Last Chance (26 page)

"First, explain to me how the bastard escaped from prison and

somehow everyone believes he's dead."

"I don't have names, only off-the-record suppositions, but they sound

feasible." Jared pulled several pages from a folder. "Here are statements, all

unofficial, by prison guards, an administrator, the jail warden, and two

doctors. They won't testify in court and will deny everything if approached

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by any person in law enforcement, but they all indicated that Hughes had

some influential friends before he went into prison, and made even more

while he was there. Powerful friends. When the riot broke out, some

prisoners escaped. It was reported that they were all apprehended. Several

prisoners were killed in the fire caused by the riot. Damon's friends greased

some hands and got him declared dead."

"That's some damn powerful greasing."

"Mafia money can be quite slick."

"Mafia? In Nebraska?"

"Hell, the Mafia's got connections everywhere. Though apparently

this was a cousin of a cousin. Still, it got him what he wanted. Freedom

without anyone looking for him."

"So what did he do once he got out?"

"What he promised to do. He went into business with the people who

helped him. Unfortunately, he became more powerful, and they had a

parting of the ways. A few people conveniently died. Hughes continued to

gain more power and money. Eventually he killed off his enemies and

became the big honcho."

"Do we know where he is?"

"That's the kicker. Probably in the southeastern United States, but

that's as close as we've been able to pinpoint."

"Why do we think the Southeast?"

Jared grimaced. "Apparently he's told more than one person that his

fiancee loves the warm weather."

"And I'm assuming this fiancee is supposed to be McKenna?"

"No one has seen her, but his story is they met when she was a

teenager and he's the love of her life. She plans to join him as soon as she

graduates from law school."

If Lucas had a sense of humor left, he would have laughed. Seeing

McKenna as an attorney would be interesting. She was so bluntly honest.

"Anything else?"

Leaning forward, Jared said, "He's damn dangerous, Lucas."

"I've been acquainted with quite a few damn dangerous people."

"You've been out of the game for a while, mate. Just don't go off half

cocked because of what he's done to your girlfriend. He's going to be

surrounded by the most conscienceless people around."

"For just one of the things he did to McKenna, he deserves to die. But

he not only destroyed her life, he wiped out an entire family. And judging by

the things you've learned, he's still killing. The man needs to be stopped."

"Agreed. Just make sure you don't go down with him."

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Lucas nodded but didn't reply. What could he say? He had no

intention of dying, but if he did, it would be after Damon Hughes drew his

last breath. That he could swear.

There was something else eating at Jared. Knowing the man's

penchant for detail and follow-up, Lucas asked, "What's Humphries done

now?"

"He's gambling again. Using his son-in-law's name and credit cards."

Shit. He didn't need this now. "Can you get to his son-in-law without

tipping him off?"

"Probably."

"Go to him, tell him what's going on. If he wants to press charges, I'll

go along with it. However, if he thinks he can pull him in without informing

the rest of the family, I'd like to try it."

"Bloody hell, Lucas. Why?"

There were certain personal things few people knew about Phillip

Kane. Lucas would never defile his father's memory, but Jared deserved to

know why he was so reluctant to punish Humphries. "After my mother died,

my father went off the deep end. He had a drinking problem not many

people knew about. Humphries was one of his closest friends. Every time

my father ended up in a ditch, Humphries was the one he would call. My dad

finally cleaned himself up. Exchanged his love for alcohol for an obsession

for beautiful women, but he never forgot what Humphries did for him. And

neither can I."

His expression grim, Jared nodded. "I'll talk to the son-in-law."

"Good."

"Have you made a decision about the photographs Phelps showed

you?"

"I had hoped to find the bastard before now. Since we still have no

real idea where he is, I don't have a choice but to proceed with the lure."

Jared stared hard at him for several seconds, then sighed and said,

"When are you going to start the game?"

"Tomorrow. Phelps will release the gag on the tabloid, with the

understanding they get to run the photo first. Then it'll go viral. All major

newspapers will run it the next day, with a small, tantalizing story regarding

my new love interest. I'll go to the States, make myself open and available.

Hopefully by this time next week, Mr. Hughes and I will become

acquainted."

"Have you considered the man might just kill you outright, no

questions asked?"

Lucas shrugged. He had considered it. "It's a risk I'm willing to take."

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"When I told you that you needed to stop playing around and settle

down, I had hoped you'd fall for a nice, calm English girl. Not a wild child

from Nebraska."

"My feelings for McKenna don't even enter into this. Damon Hughes

is the kind of man we used to fight against. Even if I didn't know McKenna

personally, I'd still go after the man."

"Just be damned sure you stay alive." Jared's smile was one of grim

humor. "The Millington Award is just a few weeks away. I'd hate to have to

accept for you posthumously."

Paris

Running on determination, nerves, and a gallon of caffeine, McKenna

entered Noah's office. Yesterday he'd only given her the bare facts of Jamie

Kendrick's disappearance. Today she hoped to learn more. With LCR's

assistance, she would rescue the woman. Noah undoubtedly already had a

scenario planned, but McKenna had her own ideas. She only hoped Noah

would go along with them.

Noah stood as she entered the room. "You're looking well, McKenna."

She nodded. "I'm one hundred percent again."

"Good." He gestured to the small conference table. "We're ready to

get started. I'm assigning Dylan as your backup, with an assist from Aidan

Thorne. I've asked Samara to sit in with us, too."

McKenna spared a small smile for Dylan and a larger one for Samara.

Since she'd never worked with Aidan before and had only met him once, she

gave him a nod and seated herself at the table.

"Okay, here's what we know. Jamie Kendrick disappeared weeks ago.

No one reported her missing because she was new in town. The part-time

jobs she had were the kind that people often quit without giving notice. Her

apartment rent was paid through the end of the month. Mail was stopped at

the post office. Someone stuck a postcard in a mail slot asking that the mail

be held. Since she knew so few people, it was assumed she had just left

town."

"What about her apartment? Anything left behind?" Dylan asked.

"No. Whoever took her wanted it to look like she'd moved. Nothing,

not even a dish, spoon, or square of toilet paper, was left. The apartment was

a furnished rental. So it looked as though she had just moved out."

"And the reason she's considered a missing person now is that she

failed to show up for a court date?" McKenna said.

Noah nodded. "Her ex-husband had been charged with abuse. Bastard

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is in jail, so they know he didn't take her. They think he might have hired

someone. From the sound of it, he's pretty torn up."

Aidan snorted. "Yeah, sounds like a real prince of a guy."

"Point is, police are treating it as a missing-person case now, but

they're still looking at the obvious, which is that her ex-husband had

someone abduct her to keep her from testifying."

McKenna shook her head. "That's because no one knows she looks

identical to a woman being stalked by a maniac."

"I've talked to one of our FBI contacts, Honor Stone. She knows the

special agent in charge of the investigation." He met each person's gaze, then

his eyes settled on McKenna. "You remember her? She worked on Keeley

Fairchild's missing children case."

"Keeley Mathison now," Samara added.

He smiled at his wife, then looked back at McKenna. "I told Honor

our theory. She's checked Hughes out and the story of his death still stands.

Whoever helped the man disappear knew what they were doing."

McKenna shrugged. No big surprise there. Why wouldn't they believe

prison officials instead of one helpless, seemingly drugged-out teenager?

Especially when it had been so expedient.

Noah leaned forward to lock gazes with her. "We all agree that there's

an amazing resemblance between you and Jamie Kendrick. And the fact that

she's mysteriously disappeared is suspect, but it could all still be a

coincidence. Are you sure you want to risk it?"

A long sigh escaped. "My gut tells me he has her. And since we're the

only ones who even know he's alive, no one will be looking in his direction.

He can dispose of her, sell her...whatever he wants to do with her."

McKenna refused to acknowledge the ice-cold fear that raced through

her veins as she remembered some of Damon's favorite punishments. This

wasn't about her any longer. This was about saving a woman whose only

crime was the misfortune of looking like someone else.

She took another breath and said, "But even if he doesn't have her, I'm

ready to confront him."

Noah and Samara exchanged a concerned look. "Confront him?

How?"

Knowing that she would see censure in their eyes didn't stop her from

looking around the room as she explained. Fear had kept the truth hidden for

too long. "I know how to contact him."

"How's that?" Noah asked.

"When he left me that last message, telling me he killed my neighbor,

he gave me a phone number. I know I should have gotten it over with,

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confronted him then. I was too scared...a coward." She straightened her

shoulders and set her jaw. "I'm not scared anymore."

Noah shook his head slowly. "There's not a person at this table or in

this world who would ever call you a coward, McKenna. You've endured

things no one ever should have to experience. And you've saved a lot of

lives, so don't ever use that word again."

Since she continued to be scared, she couldn't agree with Noah's

assessment. However, the words were a balm to the ragged edges of her

mind where her conscience had chiseled condemnation.

"Since you know where he is, I'm assuming you have a plan?"

"Yes. I'm going to trade myself for Jamie."

Three men cursed simultaneously. Samara was the only one who

didn't seem surprised. "What happens if you can't find her?" Samara asked.

"I'll stay until I find her. Once I do, I'll get her to safety and then..."

She took a breath and finished. "I'll take Damon out."

"We don't, as a rule, take people out," Noah said.

McKenna snorted softly. "I'll be glad to try to make a citizen's arrest,

but I doubt he's going to come quietly."

"You misunderstand. Damon Hughes dying would be no big loss.

However, you've got two LCR operatives and me on standby, just waiting to

help you." Noah's eyes narrowed as he stared into space for a moment. Then

he looked around the room. "Perhaps we could do this without an

exchange."

"What do you mean?" McKenna asked. "He's not going to give her up

without getting me."

"We could trick him into giving her up, but before he got to you, we

could get him."

McKenna was shaking her head before he finished his sentence. No

way in hell was she putting LCR people at risk for something that she could

have prevented. If something happened to one of them...horror twisted her

gut. She couldn't live with that on her conscience.

"Don't shake your head till you hear the plan, squirt." Dylan's lazy

voice interrupted her thoughts.

Her mouth was so frozen, she couldn't even come up with the half

smile his nickname usually caused. "I can't allow--"

"McKenna, you're part of a group now. We work together to save

others and we band together to help each other. Understand?"

Emotion lumped in her throat unexpectedly. Damned if she would

give in to the silly emotional tears that were pounding behind her eyes. For

someone who'd been on her own for so long, having these people treat her

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like family was overwhelming. And then her conscience snarled a warning:

Remember what happened to your last family because of you
.

Since everyone's eyes, including Samara's, were staring at her with the

conviction of Noah's words, McKenna didn't bother to argue. If it came

down to it, she would protect these people in any way she could. Telling

them this wouldn't help.

Since she hadn't spoken, Noah apparently believed he had her

agreement. "Once we have Jamie safely in our sights, you back away and