Protective Custody

by Lynette Eason

Fury glistened down at him in the other man’s eyes. “Get up, you idiot, and walk to the door. Any more funny stuff and I guess I’ll have to clean up two bodies after all.”

  Nick hauled himself to his feet, remembered Mason’s still form and agonized that he wasn’t able to help him more. He held out a beseeching hand. “Come on, Wayne, think of our history.” He refused to think about the fact that the man had had a hand in the murder of his wife and sister. All he was interested in now was getting Wayne to either give it up—or hope Carly showed up soon.

  The gun lifted to point at his nose. “Go.”

  Time was up. He had no choice. Without another thought, Nick shot out a hand and knocked the gun to the side, away from his face.

  Wayne cursed and brought the gun around, catching Nick on the side of the head.

  His world spun and all went dark for a brief moment as he sank back to his knees. This time for real. Then Wayne had him by the back of his collar, jerking him to his feet.

  With a shove, Wayne slammed him against the wall and growled, “You just signed Christopher’s death warrant. Now open that door.”

  Head throbbing, heart pounding, Nick’s fury rose up in him to mammoth heights, but he knew jumping Wayne again was out of the question. Wayne was just too careful about leaving himself open. He’d be extra vigilant now.

  “Fine.” Oh, God, I failed. Please rescue Christopher.

  Nick reached for the doorknob and twisted.

  Finally, Carly arrived at the courthouse. Not wanting to tip Wayne off that they were on to him, they’d simply had security shut off all traffic outside Nick and Wayne’s chambers. A SWAT team was on alert and ready for action should it be needed. An officer reported the blinds on both judges’ chambers were drawn and closed. The officer couldn’t see in. They were working on getting a listening device operational.

  Carly flashed her badge and made her way inside the building. Two officers flanked her. Two ambulances were on standby and parked at the rear entrance, with more officers on duty in that area.

  Her black boots made no sound on the tile floor as she walked down the hall, weapon drawn. The officers behind also held their weapons ready.

  At Nick’s office, Carly noticed Jean wasn’t at her desk. Bypassing the secretary’s station, she made her way to the chamber door. She listened, her ear turned in to catch the slightest sound.

  Silence.

  Carly heard the outer door open, and she spun, gun pointing in that direction. Catelyn entered, stealthily and quietly sliding inside and raising a brow at Carly. Ian followed quickly behind Catelyn.

  Carly nodded and motioned them forward. The officers stepped back and Catelyn took her stance on the opposite side of the door. Taking a deep breath, Carly reached out and twisted the knob.

  The door flew open, and she darted a glance around the office. Empty.

  Lowering her gun, she looked toward the bathroom. The door stood open and she could clearly see it stood empty, too.

  Shudders wracked her at the memory of the last time she’d been in here. This time there weren’t any snakes. Of the slithering kind. Now she was after a two-legged reptile.

  “Clear here,” she said. “Let’s get to Wayne’s office.”

  They exited the room and hurried down the hall, arriving at Wayne’s chambers to find his door closed.

  She and Catelyn repeated their actions, each standing on either side of the door. As Carly reached for the knob, it started turning.

  Catelyn and Ian jerked back, as did Carly. The door opened. Nick’s voice, tense and angry, flowed to her, and relief flooded her. She was in time.

  Nick walked through the door, and Carly saw the gun pointed at his back. Almost without thinking, she waited just long enough for Wayne’s arm to clear the door and then kicked out in a sweeping motion, catching his wrist. A scream of pain met her ears, and the gun went flying down the hall. “Freeze, Wayne!”

  Nick turned, and his fist shot out to catch the man under the jaw. Carly heard the crack and watched Wayne’s head snap back. He stumbled back into the room he’d just exited, disappearing for a brief moment.

  She went in after him.

  “Carly!”

  Nick’s harsh shout echoed as she rounded the doorjamb in time to see Wayne dart behind his desk. A drawer opened and slammed shut.

  He was going for another weapon.

  Ian entered, followed quickly by Catelyn. A bullet slammed into the door above Catelyn’s head, and she ducked out. Ian, realizing he had no coverage, bolted back through the door. “You’re surrounded, Thomas. Give it up,” her brother hollered.

  Carly pointed in Wayne’s direction and fired. The bullet slammed into the wall, and she saw Wayne’s gun lift again.

  “Don’t try it, Wayne,” she called. “You’re finished. Cops are crawling all over this building, and Christopher is safe.”

  A breath whooshed out behind her. She turned. “Nick, get out of here—he’s got another weapon.” He ignored her, and she noticed he’d taken cover next to the armoire in the corner.

  At the crack of the first bullet, she’d darted behind a large, straight-backed chair, the kind of chair someone would have in a nice living room. It hid her fairly well, but she wasn’t sure it would stop a bullet, so she wasn’t relaxing anytime soon. “Wayne, we’ve got Debbie in custody. Give it up.”

  Nick called out, “Always the Boy Scout, huh, Wayne? Two guns? Isn’t that a bit of overkill?”

  “Shut up, Nick.”

  Catelyn would have the door blocked. The window behind the desk would afford the SWAT team a good opportunity to take Wayne down should he refuse to surrender.

  Only then did she notice the bloodstain on the floor. Nick had been fine.

  “Mason? Where’s Mason?”

  A hard chuckle came from behind the desk. “You need to let me out of here before your friend dies. I can hole up here for a long time.”

  “Not a chance, Wayne,” Carly called. “You should know better than that. If he dies, you’ll just go down for his murder.” But she wasn’t going to let Mason die. What had Wayne done to him? Where was he? Somehow she had to get Wayne to give up or find a way to force his hand. But how?

  Nick spoke up from behind the safety of the armoire. “He’s in the bathroom with a gunshot wound, Carly. Wayne’s right about one thing—Mason does need immediate medical care.”

  Carly sucked in a breath. Then time was even more critical than she’d imagined. “Wayne, there’s a SWAT team up on the building even as we speak. Even if you get out of the courthouse, where are you going to go?”

  Silence from behind the desk. Then, “They can’t see me from the window. And even if they could, it’s bulletproof glass.”

  “Yeah, well, even bulletproof glass isn’t impenetrable. I think we all had a lesson on that just a couple of days ago,” Nick shot back to his former friend.

  More silence. A deep sigh came from behind the desk. “For what it’s worth, I never wanted to hurt the kids, Nick.”

  “Sorry, Wayne, it’s not worth much. Save it.” Nick’s voice could have bent steel. A quick glance at him confirmed the fury in his eyes had reached a new level. Carly lasered him with a don’t-you-dare-do-something-stupid look.

  He glared right back. But nodded.

  Good, he was keeping his cool. More than she might be able to do should their roles be reversed, she admitted grudgingly to herself. Out loud she said, “Wayne, you know they’re going to consider Nick and me hostages. Pretty soon a negotiator is going to be here.”

  No sooner had the words left her lips than the phone on Wayne’s desk rang.

  Nick waited, tense, every muscle in his body frozen with the need to be ready to act. The phone rang again. “Answer it, Wayne.”

  “Shut up, Nick. I’m thinking.”

  Nick wanted to laugh. Instead, he said, “You can’t think your way out of this one. It’s kind of a no-brainer.”

  The man didn’t respond. Was he considering giving up? Again,
the shrill sound of the phone penetrated the thick atmosphere. Then the phone flew over the desk and bounced on the floor, the cord dangling like a kite tail.

  Carly’s voice sounded. “Yes, we’re fine for now.” Nick realized she was speaking into her cell phone. When no one answered the landline, whoever was in charge of this situation had opted to call Carly. She continued. “He has a weapon. We have an officer down who needs immediate attention.” She went on to summarize their position in short, succinct sentences. “He refuses to answer the phone that is now disabled. I’ll keep you apprised of the situation.” A pause. “I’ll take care of it.”

  Nick saw her place the phone on the floor beside her. He wondered if she’d hung up or left the line open. Probably the latter.

  Movement from behind Carly’s chair pulled his attention to her. She slipped toward the bathroom, her desperate need to check on Mason stamped clearly on her face.

  Suddenly a shot rang out and slammed into the wall above her. Nick took a step forward, hand reaching toward her before he realized what he was doing. She ducked back behind the chair, and Nick breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Don’t shoot,” she ordered into her phone. Hopefully, the SWAT team would wait for her signal. “Not smart, Wayne!” she called.

  Wayne snarled from behind the safety of his desk, “I told you the only way to save your friend is to get me out of the building.”

  Thirty seconds passed in silence. Then Carly spoke. “Fine, use me as a hostage. If it means saving Mason’s life, I’ll do what I can to get you out of here.”

  “No way, Carly!” Nick protested, his heart thumping double time at what she was suggesting. “Think of another option.” He knew that if Wayne got out of the building, away from the cops, the man had the resources to disappear, never to be heard from again.

  A fact Wayne was no doubt counting on.

  She didn’t bother responding, and Nick realized he had no say in the matter. She was letting Wayne think about her offer. The fact that Wayne hadn’t laughed in her face greatly concerned him.

  Wayne said, “That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard come out of your mouth since I’ve met you.”

  Never had Nick wanted to hurt someone so badly. Not normally a violent person, he found himself wanting to pulverize his former friend. “Carly, you can’t do this.”

  “Sure I can.” To Wayne, she said, “And I know exactly how to get you out of here. Hold on and let me make a phone call.”

  Nick heard her phone chirp twice as she punched in a speed-dial number. Who was she calling?

  “Here’s the deal. Wayne and I are going to walk out of here. Nick is going to stay with Mason. As soon as we’re clear of the room, send the paramedics in.”

  Not gonna happen, Nick thought, but didn’t interrupt. He’d figure out how to get Carly away from Wayne without getting her—or himself—shot.

  “As soon as Wayne and I are clear of the building, you send in the paramedics and get Mason to a hospital.” She paused. “Yeah, I know it’s dangerous, but right now Mason doesn’t have time for us to come up with a better plan.”

  She hung up, dropped her gun to the floor and nudged it up under the chair. Standing, she held her hands above her head and said, “All right, Wayne, let’s go.” To Nick, she said, “Will you please stay with Mason? I’ll be fine, I promise.”

  “You don’t know what this man is capable of, Carly.” He couldn’t leave her with him. Wayne had shot Mason without blinking. If Carly walked out the door with him, Nick knew without a doubt he’d never see her again.

  At least not alive.

  Please, Lord, show me what to do.

  “In the bathroom, Floyd.” Wayne now stood, his gun aimed at Carly.

  Nick’s mind clicked with possibilities. None of them to his liking. He moved toward the bathroom, wanting to protest, everything in him desperate to protect the woman he now knew he loved—yes, loved.

  A roaring sounded in his ears. The world tilted, and Nick lost his breath.

  What had he just thought?

  Before he had time to actually consider what he’d just admitted, even if it was only to himself, his mind already plotted a plan to help Carly.

  Carly stood patiently, eyes never still, while Nick walked to the bathroom. He had to go along for now or else Mason would die.

  He might already be dead, but if not, this was his only chance. Nick opened the door and stepped into the bathroom. Turning, his eyes met Carly’s. He saw her gaze drop to the officer at his feet. He blinked, wondering what he’d seen flash there for a brief second. Fear? Anger? Helplessness? Rage?

  All of the above. Nick knelt beside Mason and placed two fingers on the man’s pulse. Almost nonexistent, but still there.

  Her eyes rose to meet his once again, and he thought he saw something else.

  Love? A silent promise? Definitely something. And a question as to Mason’s status.

  He mouthed, “Bad, but alive.”

  Heart pounding, he tried to communicate back to her that he’d be right behind her and Wayne.

  She narrowed her eyes and gave a slight shake of her head. He raised a brow in response but didn’t change his stance.

  With one eye on Nick, Wayne placed the gun in the small of Carly’s back and shoved her toward the back door. The exit away from Ian, Catelyn and any backup.

  Metal winked at him from under the chair to the left of the bathroom door. As soon as Wayne and Carly were out of the room, Nick went for the gun she’d shoved out of sight. Wayne had been so consumed with getting out of the building that he’d completely forgotten about the weapon.

  And her phone, which was still connected to whoever she’d been talking to. Nick swiped that, too.

  Cops and paramedics flooded into the room, and, with relief, Nick motioned toward Mason.

  In all of the chaos, Nick slipped through the crowd before someone could grab him and headed for the elevator.

  He knew exactly how Wayne planned to get out of the building.

  Down the stairs, through the basement, to the outside door.

  He swept toward the stairwell and shoved the door open. Let it close behind him. Shutting his eyes, he listened.

  And heard the faint sound of receding footsteps.

  They were going down, just like he figured. Into the phone, he whispered, “Go to the outside basement door. They’ll be coming out there.”

  “Who is this?” the voice barked.

  “Judge Nicholas Floyd. I was in the chambers with Deputy Marshal Carly Masterson and Judge Wayne Thomas. He’s taken her hostage.”

  “We know. We heard.”

  “There’s a basement. I heard them in the stairs just a short time ago. I believe he’s heading for the basement exit.”

  “We’ll have it covered. Where are you?”

  “Following them.”

  SEVENTEEN

  Carly shrugged against the hard hand gripping her upper arm and got nowhere. Sure, she could use some self-defense moves, but there was no guarantee she would get in a good kick before he pulled the trigger.

  “So, what are you going to do when you get out of here and after you kill me?”

  “Shut up.”

  “Oh, come on, what’s it going to hurt to tell me?” She stumbled down the next flight of stairs and felt the nose of the gun dig into her back. Held at gunpoint twice in one day.

  A new record for her.

  Wayne stopped her at the door and looked at her. “It won’t take much to procure a new identity. Disappearing will be easy.”

  “That’s why you didn’t bother to kill Nick back there. You’re already planning to go underground.”

  “Before this day is over, my name will be mud. I’ll be a wanted man. Killing Nick’s not going to change that.”

  “Or killing me.”

  Another pause. “I don’t want to kill you.” He shoved her toward the door and said, “Open it.”

  She didn’t move.

  Another jab with the gun. H
ard enough to leave a bruise. She winced.

  His voice came closer to her left ear. “Open the door. I don’t want to kill you…but I will without hesitating if I need to.”

  Carly shuddered and placed a hand on the door. She knew he was serious, and for a moment she wondered where she would spend eternity should the unthinkable happen.

  She believed in God, had loved Him and wanted His will for her life for a long time. When Hank had died, the faith she’d thought was so strong had crumbled like dust.

  And she’d hardened her heart and blamed God.

  But Nick hadn’t blamed her for the disappearance of Christopher. And he hadn’t turned his back on the God who hadn’t stopped his wife and sister from dying.

  She knew now that God wasn’t to blame after all. Death was a consequence of man’s disobedience. Maybe Nick was right and bad things just happened because it was a fallen world that had turned its back on God.

  Just like she’d done.

  Grief hit her all at once, and although she’d made the decision to choose to believe again earlier, the realization of what she’d nearly done to her life, to her spiritual well-being, almost sent her to her knees.

  I’m sorry, God. I was wrong. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

  The gun jabbed harder into her lower back, and she gasped. Leaning against the door, she gave it a push. It swung open slightly. Alarm bells rang, but Wayne didn’t seem that concerned. Of course, he would have known opening the door would do that. She took a step toward the opening. His grip on her arm yanked her back inside. “What are you doing?”

  “Not that way. Nick would have told them to have that door covered. Now we go back up.”

  A chill swept over Carly. Would the authorities fall for that little trick?

  A voice through a bullhorn sounded just over the ringing door. “Wayne Thomas, this is the Spartanburg County Police Department. You are surrounded. Throw your weapon out.”

  Back up the steps they went, the captain’s voice fading as they climbed. “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see. Just keep climbing. Two more flights.”

  “The parking garage.”

  “You’re quick, I’ll give you that.”

  “They’ll have cops all over it, Wayne.”