Chapter Thirty One
Excessive energy coursed through John as he held his phone. His mind raced as he waited for his security team to pick up on his ring. As he peered out the window, his hands twitched. No one answered. He paced. There should be video footage of his front yard.
As his hands shook he made a fast plan. First he'd call the police. Then he'd call DC and report what happened to Smith's superiors. None of this helped him search for Alice, but he had clues.
A racing heartbeat echoed in his chest as the phone rang again, but this time, he swung open the door and jogged to the car where Morgan's security should be.
Nobody was there.Pick up, Rafe.The seconds ticked and finally Officer Soliz answered. "Good morning, Mr. Morgan. What's going on?"
John rocked on his feet and peered inside the black van. "Alice was kidnapped out of my house."
Something metallic screeched in his ear as Rafe shouted, "What?"
He tapped his finger against the van window. "I let Special Agent Steven Smith into my house to collect my badge. I went to get the badge and when I came back, they were gone."
"I'm on my way."
John swung open the van door. No one was inside. "Security will have a video, if I can find them."
"John, we'll find her."
His neck stiffened. This wasn't good. "Hurry."
If no one was in the security truck, then either Smith went after his people or they were on patrol around the property.
No need to panic. He dialed Washington. With his free arm curled around the back of his head, he paced before his front door and waited to be connected to someone. Then he spoke to Smith's boss and repeated the story.
No matter what it took, he had to save Alice. His life wasn't as important. A few minutes later, the supervisor told him, "We're sending our men to help you now, Mr. Morgan."
The FBI and the police were both good at solving crimes, but not for prevention. He swallowed back his thoughts as a police cruiser came into view.
Rafe parked and walked from the cruiser, waving toward another patrolman who then sped away. John stared at his Mercedes. If he knew where to go, he'd be there already. He had to figure out where she was taken so he could get her back. As Rafe walked over and stood next to him, John couldn't hide his pain. "We have to find Alice."
Rafe patted him on the back. John shook his head. Sympathy didn't help her and that was all that mattered.
Security chose that moment to turn the corner from the back of his house. John crossed his arms. These two were supposed to answer their phones if they walked away from the van, not that it mattered. John called out to them, "Where is the video of Smith taking Alice?"
Both men stood straight, like they were new cadets in the Marines. One said, "We sent it in, sir."
John walked in front of them like a drill sergeant. "You did what?"
The boy shook in his boots as he repeated his training. "We saw the entire thing sir, including the black sedan take off from your driveway. Ron caught everything on video, and all digital files save automatically at Morgan security headquarters. From there, they disseminate the information."
The information rang in his head as truth. He backed up and stared at Rafe and then back to the men. "Give me the number immediately to whoever is on staff. Headquarters are still in the same place?"
"On the estate, sir."
"At Peter's house?"
"Yes."
Clarification always helped. John pointed Rafe to his driveway. They'd take his Mercedes. He then told the security detail, "Call it in to the police department too. We need to give Rafe the video. The license plate?"
"Yes, sir."
Rafe held up one finger. "Did either of you write the plate down?"
"Yes, sir."
