Sam grinned at his friend. Tansy might not look like a warrior, but she was fierce.
“I might go ahead and throw in trespassing and attempted robbery charges here in Vermont. Then you’ll be wanted in two states.”
“What? I haven’t trespassed anywhere. And I’m not a robber. What are you talking about?”
Joe grunted, and Sam agreed. This panic sounded real. They’d wait to get Tansy’s opinion, but Stephens definitely sounded confused.
“You or one or your friends is guilty. And I’m sure the police will be interested in chatting with you.” Tansy’s voice was harsh and clipped. She sounded completely out of patience and energy.
When Sam put his hand on the door handle, Joe spoke. “Give her a minute. She’s got him rattled.”
She did, but she was rattled as well. If she’d agreed to a two-way device, he might have been able to help her out, keep her focused.
“Tansy, you can’t call the cops. You can’t.”
That sounded like a lot of desperation. Both men tensed. They trusted Tansy to be smart and take care of herself but they also wanted to be with her. To help her.
Sam had worked with dozens of agents over the years, but never had he worked with someone he was in love with. And having her alone out there facing danger was a special kind of hell.
“Start talking, James. You’ve cheated on me, stolen from me, and put me and my home in danger because you want money. Start talking.”
“Okay, okay. Just listen. I was under a lot of pressure.”
Joe growled. “Asshole’s on repeat.”
“I need to provide the product in the next couple of weeks.”
“The product meaning my work.”
“We worked on it together.”
Tansy’s laugh was harsh. “If you think being in the same building means you get to claim credit for someone else’s work, you’re way past delusional and right into stupid. Who are you afraid of?”
They heard Stephens sigh. “I don’t know how they found out about it. I talked to a couple of government guys. But this guy found me. He wants it pretty bad, Tansy. And he’s willing to pay a lot.”
“Who is he?”
“I’m not supposed to say.”
Tansy didn’t curse all that often, but she let loose a string of words that would have made a SEAL stand up and cheer. He and Joe both chuckled, wondering if the asshole was more scared of Tansy or the potential buyer.
If he was smart, it would be Tansy.
When Stephens spoke, his voice was a whisper, but the mic picked it up. How close was the asshole? “It’s Howard. Don’t know any other name, just Howard. You have to help me, Tansy. He wants some proof the camouflage is going to work.”
Sam heard Joe swear, but he was already out of the car. That had to be Bernard Howard. One of the FBI’s most wanted.
Arms dealer. A man who sold to the highest bidder and liked to have the latest tech.
If he was involved, an attempted break and enter was nothing. Howard was perfectly capable of kidnapping and torturing to get what he wanted.
And what he wanted was Tansy’s brain.
If Stephens caused even a broken fingernail, Sam was going to take him apart.
Without knowing the extent of Stephens’ involvement with Howard, they couldn’t know if the place was surrounded, or if there was a sniper around. Or a team waiting to take Tansy if she didn’t give up her invention.
He and Joe raced toward the trails, guns drawn but down at their sides. It was too early in the season for the park to be crowded, at least. There were a couple of older people strolling, but not a little kid in sight.