High Stakes Escape

by Elizabeth Goddard

  “Stop it!” She struggled free and stepped away, anger flooding her soul. “My uncle took Brighton! He’s gone, Ben, he’s gone.”

  “Come here.” Ben reached for her.

  “No.” Chasey stepped away from him. She didn’t want to be consoled. She freely let the tears burn down her cheeks. “You let me down, Ben. You let this happen. I told you we had to get to Brighton. We could have gone straight here when we got to Denver instead of going to the stupid hotel.”

  Anguish filled her soul and she didn’t know what to do with it.

  She turned her back to Ben, but not before she caught the pain in his eyes. She’d been harsh on him, but she couldn’t really bring herself to care. Her brother was in danger.

  “He’s going to use Brighton against me, don’t you understand?”

  “Yes, Chasey. I understand that I’ve let you down, but now we have to focus on saving Brighton. We’re not doing him any good standing here. Let’s get out of the cold.”

  He was right. She was letting her emotions get to her. There was no backtracking on the mistakes made. They had to move forward. She turned to face him and their new friend, Rolf. “Let’s go inside to the facility. I want answers. No one should have released my brother without my authorization. I’m the guardian.”

  A couple of police cruisers pulled up to Holly House along with an FBI vehicle. Chasey flicked her gaze to Ben. “Did you—”

  He shook his head. “Looks like he was taken forcibly and they have contacted the authorities.”

  “Let’s go, then.” She ran toward the front of the facility.

  Ben grabbed her arm and whirled her around. “You’re already in danger, Chasey. There’s nothing you can do for your brother there. Let the authorities find out what happened. Come with me. We’ll find someplace safe and then we can make a plan to find your brother.”

  She noted he stopped short of saying that he promised—either that they would find Brighton or that he would be unharmed. Her vision blurred as she walked between Ben and Rolf. Footfalls approached from behind and Ben quickly turned, his weapon ready at his side.

  “Rolf, please get her back to your truck.”

  An FBI special agent approached and Ben flashed his credentials.

  Chasey rushed away with Rolf, leaving Ben to deal with the feds.

  She thought back to Ben’s earlier words, referring to Rolf. You felt safe with him, didn’t you?

  Those words had pierced her heart. Rolf was a man who believed God had put him in their path to help, but he was a man out of his depth. He just didn’t know it yet.

  No, Ben... I feel safe with you.

  She still meant it, despite the horrible words she’d said to him just moments ago.

  But the truth stared her in the face.

  Ben couldn’t protect her anymore. In fact, Ben would prevent Chasey from doing whatever she needed to do to save her brother.

  Chasey was Brighton’s only hope.

  She just needed the right moment and, when it came, she would take action.

  THIRTEEN

  At the entrance to Holly House, Ben spoke with the feds and the local police about Chasey’s abducted brother. It was a predicament no deputy US marshal, no WITSEC inspector, wanted to find himself in—when someone who needed protection and a new identity was taken from a secure location and put in harm’s way. Finding and bringing them back to safety would require assistance many agencies.

  In this situation, not knowing who could be trusted left Ben with a pounding headache and fear like he’d never known.

  But he couldn’t solve the issue with the leak in the department. All he could do was to look at the situation in front of him and try to find answers. How had Brighton’s uncle been able to find him? Had it only been a matter of time, given the limited number of facilities that offered the type of care Brighton needed?

  Either Brighton had been found because of that or, as Ben feared, he and Chasey had led her uncle to Holly House and to Brighton. They had been followed for the entire time, despite their best efforts, and the next thing after they arrived—Brighton had been taken.

  So yeah. Ben leaned more toward the young man’s abduction falling on Ben. And once he’d been found, well...what happened next was a foregone conclusion. Places like Holly House weren’t set up to face off with armed mercenaries. To protect the others, they had given up Brighton.

  He fumed at this turn of events. God...why? Just...why?

  Dragging a hand down his face, he tried to ignore the utter exhaustion clawing at him. He was at the end of his rope here, even before the abduction, and was grateful for Rolf’s sudden appearance in their lives—a man he knew he could trust. Because right now, Ben couldn’t face Chasey’s heartbreak.

  And in that way, he was letting her down. He should be able to carry this burden for her and with her. That was exactly what he’d do—in a minute, after he’d pulled himself together. He’d also use that minute to firm up his resolve and remind himself that he couldn’t pull her into his arms to comfort her when she was vulnerable and needed him the most. Neither of them needed the additional heartbreak that growing closer was sure to bring.

  Once he felt more settled, he pushed through the facility doors and stepped outside, leaving the locals to deal with the rest of gathering intelligence and evidence regarding Brighton’s abduction. Time for Ben to face Chasey.

  He walked around the block in the shadows, heading for the eighteen-wheeler near the hotel.

  Lord, what do I tell Chasey?

  Where do I even take her that’s safe?

  ...Or does that even matter anymore?

  Now that her brother was in his clutches, Chasey’s uncle could very well use Brighton to lure Chasey to him. The best, most secure hiding spot wouldn’t protect her if she’d turn herself over willingly to protect Brighton. Ben wasn’t sure how the next few hours would play out. He had no idea what to expect.

  As he neared the truck, Rolf stepped into view, the man’s face twisted in agony. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It wasn’t your fault that we didn’t get to Brighton in time. You did all you could do to...” Wait. Rolf was referring to something entirely different. Ben sensed that in his bones. “What do you mean you’re sorry. What’s happened?” He rushed forward and looked inside the cab. “Where’s Chasey?”

  “She’s gone.”

  Gone? Ben let the words sink in but found that he couldn’t believe them. “What do you mean gone?” He stumbled forward and grabbed the man’s collar. “Tell me, Rolf.”

  “We were set to climb into the cab and wait for you, but then she was just gone.”

  “Did you see her? Did someone take her?”

  “I saw.” He gestured to the far corner. “She got into a cab alone, all on her own free will. Her choice. I started to call your cell but I don’t have that number.”

  Nobody had it—a senseless precaution that amounted to nothing.

  Ben realized he still held Rolf’s collar and released him. He scraped his cold bare hand through his hair and paced.

  “I’m sorry,” he said to Rolf. “I shouldn’t have grabbed you like that—I know it’s not your fault. Just...please tell me everything you remember. Every detail.”

  “On the way back to the truck, she cried a lot and mumbled about needing to find her brother. I thought she was beside herself and I didn’t think she meant literally going to find him herself. I opened the door for her and she climbed in. I went around to my side and got in, too. She wasn’t sitting up front, but I thought she was in the back like she had been before.”

  “And then what happened?”

  “I spotted a cab pull up at the corner and Chasey got in. I started to get out to ask her what she was doing, where she was going, but I wasn’t fast enough and the cab pulled away before I could reach it. I’m so sorry, man. I meant to
help you.”

  “Did you get the cab number?”

  “No, I didn’t even think to look. I feel just awful. Like I’ve only made things worse.”

  Ben understood those sentiments. “You helped us make it through the night, Rolf. Don’t doubt that you have helped us. But Chasey has her own mind and you couldn’t stop her from making that decision. If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”

  Rolf shook his head. “You need to take your own advice. You’ve helped her stay alive this long.”

  “But it wasn’t enough. And now the person after her has her brother.”

  “What will he do with Brighton?” Rolf asked. “Will he hurt him?”

  “I don’t know. I think his primary purpose for taking him, though, is to use Brighton to get to Chasey. We were never sure if the people after her were trying to kill her or just trying to take her away, but now I think they were simply trying to abduct her all along.”

  “What can I do to help now?” Rolf asked.

  Ben squeezed his shoulder. “Give me your card so my offices can compensate you for gas and time and the hotel.”

  “Oh, there’s no need.”

  “Yes, there’s need. And even if you think there isn’t, give me the card anyway. I’d like to stay in touch.”

  Rolf handed Ben his card and he stuffed it in his pocket. “You have a load to deliver,” Ben said, “so I’ll let you get on your way. I’ll hitch a ride from the feds still at the facility.”

  Rolf shook Ben’s hand. “God be with you.”

  “You, too, Rolf. Say a prayer or two for us.”

  “You know I will.” He hopped into his big rig and pulled the thing forward.

  Ben watched it drive away while his mind went in a million directions. God had no doubt sent him help. He could only hope that the help would keep coming. He’d need all that he could get to find Chasey and Brighton and get them to safety.

  He recalled the scripture from Psalm 121 on the dash of Rolf’s big rig.

  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

  The mountains, purple in the morning dawn, rose beyond the city in the distance.

  What do I do, Lord?

  His answer came in a new calmness that settled and refocused his mind, reminding him that what he should do was rely on his training and his experience. He headed back to Holly House and his cell rang. He snatched it up.

  “Chasey?”

  “No. This is Calvin. We’re going to need you to bring her in. The feds want her now. Her uncle is going to contact her and when he does, we’ll be ready. So bring her in, Bradley. We’ll guard her with only the most trusted of our agents. We can pick you up. I’m sending a helicopter. It’s en route now.”

  “Send it for me. But I’m alone.”

  “...Excuse me?”

  “Everyone wants Chasey, including and especially her uncle. But no more than I do. Sir, she slipped through my hands.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Now he understood how Rolf felt trying to explain what had happened. “She left my protection, left on her own.”

  Hurt and misery and anger kept him company, kept him warm on this cold dreadful morning. He ended the call with his chief because there was nothing more to be said. Ben hadn’t kept Chasey’s brother safe, so Chasey was no longer going to rely on his protection.

  He’d failed.

  There was no going back.

  But he could go forward. He would set things right. No matter what it took or how long it took.

  I’m coming for you, Theo Dawson.

  * * *

  Chasey sat in the cab as she was driven across the city. She’d told the cabbie to simply drive, that she would tell him when to stop.

  She’d needed to get far away from the scene. Far from Ben. She couldn’t look him in the eyes—not when she had been the one to demand they head to Holly House to get Brighton. She couldn’t bear to even see the place, because all she could see was her brother being whisked away before her eyes and loaded onto that helicopter with her uncle.

  Fisting her hands, she squeezed tight enough that her nails bit into her palms. She couldn’t cry, couldn’t lose it in front of the cabbie. He might take her to the hospital or simply drop her off on the street, not wanting to deal with an emotionally unstable person. But sorrow and frustration filled her to the brim—for herself, for Brighton and for Ben. She couldn’t imagine how Ben must be feeling at this moment. Surely by now he knew that she had fled his protection.

  She shoved aside that grief before it could overwhelm her. Right now she had to focus on getting Brighton back, and getting him away from her uncle.

  The cab had taken the freeway and merged in with the light Sunday-morning traffic. Better than Monday-morning rush-hour traffic. The thought made her suddenly remember her job. If she wasn’t back at work on Monday, her boss would wonder where she was. He might think that the stalker she’d alluded to had finally caught up with her and called the police.

  Wait a minute. She was never going back.

  I’m never going back. I don’t even have a home. Again, she held back the tears. She had to concentrate on getting herself somewhere safe.

  “Can you turn at the next exit?”

  The cabbie steered the vehicle off the freeway onto a frontage road where several hotels and restaurants were slowly coming to life in the early morning. “Just stop at the gas station up to your right.”

  It’ll be better if he doesn’t know exactly where I go, in case he’s questioned later. Anyway, I can walk from there.

  He did as she asked, pulling into the gas station parking and stopped. She paid him with her credit card, thankful that she still had her emergency pouch with her from when she’d gone running...how many days ago was it now? The pouch also had some cash, but she chose to hold on to that. There didn’t seem to be much point anymore in disguising her location by avoiding credit cards. Her uncle had seen her at Holly House. Someone had found her at her house and followed her almost the entire way here. Hiding had accomplished nothing. Uncle Theo knew where she was.

  Chasey watched the cab drive away and immediately missed the warmth from inside the vehicle. Pulling her coat tighter, she waited until the cabbie was out of sight, then kept walking down the sidewalk along the street perpendicular to the freeway.

  Chasey wasn’t sure what she would do, but getting somewhere warm and safe for the moment seemed like a good idea. Of course, she’d been in the cab of Rolf’s semi and that had been warm and safe. But after her uncle had abducted Brighton, she’d known it was time to go it alone. He was in control now; he held everything that mattered to her, and she didn’t need Ben or anyone else standing in her way and preventing her from getting to Brighton.

  And her uncle would reach out to her soon. She knew it in her bones.

  She was surprised Uncle Theo hadn’t closed in on her where she’d stood on the lawn outside Holly House and grabbed her, too. But even if he’d let her go in the moment, she expected that he would be reaching out to her soon. He would use Brighton to reel her in. And she would go willingly.

  The easiest way for him to contact her would be via her cell phone. Though Ben had taken out the battery and SIM card, she’d kept them on her. It would be easy enough to slot them back in. Attempting to turn on her phone wouldn’t do any good unless she charged the battery—it had died while she’d been calling Ben from the marina after that terrifying attack at her home. But it only took a minute to duck into a drugstore and buy a charger cord. As soon as she got somewhere where she could plug it in, she’d be back in business.

  She frowned as she considered that others would be able to find her, too. While she actually wanted to hear from her uncle, in the hope that it would lead to a reunion with her brother, Chasey wasn’t in a hurry for
federal agents to find her. They’d never agree to let her meet with her uncle. So she’d have to keep her phone use minimal, and do her best to stay off the radar in other ways. She’d used her credit card, and they could trace the card to the cab, but that was it.

  Beyond the more obvious hotels along the freeway, she spotted a smaller motel—new, but not as flashy as the others. At the motel, she used her cash to secure a room.

  Finally, she used the key card to open up a room on the second floor and felt that déjà vu moment as she walked in. After the incident in the hotel last night, she made sure to note the exit and how many doors down it was in case of another fire—on the off chance that someone started a fire to flush her out again.

  But that wouldn’t be necessary this time.

  She would go willingly to her uncle. To find and save Brighton.

  Her uncle wanted her, and the feds probably wanted her, too.

  And that was why she had to leave Ben’s protection. At some point he would have had no choice except to give her up to his superiors. At the same time, she wasn’t sure that he would have. Maybe it would have been better to give him the chance to make that decision. To choose her over what his superiors or the feds wanted him to do. But it wasn’t right for her to put him in that position, and on top of that, it was too risky.

  Chasey had survived for years working for Theo Dawson, and knew how to be tough in the face of danger. She had faced that danger every day for six months after the murder she had witnessed, until she had finally gone to federal agents and given them what they’d wanted in exchange for protection for her and Brighton.

  In the end, Chasey could only ever trust herself, and she would do well to remember that, no matter how much she wanted to trust Ben. He was a good man. A good deputy US marshal-slash-inspector, whatever he called himself.

  She put the battery back in her phone and plugged it in, then sat on the edge of the bed and stared out the window as the sun rose over the snowcapped mountains.

  “You’re a good man, Ben,” she whispered to herself. “I know you’re trained for this, but it doesn’t mean I can let you risk your life for me or ruin your career over me.”