037369945X (R)

by Debra Webb

  She mirrored him, flattening to her belly on the cold ground. “Where is the closest tunnel access?”

  He pointed out to the right. “Near the creek. Let’s watch for a few minutes and see how far out he sends the patrol.”

  His deep voice rumbled through the dark, stirring her. He rubbed her arm, then her back, creating all sorts of inappropriate fires within her. She let Rush worry about time, and she used the necessary silence to watch and pray for her family. Other than the guard who strolled back and forth behind the two buildings, the area seemed totally deserted.

  “He must have at least one additional man for every guard we see,” he whispered. “There’s one in front and one floater according to the drone images.”

  She had to accept his tally as she only saw the one man. “Can Lawton’s team handle six men?”

  “And more.” Rush agreed. “In the pictures, it seems as if it’s the same guard all the time beside Kathrein.”

  “That must be David. I don’t recall a time, day or night, when he wasn’t close by.”

  “You did a lot of night work for a ninety-six-year-old man?”

  “No.” She elbowed him. “There were a few overseas calls those first two weeks. He was adjusting some investments.” The guard seemed to turn their way. “Can we go now?” she murmured.

  “To the winery tunnels or back to the villa?”

  Gwen’s screams were fresh in her mind. “The tunnels.” She’d do anything to sneak Jackson and Gwen out of Kathrein’s clutches tonight.

  “Good answer.” Rush rooted through his pocket and pulled out a new gadget she didn’t recognize. “Let me do one more test, then we’ll go.”

  Rush aimed a gadget at the guard and waited. After another adjustment, he tried again and this time, the guard tapped at his ear, then called for a test of his communications device. “It works,” Rush said. “Great range, too.”

  “Won’t that tip them off?”

  Rush’s teeth gleamed white in the dark when he smiled. “No way. Technology glitches are a fact of life.”

  Praying hard, Lucy scooted back down the slope after him and they jogged toward the creek to follow it to the tunnel door.

  Please, God, keep them safe.

  Chapter Twelve

  Rush appreciated Lucy’s willingness to check out the tunnels. This could very well be the best way in and out for Lawton’s rescue team. Knowing it was smarter to sit back and wait, he told himself the information would empower the team. The problem was after that call from Gwen, Rush knew Lucy’s family didn’t have much time left.

  He checked the map with an app on his phone, confirming his location when they reached the right point on the bank of the creek. He pressed through a stand of scrubby trees and found a low opening. No door, but he checked the area for any alarms or wiring for explosives. Finding none, he continued deeper into what felt like a narrow, natural cave. He turned on a flashlight and, taking Lucy’s hand, led them deeper, hoping for the best.

  When they encountered the first signs of supports, old timbers in an arch, he breathed a sigh of relief. “This could be a wild goose chase,” he warned. “We can turn back and report it to the team.”

  Lucy’s stared at him with ironclad determination. “We go on.”

  He knew she was hoping to get Gwen and Jackson out safely tonight. Unfortunately, the odds of that were low. Sneaking in was just the first problem. They had to avoid armed guards and find mother and son, supposedly in separate locations. Although Sam was tracking Rush and Lucy, they didn’t carry weapons. Rush forced himself to slow down and take it one step at a time.

  Information for Lawton. Rescue if possible. When they were safely away, they could find an official willing to charge Kathrein for his crimes. He had to know someone who knew someone in the State Department who would haul Kathrein in for kidnapping two Americans.

  “If we’re spotted, promise me you’ll run like hell for the villa and call Sam. He will know what to do.”

  “Sure,” she agreed, a little too quickly to be convincing.

  He supposed that made them even, though he would have preferred otherwise. Nothing they encountered would force him to leave her behind, either. “No sign anyone’s been here in years,” Rush pointed out.

  “That’s good, right?”

  “Yes.” Every few yards, he paused to check for surveillance gear, relieved they weren’t finding any.

  “We have to be close,” she whispered when he stopped once more.

  “Wait here while I look ahead.”

  “No.” She gripped his hand hard. “Forward or back, we stick together.”

  He nodded, signaling for silence as they inched along the dusty tunnel. Focusing on each footfall, pausing to listen, didn’t keep him from replaying her earlier words. What had she meant by “inevitable breakup”?

  How had they been completely at odds over where they were headed as a couple? Through hindsight, he could see why she believed he’d resist any emotional declaration. Back then they could talk candidly about anything except her feelings. He hated that he’d let her down and yet his hope for winning her back gave him something to look forward to when they were out of this mess.

  The tunnel widened abruptly and the path was partially blocked by barrels and the thick fragrance of rich wine and dry earth. Seeing the winery logo branded on the barrels, he turned off the flashlight. In the absolute darkness, he listened for any sound, hearing only his pounding heart and Lucy’s soft breath beside him.

  He wanted to send her back and knew she’d never go. Just as he started to suggest they both turn back and wait for the experts, a baby’s cry sliced through the silence.

  Lucy jerked forward instinctively and he caught her around the waist. Although he admired her courage in all things, he couldn’t let her blow their cover or barge through the door first.

  “Careful,” he whispered at her ear. He felt her nod once, her cheek brushing his, even as her hands pushed at his hold. “Let me lead.”

  She dug in her heels, tugging on his arm until he stopped. Pulling his face close to hers she kissed him with an intensity that reached straight into his chest and shook out the cobwebs in his heart. “If you get hurt I will kill you,” she murmured against his lips.

  He wound his arms around her waist, hugging her so his heart wouldn’t drop to the dirt floor and get trampled. “You know how I feel about equality in a deal.”

  He felt her lips curve into a smile until the baby cried again. They moved stealthily around the barrels and down the cleared space to a door. The old latch creaked as he raised it and the hinges popped and groaned. So much for surprise, he thought, grateful there hadn’t been any visible alarm.

  They were at the end of a long narrow cellar, under the secondary building. Racks, long empty, stretched along one side, some big enough for barrels, others for bottles. The only light drifted from a bulb at the far end of the cellar, farthest from the tunnel access and closest to the sounds of the distressed infant.

  “Where is Gwen?” she asked, mouthing the words.

  It would be more efficient to split up and search, but he didn’t want to risk it. If they caught her, he knew he’d give up anything for her safety.

  Considering Kathrein’s impatience to resolve the situation, Rush had to believe he’d set aside one room for his hostages. Easier to control and manage with a mere skeleton crew of his most loyal guards that way.

  Keeping Lucy behind him, he moved toward that one lonely bulb. As they approached, he could see three doors set into the walls, two on one side and a third opposite the first. An archway gave way to stairs leading to the upper level. Fully aware that a patrolling guard could come by at any moment, he peered through the small window in the nearest door. The room was dark and he raised his flashlight. But it was empty except for tumbled racks that must have held a prestigious reserve when the winery had been in business.

  He moved to the next door with Lucy’s hand locked around his. He repeated the proce
ss. This time his flashlight found Jackson, wriggling and fussing in a crib that looked as old as Kathrein, only far less sturdy with the spindles and cutouts.

  Suddenly Lucy gasped and yanked at Rush’s arm, pulling him back just as a heavy fist swung past his face.

  The blow glanced off his shoulder with enough power to turn him sideways. Rush let the spin carry him into the fight, drawing the guard back and away from Jackson’s cell. With any luck, Lucy would be able to get the baby out of there.

  He traded punches with the bigger man, losing his breath when a ham-sized fist connected with his ribs. Another thing he’d learned in juvie was how to fight dirty. He pulled a Taser from his back pocket and when the guy came barreling at him, he zapped him, sending him to the floor in a jerking, quivery heap.

  “Lucy?” He sucked in air as quietly as possible, using the wall for support as he made his way back to Jackson’s cell.

  “He fooled us.” Temper whipped through her voice as she held out a doll.

  “What the—” He never finished the question, silenced by a hard strike against the back of his head.

  * * *

  LUCY WATCHED, HORRIFIED as they dragged Rush up the stairs ahead of her. The man holding the gun to her back wasn’t necessary, she had no intention of leaving without Rush or her family.

  Obviously, Kathrein had known about the tunnels and left them unguarded outside, the ace up his sleeve. She wanted to claw his eyes out for winning this battle, but the war wasn’t over yet. Rush was strong and healthy enough to recover from that fight and she was ready to negotiate with the monster if that’s what it took to get them all out of this.

  On the upper level, the guards pushed open the wide doors of a cavernous room and chained Rush to a thick, support pillar. The guards searched them both for devices and weapons, confiscating everything and powering down the tech gear. Without Sam keeping tabs on them, they’d be alone now. Her impatience had backfired.

  She was secured with zip ties to the steel pipes on the end of the old wine bottling line.

  “Where is my family?” She made her demand in French, then English. Neither query resulted in a flicker of recognition from the closest guard. “Jean-Pierre!” she snapped, letting him know she recognized him. “Tell me where they are.”

  The guard turned his hard gaze on her. “He keeps them close, treats them as if they are family.”

  If that was meant to be a comfort, it failed.

  “Are they okay?”

  With a nearly imperceptible shrug, he moved away, taking up a post near the stairs, his back to the cellar below.

  “Rush?”

  He groaned an affirmative response and lifted his head as he came around.

  She didn’t have time to offer him any encouragement or even pretend to come up with an escape plan as another of Kathrein’s men walked straight up to Rush and started pummeling his midsection, using him like the heavy bag in a gym.

  In shock, Lucy begged him to stop. “Wait, please.” She swiveled around. “Jean-Pierre!” she shouted. “Tell Kathrein I have what he wants on a thumb drive.”

  “No such item was on your person,” Jean-Pierre replied.

  “I have it, I swear. I came to hand it over.”

  The guard beating Rush landed another rapid series of jabs and he groaned. She prayed his injuries wouldn’t be life threatening.

  “You do not have what he wants or you would have come to the door like a civilized person,” Jean-Pierre said from his post.

  “Don’t you dare act as if any of this is civilized,” she roared. “I will hand it all over if my family and Rush are released without further harm.”

  The brute plowed fists into Rush’s belly.

  “Please, please,” she wailed. “You’ll get nothing if you kill him.”

  “I’ll get whatever I like, young lady,” Kathrein’s voice carried through the space, drawing her full attention. “I don’t appreciate being roused in the middle of the night,” he added, leaning on his guard, David, as he managed the last steps. He flicked out a hand and the big-fisted lout pounded Rush again.

  She could practically hear Kathrein’s joints grinding as he approached her. He stooped close, his beady eyes cold and mean. “If you have the information, give it to me.”

  “Allow my family and Rush to leave without further harm and it’s yours.”

  “Don’t,” Rush said, getting a heavy backhand across his jaw for the effort.

  “It was always mine,” Kathrein sneered at her. “My secrets should have remained buried. When I verify you are speaking the truth, I will release your sister and nephew.” He clapped his arthritic hands and David handed him a tablet. “Release her hands so she can prove she is an honest girl.”

  Jean-Pierre released her right hand, leaving her left secured to the pipes.

  Lucy typed in the access code as Sam had taught her and showed Kathrein the reporter’s empty Gray Box. “I downloaded the files to a thumb drive before I deleted them from the cloud, as you instructed.”

  “Where is this thumb drive?”

  “Lucy, don’t do it,” Rush said. “You know he’ll renege.”

  “Let them go first,” she said.

  “A compromise.” Kathrein signaled David and a large door across the room rolled open. Lucy sagged with relief to see Gwen and Jackson alive. “You honor them with this,” Kathrein said almost wistfully. “Family is important.”

  “We were never a threat to your family.”

  “No, but your man is.” Kathrein’s black eyes turned mean. On his order, the door closed on Gwen and Jackson.

  “No! We had a deal.”

  “You changed that deal, bringing him here.”

  “Are you kidding?” Inside, Lucy cringed as she delivered the lie. “I seduced him to get what you wanted. Do the right thing and let them go.”

  “You’ve left me only one option for how to proceed.”

  Despite the shoulders hunched from age and the wispy white hair, Kathrein’s mind remained sharp and devious. She knew he had zero incentive to honor his agreement with her. In her impatience, she’d walked Rush into a trap. Panic set her blood pounding through her veins as she sought the words that would save her family and the man she loved. “Release them now or you’ll have no options.”

  “You’re hardly in a position to make demands,” he snarled.

  She smothered a scream, glaring at him and searching for a way to turn the tables. She’d shown enough fear and cowering respect. Rush had prepared her for this. She needed another tactic. “Let us all go or my failsafe will kick in.”

  Kathrein leveled his full attention on her once more. “Failsafe? You would never be so foolish.”

  Lucy figured she could milk this approach long enough to buy time for Rush’s security team to show up. Sam would have leaped into high gear as soon as their tech had been powered off. “Quit while you’re ahead, Kathrein. Your past isn’t the only problem now. You’ve kidnapped four American citizens. You’ll have your choice of charges to fight when the press hears about this. What will happen to your grandson’s political aspirations then?”

  He leaned close to her, his garlic-laced breath moist against her skin. “Word will not get out. None of you will get out. Your failsafe is useless against me.”

  “We backed up the reporter’s research with a Gray Box ghost,” Rush mumbled. “I will make sure your secrets go public.”

  “He’s lying,” Lucy cried, praying he’d shut up before they hurt him again. “Let them go and I will stop the failsafe.”

  Kathrein swatted her across the cheek with his cane. The painful thwack of hard wood against her cheekbone startled her into silence.

  “Prepare her,” Kathrein said. “We will see who is lying.”

  “Mr. Kathrein, this is your last chance.” The cane whipped across her knees this time, bringing tears to her eyes. “Let them go.”

  Jean-Pierre cut away the zip tie and hauled her to a chair bolted into the floor closer to Rus
h. Obviously this wasn’t the first time they’d used the old winery for an ugly, violent purpose.

  Her pleas for logic and common sense went unanswered, ignored by the man she’d misjudged so terribly. As her wrists and legs were secured to the chair, Kathrein spoke in low tones to Rush, who paled under the swelling, cuts and blood marring his handsome face.

  “There’s no such thing as a ghost box,” she said, desperate to find another way.

  “What do you need, Kathrein?” Rush asked. His words were slurred by pain and his swollen lip. “What will convince you to let them go?”

  “Nothing.” He stared up at Rush. “I did not survive this long, build up a family from ashes to have it ruined by rumor.”

  “What rumor? As a Nazi you committed horrible atrocities,” she said.

  “War is ugly,” he replied, his attention locked onto Rush. “What are they worth to you?”

  “Name your price and I’ll meet it,” Rush said.

  “Bah!” Kathrein turned away. “I have enough money for the next three generations to live in luxury.”

  “Care to share your investment strategy?” Rush quipped.

  “What I must have is a sterling reputation.” Kathrein poked his cane hard into Rush’s gut. “How do I stop your pitiful tricks?” he asked Lucy.

  “You let us go,” she answered. Where was the rescue team? “It’s all automated. If I don’t give the code at the right interval, your secrets go to the press.”

  “Nonsense.” Kathrein’s mouth thinned. Despite the toll of age, it wasn’t difficult to picture him terrorizing prisoners. The man showed no remorse over his past and right now she was sure he intended to relive it with gusto. He popped her with the cane again. “There must be a master switch or all sorts of garbage would litter the news.”

  “Master code is a myth,” Lucy groaned, her gaze on Rush. Behind Kathrein’s back he mouthed one word, “Me,” and she struggled with the implication. She would not aim the madman at Rush. Where was Lawton with the rescue team?

  “Let her go.” Rush thrashed against his restraints. “When she and her family are safe, I will give you the code.”