“I can’t lose her, Dig.” The bite in his tone all but vanished with a sense of impending defeat. “She’s?—”
“Your everything.” The other man put a supportive hand to one of Beckett’s shoulders. “Yeah, brother. I know.”
“We all do.” Falcon and the others made their way over to where he and Dig stood. “Back when Avery was taken from me…” He gave a slow shake of his head. “Trust me, Beck. I felt just as pissed…just ashelplessas you do right now.”
“I thought I’d go out of my mind with fear and worry when I faced the possibility of losing Nicki forever.” Apollo’s dark gaze met Beckett’s as he backed up Falcon’s point. “But we did whatever it took to get our women back, and we’ll damn sure do the same for you and yours.”
“He’s right.”
Rafe Owens entered the room with purpose. At six-four, the beefy forty-eight-year-old was one of the most brilliant, level-headed, and calculating men Beckett had ever worked with. Add in the fact that he was former British Intelligence—accent included—and the handsome, silver-haired operative was like James Bond come to life.
“Tell me you got ahold of Shadow.” Beckett hurried toward the imposing man while the others took to their usual seats.
“Unfortunately, no.” An uncharacteristic look of concern flashed behind Owens’ steel gray eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. “I’ve asked Ashley to continue her efforts to contact Shadow, and in the meanti?—”
“Continue her efforts?” Beckett cut his boss short. “All due respect, but Evie doesn’t have time to wait for Shadow to decide to pick up the fucking phone.”
In typical Owens fashion, the man kept his expression steady and his temperament calm and in control.
“Everyone here understands what’s at stake, Bones.” The man’s intelligent stare met Beckett’s. “And I assure you, we’re doing everything in our power to find Evelynn Mitchell.”
“We have nowhere to start, Boss.” Beckett’s harsh tone softened with a desperate fear. “I called a contact I have within the CPD on the drive over here. Whoever drugged Lo and took Evie likely left no prints, and their techs are so backed up, he couldn’t even tell me for sure when they’d even be able to start going through the area’s CCTV footage. And every minute that goes by without someone out there, actively trying to find her, the less Evie’s chances are of making it out of this thing alive.”
“Then it’s a good thing we aren’t waiting on the Charlotte Police Department to actively try to find her,” Owens stated matter-of-factly.
“You got someone else?” Digger asked the man in charge.
Their boss picked up the small remote from the conference room table and activated the giant screen mounted on the wall behind him. Seconds later, a man Beckett didn’t recognize appeared.
Guessing him to be in his early fifties, the guy’s black hair was generously streaked with gray. The thick strands on top longer than those on the sides, and the matching beard covering the man’s strong jaw was kept well-trimmed.
Beneath a burgundy t-shirt, a set of broad shoulders gave way to a pair of tatted, equally muscular biceps. But it was the look in the man’s eyes that grabbed Beckett’s attention.
One that left him feeling glad this guy was on their side.
“Gentlemen, I’d like you to meet Baker Rawlins,” Owens’ accent was thick as he introduced their surprise guest. “Former SEAL turned jack-of-all-trades.” Pointing to each member of theteam, their boss told the other man, “This is Digger, our team lead, Falcon, Apollo, and Bones.”
“Bones.” Baker looked him dead in the eyes. “You’re Evelynn Mitchell’s?—”
“Can you help us find her or not?” Beckett didn’t waste time beating around the bush.
“Yes.” The guy’s deep voice resonated through the system’s speakers. “In fact, I’m pretty sure I know who took your girl.”
A sliver of hope began to seep in for the first time since learning of Evie’s abduction. “Who?”
“Her father.”
And just like that, all remnants of hope Beckett had been feeling vanished. “You’re referring to Phillip Mitchell.”
“I am.”
“Then I’m sorry we wasted your time because Mitchell isn’t Evie’s father.” When all eyes in the room turned his way, Beckett shared the part of Evie’s story he hadn’t let them in on before now.
“So as you can see, the man clearly wants nothing to do with Evie. And I don’t see how Mitchell would benefit from her abduction, either.”
“Abduction, no. But he’s still listed as the sole beneficiary on her ten million-dollar life insurance policy.”
Ten million dollars?