In the Shadow of the Shield (Secret Lives Series Book 2)

by Carolyn LaRoche

“I will. Later.”

  “Get out of here, Louie.”

  “Don’t you even wanna know why I’m here?”

  “No,” Carter answered.

  “Yes,” Diana said.

  Louie nodded at Diana. “I like her.” He turned to Carter. “But you’re kinda a dick. Don’ know what she sees in you.”

  “Why are you here?” Carter asked.

  “Because they are.” He nodded toward the street, where a truck had pulled up. “I saw them at the convenience store when I was makin’ a sco—buying a soda.”

  “We knew they were coming. That’s why we’re here.”

  “Man, I don’t know what your problem is. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t know ‘bout any of this shit.”

  “Just keep telling yourself that, Louie. You’re a liability. I’m not saving your ass if you get yourself in trouble.”

  “I really don’t know what ya see in that guy. He’s a real asshat,” Louie mumbled to Diana. “Fine. I’ll stay out of the way.”

  They moved back into the cover of the bushes and watched as a small box truck backed its way into the driveway toward the little garage. When the back of the truck was even with the garage door, the back door opened, and someone jumped out. The driver shut off the engine, and two more people left the cab.

  The old garage had a single bulb attached at the roof line that lit the small space between the truck and the structure. The passenger stepped into the dim glow, and Diana could see that his left arm was heavily bandaged.

  “That man is injured,” she whispered to Carter. “That might explain the screaming Louie heard.”

  “Maybe,” he whispered back.

  “I told you I smelled blood!” Louie said.

  “Shhhh!” Carter held a finger to his lips and shot Louie a nasty look.

  The driver moved around the back of the truck holding a large pair of bolt cutters, which he used to do away with the padlock on the garage. As soon as the lock fell to the ground, the bandaged man used his good hand to pull open one of the doors. The driver placed the bolt cutter up against the garage, and swung the other door open wide. He then returned to the truck and backed it up farther, until the opening of the box was inside the garage.

  “Smart move,” Carter murmured. “Now no one can see what they are moving.”

  “Yeah, including us,” Louie said.

  They watched for a few minutes as the men milled around. “Hey, Schmidt, how’s that hand doing?”

  “Go to hell, Wilkins.”

  “Feels that good, huh?”

  “Go take a long walk off a short bridge.”

  “Dude! What’s your problem? It’s not like I put your hand in the cutter.”

  “Just start loading the truck. Less time we’re here, the better.”

  “What’s the rush? No one knows we’re here.”

  “Yeah, because a box truck backed up to the garage of an abandoned house isn’t raising any suspicion.”

  “Hacking off your two fingers hasn’t done anything for your personality.”

  “You’re an ass, Wilkins.” Schmidt grabbed his gun off his hip and pointed it at the other man’s hand. “Open your fist. Let me show you what it’s like.”

  “Hey!” The guy in the garage ran out and stepped between them. “Cut the shit, you two. Schmidt, he’s an idiot, let it go!”

  “He’s more than an idiot.” Schmidt stepped around the other man. “Get outta my way, Pete.”

  “Holy crap,” Carter whispered. “I know who the third guy is.”

  “Is he a cop?” Diana asked.

  “Um, yeah.”

  “An important cop?”

  “That’s Assistant Chief Pete Roman.”

  “Holy crap is right,” Louie said.

  “You still here?” Carter snapped at the other man.

  “You’re such an ass, man,” Louie said, and disappeared into the shadows.

  “It’s about damned time he took off,” Carter said, turning his attention back to the standoff in the driveway. He had his phone out, and was taking video of the exchange between the two remaining men.

  “I gotta take a piss,” Wilkins said, and walked away toward the house.

  “You need to control yourself, Schmidt,” Chief Roman said to the other man. “Holster your weapon. I know he’s a real pain in the ass, but we gotta stick together for a few more weeks—until we dump this stuff. Then you never have to talk to him again.”

  “If I shoot him, I’ll never have to talk to him again.”

  “You can’t shoot him. Look at the mess we’re in now over Massey. The whole world believed it was an accident, and now we got Ryan sniffing around like there's a dog in heat around.”

  Diana’s eyes widened, and she looked at Carter. He nodded, letting her know he understood what she was thinking, but he didn’t take his eyes off of the phone’s screen and the scene unfolding in front of them. The men had all but admitted they were responsible for Donnie’s death. Chief Roman and Schmidt disappeared into the garage. They could hear things being moved around, but couldn’t see the men or make out their conversation anymore.

  “I’m going to sneak around the other side and see if I can get a look inside. You stay right here so I know you are safe, okay?”

  “Fine,” she replied. “But don’t be gone long.”

  “I won’t.”

  Carter disappeared into the darkness. Diana hugged her arms around herself. It had definitely gotten colder while they were outside. She watched the driveway, but the men were inside the building, so she couldn’t see anything. A little movement on the other side of the drive caught her eye. Probably Carter moving in for the closer look. Ten minutes passed, and Carter didn’t return. She thought about moving over to the other side, but knew he wouldn’t be happy if he returned and she wasn’t there.

  “Carter,” she whispered into the mic, but got no response. Gooseflesh broke out on her arms as the tiny hairs at the base of her neck bristled. Something wasn’t right.

  A quiet rustle in the branches caught her attention. “Carter!” she whispered. “Is that you?”

  “Nope,” a voice answered as a hand clasped over her mouth, and an iron grip wrapped around her.

  How had she let this happen twice? That Louie was going to get it when she got free this time.

  “Listen closely.” Hot, nasty breath on her ear made her cringe. “Your little boyfriend won’t hear you, so don’t bother trying to scream. If you call attention to the neighbors, I will shoot you where you stand, and your son becomes an orphan. Do you understand?”

  She nodded as the hand was replaced by a piece of duct tape. Her captor pinned her arms behind her, and secured them with a pair of handcuffs. Diana tried to turn around, but he shoved her forward. “Don’t look at me, just walk!”

  With no other choice but to do as she was told, Diana started walking, hoping against hope Carter would appear and rescue her. The man she suspected was Wilkins pushed her through the hedges and into the garage, where the drugs had been.

  “Where did you find her?” Captain Roman demanded.

  “In the bushes outside. You know who this is?”

  “Nope. But whoever it is, they’d better be someone worth adding kidnapping to our list.”

  “This is Donnie Massey’s wife.”

  “No shit.” The captain looked at her in disbelief.

  “Yup. She was spyin’ on us. I found her on the way back from takin’ my piss.”

  “What are we supposed to do with her?” Schmidt demanded, coming out of the back of the truck. “I sure ain’t no kidnapper.”

  “I guess take her with us, and figure it out later. I couldn’t leave her out there. She seen and heard everything.”

  “Put her in the truck,” the captain commanded.

  Wilkins grabbed her wrists and shoved her toward the truck. When they reached the deck, he said, “Get in.”

  He wanted her to get into the box of the truck. Diana was terrified of small spaces; there
was no way she was going to get in there. Shaking her head almost violently, Diana backed away from the truck.

  “You get in there, or I will pick you up and throw you in.” Wilkins’ eyes were wild as he stepped toward her.

  “No!” She tried to scream through the duct tape. “No!”

  Wilkins lunged toward her, but Diana sidestepped him, and he ran into the side of the truck. The sound of his head smacking the steel frame echoed through the garage. Captain Roman ran at her, but she stuck a foot out and tripped him. Then she ran for all she was worth. There was no way she was getting in that truck. Not without a fight.

  “Grab her!” Wilkins yelled as he wobbled in her direction. Captain Roman pulled himself to his feet, but collapsed almost immediately.

  “I can’t! My knee’s messed up.”

  “Where the hell is Schmidt now?”

  Diana made it to the door of the garage, but drew up short as the barrel of a gun hit her in the center of the forehead. “I’m right here.” To Diana he said, “Back up, girly, you’re not going anywhere.” He clicked the hammer back on the revolver and pushed it against her head, hard. She stepped backward, trying hard not to let the fear that consumed her show on her face. All Diana could think about was Jackson, and her son becoming an orphan. She couldn’t let that happen. Where the hell is Carter?

  Wait. Wilkins had said there was no way he would hear her. What had he done to Carter?

  Focus, girl! Worrying about Carter isn’t going to get that gun off of you.

  Donnie had spent hours teaching her the skills to protect herself. It was time to put them to use. First, she had to get that gun to go away, so she did what she was told and backed her way into the garage, never taking her eyes off Schmidt.

  “Good girl. I figured Donnie taught you to do what you’re told. He was such a freakin’ Boy Scout. No way he’d leave you and his son unprepared. I bet you can tie a knot with your teeth.” Schmidt burst into laughter, while Captain Roman scowled at him.

  “What’s with all the pomp and circumstance? Why don’t you just shoot her?”

  “Now, Captain, where would the fun be in that? I figure by the time we get this stuff unloaded, we’re all gonna be needing a little stress relief. I bet Mrs. Massey here’s been very lonely since her husband’s accidental death last year.” Schmidt dragged the barrel of the gun down her cheek. His intentions were crystal clear. No way in hell was she getting in that truck now!

  Wilkins jumped behind her and scooped her up, threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry, and tossed her into the truck box. Diana hit the deck of the truck with a thud, her back slamming up against the truck’s cargo, head crashing against the floor. One of the bags of powder tore open with the force of her landing on it, sending a cloud into the air. Diana turned away to avoid inhaling any of the drug. Little stars floated behind her eyes, and a wave of nausea hit with the force of a tsunami.

  “Now stay put!” Wilkins pulled the door down with a crash. The sound of the lock clicking echoed in the tiny space as panic began to build.

  Stay calm, Di. Think! What would Donnie do?

  Rolling over on her back, she curled her knees up to her chest and worked her handcuffed hands around her feet so they were in front of her. She pulled the duct tape off her face with a groan. All the little hairs on her skin came off with it. “Damn, that hurt!”

  Awkwardly reaching around, she managed to work the little flashlight she had stashed earlier out of her pocket and turn it on. Its narrow beam illuminated the space enough so she could sit up and lean against the side of the truck and survey the rest of her surroundings. White powder covered her clothes, and when she shook her head, more rained down all around her.

  The engine turned over with a loud rumble, and the truck jerked forward, sending her face first into the mess on the floor. The little flashlight flew from her hand, and the space went dark.

  “Seriously? Just, seriously?” She sat back up against the side of the truck as it made a turn, presumably out of the driveway. “How the hell am I supposed to get out of this? Carter, where are you?”

  The vibration in her pocket made her want to jump for joy. She’d forgotten about her cell phone. Twisting her bound hands to reach in her jeans pocket, Diana pulled her cell phone out. A text message from Carter.

  Carter: Diana! Where are you?

  Balancing the phone on her knee, she used one finger to tap out a message.

  Diana: In the back of the truck. Wilkins kidnapped me.

  Carter: I’m so sorry! Someone knocked me on the back of the head. I just woke up in the house.

  Diana: Are you ok?

  Carter: I’ve got one hell of a headache.

  Diana: Can you see the truck still?

  Carter: Sorry, babe. I’m a little indisposed. Handcuffed to the radiator like in an old black and white movie. Do you know where you are headed?

  Picturing Carter cuffed to the radiator made her smile, but the smile faded quickly at the reality of their situation.

  Diana: You do carry an extra key with you, right? Use it and come find me. They are going to kill me.

  It took a while for the reply to come back. Every second took her farther from Carter and being found. Finally the phone buzzed.

  Carter: The key is in my back pocket, and I smell smoke. I think they torched the place.

  “Oh my God, no,” she murmured. Those sons of bitches set the house on fire. They really were going to kill her. Do something! Get that damned key out of your pocket! Little beads of sweat broke out on her forehead as Diana struggled with her own bonds.

  Carter: The place is going up. Not sure I’m going to get out of here alive. Just want you to know how amazing you are, and I am well on the way to falling in love with you. I’m sorry we won’t ever finish what we keep starting.

  “No! Carter, no!” The tears poured from her eyes as she tried to text.

  Diana: You can’t give up! I need you! Try Carter! I’m falling for you too! I can’t lose someone else I care about!

  She barely managed to hit send, her hands were shaking so badly. Sobs wracked her sore body as she cried out over and over, begging God to spare him. No reply ever came. Diana waited, clutching the phone, praying for it to vibrate in her hands, but there was nothing.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When the truck finally came to a stop, she was on her side, face soaked in tears, covered in meth powder, and emotionally exhausted. As someone fiddled with the lock on the truck, she forced the phone down the top of her shirt and into her bra. Carter couldn’t save her now, all she had left was her wits and that cell phone. No one was going to find it and take it from her.

  The door slid open. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Wilkins demanded.

  “Go to hell, you rotten bastard.”

  “You’re a feisty one. I like that.”

  “Screw you.” She was in absolutely no mood to deal with any of this. “Get these damned cuffs off of me!”

  “Not so fast, girly,” Wilkins said with a dry laugh. “You just sit tight.”

  Schmidt came around the corner. “What the hell happened to our product?”

  “Ask your girlfriend over here.” She indicated Wilkins with her chin. “He did it when he threw me into the truck.”

  “Who you calling a girlfriend?” Wilkins glared at her. “I ain’t no bitch!”

  “Shut up, man,” Captain Roman called out from in front of the truck. “She’s trying to get your goat.”

  “You know you’re going to pay us for that,” Schmidt said.

  “Not me. Let your lady friend there deal with it.”

  Wilkins lunged for the truck, but Roman grabbed him before he landed inside. “Cool it, Wilkins. You don’t need to get yourself all covered in that stuff.”

  “Get off me!” Wilkins shrugged Roman off and stormed away.

  “Mrs. Massey, I need you to step out of the truck now. Please.”

  “I don’t think so, Captain. I am very comfortable right
where I am.”

  “No one is going to hurt you, we just need to get our stuff out of there.”

  “No one is going to hurt me? Bullshit. I was married to a cop for twenty years, you think I didn’t learn a thing or two?”

  “Oh, I’m certain you did. That’s why I know you are smart enough to get down out of that damned truck before I send Wilkins in there after you.”

  “Where are we?”

  “It doesn’t matter. Now, I’m not asking again. Get. Out. Of. That. Truck.”

  There was something in the captain’s eyes that told her she'd better do what he said. Diana stood up and walked slowly to the edge of the truck deck. There was a two-foot drop, so she grabbed the side of the truck with her hands and dropped to the ground, rolling to the side when her knees gave out.

  Diana nearly knocked Schmidt to the ground. He banged his injured arm against the brick building they were parked in front of, and he let out a devastating howl, followed by a string of angry curses before he stormed away. When she righted herself, Diana looked around at the storage facility they were parked in. No cameras and no security lighting. Where the hell had they taken her?

  “Where are we?” she asked for the second time, but no one paid her any attention. They were too busy moving the packages of drugs from the back of the truck into a small storage locker. Diana rose to her feet, using the bricks to steady herself, and started to inch her way along the wall. When she reached the end, she turned the corner and prepared to take off at a run. The click of the safety on a gun directly behind her head froze her in her tracks.

  “Not so fast, girl.”

  “Just let me go. No one will know.”

  “Except that you will know everything, and that is bad for us. Very, very bad.”

  “I won’t say a word. I’m a cop’s wife—really good at keeping secrets.”

  “Even if one of those secrets is about the murder of your husband? Yeah, I don’t think so. Step backward very carefully, and turn toward the truck.” Schmidt’s voice was low, his tone dangerous. She couldn’t outrun a bullet, and he had no qualms about shooting her; that was obvious.