Three blocks later, Marcus found Kate. He followed her from a distance down the narrow Parisian street, past a line of cafés and bakeries topped with sky-high apartments. He stayed far enough back so she wouldn’t realize he was behind her. Close enough he wouldn’t lose her. Pierre walked a few steps ahead of him on the opposite side of the street smoking a cigarette, while Jocelyn kept a closer guard. Further backup was in place if Kate decided to jump into a cab.
Pierre had assured him that their plan was virtually foolproof, but it was the word virtually that had him worried. There were no guarantees in a situation like this. The only way he could guarantee her safety was if they would have escorted her back to the apartment—which he should have insisted on. A decision he regretted not making. Except Pierre had been right about one thing. Acting with his heart and not his head was bound to get him into a heap of trouble.
But true or not, toying with Kate’s life left him uneasy. If everything went according to the plan, they could end up with Chad in custody, which would allow him to send Kate on the next flight back to the United States. If things didn’t go as planned, they could have a disaster on their hands.
Kate slipped around the corner, into a busy outdoor market.
“Do you see her?” Pierre asked, picking up his pace on the other side of the street.
“No...” Marcus searched the crowd for her short, red print dress. “She melted into the crowd when she turned around the corner.”
“I don’t see her now, either,” Jocelyn said. “What was the description she gave of the men who grabbed her?”
Marcus’s regret over his decision to go along with Pierre’s plan mounted. “One was...balding...fortyish with tattoo sleeves on his forearms. The other one was short and stocky. Red curly hair. We can’t lose her.”
Marcus turned the corner. Vendors called out to get his attention. Marcus forced down the panic as he picked up his pace, searching for Kate past vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables and buckets of flowers.
“Do you see her yet?” he repeated.
“No,” Pierre and Jocelyn said in unison over the radio.
Marcus wove his way through the crowd past books, paintings and other bric-a-brac. The way his luck was running, Pierre’s risky idea was about to blow up in their face. Kate might not have made the smartest move, but he hadn’t done anything to stop her.
Which meant if anything happened to her it would be his fault,
He knew these people. They played for keeps. They would find her, get what they wanted from her, then kill her.
Marcus sidestepped a pair of shoppers, their bags loaded with fresh vegetables. “Jocelyn...do you see her?”
“Wait a minute.”
“Tell me what you see, Jocelyn.”
“It wasn’t her, but I think I see a bald man that might be who we’re looking for... He’s twenty meters ahead of me, walking in the direction she was headed.”
Marcus clenched his fists beside him. How in the world had all three of them managed to lose her? And they still weren’t certain where she was going. The meeting place could be anything from Notre Dame, to a local café, to one of the bridges. What was she doing?
Marcus stopped in the middle of the market and weighed his options. He’d tried doing things Pierre’s way. This time he was going to do things his way.
“I’m going to call her,” he said.
“If she had agreed to meet with him—without the authorities—you could blow everything, and possibly get her killed.”
“I’m calling her.”
He punched in the number he had programmed on speed dial in case he needed to contact her. He let the phone ring a dozen times. No answer. He hung up and punched Redial.
Pick up, Kate. Come on...
What if they missed her going into one of the cafés or shops? He glanced into the nearest shop, looking for a sign of her red dress, and let the phone ring. Still no answer.
Where are you, Kate?
The girl was playing with fire and had no idea what the men she was up against were capable of doing.
* * *
Kate breathed in the aroma of freshly baked bread as she hurried through the crowded market, certain she was being followed. Last year, poachers had targeted her close friend while they were working on a wildlife documentary in South Africa. Kate had seen the fallout from people’s evil choices, and it wasn’t anything like what one saw on TV. It was real and people got hurt.
Which was why she was regretting her decision to slip out of the apartment without telling Marcus what she was planning to do. She should have called him and told him the truth. Told him that Chad had called and agreed to meet her. Chad might have insisted she come alone, but she never should have agreed to his demands. If nothing else, she could have asked Marcus to meet her at the church without Chad knowing.
He was an FBI agent. He had to know how to shadow someone covertly. Just knowing he was there would have upped her confidence immeasurably. But now it was too late. She was certain she’d spotted the bald man who’d tried to grab her earlier following her in the crowd. They’d tried once to grab her off the streets in broad daylight. What made her think that they might not try again?
Kate stopped in front of a display of colorful Parisian scarves, and glanced into the mirror hanging up for customers so she could see the crowded street behind her. Women carrying baskets shopped for fresh produce. Tourists bartered for trinkets.
She turned around, then plunged back into the crowd. Someone was following her. She was certain of it. Her chest heaved, lungs screaming for air as she pushed through the crowd, past dozens of stalls, their colors blurring together. She could hear people shouting in French while music played in the background. She needed to go somewhere safe.
Please, God...I don’t know where to go.
Kate’s phone vibrated, breaking into her thoughts. She shoved her hand into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She hesitated.
Caller unknown.
It could be Chad changing the meeting place, or her mother with an update on Rachel. Or it could be Sophie’s kidnappers.
The phone buzzed again, and she answered the call. “Hello?”
“Kate. It’s Marcus.”
Marcus? Kate let out a sharp breath of relief, ignoring the twinge of guilt that surfaced. She never should have left the apartment alone, but she’d only been thinking about Sophie. And finding Sophie had to be her first priority.
“Marcus, I...”
“Are you okay?”
Kate kept walking through the crowd, weaving in and out of stalls hoping to lose whoever was behind her. “I’m not sure. I think I’m being followed.”
“Where are you? We know you left the apartment.”
We?
Kate stopped in front of a display of pink roses and turned around. Marcus was clearly looking for her, as well.
She let out a sharp exhale. If he was here as well... “I figured it wouldn’t take you too long to notice I was gone. I just thought...”
“You thought if you didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t try to follow?” he asked. “The thing is, Kate, we’re on the same side. You should have told me you needed to leave. I would have provided protection.”
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t think I could take that chance. Chad told me to come alone, but now...but now I think they’ve found me. I can feel it.”
She studied the crowd. There was no sign of the bald man...or Marcus. Maybe she really had lost him.
“Tell me where you are, Kate.”
She glanced around for a point of reference. “I don’t know. In the market. There are flowers everywhere.”
She slipped into the shadows between two of the flower stalls, where she could watch everyone who walked by, debating what she should do. “Chad called me. Told me he’d only talk to me if I came alone.”
“Let me help you, Kate. Give me a street name...a corner...anything and I’ll come to you.”
She glanced at the end of the market, where cars were passing by. “I can’t. Chad said no cops. If he has her, I can’t take any chances of putting Sophie’s life further at risk.”
“You can, because you’re in way over your head. And because I can help. I promise, Kate. It’s going to be okay.”
She hesitated, then gave him the street address where she was, praying she was making the right decision.
“There’s a café a block to your right with a few tables inside,” Marcus said. “Meet me there.”
* * *
Marcus stopped along the sidewalk next to a stand displaying fresh fish. Pierre and Jocelyn were still looking for her while he kept talking. She might not have agreed to let him help her yet, but at least she hadn’t hung up.
“I need you to trust me, Kate.” Marcus tried to put himself in her place while waiting for her answer. She was scared, vulnerable, trying to save her family halfway around the world... No wonder the girl was confused.
“I know the guys Chad is involved with,” he continued, thankful she still hadn’t hung up. “I’ve been after them for over twelve months. They won’t hesitate to kill anyone who gets in the way. And after this morning, they know you’re here, and apparently think you have something they need. Which means, like it or not, we need each other, Kate.”
“Who are they?”
“Meet me at the café, and I’ll tell you what I know. Trust me, Kate.”
He pressed his phone against his ear, not wanting to miss her response because of the noise of the crowd.
“Okay, but I’m not making any promises. I can’t miss Chad. He’s expecting me, and this might be my only chance.”
Marcus glanced at his watch. “Where are you meeting him?”
She hesitated again. “In front of Notre Dame at two.”
“I can ensure you get there in time without him knowing you’ve got protection.”
He could tell her resolve was wavering.
“I’ll be there,” she said then hung up.
Pierre spoke into his microphone a moment later. “You shouldn’t have called her.”
“Maybe not, but you know as well as I do that we can’t lose this opportunity. We also have to protect her.”
Marcus slipped his phone into his pocket. He caught sight of her red dress in front of the café as she slipped inside. How in the world had she managed to lose three trained agents?
Two minutes later, he slid into the chair across from her. “You shouldn’t have left the apartment without telling me,” he said.
“I didn’t think I had a choice. Which is why I’ll give you ten minutes to convince me you can help me, but then I’m leaving. Like I told you, I can’t take any chance at missing Chad. Of losing a chance to find Sophie.”
The waitress came by and he ordered two coffees for them in French.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“A little. My stomach isn’t sure what time it is.”
“Sweet or savory?”
Kate glanced at the glass case filled with dozens of pastries. “Sweet, I guess.”
He spoke to the woman again, ordering something he hoped she’d like.
“What did you order?”
He shot her a smile and watched her shoulders relax slightly, along with her jaw. “A surprise. You’ll like it.”
Trust me.
He wanted her to trust him. To let him help her. To believe she didn’t have to tackle this on her own.
“I didn’t know you were so fluent in French,” she said as soon as the waitress left.
He couldn’t decide if she was impressed or just trying to ease the awkwardness between them.
“Enough to get me a good cup of coffee, one of those to-die-for pastries and a few other basic things.”
“You’re too modest. And you shouldn’t have come after me.”
“I was trying to keep you safe. When I lost you...” He wasn’t going to tell her yet just how worried he’d been. How he’d never have forgiven himself if something had happened to her.
He swallowed hard. “Let’s just say that this isn’t a game, Kate, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
Kate nodded and folded her hands in front of her on the table. “I don’t mean to sound like I don’t appreciate what you’ve done. Really. I showed up halfway around the world determined to find my niece, and all you’ve done so far is come to my rescue.”
“It’s my job.”
She nodded. “I know.”
Only that wasn’t entirely true. Because for some crazy reason, Kate didn’t seem like just a job anymore. He could continue trying to convince himself that this was just another case. That she was just another piece of a puzzle, but it had somehow become more than that.
“I need you to understand,” she continued, “that as much as I appreciate what you’ve done, I have to find my niece. And if that means meeting my brother-in-law in the middle of the afternoon in front of Notre Dame, alone, then I have to take that risk.”
“But that’s the point.” He leaned forward and caught her gaze. “You don’t have to. You don’t have to do this on your own.”
He sat back, momentarily distracted as the waitress set down two cups of coffee and pastries in front of them.
Kate’s eyes widened. “Wow.”
Hers was topped with strawberries, blackberries and raspberries.
“Inside that crisp, round exterior is gooey vanilla,” he said. “You’re going to love it.”
She dug her fork into the middle and tasted the dessert. “Who are they? The men after me.”
“They’re involved in smuggling diamonds into the US from Africa, primarily, in exchange for military-grade weapons for various terrorist groups.”
Her eyes widened. “Diamonds and weapons...and you think Chad is involved.”
“He’s definitely connected, which is why I’m looking for him. And why I want you to let me help. You can do it on your own and risk not only Sophie’s life, but your own, or you can let me help you. I have a backup team, tech support, everything we need to guarantee things go our way.”
“You can’t make those kinds of guarantees. If you’re so good, why haven’t you already taken down these guys?”
He ignored the barb. Because she was right. “We’re going to find them, because I have no plans on stopping until they’re behind bars. They’ve hurt a lot of innocent people, and I don’t want you to be one of them.”
“But you’re still willing to use me to catch them. Isn’t that why you were following me?”
“Would you have said yes, if I’d asked to come with you?” he asked. The girl didn’t miss much. “Pierre thought we could—”
“Use me as bait.” She dumped the packet of sugar into her coffee and stirred it slowly. “I figured that one out.”
“I wouldn’t use the word bait. We were worried you wouldn’t let us go with you.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have. Because I need to see Chad, and he won’t talk to me if I’m surrounded by bodyguards and FBI agents. He made that very clear.”
“He’s probably just scared, Kate. So do it my way. You talk to him, and we ensure nothing goes wrong. We saw the guy who tried to grab you earlier this morning. He was in the market. You need the extra protection.”
“But then what happens to Chad? You arrest him?”
“Right now, all I want to do is bring him in for questioning. Find out what he knows. Then I want to take down the men he’s working with and find Sophie, but getting yourself kidnapped or killed in the process certainly isn’t going to help.” He watched her expression as she sipped her coffee and ate her pastry. “Why’d you answer?”
“Honestly?” Her eyes softened. “Because I’m scared, and confused, and want to put an end to this, but I don’t know how.”
Marcus took a bite of his caramelized apple pastry. “Then maybe we’re on the same page after all.”
* * *
Kate studied the man sitting across from her. His expression was focused, determined. She had no doubt that he was good at what he did, or that she could trust him. Which she did. But today had made her head spin. Left her feeling as though she were drowning, and she couldn’t come up for air.
He was throwing her a life buoy. She needed to grab hold of it.
“Chad won’t talk to me if I’m followed,” she said, taking her last bite of the pastry that had her wishing for seconds.
She glanced out the window at the bustling street with its open-air markets, whimsical boutiques and boulangeries. Sitting here drinking coffee in a French café, the City of Love...the City of Lights...La Ville-Lumière...
Visiting this city had always been a dream. Chasing down the person who had kidnapped her niece had never been a part of the plan. One day she was going to return to Paris with someone who could show her the city.
Like Marcus.
Kate swallowed the last few sips of her coffee, trying to choke down the ridiculous thought. She’d panicked today, and Marcus had come through for her like some gallant hero. But that wasn’t a reason to let her mind run wild with romantic thoughts that included him as her champion.
“We’ll arrive separately,” he was saying. “I’ll make sure Chad doesn’t know you’re being followed.”
Kate forced herself to focus. “What if you lose me, or if he discovers that FBI is there?”
“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.” Marcus set his empty coffee cup and saucer on top of his pastry dish and shoved them both forward. “Kate, we need Chad and right now you’re my only link to him. I need your help. And you need my protection.”
“I have to ask for one more thing before I say yes.”
“Name it.”
“Can you ensure my sister and mother’s safety?”
“I’ll talk to my boss and have a team sent in to ensure they’re safe. And I promise I will do everything in my power not only to protect you and your family, but to ensure your niece is found.”
I need You to help protect them as well, God. There are so many things that seem completely out of my control.
“I don’t know about your faith,” he continued, “but I also plan to do a lot of praying.”
She looked up and caught Marcus’s gaze. “Me, too.”
The butterflies had yet to settle in her stomach, but at least she wasn’t going into this alone.
He reached out and grasped her hands. “We can do this.”
“Okay.” She nodded. “Let’s go.”