Stephanie prays they can get to Giuseppe before all hell breaks loose. She keeps talking to him through her mind, trying to put his restless mind at ease. Every noise makes him jump. Giuseppe tries to be brave, but nothing about the situation is ideal. "I don't sense anything around you," Stephanie tells Giuseppe.
"I'm hearing things," he says. "Listen." Stephanie concentrates on Giuseppe's mind, trying to hear whatever frightens him. She smiles as the water laps the shore. Fish are jumping while their predators are away. The occasional black-crowned or yellow-crowned heron wades along the coast, capturing the fish caught in the tide as it rushes to shore. Another bird sings in the background. Stephanie smiles and shakes her head. Giuseppe is getting worked up over nothing.
"It's a bird," Stephanie says. "A mockingbird. It's mimicking the sound of the traffic near the beach."
"It's freaking me out. I heard about people using the sound of a mockingbird to trick their targets into a sense of safety before pouncing."
"In society, mockingbirds are people who are often misunderstood or knocked down by others," Stephanie explains. "Where did you hear about people using a mockingbird call to take down others?"
"I heard the mockingbird is the most dangerous weapon. The person knocked down by others could rise and destroy everything, including their enemies. A mockingbird protects its nest above all else. They're ruthless in protecting their young," Giuseppe explains. His explanation makes Stephanie smile.
"Don't get between a mother bear and her cub," Stephanie adds with laughter.
"Something like that," Giuseppe says. "Why can I hear you inside my mind? Is it because you're my biological mother?"
"I don't know," Stephanie confesses. "I doubt it's my maternal connection to you because I can hear Carl and Diesel's thoughts, too. They can't hear mine. Only you can hear me when I want you to hear and only what I share through the connection. It must be part of my abilities."
"When will you be here?" Giuseppe asks. Stephanie feels his panic and anxiety rise when other noises get closer.
"In another few hours," Stephanie says. "Did you hide your footprints in the sand?"
"I didn't need to. There are a lot of fresh footprints on the beach. Nobody will know which ones are mine," he replies.
"Shhh," Stephanie says. Giuseppe stops sharing his thoughts so that Stephanie can listen closely. "I hear someone walking on the beach. Stay hidden until you have no other option."
Giuseppe listens to the noises. He picks up on the sound of sand crunching beneath someone's shoes. Giuseppe hides behind the backboards, praying nobody could see him through the slits in the plastic. He finds a black emergency blanket to cover himself.
Someone climbs the steps and peeks inside. Giuseppe sees the light flash around the room. He holds his breath until the man says, "Nothing here, Ranger."
Giuseppe hears another man answer, "I'll check the other tower. You check the one on the left."
"Yes, sir," the first man replies. Giuseppe holds his breath until the footfalls end with the retreating crunches of sand. He stays hidden until the closing of vehicle doors echoes across the beach.
Ranger glances at the dark beach. The lights on the boardwalk aren't enough for him to see everything lurking in the shadows. His phone rings. "Yo," Ranger answers.
"Did you find Braun?" Lester asks.
"No. Why are we looking for Braun?" Ranger questions.
"He kidnapped Stephanie," Lester replies.
Pinching his nose, Ranger asks, "Why do you think Braun has Stephanie?"
"Stephanie's missing, and Diesel asked me to gather information on Wolfram Braun," Lester impatiently answers. "Diesel hates asking for help as much as you do. He asked me for the information instead of asking Flash."
"Have you considered Stephanie might be with Diesel?"
Lester's silence is the only proof Ranger needs. "Should I call him?" Lester asks.
"No. Diesel could have taken Stephanie anywhere by now. He could pop to Australia if he felt it would keep Stephanie safe. Even if Stephanie and Diesel are together, he will not betray her trust," Ranger replies. "Send me everything you have on Wolfram Braun."
"Yes, sir," Lester answers and ends the call.
Ranger starts the car. He detects danger on the horizon. It's late, but he knows Julie's still awake. "Hey, Dad. Why are you calling so late?" Julie answers after the second ring.
"How was the soccer tournament?" Ranger asks.
"Great. We placed second. Can you believe it? I'm still in shock," Julie rambles. Ranger chuckles as he listens to Julie talk about the soccer tournament and the people she met. "And I met a boy. He looks like Stephanie. I have a picture of him. Do you want to see it?"
The description of the child piques his interest. "If you don't mind sharing it," Ranger replies. Julie sends him the photograph. "He does resemble Stephanie. Do you happen to know his age?" Ranger strongly suspects Giuseppe is Stephanie Plum's son.
"Fifteen. Giuseppe's birthday is in a few months. He never gave me the date or where he was born," Julie replies. "He was adopted. I told him about Ron adopting me."
"Do you know where he was adopted?" Ranger asks.
"Chicago," Julie replies. "He might have been born there, too. His grandparents live in Chicago."
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It takes too long for Stephanie and the others to reach Giuseppe. He's hiding in the lifeguard's tower. The air crackles and flames engulf the tower. Giuseppe feels a hand tightening on his arm. A loud pop echoes in the darkness as he screams.
"Stop screaming," Stephanie orders. "You're safe, Giuseppe. Stop fighting with Diesel."
Giuseppe immediately stops kicking and scratching Diesel to look at the woman. Her voice is familiar. It's the woman he heard inside his mind. "Why did the lifeguard tower catch on fire?" Giuseppe asks.
"He's here," Stephanie replies. Giuseppe gasps, and his eyes grow wider as he realizes how close he is to dying. Stephanie doesn't have the heart to tell him. She looks into his eyes and explains without speaking.
"We have to destroy him together," Giuseppe says. "Tell me what I have to do."
"It's dangerous, and we'll have to risk our lives. There's no guarantee that we'll survive," Stephanie whispers.
"What are our chances?" Giuseppe asks, hoping everyone will survive the encounter.
"Less than one percent," Diesel replies. "The only way to take down Wolfram is to use you as bait."
Without talking aloud, Stephanie explains everything to her son. Giuseppe realizes there isn't another choice. He and his birth mother, Stephanie, must work together to eliminate Wolfram Braun's threat of ending their lives.
"You're the one I've been searching for all my life," Giuseppe tells Stephanie. He grabs her hands. She strokes his knuckles with her fingers. "I wish we knew each other while I was growing up. Why did you send me away?"
"It was the only way to keep you alive," Stephanie replies. "The Unmentionable Committee would never have allowed you to live. My grandparents took you to let their friends' daughter adopt you. Your powers remained beneath their radar because you weren't living with me."
"Until recently," Diesel adds. "Your powers are strong and will continue to grow stronger as you develop."