Death Minus Zero. Don Pendleton

checked with Zero. Told Buchanan. He’s no wiser than we are at the moment. He’s run all the checks he can via the Zero setup. No trace. He’ll keep looking and listening.”

      “Listening?”

      “Saul had an implant. A small receiver that gives out a traceable signal so his whereabouts can be tracked. Designed and built it himself. Had it surgically inserted at the back of his left shoulder. Idea is that it emits a permanent signal.”

      “But it isn’t doing that?”

      “No. The signal has gone silent. And so has the tracker fitted to the Air Force car.”

      “What does that tell you?”

      “That maybe we have an inside mole working for the kidnappers—someone capable of disabling the car tracker. That the kidnappers knew about the tracking device on the vehicle and put it out of action.”

      “So you have something to work on. Also means you have a weakness in your security shield.”

      “Don’t remind me.”

      “What about the implant device?”

      “I don’t see that being public knowledge. It was inserted just below the surface of Kaplan’s skin soon after Zero was launched. Like I said, it was Saul’s own idea.”

      “Not easy to get at?”

      “It would have to be cut out.”

      “Anything else affect it?”

      “If they had the equipment the signal could be interrupted. That suggests whoever took Saul would have had to have known about it. Joshua, as of right now, we are running in the dark here. Reaching out.”

      “Okay, but if these kidnappers have something they can disable your tracking devices with, then they have to be more than a bunch of perps out looking for ransom. Last time, we came up against renegade government individuals—and a bunch of Chinese trying to get their hands on Zero.”

      “Don’t think that hasn’t crossed my mind. All the files on the previous attempt are being reviewed and individuals looked at.”

      “The ones still alive, you mean?”

      Valens understood the reminder. People had died before the Zero affair had been concluded. She also recalled that some of the Chinese operatives had escaped. But they had run off with a considerable amount of Chinese cash and lost themselves somewhere in America.

      She had to go through everything, no matter how vague or how dead-ending it might turn out to be. She had to look into all aspects of the matter.

      “Is Cooper involved this time?” Riba said.

      “His name hasn’t been mentioned so far. Could be he’s working on something else. But the people he works with have their teams involved.”

      “You want me to do some snooping around?”

      “Off-the-reservation kind of snooping?” Valens said.

      “Sharp as ever, Agent Valens, but just as you say. I’ll deal myself in. I’m closer to Saul’s lodge than you people are. I do remember where it is, too.”

      “Joshua, stay in touch. If I can give you any backup I will. Use my name if you need to. Let me know if you find anything. But for now, keep it between us.”

      Valens sent the data to Riba’s cell.

      “Okay, got it,” Riba said. “Hey, you watch your back, Agent Valens. The way this has gone down, we’ve got some serious people out there.”

      “I will, and for the record, it’s Claire. Drop the ‘Agent Valens,’ okay? I think you’ve earned that.”

      “Okay. You can call me Josh. I hate the full-on Joshua. Makes me sound old and serious.”

      “You’re a funny guy, Josh.”

      “Got to redress the Hollywood version of solemn, hatchet-faced Indians. And don’t start me on the ‘Native American’ deal. Listen, I’ll be in touch soon as I have anything.”