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Jacques

Page 72

by Elle James

Jacques and Danny hurried to the suite.

Remy met them at the door. “About time.” His gaze swept over Jacques and Danny. “Sleep well?”

“Slept great,” Danny said, marching past Remy. “I could use some coffee. Is that food I smell?”

Caleb stood by a table loaded with platters of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and toast. “Hey, kid. You look...well rested.”

“Never slept better.” She passed the food and stopped at the coffee maker. “Make sure you save some for me. I remember you used to hog the bacon at breakfast.”

She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Jacques.

He took it and turned to Remy. “Where’s Beaumont?”

“Ruiz and Collins took him to another location. He’s scared and talking. He also opened up about the hotel reservations back at Fort Benning. Collins took the cell phones and left us a couple of uniforms to stand guard overnight.”

Danny carried her coffee over and stood beside Jacques. “Have they located Jeffries?”

Remy shook his head.

“What happened to Hank’s team? I thought they had a security detail assigned to Jeffries.” Jacques said.

“He released them yesterday afternoon. He said he was staying in and wouldn’t need their services.”

Jacques frowned. “Before or after Mercer tried to run us over?”

Remy’s lips pressed into a hard line. “Before Mercer and before Beaumont handed over the phones. When Ruiz went to find him, he was gone. Hank has his team searching for him. Collins has a BOLO out on him as well.”

Jacques shook his head. “I’m guessing Mercer is also playing hard to get.”

“That’s right. Swede verified Beaumont’s claim that the man driving the car was Wade Mercer, a former military man, security for hire and, apparently, a mercenary, willing to kill for cash.”

Jacques met Danny’s gaze. Her face was set in grim lines.

“They found the car abandoned a couple of miles from here,” Remy said. “It was reported stolen yesterday morning. Its front end was smashed. The police are processing it and the SUV we were using.”

“So, Jeffries is missing, and Mercer is on foot and could show up anywhere,” Danny said. “That’s not comforting.”

Remy nodded. “We feel the same. We need to get you to a more secure location, somewhere that isn’t open to the public. Collins is arranging for the place and transportation. As soon as the vehicles and escort arrive, we’re getting Danny and Caleb out.”

Caleb joined them with his plate of eggs. “We’ve called off the retirement ceremony. I notified everyone I could think of, but I don’t know everyone who was invited. If they didn’t get the word, they’ll be showing up at the hotel this morning.”

Remy nodded. “The hotel staff knows to inform the retirement ceremony guests of the cancellation. Unfortunately, there’s another event that didn’t get canceled. It’s scheduled to take place in another ballroom—a dry cleaners convention, I think. It’s a big hotel with a lot of moving parts and people.”

“The sooner we’re out of here, the better for the hotel and guests,” Danny said. “Surely, Mercer won’t try to come into such a public place.”

“We have to consider all scenarios,” Remy said. “We’ve distributed photos of Mercer and Jeffries to the hotel staff to watch out for them and to let us know if they see them lurking around the building.”

Danny glanced at her brother, her lips twisting. “I hate that you’re missing your retirement ceremony.”

“I’m not,” Caleb said. “I’m just glad you’re okay, and I’d like you to stay that way.”

Remy’s cell phone chirped. He glanced at it. “Swede’s ready.” He strode to his laptop on the desk against the wall.

Danny set her coffee mug down and moved closer. Jacques stood beside her. Beau, Anton and Caleb gathered around as Remy tapped some keys.

Seconds later, Swede’s face appeared. “Is everyone there?”

“We’re all here.” Remy leaned back so Swede could see for himself.