.”
Malac hesitated a
second before continuing.
“They are moving down the stairs toward the formal
gardens.”

“I
see them.”
Partlan’s
voice was
serious. “
Firbin
and
Breanon
maintain your positions at the mansion.
”

“
We
have the area covered.
Breanon
is watching the
reflection pond and I am at mansion courtyard.
”
Firbin’s
tone was confident. “
No one will get past us.
”

Catal’s
eyes followed Agent Kelly as she ascended the brick stairs to the center formal
garden. She had a large black briefcase in her right hand. He could hear the
click of her high heels as she went up each stair. When she reached the top
pathway, a large number of people came up behind her. They moved around her and
then proceeded to move onto the grass. Chairs and a bridal arbor were set up,
at the end of the garden, near a fountain. Agent Kelly straightened her
shoulders and turned right.

She
walked along the edge of the lawn, skirting past wedding guests and park
visitors until she was behind the water fountain.
Catal’s
eyes narrowed. She moved out of his view for a second and when she reappeared
the briefcase was gone.

“She’s
made the drop.”
Catal connected with the others.
“It’s behind the fountain.”

“I
am moving into position.”
Partlan answered.

Catal
watched as Partlan turned and eased his way up the stairs from the Cypress
trees to the formal garden. He wore a grey golf shirt and dark sunglasses. He
moved with the stealth of a tiger along the opposite side from Agent Kelly. She
was almost at the center staircase that led down to the parking area before she
stopped. Her eyes narrowed and then she was talking into her earpiece.

“She’s
spotted you.”

Catal
inched away from the terrace where he had been lounging. If the FBI went after
Partlan, then the plan was for him to take his place. They needed to keep the
money within sight at all cost. Following whoever picked up the ransom was
necessary to finding the boys. He had just put his foot on the first stair,
when a commotion broke out from the center walkway. Catal pushed back into his
vantage point against the wall.

“What’s
happening?”
His voice was curt.

“A
mob of photographers have swarmed the parking lot,”
Malac
reported.
“They are moving toward the garden area.”

Catal
glanced around the brick wall just as a huge crowd of paparazzi surrounded
Agent Kelly. She tried to push her way free from them, but they only moved in
tighter. Other agents came to help her, but they had even less success. The
crowd moved onto the grass and into the wedding area.

Partlan
continued to move to the rear of the garden.

“Can
you see the briefcase?”
Catal forced his voice to remain
calm.

Before
Partlan could answer the crowd of paparazzi trampled the chairs that had been set
up for the wedding. They were like a stampede of buffalo, moving relentlessly
toward the fountain and surrounding it before they stopped. Everything fell in
the crush of their movement; chairs, pedestals, podium, and bridal arbor. It
was a disaster.

Catal
lost sight of the fountain.

“I
am moving in.”
Partlan’s
voice was loud in his head.
“They have surrounded the entire fountain and I
cannot see the briefcase.”

An
FBI agent ran up the stairs from the parking area with a bullhorn. He raised it
and bellowed. “If you don’t disperse you will all be under arrest.”

At
that moment the crowd turned to him. They plunged back along the lawn in his
direction, surrounding and taking him along with them. Cameras were raised in
all directions. The only sound that could be heard above the raised voices was
the endless clicking of camera shutters. Catal ducked back around the terrace
wall. The last thing he wanted was to be captured in a picture.

“The
briefcase is gone.”
Partlan’s
voice was clipped.
“Malac keep an eye on the people leaving the parking
area.
Firbin
and
Breanon
make certain no one gets by you.”

“We
have this whole area covered from the ground and up in the air.
Ranon
has the video feed going to the surveillance van.
Everything is being taped.”
Malac’s
tone was harsh. “
If they are on the grounds, then we have them.
”

“
There
are too many FBI agents in the parking area to get through there.
” Catal
could see the mob that still surrounded Agent Kelly.

“
We
will search the rest of the estate by foot.
”
Partlan’s
voice was determined.

That
meant the paths that led through the cypress trees and to the mansion needed to
be combed. Catal eased around the brick wall hiding him. He glanced at Partlan
who nodded back at him. He stepped away from his cover and hurried to the
opposite side of the garden. He met up with Partlan and they raced down the
stairs and pathway that led away from the formal garden to the mansion.