“What? Like an Internet café or a Starbucks?” White asked. “Hard to work with a hostage to get your money in one of those places.”

“These days you can pick up a signal in plenty of locations,” I said, “and if Foster knows anything about computers he could-”

“He’s a software designer,” DeShay said.

“That’s right. Then he knows plenty,” I said. “He could steal the signal and log on. Best place to do that is in residential areas. Coffee shops and other businesses require a security key to tap into their wireless networks, and though you could hack through, that would take longer.”

“Okay, where do people have wireless networks like this?” White asked.

Jeff said, “Upper-middle-class and wealthy neighborhoods are more likely to be equipped with that kind of technology in their homes, right, Abby?”

“Yes,” I said. “When people set up wireless networks at home, they often aren’t adequately secured. A computer with wireless capability could pick up and use their signal.”

White nodded. “I get it. You’re saying people set up home networks themselves and don’t realize someone in the house a few doors down could steal their signal and surf the Net all day and night-and this turd would know that.”

“That’s right,” I said. “Can that information narrow down your-Wait a minute.” An image flashed through my mind-Kate, Emma, Foster and me, standing in Kate’s new house.

“What is it?” Jeff asked.

“Kate just bought a house not far from here. I’ll bet there are home networks up and down that street.” Being able to contribute to the search was helping to quell the fear that had threatened to shut me down. But I still felt like I had a dancing bobber in my stomach.

“Let’s get a unit to check out the house,” DeShay said. “Where is this place?”

I started to speak and then stopped. “Damn. I don’t know the street or the house number. I’ll call Emma. She sold Kate the house.”

“Do it,” Jeff said.

But I couldn’t reach her. Her voice mail message said she was showing properties and would get back to the caller as soon as possible. I left a message telling her I had an urgent situation and needed her help. Then I called the real estate office, but no one answered there. “Now what?” I said to Jeff.

“We invite the West U police to help us,” he answered. “You told me the other day the house is in West U, right?”

I nodded. “I can get their number.”

White said, “Don’t bother. Dispatch can patch me through.” He unclipped his phone. “But this is a long shot, you know. Tell me who Emma works for.”

“Green Tree Realtors. The ‘For Sale’ sign may still be up.” I gave him the approximate location and a description of the house. Knowing the West U police, they could find the place even with that small amount of information.

While White was talking to the our local police, my landline rang.

Nothing had been done to trace calls on this phone yet, but it didn’t matter. The caller ID displayed Aunt Caroline’s number. I’d promised her I’d be back and hadn’t even phoned.

I picked up before the answering machine could take over, knowing I couldn’t tell her over the phone that Kate was missing. She’d freak out. “Hi. Sorry I got tied up and didn’t get back.”

“Abigail, can you please return?” She sounded like she was crying-which never happened.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m in so much pain, and if you could help me get settled in bed, then… then you can go about your business again.”

She sounded absolutely pathetic, which was probably partly an act, but that didn’t matter. I already felt guilty for leaving her alone after what she’d gone through today.

“I’ll see what I can do, Aunt Caroline.”

“What does that mean?” she said.

“I’m thinking I’ll call your friend Martha to come over. She can help you out until I can get away.”

“Martha is in Europe. Does this mean you won’t come? You won’t help me?” But there was none of her usual indignation. She sounded like a different person. Yeah… maybe an old woman who’d been in a fight with a killer and lived to tell about it. Now I felt even guiltier.

“Okay, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. But then we’ll pack a bag. You’re staying here with me-and don’t bother arguing.” She did need to know about Kate, especially if-No, I wasn’t going to think about that. And despite Kravitz’s man on guard duty, I’d feel better having her here with Foster on the loose.

Amazingly enough, she didn’t argue. She simply said, “Thank you, Abigail,” and hung up.

I looked at Jeff, who’d been talking to DeShay. I’d heard the word trace, and I was guessing he wanted to make sure any calls to all my phones could be traced. “I have to pick up Aunt Caroline. She’s alone, she’s been hurt and I think what happened today is finally penetrating her rhinoceros hide.”

“Okay,” Jeff said. “I’m going with you.”

“No need. It’s a thirty-minute round-trip, and if you come she’ll start asking questions. I don’t want to tell her anything until I have her back here. Then she can have her meltdown.” I was talking too fast, sounding a little too frantic.

Jeff gripped my shoulders. “Think about it. What if Kate calls your cell and none of us is with you? What will you do?”

I put a hand to my forehead. Closed my eyes. Why couldn’t I think straight?

“We will get her back, Abby, but you need to keep focused on that goal. Now, let’s pick up your aunt Caroline.”

“But what if the bank calls? Won’t I need to talk to them?”

“White or DeShay can handle that. They know we’re on this, and anyway, you’re not releasing any funds. We have to provoke this guy out of the shadows-get him to make direct contact with you.”

“Then let’s hurry so we can get back,” I said.

We took my car, but Jeff drove. I’d left my gun on the passenger seat after my last trip to Aunt Caroline’s house, and now I held the Lady Smith in both hands. I never knew a gun could offer comfort, but it did. Yes, a gun could provide what was probably a false sense of hope when you felt powerless and out of control, like I did.

“Um… we’ve got a tail,” Jeff said. We were at a light, and his eyes were fixed on the rearview. “Use the cosmetic mirror and see if you recognize those two guys in the SUV. Right lane, two cars back.”

I did. “Damn. I think that’s Kravitz and the cameraman, Stu Crowell.”

“Obviously they were hanging around your place and saw us all arrive,” Jeff said.

“I called Kravitz to put a man outside Aunt Caroline’s house, and he must have decided I wasn’t being straight with him, even though I was at the time.”

“Losing them is pointless,” Jeff said.

I turned the gun over and over, my throat tightening even more. “You can’t make them stay out of this?” But I knew it was a stupid question, and Jeff, thank goodness, ignored it.

“I’d feel a whole lot better if you’d put your Lady away.” Jeff nodded at the gun.

“You don’t want a jumpy girlfriend with a loaded gun sitting next to you?”

He rested a hand on the back of my neck and rubbed at the tension residing there. “I wouldn’t put it past you to take a warning shot at those guys behind us.”

I opened the glove compartment and did what he asked. “Happy now?”

“Just looking out for you.”

I smiled, grateful that he was here with me and not in Seattle.

“Here’s the plan,” Jeff said. “We get Aunt Caroline out of her house and we don’t talk to those guys, okay?”

“Okay,” I said.

Ten minutes later we parked in my aunt’s driveway, and Kravitz pulled up behind the guard’s car across the street.

But the guy who was supposed to be protecting Aunt Caroline didn’t seem to be in his car. Great protection, Kravitz, I wanted to shout when I saw him and Stu get out of their SUV. Stu hoisted his camera and pointed it at me.

Kravitz was headed toward the guard’s car.

Then, before I could take another breath, Kravitz shouted something I didn’t catch-didn’t catch because Aunt Caroline’s front door opened at the same moment.