He had a simple solution—one he didn’t much care for, but it did provide immediate results. Capturing Agent Taylor’s family should smoke her out.

Chapter 27

Lauren rang him less than ninety minutes later, just as he sat down at a picnic table in front of a small sandwich shop.

“Boss, I spotted a white 4x4 with the first four plate numbers you mentioned outside Perth.”

“How long ago?” Gilmont tapped the wrapper on his panini.

“Sixty minutes.”

“What’s up that direction?”

“Not much. Pitlochry and Fort Augustus are the only sizeable towns, a few thousand residents each perhaps, maybe more. The road to Aberdeen splits off from Perth and heads toward the coast. The secondary roads have cameras, but it’s going to take some time to search them all.” Lauren paused for a second. “I’ve covered the main highway as far as Fort William and Aberdeen; she couldn’t have reached either city, which means Agent Taylor’s left the main carriageway.”

“But you’re sure of Perth?”

“Absolutely.”

“Call me again if you find anything. She can’t have disappeared. One of the cameras will have picked her up.”

“Professor, it will take me—”

Gilmont hung up. The woman was full of excuses. Had Lauren gone soft? She lived the life he once had, by day an honorable citizen, by night an entrepreneur. He needed to remind her more forcefully who she was dealing with. Perhaps he should let Danny pay her a visit.

He bit into his panini, the sharp cheese blending with the ham in a rich melding of flavors. Chewing slowly, he eyed a gull circling above the picnic table, tore off a piece of toasted bread, and tossed it into the air.

The bird caught the crust in its beak. It glided to an empty table, chased by three of its comrades, their discordant cries piercing the air as they vied for the morsel.

Gilmont checked his watch as he rose to his feet and chucked his trash in the outside bin. With the heavy traffic, it would take him a bit over an hour to reach Perth. If he didn’t find her soon, he’d put up for the night at a bed-and-breakfast. That worried him some, especially since his face had been plastered all over the national media last year. Some people had a knack for facial memory.

He pulled out his mobile to text Danny, but it vibrated in his hand before he could. He glanced at the number. Lauren. His heart sped up, and a smile lit his voice when he answered. “Did you locate our disappearing lady?”

“As good as. She’s not far from Dunkeld and likely looking for an out-of-the-way place for the night.”

“Good work. Let me know if there are any new developments.”

“I will.” She hung up.

He chuckled, grateful he hadn’t removed Lauren. Finding a replacement for her this late might prove difficult.