Page 86 of Reset

“Well, we already have our quota of bitches.” Megan smiled sweetly at Rachel.

Callum ignored them and clasped his business partner’s hand. “I wasnae expecting you.”

“One of our own is missing,” Lake said, as though that explained everything.

“Elle was just telling us about the French connection,” Callum said. “Elle? You want to carry on?”

“Sorry, yes. It’s just, is that the universal badass pose?” she pointed to the men dotted around the room.

All but Harvard were standing feet apart, arms folded, with frowns on their faces.

“Do you get this kind of respect in the Scottish office?” Callum asked Lake.

“I get respect wherever I go,” Lake drawled before giving Elle a chin lift.

“So, about my report,” Elle said, suddenly all business. “Leo Fournier, The Baker, runs his business out of Paris and subcontracts with guys around the planet, depending on what the job needs. He’s known for getting you whatever you want, for a price. No job is too dirty. He’s been in business a while, probably because he knows how to keep his mouth shut. And he looks a little like Christie’s Poirot—David Suchet version. No kids, no girlfriend, nobody you could use to get to him. As far as I can see, he runs a tight crew. His people are loyal or they’re dead. There’s nothing in between.”

“This is the go-between who hired Prentice to kidnap Ryan and Sarah?” Lake asked.

Elle nodded, making the blue spout dance. “He hangs out in a bar in Pigalle. Not the tourist area around Moulin Rouge—we’re talking a seedy back-alley type bar with topless waitresses, illegal strippers, and a brothel upstairs. He’s classy like that.”

“Then that’s where we start.” Callum glanced at Joe. “Take a couple of people and scout the place out. We need to know what we’re walking into and how best to approach this. We’re also going to need somewhere quiet where we can talk to this guy once we pick him up.”

“You can bring him here.” Rachel waved a hand to indicate the most expensive hotel suite in Paris. “Trust me, no one will bat an eye at a little violence and torture. I’ve heard what rock stars do in these rooms.”

Yet again, Callum had to be the voice of reason. “We’re no’ interrogating a criminal here.”

Rachel sniffed, as though he was being difficult. “Well, I’m sure they could give us another room, if we needed it.”

“Yeah,” Megan said. “Why don’t I call down to the concierge and ask if their torture dungeon is free?”

Rachel was unfazed. “This is Paris; I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they had one. Be sure to mention my name. It comes with VIP benefits.”

Before Callum could explode, David piped up. “I know a place,” he said, surprising no one.

“Secure?” Callum asked.

David just stared at him.

“Stupid question,” Callum muttered. “Joe, you ready?”

“On it.” Joe indicated for David and Harvard to follow before leaving the room.

Callum turned his attention back to Elle. “Can you hack this Baker guy?”

She cracked her knuckles. “Is the Force with Leia? Seriously though, we need to expand the tech team. Recruitment has been leaning too much toward brawn rather than brains these past few years. I could use some help.” She pulled on a pair of over-ear headphones, started humming the Star Wars theme tune, and instantly tuned out the world as she stared at her screen.

“This is going too bloody slow for my liking,” Callum complained to Lake. “Ryan’s been out there for far too long.”

“He’s skilled. He’ll be fine.” Lake was confident, even though his presence made it clear he was just as worried. “Once we find out who hired Fournier, it’ll go fast.”

“And if he doesn’t talk?”

“He’ll talk.” There was no give in Lake’s tone.

And that was why people paid the big bucks to deal with him. Lake was a scary guy. In his forties, his blond hair turning gray, Lake should have lost his edge. But the man was even more intimidating than he’d been back in their Special Forces days. With his connections, his willingness to do whatever it took to get the job done, and his vast array of skills, Lake Benson wasn’t a man you crossed.

“Holy hotcakes, Batman!” Ripping off her headphones, Elle suddenly pushed back from the table. “The alarm went off. The alarm I set up for Ryan’s tracking devices, that alarm. His phone is back on the grid, and it’s here in Paris.”