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087:

Twin speech, Richard affirmed as he hung up the phone with Robert and pounded his fist against the steering wheel. He'd never felt so much rage in all his life. Melia gone to the drop off by herself? No! How stupid could she be? Didn't being in witness protection with Jared teach her anything at all? And to have taken the children with her? Was she insane? Utterly insane?

His phone buzzed. It was Danny. "Did you arrange for Megan and Maille to head home early?"

"What? Home early? They weren't leaving for a few days at least. Megan was heading back to Hawaii, and Maille-- to Utah." His brain was on fire with confusion as he swerved in and out of morning traffic on his way to the airport, where Cassie had used her credit card to buy a ticket to Florida.

Cassie-- the smartest of the lot. How could she possibly think she could do anything to retrieve Melia and the girls by herself?

"Yeah," Came Danny's stern, but calm voice. "I've called in all your guys, we are triangulating the cell phones of all four girls."

Richard's phone was beeping. "Hang on Dan, I have another call."

He pressed enter and heard a computerized male voice. "Authorizing Richard Mann, Beta, Beta, Charlie. This is monitoring system-- Hugh. I am at your disposal sir. Please advise."

Hugh--- seriously? Jared Patrick's computer? The incredible state of the art, science fiction computer he'd used when dealing with the military--- the---

Richard pounded his hand into the steering wheel--- he couldn't think!

"Locate my daughters, Melia Mann Patrick, Megan-- " He choked and wanted to throw his phone in fury.

So, someone had activated Jared's technology. Who had done that? Who could possibly have done that?

"Sir, Ryan Patrick has informed me that you are on your way to JFK International. I advise you to pick up the trail of your daughter Cassandra Celeste at Delta ticket counter B--as in Boy-- in the main Delta lobby, near the first row of kiosks. I will have airport officials waiting to help you."

So that was it. Ryan had somehow managed to access Jared's computer. "Can you find out how Ryan is doing?"

He'd seen Ryan at the hospital a few moments before. That was how they'd known what had happened, that Melia had gone after the cartel leaders by herself. Ryan had followed her, and gotten shot, and run over for his troubles. But he'd lived to tell the tale of them kidnapping Melia and her two babies-- and he thought Kell had been there as well.

"Hugh, can you find Kell Stevak for me?"

"Richard, may I address you by your first name, sir?"

"Of course." Richard had to remind himself he was speaking to a computer like a human. He shook himself as he turned off the highway to the airport, and got into a line of traffic heading to the terminals.

"Ryan Patrick is in surgery at Mercy West Hospital in Albany. At this point his status is critical. He is expected to continue in surgery for at least four more hours. Would you like specific details of his operations?"

"No, thanks, Hugh. Just, can you locate Kell Stevak?"

"I can send satellite images of the meeting Kell tried to prevent of Melia and her kidnappers to any device you choose."

"Hugh. Can you access my phone?"

"Yes."

"Please access the whole thing. My last three calls are very important numbers. One is to my wife, one is to a man named Robert DeMarco, who is on a yacht off the coast of Columbia at the moment, and one is to the FBI. Please send all of our discussions to their devices as well. Send the satellite images to them as well as this phone."

He waited and then watched as the images came to his phone screen and he stared in frustrated horror as first Ryan was shot, Melia and her babies were abducted--- and Kell---

Kell laid down his bike and was open firing on another vehicle, before being gunned down, and then his body loaded into the second vehicle and all the doors were shut."

"Hugh, if you can find that feed, can you follow those vehicles? Can you stop them from leaving the country?"

"Richard, the vehicles have separated. The one carrying your daughter and grandchildren has entered a restricted area, presumably to board a waiting helicopter. I have accessed the phone conversation between Melia and your daughter Cassie, also Melia and your daughter Megan, and Melia and Robert DeMarco. It is likely the men who have abducted Melia are from Columbia, South America, in the local dialect of Cartagena."

"Where is the vehicle carrying Kell?"

"The vehicle carrying Kell Stevak's body, has also entered restricted government territory. It will take me a little longer to access any images. Please hold."

Richard's phone beeped again. "Danny? Tell me something good."

"I talked to Cassie, Dad. She is in Florida. She arranged to meet Megan and Maille in Cuba. They heard from Melia also, not to talk to her, but they could hear key words, and determined that Melia in being taken to Cartagena. The thugs that have her are Villarino's men. I also just got off the phone with Micharichio Antonucci. He has sent his men to stop the girls if possible, and round them up."

"Where are Matthew and Steve?"

"They are about five minutes behind you, Dad. But you should all catch a flight to Cuba, if you want to help. Mom and I are loading our boat out in the bay and will meet you there in fourteen hours."

"I don't want your mom anywhere near Cuba, or Cartagena, or Carlos Villarino, Danny."

"Well, you can't stop her from where you are, so I guess you'll have to leave her to me. We'll be in touch."

Richard's phone was switched back to Hugh and an update was in progress. He held his head in his hands and groaned in frustration.

*****