Ultimate Prey (Book 3 Ultimate CORE) (CORE Series) (15 page)

“Yeah, and you guys aren’t going to believe this.” Owen looked between them. “Jordan is currently living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.”

John’s earlier unease returned with full force. He didn’t believe in coincidences, and this one was a little too convenient to ignore.

Rachel tapped at the keyboard, then stopped. “And it’s only an hour and a half drive from Fort Lauderdale to where Ryan found the GPS device from Ian’s rental.” She looked up. “This could be our guy.”

“Jordan was also former military. Army, if I remember right.” Dante scrubbed a hand down his face. “Okay, finish up the case files you’ve already started. Meanwhile, Rachel, dig up whatever you can on Jordan. I think we just found our new number-one suspect.”

“What about the other former employees?” Hudson asked. “Remember Rory Darnell? He didn’t leave CORE on good terms with Ian.”

“Talk about an asshole,” John said with a sigh.

“What did he do?” Rachel asked.

“Rory talked two female clients—that Ian had no knowledge about—into letting him do investigative work for them in exchange for sex, and tied CORE’s name into it. What’s worse is that he had a hidden video camera and used it to blackmail one of the women into giving him money, or he’d send the video to her husband.”

“What a total jerk,” Rachel said, frowning. “Didn’t Ian screen this guy before hiring him?”

“Rory used to be FBI and worked with Ian,” Dante replied. “He’s well-trained and could also be a possible suspect.”

John remembered the fallout that had ensued after Ian had discovered what Rory Darnell had been doing. “What’s even stranger about all of this—Jordan was the one who told Rory’s wife why Rory and Ian parted ways. After that, she promptly divorced him.”

“Rory could definitely be holding a grudge. We should check on him, too.”

“I don’t think we need to spend much time on Rory,” Hudson said. “He’s a womanizer, and even though he only worked here for a few months, I remember him being lazy. If he wanted to get even with Ian, I doubt he’d go through the trouble of doing it in the Everglades.”

“Good point.” Dante reached for another file. “Check on him, anyway.” He opened the folder. “Let’s finish going through Ian’s files and the other ones Rachel pulled together for us, and narrow our list of suspects even further. We need to know who we’re up against. Once we do, I want one of us down in Florida.”

John met Dante’s gaze and, for the first time in hours, he smiled. “I’ll be the first to volunteer.”

Dante furrowed his forehead. “I appreciate that, but Ian probably wouldn’t want his son-in-law risking—”

“Ian puts my life at risk all the time.” Dante was his friend and he respected him, but Ian’s right hand man could go to hell if he thought he was going to tell
him
what he could and couldn’t do. “You don’t live with his daughter. If I have the chance to bring
Dad
home, I’m doing it. I see divorce in my future if anything happens to Ian and Cami, and Celeste finds out I sat here on my ass doing nothing about it.”

Dante’s mouth slid into a small smile. “Then I guess we better find a reason for you to go to Florida.”

Chapter 6

Somewhere in the Everglades, Florida

Thursday, 7:22 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

“READY TO GET wet?” Ryan asked, shucking his pack off his shoulders.

Breathing hard after running through the woods, then slipping and sliding down a dirt slope, Lola bent forward to catch her breath. She looked up just as Ryan pulled off his t-shirt. The morning sun hit his tanned, muscle-toned chest and she quickly looked away. If they were anywhere but here, she’d have taken the opportunity to enjoy the enticing view. But knowing her mom must have tackled the same slope—likely wearing her pajamas—and having a piercing cramp in her side trumped Ryan’s half-naked body.

“Are you going to swim across?” Harrison asked. “Dude, that’s frickin’ crazy. Aren’t you worried about the snakes?” He shivered. “Or leeches?”

Ryan began unbuckling his belt. “The snakes swim above the water. If I see one, I’ll be swimming in a different direction.”

“This is crazy,” Lola said, as Ryan unzipped his dark green cargo pants. “Are you seriously stripping down?”

“I’m not going to get my clothes soaked if I don’t need to. I figured one of you could carry my pack. I’ll swim over and see if I can pick up Ian and Cami’s trail where it left off from here.” He pointed to the tracks they’d found. Her gaze wasn’t on the ground though, but to where Ryan’s pants hung open. “You guys can go along the shore and we’ll meet on the other side.”

Since she didn’t want to swim fully clothed, with snakes and leeches, she nodded. “It’ll save time, especially if we pick up their tracks along the shore,” she said, then quickly turned when he gripped the top of his pants.

Growing up in LA around actors and actresses, she’d seen her fair share of unclothed people. But because those people had been changing on set, she’d looked at their semi nudity as part of the job. Only she wasn’t in LA or on a set, and Ryan wasn’t some pretty-boy actor who’d spent hours in front of a mirror to look good for the camera. Although she didn’t know him, she couldn’t picture him posing for a camera—which was a damned shame. Rugged, good looking and quick with an easy smile, if women knew about him, and photographs were available, they’d be adding his pictures to their sexy-man-candy boards on Pinterest.

“Vlad,” Ryan said. “Mind carrying my pack?”

The Russian moved past Lola, then returned with the pack and Ryan’s clothes and boots. “Put in Harry backpack.” Vlad handed Harrison the clothes and boots.

While Harrison complied, Ryan said, “See you on the other side.”

Lola turned, and was given an amazing view of Ryan in a pair of black boxer briefs. He waded in the water for a few moments, then the muscles in his back bunched just before he dove.

“He’s going to be ahead of us,” she said, tearing her gaze away from Ryan. “Let’s go.”

“That guy is nuts,” Harrison said, following behind her.

“But he’s right,” she countered. “If he can’t pick up a trail, there’s no point in going in that direction. If we find—look.” She pointed to boot marks in the mud.
 

“We couldn’t see if Ian was wearing boots during the Skype call.” Harrison crouched and studied the print. “I’m assuming your mom’s feet aren’t that big.”

“I doubt Ian’s are either,” she said. “Come on, let’s follow them.”

The prints disappeared into the marsh, where they came across another slope and she stepped into the ankle-deep water. As much as she didn’t want to wade through the tall weeds and lily pads, she also didn’t want to climb back up the uneven incline. Midway through the outer shore of the marsh, Ryan let out a low whistle.

She looked up and over.
Oh. My. God.

Ryan stood at the edge of shore, the early morning sun caressing his tanned skin. He ran a hand through his wet hair and slicked it back, drawing her attention to how the muscles along his chest and arms moved in a way that made her hands tingle for a chance to touch the deep grooves.

He waved them over. “Looks like he found something,” she said, tearing her gaze from him. “He’s way ahead of us, so let’s pick up the pace.”

Vlad swung his mud-covered boot up and over a rotting log. “Mud like quicksand.”

“Quit whining,” Harrison said, then ducked and swatted a huge dragonfly buzzing past his head. “What the hell was that?”

“Dragonfly,” Lola said, and finding level ground, stepped out of the water. “They don’t bite.” She stopped and stared at the imprints in the soft earth. “Look. I think I found another boot print.” She continued forward. When she found the next impression, she pointed. “Our hunter skipped swimming and took the long way around.”

“How much you wanna bet he’s carrying a buncha crap with him, too, and didn’t want to get it wet.” Harrison stepped over a boot print. “His feet are as big as Vlad’s.”

“From the Skype call, I’d guess he’s about as tall as Vlad.”

“This man also work alone. Vlad see no other print.”

“I didn’t think about him having a partner,” Lola said, following the boot trail until it disappeared into the water again. “Looks like he entered here.”

They stepped into the water again. Thank God Ryan had extra pairs of boots for her and Harrison. As they moved along, the water level rose to mid-calf. Mindful of whatever might be swimming around her legs, she watched every step she took. When she reached the shore again, she looked up to where Ryan stood about ten feet from them, his dark boxers soaked and clinging to assets she might enjoy under different circumstances. Either the water was warmer than she’d thought, or Ryan was naturally well-endowed. Her cheeks grew warm and she quickly looked away. Yes,
very
well-endowed.

“We picked up tracks,” Harrison called to Ryan.

“I did, too,” Ryan said, taking the backpack from Harrison and pulling out his clothes and boots. “I’ve got three sets of prints. All of them look like they’re leading in that direction.” He pointed toward a wooded area.

“Are we calling Barney for the boat?” Lola asked, keeping her eyes diverted until Ryan put on his pants.

“Not yet.” He fastened his pants, took a few steps, then squatted. “Come here and look at this.”

She knelt next to him. Water droplets clung to his broad shoulders and dark blond chest hair and stole her attention until he pointed to the ground. “That’s the print we’ve been following.”

“Good. But do you see how the other two smaller prints have dried around the edges in comparison to the boot print?”

She did and was overcome with a rush of hope. “My mom and Ian are ahead of him.”

“Appears so,” he said with a grin. “But Jackass’s have dried a little too, which means he’s well ahead of us.”

“So we don’t need the boat?”

Harrison’s backpack rang. She stood and turned, just as he pulled the satellite phone from his pack. “Harrison,” he quickly answered. “Yeah, Dante, hang on.” He looked to her, but handed the phone to Ryan.

Ryan pulled his t-shirt over his head, then took the phone. While Ryan listened to Dante, he sat in the grass and put on his socks and boots. “Okay, that’s a game changer,” he finally said. “But it’ll work. I’ll make sure he calls you.” He stood and handed Harrison the phone. “We’re splitting up.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked, wishing she could have heard Ryan’s conversation with Dante. He might be the lead, but her mom was the one being hunted.

“Dante says they think they might know who Jackass is.”

“How?”

“The Mazda I found. The license plate is registered to Jordan Marquette, whose last known address is in Fort Lauderdale. Instead of sending someone from CORE to Marquette’s, it’s faster to send one of us. Since I’m acting as tour guide, I’m staying. Lola, I figured you and Harrison could go. You’re going to have to head back to my truck and—”

“I’m not going to Fort Lauderdale,” she said, shaking her head. “Vlad can go with Harrison.”

“Vlad think Asian Lola should go with Harry. This place not good for woman.”

“Well, Russian chauvinist, I don’t really care what you think.”

Harrison shrugged and looked to Ryan. “Lola can handle herself, if that’s what you’re worried about. She took out five guys all by her lonesome a few months back. I’d say that’s pretty badass.”

The Russian raised a blond brow. “Vlad impressed.”

Ryan studied her, his gray eyes penetrating, questioning. “Fine. We can’t waste time arguing. But remember what I said about keeping your emotions in check. There’s no room for that here.”

Kiss my ass
hovered at the tip of her tongue, but she refrained. She’d ended up with what she’d wanted, and saw no point in countering his comment.

After Ryan took the supplies from both Vlad and Harrison’s packs and transferred them to his and hers, he said, “Call Dante once you’re at the truck. He’ll give you the address and necessary details. You have the number for my sat phone, right?”

Harrison nodded. “Does Dante?”

Ryan slung the pack over his shoulders. “Yep.”

“What about the boat?” Harrison asked.

“At this rate, we might not need it. If we do, I’ll worry about it then.”

She gripped the straps of her pack. “But our gear is
on
the boat.”

“No worries. We have enough supplies with us to last a day, maybe two if we’re careful.”

Maybe two days’ worth? If her mom wasn’t part of this hunt, she would have jumped at the opportunity to leave the Everglades and head to Fort Lauderdale. Except the control freak in her couldn’t stand not knowing that someone was doing everything in their power to bring her mom home. She knew nothing about Ryan. What if, after a couple of days, he decided to hell with it and ended their mission? Other than whatever Dante had decided to pay him, what drove Ryan to help CORE, or her for that matter?

“Good luck,” Ryan said to Harrison and Vlad, then started walking toward the trees.

She glanced from his retreating back to Harrison. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked. “Can we trust this guy? I mean, I’m not suggesting he’d do anything…inappropriate, but—”