“Oh, God.”

“Yeah.”

Sam’s voice was suddenly throbbing with anger. “How in the hell could this happen?”

“Beth was supposed to meet Sims and go over the work she’s done on Colby’s computer contacts. Afterward, she was supposed to bring him to meet you.”

“She didn’t call me. I’ve been trying to get hold of her, too.”

She drew a deep breath. “It appears it wasn’t the real Sims who came here to San Diego. It was someone posing as him. Probably Colby’s computer guy. He’s taken Beth, and soon, Colby will have her if he doesn’t already.”

“Shit!” Kendra heard Sam’s fist pounding on the desk on his end. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

“Sam, calm down. I’m on my way. Lynch is still with Griffin right now. But we’re meeting at Lynch’s to figure out our next move.”

“We’re going to sit around here and talk? We’ve done enough talking. We need to kill that son of a bitch.”

“We need to find him first.”

Sam’s voice was ragged, but quieter, more determined. “We will. We’ve got to, Kendra.”

“I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

*   *   *

LYNCH ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE ten minutes after Kendra. “You told Sam? Where is he?”

She nodded at the office. “He objected to talking when he could be working. He said to tell him when he could do anything else. I guess he’s right. He’s pretty upset.”

“Aren’t we all? Okay, Sam is working at full steam,” Lynch said. “What else can I do?”

“Find that damn imposter,” she said. “This computer expert is a tech, not a killer for hire. If he took Beth, we still have a chance of getting her back before he turns her over to Colby.” A slim chance, she thought frantically, but still a chance. “Find him or get me a phone number and let me talk to him. Beth is rich as Midas. I can find a way to get him money for ransom. We just have to keep her away from Colby.”

“It may be too late.” He was heading for the door. “But I’ll get with Griffin, and we’ll track him down. I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything.” He looked back at her over his shoulder. “And you let me know if you’re contacted.”

She watched the door shut behind him. He was expecting her to hear from Colby to tell her he had Beth. He knew as well as she did that it was not likely they’d find Beth before she was handed over to Colby. It was only a desperate move that had made her ask him to go on such a wild-goose chase.

Desperation and a wild hope that something could go right in this nightmare.

Her phone rang.

It could be Griffin.

Or Sam.

No ID.

She slowly answered the phone.

“Hello, Kendra. Are you scrambling wildly to find your pretty little friend?” Colby asked. “I wish I could see you. It would be very satisfying. But I don’t expect to be lacking in satisfaction in the near future, so I can accept it.”

“Is she alive?”

“Oh, yes.”

“I want to talk to her.”

“Later. Unfortunately, she’s not available at present. I’m having her brought to me. You can understand I’m being very cautious with the transfer. I have great respect for you, Kendra.”

“Look, Beth is very rich. Even you have to like the idea of that kind of payoff. Don’t hurt her, and we can deal.”

“I know she’s very well off. It was one of the lures I used to bring Northrup into the fold. He’s very fond of money.”

“Northrup is your computer tech?”

“You guessed it, didn’t you? I thought you would. But he was just too clever not to be used. Sadly, he was extremely shy about taking certain important steps.” He chuckled. “But Beth Avery’s magnificent prospects tipped the scales. He decided that ridding me of Sims would be a small price to pay.”

“He killed Tom Sims?”

“Probably not with any great imagination. He mentioned a gun with a silencer and an alley in D.C. I would have been much more inventive, but I was busy with preparations here.”

“But he did what you wished and deserves to be rewarded. Let her go, Colby. We’ll get the money to you.”

“But money isn’t what this is all about, Kendra. It’s about that wonderfully painful note in your voice. It’s about the lamb leading the tiger to slaughter.”

“Beth’s no lamb. She’s a woman you can use to line your pockets. Let her go.”

“But you’re not denying that you’re a tiger, Kendra. I’m preparing a circus where you can perform for me. I’m going to leave you now. I’ll be back in touch when I’m ready to turn loose the clowns and have your Beth do a little high-wire acrobatics.” He hung up.

And Kendra immediately bent forward, struggling against being sick. She took a deep breath, then sat up straight. Stop being weak. The worst was happening, and she had to cope with it.

Her hand was shaking as she called Lynch. “Colby doesn’t have Beth yet. It’s Northrup who did the switch with Sims and there’s a possibility he might deal if you can get to him in time. But he killed Sims, and there’s no way he’d make a deal if the police are involved.”

“I take it that Colby called you?”

“Yes. Our only chance is Northrup. Colby wants blood.”

“Nothing different there.”

It was different because it was Beth’s blood he wanted. “Find a way to get to Northrup,” she said. “Do anything you need to do.”

Lynch was silent a moment. “I’ll do what you want. But no time for any manipulation this time, Kendra.”

She knew what he was warning her about. Violence and deadliness instead of diplomacy. Skills in which Lynch was equally expert. “Do what you have to do,” she repeated.

“I’ll get back to you later.” He hung up.

She sat there, trying to get her wits together. She should probably call Griffin and tell him about what Colby had told her about the missing Tom Sims.

But there was something else she had to do first. She closed her eyes and braced herself. Dear God, she hated this. Her eyes flicked open, and she reached for her phone. She dialed quickly and listened to it ring. What could she say? How could she explain the unexplainable?

The phone was picked up, and she spoke quickly, “Eve, something terrible has happened.” She tried to steady her voice. “And I think you’re going to have to drop everything and come out here…”

*   *   *

EVE DUNCAN’S EXPRESSION WAS JUST as grim and haggard as Kendra had expected it to be as she exited airport security and moved toward her. Kendra could see the strength and the determination that had made Eve one of the foremost forensic sculptors in the world, but she was also aware of the vulnerability and passion that made her friend intensely human. She had lost her little girl, Bonnie, years ago, and Kendra hated the thought that she now had to face the thought of losing a sister she had only just found. Eve gave her a quick hug. “Any news?”

Kendra shook her head. “Nothing.” She looked beyond her. “Joe didn’t come?”

“I haven’t contacted him yet. He’s in Mexico City at some police drug-cartel seminar. The cartels are starting to use Atlanta as their home away from home.” She strode toward the door. “I have to get my head on straight before I talk to him. If he sees I’m upset, he’ll drop everything and come here.”

Kendra knew that was true. Joe Quinn, a police detective with Atlanta PD, had been Eve’s lover for many years, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for her. “I can see why he wouldn’t want you to be without him during this time.”

Eve’s lips twisted. “He has a life. I can’t lean on him for everything. And from what you say, everything may be over before he gets off the plane.”

“I didn’t say that.” But she’d tried to be as honest as she could with Eve. Her friend would not appreciate sugarcoating. “We’re going to get her back, Eve. We’re working so hard on several fronts. We have the best police and FBI personnel. Lynch is here and exploring every possibility.”

“You’ll get her back.” Eve’s voice was trembling. “But I’ve been wondering if it will be too late.”