Page 104 of No More Lies

Donnie stood in the middle of the road between the Honda and the next row of cars.

The device in Jay’s hand buzzed and flashed. “I got it, too,”

“But if you move a few steps either way, the reading weakens.” Donnie moved away to prove his point and held up the now-silent scanner for everyone to see. “It has to be in there.” Donnie pointed to a manhole cover. Jay crouched down. His scanner practically screamed.

“I agree. It’s under here. We need to clear this area now and call the experts.”

Since signals had been jammed, Liam took out a satellite phone and made the call to Sam.

“If it’s not in the car, let's get Ms. Costas out and see what she knows about Diane.” Steve started walking back.

“Steve, let Logan finish clearing the car. Just because the sarin isn’t in there, doesn’t mean there’s not another bomb.”

Steve stopped and faced his boss. “Dex, we’re running out of time. It’s two o’clock. Fuck, Volkov might have already left, and he might have already...” He couldn’t say it. Diane had to be alive.

“The car’s clean. Door isn’t locked,” Logan said, interrupting them.

“OK, let’s do it.” Dex stepped up since Liam was still on the phone with Sam. “Dylan, you good?”

Dylan, Liam’s second in command, had been keeping Ms. Costas calm. He nodded. “Yeah, we’re good.”

Dylan continued to speak to Ms. Costas as Logan gripped the door handle. Dex lay on the ground, so he could see the underside of the door. Steve would cover the top of the door, while Logan and Dylan would keep eyes on the sides.

“Here goes.” Logan pulled the handle, and the door clicked open. Opening it just a fraction, everyone scanned for any sign of a wire.

When all four men reported clear, Logan opened it a fraction more. Once again, all reported clear. Steve let a sigh of relief once the door was fully open. Several more minutes passed while Logan checked it was safe for Ms. Costas to get out. Finally, Dylan helped her from the car just as hazmat and bomb disposal arrived.

Steve had every faith those guys would take care of the sarin. It was time to find his wife.

“Ms. Costas, did you see Diane Williams? Do you know where she is?”

“Steve. Give her a minute,” Dex said.

“No. It’s OK.” Ms. Costas’s voice was shaky. “I’m OK. I know time is running out. They were heading to an airport. He didn’t say which one. Volkov was in a black Range Rover with Anya. Diane and Natasha were in a silver minivan with blacked out windows.”

“Alive?” Steve asked.

Melanie nodded. “Yes. You’re Steve?”

“Yes, ma'am.”

“Diane said you would come and find her,” Melanie said with a small smile.

“The minivan was going to the airport, too?”

“Yes. They are all getting on the plane. He plans to take Natasha and Anya to Russia. Diane is being dropped off somewhere, but he didn’t say where.”

Dropped off? What the fuck? “Do you know why she’s being dropped off?”

“Diane said she overheard him say he was getting a plane out of here in exchange for her.”

The blood drained from Steve’s face and his mouth went dry. His wife was being used as payment. He turned his back on the woman, fighting to control his thoughts.

“Did Diane mention a name?” Dex asked from behind him.

“Yes. She didn’t know who it was, said she didn't recognize the name from anything in Volkov’s file. Aziz. That was the name.”

Steve froze. Reborn.