Midnight Captive Read Online Free PDF Page B

bank was located, she had a good grasp of the interior and a feasible plan, depending on what Rafe had to say.
    The sun had disappeared below the horizon line not long after she’d landed, but lampposts lit the streets and cast shadows on the faces of pedestrians wandering the sidewalks. Her driver took a detour because the Garda had barricaded two city blocks, thanks to the showdown at the bank, so she was five minutes late meeting Rafe. She got out of the sedan on the street parallel to Fleet, heading for the cobblestone alley sandwiched between two darkened storefronts.
    “You’re late.” He emerged from the shadows, his darkeyes, dark hair, and dark stubble making it hard to see him clearly.
    “Sorry. Had to take a detour.”
    They didn’t shake hands. Didn’t hug or exchange smiles. Rafe Meriden wasn’t that kind of man. He always got right down to business without wasting time on pleasantries.
    “The negotiator is still in contact with the gunmen,” he said briskly. “He’s taking the calls from inside one of the police cars parked in front of the bank.”
    “Has the Emergency Response Unit made any moves?” she asked.
    “None. No activity inside either. I overheard one of the gardai say the shots that were heard earlier were warning shots. Gunmen fired at the ceiling when they stormed the bank to get people’s attention. It’s been quiet since then.” He paused. “You saw the girl’s video?”
    “Yes,” she said grimly.
    Rafe frowned. “You’re certain your guy’s in there?”
    Her guy. Hardly. If the cops didn’t shoot Sean, she’d do it herself.
    “Yeah, he’s there.” She bent down and unzipped the canvas bag she’d brought from England, rummaging around until she found the case containing her comms. She took out two earpieces, popped one in her ear, and handed the other to Rafe.
    The transmitters were motion activated, so she moved her hand over the tiny device to trigger the mic. “Paige, you read?”
    “Loud and clear,” came her friend’s voice.
    “Did you get the locations of the snipers?”
    “Two across the street from the bank, one in the rear.”
    “Be more specific,” Rafe demanded. “Where’s the third?”
    “He’s on the roof of an apartment building. If the back door is twelve o’clock, our sniper is at six.”
    Rafe and Bailey turned their heads inconspicuously toward the buildings to the east of them.
    “Brick building,” Paige said. “Second flat from the top has Christmas lights strung on the balcony.”
    Bailey glimpsed the blinking red and blue lights. “Got it. Thanks. I’ll get back to you.” She turned to Rafe. “You said there’s a dozen Garda officers in the back?”
    He nodded. “What are you thinking?”
    “We need to take out that rear sniper, for one.” Chewing on her bottom lip, she pulled up the blueprints on her phone and studied the screen. “There’s a ventilation grate five feet from the back door. I need to get to it without the guards spotting me.”
    Rafe whistled under his breath. “You’re a crazy bitch, Bailey.”
    “Do you think you can incapacitate the sniper and take his place?” she said slowly.
    “Yes.” Rafe narrowed his eyes. “But then what?”
    She bit the inside of her cheek, her brain rapidly sorting through details and variables. “You’ll have to create a distraction. Get the Garda’s eyes off the back door just long enough for me to infiltrate the bank.”
    “I can do that. I’ve got an associate on standby.”
    She didn’t bother asking who this “associate” was. Rafe was even more secretive than she was, and she had
a lot
of secrets.
    “Can we trust him?”
    “He’ll do whatever I ask.” Rafe paused. “What happens when you get inside?”
    “I’ll have to improvise, I guess. But let’s cross one bridge at a time. We need that sniper removed from the equation first.”
    Rafe went quiet for a beat. Then he sighed. “You sure this man of yours is worth the hassle?”
    Nope. She