by Robin Perini
A boy was mopping the floor and sidled closer, but he didn’t raise his head or pause in his task. “Don’t bother,” he said, his voice barely audible. “You won’t find a way out. If there was one where they couldn’t trace us, I’d be gone already.”
“Have you been here long?”
He grimaced. “Do I look like I’ve been soaking up the rays lately?” His face was vanilla pale, his sandy hair shaved close to his head.
“Sorry,” said Ashley. “I just got here.”
“I know. Everyone’s talking about it. How mad you made the Warden. Listen to me. Do what they tell you. Don’t fight them. Don’t question anything,” he whispered as he passed by closer with the mop. “Anyone who causes trouble . . .”
A door creaked open and the kid stiffened.
“What?” Ashley insisted. “What happens?”
“They either tag you with a microchip or you disappear,” he whispered and shuffled down the hall, adding, “I’m on my last warning.”
Only then did Ashley see the shackles around his ankles.
* * *
CHAPTER SEVEN
* * *
DEB CLUTCHED THE armrests of Gabe’s SUV. The vehicle slid through a street lined with snowdrifts toward her apartment building. The place couldn’t have looked more unwelcoming. It wasn’t a home, and her sister wouldn’t be there. Might never . . .
No, Deb couldn’t think that way. She had to focus on the leads. Ashley was a fighter. She was smart. She’d stay alive no matter what the situation.
She couldn’t get over Ashley’s expression while she played that game. Her sister had looked so happy, so excited, so alive. About the game, and about Justin.
A whole side of Ashley she hadn’t recognized.
And that was all on her.
Ashley had everything to live for. Deb had to find her.
She sent a sidelong glance at Gabe as he pulled into a parking place. She didn’t know what she would have done without him. She could maneuver a chopper with finesse—it followed her every movement—but she was out of her element now. She’d needed Gabe. More than he knew.
Gabe shoved the gear into “Park.” “Neil will be able to justify Ashley’s investigation to the brass with Britney’s disappearance and the video connection. Let’s get Ashley’s things,” Gabe said. “Maybe there’s something in her stuff that will help since we know more of what we’re looking for.”
“I hope so. I’ve been through everything once, but maybe fresh eyes . . .”
Her voice trailed off as she stepped out of Gabe’s SUV. A few minutes later, they reached her third-floor walk-up apartment.
Gabe was limping slightly by the time they reached the top. “You must have a blast hauling in groceries from the car,” he said, a bit of strain in his voice.
Deb bit her lip and took in the tightness around his mouth. “Oh God, I’m sorry, Gabe. I forgot about your leg when I asked you to come up. I picked this place because, with my job, there’s not much chance to exercise. My legs need to be strong to handle the helicopter and lifting gurneys and wounded people. That kind of thing.”
Gabe’s expression tightened, and she cursed under her breath.
How stupid could she be? He used to do that kind of thing all the time as a cop. She’d just reminded him that his leg was no longer strong enough for him to remain in SWAT.
Way to make the guy feel good, Deb. She sucked at this. She wanted to say something to him, like how much she appreciated him, how much she couldn’t have survived the last days without him. Instead, she just unlocked the door. “Come on in. It’s not much, but it’s home. For now.”
“You need to change your lock. Anyone with a credit card could break in.”
Gabe followed her inside and she glanced around the sparse one-bedroom efficiency through his eyes. “The burglars would be disappointed. I don’t spend a lot of time here, and it shows. Ashley didn’t . . . doesn’t . . . visit me that often anymore, since she had . . . has no car . . .” Deb’s voice faltered. “I usually go to Colorado Springs to see her.”
Deb wrapped her arms around her waist. Yeah, the place looked like hell. Empty shelves. Her gear stacked in a corner. The lumpy couch and the red torture chair were accompanied by cloth-covered packing boxes used as end tables and a coffee table. She hadn’t put any personal touches in the apartment at all, except for one wall full of photos.
Gabe immediately walked over to the pictures. He studied one of a younger Ashley, complete with a silly beach hat and a sunburn on her nose. She sported a goofy face for the camera. “She’s a really pretty girl.”
Slowly Deb joined him, her heart aching as she took in the memories. “Ashley was so happy that day.” Emotions choked off the words in Deb’s throat. She put a hand to her mouth to stop the sob. “Oh God, Gabe, Ashley has to be okay.”
Gabe gently pulled Deb back against his body, folding his arms around her. For a moment she sagged against him, then she turned in his arms, her fists gripping his shirt. “I can’t . . . I need . . .” Her control was so close to shattering.
She stiffened. “Please. I need a minute.”
He kissed her temple, then turned his attention to a photo of three men standing in military uniform, one a two-star general. Deb struggled to regain her composure. She didn’t know how long it took, but finally she felt like she could speak without crying or screaming in frustration. She followed Gabe’s focus and cleared her throat. “My father. He was at the Pentagon, then near Colorado Springs for two years. They sent him to Kandahar about six months ago. My other brothers are in the Middle East, too. None of them can really keep in touch very much. E-mail and social media sites help when they can get access to the Internet.”
Gabe nodded. “My brother Seth is in the same business. Luke was in Afghanistan for a while, too. We almost lost him in an ambush. He was the only survivor and it still haunts him.” Gabe glanced at her. “Not that he says anything.”
“They can’t. When I was over there, at least I had a bit more information on where they were. Now, being a civilian, I get nothing. I just have to believe they’ll be okay.”
She studied an older picture, one of a dignified soldier, a smiling woman, and four small children.
“That’s your mom?”
Deb nodded, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. “She died of cancer when we were kids. A rare brain tumor. One minute she was there, the next she was just gone.”
Gabe placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. I guess we’ve both lost parents we loved.”
She glanced at him over her shoulder, but a strange look crossed Gabe’s face.
“You’re right. It’s hard to lose someone you love. No matter how it happens.”
Odd choice of words, but Gabe didn’t give her time to ask. “We should probably head out.”
She nodded and walked over to the makeshift laundry basket Ashley used for storage. Deb’s eyes burned. She touched one of the journals and flipped through it. Not like any other girl, her sister’s books were filled with equations and numbers, not hopes and dreams and boys. God, this couldn’t be all she had left of her sister. The protective wall enclosing her fears broke open wide and her heart shattered.
“How could I have let this happen to Ashley?” Deb tried blinking back the tears in her eyes, but they slid down her cheeks. “I knew something was wrong that night, and I didn’t act on it. I failed her.”
Without hesitation, Gabe strode over to her. “Don’t push me away again, Deb,” he said. “Let me be here for you.” With that he wrapped her trembling body into his. He held her close, stroking her hair.
She shook her head against his shoulder. “This is stupid. I don’t cry. I never cry.”
He didn’t say a word, just quietly held her, sturdy, secure, solid. Finally, Deb couldn’t fight the ba
ttle to stay strong any longer. She collapsed against him, needing his comfort, accepting her vulnerability for one of the first times in her life. Somehow, despite all the horrible things happening around her, he made her feel safe.
With her head against his chest, she felt his heartbeat, its steady rhythm so calming to her battered psyche. His protectiveness soothed her spirit, made her feel less alone.
She loved that he towered over her. At five-nine, she’d been as tall as most of her colleagues in her unit, but Gabe was much taller than her. At least six-three.
She sighed, absently running her hand across his strong chest. His breath caught, his arms tensing around her. She stilled, a deep awareness rising within.
Was she wrong to want comfort? To escape, for a moment, from the grief that had been with her constantly since that phone call?
Being vulnerable scared her so. But right now, she needed whatever he could give her.
She needed his kiss and his touch.
She lifted her chin. He stared into her eyes, his own turning dark with passionate recognition. His fingertips drifted over her hair and he wiped away a tear from her cheek, his touch oh so gentle, as if afraid she’d pull away.
She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. His gaze held her prisoner. The world around her seemed to blur, as if the moment included only her standing in his arms.
Slowly, tenderly, Gabe lowered his mouth to hers. She closed her eyes. How long had it been since someone had touched her the way Gabe did?
She couldn’t even remember.
Deb had kept herself apart from the men in her company. Fraternization only caused strife. She had to be one of the guys over there.
How long since she’d felt like this?
Or yearned for a sensitive caress, not hard and fast, but slow and . . . heartfelt?
With a sigh, she leaned in closer, her tongue edging out to taste him. A slight tang of coffee and something wonderfully male. A rumble started low in his chest and he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth.
When he lifted his head, his hooded gaze met hers.
Dazed by the emotions rising within her, she simply stared at him.
“Wow,” she said softly.
“Yeah,” Gabe whispered. “I won’t tell you how many nights I dreamed of what you would taste like. Better than I imagined.”
Heat rose into her face and she bit her lip. She wasn’t anything special. He didn’t know it yet, but she’d made a lot of mistakes. She’d disappointed a lot of people. She hoped Gabe would never know.
She took a step back and cleared her throat. “Um, I’m not sure this was a good idea.”
“Why? It felt like a really great one to me, and you weren’t backing away.” Gabe frowned and stroked her cheek. “It’s not wrong to need someone.”
She leaned into his touch. He made her feel too much—from the inside out. “It could complicate things. I need to stay focused on finding Ashley, no distractions.”
He dragged a fingertip down her arm and the hairs on her skin stood on end. A shudder ran through her—the good kind.
“I know you’re right,” Gabe said, his brown eyes flashing, heated with unfulfilled passion. “This isn’t the best time for either of us.”
Reluctantly, he stepped back. “But I also know this, Deborah Lansing. If it weren’t for your sister’s disappearance and a few compelling commitments on my part, I’d be backing you into your bedroom and we wouldn’t come out for a week.”
She swallowed, wishing life could be so different.
“Can I take a rain check on that week?” she asked.
Gabe gave her a devilish grin and kissed her again. “You got it.”
The tall expanse of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office building loomed high near the foothills. Gabe hadn’t entered Jeffco during business hours in months. Not since his very public exit because of his injury.
He let his limp grow more pronounced. Deb met his gaze and he recognized the comprehension in her eyes.
“You play the role well,” she whispered. “I assume this is part of your . . . compelling commitment? I’ll go along.”
Damn. She knew exactly what he was doing. Part of him was furious at giving the truth away, the other part was glad. It lightened his heart to have one person besides John Garrison who knew.
He couldn’t respond, though. Not here. He led her through the bullpen among curious stares. A couple of the musketeers were at their desks, and the heat of their glares followed Gabe the whole way. Crap. He should have done this over the phone.
Neil Wexler looked up from his desk, his eyes revealing his exhaustion.
“You look like hell, Detective,” Gabe said. “Working round the clock now, buddy? That’s dedication.”
Neil stood slowly and nodded. “It’s something, anyway.”
Gabe started at the fleeting sadness he saw in his friend’s eyes before Neil masked it. He hoped nothing was wrong on the home front. He and his wife should still be in honeymoon bliss.
“Have you heard something?” Gabe asked.
“About Ashley? No.” Neil shook both their hands and he sank with a weary sigh into his chair. “But I understand you’ve been busy in Colorado Springs making new friends.”
Deb winced, and Gabe shut the door without being asked. Neil was acting strange and, with the musketeers around, Gabe wasn’t about to talk about anything like the video.
He held out a chair for Deb. “I let my temper get the best of me,” she admitted, taking a seat.
Neil rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I understand, but you didn’t help things. And I don’t have any more information if that’s why you’re here. I did sign out the Shannon Devlin cold case file. I also talked with the police in Taos. Definite connection. They identified the car, but they’re waiting on Forensics to identify the bodies. No one has any doubt, though.”
Gabe leaned forward. “Something’s here, Neil.” He laid out the evidence. The video, the missing kids. P.O.E.
Neil’s entire demeanor changed. He sat up straight. “Three kids in three days?” He grabbed a pen, snapped out questions, and started taking notes.
Gabe could feel some of the tension drain out of Deb at Neil’s reaction. He had to admit to his own sense of relief. At least someone didn’t think they’d taken a sanity detour.
When they were finished, Neil walked them to the door and opened it. “Keep in touch. I’ll let you know if anything important comes up.”
Deb hovered, and Gabe knew she wanted something more. Neil patted her arm. “I promise I won’t ignore Ashley.”
They nearly bumped into Sheriff Tower on the way out. He stood in the hall, staring at them, undisguised irritation on his face.
“Missing your old stomping grounds, Montgomery? I can’t imagine what would bring you in here?” The underlying menace in the sheriff’s voice couldn’t be missed. “Anything I should know?”
Gabe’s hand pressed into Deb’s back, hoping to calm the frustration pulsing from both of them—her because Neil hadn’t shown the urgency she’d hoped; him because Tower deserved a takedown. Smart and cool—that’s what the situation called for.
At least for now.
“Not a thing,” he said. “Checking in with an old colleague.”
Tower frowned. “Detective Wexler is a very busy man. If you want to fraternize with him, do it when he’s off duty. You are no longer one of my deputies. Remember that.”
I won’t be once you’re in prison. Gabe didn’t say the words aloud, but boy, he wished he could. This man had his hands dirty. Gabe couldn’t wait to nail Tower. After he and Deb found Ashley.
So he simply gave the sheriff a terse nod and motioned to his leg. “It’s kinda hard to forget.”
Tower stepped closer, straightening to his full height, meeting Gabe’s gaze eye to eye. “See that you don’t,
Montgomery. Your investigating days are over.” The sheriff’s attention snapped to Neil. “Detective, I think we should have a talk about your priorities. Now.”
After Gabe climbed behind the wheel of his SUV, he sent Wexler a quick text. Watch your back.
A short while later came the response, Watch yours, too.
Followed up by a second one. Seriously.
“I expect good behavior,” the Warden commented. He marched with two guards to the end of the hall. The line of teens stood silent in the white, spotless hallway. Every single one had a terrified expression on their face.
Ashley knew exactly how they felt.
She looked over at Justin and reached out a hand.
The sandy-haired-mop kid shook his head, giving her another warning, and glanced down at his shackles.
She withdrew her hand, but this was the first time she’d been near Justin. The Warden disappeared around the corner. Ashley peered up and down the hall carefully, then whispered to Justin. “They took us because of the NSA. They must want us to do it again.”
“I know,” he said, his voice low. “That’s not all, though. You’re not going to believe what I found out while I’ve been in here. Level 88 is real, Ashley. Everything we did in the game happened in real life. We broke into computers; we stole money; we stole user names and passwords. We did it all. And, once we downloaded the upgrade, they gained access to our computers.”
Ashley’s entire body went cold. “We hit Level 88 on my Air Force Academy computer. It’s networked. Justin, they teach military strategies on that system,” she hissed. “What have we done?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t intend to stay here,” he said softly. “We have to find a way out.”
“Damn it, shut up, you two,” the mop boy snapped. “Don’t you get it? Everything you do and say is monitored. This hallway has electronic surveillance. It’s not a stretch that they have someone who can read lips watching your interaction.”
The Warden and two guards finished their conversation and herded everyone toward a new corridor. A large letter B topped the doorway. Justin and Ashley exchanged glances. Time to take note of their surroundings and figure out an escape plan.
