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"I'm guessing the agent was probably overpowered." Paul hesitated, the silence between them as heavy
as the humid night air. "Katherine, I misjudged the situation and made a bad call. I never expected them
to grab Dustin. I should have figured they would guess he was my Achilles' heel."
She shut her eyes and leaned her head back against the seat. "I know you didn't intentionally put Dustin
at risk." A sigh rumbled through her as she realized, despite everything, that Paul was a decent and good
man. Not the kind of man to endanger a child. Instead, he was a man willing to trade his own life for that
child.
She opened her eye o the encroaching darkness. "And I know you'll do your best to get him back
safely."
Glancing over, Katherine saw Paul's Adam's apple work before he nodded, not pulling his gaze from the
road as they sped into the night.
It didn't take long to reach Jessica's house. Blanketed in the darkness of the peaceful neighborhood, it
looked deceptively safe. Paul stopped the car several houses away, having already doused the
headlights. It seemed incredibly quiet, as though even the crickets had suspended their nighttime chorus.
Paul dialed a number on his cell phone and quickly outlined the situation to an agent. Snapping the phone
shut, he turned to Katherine. "I want you to sit tight, no matter what happens." He handed her the cell
phone. "Other agents are en route, but you can always call 911."
She was shaking her head. "I'm not going to let you go in alone."
Frustration lined his face as he gritted his teeth. "This is exactly why I didn't want you to come. You're
too damned stubborn."
"Which means you know I'm not going to stay here.You might as well accept that and use me to help.
I'm not going to sit meekly by while someone's threatening my son's life!"
Paul sighed in resignation. "You'll have to do exactly as I say. This has nothing to do with your
stubbornness. One wrong move could spell disaster."
Even further chilled by his words, Katherine nodded. "I know you're the expert here. What should I
do?"
"I plan to talk theFalgettis into allowing Jessica and the children to come outside before I go into the
house."
Katherine swallowed her fear. "Then what?"
"If they cooperate, I'll make sure Jessica and the boys are a safe distance out the door before I go in."
"Isn't there another option?" she asked desperately, not willing to allow Paul to sacrifice himself so easily.
"What if we waited for the other agents to get here and help you?"
He shook his head. "TheFalgettis demanded I come here alone. But lone-ranger operations are against
policy. If the other agents arrive before we get Dustin out, theFalgettis will know I crossed them. That
could spell disaster."
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"Surely there's something else we can do!"
Paul hesitated, glancing upward at the dark sky. "If we can time things exactly right& "
"What?"
"As soon as Jessica and the boys step outside, we can cut the power to the house. I can toss in another
diversion. It's so dark that a sudden blackout might throw them off long enough for us all to escape."
"I could pull the breakers!" Katherine's voice was urgent as she glanced at Jessica's home. "I know
where they are on the exterior wall near the front of the house. And I'm sure I can peek around the
corner to see the door from that spot."
He seemed to be weighing the options before responding. "Okay, but that's all," he warned. "I can't
protect Dustin if I'm watching my back for you."
She nodded and he seemed satisfied.
Paul was right, she realized, as he moved rapidly to the trunk of the car. The night was moonless, and for
once she was grateful for the darkness.
In seconds Paul stripped off his dress shoes and exchanged them for running shoes. To her surprise he
bent down and picked up a baseball-size rock. Then he reached into a black duffel bag, shoving several
things in his pockets.
Katherine stared at the unfamiliar items. "What's that stuff?"
"Diversionary paraphernalia," he replied briefly, withdrawing a large automatic pistol.
She gulped. "Do you think you'll need that?"
"To talk theFalgettis into an exchange? Absolutely. The threat of a bullet between the eyes,
unfortunately, is the only thing they understand."
His words sent a shudder through her. "What if they don't agree?"
"Then I go in alone."
Katherine realized he meant what he said. She touched his arm, tears swimming in her eyes, knowing she
couldn't ask for this supreme sacrifice despite the need to protect her child. "You don't have to do this."
His gaze met hers. "Yes, I do."
She swallowed, incredibly torn. She didn't want either of them to get hurt. "What do you want me to
do?"
"As soon as Jessica and the boys stepoutside, pull the breakers," Paul instructed. "And no matter what
else happens, run with Jessica and the boys."
"You mean if something happens to you?" she asked hoarsely.
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He gripped her arms, their bodies closer than they'd been in weeks. "You have to trust me, Katherine
in spite of everything that's happened. It's our only chance."
She nodded. His eyes searched hers before he dropped his hands and eased away.
Trust. The one thing he'd broken. The one thing he now asked for. Did she have it in her? Somewhere
so deep inside she'd refused to acknowledge it?
Holding that thought, she sprinted toward the house, slowing to cautious steps as she crept around the
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