“Then if it doesn’t move, it’s a lure. He might not have Farrah and the others there. Hell, he might not even be there right now, but that’s where he wants us. We can only hope we have the element of surprise. Hopefully he doesn’t know that Mrs. Romero could see Farrah’s phone and that we were waiting for his next text.”

“He turned her phone off,” Mercy murmured. “He might think that kept us from tracking it. He’d had it turned off before he called me, because Mama Ro’s calls kept going to voice mail.”

“And Damien’s and André’s phones were found in Damien’s car,” Rafe added. “I’m hoping he thinks that we’re just leaving Sacramento and that he has a few hours before we arrive.”

That, at least, was comforting. “Should I reply to his text?” Mercy asked. “Is there any way he can know where I am?”

“Doubtful, but let’s make sure.” Tom reached backward. “Give me your phone.” Mercy did and Tom pulled another phone from his pocket. “Mine’s a burner,” he said. “I never leave home without one. I’m going to answer him from my phone, spoofing your number. It’ll look like it came from you, but my phone’s untraceable.” A minute later he handed her phone back. “Done. I told him that you were on your way with an ETA of seven thirty. It’ll be dark then. Burton thinks he’ll have that advantage.”

Gideon met Mercy’s eyes in the rearview mirror, his expression severe. “This is what’s going to happen,” he said in a tone that brooked no argument. “When we get to the stop, I want you and Amos to stay in the SUV. He had a rifle in Snowbush. He will be waiting for us again. We’ll park a quarter mile away from the coordinates and Tom and I will check them out. Rafe, you and Agent Schumacher will stay with the vehicles in case Ephraim’s watching and comes after Mercy.”

Rafe’s jaw tensed, but he nodded. “I’d slow you down, so yeah. Okay.”

Gideon huffed. “Come on, Rafe, you know you’d balk if I told you to leave Mercy.”

Rafe laughed then. “You’re right about that. It’s a good plan, Gid.”

Gideon shook his head. “I keep putting my foot in it.”

“After this, I say we go out for ice cream,” Daisy said. “You can buy me a double, Gideon, and I might even share with you.”

Gideon pretended to be scared. “I would never even ask. Nobody who values their life gets between you and ice cream.”

“Molina’s here as well,” Tom said conversationally. “So that you aren’t surprised if you see her.”

Goddammit. Mercy had figured as much, but it still pissed her off. “With a platoon of agents?”

“SWAT,” Tom corrected. “She and the team got up here about an hour ago. Flew in to Dunsmuir by helicopter and settled in to wait. They’ll drive to the coordinates, then canvass the area, looking for Burton and the hostages.”