Seconds to Live

by Susan Sleeman

  “Wow, just wow.” Sean sat shaking his head. “We were so wrong. Why was her picture in the database?”

  “Two reasons. She was arrested about five years ago for identity theft via hacking.”

  “Makes sense. And the other reason?”

  “Her family once applied for witness protection but were denied.”

  “What?” Taylor looked at Sean, whose mouth had fallen open.

  “Her parents were low-level criminals in Philadelphia who witnessed a mob murder. They testified as a way to reduce charges they had pending, but then they thought better of it. Tried to get into the program, only there was no obvious threat. So they moved to Portland to hide out. Unfortunately, they were murdered a few years later. The police never proved it was related to the trial, but the records say Primm blamed the Marshals for not protecting them.”

  “Another motive for hacking the database,” Sean said.

  Taylor could hardly believe it. She knew one thing, though. “She sounds very unstable.”

  “Exactly. Far more than I would expect for a woman who’s able to write logical and high-level code to complete nearly impossible hacks.” Kiley took a long breath. “I’m still piecing some things together, and I’ll call if there’s anything else you need to know. But thought you’d want to know that you might be on a wild-goose chase.”

  “Great work, Kiley.” Sean smiled. “Text me her picture so we know who we’re looking for.”

  “Will do the moment I disconnect.” The screen went blank.

  “This is unbelievable,” Taylor said.

  “Yeah.” Sean shook his head. “Maybe we should have been more open to it being a woman all along.”

  “That’s just hindsight talking. She’s been representing herself as a man, and all visual sightings have been male. There’s no way anyone would have questioned Phantom’s gender. Not even a super team like yours. There was just no basis for such speculation.”

  His phone dinged, and he shared the image of Natalie Primm. She had short black hair, one side shaved, the other long and hanging over her eyes. A nose ring and multiple lip piercings and a deep and intimidating scowl rounded out a scary picture.

  “One tough-looking woman,” Sean said.

  And one Taylor could believe might commit murder and not think twice about it.

  “I’d say we could wrap this up, but her associate could come back and lead us to her.” Sean turned to pick up the camera. “I’ll keep an eye out for both of them. Go ahead and catch some shut-eye.”

  “Can we talk about Jeremy first?” She really wanted to talk about lying to Sean, but she couldn’t say the words.

  “I need to think about it first.” His voice was devoid of all emotion.

  Though she preferred his anger to this, she thought she deserved whatever she got from him. She crawled into the bed and pulled her knees up to her chest. She forgot all about Primm, and tears welled in her eyes. Sean was just like her parents. He knew she deserved blame for Jeremy’s death, and on top of that, she lied to him. He still warred with the pain of betrayal, and she couldn’t have done anything that would hurt him more.

  And this thing between them? This beautiful, wonderful thing that had her feeling hope and joy for the first time in years was over. Over before it even got started.

  Sean kept his attention trained out the window and heard Taylor moving in her sleeping bag behind him. He wanted to discuss the fact that he’d been all wrong about Phantom, but he couldn’t talk to her right now. His brain couldn’t let go of the fact that she’d lied to him. Lied! He’d come to trust her, and she lied. Everyone lied to him. Everyone!

  He’d been foolish to think she would be different, and now he had a big gaping hole in his heart where his feelings for her lived. And even with that, the pain she carried over her brother tore out another giant hole, and he’d wanted to comfort her.

  Was he just a glutton for punishment? Sure seemed like it.

  I finally open up and this happens? Why? Why?

  With his trust broken and heart crushed, he wanted nothing to do with her, or with trusting God. And now here he was with hours until daylight to think about it. If only Primm or the guy posing as Jorgenson would show up. Give Sean something to do other than sit in the dark and think.

  Where was Phantom anyway? Would she show up here, or was this all about the impersonator and nothing about Primm?

  Sean closed down his mind and stared ahead. Focused on the tent. On his career. On what he wanted in life. Things he wanted before spending this week with Taylor. He could go back to concentrating on that. But it held no appeal. None.

  Shut it down. Toughen up. Be the man you used to be. The one who didn’t let anyone in.

  He clenched his hands and emptied his brain. The night passed, the hours, like weeks in his mind. Finally, the sun was starting to rise, and there was still no sign of anyone at the campsite.

  Sean pulled back from the camera and rubbed his eyes. Taylor hadn’t moved lately. Hopefully she’d finally fallen asleep, and he wouldn’t have to look her in the eye for some time and see the cold light of betrayal. A look he could never have imagined seeing there.

  His phone rang. He quickly answered before even looking to see who it was. “Sean Nichols.”

  “Dustee’s missing,” Kiley blurted out.

  “What?” He blinked to process the news. “What do you mean missing?”

  “She took off. Split out her bedroom window. Not sure what time. Dianne just reported it.”

  “Let me put this on speaker so Taylor can join in the conversation.” He tapped the button and held out the phone to Taylor. “Dustee’s missing.”

  She shot up. “Do you think that’s where Primm is? That she took Dustee?”

  “There’s no sign of forced entry,” Kiley said. “And I know the lock was engaged. I checked all of them before bed. So it doesn’t look like she left under duress.”

  Sean asked Taylor, “Any idea where she would go? What she would do?”

  Taylor shook her head. “She doesn’t do much outside of work other than shop. I can’t imagine she got up in the middle of the night to go to the mall.”

  “What if we were wrong?” Kiley said. “What if she is working with Phantom, and she went to meet him?”

  Taylor clasped her hands together, her gaze wild and unfocused. “I just don’t see that happening. She has issues, but she wouldn’t do that.”

  “Did she take her phone?” Sean asked.

  “Yes,” Kiley said.

  “Get a warrant to ping it,” Sean instructed. “And get locals out there to do a grid search. Call Anna to process the area. We’ll keep an eye out for Dustee here. If Primm or the other guy shows up with her, we’ll let you know.”

  “Roger that,” Kiley replied. “And I’m sorry, Taylor. I know you trusted us to take care of her.”

  Sean snorted. “Trust. What’s that?”

  “Something else wrong, boss?” Kiley asked.

  “No.” Sean ended the call and turned his attention back to the camera.

  “Do you really think Dustee betrayed us?” Taylor asked.

  “Honestly, no. I bought into her story and her sincerity.” He met Taylor’s gaze and held it. “But then people lie, and some are very good at it.”

  Taylor came over and sat in the chair next to him. “I know you mean me.”

  “Everyone is capable of lying.” He gave her a pointed look, and she cringed. He should feel bad about that, but his heart ached. Like a knife blade had pierced it. He got that he wouldn’t feel such pain if he didn’t love Taylor. But could he forgive her?

  He looked back into the camera. A rusty blue pickup with a small boat fastened upside down on the bed pulled into the campsite and parked.

  “We have action,” Sean said.

  Taylor jumped up and came over to peek out the window.

  “Female driving the vehicle. Female passenger.” Sean focused the lens on the driver. “It’s Primm.”

  S
ean switched to the other woman and took a sharp breath.

  “What is it?” Taylor asked. “Let me see.”

  He backed away from the camera to let her look and decide what to do next.

  “It’s Dustee.” Taylor jerked back. “Her mouth is duct-taped.” Taylor drew her sidearm and started for the door. “I’m going after her.”

  Sean grabbed her good arm. “Hold on. Primm has a gun.”

  “Gun!” She jerked free. “We have to save Dustee. I can’t let someone die again. It’s my fault. I should’ve been with her, but I let my selfish desire to be here take over.”

  “Stop!” Sean raised his voice to break through her panic.

  She looked at him.

  “Let me see what Primm’s doing before we go rushing off.” Talk about role reversal for them. He focused the camera wide again. Primm marched into the tent. “We might have a moment before she comes back out.”

  Taylor was at the door and around the building before Sean could even stand. He caught up to her in time to see Primm charge back out of the tent carrying a tote bag that she flung into the truck bed. Her phone rang.

  “What?” she answered, sounding irritated by the interruption. She kept her free hand on her weapon and glared at the truck. “Yes. I’m fine. We’re here. I’ve got her.” She frowned. “Look. I’ve told you like a million times. Revenge is mine. Only mine. You may be the face of Phantom because everyone expects a man, but someone betrays me and I get to take care of it. Me. Me alone. If you don’t start accepting that, I’m going to cut you loose.”

  CHAPTER 31

  “PRIMM’S LEAVING.” Taylor glanced at Sean, panic clutching at her stomach. “We have to do something.”

  “We’ll follow them.” Sean didn’t waste time, but ran into the yurt. He came out a few seconds later with an ammo bag and charged for the Jeep.

  Taylor jumped into the passenger’s seat. “Hurry.”

  Sean held up a hand. “Wait. We have to give her a bit of a lead so she doesn’t see us.”

  Taylor didn’t want to hang back, but Sean was right. Their being seen wasn’t in Dustee’s best interests. Sean gave it a minute before pulling out behind the truck that barreled down the narrow road, kicking up dust. He kept his distance but remained close enough for them to see Primm turn onto North River Road.

  Not the river road.

  “I don’t like this.” Taylor checked the clip in her gun. “Is Primm planning to take Dustee downriver? Or maybe take her out in the middle and dump her overboard while she’s tied up?”

  “Could be, but we’ll intervene before that happens.” Sean sounded confident.

  Taylor would feel a lot better if they had backup from Sean’s teammates. “Why didn’t we bring the whole team?”

  “We were on a scouting mission. Everyone showing up would draw attention. No way could we have planned for something like this to happen.” He frowned. “Or maybe I should have.”

  Taylor got a sinking feeling in her stomach. This was just like Jeremy. She’d thought she had time and then she didn’t. Would this end tragically as well?

  “I pray you’re right,” she whispered and hated hearing the panic in her own voice. “She’s my responsibility, and I can’t fail another person.”

  “First, you didn’t fail your brother.” He sounded understanding instead of angry. Not at all like her parents had reacted. “Jeremy chose to end his life. Even if you’d told your parents about the pills, there’s no way of knowing he wouldn’t have tried and succeeded later. So you can’t blame yourself for that. And this? This is nothing like your brother. Dustee chose to leave. She would’ve done the same thing even if you’d been there. And now you’re here where you can help her. You can’t take personal responsibility for everyone under your care. You can do your best and then that’s it.”

  “And is that how you feel about the Montgomery Three? You did your best and that’s it?”

  “No, but I—”

  “No buts. It’s the same thing. We have the same problem, you and I. We can’t trust ourselves, because we can’t trust others or God. We spout the words. Go through the motions. But actually trusting? Nah, we don’t succeed.”

  He glanced at her, sadness in his eyes. He didn’t speak, but returned his focus to the road ahead.

  No matter what he said or might say, Dustee’s safety was Taylor’s responsibility. She would like to believe his claim that she wasn’t responsible for Jeremy, but what did it matter? By lying to Sean, she’d also blown any chance of a future with him. That didn’t matter now, though. Not when Dustee deserved Taylor’s very best. And that meant letting all of this go and focusing on the one task in front of her.

  She stared through the dust down the road where Primm’s truck made a sharp right turn.

  “She’s pulling into that white-water rafting business.” Taylor pointed ahead at a small building with a Closed for the Season sign out front. Just to the side of the building, a ramp or driveway ran down to the river, and a chain was stretched taut across it. But Primm plowed through the chain, made a quick three-point turn, and backed toward the water.

  “She’s going to unload the boat.” And Dustee too came to Taylor’s mind, but she couldn’t say it out loud.

  Sean slowed the Jeep. Primm jumped out and went to the other side of her battered truck. Her face was glazed with anger as she dragged Dustee out of the vehicle. Her hands were bound with the same tape, her eyes wide with terror.

  Taylor thought she might throw up, but she ignored the feeling and lowered her window to listen to what Primm was saying to Dustee. The wind caught Primm’s words, and they drifted out of reach.

  Dustee vehemently shook her head. Primm backhanded her, causing her head to whip backward. Primm spoke again. Dustee nodded, and Primm shoved her into the back of the truck. Dustee lifted her hands to the boat. Primm rushed to the other side. Together they removed the small rowboat.

  “Primm’s going to take Dustee out on the river.” Panicked, Taylor scanned the area, looking for a solution. She spotted a caution sign ahead, and her stomach dropped. “No. Oh no. This is a class-four rapids area. This is bad. Really bad. How could I let Dustee get into this position?” She grabbed Sean’s arm. “We have to do something.”

  “Not yet. We’ll wait a few more minutes until we can approach without being seen.”

  “No. Now!” Taylor bolted out of the Jeep, crossed the road, and slipped into the edge of the woods before Sean even got his door open. He watched her, shock in his gaze. Primm must have heard Taylor, as she stared in their direction, which meant Sean had to stay put.

  Taylor kept moving, passing Primm, who was now setting the boat into the water. Seeing that Primm was too busy to notice her, Taylor sprinted across the road and into the scrub alongside the boat ramp.

  “Ready for that ride now?” Primm laughed, high and shrill. “Class-four rapids with your hands tied should be fun.”

  “Mmmm,” Dustee said behind the tape. She squirmed, her eyes frantic.

  Primm nodded, looking determined. “Guess you’re wishing you hadn’t responded to my email, but how could you refuse when I took the fall for both of us back in the day? Back when we were friends.”

  Taylor stared at them, incredulous. Dustee knew Primm? Crazy. So that was why she’d left the safe house. To see an old friend.

  “Poor little Dustee. You had no idea I’m Phantom,” Primm said. “But I knew who you were. Was just biding my time until I could end your life. Then the stupid Marshals take you into the program when decent people can’t even get into it.”

  Dustee started to cry, big tears rolling over her high cheeks and dripping to the dew-covered ground. Taylor silently made her way closer and glanced back to check on Sean. He remained with the Jeep.

  Primm’s expression suddenly cleared, and she clapped her hands, the sound echoing into the sky and sending birds flapping. “But now . . . now I exact my revenge. On you. On the Marshals. Into the boat, my little pet.”

&
nbsp; Please, God. Please show me how to save Dustee.

  Dustee shook her head.

  “Would you rather I blow your brains out?” Primm lifted her gun. Placed it on Dustee’s forehead. Leaned her face toward Dustee, just inches away now, and pressed her backward. “Or gut you like Enzo? You did hear about him, right? It’s a little messier, but it’s my preferred method.”

  Dustee shook her head hard.

  “I’m already cutting you slack because you’re a woman, and it’s hard to get ahead in the hacking world—any world—as a woman. Men just don’t take us seriously, do they? Don’t think we’re capable of enforcement when someone screws up.” Primm lifted her shoulders. “I might have brought Linc in to be the face of Phantom, but I do the killing.” She jabbed her thumb into her own chest. “Me. I do it. Got it?”

  Dustee nodded, her eyes wide like a wounded animal seeking comfort.

  Primm stood back, a cool gaze now fixed on Dustee. “Then be a sweetheart and get in the boat.”

  Dustee trudged slowly forward. Primm followed and helped her climb in.

  “Revenge is the sweetest.” Primm gave the boat a shove, and the current caught the bow. “Buh-bye, my pet.”

  Primm spun and charged up the ramp, her back to Taylor. She didn’t think twice. She had her opening. Her chance to save Dustee. She bolted out of the scrub and shot down the incline to plunge into the water. She hit hard. Icy, sharp. Shocking, it stole her breath.

  “No, Taylor! No!” Sean yelled. “It’s too cold.”

  As the water took her, she had to agree with his assessment. The frigid water paralyzed her muscles, and she couldn’t move. Not a fraction of an inch.

  CHAPTER 32

  SEAN STOOD HORRIFIED for a moment. Frozen in place. Watching. Fearing.

  Taylor clung to the edge of the boat and hauled herself in. She was out of the water but facing class-four rapids with an injured arm and soaking wet clothes. He had to go after her, but he had to get through Primm first. And Sean had blown his cover when he called out.

  Stupid mistake, but it just happened. He’d think about how and why later.