Dead By Nightfall Read Online Free PDF

could only imagine what was happening behind that closed door. If he were in Griffin’s position, if Maleah was missing, presumed kidnapped by a deadly assassin, how would he have reacted?
    A strange silence interrupted Derek’s thoughts, a lingering quiet that signaled a conclusion. The door eased open and Sanders stood there looking as if he had survived a vicious battle, his facial features drawn and haggard, his gaze a blank stare. After he stepped out into the hall, leaving the door open behind him, Derek glanced into Griffin’s study, a room he now barely recognized. In his tortured rage, Griff had destroyed the beautifully elegant and classically masculine room he had personally designed for his private use. Every stick of furniture—tables, chairs, ottomans—had been overturned. Only the large, sturdy Jacobean table remained upright, but the surface had been swept clean, the items scattered about on the wooden floor. Shattered lamps littered the Persian rug, as did the porcelain figurines that had once lined the mantel over the massive rock fireplace.
    Yvette walked toward Sanders, her steps increasing in speed as she neared the study entrance. She paused in front of Sanders and waited for him to speak.
    Derek suddenly sensed that his presence was superfluous. At this moment, there was nothing he could do for Griff. Sanders had done his part. Now, it was Yvette’s turn. Without a word being spoken, Yvette and Sanders passed each other as he left Griff’s study and she entered. When Sanders approached, Derek was still staring into the ransacked room, watching as Yvette walked up behind Griff, whose back was to her, lifted her arm, and placed her hand on his shoulder.
    â€œShe will help him,” Sanders said.
    Derek nodded.
    â€œWe have a lot to do,” Sanders told him. “It may well be tomorrow before Griffin is able to take charge again. In the meantime, I will need your assistance to address certain urgent matters.”
    Snapping out of his trancelike state, completely absorbed by the way Yvette doubled over and groaned in pain as she struggled to hold on to Griff. When she dropped to her knees, her hand clinging to Griff’s leg, Derek forced himself to face Sanders.
    â€œYvette can do more for him now than you or I.” Sanders reached behind him and closed the door. “But there is much you and I can and must do as soon as possible.”
    â€œMaleah should be here anytime now,” Derek said. “You work up the game plan and we’ll expedite it immediately.”
    â€œThe first order of business is to assign agents to go to the cabin and search for any clues that might tell us what happened to Nicole.” Sanders motioned for Derek to follow him as he moved down the hall, away from Griff’s study and toward the foyer. “I need to tell Barbara Jean what has happened. She is waiting in our quarters. While I fill her in on the situation, will you please get in touch with Saxon Chap-pell and send him to Gatlinburg? And see if you can get in touch with Shaughnessy. Ask him to return to Griffin’s Rest as soon as possible. If ...” Sanders cleared his throat. “If it were to become necessary for us to subdue Griffin, Shaughnessy is the only agent we have who has the physical strength to help us do that.”
    â€œAnything else?” Derek asked.
    â€œGet in touch with headquarters and have all available personnel called in and put to work tracking every airplane, boat, bus, and train that left the region in the past eight hours.”
    â€œAirplane departures should be the top priority,” Derek suggested. “In all likelihood, if Anthony Linden abducted Nicole, he would have a private plane waiting to take her out of the country.”
    â€œAgreed.” With a curt nod of his shaved head, Sanders walked briskly away, through the foyer, and down the hallway that led to his and Barbara Jean’s quarters at the back