Free Into the Whirlwind by Kat Martin

over their heads and food on the table.
    His mom had died the day he’d turned eighteen. The next day, he’d enlisted in the army. He’d gone to junior college on the GI Bill after he’d left the Rangers, then gone into private security, which fit his talents perfectly.
    Meg wanted someone stable to help her raise Charlie, and maybe she was right. With his background, he had no idea how to be a family man.
    He didn’t know how to be a dad, and yet at that moment, the mere thought of Meg’s innocent little boy in the hands of those thugs made him sick to his stomach. He had to clamp down on the rage boiling through him to stay in control when he wanted to tighten his hand into a fist and punch something.
    He stayed calm for Meg. She needed him now in a way she hadn’t before, even when her life was in danger. It didn’t matter that he didn’t come up to whatever standards she expected in a man. No way was he going to let her down.
    When the clock hit eight a.m., he phoned the Pacific Gas and Electric Company. After being jerked around for a couple of minutes, he got through to a supervisor, who checked the records and told him what he’d already guessed.
    No leak in the gas line had been reported in the Madison Park area. The men who’d come into the house hadn’t worked for PG&E.
    At least he had a description. Rose had described one of the men as tall and skinny, with a crooked nose and very curly brown hair. The other man was shorter, stocky build, balding, with a fringe of sandy hair.
    â€œThe tall, skinny man was very polite,” Rose had said. “Both of them were.”
    â€œAnything else about them you recall?”
    â€œWell, I heard the shorter man call the taller man Cliff. I don’t think he realized I was close enough to hear.”
    â€œHow old were they?”
    â€œIn their late thirties, I guess. After that I went into the family room and I didn’t see them again until they left. They said everything was okay, then went out to their truck and drove away.”
    â€œI don’t suppose you can remember the license plate number.”
    Rose shook her head. “I never even thought to look.” She sighed. “I wish I could think of something else, but I’m afraid that’s it.”
    It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing. Cliff was a common name, but if it tied in with something else, it might prove a useful bit of information.
    Next Dirk phoned Meg’s father.
    â€œJust a minute,” Edwin O’Brien said. “Let me put you on hold while I go into the library so we can talk.”
    Edwin picked up the conversation a few minutes later. “Sorry about that. Meg’s mother is already suspicious that something is wrong. After all these years, I guess she knows me too well.”
    Must be nice, Dirk couldn’t help thinking, to have a wife a man loved enough to want to protect her the way O’Brien did his.
    â€œSo where do we stand?” the man asked.
    â€œA couple of things you should know. Two men dressed like PG&E workers came into the house last week and installed a dozen listening devices throughout the house. We found them, disabled them. But they’re aware we’ve been trying to find them. They’ve moved up the deadline.”
    â€œThey called?”
    â€œThey left a note. Also, it looks like the babysitter’s definitely involved. I’ve got someone looking into her background, her friends, anyone who might be part of this.”
    Silence fell. “I don’t like this. If these people know you’ve been digging around, trying to find them, they might kill Charlie.”
    â€œThey’ve heard enough to guess we haven’t found anything. By now they probably know Luke and I are both PIs. They’ll know I won’t let you give them the money without proof of life. Which means they won’t kill the boy before they get their hands on the