She grabbed her bag, closed her eyes, and then swung it across her body with all her might.
“Whaaaa.” Dean’s head flew back and hit the side of the truck with a sick thud as the backpack fell into his lap. She took their bound hands and laid them against the side of the truck to help her stand, and then she kicked him. He fell to his side, so she kicked him again.
When he lay still, his eyes closed, she quickly dug into her backpack for her gun and then the clippers. She was saving his damn life, too. She needed to remember that.
Jake said, “Good job. Roll him on his back and open up his jacket so we can see the bomb.”
Gabby blinked away her tears, but like a robot she did as Jake said. She moved her glasses closer so they could see the wires and what looked like batteries tucked into the little pockets.
The van rounded a corner fast, throwing them both against the side of the truck. After the vehicle had straightened again, she straddled Dean’s legs for stability and searched for the damn clippers in her backpack. Jake was right. She did have too much crap in there.
Another cop’s voice filled her ear. “Okay, Gabby. Listen and please do exactly as I say.” Had to be a bomb expert.
She blinked away her tears and tried to concentrate on the voice in her ear, moving wires gently with her fingers for him to see through her glasses. God, what if she tugged the wrong one? They’d all be blown to bits.
She had to stop thinking about that and concentrate on the words in her ear. After moving her head slowly so the camera got a view of the entire bomb, the voice asked her to move a red wire gently aside so he could see underneath. It revealed a rat’s nest of different colored wires below that. How would anyone know which one to cut?
“Okay, Gabby, could you move to the one on top of the battery on the right? The blue one, please? Just give it a little nudge aside.”
With shaking hands, she slowly hooked her index finger around the blue wire and moved it to the left. As she did that, it sprang loose, exposing a bare copper end. “Oh crap!” She closed her eyes and waited for the explosion to hit, as thoughts slammed through her brain about how she wished she’d been nicer to her father the last time they’d talked and how much she’d miss Jake.
The voice said, “Gabby, relax. The bomb’s a fake.”
She blinked her eyes open and sagged against the side of the truck in relief. “Thank God.” She moved off Dean and sat with her back against the side, trying desperately to catch her breath. Then she glanced at Dean, who’d begun stirring, hating the swollen nose and bruises she’d put on his face, even though he was an ass. He deserved it, but she just wasn’t cut out for violence. Justified or not.
He slowly sat up. “What the hell has gotten into you, Gabby? I told them you’d come along peacefully. Where’s the sweet girl who kept her head down and got her job done every day?” His expression held a level of rage she’d never seen from him. “You’re ruining all of my perfect plans! We were supposed to find the statue, hand them both over, and then you and I were going to leave forever!”
When he made a move toward her, with hands cupped as if to choke her, the fury in his gaze showed he’d have no problem snapping her neck.
She pulled the gun from her waistband and pointed it at him. “Back off.” Her hands shook with adrenaline, but somehow she managed to point the barrel at him.
Dean’s eyes widened, but he let his hands drop. “You’d never shoot me.”
“Don’t push me.” After he had leaned back against the side again, she said, “What do we do now, Detective?”
Dean closed his eyes. “Perfect. You’re wired. All you had to do was go along with my plan . . .”
The detective said, “Keep a close eye on him. When they let you out, cooperate. Our shooters will be in place soon, but stall for time if you have the chance.”
So the police were going to take Pablo and his helper out. Made sense, since they’d kidnapped them. Maybe her father wouldn’t have to kill Pablo after all, and her dad could stay out of jail.
That was a small relief at least. Hopefully, she and Dean would survive long enough for the cops to free them.
Chapter Sixteen
Jake stared out the window from the back seat of the police car as it sped through the rain toward Paddington Cemetery. That was all they needed. Rain to complicate things even more. Make a clean shot from a distance slightly harder, but not impossible.
He leaned over DI Edwards’s shoulder in the front seat. She quietly commanded the placement of her sharpshooters for when they arrived based on an Internet map of the cemetery. Their driver, Steven, expertly weaved in and out of traffic as she worked beside him. She slowly turned her head and met Jake’s gaze. A silent “back off” gleamed in her eyes. She was like a kindly mother, and he’d had his doubts about her at first, but she’d handled the situation well so far.
She’d been smart to have him calm Gabby when she’d needed it most, and then to prod her to hit Dean. The detective read people well. She’d sensed Gabby would have a hard time hitting Dean. Even after what he’d done to her. Gabby most likely took after her mother, not her ruthless father, whose men had been nearby all day.
He lifted his hands for peace and leaned back. “ETA?”
Steven said, “Under a minute.”
The guy was a constable and didn’t carry a gun. Only the special squads did in England. Jake was missing his backup piece but was grateful Gabby had Will’s gun. “Everyone in place yet?”
Steven slid his eyes to the rearview mirror. “Let her do her job, mate.”
“Yep.” Jake huffed out a breath and glanced out the window again. As the cemetery came into sight, so did a black SUV beside them. One he’d seen at the park earlier.
As they passed the SUV, Jake craned his neck. Moretti had made an appearance after all. He sat in the back, dressed in a dark wool coat, while Sal drove.
A part of him wanted to tear his eyes away and ignore Gabby’s father’s presence, while his other half wanted to alert Detective Edwards and have someone grab him. But keeping Gabby safe was more important at the moment. He’d deal with Moretti later, when they got home.
He finally understood a little better how Gabby could love her father. He’d followed her across an ocean to keep her safe and out of jail while risking his freedom. But how much of Moretti’s efforts were to take revenge on Garza?
When their car parked a few blocks away from the cemetery, he called out, “We need people closer. What if Garza spots a shooter? He’ll bolt. Or, worse, kill a hostage.”
Steven shook his head ever so slightly. “Too dangerous. The shooters aren’t in place yet. Better this way for all.”
Not for Gabby. Pablo Garza was a seasoned criminal. He’d be ready for an ambush.
One of the sharpshooters in the car behind them got out to move into position, so Jake hopped out of the car and fell in step.
When DI Edwards’s voice in his earpiece ordered him back into the vehicle, Jake replied, “Negative. I’ll take responsibility for my own safety.”
The armed policeman stopped, waiting for her order. Edwards’s irritated voice said, “Detective Morris can accompany you, Sergeant.”
The man nodded once and started for the cemetery again.
They found a secure spot and hid just inside the gates. When the truck Gabby was in entered a few moments later, he wanted to run, open the back of the truck, and grab Gabby before Garza could get out. Instead, he forced himself to hunker down in the rain and cold and wait for the right moment. The truck pulled into a space near a building and stopped, as if it had business being there. Jake released his knife and held it at the ready. He’d taken out enemy soldiers with only a knife while in the military, and he’d do it again in a heartbeat.
The familiar jolt of adrenaline ran up his spine, just as it always did when he was about to engage a dangerous situation. It was his reminder to stay alert, be ready to react, and stay focused on the objective.
To save G
abby.
When the truck stopped, Gabby glanced at Dean, who was holding his face in his hands and moaning about how she was ruining everything by bringing the police.
How had he ever thought his ridiculous plan would work? Fake passports, money—wait.
A fake passport might come in handy later. For the new life she wanted.
She poked Dean in the arm with her gun to gain his attention. “Don’t say a word about the gun, understand?” She dug her passport out of the jacket pocket he’d slipped it into at the park. “Or I’ll shoot you myself.” She tucked the passport away in her jacket pocket and then the gun in her waistband at her lower back. Best to have the element of surprise once they saw Dean’s beaten face.
Dean shook his head. “You’re not the girl I thought you were at all, Gabby.”
“Yeah, well. That girl grew up the day you dragged me into this mess, Dean.”
A door swung open, and the man with the fake detonator waggled his curled fingers in a silent “come out” gesture as he glanced behind them. Pablo had his back to them, scanning the area. What if he saw the sharpshooters? What would he do to her and Dean?
Blood pounded in her ears as she and Dean slowly stood and walked across the rough wooden floor toward the open door. What was taking the shooters so long? Why hadn’t they taken them out yet?
In her ear, the detective said, “Stay as far away from Garza and his man as you can manage. The shooters are almost in place.”
God, it was hard to take a deep breath. She forced her mind to scan the area outside the truck for somewhere to take cover. How would she do that attached to Dean?
They both sat at the back of the truck, feet dangling, ready to hop down together, when Dean suddenly jumped out of the truck, pulling her along with him. They landed in a tangled heap on the gravel. As they both struggled into sitting positions, Dean called out, “She’s got a gun!”
Dammit! The fool was going to get them killed.
Both Garza and the other man grabbed for their guns inside their coats.
This is it. I’m going to die.
Garza took aim at her chest. “Hands up. Where I can see them.”
All the air rushed from her lungs, making it impossible to take a deep breath as she slowly lifted her and Dean’s hands. Garza switched his aim, pointing his gun at Dean. “I’m done playing games with you.”
A muffled shot rang out, and a burst of blood sprayed from Dean’s chest. He moaned as his whole body slumped to the ground beside her. Then he closed his eyes and went limp.
Garza said, “You’re next, Gabby, if you don’t do exactly as I say.”
Oh God. She’d never seen anyone shot before. Blood poured steadily from Dean’s chest, steaming as it hit the cold air.
She panted for breath as she stared in fear and disbelief at Dean lying motionless beside her. Her whole body violently shook as she opened her mouth to tell Garza she’d do as he said.
A male voice called out, “Police. Drop your weapons!”
A glimmer of hope released the bands tightening around her chest. Would she be saved from a death like Dean’s after all?
Please just get me out alive.
Garza and the man closest to her turned their guns toward the policeman. A shot sounded, and the detonator man fell in a heap at her feet. His vacant eyes stared lifelessly into hers. He was dead. She should have been relieved, but instead, she struggled against the overwhelming need to pass out.
Garza suddenly made a choking noise, dropped his gun, and then grabbed at his neck where a knife handle stuck out. Jake’s knife.
Thank God Jake was there. He would save her.
Then another shot rang out. Blood spurted from Garza’s forehead, and he fell flat on his face beside her. She glanced up in time to see the back of her father’s head as he hurried across the other side of the cemetery. Her father had shot Pablo. Whether to save her or out of revenge didn’t matter. Garza and the other guy couldn’t hurt her anymore.
She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see that she sat in the middle of three prone bodies. With blood everywhere. With every breath she took, the metallic tang of blood settled at the back of her throat, making her sick to her stomach.
But then footsteps and a familiar voice gave her the strength to open her eyes again.
“Are you all right, Gabby?” Jake knelt at her side.
“Yeah. I think so.” A warm wave of relief filled her. It was so good to see him.
His gaze quickly scanned her from head to toe. “Are you sure?”
She lifted her shaking hands and examined the blood. It wasn’t hers. “No. I mean yes. I’m okay.”
“Good. Stay here. Be right back.” Jake kissed her forehead and then took off at a full run, yelling something about holding fire. In the blink of an eye, people she didn’t recognize surrounded her. Someone removed her handcuffs, and another cop helped her stand and took the gun from her back. “Let’s get you out of here, shall we, Gabby?”
“Yes. Please.”
The cop wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “You were very brave, Gabby. Very brave.”
She didn’t feel brave. She felt like her brain was floating somewhere outside her body. Her thoughts wouldn’t line up. And her arms and legs shook violently.
Where was Jake? She needed to find Jake. Why suddenly wouldn’t the words she was thinking come out of her mouth?
Then her knees buckled. Another police officer grabbed her other arm, and they rushed her toward the gates of the cemetery. Sirens sounded from everywhere, making it even harder to think. She needed Jake. Where was he?
The cops slowly lowered her, so she sat on the curb as people ran around and shouted out orders. Someone called for medical help inside the cemetery.
Weren’t the men dead? It was all happening too fast.
A blanket appeared around her shoulders. Then a paramedic sat beside her and placed an oxygen mask over her face. “Deep breaths, Gabby. All’s fine now. You’ve had a bit of a shock, is all.”
A bit of a shock? That was the understatement of the year. But the oxygen was making her brain work again, so she sucked in as much as she could. If only she could stop shaking.
Detective Edwards appeared and sat beside her on the wet curb. “Well done, Gabby.”
She pulled the mask away. “Is Jake okay? He ran off. I couldn’t find him.”
The detective patted Gabby’s leg. “He’s fine. And Dean’s been shot, but alive, so hopefully you’ll see justice done there.”
Thank God Jake is okay.
Finally, she could take a deep breath.
DI Edwards asked, “Are you up to coming to the station now? We need to wrap everything up.”
The sooner she and Jake could go home, the better. “Yes. Just a little more air, please.”
“Take your time. You might be interested to know that Jake didn’t only save you. He helped us catch the man who killed Pablo Garza.”
Gabby’s stomach clenched. “Jake’s knife killed Pablo Garza, right? Because Jake was saving me.”
The detective nodded. “Yes, but the gunshot came from someone else. Seems he was interested in those statues, too. Dean opened a can of stink bigger than any of us knew. Jake spotted a known criminal, called Moretti, so we could make the arrest.”
Her father had been arrested? Is that what Jake ran off to do? To make sure her father went to jail? The steel bands around her chest came back. But this time they squeezed so hard she saw black dots before her eyes. Her father couldn’t go to jail for saving her. He’d done the right thing.
But why had Jake betrayed her? They had a deal. He’d promised her he wouldn’t let the police know her father was there.
She’d trusted Jake. More than she’d trusted her father, who was only trying to protect her.
Her hand flew to her chest to rub the stabbing pain Jake had caused. Her father could spend the rest of his life in jail. She’d only felt a similar pain once in her life. When she’d lost her mother a
nd brother. The people she’d loved. Had she lost her father now, too?
Because of her trust in Jake, her father might have lost his freedom. What had she done?
“Gabby, maybe you should have a rest before you go to the station, huh?” She looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. Sal stood before her, anger clenching his jaw, his big hand held out to help her. To take her away. Away from the cops who’d arrested her father and away from England. A chance to disappear. Back to her old life. As a prisoner in her home. The life she’d been dreaming of escaping. But without Jake, what did it matter anymore?
The only thing she knew was that she didn’t want Gabby Knight to be a fugitive on top of being a prisoner. That’s what she’d be if she let Sal and Louie take her away. Never to be seen again. As was always the plan if the law ever started snooping too deeply into her background. She didn’t even care anymore. She was tired of hiding who she really was.
So, she’d risk it. For the sake of returning the statues to their rightful owners, and to see Dean put behind bars forever for what he’d done. If she couldn’t have Jake, then maybe she’d have some of the justice he cared about so much more than he did her.
She slowly shook her head and forced a smile. “I need to go to the station first. Clear things up before we leave. Wait for me there?”
Sal’s eyes narrowed, as if he didn’t trust she wouldn’t give him the slip again, but he nodded and took a step back. “I’ll follow you. Be waiting out front.”
Detective Edwards’s brow furrowed as she studied Sal, so Gabby said, “Sal works for me back home. He came as quickly as he could to help when I called yesterday.”
The detective didn’t seem all the way convinced, so Gabby turned to the paramedic. “Am I good to go?”
He nodded, unwrapped the blood pressure cuff she hadn’t even realized had been on her arm, and helped her stand. “You seem recovered. But take it easy for the rest of the day, yeah?”
“Okay.” She turned to the detective. “Let’s get this over with, please.” She didn’t know how much longer she could hold it together before she broke down into a useless puddle of tears. She’d do her best to stay composed until she got on her father’s plane. Then she’d lock herself in the bedroom and cry for the eight solid hours it’d take to fly home. But after that, no more tears. Ever.
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