The time and place for their clandestine meeting were the usual. A place they had often met to talk about sensitive matters without fear of being overheard-Clinton's office in Washington, D.C.

Peterson arrived in D.C. as soon as he'd ended the phone call with Clinton and had left the house with the pretext of taking a stroll in the park. His wife, Eleanor believed him and had kissed him goodbye before she saw him off to his car.

Clinton made coffee in less than two minutes and served Peterson. He had told his secretary to cancel all his pending appointments for the moment. He didn't want anyone to disturb their conversation.

"You said we're on the verge of being exposed." He sipped from the mug. "Explain yourself."

Clinton took his eyes off the black coffee he had been staring at and heaved a sigh. He had been worried after the phone call with Ethan. The tenacious navy commander wouldn't stop until he exposed them. And he had to be exterminated at all costs.

"I spoke with the fugitive."

Peterson's interest was piqued. "When?"

"Today."

"What did he say?"

"Something daunting. Ethan didn't plan his escape. Somebody hit the convoy."

The news shocked him so much that he almost spilled the coffee. He connected the dots. Like Clinton, he too knew the implication of Ethan not devising his escape.

"We have another enemy."

"Which is bothersome. The enemy you don't know is more dangerous than the one you know. I'm worried they might be plotting something against us."

Peterson let everything sink in. "What are you doing, Clinton? We can't afford to be exposed. The Russian Mafia won't take this lightly. If they expose us, they're exposing them and the consequence will be dire."

"Good thing is that Ethan doesn't have any evidence in his possession, which means we're still one step ahead of them. What you have to do now is to destroy all the evidence you have in your possession and double tighten your security. Ethan is getting out of control. I'll take care of my side. Neither of us can't be compromised. It will affect us both."

"Will do that. What about the Judge? How much does she know about our secret?"

Right now Terry Lindsay wasn't a headache because he had her in his clutches. He could easily manipulate her and turn her against anybody he wanted to. Initially, he had wanted her dead because she had become a liability then, but now he felt she was under control.

"Terry isn't a problem. I've taken care of her. She's on our side now. Any moment from now, she'll call to give up the fugitive's location. Ethan trusts her."

Peterson took another sip to calm down his nerves. "But you said he told her things about us."

"Yes. That's why he kidnapped her in the first place. For information. Terry didn't tell him anything about us."

"You sure? We can't afford any risks. If she's going to be in our way, then have her killed."

"I'm certain because I didn't tell her more than she needed to know."

"What now?" Peterson said.

"Now we find our unknown enemy?"

"How?"

Clinton looked at him and smirked. "I've got a lead."

#. #. #

"The Director of the U.S. Marshals has got Ethan? Are you certain?" Dan asked anxiously from where he sat.

"Yes." Terry was still staring at the photo from the screen. "I've met with her on several occasions. Mostly she takes charge of high-profile criminals and makes sure they rot in jail."

She got to her feet and started pacing the floor. "But what I don't understand is why she's got Ethan and his recapture isn't a headline already."

"I've been browsing the web for hours now and there's no headline like that anywhere."

Terry was racking her brains. "Something doesn't add up here. You said she gave you a card?"

"Yeah." He fished it out from the files on the floor.

"Let's call her."

"Right on it."

He punched in the numbers onto his cell phone and waited for the receiver. Shelby answered the call and Dan put her on loudspeaker.

"This is Shelby Willet. Who am I speaking with?"

"Terry Lindsay."

"Judge Terry, I'm glad we've finally spoken again. It's been a while. I have your daughter."

Terry felt her stomach plummet. "You have my daughter?"

"Yes."

"You're lying."

"I'm not. You want proof? Hear for yourself." The line went blank, then Gabby's happy voice filled it seconds later.

"Mommy?"

The sound of her voice hit her hard. She felt the urge to pass out and quickly located a spot on the couch to sit. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Gabby. Honey. How're you?"

"I'm fine, Mommy. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too," she said between sobs. There was so much she wanted to do, but couldn't because she wasn't there physically. She wanted to plant kisses on her soft cheek, stroke her hair, cuddle her and not let go until the end of the day. But she couldn't.

Blinking off tears, she said sorrowfully, "Have you eaten?"

"Yes, Mommy. Aunt Shelby made my favorite meal. Then she took me to the park. I made a friend. Her name's Audrey. She said her Mommy likes flowers just like you."

"Darling, that's beautiful."

Terry was glad her daughter was happy and safe, given the circumstance she was in. She was also grateful to Shelby for taking good care of her so much that Gabby had referred to her as auntie. She wanted to talk forever with her and know how her days had been without Daddy and Mommy's presence, but there were questions she needed answers to. Twice now, Clinton had lied to her face.

"Honey, could you give the phone back to Aunt Shelby?"

"Uh-huh. Bye, Mommy."

"Bye, honey."

Shelby's voice filled the line. "Your daughter is safe. You don't have to worry about her."

If not for the fact she had treated Gabby well, Terry would have lashed out at her for taking her daughter without her permission.

Smothering the anger she felt, she said, "Why did you take my daughter?"

"To protect her from Clinton."

"Clinton," she repeated the name slowly, putting thoughts together.

"Clinton is dangerous. He framed Ethan and killed Jerry Hamilton. He was getting out of hand. I feared he'd kidnap your daughter to get leverage, so I took her from the safe house."

"How do you know all these?"

"I've been investigating nonstop about him and Admiral Peterson. Those too are into criminal activities."

Dan asked from his seat. "Where's Ethan? Is he safe?"

A long silence ensued, before she said, "I'm afraid Ethan might be doing something stupid as we speak."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ethan got away and I don't doubt he's gone after Clinton or Admiral Peterson."

"How?"

"Long story. He tricked me into believing he was on my side, attacked me, and snatched my gun. He took my keys from me at gunpoint. Then got away with my car. I've tracked him down to a mall in town. He ditched my car there and stole another. I'm currently using the number plate to locate him."

Dan said, "If Ethan doesn't want to be found, then you can't find him."

"Which brings me to you. Ethan isn't thinking at the moment. He wants to prove his innocence at all costs and I'm afraid of what he might do. I need your help."

"My help? How?"

"You have to call him and talk some sense into his head."

"I've tried that several times. He doesn't pick any of my calls."

"Keep trying. If Clinton knows he's out there, he's going to order another hit on his life and I need him to testify in court."

Terry and Dan shared a look.