Alexandria Link by Steve Berry

walked around to the front of the house. He obeyed his instincts and rushed from his hiding place, entering the backyard through an opening in the hedge. He darted straight for the rear door and, with gun ready, slipped inside.
    The one-story house was quiet. Two bedrooms, a den, kitchen, and bath. One bedroom door was closed. He quickly surveyed the rooms. Empty. He approached the closed door. His left hand gripped the knob, his right held the gun, finger on the trigger. He slowly twisted, then shoved open the door.
    And saw Gary.
    The boy was sitting in a chair, beside the window, reading. His son, startled, glanced up from the pages, then his face beamed when he realized who was there.
    Malone, too, felt a surge of elation.
    “Dad.” Then Gary saw the gun and said, “What’s going on?”
    “I can’t explain, but we have to go.”
    “They said you were in trouble. Are those men who are trying to hurt me and Mom here?”
    He nodded as panic swept over him. “They’re here. We have to go.”
    Gary stood from the chair, and Malone couldn’t help himself. He hugged his son hard. This child was his—in every way. Screw Pam.
    He said, “Stay behind me. Do exactly as I say. Understand?”
    “There going to be trouble?”
    “I hope not.”
    He retraced his route to the rear door and peered outside. The yard was empty. He would need only a minute for them to make their escape.
    He exited with Gary close at his heels.
    The opening in the hedge loomed fifty feet away.
    He maneuvered Gary in front of him, since the last he’d seen of the two men they were heading toward the street. Gun ready, he bolted straight for the yard next door. He kept his attention to their flank, allowing Gary to lead the way.
    They passed through the opening.
    “How predictable.”
    He whirled and froze.
    Standing twenty feet away was No Neck, Pam in his grasp, a sound-suppressed Glock jammed into her neck. The Kronborg Shooter stood off to the side, gun aimed directly at Malone.
    “I found your ex wandering this way,” No Neck said with a Dutch twang. “I assume you told her to stay in the car?”
    His gaze locked on Pam’s. Her eyes pleaded with him to forgive her.
    “Gary,” she said, unable to move.
    “Mom.”
    Malone caught the desperation in both their voices. He repositioned Gary behind him.
    “Let’s see how you did, Malone. You tracked my man over there from the castle into town, waited for him to leave, then followed, thinking your boy would be here.”
    Definitely the voice from the cell phone last night. “Which all turned out to be right.”
    The other man was unmoved. A sickening feeling invaded Malone’s stomach.
    He’d been led.
    “Pop the magazine out of that Beretta and toss it away.”
    Malone hesitated, then decided he had no choice. He did as told.
    “Now let’s trade. I’ll give you your ex and you give me the boy.”
    “What if I say keep the ex?”
    The man chuckled. “I’m sure you don’t want your son to watch while I blow his mother’s brains out, which is exactly what I’ll do, because I don’t really want her.”
    Pam’s eyes widened at the prospects that her foolishness had spawned.
    “Dad, what’s going on?” Gary asked.
    “Son, you’re going to have to go with him—”
    “No,” Pam yelled. “Don’t.”
    “He’ll kill you,” Malone made clear.
    No Neck’s finger lay firmly on the Glock’s trigger, and Malone hoped Pam stood still. He stared at Gary. “You have to do this for Mom. But I’ll be back for you, I swear. You can count on it.” He hugged the boy again. “I love you. Be tough for me. Okay?”
    Gary nodded, hesitated an instant, then stepped toward No Neck, who released his grip on Pam. She instantly hugged Gary and started crying.
    “You okay?” she asked.
    “I’m fine.”
    “Let me stay with him,” she said. “I won’t give you any trouble. Cotton can find whatever it is you want and we’ll be good. I promise.”
    “Shut up,” No Neck said.
    “I