Jessie looked at the tall buildings lining the industrial area. Kelland’s agents had done a good job discreetly staking out their positions in and on top of those structures, especially on such short notice. Not that their presence would do her a lot of good if things suddenly went south.
She was on her own.
The rain fell harder as she entered the small dog park, which consisted of a few dozen square yards of turf, a water fountain, and a waste can with attached plastic poop bag dispenser.
Her phone rang. Once again, the caller ID read DELILAH SAYS HI. She answered it.
“I’m here with your money. FYI, you may want to bring an umbrella.”
“That won’t be necessary,” the electronically altered voice said. “Go to the trash can and lift out the plastic liner.”
“Something tells me I’m about to be up to my elbows in dog shit.”
“Just do it.”
Jessie lifted the trash can’s metal rim and pulled out the plastic bag. “Got it. What now?”
“Toss the bag aside. It doesn’t concern us.”
Jessie dropped the bag onto the soggy ground. “Done.”
“Look into the can.”
Jessie peered into the receptacle. At first it appeared to be empty, but after her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she spotted a black plastic garbage bag. “I see something. Another bag.”
“Take it out and open it. No dog feces, I assure you.”
“Thank goodness for small favors.”
Jessie pulled it out. It was a heavy black contractor’s garbage bag. She reached in and found a phone and earpiece, black rain jacket, and a waterproof nylon gym bag, like those she’d seen provided to Lynch.
“Put your money bag inside the gym bag. Insert the Bluetooth earpiece into your ear, then put on the jacket and zip it up tight.”
She looked up at the falling rain and slid on the jacket. “Considerate of you, but somehow I don’t think you care if I catch a cold or not.” She inserted the money satchel into the large gym bag and zipped it. She placed the earpiece into her right ear.
The phone rang and she answered it. The voice was now in her ear. “Hang up your own phone and drop it into the trash can. You won’t be taking it with you.”
Jessie did as she was told. “Done.”
“Good. We’re finished here. Turn around, exit the dog park, and turn right on Fourth Street.”
Jessie walked out of the park and took the right turn. She walked up Fourth Street, past a row of what appeared to be factory buildings. After another two blocks, she stopped in front of a tall chain-link fence blocking the street.
“Okay, I’m at a fence. I can’t go any farther.”
“Yes, you can. Several of the chain links have been cut for you. You can slide through on the right side.”
She found the opening and slid through. “Why is the street closed?”
“It isn’t just a street, Jessie.”
“Then what is it?”
“You’ll know soon. Keep walking.”
Jessie realized that the closed roadway was actually a bridge anchored by two tall white art deco spires on each side, decorated by several smaller lighted spires. She crossed over a series of railroad tracks, then found herself over a large concrete channel, perhaps a hundred yards across, filled with rushing water.
“Stop.”
Jessie stopped. Standing over the channel was akin to being caught in a wind tunnel, with strong gusts hitting her along with the pounding rain. “What now?”
“Reach into the right pocket of your jacket. There’s something there you’ll need.”
Jessie jammed her hand into the pocket and felt something cold and metallic. She pulled it out. “Handcuffs.”
“Yes.”
“What are these for?”
“You’re about to find out, Jessie.” The voice sounded malicious. “This is going to be fun.”
* * *
“I don’t like this.” Kendra was watching Jessie through a pair of high-powered binoculars from the rooftop of a medical supply three blocks from the bridge. She, Lynch, Kelland, and Metcalf wore FBI rain parkas that provided only scant protection from the pounding rain. “What is this place?”
“It’s the Fourth Street Viaduct,” Kelland said. “The bridge has been closed for the past few years. It’s marked for renovation. It crosses the Los Angeles River.”
She tried to get a better look with her binoculars. “That’s an actual river?”
“That’s what it’s called, but it’s really a fifty-mile concrete drainage channel. It’s dry three hundred and fifty days a year. But after we’ve had a good rain like this week, it can be pretty ferocious. This is the stretch where John Travolta raced his car at the end of Grease. Remember that?”
Kendra shook her head. “I listened to that movie a hundred times when I was a teenager. I haven’t gotten around to actually seeing it since I’ve had my sight.” She turned to face Noah, who had strapped a large, odd-looking pair of goggles to his face. “What on earth are you wearing?”
He pulled off the goggles and showed them to her. “Something I’ve been developing with my company. High-powered night-vision binoculars and virtual-reality goggles, all in one. We think the military will be a big market for them.”
Trust Noah to come up with something this bizarre, Kendra thought. She pointed to a deep octagonal crease across Noah’s cheeks and forehead left by the goggles. “Not if they’re that painful to wear. Those things sure leave their mark.”
Noah looked offended as he put the goggles back on. “Just a matter of padding. We’ll work out the kinks. I’ll send you a pair. You’ll have one of maybe half a dozen in the world.”
“I can hardly wait.”
Lynch was still watching Jessie on the bridge intently. “She’s talking. She has something in her hands. Can any of you make out what it is?”
No one said anything for a long moment, but Metcalf finally spoke up. “Handcuffs.”
Kendra cursed. “You’re right. We have to get down there.” She put down her binoculars and ran toward the stairwell door.
Lynch caught up and grabbed her arm. “Get down there and do what, exactly?”
“Help her.”
“You heard the call. The kidnappers want a two-block perimeter.”
Kendra tried to break free. “We can’t just stand here and watch!”
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Jessie wouldn’t have it any other way. If we botch this by rushing toward her before the drop is complete, do you know how pissed she’s going to be?”
Kendra cursed again. Lynch was right. After the last debacle when they’d believed they’d lost Dee, Jessie would never forgive her.
“My people are ready to engage when I give the order,” Kelland said. “They’ll be all over that bridge faster than you or I could ever be, Kendra.”
Lynch was still gripping her arm. “And Jessie can take care of herself.”
“I know. It’s just that…she’d do anything for Dee. She would put her life on the line for her. The kidnappers know that, and they might use it against her.”