“Does this scene look any different? What about individual members of your family—do they appear weakened or injured?” Reid asked, eyeing Lila.
“The scene looks the same. I guess.” She bent closer to the screen. “The sweat stains on my father’s shirt appear larger.”
“Okay, that’s good. Shows time progression.” Reid sat next to Lila and placed his arm around her. “You did good.”
“Thanks, Reid.”
“While they’re working, I’ll sew up your leg,” Justin opened his medical bag.
Cody shot a glance at her. He wanted to hold her hand, but he needed to focus on his task.
“Where are Marissa and Holly?” Lila asked, wincing as Justin cleaned her wound then shot numbing medicine into her leg.
Carson sat next to Lila and held her hand. “The plans we’ve been working on all these years are in place. We were about to initiate our own counteroffensive against Lance but with your family still in danger, we’re holding off. Holly and Marissa, along with Oscar and Jed, are in LA.”
“Los Angeles?” Lila said.
“Remember what Willa said about Lance getting rid of Delphine when she was of no use? We’re trying to pull Delphine away. We have to persuade her to leave with the baby before it’s too late,” Carson said.
Cody drew in a breath, thankful Lila was safe and now in Justin’s capable hands. The cruelty of The Order continued to amaze him. For Carson, Lila, and Reid to rise above their family and fight back showed true grit and fortitude.
Justin glanced up. “Any word on the LA operation?”
Reid headed to the cockpit. “As soon as we’re in the air, we’ll make contact.”
Justin nodded as he continued stitching. When he finished, he handed her a bottle of pills. “Antibiotics, just as a precaution. I don’t want you getting an infection.”
“Thanks, Justin,” Lila leaned her head on Carson’s shoulder.
Ten minutes later, they were in the air and Carson updated her on the progress they made finding the island.
Lila nodded. “While I was in that cell I recalled, as a child, hearing Vivian speak about Palmarius Island so we’re on the right track.”
* * *
Cody focused on his work. If they didn’t find Lila’s family, she’d be broken forever. He returned to the video footage, rerunning the tape over and over. “I think I have something.” He zoomed in on an image. As everyone crowded around him, he pointed to a corner of the room.
“Looks like takeout food boxes,” Carson said.
His fingers tapped the computer with lightning speed. Seconds later, he sat back. “They are in a town called Prager, Oklahoma, population 24,514.”
“The receipt.” Adam nodded.
Angie perked up. “The receipt on top of that takeout box is from a place called Lonnie’s Burgers. The only Lonnie’s Burgers in Oklahoma is in Prager. The food order was called in at 6:02 this evening.”
Evan stretched his fingers. “I’m hacking into the traffic cameras.” Minutes later, he said, “Got you!”
Cody moved next to Evan. He shifted to allow everyone to view the footage.
“See that unmarked white van? It pulls into Lonnie’s parking lot.” Evan pointed to the screen.
Cody observed a man jumping out from the driver’s seat and returning five minutes later with three large bags of food. He drove out of the parking lot and out of the camera’s view. Evan pulled up another screen showing the van again. Another camera picked up the van and Cody watched as the vehicle made a turn.
“I can’t find the van on any other cameras,” Evan said. “But I captured the license plate. It’s from Texas.”
Adam jumped up and headed toward the cockpit. “I’ll coordinate with Reid and Yvonne.”
Cody pulled Lila close. He hoped they’d make it in time.
Lila’s eyes snapped open when the plane bounced on to the runway.
“Hey, you’re safe.” Cody closed down the laptop he’d been working on and wrapped his arms around her tighter.
For a moment Lila believed she was back in the cell staring at Willa’s body. Then her breath caught. “My family.”
“We’re in Oklahoma. Evan was able to get into their closed-circuit cameras. They are still alive, but we lost the connection about a half hour ago.”
Lila released the breath she’d been holding. “But they were alive. We need to go.”
Justin stood. “We have our team. Lila, you need to stay here with Cody. You’re emotional and hurt.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “We know what your family means. We’ll do our best to bring them back.”
Carson stood and embraced her. “For what it’s worth, I’ve been relegated to the plane, too. We’ll sit and wait together.” Carson stepped back and took Adam’s hand.
Reid emerged from the cockpit as he slapped a weapon into his holster. “Yvonne’s team just landed too.” He turned to Lila. “Try to stay calm. I’ll keep you updated.” After hugging her, he pivoted. “You guys ready?”
Bobsled stood like an unmovable tree. “I’m ready to kick ass.”
“Evan and Angie, you’re our eyes and ears inside the warehouse. Let us know if so much as a mouse runs across the room,” Adam said. Then he leaned down and kissed Carson. “I’ll be careful.” He winked. “We have a wedding in our future.”
“Stay off that leg, Lila,” Justin said, before he followed the others off the plane.
Cody rushed ahead conferring with the rescue group.
Lila rung her hands together. “They all have to come back safe.” She sank into the seat. “My parents, Jenna, and Brent—they’re innocent. Same as Willa. I tried to save her but…”
“I know you wanted to help Willa. I don’t know how Lance and I are siblings. He has some type of evil dark matter flowing through him. Probably comes from our mother.” Carson emitted a bitter chuckle. “Doesn’t feel right calling her mother. Pia supported everything Lance did. After Lance killed Father and my Aunt Rhoda, I understood he had no redemptive qualities. I want him behind bars and in a place where he’ll never see the sun. Where he can’t hurt anyone else.” She shook her head and focused her gaze downward.
Lila took Carson’s hand. “Adam is going to be okay. He’s a good agent with great instincts.”
Carson squeezed Lila’s hand and nodded. “We need to stay positive.”
“There isn’t a group of people I’d trust more than those guys.” Cody sank onto the seat next to Lila and snaked an arm around her.
Even though she felt safe in Cody’s arms Lila understood the feeling wouldn’t last. It never did. She rose and lumbered to other side of the plane where Evan and Angie had set up their workstations. “Any changes?”
Angie glanced over her shoulder. “So far we haven’t been able to establish the connection.” He brown eyes softened. “I’m sorry Lila.”
“I know you and Evan are doing everything you can.” She sank into the closest seat. They have to be alive. Anger and fear roiled in her stomach, as if she’d ingested a sip of bitter alcohol.
Cody took the seat next to her. “They are twenty minutes out.” Again, he wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders.
Stay positive. But the sentiment couldn’t distract from the gnawing in her belly.
A second later, Evan glanced up from his screen. “I got a connection.”
Cody, Carson, and Lila rushed to peer at his screen.
Lila’s heart dropped as she stared at four empty chairs. “Where are they?”
Chapter 44
Lance entered the banal room of a chain hotel in a suburb of Dallas. How they could advertise this as luxury escaped him. He whipped off dark sunglasses and a Dallas Cowboys baseball cap, tossing the items on the cheap wood-grain table. Staring at the older man in front of him, he stepped farther into the room, moving past the bathroom entrance and stopping short of the king size bed. “I’m not happy.”
Folding his meaty hands, Walt Talcott sat in the dull brown wingback c
hair with his shoulders slumped. “I was expecting one of your subordinates.”
Lance’s gaze swept the room before settling on the old man. “Some tasks I still like to do on my own.”
“I’m sorry about the latest mistake.” Talcott stared at the law school ring squeezing his meaty finger.
“I’m a man of actions, not words. I expected the evidence to be destroyed. My mistake was trusting you to handle that. You and your colleagues had done such an exemplary job of handling the legal matters. I assumed this tiny task would be simple.”
Talcott shifted in his chair. “When I discovered the breach, I took care of it. Steve dabbled into matters having nothing to do with him. He made copies of the files and sent them anonymously to Jack Struthers. I killed Steve Dorman, so the issue has been resolved. I assure you, I have the firm and all my employees locked down.”
Lance stared at the man. He hated when men begged, even if it was for their lives. “I’ve paid you and your firm millions. In return all I’ve asked for was a rigorous defense and proper disposal of the dubious evidence upon which the Feds based their weak case.” Lance folded his arms.
“I took care of it Lance. There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Stop!” Lance shoved his hands inside his jacket, the cool metal of his weapon resting inside the holster, ramping up his desire for revenge. “You wouldn’t have had to take care of it if you had disposed of the files immediately. But I don’t think you had any intention of getting rid of those files. I know how you think. You wanted those files to use for your own purpose. You intended to blackmail me.”
Talcott swallowed, the skin of his flabby jowls jiggled in response. “No, Lance, I had no such intention.”
Lance slid the gun, equipped with a silencer, from his pocket. “Give me the location of the mine.”
Talcott’s eyes widened then he expelled a sigh. “The mine is on an island called Palmarius, off the coast of Columbia.” He lowered his head.
“Good boy. Too bad you forgot I’m the Grand Commander.” The bullet slammed into Talcott’s skull, blowing brain matter against the far wall. “Ordo Ortus.”
Lance grinned as he strolled out of the room. Feels good to rid the world of the naysayers, but my purging isn’t over yet.
Chapter 45
The bedside clock read seven twenty. Sun rays splintering through the blinds confirmed morning had risen over the Texas farmhouse. Cody squirmed in the chair in the corner and sighed as he set down the phone. He’d been trying to reach Holden and for the third time he’d received no answer. Was his brother avoiding him or had one of Lance’s operatives found him? The last image of his mother played through his mind. He’d never shake the sadness that her last thoughts of him were teamed with disappointment. Leaning back, he rested his head against the back of the blue overstuffed chair and stared at Lila’s sleeping body. At least she’s safe.
After Reid and the team confirmed the Caldwell’s were not inside the warehouse, they’d returned to the plane defeated and concerned about the family. Another hour later, they’d received intel that a plane registered to Lance had left Oklahoma airspace shortly after they’d landed.
He pulled out his laptop and rubbed his eyes. Time to see what’s going on at Skies International, the company supplying Lance’s main source of income. Skies, a large umbrella company had several subsidiary companies with diverse products and services. After logging in, his fingers hovered over his keyboard, as he reviewed his line of attack. He’d already research the top executives and pinpointed a new assistant for the VP of Finance. The unsuspecting assistant clicked on the link she thought was from human resources. Her action gave Cody what he needed to get inside Skies. He set his trap and got out.
Lila stirred, then bolted up. “Any news?”
Her hair, tousled around her skull, created a sexy image. How could he think such thoughts at a time like this? He climbed into bed next to her, pulling her close. “Lance’s plane landed in Florida. We are trying to track them from the airport.”
“You believe they are still alive?” Lila’s eyes were filled with unshed tears.
“Yes, everyone does. They could have killed them at the Oklahoma warehouse. We think he may want them as bait or leverage, especially since you said he wanted the location of the emerald mine.” Cody cupped her face. “We’re going to find them and bring them home.” His gut twisted. He’d do anything to see her smile and make her feel safe.
She nodded and wiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry I lost it last night. You know how I hate crying.”
“No one blames you.” He swallowed. How could he tell her about his mother’s death while making assurances her family would be safe?
“What’s wrong?” She stiffened. “I know you, Cody. Tell me.”
He swiped his hand through his hair. “My mother was killed yesterday by one of Lance’s men. We think he gave her an overdose of insulin.”
She slapped her hands across her mouth in shock. “I’m so sorry, Cody. And you’re here dealing with me. What can I do? Do the authorities know who the man was?” She angled toward him.
He shook his head. “There’s nothing you can do. The police are investigating but we both know what Lance is capable of. The best thing we both can do is bring him down.”
Lila scooted off the bed. “I don’t have the right words. I’m…sorry. Are you okay?” She placed her hands on her hips. “Of course not. But you’re here helping me. Shouldn’t you be back in Virginia with Holden, making arrangements?”
Cody pulled her into his arms. “I’ve spoken with Holden, warned him about the danger, and tried to get him into a safe house. He refused. An autopsy will have to be performed so my mother’s body won’t be released until that’s completed.” He shook his head. “There’s nothing for me to do. The only thing I wanted from her is the identity of my father. That likely won’t happen unless there’s some kind of documentation in the house. Once things settle, I’ll go through her things. Holden can have the house.” Conflicting emotions stunted further conversation between them. Overwhelming sadness combined with anger and disappointment. His mother was gone, taken by someone hired by a man with a twisted world view. Yet, his mother had had a chance, albeit a slim one, if only she had listened to him, but she’d been so quick to believe him a deadbeat son. The knowledge she went to her death with that thought had already burrowed in his heart. He forced the thoughts out of mind. Keeping Lila safe and getting her family back had to take precedence.
Lila met his gaze before reaching up and kissing him. “I’ll take a quick shower and join you and the others.”
After a quick shower Lila stood alone in the bedroom. Her gaze moved to the map box, sitting on the bedside table. She sat on the bed and stared at the box. There had to be something inside the diary to help them decipher the codes on the emerald tablets. She’d read Russell’s diary from start to finish several times. Each pass she’d discovered something new. Inspecting the diary, she flipped through the pages, examined the back cover, then ran a finger over the spine. Nothing new popped out at her. With a sigh, she placed the diary back inside the box. Pulling out a map, she studied the layout of Babylon Hall. The same familiar attributes stared back her, so she placed the map back inside the box then lifted the container. The decoupage map covering the box gave the container a vintage feel. As she set the box down, her thumb rubbed against a rough area. She peered closer. Pulling at the bottom of the box, a section of the container clicked. Lila gasped as a mechanism released and a tiny door slid open. She eyed a sliver of green from a thin compartment on the bottom of the box. An emerald plate popped out similar to discharging a disc from a computer.
She stared in shock at the emerald plate before racing into the living room. “I found the last emerald plate!”
Everyone gathered as Lila laid the tablet next to the others. This plate had the code, jhipu. Lila explained how she found the plate. With the last tablet in place, the tetrad of emerald plates was complete.
Lila leaned over the table. “What does this mean?” She didn’t expect an answer.
“Can we run a search on each code? Maybe that will tell us something,” Angie said, grabbing her laptop. “That’s what hackers do—decipher codes.” She glanced up. “At least that’s what I’ve heard.” Seconds later, she said, “I’ve got nothing for msvvy.”
Evan pointed to another plate. “dpss. Department of Public Social Services doesn’t seem a likely match.”
Angie continued to stare at her screen. “I doubt aol means the web portal. And it repeats, so whatever it means there’s two of them.”
Justin set his glass on the table. “The only thing I can think of related to pz is patient zero.”
“Nothing for jhipu, either,” Evan said.
“None of this appears related.” Cody picked up the newest plate and turned it over.
“Wait! I see something,” Reid said. He turned one of the emerald plates to the side and pointed. “There is a tiny number on the spine. This one has the number three.”
Lila picked up another tablet. “This is number two. Could this be The Order of the tablets?’
“I think so.” Reid lined each tablet up according to the number and studied the codes.
Carson expelled a breath. “I’m so tired of all the ambiguity. Secret islands, codes, symbols. When will it end?”
“I agree with you, Carson, but we deciphered the clues last time. We’ll do it again.” Cody nodded.
“Decipher.” Reid lifted his head, his eyes wide. “It’s a cipher.” He stared at the emerald tablets. “I need paper.”
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