The Senator's Choice (26 page)

Sam stomped off and headed downstairs.

Luke started to put his shoes on when he froze. He held his breath as he strained to hear a phone conversation taking place on the floor directly below him.

Is that — no, it couldn
’
t be.

He pressed his ear to the floor and listened through the cracks. He couldn
’
t be certain, but he was sure enough.

I can
’
t believe it.

He got up from the floor and headed downstairs, his hands shaking.

I
’
ve gotta tell Dad.

Luke rolled his eyes and continued by pulling on his jeans and then his shirt.

He put his shoes on and followed Sam downstairs.

“He
’
s all ready,” Sam announced before they finished descending the stairs.

“
Good,
”
Dave said.
“Everybody eat up. We don
’
t know when we
’
ll get another meal. We
’
ve got a big day ahead of us.”

Luke froze. “Will someone please tell me what the heck is going on here?”

“It
’
s a need to know basis,”
Sam snapped.
“And right now, you don
’
t need to know.”

Luke stamped his foot. “I
’
m not going anywhere until someone tells me what
’
s going on.”

Dave rushed toward him and tackled him. They tumbled to the ground with Dave landing on top of Luke. Dave glared at Luke and spoke slowly. “You
’
ll do exactly as I say. Do you understand?” He waited for a response from Luke, who didn
’
t blink.
“Perhaps I could give you another beating from yesterday and help jog your memory about what happens when you defy me?”

Reluctantly, Luke nodded. “Got it.”

“Now get up and get something to eat.” Sam got off Luke and yanked him to his feet. He shoved Luke in the back. “Get over there.”

Luke stumbled forward. He closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. He wanted to drive his knife into Dave
’
s heart and dash out the door. But he knew it wasn
’
t time. Yet time was running out. Without any hope of his uncle to rescue him, he realized the only way he was going to escape was if he found a way to get away himself — and not get caught.

It was a venture with low odds, but that
’
s all he had at the time.

And he had to take a chance at some point — some point soon.

CHAPTER 39

SETH MATTHEWS BARELY SLEPT as he pondered all the different potential scenarios given his team
’
s decided course of action. To him, it was a list that couldn
’
t be exhausted, the sign that his plan wasn
’
t nearly as foolhardy as he believed. As simple as it was — rescue Luke from the kidnappers — it was equally complex. Even with the element of surprise.

He awakened the rest of the team, mostly to a chorus of moans and groans. He wasn
’
t interested in placating their unanimous desire to sleep more. Instead, he was singularly focused on saving Luke and returning some semblance of order to his small universe. If Luke was okay, everyone would be okay.

But that wasn
’
t going to happen with everyone sleeping.

Hammond grunted as he got up, followed by a high-pitched whine from Shepherd.

Matthews ignored them all as he splashed water on his face and rehashed all the details of their plan he
’
d mentioned the night before as they discussed their plan. It didn
’
t require much precision, just a level of alertness and attention to detail that would lead to ultimate success or failure. He didn
’
t care much about the details of the job as long as the end result was the one they all desired — Luke home, safe and sound.

“Let
’
s move it!” he commanded after he exited the bathroom to find a general feeling of apathy and lethargy. This wasn
’
t just any old job — this was Luke — and he wanted to make sure they didn
’
t forget it as they prepared for their mission.

“It all ends today, eh?” Hammond said.

Matthews nodded. “As long as we all do our jobs.”

“
We won
’
t let you down, boss,”
Jones said.
“We
’
re all in this thing together.”

Shepherd walked up to Matthews and nodded. “We
’
re all in this together.”

“That
’
s what I
’
m counting on,” Matthews said.

Thirty minutes later, they had cleared out of the motel room and had checked out. They piled into their SUV and headed toward the cabin where Luke was being held.

Nobody said a word. They were all too focused on the task at hand, a task that required their utmost concentration and conviction.

They were going to rescue Luke no matter what.

CHAPTER 40

ONE HOUR BEFORE THE VOTE, Seantor Daniels
’
phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and could barely see the number due to the crack on the screen. But he didn’t need to see. He knew who it was, yet he didn
’
t want to answer, not now anyway. It had the potential to weaken his resolve—and he hadn’t lasted this long to have his give up now.

But he couldn’t shake the fear that coursed through his body. He took a deep breath and accepted the call.

“What do you want?” Daniels answered.

“No need to be so hostile,” the voice answered. “We just wanted to let you talk to Luke before the vote.” A pause. “Just a friendly reminder that this could be your last conversation with him if you don
’
t comply.”

“You better not touch a hair on his head.”

“I
’
m done with idle threats, senator. Just keep it brief.”

Daniels listened and waited. A few seconds later he heard a familiar voice.

“Dad?” Luke asked.

“Yes, son, it
’
s me,” he answered. “How are you?”

“I
’
m making it. And you?”

“I
’
ll be fine.”

“When is this thing going to be over?”

“Soon enough, son. Don
’
t you worry. They
’
re going to get you back to me in just a little while.”

“Dad, one more thing — watch out for CC, will ya?”

“You got it, son.”

The background noise let Daniels know that was the end of the conversation.

“One hour, senator. Don
’t disappoint us. We’
d hate to disappoint you.”

The line went dead.

Daniels felt blood rushing to his head and his breathing turn shallow. Given the opportunity, he would
’
ve rammed his fist through the kidnapper
’
s face. Again and again.

But at the moment, he had other concerns.

Was Luke trying to tell me something? Watch out for CC?

He checked his watch again. There wasn
’
t much time, but he didn
’
t care. If Luke really was trying to send him a message, it was far too important to gloss over.

Daniels walked into his secretary
’
s office and asked to borrow her phone.

“Sure,” she said as she handed it to him. “Is something wrong with yours?”

“It
’
s been on the fritz lately,” he said, shaking it. “This will only take a minute.”

Daniels walked down the hall and slipped inside an empty conference room. He placed a call to one of his friends at the Justice Department.

“Cory, this is Jeffrey Daniels.”

“Hi, Senator. It
’
s good to hear from you.”

“
Look, I don
’
t have much time, but I was wondering if you could look up something for me on a Sarah Roberts.”

There was a long pause. “You know I could get in trouble for this.”

“Cory, believe me — I wouldn
’
t ask you to do this if it wasn
’
t important.”

He paused again. “
Wait. Aren’
t you dating a woman named Sarah Roberts?”

“The tabloids say all kinds of things that aren
’
t true,” Daniels said, forcing a chuckle.

“Okay, give me a few minutes. Is there anything you
’
re looking for specifically?”

“I have a feeling she might be connected to some people I
’
ll tell you about who you might be interested in taking down once this is all over with.”

“After what
’
s all over with?”

“I
’
m texting her address and some other vital information to you right now. Text me what you find out to this number as soon as possible and I
’
ll explain everything later.”

He hung up and sat down in one of the conference chairs. He stared at the dry erase board, wondering how he got to this point. He
’
d been forced into a corner with no way out.

His phone buzzed. It was Ben.

“Hey, Dad. How are you?”

Daniels sighed.
“I
’
m hanging in there. You?”

“Just wondering what you
’
re planning on doing today with the vote.”

“I
’
m going to make the right decision.”

“I hope it
’
s one that means Luke
’
s life is going to be saved.”

Daniels took a deep breath. “It
’
s going to be a decision that you
’
ll be proud of, son.”

“Wait a minute. What are you suggesting?”

“Look, Ben. I gotta run. The vote is coming up and I need to be on the senate floor. Pray for me.”

Daniels hung up and shoved the phone in his pocket. He pictured Ben growling and hurling a few curse words in his direction. He didn
’
t care — he needed to do what was best for everyone, not just himself or his family.

His phone buzzed again with a message from Cory.

She
’
s a ghost. I can
’
t find any record of her with

either of the addresses you gave me. You want to tell me what this is all about now?

Daniels fired off a quick response:

Will call you later

He exited his office and strode down the hall toward the senate chamber. Several other senators nodded politely toward him. He didn
’
t break his stride, continuing his march forward. Besides, there wasn
’
t much he could say at this point that he hadn
’
t already said. He
’
d traded every favor he had to make sure the pipeline bill passed. It was up to him to make sure it did.

His phone buzzed again. It was Sarah. He answered it.

“Hi, honey.”

“Hey,” she said as she drew out the word before a pause. “How are you?”

He was cold and direct. “Fine. And you?”

“Are you sure? Last night, you weren
’
t so fine.
”

He stopped in the hallway and backed against the wall. “I
’
m at peace, Sarah.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means I
’
m at peace with my decision.”

“And what
’
s that?”

“You
’
ll find out soon enough — just like everyone else.”

Daniels could hear her stamp her foot through the phone. “Don
’
t do anything stupid. Remember, Luke
’
s life is at stake.”

“That
’
s the rumor.”

“
Jeffrey, don
’
t play around with these guys. They mean business.”