THIRTEEN: Forming A Plan

4:08AM

10/18/2010 Logan, Maine

Jon slipped away from her when she fell into sleep. Even in those few hours before dawn Bruce and Danny were still reviewing information on laptops. The partial plate had indeed been a stolen vehicle, but instead of dumping it, he'd returned it to the owners, but it had been thoroughly wiped down.

He dropped onto the couch, dropping his head back on the cushioning. "So, we're back to square one?"

"I can't prove it's Banyon. I reached out to the local cops because of the shooting, but they don't have the manpower to really help out. I'll put a call into the Staties in the morning and see if I can get some help there." Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. "The beauty of her being out in no-wheresville is the isolation, and that's also its worst part. The police station has three full time staff and a few part-timers that I wouldn't trust to protect my dog."

"Great," Jon muttered. So, even with the threat of Lucas looming over them like a black cloud, there wasn't much they could do. "I can have her on a plane and out of the country by tomorrow."

"I'd have her in one of my safehouses, Jon. I've already offered."

He sighed, crossing one stocking foot over his knee. "I know. And I'd take you up on it in a heartbeat, but she's right. All it would do was delay the inevitable. He's going to find her no matter where we go, at least here she's comfortable. I don't want her running off alone again. If anything happens to her, I'll never forgive myself."

Bruce stood, sitting beside him on the couch. "You've said before that money is no object, does that still apply?"

Jon met his eyes. "Absolutely. What do you have in mind?"

"With my background I know a lot of retired Rangers and Seals, I know a few guys that could come out and help. Unobtrusively."

"Do it," he said after only a moment's hesitation. Cam would hate it, but at least there would be professionals taking care of things. And they wouldn't have to worry so much about innocent people getting hurt. Even Banyon didn't have the chops to go up against a goddamn Seal.

"All right, let's get some rest while we have a little downtime. Banyon's gone to figure out what he's going to do next."

"Agreed." Jon stood, padding back to Cam's room. Whether she liked it or not, he was going to be staying close to her.