“Plodding. I’ve just discovered two more Wingate shipping companies in Los Angeles County and a Wingate funeral home in La Jolla. The funeral home sounds like Colby’s style. I’ll call Griffin and ask him to send a couple agents to check them out.” She grimaced. “Though his men are stretched to the max right now. Do you know how many Wingates are residents of the cities in Southern California? The agents can’t even phone them in case they trigger an action on Colby’s part. We don’t know if it’s a name, a company, a ship or—”

“A funeral home,” Eve supplied. “I get the picture. Very discouraging.”

Kendra shook her head. “I can’t be discouraged. I won’t let that happen.”

Eve nodded. “I feel the same way. We don’t have that right.” She took her coffee and the bottle of Red Bull and put them on a tray. “Where’s Lynch?”

“He set up shop in the living room. He didn’t want to disturb me. He’s been on the phone for hours. He’s been calling every contact he has around the world. He decided that the FBI wasn’t enough, so he’s pulling in favors from the Justice Department, CIA, Interpol … I’ve never even heard of many of those organizations he works for.”

“Bless him,” Eve said quietly. “We need all the clout we can get.”

“Yes, we do.” She smiled faintly. “Though I think he’d be a little surprised that you were raining blessings down on him.”

“I’d nominate him for sainthood if he came up with a strong lead.” She picked up the tray. “And if it brought us to that crazy bastard, I’d call the Pope and lobby.”

“Is there something a little sacrilegious about that thought?”

“It’s sacrilegious to think of Colby even near Beth,” Eve said. Her hands on the tray were shaking the tiniest bit as she passed Kendra on the way to the door. “I’m trying not to think of it. But I can’t keep my eyes off the clock. It’s been over twelve hours.”

“I know. We still have time, Eve.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Yes. But I’d feel better if one of Sam’s breakthroughs showed signs of breaking this blasted deadlock.” She drew a deep breath. “It will happen. We have to have faith.”

Kendra nodded. “And lots of caffeine. I may make another pot of coffee myself.”

“Just stay away from the Red Bull.” Eve smiled and left the kitchen.

Kendra gazed after her for a moment. In this time of frustration and panic, it was good having Eve here working with her toward a common goal.

But the key word was work. Neither of them had time to devote to anything but finding Beth. She glanced down at her notes and circled the funeral-home reference. It would be—

“Wingate!” Lynch strode into the kitchen. “I just got off the phone. We’ve got a hit.”

She sat up straight. “Finally. Were you talking to Griffin?”

“No, my Justice Department source.” Lynch walked across the office and picked up his tablet computer. “Wingate is definitely a name, not a place. Colby has been using that name since he resurfaced.” His fingers were racing over the keys. “A James Wingate crossed in from the Mexican border at San Ysidro last week.”

It was too good to be true. A name and a connection to Colby. “But how do we know that it’s—”

Lynch thrust his tablet computer in front of Kendra’s face.

Colby.

At a border pedestrian-inspection station with a beard and longish hair, but definitely Colby. There was no mistaking those piercing eyes and tiny teeth.

“There’s surveillance video and about a dozen more photos of him at the border crossing. It’s all being sent to Griffin as we speak. Griffin will jump on it with the speed of light.”

A lead, a break at last. Excitement was exploding within her. “I think you may just be on your way to sainthood,” she murmured.

“What?” he said impatiently.

“Never mind.” She couldn’t take her eyes from the photos. “Mexico … That’s where he’s been all these months?”

“Possibly. It would make sense. Under the radar as far as U.S. law enforcement was concerned. Close enough to keep his sights on you until he was ready to strike. The night before Colby crossed over, a fairly well-known identity broker was murdered in Todos Santos. It’s a coastal city about thirty miles south of the border. The man was stabbed. Gutted. It could be that Colby bought a new identity from this man, then killed him to wipe out his trail.”

“Wingate,” Kendra said. She finally made herself look away from Lynch’s tablet. “Detective Stokes must have somehow found out that was the name he was using. After he’d been taken, maybe he spotted some paperwork in the van or heard Colby talking to someone.”

Lynch nodded. “However he found out, it’s impressive that Stokes was able to get it across to us. He was one good cop.”

“Yes, he was.” Kendra tried to shake the image of Stokes bleeding on that table. She turned back to Lynch. “So what now?”

“Let’s get back to the FBI office. With a definite full name to search, this opens up a lot of new investigative possibilities for them. It’s logical that one break might lead to another.” He said quietly, “And we have you and Stokes to thank for it.”

“Excuse me if I’m not ready to start patting myself on the back yet.” Kendra checked her watch. Thirteen hours thirty minutes since Colby had set his deadline. What had he been doing to Beth during those hours? She had been trying not to dwell on that while she had been working desperately to find a way to rescue Beth. Colby had said he wanted to break Kendra, and she couldn’t let him do it. It would be a defeat for Kendra, and it might be death for Beth. She grabbed her computer and handbag and got to her feet. “Let’s go. I have to stop by the office and tell Eve and Sam about this, but we have to hurry. We’re running out of time.”

Hold on, Beth.

God, I’m praying he’s not hurting you.

We’re trying so hard.

We’ll get to you. I promise.

*   *   *

HE WAS COMING TOWARD HER AGAIN.

Beth couldn’t see Colby in the darkness, but she could hear him, smell him.

It was the third time tonight, and she knew what was going to follow.

Tonight. Was it night? She couldn’t tell, it was all darkness and the smell of tar.

Her heart was starting to beat hard as helpless panic overwhelmed her.

He had stopped before the end before, but would he do it this time?

“Are you ready, Beth?” Colby asked. “I can practically hear your heartbeat from here. You try so hard to be brave. But it’s difficult not knowing, isn’t it?

She didn’t answer. Her voice might shake, and she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

“It’s such a struggle. You’re being deprived of the one thing that is natural to all of us. You can’t help but be frightened.” He was standing next to her, and she could see his face above her. “But consider it as training. I want you to know what to expect. I’m giving Kendra a taste of anticipation, it’s not right that I should deprive you.” He lifted his hands and she saw the blur of the white pillow he was holding. “Breathe deep, Beth…”

The pillow came down over her face!

She was pinned, unable to shift on the table. She tried desperately to move her head to get away from that smothering hold. It was pure instinct. She knew it was hopeless. Colby was too strong, and he knew just how to use that pillow.

No breath.

No breath.

Her lungs were struggling.

Her heart was pounding, trying to leap from her breast.

Her eyes were bulging.

No breath.

No breath.

No breath.

Dizzy.

Darkness.

This time he was going to do it. This time he wouldn’t—

The pillow lifted, and he smiled down at her as she struggled frantically to breathe, to force air into her tortured lungs.

“You’re getting weaker. Or were you just more frightened?”

Maybe a little of both, but she wouldn’t admit it to him. “Did … you enjoy … your game?” It didn’t matter now that her voice was hoarse and shaking. He would expect it. “I’m not weaker. Cut me loose, and you’ll see.”