Stranger's Game

by Colleen Coble

  She spied her aunt dressed in a lacy lavender formal, so she changed directions and headed that way.

  Her aunt’s gaze went wide when she saw her. “Your father is still out searching for you. Does he know you’re safe? You’ve worried us to death. Have you looked at your face? You still have mud and twigs in your hair.”

  “Noah kidnapped Hailey and me, but we managed to escape. The executives here are in terrible danger. We need to herd them somewhere safe without arousing suspicion that could taint our name.”

  “Danger?” Her aunt’s blonde hair bobbed when she shook her head. “Have you seen all the security? Your head injury must have addled your thoughts.”

  “I’m serious about the danger. What would be the best way to get all these people back to their rooms? At the very least we have to stop the scavenger hunt.”

  “Oh no, no. We can’t stop that. Everyone is looking forward to it. It’s our iconic event tonight. In fact, it’s time for it to start.” She clapped her hands together and walked a few feet away to an open area. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so glad you’ve joined us, and we’re honored you have chosen the Jekyll Island Club Resort to host your event. To kick things off in a fun way, we’re ready to start the scavenger hunt.” She pointed to the table. “Please pick up the details on the table, and remember, if you find a glass globe, you’re finished. Bring your globe back to the ballroom and have a seat. Once all the globes are found, we’ll hand out prizes. If you don’t find a globe, keep looking for the items on the paper, and once you’ve discovered all of them, return to your table as well.”

  The excitement hit a new high, and people surged to the table to get their instructions. The laughter increased, and several people teamed up.

  Torie clenched her hands together. She couldn’t just announce a danger she didn’t understand. Once the guests were at their tables, she could make an announcement from the podium and ask everyone to disperse to their rooms.

  She needed her dad, but without her phone, she couldn’t call him. Her aunt rejoined her with a satisfied expression, and Torie held out her hand. “Could I borrow your phone, please? I need to let Dad know I’m all right. He might still be out there searching.”

  Her aunt rolled her eyes. “Of course he is. He wouldn’t let a little thing like the most important dinner of his career stand in the way of finding his daughter, not even if it destroyed his business. He wouldn’t listen when I tried to get him here.”

  Warmth spread up Torie’s chest. Dad would be frantic. She took the phone her aunt proffered and called him. He didn’t answer, and she knew he was likely avoiding the call because it was Genevieve’s number. She texted him and let him know she was all right. Maybe he’d read that and come.

  * * *

  How did Joe get someone to believe the danger?

  His shoes echoing on the polished wood floors, Joe walked along the empty hallway on the first floor of the Sans Souci building. The spotless hall was silent and empty and smelled of lemony polish. How many bank executives were at the hotel now? Two from every major Fed bank so that would be twenty-four. Plus several other executives and a couple of US senators. All those security people would be staying, too, so he estimated fifty rooms taken.

  They didn’t seem to be in this cottage though, but he wasn’t quite ready to give up and leave. There might be something here he hadn’t seen. He found stairs and climbed to the next floor. It was just as empty, and so was the third. He retraced his steps and walked toward the front door to exit when he heard a soft sliding sound behind him. He turned and followed the faint noise to a room toward the back.

  He pressed his ear to the oak door with its ornate Victorian trim. There was someone inside. Footsteps came toward the door, and he darted down the hall and around a corner, where he pressed against the wall and peeked around to watch.

  A man holding a glass globe exited. The guy was in his thirties with light-brown hair. He looked like a typical tourist in his khaki shorts and tee, but Joe’s attention fixed on the orange globe. A worker? Or something more sinister?

  The guy walked the other direction, and as soon as he was gone, Joe dashed back to the door of the room he’d vacated. Locked, of course. He dug Torie’s master key out of his pocket and in seconds he was inside the room.

  It was a large suite, but tables had been brought in on the far wall. He nearly stumbled over dive equipment—tanks, BCDs, and two wet suits. The propulsion device! Had the people using this equipment come here via the device?

  He didn’t touch anything as he walked to the table. There were several broken glass globes on one end. A cardboard box on the other end of the table drew his attention. When he read the lettering on the clear vials, he caught his breath. Sarin? Like in sarin gas, the potent nerve gas? His gaze traveled back to the broken globes, and his stomach plunged.

  He opened the box gingerly and spotted small glass globules inside. They looked like the smaller glass pieces inside the globes Amelia had made. Did they contain sarin?

  Divers could have brought the loaded glass pieces here to be used. He backed away from the ominous box and pulled out his phone to snap a picture, then shot it off to Chen before calling him.

  Chen answered on the first ring. “Joe? If you’re checking on Simon, we’ve got him back at King’s Bay.”

  “That’s good, but there’s something more serious going on.” Joe heard the noise on the other end that signaled Chen had gotten the picture. “Check the text I sent you. I just found this box at the Sans Souci cottage in the historic district. There are small glass globes inside the box marked sarin in the room as well as discarded diver equipment. I think someone plans to use the gas on the Fed executives.”

  Chen inhaled sharply. “Hang on.” His voice returned after a pause. “That looks real. I’ll notify Homeland Security, and we’ll start an evacuation. Do what you can there until help arrives. Do you have any idea when this is going down?”

  “Any minute, I’m afraid. The scavenger hunt with the glass globes has likely already started.”

  And Torie was right in the middle of it all.

  Chen was silent for a long moment. “I’ll call the state police and have them get there right away.”

  They’d probably listen to Chen. Joe thanked him and ended the call. He texted Danielle and told her to evacuate. The docks were closed, but she could go to the enclosure and use it to escape by boat. But what about the other Jekyll Island residents? He had no idea how far the gas could travel if one of the globes broke.

  Was the sarin in all the globes? Or just the orange one the man had carried out? Would whoever was behind this plot trust it to just one glass globe? He didn’t think so.

  He ran for the door. If only he had a way of contacting Torie to find out where she was. He stopped and called up Genevieve’s name. She’d know where the event was being held.

  Genevieve answered on the third ring. “Joe, I hope you’re not calling to report a security issue.”

  “Actually I am, Genevieve. Where is the scavenger hunt being held tonight?”

  “We’re all here at the Morgan Center. People are out looking for two special globes, and one has been found already. Torie showed up spouting a lamebrain conspiracy theory.”

  He closed his eyes briefly. “She’s still there?”

  “She’s wandering around wringing her hands and telling me to evacuate. But she has no credible reason to disrupt our guests.”

  “There’s sarin gas on the property, Genevieve. I just found it. Homeland Security is on the way, and so is the state police. You need to get people out of there.”

  Genevieve gasped. “Sarin gas?” Her voice quavered. “I need help, Joe.”

  “I’ll be there in two minutes.” He ended the call and ran for the door.

  Chapter 39

  Torie’s gaze swept the room for where danger might be lurking.

  Finally, all the executives were back in the Morgan Center, which was decked out in all its glory for thei
r arrival. She recognized the aromas she’d noted on the menu: lobster bisque, filet, sea bass, brussels sprouts with bacon, and three choices for dessert.

  Greenery and flowers draped the mezzanine railing, and linen covered the tables to the carpeted floor. Sheer fabric hung in gathers on the walls. Anything might have been placed under the tables or even hidden in the flowers. The globes hidden on the grounds were on two different tables, one near the front of the room and one near the back.

  Her nerves felt as taut as a fishing pole reeling in a big fish, and she shifted from place to place. If only her dad and Joe were here. She had no support, no way to prove these people were in danger. Would these modern-day captains of industry and politicians listen to her?

  She glanced at her aunt, who was approaching her with wide eyes and pale cheeks. Something was wrong.

  Aunt Genevieve clutched Torie’s arm. “Joe called. There’s sarin gas in the glass globes. The entire island is in danger. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. Homeland Security is on its way, and Joe should be here any second.” She released Torie and wrung her hands. “If only your father were here. He always has such a cool head in chaos.”

  Sarin gas. The news footage of the horrible effects of the nerve gas flashed through her memory. This was even worse than she thought.

  The door opened and Joe stepped through. Torie bit back a cry of relief and lifted her hand so he could see her. He zigzagged between the tables and joined her and her aunt where they stood near the podium.

  He touched her arm. “You heard?”

  “Sarin gas.” She wanted to find out how he knew and what he’d seen, but there was no time.

  “I told the security people they brought with them, and they’re bringing the limos and vehicles around to the entrance. We need to get everyone out of here now.”

  She took a step toward the podium and raised the mic higher and leaned forward. “May I have your attention please? We’ve become aware of a security threat, and we need all of you to prepare to leave in an orderly manner. Your vehicles are being brought around so please—” Torie broke off at the sight of Noah propelling her dad into the room, a pistol jammed in his side.

  Her gaze jetted to Joe, who’d seen them too. Noah marched her dad in lockstep to where she stood and jerked his thumb. “So you got away. But you’re too late. There’s no stopping this now. Get out of my way.”

  Her dad was pale. Torie stepped away from the podium, and Joe and her aunt crowded beside her.

  Joe slipped his arm around her waist, and she leaned into his strength. This was bad, very bad.

  The door opened again, and ten security people were ushered in by a group of three men carrying large weapons. The security men were unarmed and their hands were zip-tied behind them. Torie thought the weapons might be AK-47s, though she was no gun expert. They looked big and dangerous.

  “Over there.” One of the men gestured to a small alcove under the mezzanine. “Sit down and shut up.”

  The security detail settled onto the floor. They seemed stunned.

  Noah shoved her dad closer to the podium, then set the orange globe on top of it before speaking into the mic. “You’ve all sucked the blood of the common worker for far too long. Conceived right here in 1910, the Federal Reserve is nothing more than a cartel designed to make sure you continued to make money while the rest of us worked and slaved for you. You’re nothing more than slave owners keeping us all under your thumb. With your deaths, the world will sit up and take notice of the atrocities you’ve committed against humanity.”

  At the word deaths the executives and politicians began to stir and talk among themselves.

  An older gentleman held up his hand. “Sir, may I speak?”

  “Your deeds have spoken for you.”

  “Who are you?” a woman called.

  He squared his shoulders. “I’m Noah Rogers. You bloodsuckers ran my business into the ground. I’ve tried to change things through the political system, but you’ve greased too many palms over the years. None of the Washington players are willing to give up the money pouring into their pockets. There’s no other way to stop the carnage except to shut you all down.”

  Noah picked up the orange globe and thrust it into her dad’s hands. “All of us are prepared to die with you.”

  Torie had seen a documentary, and she struggled for the name of the antidote it had mentioned. Could the men have taken it before they came here? What was it?

  Atropine.

  If Homeland Security knew, hopefully they were arranging for hospitals to be ready to treat everyone. If rescue got to them in time.

  Noah’s gaze swept her way, then continued on to stare at the executives. “This globe is beautiful, isn’t it? Beautiful and deadly.”

  Amelia came through one of the doors. She wore a flowing gown of dark blue, red, and yellow that made her almost look like Wonder Woman in formal wear with long gloves.

  “Mom, I told you not to come in here. Get out!”

  Amelia’s gaze locked on Torie’s dad, and she handed him something silver. “I had to be here to see justice done.”

  Torie’s dad flexed his palm to look, and Torie saw it too—the Monopoly money bag token.

  She was clearly part of this with her son.

  * * *

  Torie took another step closer to Amelia. “Can you live with the guilt that you’ve caused so many deaths in such a horrific way? Your son says everyone is prepared to die here today. Did he tell you that? Are you ready to suffocate when your muscles freeze and you can’t breathe?”

  Amelia glanced at her son. “We aren’t dying. You all are. It’s about time the powerful know what it’s like to be helpless and at the mercy of other people.”

  Some of the people sitting at the tables began to shout and stand. Gunfire erupted, and the air stank of gunpowder. A stately man in his sixties fell as the bullets struck his chest. Pandemonium erupted at the attack, and even Noah looked disoriented.

  Joe leaped forward, and his arm looped around Amelia’s waist. He dragged her back with him as the older woman fought, in spite of being six inches shorter. He managed to get one of Amelia’s hands behind her and reached for the other one, but Amelia wrenched out of his grip for a moment until Joe seized her and managed to get his arm locked across her neck. He held her in front of him as a shield.

  Noah gestured to one of his men. “Don’t just stand there—shoot him before he hurts my mother.”

  Joe turned toward the gunmen with Amelia in front of him. He stared at each of the three men, then at Noah. “Throw down your guns or I’ll kill her. I can break her neck with one move. This is already over.”

  Torie stepped to his side. “Homeland Security is already on their way. Your plan is over. You’ll never get out of here alive.”

  Joe tightened his grip on Amelia’s neck, and the older woman began to sag as her air was more restricted. “Throw down your weapons!”

  “Do it,” Noah said. “I don’t want my mother hurt.”

  The big guns clanged to the floor, and one of the guests rushed over to pick up the guns. He found a pocketknife to cut the zip ties and freed the security guys, then handed them the guns. They cuffed the three terrorists.

  “Let go of my mother,” Noah said.

  Joe nodded and released Amelia. The older woman stumbled and nearly fell, but Noah grabbed her and guided her to a seat. He shot a poisonous glare Joe’s direction.

  Even a man like Noah loved his mother. Torie should have felt sorry for him and Amelia, but she couldn’t find any sympathy. What he’d been prepared to do was horrible.

  Joe grabbed a spare set of cuffs and seized Noah’s hands, forcing them behind his back. He snapped on the handcuffs but left Amelia’s hands free. She was still panting and didn’t seem to have the strength to fight anymore.

  The fight drained out of Torie, and her knees felt weak. She sank to a chair at a nearby table and exhaled. Her hands shook as she reached for a glass of water.

 
Joe’s hands came down on her shoulders. “You okay?”

  “All the adrenaline left me.” She tipped her head back and looked up into his face. “You were amazing.”

  “I wanted to hurt her. I never would have guessed I could grab someone like that.” He leaned down and kissed her gently. “You figured it out, Torie. You saved all these people.”

  “And you. If you hadn’t found the sarin gas, no one would have believed us.”

  “We make a pretty good team.”

  She leaned her cheek against his arm. “I guess we do.”

  A shriek pierced the air, and she jerked around to see Amelia holding the orange globe above her head as she advanced on Torie’s dad. Tears mingled with mascara tracked down her face. “You’ve ruined my son! I hate you!”

  Her dad held out his hands. “Give me the globe, Amelia. You don’t want to do this. If you break the globe, I’ll be dead, but so will Noah. And so will you. I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt him or you.”

  Step by step he advanced until he was right in front of her. “Hand it to me carefully. You don’t want to be the one to kill your own boy. Easy.”

  She lowered her hands a few inches, then dropped the globe. His hands shot out and he barely caught it in his left hand. The room gave a collective gasp as he clutched it to his chest and staggered away from her.

  The doors burst open, and men poured into the room. Torie spotted Craig and some other state police officers. It was finally over.

  Chapter 40

  The crashing waves at Driftwood Beach swirled foam around Torie’s feet and she relished the calming scent of salt and sea after last week’s horrific events.

  She retreated to sit on the sand with her back against a tree the ocean had tossed there especially for her. She lifted her face to the sunshine and let it bake into her skin. Somehow, against all odds, they’d survived.