Deadly Ties

by Vicki Hinze

  “What other women?” An officer had Frank cuffed. He had a bloody lip. Juan lay spread-eagle on the shoulder of the road. A man who had to be with Mark stood over Juan, talking with him. “We’re it.” Lisa looked from Mark to the woman. “Who are you?”

  “I’m sorry.” Mark lifted a hand but hung on to Lisa. “This is Special Agent Roxy Savoy. She’s with the FBI.”

  Roxy nodded. “I didn’t mean to be rude. It’s just that we were expecting thirty women.” Her gaze swung to Amanda. “You okay?”

  “Yes ma’am.”

  Alerted by the familiarity passing in the look between them, Lisa glanced from Amanda to Mark, and certainty filled her. “Amanda, you’re an agent, and you didn’t tell us?”

  “I couldn’t tell you, Lisa.”

  “You let me risk getting shot to go to Jed … ” Anger burned deep, and Lisa glared at Roxy. “You were following us all along?”

  “Actually, we weren’t. We were supposed to be, but Amanda’s tracking device—”

  “The watchband broke during the abduction, and I lost it.”

  Understanding now, Lisa let Amanda brief Roxy and snuggled closer to Mark. “How’s my mother? Is she awake now?”

  He brushed her hair back from her face with a trembling hand. “No real change, but her vitals are stable. Harvey’s encouraged.”

  She gripped his side. “Get me to her, okay?”

  He nodded and dialed his phone. “Nora, tell Annie we’ve got Lisa. She’s safe.”

  Lisa smiled. She just knew that would help her mom.

  Mark’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll tell you all about it when we get home.” He paused to listen to Nora. “Yes, there was gunfire, but so far I haven’t shot anyone.” He frowned. “You might want to keep the prayer warriors engaged on that. They aren’t all in custody yet.” Another pause. “Yes, your boys are all fine. We’ll be careful. I promise.” He rolled his eyes, but appreciation spilled over into his tone. “Don’t forget to tell Annie about Lisa.” Another short pause. “Okay, but right now I have to go.” He finished the call and told Lisa, “She’s worried.”

  “Nora loves you.” The conversation between Amanda and Roxy worried Lisa. She took a moment to think it through.

  “Yeah, I guess she does.” The hint of a smile touched the corner of his mouth. “She loves you too.”

  “Um, Mark.” Roxy glanced from Lisa to him. “I’m glad these women are safe, but dropping this here creates a problem.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Roxy pulled her purse strap up on her shoulder. “According to our source, there are thirty women. We have four. If we interrupt this operation now, the others are out of luck.”

  “What are we into here?” he asked.

  “More than either of us imagined. I’ve been on this case three years. Human trafficking, criminal activity, drugs, gambling. You name it. It’s been a series of nightmares. But we finally got a break. One of the NINA operatives turned for us.”

  Mark soaked it in. “You’re telling me they targeted thirty women like Lisa?”

  “No. Only these four were specifically targeted. The rest are random abductions. We have no idea who they are or where they’re coming from or where they’re going. All we’ve got is following this truck until it stops and hoping the other women are brought to it, or they meet up. Our guy didn’t know the specifics. A decoy inserted, but before we could get her location, she was murdered.”

  Mark frowned. “How did you get the video?”

  “What video?” Lisa asked. Roxy didn’t seem surprised at Mark’s awareness of it.

  “Later.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “We didn’t get it,” Roxy said. “That same source brought it to us.”

  “Yet a female agent infiltrated.”

  “And then was moved.” Roxy nodded. “That’s all I know. Homeland Security classified the rest.” She hiked a shoulder. “You know how it is.”

  Mark sighed. “Unfortunately, I do.”

  The agent who had been speaking with Juan ran over to Roxy. They spoke briefly in private, and then she returned to Mark, looking even more stressed and defeated. “There are definitely more women. We’ve got to keep going.”

  Mark grimaced. “I know you’re not suggesting Lisa and the others continue.”

  “I’d never suggest such a thing.” Roxy shifted on the asphalt. “I can’t get civilians involved.”

  “So you’re going to substitute additional agents in their places?” Joe stepped between Selene and Gwen.

  “Unfortunately, I can’t do that either.” Roxy looked from Joe to Lisa. “These four were targeted. If they were random, we could risk substitutions. But handpicked? We can’t do it.”

  “Not just handpicked,” Selene said. “People paid to get rid of us, and we were to be sold again.” She looked at Lisa. “On both ends, people know exactly who we are.”

  Twenty-six randomly abducted women. Twenty-six. Lisa looked at Gwen and then at Selene. Both of them offered her subtle nods. “We’re sticking with it, Roxy.”

  “No.” Mark’s lids flattened to a slash. “Lisa, you can’t.”

  She was terrified of going on, but she had no choice; none of them did. “If I don’t, I’ve met my eyes in the mirror for the last time. Twenty-six women, Mark. Every one of them will suffer what I would have suffered. I can’t know that and not even try to help them. I won’t.”

  “You have no idea what you’re walking into. Trust me, Lisa. I do know, and this is not a wise move.”

  She whispered so only he could hear. “What if one of them were Jane? Would you do it then?”

  He paled. “That’s different. It isn’t her and I’m not you.”

  Lisa placed a gentle hand to his arm. “Honey, they’re all somebody’s Janes. If not us, then who does this? You can’t. Joe can’t. They expect us. We have to be in the right place at the right time.”

  Anger flashed through his eyes, then resignation, and finally acceptance. “You’re right. I know you’re right, but—”

  “You’re worried.” She cast him a loving look. “Me too.” Worry wasn’t always a nuisance. It could be a weapon that protected you. One that kept you on your toes, sharp, aware. It could save your skin. “I love you for worrying about me.”

  “I hate it when you do that.” He sighed. “For the record, I’m opposed. I understand, but I’m opposed.”

  “It’s the right thing, and you know it.”

  “I’m not asking you to do this.” Roxy met and held Lisa’s gaze. “Actually, I can’t let you do it.”

  Lisa understood that they’d be breaking all the rules. Roxy might even be putting her neck on the line for not refusing. “I appreciate your delicate position—we all do—but we’re not asking your permission.”

  “That’s right,” Selene said. “Our necks, our choice.”

  “Ditto.” Gwen checked her flashlight. “But I am scared to death, and I seriously need some new batteries.”

  “You’d be nuts if you weren’t scared out of your mind.” Roxy nodded to one of her men. “Mini-Mag batteries. Now—and tracking devices.” She turned to Mark. “Juan says they’re on a very tight schedule because of picking up Amanda in Jackson. If the truck doesn’t get moving fast, Masson will know something is wrong.”

  “That’s true,” Lisa said. “The whole process is tightly controlled. Orchestrated.”

  Roxy rubbed her neck. “He thinks the final location is in Mexico. My boss is working on an agreement with our Mexican counterparts in case he’s right.”

  “We’ve got to get moving.” Lisa stepped closer. “Mark, they didn’t fare well tracking Amanda. Don’t lose me. Joe, you help him.”

  “You got it, Lisa.” Joe’s respect for what she was doing shone in his eyes. “And don’t worry. We’ve got Annie covered. Nora and Clyde are with her, and Sam’s parked at her bedside.”

  “I sent one of the Three Gables guys over too,” Mark added.

  “Sam sent him back to watch
over Kelly—just in case. He’s got Annie covered. If Nora doesn’t give the nod, no one gets close.”

  Nora was nearly as formidable as Sam. “Thank you,” Lisa said.

  Mark wasn’t happy; his lips were flat lined. On tiptoes, Lisa pecked a kiss to them. “A long time ago, I had a friend whose dad used to say that it takes a lot of heat to temper steel. I’ve been thinking about that, and maybe it takes a lot of heat to temper people too—to make them as strong as steel.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “Maybe some of our hard things were so we could get the skills and experience and wisdom we need to survive situations like this. Otherwise, we couldn’t make it.” Lisa swiped her windswept hair back from her face, growing more certain with each word she spoke. “Maybe those tough times were blessings in disguise.”

  “How can your trials be blessings, Lisa?”

  “The same way yours have been for you.”

  Skepticism shadowed his face.

  “Every hardship gave us scars, but it made us stronger and smarter too. We can help others as a result.” Maybe even help them help themselves.

  “You could end up dead,” he whispered and led her off the shoulder into the grass. “This is NINA. Not some half-baked gang of thugs.”

  “I know.” She stroked his cheek. “Just as I know Roxy would try, but without us she’d fail. Those other women won’t be spared, Mark. Could you live with that?” Hopefully, he’d think of Jane. Lisa didn’t dare raise her name again. He’d put her in a bubble and keep her there for the duration to protect her.

  “That’s different.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it would be me, not you.”

  “That’s no difference, honey.” He was part of her, as much as she was a part of him, and they both knew it.

  “But I promised your mother I’d bring you home.”

  “I can’t back down on this, Mark. Any success or failure at it is mine.”

  “Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”

  “No.” She shrugged. “Positions reversed, you wouldn’t change your mind either.”

  He grimaced. “Then I’m going with you.”

  “But how can you help me if—?”

  “I can’t stop you, but I will not be in the wrong place at the wrong time and see another woman important to me killed. I won’t. I’m going.”

  Lisa opened her mouth.

  “Don’t bother. You’re cute, but not enough to get me to do what you want on this.” He clamped his jaw shut.

  “Okay.” She bit the edge of her lip.

  Groaning, he turned away. “Roxy, which one of them will break?” He nodded over at the units holding Frank and Juan.

  “Juan,” Roxy and Lisa said simultaneously.

  “Frank’s a Spider. Die-hard, hard-core NINA subcontractor with a long history,” Lisa said. “He’ll die first because he knows his choices are to die this way or NINA’s way, and our way takes longer. NINA isn’t merciful. But Juan’s different.”

  “She’s right,” Roxy said. “We have nothing on Juan, and he’s talking a lot already. Frank’s got a rap sheet as long as your arm.”

  “I’ll get him.” Joe turned to retrieve Juan.

  “What are you doing?” Lisa asked Mark.

  “I’m stepping in for Frank, and then we’ll proceed as planned. That work for you, Roxy?”

  “If anything happens to you women, it could cost me a lot more than my job, but, yeah.” She nodded. “We’ll work out the details on the road.”

  “Mark, could you get us some fresh air in the back?” Selene asked. “It’s stifling and the smell isn’t pleasant. We’ve been miserable.”

  Mark kicked a deep dent in the side of the truck.

  Joe tossed him a tire iron. “Save your leg, bro. Might need it.”

  Mark swung the iron once and the metal breached. Flipping the iron, he used it as a wedge and widened the hole. The whole process took seconds.

  Gwen nearly jumped out of her skin.

  Selene stretched her eyes wide. “Okay then.”

  Joe took back the tire iron. “Sorry for the delay, ladies. He’s not typically so slow.”

  “There you go.” Mark offered them a hand to get back into the truck.

  Lisa waited until last. “Mark, when I got away to call you, I think Juan watched me do it. He didn’t stop me, and he sure didn’t tell Frank what I’d done or I’d be dead. Just wanted to pass that along.”

  “I’ll tell the others.” He hugged her quickly. “Listen, don’t scare me anymore, okay? My heart can’t take it.”

  She smiled and stroked his jaw. “I’m crazy about you too.”

  When Lisa got inside, Roxy passed Mark an earpod and lip mic. “I’ll be in the back with the others. My team will question Frank at the field office. If they get anything we can use, they’ll let us know. You work on Juan. We have three unmarked cars following, watching for anyone else who might be tagging along. If you pick up on anything, let me know and I’ll relay.”

  “You handle the logistics,” Mark said. “We understand the shipment has to progress to locate the other women. But once you know where they are, these three are done. No discussion.”

  “I wasn’t going to argue the point.”

  “Good.” He shot Roxy a hard look intended to wilt her knees. “I won’t lie and say I like any of this. Lisa’s been through a lot more than you know, and the other women have had hard times too.”

  Lisa hadn’t yet told him about having been abducted the first time. Yet when he focused on her, it was almost as if he already knew. But how could he? She hadn’t known herself until recently.

  Roxy stepped back. “If it helps, I don’t like the circumstances either. I can’t guarantee anyone’s safety, but we’ll do all we can to minimize risks. Without these women, our odds of locating, much less rescuing, the other women are slim, and there’s little chance of success at shutting down the operation.”

  Lisa shuddered. NINA would have another truckload of women shipped in no time. They had to get to the top of this operation and cut off its head.

  “Right now,” Mark said, “we get backup in place and do everything possible to keep the women safe until we pinpoint the others. Then we’re out and you take over.”

  Lisa worried her lip. He was protecting her again, but following her instincts, she decided to tackle his objections one step at a time.

  Roxy eyed him warily. “We could fail, Mark. NINA—”

  “We will not fail.”

  “Right.”

  He returned his attention to Lisa. “You need me or anyone wants anything, tell Roxy or tap the front-end panel three times.”

  Lisa watched him back away. An agent ran up to him, shoved a file into his hands. “Memorize this, then get rid of the paper.”

  Mark looked down. “Mission identification?”

  The agent nodded. “Full disclosure.”

  Juan headed for the driver’s side of the truck. Mark moved to the passenger’s side.

  At the rear of the truck, Joe stepped back. “Be careful, ladies. You need anything and can’t get to us like Mark said, just wiggle your hand through that busted taillight.” Joe let his gaze linger on Selene, then grabbed the door. “The team will catch up with us shortly, Lisa. We’re all communicating and we’ll be close. You might not see us, but we’ll be here.”

  “Thanks—no, wait.” Dutch was still on the loose. “Sam will stay with Mom, right?”

  “Kelly and the Three Gables security staff are going to the hospital. Nora, Clyde, Jeff Meyers, and someone with hospital security Sam’s personally checked out will be with her until we get back. He’ll be sure she’s safe. Sam has special skills we might need here. Oh, and don’t worry about communications failing. Beth Dawson says she’ll do whatever it takes to keep us all linked up.” He cocked his head. “Is she really that good?”

  “She’s better.” Lisa saw that sparkle signaling interest in his eyes.

  Jo
e flashed her a grin that no doubt melted hearts. “I like smart women.”

  “She’s a brainiac.”

  “Kind of pretty too, when she’s not snarling.”

  “You can trust her, Joe. Really trust her.”

  “Got it.” His smile faded. “No heroics, okay? Just let this play out so we get a fix on these women. With luck, there’ll be no interaction required and Roxy can take over.” He let his gaze slide to include Selene and Gwen. “But if something does come up, that no-heroics stuff goes for all of you.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll avoid everything I can.” Gwen checked her flashlight for the tenth time. “I’m a bona fide wimp.”

  “A wimp wouldn’t be in your current position, but okay.” Joe backed away.

  Selene sighed. “You’re lucky to have such good friends, Lisa.”

  Warmth spread through her chest. She hadn’t often felt lucky. And only now did she realize how shortsighted she’d been about that. What were the odds of having the exact people with the exact abilities needed in her immediate circle at the exact point in time when she most needed them? A million to one. “Yes, I am. Very lucky.”

  Joe winked at Lisa and swung the door closed.

  This time, it wasn’t locked.

  Lisa stared at the hole in the side of the truck. About the size of a basketball, it was plenty big enough to keep fresh air coming in—and light. Even with new batteries in her flashlight, Gwen would most appreciate that.

  The truck started, then rolled, and soon pulled into traffic. “Here we go,” Amanda said.

  Roxy pulled a recorder from her purse. “Let’s get some statements down for the record. Who was picked up first?”

  22

  Y ou said we needed to move; we’re moving. Now start talking, Juan.” Mark angled to get away from the low-slung sun shining directly into their eyes and focused on the driver.

  Squinting, Juan pulled down the visor. “I do not dare, señor. I’ve said too much already.”

  “You don’t dare not talk. Say everything.” Mark put a bite in his voice the man couldn’t miss.