A sleepless night brought the team an anxious morning. The hackers sat rubbing their eyes between keystrokes. Parker and Harry tried their best to keep their heads up at the table.
"Anything more?" Sophie asked as she brought fresh sodas to the siblings.
"Couldn't trace the call. It routed through an internet server in Eastern Europe," Hardison muttered.
"And I didn't get a voice. They used a scrambler on TOP of another scrambler… who does that? The computer can't separate the two scrambles so that's useless," Breanna rambled.
"It was a long shot." Sophie placed her hands on the back of Breanna's seat to observe their work.
"But, as we thought, baddies world wide are descending on NOLA," Breanna added, buried under her trusty blanket.
"Not a surprise. Eliot has a large enemy list."
"I can confirm the buy in price did manage to weed out a few. Brazil, Venezuela, a few Saharan warlords, and Yemen have opted out."
"Eui Sung confirmed Pakistan, North Korea, Myanmar, and Iran are all in. North Korea has an expense account of 5 million for the trip," Hardison added.
"So we need to top that at least," Sophie concluded.
"Well, I mean, that's nothing for me to get." Hardison tugged an imaginary tie on his chest.
"I'm not concerned about the money."
"You're still not sure about this..." Harry breathed.
Sophie sighed deeply, leaving the room silent.
"Big day today. Hope you slept well." Adeline slowly circled Eliot, tugging the long billed cadet cap on her head lower.
"Nice uniform," he snorted, taking note that the cap's steel gray color matched the short sleeve jumpsuit she wore. He had seen the suits hanging during his escape attempt. The night of silence had allowed him to process not just the suits, but also the detail that had been gnawing at him for hours. The rookie had a physical newspaper. He couldn't have been more than 25 years old. Eliot couldn't recall the last time he'd seen a newspaper in the hands of anyone younger than AARP membership. His late night musing triggered a connection. Not one guard had a phone. No traceable tech entered the room. The likelihood the team could find him without a signal to trace grew smaller every moment.
"I've had worse. At least it has full range and some padding," Adeline mused as she brushed the neckline.
"So when do I meet your boss?"
"Soon."
"Can't wait."
"Anything?" Harry asked. He sat at the table with Sophie and Parker as the hackers continued to compile all the data they could about competitors for the auction.
"You heard him. Right before." Parker nodded each syllable in emphasis.
"I guess I'm just nervous."
"Are you telling me a crooked tax lawyer was never involved with black market auctions before?" Sophie inquired.
"Not physically, no. And certainly not one where a life was at stake."
"Oh, all our lives are at stake," Parker chimed.
The color flushed from Harry's face.
"Too late to back out now." Parker smacked his shoulder.
"You really think we might get killed?"
"Well, you might be okay. They know you more for tax avoidance, so they may take you hostage, but the rest of us? Oh, definitely toast."
"How are you all so calm about this? I'm freaking out."
"We're thieves," Sophie explained. "Death is always a possibility. Freaking out only makes you sloppy. Calm is key. Sometimes it is the only reason you survive."
"Stay calm." Harry breathed.
Sophie's phone chimed. She opened the text.
Harvey's Diner in one hour.
"They're having the auction at a diner?" Harry tilted his head in confusion.
"No. The diner is simply a way to ensure we are near enough to arrive on time when they send the real location." Sophie pursed her lips.
"So it should be close to it?"
"Maybe, maybe not."
"Are we going to wait?"
"We're going to Harvey's."
Adeline tapped her watch as Kevin and another man entered the room wearing matching cap and jumpsuits to hers.
"Time to get this show started." She stepped up to Eliot. "Here's the way this goes down. Each prospective buyer gets five minutes in here to verify the goods- you. Don't worry, we know the temptation is strong so no touching allowed. That's MY job. Once they're all satisfied, they will submit their bids. You get loaded into a truck by the dock out there. Payment clears, and we hand over the key. You likely get a round to the head and we hit a bar somewhere to spend some of our well earned pay."
"Don't I get the special suit too?" Eliot joked.
"Sorry, honey, they didn't have your size."
"Are you prepared?" an authoritative voice asked from the doorway behind Eliot.
A chill ran down Eliot's neck. He knew that voice. Even after 17 years, he knew.
"As soon as the buyers arrive, we'll be ready. The truck is arriving any moment, and the men are all set." Adeline waved Kevin and his partner out.
"Good."
"You're out." Eliot stated.
"Fifteen years in prison." The man came around to look Eliot in the eye.
"I heard."
"I'm disappointed Ford died before I got out, but to find out you were working for him, well, that made this decision easier."
"I had nothing to do with you being put away, Gutman."
"I know. But fifteen years, that is hard to come back. I have to start my business from scratch, and that requires a splash, and money. You failed me twice, Spencer. And you joined the man who destroyed my business. You owe me, and I'm collecting that due now."
Adeline cast a look at Eliot as Gutman's attention turned back to her.
"The buyers arrive any minute. No mistakes."
"No, sir." He left them alone.
"Told you he doesn't like you," she smirked at Eliot.
The team parked the food truck in a grocery store lot near Harvey's Diner and walked over. Sophie didn't wish to give away the connection to anyone who may have been spying on the location.
True to their word, the voice sent a location at the one hour mark. The warehouse was two miles from them, and ten minutes given to arrive. They ran back to the truck to be able to once again park elsewhere out of sight.
As they approached the building, Hardison's phone pinged. He picked it up and looked at the screen.
"What is it?" Sophie whispered, maintaining her pace.
"Got a weird radio signal." He pressed a button and the phone began broadcasting in Mandarin.
"Strike team ready. We will have the package – win or not."
"That's not good." Sophie swallowed.
"What's not good?" Breanna asked, realizing she was the only one in the group to not understand Mandarin.
"Someone plans to take Eliot by force if they lose."
"In that van." Parker pointed at a large van near the fence line surrounding the property.
"Good bet."
"Do we call the cops?" Harry asked quietly. Four incredulous faces answered him.
"One whiff of a badge and one: everybody scatters, the strike team grabs Eliot in the chaos and game over. Or two: a shoot out occurs and everyone ends up dead or arrested. Game over," Parker explained.
"Well, we aren't equipped to deal with armed mercenaries, so how do you propose we go ahead?" Harry insisted.
Sophie inhaled deeply.
"You do have a plan. Yes?"
"There's only one thing we can do right now," she responded.
"And that is?"
"Stay calm." Sophie knocked on the door.
"Stay calm. Yeah, right." Harry swallowed as Parker pat his shoulder.
"Trust her."
Kevin and his partner opened the door. He checked their faces.
"Five. Pat down. No weapons, no tech, no gear," he ordered.
"How can we access funds without at least a phone?" Breanna whined.
Kevin pointed at Sophie. "You can keep the phone. Know it can and will be searched at any time. No funny business."
"Agreed." Sophie removed her phone from her purse, set the bag down on the table next to him, and lifted her arms for the pat down. Harry and Parker began emptying their pockets. Hardison placed his phone and wallet on the table.
"Not a scratch," he barked, pointing at them.
Breanna emptied her pockets, but kept a vise grip on the corner of her phone.
"Breanna..." Sophie growled.
"But..." Breanna challenged.
"No."
"Fine." The young hacker let go, muttering the whole time.
Kevin nodded for them to enter. The large room was filled with chairs. Crowds of people sat or milled around a door near the far right.
A man scurried up to them with a dark gray suit, tablet and the same cap as the guards. Sophie noted all of the security wore the jumpsuits, but this man didn't. He had to be a lawyer type she concluded.
"Welcome! Fee, please." He held up the tablet, displaying a Cayman bank account number.
Accountant not lawyer, Sophie mused. She nodded before activating the transfer on her phone.
The tablet screen flashed green.
"Thank you." He handed her a card. "This is your bid card. You are number 14. Feel free to take a seat, we'll be starting shortly."
"Thank you," Sophie said as he dashed away to the next group.
"Thank you? Did you seriously thank the guy holding Eliot hostage?" Harry rolled his eyes.
"Just because they are bad guys, doesn't excuse bad manners."
Harry thought about it a moment and shrugged.
"Anyone else have a weird vibe about this place?" Breanna asked.
"Yeah," Hardison agreed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll take your seats," the accountant announced. Sophie nodded towards the chairs as everyone sat down. The kids sat directly behind Sophie and Harry.
"Thank you." Gutman stated, a few small whispers erupting as he showed his face. "Yes, I am back. Here's how today will work. You will be called up, one bidder at a time, two from your group will be allowed in to inspect the goods. To protect the integrity of said goods, there will be no touching. Any markings you wish to observe to verify will be given to my woman inside and she will display it to you. Once you are satisfied, the next bidder will go, and so on. After all bidders have verified, you will be asked to make your bid. Winner will be handed the merchandise following secured payment. The rest will go home empty handed."
"Bidder 1!" Adeline called.
"That was rather uncomfortable hearing Eliot called goods and merchandise. But guess we should make ourselves comfortable, because this is going to take a while." Harry adjusted in his seat.
Forty minutes passed before the team was called up. Harry accompanied Sophie into the room.
Eliot showed the signs of his exhaustion and discomfort. His hair and clothes were disheveled from Adeline displaying various scars and marks to previous bidders. His fingers were swollen from lack of movement. That latter detail particularly catching Sophie's attention.
"Hell..." Harry gasped.
"Thank you, Harry," Eliot muttered.
"Sorry."
"How did you find me?"
"We pushed for an invite," Sophie explained.
"I'd be more enthusiastic, but they're keeping me dosed on some paralytics. I haven't felt my fingers in about 19 hours."
"It'll be over soon. I promise." Sophie reached to clasp his hand.
"NO TOUCHING!" Adeline roared. "If you're certain, please move on."
Sophie nodded instead and motioned Harry to follow her out. The final bidder entered as they rejoined the group.
"Well, how is he?" Breanna asked.
"He's pretty banged up," Harry noted, recounting the facial injuries from the escape attempt.
"He's exhausted, and he said they have him on a drug routine. He won't be moving on his own for some time," Sophie answered.
"So making a run for it is out of the question," Hardison mused.
"He wouldn't get out of that room, let alone past the death squad outside."
"So back to plan A. Win the auction," Parker added.
"But how do we get past the death squad?" Harry pointed out.
Sophie closed her eyes as the team debated. Scenes began to flash in her mind. Every time she had chided or argued with Nate in similar situations. Now she was in his shoes and she realized why he chose the way he did. It created a pit of guilt in her stomach. He deserved more empathy from them, from her, for the difficulty of making these decisions. It wasn't easy, even when it worked out.
"Are you okay, Sophie?" Parker squinted in concern.
"I'll be okay," she lied. She felt guilty already.
"So what are we doing?"
"Staying calm." Sophie faced the door, avoiding eye contact with them. The three kids exchanged nervous glances behind her.
"Your bid cards, please," the accountant announced. Sophie noted Gutman had vanished during the viewings, no doubt avoiding any fights that may occur afterward. She took a breath, wrote the bid, and handed her card over.
"How much did you put?" Hardison asked. "So I know what to pull."
"Four..." Sophie stated.
"Forty?!" Breanna choked.
"Forty? I guess I could move the Japanese bonds and make it work." Hardison began doing the math in his head.
"Four," Sophie repeated.
"Four?" Hardison frowned. "Sophie, we know North Korea had five earmarked for this. You purposely tanked the bid?"
"Why did you do that?" Harry asked.
"That squad outside is going to kill whoever wins the bid," Sophie explained.
"Yeah, and now they'll kill Eliot." Parker's voice grew angry.
"No, they won't."
"How do you know that?"
"If their goal was simply to kill Eliot, they would have stormed this place and killed us all already. But they didn't do that. They want him alive, at least short term."
"SO, you bought us a little time to try to rescue him after."
"Maybe. It's a long shot, but it's the only option."
"Bidder 4! Please come claim your win." The accountant waved the bidder over. Grumbles erupted, but the majority calmly exited the building without incident.
"Let's go." Sophie stood and led the team out.
After collecting their property, the team snuck around to the back side of the building, staying out of sight in a small tree line along the fence. A truck sat by the rear dock door. They observed a Adeline hand off a key to the winning bidder.
"Sophie?" Parker pleaded as they watched the truck pull through the gate and down the access road.
The squeal of tires caught their ears as the van of mercenaries raced to catch the truck.
"Okay, now what?" Harry asked.
"We can't catch them, even if we had the truck. How are we going to find them? Sophie? Sophie!" Breanna shouted.
Sophie stood watching the chase. She swallowed, and closed her eyes.