Page 85 of Operation Protector
“Maybe Grace could help.” It was Ali, and Colby couldn’t help the little jump of his pulse when he heard her voice.
“How?” Quinn asked.
“Maybe she could get a look at what her mother is packing. If she’s taking heavy, winter-type clothes, or if she’s overheard anything…”
“Excellent idea. If she and Cutter can pull it off.”
They decided it was worth a try. Hayley had Ali write a quick note, then sent Cutter off to deliver it. They watched on screen as the dog raced over to Grace’s window. The child was there almost immediately, pushing the window open. Then she vanished, but was back in under three minutes, wrestling withCutter’s collar. So they had an answer much more quickly than they’d expected. And with more than they’d asked for.
Ali read it out loud for them all.
She got out her big pink puffer coat. She called somebody and said to get the house ready. And I heard that nasty guy say something about mountains. We’re going now.
“It ends in a kind of scribble, like maybe she heard her mother coming and had to rush,” Ali said.
“That’s it, then,” Quinn said. He looked at Colby. “I really would like to hire that girl of yours when she’s a bit older.”
Colby let out a sharp laugh. “I have a feeling we may all be working for her.”
“Truer words,” Quinn agreed.
“Quinn! They’re leaving,” Hayley said urgently. “Shall we try and stop them?”
Colby held his breath, hoping Quinn would say yes, but when he said no, he sadly understood.
“We need a plan in place first. And I think getting away will lull her, put her off guard.”
Colby didn’t like it, but he knew Quinn was right. They both turned as Liam came running down the stairs. He rattled off information at a rapid clip.
“Ria says she pulled Grace out indefinitely. Got the address, and pulled some info. Big place—figures—overlooking the golf course at the resort. My guy over at the airport says they’re scheduled to take off in an hour. In this.”
He handed Quinn a scrap of paper with something scribbled on it. Colby could just make out the wordCitation.
“Fast. So we can’t beat them in the air. Any idea if they’re flying into Denver and then driving?” Quinn asked. “There’s a county regional airport a lot closer, I think. With a nice long runway, because of the weather they have to deal with sometimes.”
“He’s checking,” Liam said.
Quinn looked at Colby, who had to shake his head. “Depends. They’ve got a fancy limo there in Denver, but if she’s in a hurry she might risk the short drive in a possibly grubby ride.”
“But if you had to guess?”
Colby knew the “had to” part was true. This was Grace. “I’d say the luxury limo. She avoids us peons whenever possible.”
“All right. Hayley, you get all that?”
“Copied. All of us?”
“I think so. We want max shock value.”
“Good idea,” Liam said. “I could—” He broke off as his phone chimed. He looked, sent a quick answer to a text, then looked at Quinn. “Denver.”
Quinn gave Colby a nod for his accurate guess. “Excellent. That’s at least a two-hour drive, maybe more this time of year.”
“Cutter, I assume?” Hayley asked.
“Of course.”
“Prepping now,” she said, and Colby could almost hear her smiling as she ended the call on her end.
