Hide and Seek

by Velvet Vaughn

  “Shit. Taylor’s sister.”

  #

  Kai shivered and burrowed under the blanket. It started to rain a little while ago and so far, he’d managed to stay relatively dry. He didn’t know how much longer that would last. He hoped they’d stop soon. It was dark out and they were getting farther and farther away from his dad. That made him nervous. He had very little money in his pocket and no food or water.

  His eyes popped open when the truck slowed and then came to a stop. Were they at their destination? He craned his head to listen for the door but after at least five minutes, nothing. He didn’t even hear the man talking. He couldn’t decide if he should chance a peek or not. He waited and then heard a noise. Was it…snoring?

  As carefully as he could, he eased out from beneath the tool box, trying not to jar the truck. They were in some kind of parking garage that was super-dark and mostly deserted. Taking a deep breath he peeked over the top of the chest. He didn’t see anyone. As quietly as he could, he eased over the side of the truck and stayed crouched, waiting to be discovered. When nothing happened, he slowly straightened and peered inside. Grace was still asleep…and so was the man. He was stretched across the front seat, his mouth open in slumber. The doors were locked, so he couldn’t try to get Grace out…not that he thought that would work anyway. He glanced around the area, hoping to see someone to help. Disappointment hit him hard. There was no one.

  A dim blue light drew his attention A pay phone! And vending machines! He checked his pockets. He had eight dollars plus some change. He hurried over to the phone and checked the price. He’d never used a pay phone and wasn’t really sure how to do it. Thankfully there were instructions, faded but still readable. He was going to need quarters. There was a change machine attached to the phone so he converted three dollars to coins. Hopefully that would be enough. He used the dollar bills to purchase a bottle of water and two candy bars. Stuffing the food in his pockets, he picked up the receiver, wiped it against his shirt before inserting a quarter and dialing.

  #

  It was nine-o'clock and still no word from Kai. Dante had worn a path in Taylor’s hardwood floor pacing. Maggie texted to say he hadn’t shown up at the house yet. She and Carter were going to crash on the couch and wait.

  Taylor had gone back out to the group of well-wishers that seemed to grow every time he looked to try to persuade them to leave. She’d tried earlier to send everyone home but no one left. Tables of food and drinks had been set up with selections ranging from sandwiches to salads to an assortment of Greek food from Mama Demarchis’ restaurant. Several of the wives and significant others brought food in the office for the men but Dante’s stomach revolted at the thought of eating anything. He really wanted a stiff hit of scotch to calm his nerves but he didn’t want anything to dull his senses.

  Detective Hurley called earlier to inform them that the only sign of Kai on the bus was his backpack. They searched the entire area and even brought in a scent dog, but it lost Kai’s trail outside of the bus. The naked woman found in a nearby dumpster died of a gunshot wound to the head. She’d been identified as Julie Stone, the wife of Merv Stone, the man who usually drove Grace’s bus route. Merv had been found deceased at their house from several gun-shot wounds. Hurley was trying to piece everything together, but it looked as if Julie murdered her husband to run off with Sweeney, who then used her and killed her.

  The walls were closing in on him and Dante couldn’t take it anymore. He headed outside for some fresh air, careful to stay out of sight of the news cameras that were parked out front. The media had descended in droves when news of Sweeney’s escape and Grace’s abduction had spread. The BPD and FBI had declined comment. Kendall Buckley, Dorian’s fiancé, had been an award-winning reporter in New York City. She was now the COBRA Securities Public Relations Director, a position she pretty much created herself. She staged an impromptu press conference and announced that yes, COBRA Securities was working with the police and FBI to track down Grace Hudson and Kai Costa. She asked for privacy for the families and promised updates as soon as they had them if the reporters would leave. All but the most intrepid had packed up and headed home for the night.

  The temperature was mild, a light breeze rustling through the trees. It had rained briefly but the clouds dissipated, revealing a sky filled with a thousand twinkling stars. He glanced up and said a quick prayer on the first one he spotted. Tree frogs croaked and crickets chirped a night melody. The sliding door opened and closed behind him but he didn’t turn to see who it was. He didn’t feel like talking.

  His phone buzzed and his heart galloped, praying for word from his son. Disappointment surged through him when he didn’t recognize the number.

  “Costa.”

  “Dad?”

  Dante’s heart stopped altogether. “Oh, God, Kai? Where are you? Are you okay?”

  “I can’t talk long, Dad. I don’t know where we are. Some man kidnapped Grace and I jumped in the back of his truck to try and save her.”

  Dante gestured wildly to Luke Colton, obviously the one who followed him outside to keep an eye on him. “Get Peter.” Luke disappeared in the house.

  “Are you safe, Kai? The man called and said you weren’t with him.”

  “He doesn’t know I’m here.”

  “What about Grace? How is she?”

  “She was scared on the bus but the man hasn’t hurt her. He gave her something to make her sleep. He’s asleep, too, so I snuck out to find help but there’s no one around. Thankfully I saw the phone.”

  Logan, Dorian, Dan and Peter bolted outside with Luke. Peter had his tablet with him and was already working on a trace.

  “Peter’s here and he’s tracing the call. I’m coming to get you, wherever you are.”

  Kai gave him the description of the truck and the license plate number. “I have to go back and hide in case the man wakes up. I can’t leave Grace alone with him. I don’t know what he wants with her but she’s scared.”

  There was no way he’d tell his son that the man was an escaped felon…a murderer. He didn’t want to frighten him any more than he already was. “Leave the phone off the hook. We’ll have the authorities there in no time.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  Emotion clogged in his throat. “I love you, too, Kai.”

  “Oh, and Dad? Why are owls always invited to the party?”

  Tears sprung to Dante’s eyes. Kai couldn’t stand for people to be upset so he memorized jokes to bring a smile to their face. “I don’t know, Kai, why?”

  “Because they’re such a hoot.”

  Dante gave a watery chuckle as he swiped at a tear. “That’s a good one. Be careful and don’t take any risks. And Kai. I’m so damn proud of you.” His voice cracked on the last word.

  Kai said goodbye and then was gone. Dante wanted to yell for him to come back, tell him not to go. He wanted him to hide so he could go pick him up and bring him home safely. But the pride he felt for his son, risking his safety to save someone else, it was the stuff of heroes...and he was just a kid. He wished Leilani was alive to see the incredible young man he was becoming.

  “Got it,” Peter shouted. “They’re in Bowling Green, Kentucky.”

  Logan was already on the phone to the Kentucky State Police giving instructions. They headed back to the command room and waited in tense anticipation for any update. It was all Dante could do to keep from jumping in his SUV and heading south.

  #

  Kai had just resettled back under the tool box when he heard sirens. His heart pounded. They were going to be rescued! The man obviously heard them, too, because the truck started up and Kai was thrown against the cab as they shot backward. Tires squealed as he was tossed around in the bed. He tried to brace himself with the tool chest but the man was driving erratically. He was sliding around all over. His bruises were going to have bruises. The truck wasn’t slowing and the sounds of the sirens were growing distant. Disappointment shot through him. They were getting awa
y.

  After a few minutes, the truck slowed to a normal speed. Tears sprang to Kai’s eyes but he ruthlessly fought them. SEALs don’t cry. He tried to get comfortable and settled in for more long hours on the road. He wasn’t prepared when the truck slowed and then stopped again. He could hear loud music playing and wanted to crawl out but the driver’s door slammed shut and then the man opened one side of the tool box. Kai held his breath, knowing the man couldn’t see him in the dark, but nervous just the same. The man rummaged around inside until he found what he was looking for. Then he closed the lid and Kai heard him doing something to the back of the truck. The sound stopped for a few minutes and then started up again. Pretty soon the man opened the tool box, tossed something inside and closed the lid. He fired up the truck and backed out, hitting the road again.

  #

  Logan’s shoulders dropped and Dante’s stomach dropped right along with them.

  “You sure?” Logan ran a hand down his face. “Yeah, okay. Call if you have any news.”

  “They got away,” Dante guessed, pain stabbing his heart.

  “The cops found the parking garage and the phone dangling off the hook. There were fresh rubber marks close by, like someone had fled quickly, but no sign of a vehicle. They’re setting up a perimeter to locate the truck.”

  “How did Sweeney know the cops were after him? Did they go in lights and sirens blazing?” Luke asked incredulously.

  Logan shook his head. “Apparently there was an accident on the highway close to the garage. Other cops were responding to it. They think those sirens might’ve spooked him.”

  “Great. Just great.”

  Luke put a hand on his shoulder. “Now that we know Kai is definitely with Sweeney, I think you should announce that he contacted you and he’s at a friend’s house.”

  Dante nodded slowly, picking up the train of thought. “We don’t want Sweeney to have any reason to look harder for him.”

  “Exactly. We’ll tell—”

  “Is everything okay in here?”

  They all spun around as Taylor stepped inside and closed the door. She picked up on the tension filling the air. Dante exchanged glances with Luke and Logan, both who nodded subtly. “We’ll wait outside.” Luke ushered the rest of the COBRA Securities agents out the door and closed it behind him, leaving Taylor and Dante alone. He looked down into her concerned blue eyes.

  “What’s wrong? You know something. Have they found Sweeney?”

  He shook his head. “I head from Kai.”

  Taylor gasped and gripped his arms. “Is he okay? Where is he?”

  Dante led her over to the suede couch and waited for her to get comfortable before he took a seat beside her. “He managed to hide in the back of Sweeney’s truck.”

  Her hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God. What about Grace?”

  “Sweeney pulled over in a parking garage to catch some sleep. Grace is asleep, too and Kai said Sweeney hasn’t hurt her. Kai snuck out of the truck and found a pay phone. Peter traced the call to Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Kentucky State Police responded but Sweeney was gone when they arrived.”

  Taylor covered her eyes. Dante gave into the overwhelming urge to comfort her, curving his arm over her shoulder and pulling her close. She burrowed against him.

  “I’m sorry,” she said softly.

  “Don’t be. Now you know Grace isn’t in this alone. Kai will contact me again when he can. Sweeney has no idea he’s there. We’ll find them.”

  She sobbed lightly. “I want them home now.”

  “Me, too,” he agreed. He knew the next words out of his mouth would destroy her, so he postponed as long as he could. Finally he lifted her chin to bring her gaze to his. “Taylor, there’s something I need to tell you and it won’t be easy to hear.”

  Her eyes rounded with fear. “About Grace?”

  He shook his head and removed his arm from her shoulder so he could clasp her hands.

  “Taylor, listen to me. We tell no one about this. No one can know that Kai is with Grace and Sweeney. It’s for his safety.”

  “Okay. But what would it hurt for my friends to know Grace isn’t alone?”

  “Someone in this house is in contact with Sweeney.”

  She gasped and pulled her hands away. “What? Why do you say that?”

  “The last time Sweeney called, he knew about Kai. He knew I was here with you. How would he have known unless someone here told him?”

  Realization dawned in her eyes. “Oh, God, I didn’t even think about that.” Her face crumpled. “All those people are my friends. Are you telling me one of them betrayed me?”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She inhaled deeply and he could see her gather her strength. “Okay, what do we do?”

  “I’m going to go out there and announce that Kai contacted me and he was at a friend’s house. If I don’t say anything, and he’s still missing, Sweeney could do a more thorough check and I don’t want him in any more danger than he already is.”

  “I’ll come with you and encourage everyone go home again,” Taylor said. “If they won’t leave, I’ll kick them out.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “What about my sister? Can I tell her?”

  Dante paused, hating to deliver the news. “I don’t want to upset you, but, no, I don’t think you should tell her.”

  “Do you think it’s Cassie? Is she the mole?” Her voice was barely a whisper.

  He didn’t sugar coat it. “I think it’s possible. I get the feeling she’s here more out of commitment or fascination even, more-so than any desire to support you.”

  She nodded sadly. “We aren’t very close. She’s always been jealous of me. She was really upset when I decided to move home with Grace a few years ago.”

  “One more thing…the fingerprint on the listening device—it was Cassie’s.”

  Chapter Seven

  Dante guided Taylor out of the office with a hand on her back. Several people turned with questioning looks. He cleared his throat and announced sheepishly that his son was with a friend and forgot to call. There were cheers and several people came up to shake his hand and express their relief. The Amber Alert for Kai was being canceled and Kendall whipped up a quick press release announcing his safety. They didn’t want to give Sweeney any reason to look harder for him.

  Taylor tried not to glare at her sister, wondering if she betrayed her. Cassie had been arrested a few years ago on a domestic violence charge. She’d been booked and arraigned, so she’d been fingerprinted. The charges were later dropped, but her prints were forever on file. Taylor prayed there was another reason her sister planted the listening devices, one that had absolutely nothing to do with Patrick Sweeney. Dante’s co-workers, Dorian and Dan, were going to follow her to see if she made a call as soon as she left. If she was in contact with Sweeney, she’d want to inform him of the latest development.

  For the sake of their relationship, Taylor prayed she wasn’t the mole. If Cassie had anything to do with Grace’s disappearance, she would never forgive her. It would upset her parents for their two daughters to have no relationship at all, but Taylor wouldn’t apologize. Cassie could mess with her all she wanted, but when she put her child in the line of fire, all bets were off.

  She pushed the thought aside and addressed the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. I truly appreciate your support.” She offered a weak smile. “I’m going to try to get some rest, so please go home and do the same. Again, thank you for coming.”

  The cops had ushered the last of the media away so people were free to leave without being filmed or questioned. A line formed to hug her and offer support. Many offered to return in the morning but she gently discouraged them.

  Gina Fairbanks, her best friend and Grace’s Godmother, hugged her tightly. “I’ll stay. Grace is like a daughter to me.”

  Tears welled and she managed a smile. “Thank you for the offer but I want you to go home and rest.”

  “You shouldn’t
be alone,” Gina contended.

  “I won’t be. Dante and his coworkers will be here.”

  “Are you sure?” Gina looked like she wanted to argue. “I won’t get in the way.”

  “You wouldn’t be in the way, but I’m sure.”

  Gina hugged her again. “Call me if you hear from Grace or need anything. I’ll be up all night worrying anyway.”

  “I will. Thanks for coming.”

  Gina squeezed her hand and walked to the door. She cast a surreptitious glance at Dante. Taylor wondered if she was intimidated by his size. Her ex-husband had been a big man, around six-three and two fifty. He’d also been violently abusive and her friend had suffered silently at his hand for years. She always had bruises or broken bones but she explained each one away. Taylor was ashamed to admit she didn’t pay more attention to her friend’s situation. She was so busy with raising Grace and her writing career, it was easier to believe the lies her friend was spouting about her husband. Their phone calls and get-togethers were more and more infrequent. Mitch Fairbanks worked hard to isolate Gina from her friends so that he was her only family.

  Taylor disliked Mitch from the moment she met him. He was condescending and rude, treating Gina like a possession instead of a partner. Taylor served as her maid of honor and she tried to talk to Gina about him, but her friend was adamant about marrying him. Some girls dreamed of being a lawyer or a doctor…all Gina ever wanted to be was a wife. Her parents had divorced when she was young and she had been shuffled back and forth, never feeling wanted at either house. She was more a pawn in her parents’ battles than a child they cherished. All she wanted was someone to love her.

  It wasn’t until two years ago when Gina ended up in intensive care that Taylor was able to get her to admit to the abuse. It had been going on for seven years…their entire marriage. Against Gina’s protests, Taylor took charge and initiated divorce proceedings. She kept her law license current, so she acted as Gina’s counsel. Gina was afraid of what Mitch would do if she tried to leave him. She’d been right to worry…he’d been livid when a processor served him with papers. Gina didn’t want to press charges against him for putting her in the hospital, but when he came after her again, almost running her over with his car, she did. Mitch had been arrested, tried and found guilty. He was currently serving a five-year prison sentence. He’d be out soon on parole, but that was a bridge they’d cross when they came to it.