Watched from a Distance

by Allison B Hanson

  “See you then.” They gave each other a manly slap on the back and headed in opposite directions.

  Dane hopped up in the passenger side of the Jeep as Lena was buckling in the driver’s side.

  “We’re ready?” she asked nervously.

  “Yep. Let’s go save Kenzie.”

  Chapter Seventy-Two

  “The waiting is driving me crazy,” Lena complained. “I want to move in.”

  Only two days ago she had been reluctant to plunge into danger, but here she was, antsy and pacing. She wanted to get it over with.

  She wanted her daughter back.

  But part of her also wanted more time with Dane. She didn’t know what would happen with them when the mission was over.

  He would go on to save other people, and she would…

  She had no clue. Hell, she didn’t even know where she was going to live.

  “What’s the first thing you are going to do when you get Kenzie back?” Dane asked.

  She was surprised how close the question was to what she’d been thinking. As if he could read her mind. Though, that would be nearly impossible considering how quickly her thoughts were jumping from thing to thing.

  “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “I don’t have any plans past getting her back. Maybe I’ll take her for ice cream and let her tell me every detail I’ve missed over the past eight months.”

  “You can’t go back to Miami,” he said. It wasn’t an order, more of an observation.

  She nodded. “I figured. But I wouldn’t want to, anyway. It’s not like I can stroll into the salon and pretend I still have a job. I’ll have to start over somewhere else.” She shrugged. “I’ll figure it out afterward.”

  After this next step was over. Because God knew what was going to happen.

  Someone knocked on the door to their hotel room, and her heart stopped. Thorne had told him he would come tell them when it was time.

  When Thorne walked in with his normal serious expression, she expected him to tell them the other team was in position and it was time to go. As much as she’d wanted to get moving a few minutes ago, her feet were now frozen in place.

  But instead of telling them to get their stuff, he frowned and shook his head.

  “We’ve got a big problem.”

  Chapter Seventy-Three

  “What do you want to do?” Dane’s boss asked after dropping a bomb.

  Both Thorne and Lena were looking at Dane, and he wasn’t sure how to answer.

  He’d always turned to Thorne for instruction. Hell, the guy’s title was supervisor. Why wasn’t he supervising them?

  “If you want to wait until I get back,” Thorne said, “I can tell the rest of the team to hold off. But if they get assigned other cases, it might be a while until we can all get back together.”

  “We don’t have a while,” Dane complained. “Viktor isn’t going to believe Lena when we keep coming up with excuses for not locating this fictitious Masters person. He’s going to get suspicious, and that will put the whole mission in danger.”

  “Then you want to proceed with just the two of you?” Thorne asked.

  It sucked that Thorne was being summoned back to Washington, D.C. at the worst possible time. But for him to refuse would mean he’d have to explain. And if he told the truth, their mission would be over before it began.

  He had to report to his boss to keep everyone from noticing all of them were hunting down an off-limits Viktor Kulakov.

  “Can you give us a moment?” Dane asked Thorne as he put his hand on Lena’s elbow and led her out onto their balcony.

  “What are we going to do?” she asked as soon as they were alone.

  He eased out a long breath. “We have two choices. We can either hold off until Thorne comes back, and risk having someone else called away, or we can try to extract her with just the two of us.”

  It wasn’t fair to put the burden on Lena, but this was her child. And if he made the decision and it went badly—which there was every possibility of happening—he didn’t want to be the one to have made the call.

  Lena had the most to lose. It had to be her choice.

  “I can’t take much more of this,” she said, her voice strained. “I just want to get on with it.”

  He smiled at her strength. Or maybe it was impatience. Regardless, he felt the same way and agreed with her decision.

  He nodded. “Okay. Then let’s go.”

  Chapter Seventy-Four

  Thorne left at the same time Lena and Dane headed out for Viktor’s complex. Thorne wished them luck and told Dane not to fuck things up.

  Right.

  Lena knew he was just trying to make her feel less nervous. Of the two of them, she was the one with the potential to fuck things up the worst. She may have already ensured their failure with her hasty decision to go on the mission without Thorne.

  As they parked down the street from the gated entrance of the compound, she was having serious doubts. She was not cut out for this kind of thing. Yes, she could shoot at a piece of paper. But she’d never shot a person before. And the paper hadn’t shot back.

  Still, she needed to do whatever she could for her daughter. And that meant walking into danger with a gun and sheer determination.

  The sun had gone down on the humid day, and she felt the chill of the night envelop her as she stepped out of the Jeep.

  While she focused on her breathing, Dane communicated with Angel via their earbuds, so they could synchronize the attack with the other team.

  She and Dane were outside the mansion in Savannah, Georgia, while the others were waiting outside a complex in Vancouver. They were working in tandem. One attack on two fronts. Angel and Colton were keeping everyone informed and on track.

  Lena pulled the gun from her holster as if she’d been doing it every day of her life.

  “Are you ready?” Dane asked.

  “Yes.” She hoped it wasn’t a lie.

  He nodded and grabbed a small backpack of emergency gear and slipped it on before pulling on a gas mask. She fumbled with her own, and adjusted the strap in the back.

  She didn’t like the idea of gassing her own daughter, but it was the safest way. It meant everyone inside would be rendered unconscious, and they could simply go in and get Kenzie without the need for violence or the possibility of being outnumbered.

  Dane hopped up on the high fence and hung there on his stomach as he reached down to pull her up. She was impressed by his strength. She wasn’t a frail girl, and he handled her as if she weighed nothing.

  As planned, she instantly got in position so he could lower her down on the other side. He hung suspended by his fingers for a second before dropping into a crouch next to her.

  “We’re inside.” She heard his words beside her as well as in her com.

  Before they even stood to take a step, they encountered the first obstacle.

  Of the canine variety.

  “Shit. I really don’t want to get bit again,” he muttered as he pulled a canister from his belt and tugged the pin out. Smoke poured out of the device, and he tossed it on the ground in front of them as the Dobermans bore down.

  The smoke hindered her visibility, but the dogs did not pass through the thick cloud. Dane leaned down and trussed up the dogs like a cattle wrangler did to a steer.

  “Clear. Come on.” He held out his hand and she took it.

  It felt the same as when they had walked to the cabin the night before they left. Casual, like a date instead of the dangerous extraction of a hostage.

  Unfortunately the person handling the dogs was not far behind. Dane let go of her hand and slid into the shadow by the corner of the house.

  Leaving her out in the open.

  As the man approached, Dane leaped out behind him. She didn’t see exactly what he did, but the man dropped to his knees and fell over. Before she could look, Dane had gripped her arm and was pulling her along behind him.

  Her whole body shook with tension, anticipat
ion, and fear as they passed the fountain and made it to the door of the smaller house behind the main mansion. She’d been worried she might freeze up and not be able to move. Now she was worried about not being able shoot because she was moving too much.

  He tried the door and it opened. He tossed a canister inside and checked his watch. She imagined her daughter inside being knocked out by the choking smoke.

  “Moving inside the East Building,” he said after a full minute had passed, his voice cool and professional.

  “Copy,” Angel answered over the com.

  He gave the signal that he wanted Lena to follow close behind. The small cottage was dark except for a light coming from the bathroom. Kenzie always made her leave the light on in the bathroom so she could find her way in the middle of the night.

  Lena’s chest squeezed. Her daughter was close. She was going to be able to hold her. Any minute now.

  Dane’s headlamp came on, and he moved through the small living room Lena recognized from some of the calls with her daughter. The living room was open, and she could see the island counter that surrounded the kitchen area.

  The lamp’s beam moved to the first door on the left. They weren’t sure where the bedrooms were, or which one could be Kenzie’s.

  When Dane pushed the door open, she hoped to see her daughter lying in the bed. But it was a queen-size bed, and it was made, the cover pulled tight in a professional manner.

  Sweeping the room with the light and finding nothing, he pulled the door shut and stopped at the next one. It was the bathroom, and it was clear no one was inside.

  The next door was a child’s room. There were toys—dollhouses, chalkboards, and a kitchen set—along the wall by the window. The small bed in the corner was covered with a turtle blanket. But there was no one inside.

  The next door was the entry that led out the back. They moved through the kitchen toward the two doors on the other side of the cottage.

  Her breath caught at the sight of Kenzie’s drawing hanging on the refrigerator. She could tell it was her daughter’s by the way the horse had giant square legs and her name was written at the bottom. She would probably not become an artist.

  At the next door, Lena heard a noise from inside. Her heart raced, eager to open it and greet her child.

  The door opened and two little girls—groggy and coughing from the gas—stumbled out toward them. Dim light from a princess lamp inside the room lit up the small area.

  Lena gathered them in her arms with an involuntary sound of joy, looking at each one for some familiarity. But there was none. Neither of the girls was her Kenzie.

  One of them fell heavily against her, and Lena carefully laid her on the floor.

  “Do you know Kenzie?” Lena asked the bigger girl, whose eyes were big as plates looking at their gas masks.

  The girl nodded nervously.

  “Where is she?”

  The girl shrugged and her eyes drifted shut.

  Lena tried a different tactic. “Which room is Kenzie’s?” she asked with a gentle shake to keep her awake.

  The girl pointed to the room she had just come from. Lena laid her down, then hurried inside, checking every corner, but came up empty.

  There was no one else inside.

  Just four small beds and two dressers.

  The other girl had curled up next to the smaller one and passed out.

  Dane moved to the next door—the last room they hadn’t checked.

  But he came out shaking his head worriedly.

  Kenzie wasn’t there, either.

  Chapter Seventy-Five

  Dane’s heart fell as he watched Lena check the bedroom for the third time. He’d done a thorough sweep. In the closet, under the bed. Nothing. A six-year-old was fairly small, but he knew she just wasn’t there.

  “Two children found,” Dane said into the com. “Neither is Kenzie. She’s not in any of the rooms. We’re moving to the West Building.”

  “I’m only getting one thermal in the West Building,” Angel answered. “Northwest corner.”

  Dane picked up and handed the smaller girl to Lena, then carried the older one out of the house, and they laid them both out in the fresh air. Hopefully, they would wake up soon and he would be able to get some information from them.

  He slipped his mask off, and Lena did the same.

  Taking her hand, he led her into the bigger house through the sliding rear door. He kept the Beretta up and ready, and headed toward the thermal Angel had seen.

  The northwest corner of the house was a bedroom. He swept the room and found the heat source. A small boy was huddled in the corner. He was mumbling, but Dane picked up a few words in Mandarin.

  Damn.

  He picked up the boy, who whimpered but didn’t struggle, and carried him out to the girls.

  “Angel? You have anything else other than a group by the entrance of the East Building?”

  “I have heat by the fence where you came in. That’s it.”

  Just the dogs.

  “Shit,” he muttered.

  Lena’s daughter wasn’t here, at all.

  From the pain in her multi-colored eyes, it was obvious Lena understood the situation.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, knowing it wasn’t good enough.

  The sound of sirens broke through the quiet tension.

  “Police en route,” Angel said. “I’ll make sure they know the situation before they arrive.”

  No doubt, Thorne had a favor ready to be called in, if needed.

  The older girl began to stir, and Lena went to calm her.

  “What’s going on with the Vancouver raid?” he asked, his heart in his throat. He was almost afraid to ask.

  “I’m still waiting for confirmation.”

  Still waiting? What was taking so long?

  Two police officers walked up to the gate, and Dane stepped into the small booth to open it so they could enter.

  “U. S. Deputy Marshal Dane Ryan,” he identified himself, and shook the officer’s hands.

  He introduced Lena, and told them they didn’t know the children’s names or who they belonged to. Just as the older girl was telling them her name was Molly, he heard Angel in his ear.

  “We have him.”

  “You have Tobey?” he confirmed, joy leaping through his whole body.

  “Yeah. He’s safe. We have an ambulance and police on the scene. Someone’s been hurt.”

  “Who?”

  “We’re not sure. We lost contact with the team. I spoke to the police, and they verified Tobey and the other boys are safe. They couldn’t tell me what happened, or who was hurt.”

  “Keep me posted. Let me know as soon as you hear anything,” he said.

  Lena’s head snapped up, concern in her eyes. “What happened?”

  He swiped a hand through his hair. “Tobey’s okay. But someone else was hurt. I’m not sure if it was Garrett or Justin.” He felt as though he’d been slugged in the chest. Someone in his family had been hurt, and could be dying.

  She gazed at him for a moment, then said, “You need to go.”

  He pressed his lips together. The urge to go to his son was strong, as well as to be by the side of whoever was wounded. But he couldn’t leave Lena here by herself. She had no ID. He should have had Angel make her one, but now there wasn’t time.

  “No. I can’t leave you alone,” he said. “What about Kenzie?”

  She swallowed and looked away. “We can’t do anything, anyway. Not until we figure out where he’s taken her.” Lena nodded to the little girl clinging to her. “I’ll stay with the girls until their parents come to get them. Maybe they can give us a clue. You need to be with Tobey. Go. I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked, everything in him pulling toward Vancouver…but not wanting to abandon Lena.

  “Yes. Go.”

  He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “We’re not giving up,” he assured her. “We’re going to find your daughter. Don’t worry.”
He knew that wasn’t going to work, of course she would worry. But it was the best he could do at the moment.

  He pulled the emergency credit card from the backpack and handed it to her. She moved to push it away but he forced it into her hand, along with his Beretta since he couldn’t take it on the plane last minute, and the keys to the Jeep. “I’ll be back for you as soon as I can. Until then get a hotel room, and try to remain calm. I’ll call you when I land. Phone?”

  “Yep.” She dug it out of her pocket and showed it to him.

  “Good. And you still have the com, right?”

  “Yeah,” she said, touching her ear.

  “Use it if you need to. I’ll have Angel monitor the channel on the hour.”

  He kissed her, using his lips to convince her this wasn’t the end.

  He turned toward one the police officers. “Can one of you give me a lift to the airport?”

  The next flight out was only forty minutes from now, but he booked it from his phone, and prayed he wouldn’t have to wait until the next morning. He was dropped off at the terminal, and asked the cop to take care of Lena until he got back.

  “Sure,” the man agreed, and shook his hand.

  Dane raced through security and made his flight with only a few minutes to spare. Once in the air, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, waiting for the peace of knowing his child was safe to settle over him. But it didn’t.

  He was too worried about Lena. And especially Kenzie.

  She was in grave danger. By now, Viktor would know Lena had betrayed him. What would he do to the little girl to get his revenge? If Dane was worked up, Lena must be a total mess.

  He’d hated having to leave her behind. But he’d be back, and they would work together to find her daughter. He wouldn’t rest until Kenzie was safe and Lena could smile that real smile he’d only seen a few times.

  Chapter Seventy-Six

  Lena’s stomach had dropped when Dane had driven away. He’d promised her he’d be back and that they would keep going until they found her daughter…but she wasn’t so sure.

  What if he didn’t come back? What if his team abandoned her? What would she do?