The Lost Girls

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The bad news was that the stadium was crowded and sold out.

That good news was that the stadium was crowded and sold out.

The crowds could help Sean grab Jesse and slip away with minimal attention, but first he had to get in. That wasn’t the difficult part-bribing a guard at a back exit did the trick.

But now he had to find Jesse. And Jaye hadn’t called him.

On the ride to the stadium-Sean had hot-wired an old motorcycle that was easy to manuever and park close to the stadium-he considered all the ways his plan could go wrong.

In fact, he didn’t see it going right.

But what other choice did he have? Kane’s idea of appealing to Dante Romero may or may not work. And then they would have to breach the Flores compound, putting both of them-and Jesse-at risk. Grabbing Jesse now and explaining to the kid on the way home what was going on seemed the most logical-and easiest-of solutions.

Sean didn’t want to scare Jesse. Hell, that was the last thing he wanted to do. He considered how to explain to his son what was going on… and the best way was getting him to talk to his mother. Sean had Madison now programmed on speed dial and he suspected she’d pick up on the first ring. He hoped. After this morning…

Focus, Sean. Focus on finding Jesse, then worry about getting him out.

Sean arrived just after halftime ended. People were still moving back to their seats, some agitated, drunk, excited. Sean liked to play sports for fun, but he grew restless as an observer. What was the last major sporting event he’d watched? Was it the Super Bowl? No… he missed most of it. He caught one of the games of the World Series last year, only because he’d been with Patrick who loved baseball. How did people have fun here? There was a certain energy and excitement-that he understood-but Sean would much rather be playing on the field than sitting in the stands drinking beer.

He didn’t know how much time he had-an hour, take or leave. He walked the entire perimeter of the stadium to get the layout. There were food and souvenir vendors in several strategic locations. The credit card that Jaye had caught only gave the name of the business entity that ran all sales at the stadium, so Sean had no idea which clothing retailer had sold Carson the shirts.

Jaye still hadn’t called.

He called her.

“Jaye, I need something.”

“Sean, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Funny, you don’t sound like Jaye.” Shit, it was JT.

“You’re acting on emotion. For a fucking genius, you’re an idiot.”

“It’s an opportunity.”

“You’re there without backup!”

“Kane is working his own angle, I’m working mine. If I can get Jesse tonight, we’ll be back in San Antonio before dawn.”

“I’m not saying the plan is bad-though it is because you don’t even have a plan-I’m saying you never go in alone. Kane is on his way. Do not do anything until he gets there.”

“I don’t even know where Jesse is!”

“Jaye is very good. Flores has season tickets, a box of eight-which means you’re not just dealing with some cartel lawyer and a kid; you could be dealing with bodyguards and one or more of the Flores brothers. Wait for Kane. He’ll meet you at the top of section one eighteen.”

“Okay.”

“I’m serious, Sean.”

“I said I’d wait for him!” He rubbed his face. He was so close… “Look, JT, I get it. But what choice did I have? What if Jesse were your kid?”

“This is why you bring backup-because emotions have no place in hostage rescue. Be safe-and smart.”

“I have no intention of dying tonight.”

“It’s about time,” Sean muttered when Kane came up silently next to him twenty minutes after he got off the phone with JT.

Kane was in disguise, of sorts. Black shirt but instead of his military surplus jacket, he had on a worn leather jacket, and he wore a home team baseball cap with sunglasses-even though it was near dark. Sean also wore sunglasses, and Kane pulled an extra cap from his back pocket. Sean put it on.

“You have one chance,” Kane said. “If anything goes south, we disappear, got it? Being arrested would really screw with our plans-not to mention being dangerous for both of us. I have a jeep parked outside the perimeter, directly across from the north exit, but it’s a quarter-mile walk. I couldn’t risk getting caught up in crowds leaving. This place is going to be a zoo.” He glanced at the scoreboard. “Good thing it’s tied at one, because if it goes into overtime, no one is going to leave early. This is important, Sean-if you get Jesse, get to the jeep. If I’m not there, leave. I’ll meet you at the plane.”

“I’m not leaving you behind.”

“I have a backup plan. Which is what you should have had before you got here.”

“We’re close, Kane.”

“I know.”

“Where is he?”

“The Flores family has a box directly above section one oh three-directly across the stadium from us.” He slipped Sean a pair of binoculars. “I already scoped it out when I arrived. The kid is there; so are Carson Spade, Gabriella Romero, and one of the Flores brothers. Four other men, two I pegged as bodyguards, two I believe are associates. I couldn’t stay long-this disguise is nonexistent. I’m sure Dante already alerted Gabriella to my presence, and she’s a wild card.”

“You’re going to have to clue me in later,” Sean said. He looked through the binoculars and adjusted them. He saw mostly a sea of red and white, the team colors.

And then he saw Jesse.

The kid was watching the game intently. His hair was longer than in the photo Sean had seen, long enough to curl at the ends just like Sean’s hair did. He wore a home team jersey that was too big on him, and held a bag of popcorn.

Sean’s heart rate increased. That was his son. He should be taking him to games, showing him how to play soccer and baseball. He should be watching him play in Little League or coaching his soccer team.

Focus. Sean turned the binoculars to the rest of the group. Carson wasn’t sitting next to Jesse-he was in front of him, next to a relaxed older man. Jesse was sitting between the only female in the group-Gabriella Romero, Sean presumed-and a broad-shouldered dark-skinned man with a mustache. He looked all bodyguard.

“We wait until they leave.”

“I hate that plan.”

“I’ve gone through the possibles and this is the only way it’s going to work. Unless the kid needs to use the bathroom, we’re going to wait until the group leaves. I will split him off from his group, using the crowds as a diversion. We need to act fast. Spade or one of the entourage will notice pretty quick if the kid isn’t with them. You have to convince him not to make a scene. If he goes quietly, we get out fast. If he argues, we bolt. Without him. You may have authority from his mother, but that doesn’t give you rights here in Mexico when Carson Spade is his legal guardian.”

Sean wanted to argue, but he didn’t. Kane didn’t talk much, so when he had a speech, Sean paid attention.

He nodded.

“Follow me.”

Sean followed Kane around the south end of the stadium until they reached section 103 where Jesse sat with his group. Cheers erupted when the home team scored a goal, putting them ahead 2-1 with two minutes left. Sean stopped where he had a vantage point, but Kane pushed him forward, around the corner, and up the stairs that led to the upper balcony. After the goal, many people started to leave.

Kane pushed Sean into an alcove-a food stand had once been there, but it was shut down now-and said, “Stay here.”

Sean waited. And waited. The stadium roared several minutes later, and thundering applause, shouts, and footfalls filled the arena. Where the hell was Kane?

He almost left. He watched from his vantage point as masses of people filed past him. They didn’t seem to be ending. Then suddenly Kane emerged with Jesse by the arm.

“Let me go!” Jesse said. With the noise from the crowd, no one would be able to hear him.

Kane gave Sean a look that said they had little time.

“Jesse,” Sean said, “your mother sent me to bring you home.”

“No way, she would have told me. Who are you?”

“My name is Sean, and your mother and I were friends years ago. You need to trust me. As soon as we get out of here, you can call her.”

“Yeah, and you have a puppy you want me to help you find.”

Kane was watching the crowd. “Sean, time.”

“Jesse,” Sean said, “your stepfather is bad news, and he’s put your life in danger. Your mother hired me to find you. You need to come with me now.”

He reached for him, took him by the arm, and suddenly Jesse started screaming. “Let me go!”

Sean didn’t want to scare him, but what was he supposed to do?

“Carson Spade is working for the drug cartels, and you’re not safe with him!” Sean said, pulling Jesse toward him.

Jesse lashed out, scratching Sean. He saw Sean’s gun under his jacket and kicked Sean in the balls. Sean fell to his knees and Jesse slipped away.

“Kane! Grab him!”

Kane did and at first Sean was relieved, then Kane said in a low voice, “Jesse, do not tell anyone about this. You will put your mother’s life in grave danger. We’re coming back for you.”

Then he let him go. Jesse ran.

“What the hell?” Sean said. “Why?”

“We have to go, Spade already alerted security. If the kid talks, we’re fucked.”

Sean slammed his hand against the stone wall and followed Kane.

That didn’t go anything like he had planned.

Jesse ran away from the two creeps, but he had no idea where to go. He headed back toward the seats they’d been sitting in, fighting the crowds.

Carson Spade is working for the drug cartels.

That was the stupidest thing Jesse had ever heard. Those men were probably here to kidnap him for ransom. His dad had warned him that it was a real possibility.

Gangs think that all Americans are rich, that they can get money by grabbing kids and families. You have to be careful.

Jesse was almost back to his seat when his dad rushed up to him with Dominick. They both looked angry; his dad also looked scared. “Jesse! Where were you?”

“I-” He saw the gun under Dominick’s jacket. “I just got pushed by the crowd, then I couldn’t see you.”

Why didn’t he tell his dad the truth? That two men tried to kidnap him?

Was that really what they were trying to do?

Jesse really wanted to talk to his mom. She would straighten this all out, tell him the truth. And if she said she didn’t send anyone for him, he’d tell his dad everything.

“You’re not a little kid, Jesse,” his dad said.

“You’re sure that’s all it was?” Dominick said.

Gabriella came up to them with Dominick’s brother, Jose, “Dom, he’s scared, you’re scaring him more. You’re okay, little man, right?”

Jesse nodded. Did she know? Had she seen what happened? “Just-I didn’t know how to find you so I came back to the seats.”

“Smart kid, just like his dad.” Gabriella smiled at his dad. “Let’s get out of here. The limo should be out front by now.”

His dad put his arm around Jesse’s shoulders, then kissed him on the top of the head. Normally that would embarrass him in front of people, but right now he was relieved.

His dad would never let anything happen to him.

He almost told him what happened.

Almost.

As soon as he talked to his mom.

Kane took a roundabout way back to the plane not only to ensure they hadn’t been followed, but also to check the perimeter of their hiding spot. They were clear.

They set up camp without speaking. They wouldn’t sleep in the plane because that would make them an easy target, but they didn’t want to be too far from their ride home. Kane did another perimeter check, then they ate sandwiches, washing them down with cool beer that had been in Sean’s ice chest.

“I should have pulled the plug,” Kane said.

“I shouldn’t have gone in the first place.” Sean had been thinking about the entire fiasco. “When I was twelve, no way in hell would I go off with two strangers.” He paused. “I wanted to tell him who I was, but there’s no reason for him to believe me. And there’s no reason for him to believe his mother sent me.” Sean drained his beer. “Were the Romeros bad news when our dads were friends? Are you on the Flores cartel hit list? You shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m here because you need me-and Jesse is my blood.” Kane pulled out two more beers, handed one to Sean. “My educated guess is that Gabriella Romero has wormed her way into the Flores cartel for the sole purpose of assassinating Samuel Flores.” He paused. “Not the sole purpose. She doesn’t do anything with a single goal. If she can rip him off before she kills him, that would make her even happier.”

“You’ve already lost me.”

“It’s a long story, Sean.”

Sean didn’t say anything.

“Flores killed Gabriella’s lover ten years ago.”

“Ten years? That’s a long time to wait for revenge.”

“She’s patient.”

“And Flores doesn’t realize she’s out for revenge?”

“He doesn’t even know the connection. Few people do. Gabriella is… complex.”

“Do I hear a hint of admiration?”

Kane shook his head. “Not what you’re thinking, little brother.”

Sean really hated when Kane did that.

“Dante and Gabriella have helped RCK operations… and hindered RCK. They have their own agenda. Their mother died long ago, you know their father was friends with our father. Dante and Liam used to be tight, but they have their own war.”

“What else don’t I know?”

“A lot. Mom and Dad never wanted you to work with me-I’d already left the Marines by the time they died. They didn’t like some of the choices I made, and Duke made sure you didn’t follow in the same path. But you made your own choices when you grew up.”

“Many of them because Duke pushed me in the opposite direction.” Sean rubbed his eyes. He didn’t want to think about his complex relationship with his other brother.

“What I’m saying is, I’ve known Dante and Gabriella for a long time. You were too young to remember them. But it hasn’t always been friendly, especially after Mom and Dad died.”

“And their dad?”

“Lives in Louisiana, last I heard. The key point is, I know Gabriella well. Her fiancé was an Army Ranger, Doug Bonelli. He’d been part of Jack’s unit when he was still serving.”

“Small fucking world,” Sean muttered.

“These people we deal with-it seems insurmountable, but there are only two dozen cartels and gangs who are in serious power. There are hundreds of violent gangs and groups, but they don’t spread out, they’re localized. The most powerful cartels’ network have arms in the States and up into Canada and Europe and the Middle East and even China. They pull in gangs as they need, or hire them as protection, but the power centers are mostly controlled by families or family alliances. Sometimes the violent gangs, the rebels, the upstarts, the so-called private businessmen help them… sometimes they hinder them.”

“Just like the Romeros.”

Kane smiled thinly. “You understand.”

“So is Gabriella going to help us or not?”

“I don’t know. She saw me tonight. She was pissed off, but she won’t do anything until she talks to Dante. I’m hoping she’ll help-or at least stay out of our way. Until I saw Spade with Dominick Flores, I couldn’t confirm that he was working for the Flores cartel, but it’s pretty fucking clear he’s chummy with him. They were sitting together, heads close-that’s not the sign of someone here on legitimate business.”

“Dominick is the oldest brother?”

Kane nodded. “The patriarch, now that their dad is dead. But there are three others. They work as a unit. Dominick is in charge, he’s the figurehead, but he won’t do anything without the agreement of his brothers.”

After several minutes of silence, Kane said, “When Bonelli was killed, I offered to take care of Samuel Flores myself. Gabriella said no.”

There was far more to that story that Kane wasn’t saying.

“She’s not going to back down, and Dante isn’t going to give me anything that will help. He said that Flores’s compound is impenetrable. I reconned the place; he’s right. Not without a large team and going in full-force, which puts the kid at risk. I have some specs on the place. Until tonight, we couldn’t even confirm Jesse was there-but I’m fairly certain he is. There are no hotel reservations in Carson Spade’s name, or either of his business names. Still, we need more information and help in getting inside.”

“You think you can convince her?”

Kane didn’t say anything.

Sean said, “I have an idea. But you might not like it.”

“Shoot straight.”

“I need to get Jesse a note. I’ll explain everything-can you convince Gabriella to give it to him?”

“Possibly.”

“I need proof that Spade is working for Flores. Seeing him with Dominick isn’t going to cut it. We get proof, I can then get Madison to tell Jesse to trust me.”

“She didn’t even want you here. She tried to stop us, Sean.”

“Because she’s in denial. With proof, she won’t be.” He shifted on the uncomfortable ground. He doubted he’d be sleeping much tonight.

“Each cartel has their own primary area, right?” Sean continued. “They’ll associate with shell corporations and lawyers that Spade associates with. I already have every corporation Spade’s firm does business with.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“I sent the list to Jaye. She’s going to run it against known cartel shell corporations.”

“Good, but that’s going to take time.”

“I’m working on another angle. Pinpointing Jesse’s exact location.”

“Short of a GPS chip, how?”

Sean reached into his satchel and pulled out a photo that Kane’s contact in Acapulco gave them. “This is Jesse-he’s playing a handheld video game.”

“Okay.”

“It’s hard to tell which device, but most of the new devices have Wi-Fi. I hacked into the resort Wi-Fi system-not difficult at all, so if you need to pay your friend Nicco for his help, I can plug the holes with a little time and access.”

“Access helps us more than the bad guys,” Kane said and left it at that.

Sean continued. “Based on the time stamp of this photo, I backtraced Jesse’s device. The Wi-Fi system logs specific system information unique to that device, so once that device logs into the system, they don’t have to log in again.”

“Okay.” Kane was sounding more skeptical. Kane was good with tech, though distrustful, but this was the one area where Sean was clearly superior.

“Of course, I’ve rigged all my devices never to divulge any information, but most people don’t do that.” Sean almost smiled. “There are many Internet providers, but I figure Flores will want only the best. That leaves two in this area. They are a bit trickier to navigate-the firewall is much better here than at the resort. But if Jesse used his device at all, I will know.”

“Wouldn’t Flores or Spade have him turn off the Wi-Fi?”

“Possibly, but most adults don’t realize the capabilities of handheld video games. You can’t download a lot of data from the Internet, for example, because they don’t have the storage-the memory is primarily used to play the game and store game progress, but you still need a disk or chip to play. There’s no Internet browsing, for example-most are not designed like that. The one Jesse has, though a new model, is primarily for game playing-including multi-player games, on a limited scale.

“But,” Sean continued, “even if he turns off the Wi-Fi, he has to open the device to turn it off, which means at one point the device pinged the Wi-Fi system, and that system is serviced by a provider.”

“I think I got it.”

“Good-because I’ve already started running my program, and we should have his location in a couple of hours.”

“There’s a bigger issue here, Sean-getting him out. Even if we know exactly where he is-down to the room, and you can’t tell me your tech can pinpoint him to a ten-by-ten spot-we have to get to him, then convince him to leave quietly.”

“That’s why I need to get him information. I can send him a note on his device-if he’s on it.”

“Do it.”

“And the secondary thing is that once I get the IP address for the wireless system, I can analyze the data and see how they run their security system-whether it’s dedicated or not. I suspect it’s a combination of both, but even taking out part of the system will help us.”

“We need a diversion. If we can get Jesse out of the compound, it would be much easier to grab him.”

“Flores will have what? Fifty men or so?”

“Probably less.”

Sean shook his head. He should laugh at the absurdity of Kane’s matter-of-fact tone, but he was exhausted.

“I’m talking about a diversion he won’t expect. Let me think on it. I have a couple of ideas, but none that I’m confident we can survive.”

“I need to check on the plane, then get some sleep.”

“Say hi to Lucy for me.”

Lucy was familiar with death. She’d seen it close up-when she was younger, knowing her cousin and best friend Justin was in a coffin at the front of the church the day of his funeral; when she was eighteen and killed her rapist; when she worked in the morgue and saw the dead every day. And now, on the job, she saw the dead.

But this case… it was different than others.

She’d been able to put Jane Doe out of her head when she was in the office with Zach and Noah, talking about shell corporations and property management and legal issues for possible warrants. It helped focus her on the present. But now, as she lay in bed after midnight, she only saw Jane Doe’s corpse and the swollen stomach where her baby had once grown.

Jane Doe had died for no reason other than someone had wanted her baby. She could have survived if they’d taken her to the hospital, given her emergency medical care. It was the absolutely senselessness of her death that disturbed Lucy. She should have survived.

But she’d died in childbirth because of the cruelty of those who had her. Then two bullets in the head. Dismissed. Tossed in the garbage. Her son taken. Why? To be sold? To be used? Did that baby have anyone to love him? Did he have a bright future, or was it as bleak as his mother’s?

Lucy wanted to believe that someone misguided but desperate for a child would raise the premature little boy who’d been born so violently; but she knew from her experience and training that there were other, darker purposes for children.

She closed her eyes and bit back a cry.

No.

She wouldn’t go there, she couldn’t and survive. Not now, in the middle of the night, when nightmares were par for the course, followed by insomnia and the overwhelming sense of hopelessness. She’d thought she’d gotten past all that, but after she rescued a group of foster boys who’d been brutalized and used as mules by the drug cartels, the nightmares returned about the ones she couldn’t save.

She got up, desperately needing sleep, but mostly needing to clear her mind. It was midnight, but she swam in her pool, thirty hard laps, back and forth, until her muscles ached and her lungs burned. Then she turned and floated on her back, gently pushing herself along. Back and forth. Clearing her mind, focusing on the stars in the sky, the pin lights Sean had put in the trees. She loved her house, but especially the backyard, where she and Sean spent so much time sitting and relaxing. There were balconies and a covered patio outside the poolhouse. They had a small garden, trees and flowers, and of course the pool. Lucy loved swimming, and the pool was large and mostly rectangular so she could swim laps.

Sometimes, she never wanted to leave. She’d been only half joking when she told Sean that they should tell everyone they were going away for their honeymoon, but come back here and stay locked inside for a week, no interruptions, no work, just them.

Paradise.

Finally, she knew she was tired enough to sleep. She climbed out of the pool, went back inside, set the alarm, and took a quick shower to rinse off the chlorine. When she stepped out, her phone was ringing.

Sean.

He was Skyping her, so she accepted the call and smiled when his handsome face came on screen.

“Hello, princess. Did you just get home?”

“About ten. But I couldn’t sleep, so I went swimming.”

“I wish I were there,” he said wistfully.

“Me, too.”

Sean’s face froze.

“Are you there?” she asked.

“Yes, the connection is poor. Sorry.” Suddenly the screen went black. He said, “I cut off video-we’re camping out tonight in the middle of nowhere.”

“Is everything okay?”

“About as we expected. You sound tired.”

“It’s been a long couple of days.”

“Do you have any leads?”

“You know how these people operate. You’d be proud of Zach-he’s really learned how to weed through the information and pull out nuggets.”

“The apprentice becomes the master.”

She laughed. God, it felt good to laugh. “He did so well, Noah thinks he can get a warrant for the property management company. It might not yield anything, but if we can get a complete list of their clients and properties, we might be able to find the women and babies.”

“If you need any help-if Zach needs help-you know I’ll be there.”

“Dean Hooper from Sacramento is helping. Noah didn’t say it explicitly, but I think Hooper is coming to San Antonio.”

“He’s brilliant. And I don’t say that lightly.”

“Hooper suggested to Noah that he bring you in, so I think Noah would be receptive to your help-but you need to find that little boy first.”

“Yeah…” His voice trailed off, and Lucy thought she’d lost him.

“Sean?”

“Here. We know where he is, but it’s complicated.”

“You sound frustrated.”

“I am. It’s complicated,” he repeated.

“Talk to me.”

“I want to-I just…” again, he didn’t say anything.

“I understand, Sean.”

“We’re close. But Spade took his son into a dangerous situation. Spade is working for a drug cartel. Madison said he’s an accountant, and that’s true, but he’s also a lawyer. I don’t know how deep his involvement goes, and if it’ll even be possible to extract him. I just want the kid.”

“He took his son into that situation?”

“The kid could be leverage they’re using on Spade.”

“You don’t sound like you believe that.”

“I don’t. I don’t know what to think right now, but the information we’ve put together tells me that Spade is a willing and proactive partner in whatever is going on.” He paused so long that Lucy thought they’d been disconnected.

“Lucy?”

“Right here. I thought I lost you.”

“I love you, and I wish I could be there right now to talk to you. I have a lot to explain…”

“I’m listening.”

“I-not on the phone.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’ll be fine. There’s just a lot going on and I wish I were there so we could talk about it.”

“I’m always here for you.” She paused. “Sean-that’s not true. There have been times when I have been so preoccupied with my problems and my job that I forget that you have work that is just as difficult and troublesome. You have always been here for me-and I love you for it. You know that you can talk to me about anything.”

“I know I can, Luce-I love you so much. I-I gotta go. We’re getting up early, and I need to set up a security trace program on Jesse’s game system.”

“You’re the best, right?”

“Right. Love you.” He hung up before Lucy could say another word.

She closed her laptop and turned off the light, but it was a long time before she fell to sleep.

Something was going on with Sean, and she wished she were there to help him.

Sean resisted the urge to hit something-anything. He needed to tell Lucy about Jesse… but how could he do it over the phone? How could he just tell her, Hey, Lucy, I have a kid.

She needed to know, and he regretted not telling her before he left San Antonio. Why hadn’t he? What was he so scared of? That she wouldn’t understand? Of course she’d understand! Lucy was the most supportive person he knew. She would always be there for him, just like she said.

But… he hated that he couldn’t talk about this with her now, about how twisted his gut was knowing that his own son didn’t know about him.

Call her back.

No way in hell could he tell her now. He needed to be able to touch her, hold her, talk about it without poor connections. He needed to see her face, answer her questions, show her how much he loved her.

And in the back of his mind he feared that maybe Lucy wouldn’t understand. That she wouldn’t forgive him. That she wouldn’t tell him what she really felt.

I can’t have children…

He knew, deep down, that Lucy’s inability to conceive was a burden she lived with every day. He hadn’t really understood the pain until after her nephew was born and he saw the anguish in her eyes when she looked at the baby. He’d convinced her that he didn’t love her less-how could he? She was everything to him. But he knew Lucy better than anyone, knew how she internalized her emotions, how she ached and survived.

What do you really fear?

He didn’t know. Dammit, he didn’t want her to think she was somehow… less because he had a kid with another woman. It wasn’t like he planned it or knew about it. It had happened, and now he was dealing with the truth twelve years later.

It would be okay. It had to be okay. Lucy would understand. Sean would show her and tell her how much he loved her, and she would understand that he really didn’t have a chance to tell her about Jesse before he left, and that telling her over the phone wasn’t an option.

It simply wasn’t an option.