Before You

CHAPTER SIX



Roth hit his parents’ home gym while he waited. By the time he’d returned to the improvised command center, Jason’s lead had undergone research. Keith answered the phone, putting it on speaker. “Nelson? We’re here.”



“Okay, Jason, you get full marks. There’s a building in Alenton that served as a school for the deaf from nineteen fifty-nine until nineteen eighty-three. It’s within fifteen minutes drive of an early street distributor of the paper they used as POL. We also contacted circulation for that paper, and they kindly shared that routes for subscriptions actually went as close as six minutes windshield time.”



Keith concluded, “Now we ask for a second POL, and see what publication they use. Run the same numbers and cross-compare.”



“Exactly.”



Jason asked laboriously, “Another night?”



Seth answered, “Jason, we feel your pain. We want Ridge home safe. What you’ve done to help this effort leaves us eternally in your debt. Hang in there. Please.”



“Call as soon as you can,” Jason requested.





Roth went straight back into the gym. He ran for twenty minutes, hit the weight bench, then swam in the current pool for almost an hour. It barely took the edge off. As he emerged from the pool, he saw his father out in the back yard. The ceiling to floor windows of the updated historical mansion had the best view of the rear lawn. A year ago, their dad had begun hand building a surrounding wall with local stone. He only worked on it when he needed relief from stress.



Drying off and throwing on some clothes, including a hooded sweatshirt to cover his wet hair, Roth went to lend a hand.







That night, Roth stretched out in his old bed, allowing himself for the first time in a long while, to think about Katherine. Not about the illness and her death. But, the simple good things. He thought about how she had loved birds, putting out seed bells, feeders and baths to invite them into the courtyard of the little house they shared. She had adored walking in the streets of Savannah and visiting old homes when the opportunity presented itself. Roth smiled in the darkness, remembering how excited she had always become when he surprised her with something; a trip, concert or even just breakfast in bed.



His heart jerked in his chest and the grief rolled in like a black mist. Katherine. Brave, brown-eyed, sweet Katherine. Every detail about her lingered. He could still recall the silkiness of her curly, dark-brown hair, the way so many things made her laugh.



Roth scrubbed his hands over his face as tears threatened. It didn’t help much when he pictured his younger brother wounded and in captivity. In that instant, he longed to feel Adam’s touch. It surprised him. The last thing he could hope for from Adam might very well prove sympathy. Why even consider it?







The next morning, they gathered for Keith’s call. “You’re not going to believe this, but I think Jason just ghosted.”



“No shit?” Nelson typed in a flurry.



Roth wondered what the fuck that meant.



Jason queried, “What’d I do?”



Keith, evidently realizing he’d recovered, replied, “Something the K & R community keeps quiet. It’s kind of something we don’t like civilians catching wind of due to creating suggestion or fear.”



Roth’s dad spoke up. “You’re going to have to explain this.”



Nelson, his calm demeanor reestablished, answered, “It’s very rare. But, every once in a while, if there’s someone with a tremendous psychological connection with the kidnap victim, they might have an experience slang-titled ‘ghosting’.”



Keith took up the explanation. “It’s like having a paranormal experience. Hence the term.”



Jason asked, “What causes it?”



Both Keith and Nelson held quiet.



Roth’s father prompted, “Somebody needs to tell me something.”



Keith’s words emerged with clear reluctance. “It most often means the victim has passed or is very close.”



“Not always,” Nelson qualified. “It does mean we’ve run out of time. There’s no doubt they’re watching us. Keith, do the math with me. What’re our options as you see them?”



“If we call the cops, the only tip that’ll get them there in a hurry and en force is rape or murder in progress, or fire. That’ll also draw looky-looers. If we’re wrong, it’ll bring down a shit storm and maybe cost Ridge his life.”



“I agree,” Nelson returned. “I think the only feasible way to control this outcome is with a small recon team capable of first strike if necessary. Once presence of the principal is confirmed, we call authorities. In that scenario, however, there’s the risk they kill the package so he cannot identify them, and attempt escape. Conceivably, they could slip into any gathering crowd in the chaos.



“I don’t like either of those.” His father’s tone carried clear concern.



“Neither do I,” Jason seconded.



Keith responded, “I have a buddy I can call in a favor with, and I can get outta here unseen.”



“If you’re going after him, I’m going with you.”



“Jason - ”



“Jason - ”



Roth and his sire began speaking at the same time.



Jason cut them both off. “If we’re going in, it sure as hell’s not without me. No one has the right to try stopping me.”



“All right,” Keith said slowly. “I’ll call in that favor and let you know our plan.”







Roth knew his mother had not slept since learning what happened to Ridge. His father scooped her up, announcing his intention to make her at least lie down for a bit.



Waiting until his parents had gone upstairs, Roth withdrew his wallet and took out the card Adam had given him. He handed it to Nelson. “Do me a favor. See what you can find out about this guy."







Things happened fast. Once Keith, his friend Nathan, and Jason confirmed they’d found Ridge, they made the decision to go in after him. Much quicker than they could have hoped, they had word that Ridge remained alive. Roth's parents clung to each other for a long moment, appearing almost overwhelmed with relief.



The company helicopter picked up Braxton and Elliot before collecting Roth and his parents. During the flight, he could only think how lucky for them that Jason had caught the signing and then had the grit to physically go in after Ridge. As soon as he saw his future brother-in-law, Roth hauled Jason into his arms. “I heard you fought like a demon to save my brother.”



“Can you pull doctor rank and see how he’s doing?”







Dr. Farentina, a colleague of Roth’s made the surgical repairs and gave his younger brother a ninety percent projection of complete recuperative success.



Despite having undergone surgery, Ridge occupied a normal room. Jason asked Roth to stay the night and he settled himself in chair. He took his responsibilities as the eldest sibling seriously. Sentinel duty on his brother suited him down to the ground.