Free Aftershock: A Donovan Nash Novel (A Donovan Nash Thriller) by Philip Donlay

person on the other end was going to react. In fact, she wouldn’t be surprised if who she were calling told her to go to hell.
    “Hello.” A woman answered the phone.
    “Is this Ms. Montero?”
    “Yes.”
    “This is Dr. Lauren McKenna. Are you free to talk?”
    “What could you possibly want to talk to me about?”
    “Donovan’s in trouble.”
    “He’s been in trouble since I’ve known him. Why call me? Why now?”
    “I need someone who knows the truth about him, aboutus, someone I don’t have to tiptoe around like I’m working in a minefield. I promise it’ll be worth your time. Money’s no object.”
    “You don’t have any reason to like me, or trust me. I blackmailed you and your husband, and nearly got all three of us killed.”
    “You’re right, I didn’t like you. I’m not sure I do now, but I do trust you. I know the depth of your commitment and your capabilities as a former FBI agent. They’re the reasons I made this call. I’m willing to put everything aside and work with you, for Donovan’s sake.”
    “I believe you, this couldn’t have been an easy call to make. I don’t know how much your husband told you about what happened to us, but he saved my life. I made him a promise I’d always be there if he needed me. Keep your money, Dr. McKenna, it’s not what motivates me. I’m in—where do we start?”
    “What do you know about Stephanie VanGelder?”
    “She’s William’s niece, right? Other than that, I know very little.”
    “She’s in Guatemala, and she’s been kidnapped.”
    “Oh no. So, Donovan’s there now? In Guatemala?”
    “Yes. He and Stephanie are like brother and sister. Donovan showed up in Virginia all ready to rush to Guatemala, swoop in and rescue Stephanie. William, thank God, talked him down and managed to cool him off.”
    “Dr. McKenna, what is it you want me to do?”
    “Please, call me Lauren. I know that one of the reasons you were able to uncover Donovan’s secret is that you were, and still are, a great admirer of Meredith Barnes, and by default, you know a great deal about Robert Huntington. You’re also a trained investigator, and one of six people in the world who know the truth about my husband. I want you to help me find the people who have Stephanie.”
    “There should be an entire FBI ‘Fly Team’ on the ground by now. FBI agents involved with the rapid deployment teamshandle logistics, and have hostage negotiators, crisis managers, evidence response teams. They’re very good at what they do. I ask you again, what is it you think I can do?”
    “William, with his status in the State Department, waved off all help from the FBI. William, Buck, and Michael are all down there thinking they can do this alone. They’re operating in a completely reactive mode, waiting for the exchange. As far as I can tell, William is treating this as a business transaction.”
    “I’m not sure that’s the best approach. Does he have the ransom money? Have there been any demands? Does he have proof of life?”
    “That’s exactly why I need you,” Lauren said. “Yes, there’s money in Guatemala for the ransom. As far as your other questions, I have no idea.”
    “Are you still connected with the DIA?”
    “Yes, but I’m hesitant to use them directly. I have some indirect access, but nothing high-level.”
    “You’ve got to be kidding,” Montero said. “The two of us trying to find specific kidnappers, in a third-world country without federal help, is like trying to find the
Titanic
while standing in Kansas.”
    “I’m not saying we don’t have some assets,” Lauren replied. “We have an unlimited budget, and you still have connections in this town. You’re a decorated former FBI agent, and I’m a research analyst. If we can get access to the right files, we can be more than reactive. We can be proactive.”
    “Where do we even start?”
    “I’ll get an update from Donovan and William later tonight. I think I can also get Buck to keep