Page 89 of Long Past Deadly

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It was a process to get past all the concrete barricades in the parking lot, but Alanna let Quaid deal with it.

QM security – Bailey Tanner and Grady Welker – were in front of the SUV. She and Quaid were in the back.

She was having trouble keeping her emotions in check. Wheels were in motion to implement her plan, so in the privacy of the backseat, she put a call in to Ryker. It took several minutes to get through.

“Explain this to me, Williams.”

“Navy called already? Harrison didn’t waste any time.” She opened her eyes wide at Quaid.

“You’re putting a trap into play. For an international assassin.”

“He attacked QM yesterday.”

“Yes, you told me. Sounds like a PD matter.”

Exasperated, she swallowed a pithy comment. Quaid slid a hand to her knee.

She put a hand over his. “I would like to request we implement a manhunt. I want to flush this rat out of his maze.”

“And if I don’t agree, you’ll go around me?”

“I didn’t go around you. I want everybody searching for him. San Diego Police are already involved. FBI is already involved. We need San Diego County Sheriff, US Marshall Service, and the California Highway Patrol.”

“And all cities around San Diego. These manhunts don’t operate in a vacuum.”

“It’s what we need to flush him out.” The conversation was long and involved a good deal of justifying what she wanted to do. After walking through all the investigative steps, her patience was gone. The SUV pulled into the parking garage at UCSD by the Emergency Division. Tanner parked the vehicle in the first slot she could find and gave Alanna a thumbs up. The support of the former agent settled her down. She could convince Ryker. He made things difficult so the agents would keep on the legal side of their actions.

Her boss sighed. “Step Two? You’re drawing him out. To what end?”

“He’ll either try to run and get snared or turn back and try for me again.”

“You’re gambling he’s losing his focus, counting on him to abandon years of discipline to get to you.”

“He’s managed his compulsions by assassinating people, and its not working for him anymore. He hasn’t been credited with a kill for close to eighteen months. He’s reverting back to a pre-military killing pattern.”

“Your not confronting him alone.” Ryker’s protective snarl surprised her. “I’ll assign a team from here.”

“I’m going to have a full law enforcement contingency and QM International behind me. We will catch him.”

“How was your conversation with Whitaker?”

“At the hospital to see him now.”

“I need your contact at the police department.”

“Sergeant Frank Walker.”

“I’ll handle the rest. QM in?”

“Yes. Do you need to hear directly from the boss?”

“Please.”

She handed the phone to Quaid. “He wants confirmation.”

Quaid took the phone, letting her stick close so she could hear with her good ear. “Ryker. Daniels here. We’re in.”