Laurel Heights 3

by Lisa Worrall

  “Sorry,” Scott mumbled, his cheeks warming. “I keep wondering if I should pinch myself to make sure I’m not dream—ow!” He took one hand off the wheel to rub his bicep, which she had just given a hearty pinch.

  “See,” Ally replied brightly. “Not a dream.”

  “Yeah.” Scott shook his head. “I get that.”

  “So?” Ally smiled at him.

  “So, what?” He was confused.

  “So, Will… tell me, everything.” She drew out the word as he eased the car to a stop at the red light.

  “Everything?”

  She blushed wildly. “Okay, maybe not everything.”

  “I didn’t think so. Still a prude, huh?” Scott giggled. He felt lighter than he had in years. As if a hole in his heart had finally been filled.

  “Let’s just start with how you met.” Ally ignored the tease.

  It was as he opened his mouth to give Ally the details she so desperately needed that Scott felt the muzzle of the gun pressed to the back of his head. It was also the moment the lights changed and the car beside him moved off. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Ally looking at the other traffic then at him, and back again, obviously confused, as they didn’t follow suit. After a few moments, the driver in the car behind them leaned on their horn and Ally turned to him.

  “The lights are green, Scottie.”

  “You heard the lady, Scottie.” The voice came from the footwell behind the driver’s seat. “Drive.” Ally screamed as the figure behind Scott’s chair slid up and onto the back seat. The horn behind them sounded again and the cold steel of the gun was jammed into the soft skin at the nape of his neck. “I said, drive.”

  “Where to?” Scott was surprised by how calm he sounded.

  “Pull over next to that streetlight up there on the right.”

  Scott nodded, a spark of relief flowing through him as he noted the flurry of people making their way up and down the sidewalk. That spark immediately sputtered when the man added, “And don’t even think about being a hero.”

  His heart screamed at him to lean on the horn, attract the attention of other drivers, anything. But his head was counting the possible loss of life either one of those scenarios would involve, and not just his and Ally’s. He kept his breathing steady and let his training take over. Remain calm and assess the situation. Well, the situation was easy. He was driving in a minivan with the sister he hadn’t seen in sixteen years with some asshole who wanted to kill them both. The only plus was that their stowaway would obviously have to take them somewhere quiet, then Scott could make his—

  “I know what you’re thinking, Scott and don’t be stupid,” the voice was gruff in his ear, breath warm on his skin. “Just because shooting you both in the head isn’t part of the plan, doesn’t mean I won’t.”

  Scott lifted his hand in apology to the car behind and eased his foot down on the gas, moving forward. He glanced in the rearview mirror but whoever had a gun to his head had shrunk back into the shadows. Not that he would have been able to gage the size of their assailant from a seating position anyway, although he did get a brief glimpse of broad shoulders.

  Excellent work, Turner. It’s a man with broad shoulders. Milo would laugh you out of his office.

  He ignored his inner moron and the reference to the department’s resident sketch artist, trying to concentrate on both the traffic ahead and the psycho behind as he pulled over next to the streetlight and waited.

  “Good job, Scottie. You’re doing great.” The man said brightly. “Now, if you would kindly hand your cell phone to Ally, Scott. That’s it. And Ally if you could take yours out, too. Fabulous. Now, Ally, open your window and toss both of them into the trash can.”

  “Scott?” Ally’s terrified gaze met Scott’s and he nodded for her to do as she was told, the weight in his stomach growing. She pressed the window button and leaned out of the car a little to drop their lifelines into the trash. His heart sunk as he heard them hit the bottom with a hollow thud. The asshole might be a murdering sociopath, but he obviously knew what he was doing. Most would have been too caught up in the thrill of the hunt to get rid of the GPS.

  “What now?” Scott ground out as Ally closed the window.

  “Straight ahead until I tell you otherwise.”

  “Scott?” Ally’s voice shook with fear.

  Scott shot her a smile. He only hoped it didn’t look as unnatural as it felt. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “Everything’s going to be okay.” The cold response from the back seat sent a shiver down his spine.

  “No, it’s really not.”

  “What do you want?” Scott asked, shooting a glance at Ally, who was hunched against the door, clinging to her seatbelt.

  “Please,” the man scoffed. “You can do better than that.”

  “Okay. Why?”

  “Don’t insult me. Left at the next intersection.”

  Scott signaled the turn and completed the maneuver before he spoke again. “You don’t have to do this, you know.” He winced at the jab of the gun against his skull.

  “Are you planning on going through the whole hostage 101 seminar? ‘Cause that would be tedious,” the man said sarcastically. “Just drive.”

  Scott took each turn as instructed until the fully lit streets faded and they headed into the dark quiet of the industrial part of town. Fuck! He hated being right.

  “Stop.”

  He eased the car to a stop outside what looked like an old factory and stared up at the building. In the dark it loomed over them with a sense of foreboding, its glass eyes gazing out on the world with a diffident air. A quick glance at the dashboard clock told him they’d left the house forty-five minutes ago. Not quite long enough for Will and Matt to become concerned. Not yet anyway.

  “To the right of the entrance is an underground parking lot,” their captor said, waving the gun in the general direction. “Drive down the ramp and park in the far-left corner.”

  Every fiber of his being screamed at him not to, but with the gun pointed at his head, and his sister beside him, he didn’t have a whole lot of choices. Squaring his shoulders, Scott turned down the ramp and squealed to a stop exactly where he’d been told to, next to a small flight of stairs that led up to a door marked private. He worried at his lower lip. This place looked as though it hadn’t been used in years, although they still had power. The overhead lights highlighted the cobwebs that hung from the ceiling and, even from inside the car, he could see the dust on the floor was thick and undisturbed. Well, if you want somewhere dark and dingy to kill people, this is as good a place as any. He pushed the thought away as their unwanted passenger opened the back door and got out.

  “Scott.” Ally grabbed his hand and he gripped her fingers tightly.

  “Just do as he says, honey,” he said with as reassuring a smile as he could summon up. “I’m going to get us out of here. I promise.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Hey,” he said softly. “It’s going to be okay. You protected me and now it’s my turn to protect you.” He quirked an eyebrow. “Okay?” She nodded just as the passenger door was yanked open and she screamed Scott’s name as the man pulled her out onto the ground. “Hey!” he yelled, crawling across the seats after her, freezing when the man wound his hand in her long dark hair and pressed the gun to her temple.

  “That’s far enough,” the man growled. “Get out of the car slowly, unless you want to see your sister’s pretty brains splattered all over the wall.”

  Scott eased himself out of the car and got a chance to study the man properly for the first time. About six foot, broad in the shoulder but lean rather than built. Dressed in black, the coward wore a ski mask, so all he could see were piercing blue eyes. Scott held his hands out in supplication, his gaze flitting between the man holding her and his sister. “Okay,” he said calmly. “I’m out.”

  He waved the gun toward the stairs. “Up there, and don’t try anything stupid. Keep your hands where I can see them.
”

  Scott reluctantly turned his back on his sister and walked slowly up the stairs, keeping his hands up and out to the side. The last thing he wanted was for the man’s trigger finger to get itchy.

  “Go inside.”

  Scott pushed open the door and walked into what looked like an old locker room. Overalls hung on hooks above the benches in the middle of the room and locker doors stood open like ancient rusty mouths. He wrinkled his nose. The mustiness of years of absence hung in the air like a fine mist, the scent filling his nostrils and pricking the back of his throat. He was marched along a corridor, turning left and right, until they reached what was obviously an office. Scott took a quick inventory of the room, finding the exits and anything he could use as a weapon. Let him get into the room, then make a quick turn, he won’t be expecting it, knock him out with the phone and—

  Scott moaned low in his throat as the playback stopped abruptly. Funny how he’d been thinking exactly how he was going to disarm this asshole when the bastard cheated and side-swiped him with the butt of the gun.

  “Scott? Scott? Are you okay?”

  Scott turned his head to see Ally tied to the chair beside him. He cursed as he saw the way the rope bit into her slim wrists and ankles but gave her a wan smile. “Yeah. You?” She nodded and he blinked owlishly as the room swam into focus. They were alone. “Where is he?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “He left about ten minutes ago.” Her gaze searched his face and she frowned in concern. “Oh God, you’re bleeding.”

  “I am?” Scott went a little cross-eyed trying to see the damage for himself.

  “You hit the side of your head on the desk as you fell.” She shuddered. “I thought you were dead. I-I….”

  “I’m okay,” Scott reassured her. “How long was I out?” He pulled against the ties, seeing if there was any way he could free himself, but they were too tight.

  “I’m not sure, half an hour maybe.”

  “Did he say anything while I was out?”

  Ally shook her head. “No. He said he wanted to wait until you woke up. Didn’t want you to miss the good stuff.” She sneered as she said it, leaving him in no doubt as to what she thought of that.

  “Will and Matt will be getting antsy by now,” Scott said firmly. “That bloodhound of mine is already on the scent, I guarantee it. We just need to keep this son of a bitch talking until they find us.”

  “I love you, you know that, right?” Ally’s voice cracked.

  “And I love you,” Scott replied, uncaring of the wobble in his own response. “I never stopped.” He gritted his teeth and shuffled his chair toward her as best he could, grimacing as the metal legs of the chair squealed on the floor beneath them. But he didn’t stop until he’d managed to get close enough to grab a couple of her fingers. “Listen to me,” he said gruffly. “We’re not doing this now, okay? This isn’t how it ends, not for us. Do you hear me?” She sniffed and nodded, squeezing his fingers as she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin determinedly. That’s my girl. He sighed heavily. So much wasted ti—His inner monologue was cut off in its prime by a round of slow hand clapping from the doorway.

  “Bravo. Really, bravo, Turner,” their captor strolled back into the room, a backpack slung over his shoulder. “Seriously, a beautiful performance, had me reaching for the Kleenex.” He mimicked Scott—albeit a much higher, girlier Scott—and repeated his own words. “This isn’t how it ends, not for us.” He gave an exaggerated shudder. “Very impressive. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

  “You know nothing about me,” Scott snapped.

  “Actually,” he replied. “I know everything about you. I, fuck it!” He cleared his throat and gone was the low growl to be replaced by a softer, gentler tone that was vaguely famil—

  What? Scott’s heart sank. No… no….

  “I was going to go for this whole big speech followed by the reveal. But talking like that is hell on the voice box. And,” he said, crossly, grabbing at the hem of the material covering his face. “It’s hotter than a virgin on prom night in this thing.” He peeled off the ski mask and shook his head, his hair falling around his face in disarray. “That’s better.”

  Scott stared at him in open-mouthed disbelief, unable to believe what his eyes were telling him. But there was the crooked smile, the same warm flush on his cheeks whenever he was near him, the same piercing blue eyes that looked at him surreptitiously every chance they got. Scott shook his head even as the man’s name tripped off his tongue.

  “Noah?”

  “Hi, Scott.” Noah chuckled happily. “Your face is absolutely fucking priceless!”

  “But… you’re nobody.” The words were out before he could stop them, and Noah’s face darkened ominously.

  “Now, now, Scottie.” Noah wagged a finger at him. “Here’s a little something they forgot to teach you in hostage 101. ‘Don’t piss off the guy with the gun.’”

  “Why are you doing this?” Scott ground out, a surge of anger flowing through him. Son-of-a-fucking-bitch. He’d worked with him, eaten with him, welcomed him.

  “Like I said, don’t insult me.” Noah pulled up a wheelie chair and turned it around, straddling the seat and resting his arms on top of the back. “I knew Will would figure it out first. But then you’re not exactly the brains of the outfit, are you? Still…,” his gaze slid lasciviously over Scott, resting momentarily on his crotch, “you have… other… attributes.”

  “Oh, you have no idea.” Noah was lucky Scott was tied to the chair, or he’d be showing him a few of those attributes right now. Starting with his fist hitting Noah’s face and Noah hitting the floor. Noah’s smile was contemplative for a moment then his gaze shifted to Ally. Scott balled his fists, struggling against the rope. “Don’t you touch her. I’m warning you.”

  “The guy tied to the chair is warning me?” Noah dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “Cool your jets, hot stuff. I’d be more concerned about what I’m going to do to you and, believe me, I plan on taking my time.”

  “You really think you have time?” Scott curled his lip in disdain. “By now Will’s getting twitchy. He’s already making calls. Your time is running out.”

  “Is that so?” Noah tilted his head as if he were looking at an inquisitive child. “He can’t track your phones. Well, he could, but the closest he’ll get is to that trash can. And, unless Mattie has concerns about Ally’s extra-curricular activities, I’m guessing there’s no GPS on the minivan. So, how’s he going to find you? Not even Super-Will is that good.” His smile was cold, menacing and unlike anything Scott was used to seeing on Noah’s usually perennially mild-mannered face. “So, you see, Scottie. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

  Scott’s stomach tightened. From the hungry gleam in Noah’s eyes, he had a good idea what his plan was. He swallowed hard. He’d rather die than have another man—He pushed the thought away, clenching his teeth so tightly a pain shot through his jaw as he watched Noah skate the chair closer to Ally. A sudden longing for Will hit him like a freight train. He needed to see his face, to kiss his smile, to hold him and be held by him. Did he remember to tell him he loved him? Snap out of it, Turner! He’s coming, you know he is. Now focus!

  “You don’t remember me, do you, Ally?” Noah said, his tone conversational. She shook her head. “S’funny, ‘cause you saw me every time you came to the house.”

  “W-what house?” Ally stammered.

  “Jenny’s house, of course.” Noah’s grin was wide, but his eyes were cold, like a shark’s. “I mean, I wasn’t at her house per se, but you used to wave at me every time you strolled up the walk… remember?” Ally looked confused, so Noah prodded. “The three of you taught me how to swim in Jenny’s pool that last summer—”

  “S-Stevie?” Scott watched the recognition flood his sister’s eyes and heard her gasp. She shook her head obviously in shock. “S-Stevie Burrows?”

  “Ding, ding, ding!” Noah whooped loudly. “Give that lady a ce
e-gar!”

  “But…, you can’t be.” Disbelief fell from every word. “You’re… you….” She trailed off, and Scott’s gaze flitted between her and Noah as they stared each other down.

  “I know, I know,” Noah said, holding his arms out to the side in invitation for her to look at him. “Not quite the scrawny, little kid next door anymore, huh?” The twitch of his lips was more of a caricature than an actual grin. “You’d be surprised what sixteen years and a shit ton of cardio does for you.” He chuckled to himself. “I gotta tell you. I almost shit my pants when you walked into the murder room looking for Scottie here. I thought it was game over for sure. Only you didn’t bat an eye.” He shook his head. “But then I guess Noah Lieberman is a million miles away from Stevie Burrows.”

  “Y-you killed Jack? And Rachael?” Scott’s desire to beat the shit out of Noah only increased as he watched fresh tears begin to roll down Ally’s cheeks.

  “Don’t forget little Kimberly.” Noah frowned. “Although she turned out to be a tougher broad than I’d imagined. How she’s still breathing after what I pumped into her.” He turned his head to tip a wink at Scott. “And not just the drugs, if you know what I mean.”

  “You son-of-a-fucking-bitch!” Scott roared at him, pushing against the ropes binding him so hard that his chair rocked and almost sent him crashing to the floor.

  “Easy there, Tiger,” Noah drawled. “Don’t hurt yourself. You’ll spoil my fun.”

  “Why?” Ally asked, her voice stronger now, angrier.

  “Why? She was mine and you killed her!”

  “No, we didn’t!” Ally yelled. “It was a horrible tragedy, but it was no one’s fault. No one could have predicted what happened. Not us, not Ellis—”

  “Ellis?” Noah spat the name as if saying it left a bad taste in his mouth. “He was the easiest.”

  “What do you mean?” Scott’s stomach sank.

  “You think he really had the guts to jump off that bridge?” Noah looked wistful. “My parents had let me go out for a ride to clear my head after the funeral and I knew she liked to watch the sunset from the bridge, so I rode out there. It was her special place and I wanted to feel closer to her, I guess. But he was there. Drunk, crying, holding her photo in his hand.” He smiled. “I suddenly knew what I had to do. What she wanted me to do. He didn’t hear me until it was too late. One little nudge. He didn’t even have time to scream. He hit the water and the current pulled him under.