At ten-thirty, Marcus walked beside Kate along Pont d’Iéna, the bridge that linked the Eiffel Tower, located on the Left Bank, to the district of Tracadéro on the Right Bank, with the diamonds in hand. Blood diamonds. Conflict diamonds. Smuggled then sold as legitimate gems. It wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did. They’d funded organized crime, corrupt regimes and international terrorist organizations. Funded war, genocide and slavery.
He glanced at Kate. He could tell from the stiffness of her shoulders and the quiver in her voice when she spoke that her nerves were on edge.
“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he asked.
“Stop asking me that question.”
“I can bring in another agent. Same build and body type. We can make it work.”
Kate shook her head. He might be stubborn, but clearly so was she. “You know I have to do this.”
“They’re criminals. They don’t play by the rules, Kate.”
She sighed. “I know.”
“Fine. We’ll do everything in our power to ensure you get her back. I can promise you that.”
“Then arrest them. This...” she said. “This needs to stop.”
“Maybe you’ve been called for such a time as this,” he said, quoting from the book of Esther.
“Maybe.”
Evil would always be there, but maybe they could win this one.
He wrapped his hand around hers. “I know how hard this has been for you. I’m always amazed at how much more strength people have than they realize. Sometimes you have to dig, Kate, but you have that kind of strength.”
“I just hope it lasts. I feel as if I’m running on adrenaline and fumes. Eventually it’s going to run out.”
“All you need is enough for right now.”
They’d gone over what was going to happen a dozen times before Pierre had driven them to an intersection near the Eiffel Tower, where Kate would make the exchange.
“Did you know that Napoleon I ordered the construction of this bridge over two hundred years ago?” he asked, above the noisy crowd on the bridge.
Hawkers insisted they buy miniature versions of the tower and other souvenirs. Musicians played for change to the tourists.
“No. I didn’t know that.” Her voice was flat.
“It was named after the general who won the Battle of Jena,” he continued. “Eight years after its construction, though, General Blücher decided to destroy the bridge before the Battle of Paris.”
“Obviously he didn’t.”
Marcus chuckled despite the heaviness hanging between them. “He was eventually persuaded by the Allied forces not to destroy it.”
She stopped at an empty spot along the edge overlooking the Seine and shook her head. “It would have been a shame to have destroyed it, though I suppose if it didn’t live in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, it probably would be just another bridge.”
“The bridge itself isn’t spectacular, but you’re right. You can get some incredible photos of the Eiffel Tower from here.”
She glanced at her watch, something she’d been doing every minute for the past hour.
“Kate?”
“I’m fine.”
She started walking again, but he grasped her arm gently and pulled her toward him. “Watching the time isn’t going to speed things up, Kate. We have plenty of time for you to get to the tower and to the second level.”
She stopped and looked over the edge of the bridge at the Seine without responding. The Eiffel Tower loomed in the background, the iconic symbol of Paris originally built for the 1889 World’s Fair that today attracted more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world.
But she already knew all of that. They weren’t here to visit one of France’s most enduring landmarks. They were here in hopes of saving Sophie’s life. But putting Kate in the middle of the exchange wasn’t something he was convinced they should do.
He’d gone over their demands a dozen times. Twelve o’clock. Second level of the Eiffel Tower. Don’t be late. Come alone.
Which meant no cops, no FBI agents, no French security. And no matter how many times they’d gone over every possible scenario, he still didn’t like it. But sometimes, like today, there was nothing else he could do.
“Hey...” He reached up and ran his thumb down her cheek. “We’re going to get Sophie back.”
Kate nodded while tears pooled in her eyes, clearly afraid if she said anything more she’d break down crying. Or maybe take him up on his offer to let someone else take her place. But she’d insisted they knew who she was. She couldn’t risk going against their demands with Sophie’s life on the line.
“You know the plan?” He didn’t need to ask her again, but he did anyway.
She nodded. “I make the exchange and get down to the ground level as quickly as I can with Sophie.”
“And if anything goes wrong? If Sophie isn’t there, or they change plans—”
“I tug on my scarf.”
“And I’ll be right there. I promise.”
She nodded, still avoiding his gaze.
He glanced down at her outfit, which Jocelyn had helped put together. Layered white and yellow tank top, blue jeans and bright blue scarf topped off with a pair of sunglasses and flats. With her tie-dyed bag and camera in hand, she looked just like any other tourist ready to take on the City of Lights. Not a young woman whose entire world had just been ripped out from under her.
“They have to know their plan is risky, trying to make an exchange in such a public, crowded place,” she said.
“That’s what they are counting on. The tower is going to be crowded. They are hoping to use that advantage to slip away with the diamonds. There is liable to be a handoff, so we have to be ready, and make sure we don’t lose them.”
She nodded.
“You have a microphone, so we can hear you, and we’ll be close by, I promise. We’re hoping the crowd will work to our advantage.”
She nodded again.
“As soon as they walk away, you describe them to me.”
“I will.”
“And as soon as you have Sophie, you head for the elevator toward the ground floor. Walk back this way toward the bridge. I’ll be there to pick you both up.”
She looked up at him and slid her sunglasses back on. “And you’ll arrest the men who took her?”
“That’s the plan. There’s also the woman who passed herself off as Rachel. We’ll be looking for her, as well.”
Kate shivered despite the warm weather. “I remember the night before Sophie was born. There were complications that came up, and while the doctor was vague about his concerns, it was clear he was worried. She was born, twenty-four hours later, absolutely perfect. No problems. Just a sweet, beautiful baby girl. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Rachel so happy. Which is funny in a way. She’d been terrified that she wouldn’t make a good mother. All of those fears seemed to vanish when she held Sophie for the first time.”
They started walking again, ignoring the hawkers still trying to sell them souvenirs. “When all of this is over, I’d like the chance to show you the city. Maybe a bike tour...espressos in one of the cafés...and an afternoon in the Louvre.”
There was a hint of a smile in her eyes for the first time all morning. “I’d like that.”
He knew he was trying to calm her nerves. Trying to get her to think about something else, anything except the fact that she was about to meet her niece’s kidnapper and make an exchange with a possible terrorist.
He stopped again and leaned toward her, breathing in the faint scent of her perfume, and brushed his lips across hers. “We’re going to find her.”
She nodded and gave him a slight smile, “Good, because I’m holding you to that promise.”
* * *
Kate waited in the long line, jostled by the eager crowds. She’d arrived early as she’d wanted to, anticipating the long lines of people going up to the tower and giving herself an hour and a half to get through the lines and up the elevator. She’d considered walking up the seven hundred steps to the second level, but the way her legs were shaking she knew she’d never make it. She scanned the crowd as the line moved forward, but there was no sign of Sophie. More than likely they were already up in the tower anticipating her arrival. Hopefully, they’d buy her niece lunch to pass the time, but more than likely the restaurant didn’t serve mac and cheese.
She knew Sophie would be scared without her mother. The only familiar thing she had was Lily, her one-eyed bunny. But this would all be over soon. All she had to do was buy her ticket...take the elevator to the top...find Sophie...and give them the diamonds.
Marcus would handle the rest.
God, I feel as if You brought Marcus into my life at such a time as this to be that one, tangible source of strength You knew I would need. Thank You for him. For his concern and compassion. And help him and the others to find these guys who have tried so hard to destroy our family.
She neared the ticket counter and let her thoughts shift to Marcus. He had become her anchor in the storm. The unexpected part of the equation that had managed to help set her world right again. Almost. But she wasn’t going to fool herself into thinking that as soon as she had Sophie they’d somehow ride off into the sunset together.
Instead, she’d leave France and return to her studies. Life would take on its normal rhythm again with mundane things like grocery shopping and picking up her dry cleaning. Marcus O’Brian wasn’t a part of that life.
But could he be?
She still wasn’t sure. She shook her head as she walked up to the ticket counter and gave the woman exact change for her ticket, keeping one hand on the diamonds nestled safely in her bag. They might have a lot in common—including their faith—but the attraction she felt toward him wasn’t enough to build a relationship on.
She shoved her wondering thoughts of Marcus from her mind, told the attendant merci, then headed toward the elevator. She glanced at her watch. She still had forty-five minutes until she was supposed to meet them.
All she could do now was pray that nothing went wrong.
* * *
Marcus started up the stairs, two at a time toward the second level of the Eiffel Tower. His heart was already pounding by the time he reached the second set of stairs, but more from anxiety than the exertion.
He passed a group of schoolchildren coming down the stairs with their backpacks while their teachers lagged behind. Jocelyn was following Kate up the elevator, but he wanted to be on the second level before she got there. Whoever was making the pickup would more than likely be there already. They needed photographs of the crowd in case they missed grabbing them.
Doubts over their strategy had begun this morning and continued as they’d plotted out the remaining details. Guilt nagged. What if they’d overlooked something? Some detail that they hadn’t considered?
He hated situations like this. When so much was out of his hands.
I need a way to bring both Kate and Sophie to safety, God.
Because once again he was second-guessing his decisions.
Which wasn’t like him.
He’d participated in dozens of arrests. Handoffs and exchanges. But Kate had managed to dig under his skin and go straight for his heart. A place he’d managed to keep guarded until now. He wanted things to go right, not just because he wanted justice done in this situation, but because he truly cared about her.
That determination in her eyes had him falling for her. And when all of this was over, he simply wasn’t ready to have her fly back to the United States without telling her how he felt. Her kiss had magnified the chemistry between them, and managed to push him over that invisible edge of no return.
Seventeen minutes later, he passed the last information board and stepped onto the second level of the tower, thankful he wasn’t afraid of heights. Camera in hand, he started taking photos like all the other tourists. Except he wasn’t looking at the panoramic view of the city below. He was looking for Sophie.
They’d rehearsed the exchange, following the script the kidnappers had sent them.
“Excuse me, do you have any change for the binoculars? My niece wants to look through them, and I don’t have any change.”
Kate would set her bag down with the diamonds then hand the woman change for the vintage coin-operated binoculars...
He glanced across the floor to where Pierre was videotaping, then glanced at his watch. Twenty-five more minutes, and all of this would be over.
* * *
Kate’s stomach lurched as the glass elevator ascended inside the metal structure. She hung on to one of the poles, listening to the different languages being spoken around her, but staring past the crowd that was packed into the confined space. People videotaped the ascent, as the pedestrians below got smaller by the second.
But she felt none of their enthusiasm. Instead, nausea swept over her. Her fingers tightened around the pole, certain everyone knew why she was here. A man announced everyone must get off and change elevators. She stepped off automatically, barely seeing the restaurant and gift shop.
Sophie was here somewhere. Among the tourists with their bags and backpacks, cameras and camcorders. Pressed together like sardines in order to capture a bird’s-eye view of the city.
Kate glanced at her watch as she stepped out onto the second level. She was five minutes early. Which meant they were here, somewhere. She tried not to panic. Tried not to imagine what would happen if they didn’t show up.
Her hands began to sweat. The bag she was carrying felt heavier. Maybe Marcus had been right. She wasn’t exactly an agent, or a trained officer with knowledge of what to do in a situation like this.
She stepped up beside one of the binoculars that overlooked the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées that stretched from it, but she wasn’t here for the view.
She looked out over the crowd. Snapped a photo of the view. Marcus was here, along with half a dozen plainclothes officers. She just wanted it to be over.
Please, Lord. Let me find Sophie.
She pulled her bag against her side and shot up a prayer. Something she’d been doing all morning. Marcus had assured her that he and his team would be there, just as they had when she’d met Chad.
But that meeting had ended in tragedy. She couldn’t let anything happen today. Five million dollars’ worth of diamonds and a little girl’s life were at stake. This had to work.
“Sophie!”
“Auntie Kate—”
Kate watched the woman holding her hand cut her off and shake her head. Kate glanced around her at the crowd. No one had a clue what was going on.
Surely they wouldn’t do anything to Sophie here. Not in front of hundreds of witnesses.
Please, God. Get us through the next few minutes until I can get Sophie out of here safely.
The woman holding Sophie’s hand approached her with a frown on her face. “Do you have change for the binoculars? My niece hasn’t seen the view before, and I forgot to bring any change.”
Kate nodded, her hands shaking. She set her bag down beside her then started digging for the coin she’d left in her pocket. “I’ve got some... It’s here somewhere.”
She wanted to scream at the guard to help.
“I wouldn’t try anything if I were you. I’m not here alone. And you wouldn’t want anything to happen to your niece.”
Kate nodded, then handed her the coin before taking Sophie’s hand. “I think you have what you need now.”
* * *
He had watched the woman approach her. Kate nodded. Marcus snapped a photo. Two could play this game, as well. Sophie’s smile had broadened as she’d caught sight of her aunt. The woman holding her hand had pulled her toward her, causing Sophie’s smile to vanish. But not for long. The girl looked as if she hadn’t been harmed, but there was no way to tell at this point.
The woman glanced at the binoculars, and said something to Kate.
Kate nodded, set down her bag, then dug for a coin in her pocket.
The woman picked up the bag, quickly inspected the contents of the bag, then let go of Sophie’s hand.
“Describe her to me, Kate,” Marcus said as the woman walked away.
“Twenty-five...maybe a bit older. Reddish-brown hair that looks as if it’s been colored. A narrow scar above her right eyebrow. Dark blue capri pants. White T-shirt.”
“Good girl. What’s she doing?”
“Walking toward the stairs.”
“Keep your eye on her, team. We don’t want to lose her, or those diamonds.” Marcus had his attention on Kate and Sophie. “It’s the easy part now, Kate. Head for the elevator. I’ll meet you down below.”
Marcus saw her walk toward the elevators. A large group of Japanese tourists congregated in front of him, blocking his view.
“Kate? Kate? Can you hear me?”
“Yes. We’re headed to the elevators.”
Marcus was right behind her. “Jocelyn...have you still got our kidnapper in your sights?”
“Got her. So far everything seems to be going along as planned.”
“Pierre?”
“I’m right behind her.”
Someone bumped into him. Kate had vanished from his sight.
“Kate? Where are you?”
They’d been less than twenty feet from him three seconds ago. He scanned the growing crowd, trying not to panic. Everyone was headed for the stairs. The loudspeaker blasted out instructions for everyone to calmly take the stairs.
He spoke into his microphone. “What’s going on, Pierre?”
“They’re evacuating the tower.”
“I can see that. Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Security was signaling people toward the stairs, ordering everyone to calmly leave the tower.
“Do you see her, Jocelyn?”
“I lost her, and she’s not responding.”
“Kate?”
Why wasn’t she answering? She had to be here. Somewhere. There wasn’t anywhere else for her to go except down the flight of stairs with the rest of the tourists.
* * *
Kate grabbed Sophie tightly as she walked toward the elevators. “Sophie...I’ve missed you so much. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?”
“No. They fed me macaroni and cheese.” Sophie clutched her one-eyed bunny and nodded. “Where’s my mommy?”
Kate’s heart tripped. “You and I are going to take a long plane trip and see her, okay?”
“I don’t like airplanes.”
“But this time, you’ll get to see Mommy, okay?”
But not until they got out of here. The quickest way down was probably the stairs, but with Sophie, the elevators would be the easiest. Marcus would meet them below. Everything had gone as planned. She had Sophie and they’d both be on the next flight out of here.
The announcement blasted over the loudspeaker system. “Ladies and gentlemen, the tower is closed. We need you to take the stairs down to the ground.”
The crowd grew around her. Bumped into her. Glancing down below, she could see where police had set up a barricade. She tugged on the arm of one of the security guards who was passing by her. “I’m sorry...what’s going on?”
The guard turned to her and frowned. “Everyone must evacuate the tower immediately. There’s been a bomb threat.”