His right leg bounced up and down. Enough waiting. The guy was almost ten minutes late at this rate, and yet he clung to hope. This stakeout had to work.
“When do we call it?” Helena asked through the radio. She was parked at the opposite side of the block. “And you’re practically bouncing the vehicle with all your fidgeting.”
He rolled his eyes in her direction. “No need to train the binoculars on me. Let’s give it a little longer.”
“Lorenza wants a status update. They’re about to start a staff meeting. We can join as audio only while we keep our eyes peeled. The team might have some ideas we haven’t thought of.”
His first instinct was to argue. In the last couple of years, he’d learned to tame the first instinct that claimed his way was the best way. Besides, if he needed to plead his case to stay in Nome longer, then he should stay on the colonel’s good side. “Yeah, okay.”
He clicked on the tablet mounted on his dash and turned his camera off. The plainclothes officers rounded the corner. So nothing in the back, either. What if there was another way to enter the B and B? One he hadn’t thought of. He was so focused he didn’t fully register Helena’s update to the team.
“It would be satisfying to still be there when you catch the guy,” Gabriel replied to Helena. “But a few more locals have spotted Terrence Kapowski. I think we’re getting close.”
“If the guy was hiding underwater, we’d already have him,” Brayden Ford said, in jest. His Newfoundland, Ella, specialized in underwater search and rescue.
“Hey,” Gabriel objected with a good-natured laugh. “Maybe if you hadn’t needed my help getting unstuck out of the mud, I would have him by now.”
Sean cracked his first real smile of the day. Brayden had the reputation of getting a little messy, but he always got the job done. His radio squawked. Sean hit the mute button on the team feed and answered.
“Nome Police Dispatch to Trooper West. Patching through an emergency call made about an Ivy West. It’s from her social worker?” The dispatcher sounded confused.
“Put it through.” He leaned forward, his chest constricting as a click was made over the radio. The sound of sniffing filled the speaker. “This is Trooper Sean West,” he said.
“I...I thought you called me earlier.” The woman’s voice trembled. “I called Ivy. She said you didn’t call, though. Then she hung up and there was no answer when I tried calling again to make sure she was okay.”
He cranked the ignition and turned the SUV around at high speed. He wasn’t sure he fully understood the woman, but one thing seemed certain. Ivy was in danger. “What exactly happened?” He flipped on the lights without sirens.
“I gave you—not you, as it turns out—directions to the bunker.”
His foot pressed the pedal to the floor, and he struggled to speak. “Thanks for your call, ma’am. I’ll check on her now.” He disconnected and swerved around other cars to get to the north exit of town. A quick glance in his rearview mirror revealed Helena’s lights flashing.
“What’s going on?” she asked through the radio. “You’re still muted on the team meeting.”
He untapped mute just before initiating a ninety-degree turn at full speed. “Possible hostage situation,” he said to the team, straining to keep his breathing even. “Our suspect presumably found enough information on Ivy’s phone to convince the social worker to give out her whereabouts. She’s not responding on her sat phone.”
Helena made up the distance between them, taking each sharp curve with him. Another set of lights blinked behind her. “I’ve got a Nome PD car remaining at the scene in case our suspect arrives. I’ve instructed the trooper stationed here to assist as backup.”
“I’ll put the Crisis Negotiation Team on standby until you’ve assessed the situation,” Lorenza added. “Keep us updated.”
“Yes, ma’am. About to lose signal.” Before he even disconnected the call, the feed ended. He bumped over the large rocks and ruts in the gravel road as he drove at top speed toward the unusual sight of White Alice on Anvil Mountain.
He grabbed his satellite phone, narrowly maintaining control with one hand, steering as he dialed the number that he’d left with Ivy. His heart raced. First ring. His stomach clenched. Second ring. His breathing grew hot and shallow. Third ring.
“Hello?” Ivy’s voice answered.
His foot slipped off the gas momentarily. He blinked rapidly in confusion. “Are you okay?”
“Sure, sure. Just about to get Dylan some watermelon.” The toddler wailed in the background and Ivy breathed heavily. “I should go now. He’s hungry. Have a safe trip.” Her voice sounded monotone.
He paused. She had no watermelon. That had been the prank she’d tried to pull on Gabriel until he found out they were eighty dollars with transport fees. And Sean wasn’t about to go on a trip. Someone was listening. “Thanks. I will,” he said gruffly.
“Bye.” Her voice caught and the line went dead.
He hit the radio. “He’s there. We’re likely dealing with a hostage situation. Proceed with caution and tell Lorenza to get that negotiation team on the line.”
Grace released a mournful whine in the back seat. She may not have understood what he had said on the radio, but she knew when he was hurting. “It’s going to be okay, girl. We’re going to get her back.” He exhaled. “Please,” he added as a one-word prayer.
The turn to the bunker was in sight. He couldn’t do it anymore. He couldn’t keep the shield up around his heart. What had all his caution brought him except heart-wrenching agony, anyway? It had made perfect sense when he decided fatherhood wasn’t for him. He could still love Ivy and his parents because they’d already existed, but he didn’t need to add new vulnerabilities to his life. Especially given his career.
Now it all seemed like rationale to cover up fear. He needed a different kind of shield around his heart. Faith was supposed to be like a shield, but it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be suffering. He’d have to cling to the faith that God was with him whatever may come. Easier said than done. But he wanted Him there with him not just in the hard times, but also the joyful times. Sean was tired of running from the good to avoid the bad. He just hoped he got to Ivy in time to tell her.
* * *
Ivy felt like she’d run a marathon, as hard as she was shivering. She dropped the phone. “Why? Why’d you have me answer?”
“It was the only way you were getting Dylan back.” The man’s smile turned her stomach.
“I’ve dropped my gun. I’ve pretended I’m fine. Let me pick him up.”
He shrugged but didn’t step away from the crib. She would have to approach, get close to the man in order to get Dylan. Ivy moved her eyes to her baby and his tearstained cheeks. She focused on him, only him, as she strode to the crib. Then, taking a deep, bolstering breath, she bent over and picked him up. The man grabbed the back of her hair and pulled, sending shards of pain through her skull. She screamed and Dylan’s own cries echoed hers. The man laughed and finally let go. Her head throbbed.
“I thought you might still have a little sensitive spot there.” He tilted his head and considered her. “I could’ve made it hurt worse.”
“What if I get you the jar of gold? You can go on your way.”
“You and your trooper ex-husband have cost me millions and you think a hundred grand will make up for it?” His laugh sounded hollow. “Oh, yeah, I know everything about you. Amazing what you can find out about a person by going through their phone.” He grinned. “Just takes a little technical know-how.”
Sky pressed herself against the front door. She’d stopped vocalizing but clearly didn’t want to be any closer to the vile man than Ivy did.
“I see you’ve stolen my dog and turned her against me?”
“Was she really your dog?”
He shrugged. “She became mine after her owner tried to double
-cross me, didn’t she?” His bloodshot eyes stared at her. “But I’m sick of traitors, so she can stay here and starve to death. You’re coming with me.”
She hugged Dylan closer.
“Make him stop crying.”
Ivy continued to take steps back. She repeated her plea. “I’ll get you the gold. You can take it and go far away.”
“You’re going to get me the gold and help me get out of here, sweetheart. And we both know the only way I’m getting away now is with a hostage. You helped the troopers, didn’t you? Only a local would’ve figured it out. You scared away my investors. Yeah, that’s right. I’ve been keeping an eye on them.”
“It was your inheritance, right?” she volleyed back. “You tried to cover it up with a trustee and agent—”
“All me.” He smiled as if proud.
“Maybe there’s still gold there. If you’d just worked the land maybe—”
“That inheritance was a slap in the face!” he shouted. “My father never gave my mom any money while he had it. Not when she was dying, either. Didn’t so much as meet me. Ever. I’m taking my fair share one way or another.” His voice reverberated on the walls. “Those people you ran off had money to spare, and they don’t deserve it if they’re stupid, anyway.” He pointed the gun at her. “Get the gold and head for the door.”
He thought she had the gold in the bunker? She hesitated. If she clarified, he might shoot them. She lifted the diaper bag up and over her shoulder and let him assume it was in there until they were out of the bunker, with more options. He narrowed his eyes. He was questioning if she had it.
“Did you know Francine hid the gold in the gear I needed for him?” She nodded at Dylan. “At the mission. Before she met you outside.”
His lips thinned. “I knew she must have hidden it in your shop. I’d followed her straight from the dredge. She thought she could bargain with me after she betrayed me. Enough talk. Go.”
Please, Lord, help me see a way out.
She turned to the door, opened the first one and looked over her shoulder before opening the second. He’d put on a mask. Her stomach threatened to heave. He’d been lying. This man had no intention of letting them live if he had a mask on. She’d been the only one to see his face.
The perimeter alarm rang out.
“What’s that?”
She felt her pulse in her throat. Dylan clung to her shirt, unusually silent, clearly terrified. Sky still shook against the door. The beep had to indicate Sean had come. She didn’t know how he would have made it back so quickly, but she needed to buy some time. “Maybe it’s the security system rebooting. What’d you do to it, anyway?”
His jaw clenched. “Shouldn’t have been able to reboot,” he mumbled. “Move!”
He’d also mentioned he would leave poor Sky here to starve. But Sean would return. He’d find her and make sure she was adopted by a good home. Her throat tightened from the tension of not being able to cry. He pushed her back and she rushed out of the bunker.
The moment her feet touched earth his arm snaked around her shoulders. A sharp point pressed into her lower back. It had to be the gun. Dylan wailed.
“Do exactly as I say.” The man’s loud voice directly in her ear made her flinch. His foul breath turned her stomach.
“State Troopers! Put your hands up!” Sean’s voice rang out loud and clear.
The man twisted, forcing her to turn with him. Three SUVs barricaded the only way out, and three officers poked their heads slightly above the open driver’s doors they hunkered behind. She couldn’t see any way for this to end peacefully. She couldn’t turn her head far enough to meet Sean’s eyes. Someone was going to get hurt. She prayed it wouldn’t be Sean or Dylan. Let it be me.
* * *
Sean kept his hands firmly on the gun, his finger off the trigger, but only a fraction of an inch away. The man kept his head and most of his body behind Ivy and Dylan. He might as well have been pointing a gun at his heart.
Grace whined inside the SUV.
The first and most important step to hostage negotiation was to establish a communication, a rapport of sorts. He was supposed to use empathy and build trust. How was he supposed to do that when the man held a gun to the love of his life? The rest of the steps included things like patience and active listening and staying calm.
“You still want to take the lead in negotiations?” Helena said in his ear.
The one thing he wanted most was their safety. And despite trying so hard, here was proof that ultimately that was out of his control once again. The wise thing would be to give up that control. He felt it in his bones. Help me be alert and see our chance to save her, Lord.
He reached up and touched the earpiece. “No. We need someone to stay calm and keep him calm until the crisis team gets here.”
Helena offered the negotiation to Phil, the trooper stationed in Nome who had arrived last. Even though this moment seemed like the biggest failure in his life, an odd peace slowed his heart rate.
The armed captor swiveled, waving his gun angrily. Sean stepped a touch closer to the edge of the door. Ivy’s gaze reached Sean, and his skin felt electric. Oh, how he loved this woman, and he’d never told her properly.
He felt Grace brush against the back of his legs. At least, he thought it was her. Sean didn’t dare shift his attention away from the gunman, in case he lowered his guard, in case they got a safe shot. It would be extremely unlikely Grace would maneuver herself through the small space between the front and back seats in the unmarked SUV. This one was a normal Ford Explorer, not a police utility meant for transporting prisoners, but Grace never got out unless he asked her to.
His peripheral caught a flash of fur to his right. She’d just proved him wrong.
“Did I just see Grace make a run for it?” Helena asked.
Sean darted his eyes to the right for a split second. Grace stayed low, running far to the east side of the small foothill. She was going up and over the back end of the bunker. What was she doing? The first day he’d brought her home flashed in his mind, and the way Ivy had loved on her. He’d ordered Grace to protect Ivy and Dylan a few times over the last few days. She knew the command wasn’t still in play, but she still seemed determined to protect.
Grace only did that without a verbal command for him.
And his family. The realization took his breath away. Grace knew he loved them.
“If we just got him to lower his gun for a split second, I would tell Luna to attack,” Helena murmured.
“Crisis team has just left. Ninety minutes away,” Phil said in the earpiece. “I’ve been given the clear to start dialogue.” The crackle of the trooper’s external radio speaker being activated caused the gunman to swivel slightly in Phil’s direction. “This is—”
“Don’t even try talking!” The man waved the gun. “Just back your cars up and get out of our way.”
A ferocious growl echoed throughout the valley of foothills. Ivy screamed and the gunman flinched. A blur of fur lunged at the back of the assailant’s knees. He momentarily stumbled. Grace then jumped off her back legs and latched on to the man’s hand that held the gun.
Ivy glanced down and elbowed the guy in the gut with her right arm. She was able to step away with Dylan still in her left arm.
“Ivy! Run!” Sean stepped out from behind the safety of his door. He sprinted like never before. If he could just get in front of them... The gun was still in the man’s hands, despite his shouts for Grace to get off.
Halfway there. He pumped his arms as hard as possible, his focus on Ivy’s wide, fearful eyes and Dylan’s head, buried in her chest.
“Drop your weapon or another dog will attack,” Helena shouted.
Grace continued her low growl, whipping her head left and right until the gun dropped to the gravel. Sean wanted nothing more than to continue running for Ivy, to wrap
his arms around her and Dylan, but instead he turned to the suspect. The man could have more than one gun.
Grace was still latched on to the guy’s wrist. He’d never trained her to attack, so asking her to release the same way Helena did with Luna wouldn’t work. Helena and Luna and Phil ran up behind him. “Grace,” Sean yelled. “Come!”
Thankfully, Grace heard him call over the man’s hollers, let go and ran his way, her mouth hanging open, as close to a real smile as he’d ever seen. She was proud of herself. “Good dog!”
Helena grabbed the man’s arms, and Phil kicked the gun far away. The moment the man’s hands were behind his back, Helena began reading him his rights.
Sean whirled around to reach for Ivy, but she was already stooped over, lavishing praise and thanks on Grace. “Thank you, Grace! Good protect. Thank you.” She glanced up, tears in her eyes. “Thank you, too. I have no idea how you found out or got here so fast—”
“Yace,” Dylan said, half laughing with shuddering breaths.
Sean turned toward a warbling bark. Sky bounded in their direction from the bunker, a leash trailing behind her. Someone must have let her out. With so much commotion, had he missed his chance to pull Ivy into his arms and tell her how he felt? Would she even consider giving him a second chance? He didn’t deserve one, and he knew it.
She looked up at him shyly. He needed to grab the moment before it was lost forever.
“Ivy...” He wasn’t sure how to start, but he couldn’t go back to normal.
Her eyes widened, and she dived for him with her free arm. He caught her and Dylan easily. But he felt an unnatural tightening around the back of his legs. At once, he spotted the problem. Sky’s leash had wrapped around both their legs, but Grace held Sky’s leash in her mouth, with that same fox-like smile. Helena’s laughter reached their ears. Phil had placed the suspect in the back of his trooper vehicle. The danger had passed. Finally.
“A little help?” Ivy called out.
Helena waved. “I think you and Sean can figure this one out yourselves. See you back at the trooper post.”
Arctic Witness Page 17
