“That’s interesting. How far along are the plans?”
“We’re still working on the barrel material. We’ve made a plastic out of corn resin and rubber then lined it with a ceramic liner. It works for a few shots, and then the rifling disintegrates. It’s close, but not quite there.”
“Didn’t I see on the news someone made a gun out of plastic with a 3D printer?”
“Yes, I saw that too, but to work in Shadow we would need a plastic made of all natural materials.”
“If someone wanted a gun to go through a metal detector then any plastic would work. A gun that was undetectable would be worth a lot on the black market.”
“You think they wanted her plans to make their own version of the gun?”
“I know Zenith is vicious, but someone went to a lot of trouble to torture that woman.”
“I’ll inform Raven immediately. I don’t see any evidence of our firewall being breached. I wonder if Tessa stored information on her home computer. I’ll have Joe check her apartment. Give me a few minutes to make a couple of calls, then if you like we can go down to the clinic and see Cassidy.”
“Cassidy doesn’t know me. It won’t help her either way if she sees me.”
“I thought it might help you. We could look in on her to make sure she’s going to be okay.” He picked up the phone and made his calls.
The picture of Tessa sitting in the chair, her blood all over the room filled Stacey’s mind. Her stomach lurched.
Hugh hung up the phone. “Ready?”
“Okay, only a quick peek.” Seeing the child would make Stacey feel better. Her heart hurt just thinking of what the little girl must have experienced.
Hugh smiled and put his arm around her. “Let’s go then.”
A quick trip in the elevator and they were walking into the clinic. The smell of antiseptic filled the air. Dr. Rick rushed out of one of the exam rooms muttering.
“Dr. Rick. How is Cassidy?”
“She’ll recover physically fairly quickly. It’s mentally I’m worried about. She won’t speak. Hasn’t said a thing. I think Joe should check her telepathically and maybe he can distance her from the trauma. Excuse me, I need to get the poor child some food.”
Hugh nodded and the doctor hurried off.
“Joe can do that? Mess with her memories?” Stacey asked.
“He could take the memories completely, but Joe won’t do that unless he has to. What he’ll do is take some of the fear and pain of the memories away so the child can process them without freezing up.”
“I’m not sure that’s right.” Stacey frowned.
“Joe is very conscientious about using his ability. We only want to help the child.” Hugh brushed a hair back from Stacey’s face. “Do you want to see her?”
“Just through the window on the door. Okay?” She didn’t want Cassidy to be overwhelmed by strangers.
A sudden memory of being pulled out of her mother’s car surfaced and a shudder ripped through her. Passed from one police officer to another, Stacey didn’t know who to trust or who to turn to. Then the agents arrived who would end up being her foster parents. Her father never came to get her.
She didn’t see him until a week after her mother’s death, when he arrived with clothes and a few personal belongings. He stayed long enough to explain that she wouldn’t be coming home. It wasn’t safe. After that she saw him sporadically or spoke to him on the phone.
Hugh frowned. They walked down the hall to the examination room the doctor exited. Stacey peered into the room through the small square window. A nurse sat next to the little girl and spoke softly to her. Charlie stood by the window looking concerned. The child was hooked up to intravenous fluids, her arm strapped down. They removed her clothes and she was covered with a sheet. The child glanced at the door and Stacey felt a punch in her gut at the pain in the child’s gaze. She wrapped her arms around her middle and blinked back tears. Hugh put his hand on her shoulder. A reminder she wasn’t alone.
“Do it. Have Joe lessen her pain.”
Hugh nodded. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat. It’s late for lunch, but we can have a snack before dinner.”
Stacey nodded. She didn’t think she could eat a bite, but there was no reason to stay here in the clinic. She let Hugh lead her to the elevators.
“Charlie said Tessa liked Dr. Rick. I take it she wasn’t his mate.”
“No, she wasn’t, but they were friends. Rick is going to miss her.”
“What do you think really happened? Do you think she stole your designs?”
“We may never know. If she did, I don’t think she did it willingly.”
Stacey nodded. The elevator door opened onto the fourth floor apartments. “Wait, I thought we were getting something to eat.”
“I thought we’d order in, if that’s okay? While we’re waiting, I can nibble on you.”
A rush of excitement swept through Stacey. She liked it when Hugh nibbled on her.
“Maybe I’ll nibble on you instead.” She winked at him.
He probably thought he could take her mind off what happened today with a little lovemaking. Hugh was right, she needed the distraction.
They got to the door and Hugh swiped his key card. “Anything you want, baby. I’m all yours.”
Chapter Eight
Hugh pressed Stacey against the wall, his kisses driving her wild, his leg wedged between her thighs. The way it was going, they wouldn’t make it to the bed. The phone rang. Stacey pulled back. Hugh leaned his head against hers, his hands squeezing her waist.
“This isn’t over. We’re going to finish this,” Hugh rasped.
“I’m not the one whose phone is ringing. Don’t blame me.” Stacey teased him. His frustration at being interrupted was plain to see.
Hugh sighed and stepped back, reaching for his phone. His gaze heated, stared at her and dared her to move. She smiled slow and seductively. She wasn’t finished with him yet, either.
“This is Hugh. Yes, sir. We’ll be right up.” Hugh kissed her on the forehead. “Raven is calling us for a mission brief. I guess we’ll have to finish this later.”
Stacey nodded. This was the story of her life, so why did her stomach boil and her hands clench. She wanted to yell and hit something, hard. Hugh noticed the change and stroked a finger over her cheek.
“It won’t always be like this. Before finding your aliases, my life bored me. I hardly ever stepped out of my office. When this is over, we’ll go somewhere no one can find us. I’ll take you to bed and keep you there for at least a week, maybe two.”
Stacey leaned into his warmth and strength. Hugh was on her side. “Do you promise?”
“Well, I might make you marry me first, but yes, I promise.”
“Okay, I can live with that. I guess we better go.”
“Yeah. Stacey…Raven wouldn’t ask us to go on a mission if he didn’t think it was important.”
“I know, but you’re supposed to be retired, and for now, I’m supposed to be dead. I kind of hoped we’d have some time together.”
“We will, baby. You can count on it. Come on, it’s not a good idea to keep the chief waiting.”
Hugh took her hand and led her from the apartment. A quick trip in the elevator and they were soon walking into the conference room. Raven stood at the head of the table and waved them to the chairs. Robert Grey Wolf walked in behind them followed by Dasan Fighting Eagle, both joined them at the table.
“This news is going to be upsetting,” Raven began. “So I’ll just come out and say it. Nadezhda Konstantinov was taken prisoner, along with two of her team members in Montreal. She followed a lead she must have gotten in Brazil to stop the transfer of fifteen children headed to China and the sex trade. The children are safe, but the mission went wrong. Our intelligence says they’re being held in this building on the outskirts of Montreal. I’m sending you four in to rescue them.”
“Wait. Shouldn’t Nadezhda’s team plan a rescue?” Grey Wolf
asked.
“That’s my mate!” Dasan said angrily.
“And my sister,” Stacey added quietly.
Raven nodded. “Exactly. We can’t wait to see if Star Fire mounts a rescue and we have no way to contact her team. We know where they are and I want you to go in. Dasan, try not to lose her this time.” Dasan nodded. “You leave immediately, take plenty of weapons, and shoot to kill. We’re not playing nice this time. Grey Wolf will lead you in Shadow to Montreal. Keep me in the loop with what’s going on.” Everyone stood.
“We’ll meet back here in fifteen,” Grey Wolf said. “You heard what the chief said, bring plenty of poisoned darts.” He headed for the door.
Hugh took Stacey’s hand. “Let me find a shadow. It’ll be quicker.” She nodded, her heart racing. Nadezhda was in trouble. Flashes of what Zenith did to Tessa filled her mind. She shivered as Hugh pulled her into the darkness. It was only seconds and he pulled Stacey back into the light.
“Hey, you okay?” Hugh asked, his hands running down her arms.
Stacey took a deep breath. “I’m fine. We’re going to get my sister back. If they’ve hurt her, I’ll hunt them down, one by one, and destroy them.”
Hugh nodded. “Let’s get moving.” He opened the closet and grabbed the silk and leather garments that made up a Shadow Walker’s uniform before tossing them to Stacey. “Here. Get dressed.”
§
In moments they were both dressed and Hugh unlocked his weapons cabinet. He handed Stacey a mini-crossbow and five cases of six darts each. She slipped the items into the pockets of her leather pants and jacket while he did the same.
“Instead of a gun for Shadow, someone needs to come up with a design for a crossbow that can take clips like a gun, so you have multiple shots available without needing to reload.”
“Good idea. I’ll get the team working on that when we get back.” Hugh slipped an obsidian bladed knife into a sheath in his boot. “Don’t forget that the tips of the darts are poisoned. Hold them by the body when you load.”
“I won’t forget. I’ve worked with poisoned weapons before.”
Hugh nodded. For a moment, he’d forgotten that his mate was a trained assassin. He watched her slip a knife into her boot and one in a sheath at her neck. Her ease of movement showed her expertise. Once a spy, always a spy, or was she? Her reaction to being called for another mission proved she was tired of this way of life. Stacey was ready to settle down and he was the man to get her to do so.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I could sure use a burger about now.”
Hugh tossed her a protein bar. “It’s not much, but it’ll hold you over ‘til we get back.”
She opened the package and took a bite. “Not bad.”
“It’s a Shadow Walker recipe.” Hugh opened a door into Shadow and held out his hand.
Stacey took the last bite and tossed the wrapper into the trash before stepping forward to grasp his fingers. “Let’s do this.”
§
The four agents, waiting until the street was clear, came out of Shadow in front of an old run down motel. A red neon light blinked Vacancy, welcoming the public to enter. Hugh didn’t remember Montreal being this grungy or worn down.
“Stay here much?” Hugh asked Grey Wolf. In order to bring them to this spot, he must have been here before.
“Yeah. It’s run down, but the sheets are clean. We’re about four blocks from the building we’re looking for. Here are the communication devices. Everyone stay close, the range is only fifty feet.”
Stacey put her com link in her ear and Hugh reached for her. He needed her close. She smiled and squeezed his hand.
“Let’s go,” Dasan said, striding down the block. He must be worried about his mate even if she did skip out on them in Brazil. Hugh shook his head. The Great Spirit enjoyed a wicked sense of humor. If Dasan did claim Nadezhda as his mate, they would be brothers-in-law.
Grey Wolf fell in beside Dasan while Hugh and Stacey brought up the rear. The traffic on the streets was minimal. More than one building was boarded up. Hugh led Stacey around a pile of trash that reeked of human waste. No one spoke. Hugh took shallow breaths to protect him from the smell.
Dasan pointed to a building on the corner. Old brick, the building had seen better days. The door and windows on the ground floor were boarded up, but the upper floors were open. No light came from within.
“How do you want to go in? I could climb the side of the building and go in the second floor window,” Stacey offered.
“No need. Shadow Walkers, remember? We stay together,” Grey Wolf said.
Stacey shrugged. “You’re in charge.”
“Down here,” Dasan said, pointing to a small break between the two buildings. It was just wide enough for Dasan to fit sideways. The darkness was thicker inside the space and Dasan opened a door into Shadow.
Grey Wolf followed Dasan. Hugh squeezed Stacey’s hand and pulled her into the darkness. The punch of adrenaline that always came at the beginning of an operation washed over Hugh. Once in Shadow they had more room to breathe, though the cold made his breath form little puffs of white mist against the darkened landscape of this dimension.
“Stinger, Thunder, take the second floor. I’ll cover the main. Eagle, take the basement. Stay in Shadow. We don’t know how many bogies we have in the building,” Grey Wolf said.
“Roger that, Lobo,” Stacey answered.
They walked through the outer wall onto the main floor of the building while inside Shadow, seeing everything while black mist swirled through the air. The interior of the building seemed to be as run down as the outside. Wallpaper peeled off the walls and trash littered the wooden floor. Stacey hurried to a staircase, Hugh on her heels. As they went up, Dasan headed down. Grey Wolf moved into another room.
After Stacey reached the top of the stairs, they checked each room, finding them empty.
“I don’t like this,” Stacey said. “Something is wrong.”
Hugh nodded. “What do you feel?”
“Danger. This is a trap.”
“I agree. Lobo, Eagle, are you following this? Did you find anything?”
“Come down to the basement,” Dasan said. “I’ve found something. Don’t come out of Shadow. This whole place is set to blow.”
Hugh and Stacey hurried down the stairs to the bottom level. Passing through walls and doors alike. They found Dasan in a room filled with computer monitors all showing places in the building. Unlike the rooms upstairs this room was clean of debris and dust. The steel table holding the monitors looked new. A wall of photos behind the table drew Hugh’s attention. He’d know that face anywhere.
“Hey, that’s me when my mom died,” Stacey said, pointing to one of a little girl with blond ringlets.
“You were adorable.” Hugh winked.
“This is my mom and look, this is Nadezhda.” Stacey frowned. “What does this mean?”
Hugh studied the photos. One photo showed Stacey’s mother on her wedding day, her white dress covered in lace, a young girl handing her a bouquet of flowers. Something about the picture drew him, but he couldn’t figure out what. He’d seen Akilina Holland’s portrait in several of the news bulletins reporting her death. The pictures of Stacey and Nadezhda started at an early age and continued to modern day, the last picture showing Stacey talking to a couple while holding a young girl in her arms.
“Who’s this?” Hugh asked.
“My neighbors, ex-neighbors now that my house was blown up. They knew me as Ana Powers. That was taken the night before I left for the mountain cabin.”
“From the look of this wall, someone has been keeping you and Nadezhda under surveillance since you were kids. I don’t see any pictures of your dad or brother, David,” Hugh said.
“So whoever is watching is only interested in the daughters of Akilina Holland. Any idea why?” Grey Wolf asked.
“None,” Stacey answered. “But it gives me the creeps.” She shivered. “Dasan, you said
this building is set to blow?”
“Yes. There are cameras and I would assume motion detectors on all floors. If we come out of Shadow the bombs will activate. I don’t know if there is a countdown or not.”
“So this whole thing was a set up? For what purpose?” Hugh asked.
“I would assume to kill Stacey. Why else would we get intelligence that her sister was in trouble and needed rescuing,” Grey Wolf said. “Can you deactivate the bombs, Dasan?”
“It would take a while and I could still set them off. I don’t know how many fail safes or triggers might be involved.”
“I thought you were good with bombs,” Grey Wolf said.
“I am, but the real expert is Charlie.” Dasan shrugged.
“I don’t see any evidence of Nadezhda ever being here. I guess this mission is a bust,” Stacey said.
“Not entirely.” Grey Wolf rubbed his chin. “Whoever is behind this never expected you to see those pictures. The bombs would have gone off before you got this far. Someone is after you and your sister, and has been watching you for years. Let’s get back to base. We’ll let the chief know what we’ve found.”
“I wish I could take those pictures.” Stacey sighed.
She wrung her hands and Hugh was touched at the action. Stacey longed to be part of a family. He’d give her his whole tribe, if she’d only stay with him.
“We’ll send a team in to deactivate the bombs. We can’t take a chance that some homeless person will come in and accidently set them off. I’ll tell the team to collect the pictures for you.” Hugh ran his hand down her back. She glanced back at him, her eyes watery.
“Eagle and I will wait for the team to arrive. Report to Raven what we found. We’ll follow later,” Grey Wolf said.
Hugh nodded and took Stacey’s hand. He visualized the conference room in Isanti, Inc.
As they arrived, Hugh felt his phone buzz. Seeing the area empty, he opened a portal and pulled Stacey out of Shadow and into the room. Yanking his phone from his pocket he looked down at the text message from Raven. “It’s a trap.”
Trapped In Shadow (Shadow Walker Romance Series Book 4) Page 8
