Once Hunted

by Blake Pierce

  A tear rolled down Gabriela’s cheek.

  “That it happened,” she said. “I shouldn’t have let it happen.”

  Riley sat down and took Gabriela’s hand.

  “There was nothing you could do,” Riley said.

  “But if I could just have gotten upstairs more quick, maybe I could have done something. And then he took me by surprise. I shouldn’t have been surprised. I shouldn’t have let him knock me down the stairs.”

  Riley smiled a bit sadly. Of course Gabriela had nothing to regret. But Riley could understand all too well just how she felt.

  “How is the muchacha?” Gabriela asked.

  “She’s going to be just fine,” Riley said.

  Riley looked at the doctor, who had just finished his examination.

  “How is she?” Riley asked.

  The doctor looked rather surprised.

  “Amazingly well,” he said. “Three broken ribs and quite a few bruises seem to be the extent of her physical injuries. Of course, because of the concussion, we need to keep her for observation—”

  “¡Híjole!” Gabriela snapped. “You are not keeping me here for anything. I am going home as soon as somebody gives me my clothes. I have work to do.”

  Riley smiled as the doctor gently tried to persuade Gabriela that she had to stay. He could barely make himself heard over his patient, who let him know otherwise in a mixture of English and Spanish.

  She sure seems ready to go, Riley thought.

  And she doubted very much that the doctor was going to win this argument.

  Riley looked at her watch. It was now six-thirty in the morning. Riley wondered if both Gabriela and April might be able to go home with her in a little while.

  Then, in the midst of her relief that Gabriela and April weren’t badly hurt, she remembered.

  Blaine!

  She rushed to a nurse who was just outside the cubicle.

  “Where is my neighbor—Blaine Hildreth?” she said.

  “He’s in intensive care,” the nurse said.

  “Please take me there,” Riley said.

  *

  The nurse led Riley directly to the intensive care unit. Blaine’s daughter, Crystal, was sitting outside the glass enclosure, staring into space. A woman Riley didn’t know sat beside her. She appeared to be in her twenties, tall and short-haired with a strong but gentle face. Right now she looked very tired.

  Crystal didn’t look up when Riley approached. The poor girl seemed to be in a state of shock.

  The woman rose from her chair to greet Riley.

  “Are you Riley?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m Felicia Mazur, the assistant manager at Blaine’s restaurant. Crystal called me first thing after the whole thing happened. She came here in the ambulance with her dad. I got here as soon as I could. I’ll take Crystal home to stay with me and my family until her dad’s better.”

  Crystal finally looked up at both Felicia and Riley.

  “How’s Dad?” she asked as if in a trance.

  Riley could tell by Felicia’s look that Crystal had been asking that question repeatedly for hours now.

  “I keep telling you, honey, he’s going to be all right,” Felicia said.

  Riley looked through the window. Her heart sank as she saw Blaine lying inside the ICU, completely unconscious. He had an IV in each arm and an oxygen mask, and he was hooked up to monitors.

  As Riley headed for the door, Felicia gently took her by the arm.

  “You can’t go in there,” she said.

  She led Riley a short distance from Crystal.

  “He’s been unconscious this whole time,” Felicia said. “The doctors say he’ll come out of it, but they need to keep him sedated until they check the extent of his injuries. So far they’ve found nothing except a cracked cheekbone and some broken ribs. They’ve got to make sure there isn’t anything more. He’ll be here for a couple of days if not longer.”

  Riley stood staring through the window at her injured neighbor. She felt deeply grateful that Blaine had come to April’s rescue, possibly saving her life. At the same time, she felt terribly guilty. She knew that she’d risk anything to protect April, including her own life. But did she have any right to put other lives at risk?

  She reminded herself of what Bill had said.

  “He chose to walk in there and do what he did.”

  The thought didn’t make her feel any better. Why did Blaine have to make that kind of choice at all?

  Because he’s got me as a neighbor, Riley thought.

  It didn’t seem fair. Nothing seemed fair right now—not to April, Gabriela, Blaine, Crystal, or even to Riley herself.

  She sat down on the bench beside Crystal and put her arm around her. She wished she could tell her that everything was going to be fine from now on. But she couldn’t do that. The truth was, she had no idea what to expect next—especially not now that some new killer was targeting the people Riley loved most in the world.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  The sun was up by the time April and Gabriela were released and Riley was able to drive them home from the hospital. Meanwhile, Bill and Lucy were headed to Quantico to update Meredith. As Riley parked outside her townhouse, she saw that both local cops and FBI agents were still stationed outside.

  Followed by April and Gabriela, Riley went inside to find the house still a wreck. A broken floor lamp lay across the floor, and a dining room chair with broken legs was lying on its side. Blood was sprinkled on the floor here and there. It was not yet completely dry. Cold winter air whistled in through the broken pane in the back door.

  “¡Ay caramba!” Gabriela said. “I’ve got to start fixing all this.”

  “You’re not doing anything of the kind,” Riley said. “We’re getting you both packed and out of here. Neither one of you are safe here.”

  Both Gabriela and April stood staring at Riley. They looked exhausted and dismayed. Riley understood why. They wanted things to go right back to normal. Riley wanted that too, but it was going to take a while.

  “But there are cops and agents just outside,” April said.

  “They’re not going to be there for long,” Riley said. “You both have got to get someplace safe before they’re gone. Gabriela, can you go stay with your relatives in Tennessee for a while?”

  “Sí. But for how long?”

  “Until I catch this guy,” Riley said. “Pack up and call a cab to take you to the bus station. Take the next bus there.”

  Gabriela didn’t look happy about this. Riley was glad she didn’t argue.

  “What about me?” April said.

  “You just get packed,” Riley said. “I’ll work that out right now.”

  “Can I take a shower first?” April asked.

  “No.”

  April rolled her eyes and started to object.

  Riley said, “I’m sorry, but we just don’t have time. Get everything you need for at least two or three days. Now both of you, please—go start packing.”

  Riley hugged them both, then April went upstairs and Gabriela went downstairs to get started packing. Riley picked up the phone and dialed Meredith’s office. The team chief immediately answered.

  “Agent Paige! I was going to call you. Agents Jeffreys and Vargas just got here and told me all that had happened. My God! Is April OK?”

  “She will be,” Riley said, hoping she was telling the truth. “That’s what I need to talk to you about. Agent Meredith, I need—”

  But Meredith interrupted.

  “Agent Paige, I know what you need. We don’t want to have this conversation on the phone. I’ll send an agent right over to get things underway. For the time being, I think we’d better end this conversation.”

  “I understand,” Riley said.

  They ended the call. Riley realized that Meredith wasn’t being curt. He knew that Riley wanted to put April in some kind of a safe house. Of course it wasn’t the kind of thing they ought to talk about on t
he phone.

  It was a lot to expect from Meredith. Riley knew that he’d have to overcome objections from people higher up on the chain of command. Spending funds and tying up agents to keep Riley’s daughter safe was likely to provoke disapproval. By his very abruptness, Meredith was promising to get it done anyway. She felt a surge of gratitude toward her gruff but fair boss.

  Now there was nothing for Riley to do but wait for Gabriela and April to finish packing, and for an agent to come with an address for the safe house. Riley sat down on her couch and looked around. It was heartbreaking to see her house in such a shambles.

  Riley had been assaulted and attacked in countless ways over the years. But there was always something uniquely unpleasant about having her home invaded. She’d been through it before and knew that she’d never get used to it.

  She remembered how happy she, April, and Gabriela had been to find this place and call it home. They had moved in just about six months ago. Was their dream of a safe and happy home now a thing of the past?

  No, Riley thought with determination. I’m not going to let that happen.

  *

  For the second time, Riley turned her car around and backtracked along the highway. She’d been watching the traffic carefully and had taken several detours.

  “Where are we going, Mom?” April asked.

  Riley understood her daughter’s confusion. They were taking a bizarre route that seemed to be leading them nowhere.

  “Someplace where you’ll be safe,” Riley said.

  She didn’t want to explain to April that she was doing her best to make sure they weren’t being followed. She preferred that April didn’t have one more thing to worry about. Anyway, Riley now felt sure that nobody was on her trail. She drove directly toward the address she’d been given.

  She pulled into the parking lot of a little motel. It looked like most of the other motels in that slightly disagreeable area outside of town—rather old and a little too cute in design. She drove around to the back of the building and found the right room number. She parked the car, and she and April got out and walked toward the room.

  A female agent was standing outside the door waiting for them. Riley could see her radioing Quantico with the news that she and April had arrived.

  “I’m Agent Tara Bricker,” she said. “Come on inside.”

  When they entered the room, Riley saw why this was a suitable place. As ordinary as it looked outside, it was part of a sturdy old cinderblock building with thick walls and solid wood doors. The windows were small and high with wire glass in them. Both the outside door and the door to the inside hallway had peepholes and security cameras.

  As Riley looked the place over, Agent Bricker said, “Special Agent in Charge Meredith wants me to tell you that this place is truly safe. The Bureau has used it before, and it’s owned by someone we trust. It’s also got an excellent security system.”

  Riley saw that April was looking around with dismay at the rather shabby furnishings.

  Pointing to the door connecting to the next room, Agent Bricker said, “Either I or another female agent will always be right through that door. We’ll bring you food whenever you want it. I understand that you already know Agent Lucy Vargas. She’s offered to spend some time here.”

  April’s eyes were wide and her mouth hung open. She seemed to be struggling to grasp her situation.

  “Can’t I even go outside?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry, but no,” Agent Bricker said.

  April sat down on the edge of the bed, looking very unhappy. Agent Bricker seemed to detect her mood.

  “I’ll leave the two of you to get settled in,” she told April and Riley.

  Then she left through the door leading into the next room. Riley sat down beside April.

  “Mom, this is going to be like being in jail,” April said.

  Riley wished she could tell her otherwise. After all that April had just survived, it seemed horribly unfair to put her through this. She put her arm around her.

  “I’m going to fix this soon,” she said.

  “Can you come around and visit me?”

  “I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. Sooner or later I might get followed.”

  Riley realized it was best not to drag things out. She kissed April on the cheek and got up to leave.

  “Mom, don’t go,” April said.

  “I’ve got to, honey.”

  “But why? There are lots of other agents. Why can’t you just stay here with me? Let somebody else catch this guy.”

  Riley felt a pang of despair. She more than half wished she could do just what her daughter asked.

  “April, it’s my job. I’ve got to go.”

  April got up from the bed and wrapped her arms tightly around Riley.

  “I’m scared,” April said.

  “You’ll be safe here,” Riley said.

  “I’m not scared about me. I’m scared about you. I’m afraid you’ll—”

  April paused for a moment, choking on a sob.

  Riley returned April’s embrace.

  “I’m going to be all right,” she said. “I promise. Just you wait and see.”

  Struggling against her own tears, Riley disentangled herself from the embrace and left the room. As she got into her car, she thought about the promise she’d just made. She hoped she could keep it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Riley knew that things were about to get really ugly. She and Bill were in the conference room reporting to Brent Meredith about their activities in Syracuse. She wished Special Agent in Charge Carl Walder hadn’t joined the meeting.

  Walder was Meredith’s boss—a babyish, freckle-faced man with curly, copper-colored hair. He had risen up in the FBI food chain through deals, connections, and politics. Riley had no respect for him—nor did he have any respect for her.

  Their history hadn’t been pretty. Walder had fired her twice, taking away her gun and badge. As he sat across the table glaring at her, Riley knew perfectly well that he was itching for a chance to do it again—this time for good.

  I might be giving him that chance any minute now, she thought.

  So far, she and Bill had told Meredith and Walder about their meeting with retired Agent Kelsey Sprigge and about the body they’d found in the rundown warehouse. The two chiefs already knew about the events in Syracuse, but Riley and Bill had plenty of details to fill in.

  After they’d finished describing Smokey Moran’s murder, a silence fell over the room.

  “Is that everything?” Walder asked.

  Riley wished it was everything. They’d gotten to the part of the story she wished she could talk about without Walder there. Meredith might understand. Walder certainly wouldn’t.

  “As you know,” Riley said cautiously, “I was warned that Orin Rhodes had been released and wanted revenge against me. I realized that April was in danger.”

  After a pause, she added, “I acted accordingly. I called for help and came back from Syracuse as fast as I could.”

  Walder leaned across the table toward Riley.

  “You were warned?” he asked. “By whom?”

  Riley gulped. She exchanged uneasy glances with Bill. So far, he was the only person she’d told the next part of her story.

  “I was warned by Shane Hatcher,” she said.

  Bill drummed his fingers nervously on the table, anticipating trouble. Walder and Meredith looked surprised.

  “Shane Hatcher,” Walder said in a grim, tight voice. “The man you were sent to Syracuse to hunt and capture.”

  Riley nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “He warned you.”

  Riley repeated, “Yes, sir.”

  “And how exactly did that happen?” Walder asked.

  Riley took a long, slow breath. She hoped she could keep this part of her account as short and simple as possible.

  “He took me by surprise in our hotel garage. He got me in a headlock that I couldn’t get out of. When he released me, I coul
dn’t get my gun. So I listened to what he had to say. He knows Orin Rhodes from Sing Sing. Rhodes told him that he was going to get even with me for putting him away.”

  Riley stopped short. Should she tell them the rest? That Hatcher had told her he’d escaped solely to help her and work with her, and that he was only tying up a loose end by killing Moran?

  She remembered Hatcher’s words.

  “We’re joined at the brain, Riley Paige.”

  She hadn’t even told Bill about all of that. If she brought it up now, it would only make more trouble. And she was in plenty of trouble already.

  Walder was looking at her with great suspicion.

  “So you met Hatcher in a garage …” he began.

  “It wasn’t my idea.”

  “You met Hatcher in a garage,” Walder repeated firmly, “and you didn’t apprehend him.”

  “Sir, he’s fast, strong, and smart. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever been up against anyone like him before.”

  Walder leaned back in his chair.

  “You said you couldn’t get your gun,” he said. “Explain that to me.”

  Riley winced at the memory.

  “It flew out of my hand when he grabbed me,” she said. “I couldn’t get it back until he was gone.”

  “So you let him go,” Walder said.

  “Not deliberately.”

  “Really?”

  Walder was staring her straight in the eyes. Riley hoped he couldn’t see a spasm of self-doubt there. Could she have gotten the gun back?

  She remembered the moment vividly. She’d been standing in the garage entrance, midway between Hatcher and the gun. She’d thought about making the twenty-foot sprint to get the weapon back. But then Hatcher had said:

  “You don’t want to do that.”

  And she’d stopped short. It probably wouldn’t have mattered otherwise. Surely if she’d made a lunge for the gun, Hatcher would have been gone before she could use it. Even so, she hadn’t even tried. She’d stood spellbound listening to what he had to tell her.

  Was it true? Had she not caught him because she didn’t want to catch him? Was her bond with him so powerful that she subconsciously wanted him to be free?