by Caisey Quinn
Just as she turned down a side alley between two tall brick buildings with neon lights on the doors, a man cleared his throat from behind her.
An unexpected chill ran down her spine and the hairs on her neck stood instantly.
“Hello there, Red,” a cold voice deadpanned. “I was hoping we’d run into each other.”
Vivien placed her hand on the gun in her waist holster.
“Don’t bother, sweetheart. You wouldn’t have time to pull it. Much less fire it.” Hard metal pressed to the back of her skull.
She froze, closing her eyes and imagining what the bullet that was about to pierce her brain would feel like. “I can help you,” she said quietly. “You don’t have to do this.”
He laughed somewhat maniacally. “Oh but I do. You’re my only way out of here.”
Swallowing thickly and turning slowly, she held her hands above her head. “You’re right. I am. So let’s figure out a way to get us both out of here safely.”
Malice gleamed in his hard gaze. “Don’t try to play me, Agent Montgomery. I already know exactly how I’m getting out of here.”
“Care to share your plan, Soup?”
Maybe she was crazy or just plain stupid, but she was pissed off enough at being caught unawares to use the nickname she knew Officer Campbell hated. She made a mental note to never again ignore her instincts. If she survived, that was.
He narrowed his eyes and snorted out an unattractive laugh. “You’ll see.”
But the only thing Vivien saw was the business end of the pistol coming toward her. Just before everything went black.
Thirty-two
Chase was running on pure adrenaline.
His team had cleared nearly every block of downtown and yet there was no sign of Vivien. So far there were eleven reported injuries, two of which were critical. The identities of the victims hadn’t yet been conveyed to him.
He’d called, texted, and was damn near ready to start blowing shit up himself in frustration. Nothing. No answer from her and no one could remember seeing Vivien anywhere.
He knew she wouldn’t appreciate him putting out an APB for her but he did put one out for Lewis and included that a red-haired female may or may not be with him. With the chaos, he wasn’t sure an all-points bulletin would even help.
News vans swarmed the area. Uniforms were everywhere. And you couldn’t walk five feet without bumping into a fire engine or ambulance or a first responder getting in or out of one or the other.
But no Vivien.
Chase pulled out his phone, pulled up a picture he’d taken of her the night of their date downtown, and began canvassing the streets.
He greeted two firefighters he knew from hanging out at Sirens. Lieutenant Patrick Kelly and his brother Ryan. Unfortunately, they hadn’t seen Vivien either, but both men promised to keep an eye out.
It was after about the tenth “Have you seen this woman?” that a paramedic’s eyes brightened.
“I have, actually. I put a few butterfly stitches on her forehead about an hour ago.” The man went back to packing his medical supplies into the back of the ambulance.
Chase felt the oxygen threatening to vacate his lungs. So not only was she alone chasing down a madman, now she was injured as well.
Just when he truly started to believe things could not get any worse, his fears were confirmed over the radio he wore on his shoulder.
“Be advised, all available units please respond. We have a hostage situation in progress on the pedestrian bridge.”
Before the dispatcher offered any further details, Chase knew. He could feel it in his bones that Vivien was involved somehow.
Sirens cried out in the distance, wailing a sad song of urgency. Chase sprinted to the SUV after radioing in along with several others that he was responding.
“Suspect is a Caucasian male, five nine, black hair.” The pop of static interrupted the dispatcher briefly before she continued. “Hostage is a Caucasian female, five seven, red hair.”
Chase had to force the oxygen to continue flowing in and out of his lungs.
He’d begged her to wait for him. To wait until after his meeting with the Commissioner to begin looking for Lewis or Campbell. She’d reminded him that this was her job, and that if he wanted this relationship to work he needed to let her do her job.
She was right. He knew that. So he’d kissed her good-bye that morning over her steaming cup of coffee and he’d put his faith in a higher power he wasn’t sure he believed in. Trusted that she’d remain safe.
He drove like a criminal in a car chase as he made his way to the entrance to the pedestrian bridge. He parked on the grass beside the stairs leading up to the bridge. Becca Chan pulled up around the same time.
She jumped out of the marked car she was in and ran alongside him to the area where a group of officers stood. Luke and Aiden were among them. Both men turned to him, moving forward as if to restrain him even before it was necessary.
“It’s her, isn’t it? That sick son of a bitch Lewis has her, doesn’t he?”
The men flanked him on either side. Luke forced eye contact. “We don’t know for sure but we believe so.”
Chase fisted his hands at his sides. “I need to be up there.”
Luke nodded. “You need to pull it together first. Breathe. Level out a bit. If you’re at level ten, all you’re going to do is scare the shit out of Lewis and force him to do something crazy.” Luke waited for him to nod that he comprehended. “Situations like this are about trust. A negotiator is on the way and as soon they get here, they’ll do their best to get Vivien back to you safe and sound.”
Two more cruisers pulled up, full lights and sirens.
His head spun as his fellow officers ran past. “I need to see her,” he told his friends. “I need to see that she’s okay.”
Aiden shook his head. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea right—”
“I need to fucking see her. Now.”
Luke took his arm gently and began leading him up the stairs. “No sudden movements. He’s on the east end. We can go up this way and remain behind the line of blue.”
They did as Luke instructed, each step feeling to Chase like they were trudging through thick mud.
Once they reached the top, Chase took stock of the scene straight out of his worst nightmares.
On their side of the bridge, a row of officers stood with their weapons out and ready. Beyond that, Vivien’s body was twisted backward, being pulled at from behind as Eric Lewis held a gun to her head while using her as a human shield. The lights of the Nashville skyline provided a neon rainbow in the distance. He remembered Vivien’s words about the light, about not knowing what lurked in the shadows. He was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe. He was her favorite guard dog.
“I’m going to kill him,” he said evenly to no one in particular. “Whatever happens, when this is all said and done, I will put a bullet in his head.”
Luke shook his head. “And I know you think that will help—will make this go away. But trust me, it won’t. Right now the only thing to focus on is getting Vivien to safety.”
Aiden held his arm tightly enough that Chase knew he wouldn’t be making a break for it anytime soon.
“SWAT will be on him in a matter of minutes,” Luke continued. “They’ve been instructed to take him out without the use of deadly force if possible. We’d rather take him alive if possible.”
Red tinged the edges of his already-blurred vision. “I can’t lose her again, Luke. I can’t.”
“You won’t.”
Luke’s words weren’t reassuring to Chase in the least while he stood helplessly watching a madman hold a gun to her head. If Aiden wasn’t still holding him steady he would’ve been across that bridge and burying his fists in Eric Lewis’s face already.
Luke spoke to the officer i
n charge briefly, then returned with an expression that had the knots in Chase’s stomach tightening.
“The negotiator can’t get through. Because of the traffic and the blocked streets.”
Chase didn’t hesitate. “You do it then. I trust you. I know you. You know her. Convince him to let her go. I’m begging you.”
Luke nodded. “They gave me the okay. I just wanted to make sure that’s what you want.”
Chase swallowed his fears. “I want her in my arms, Luke. Now.”
Luke stared at him for a long moment. “I have to tell you something, man to man.” His jaw rippled with tension.
Chase nodded. “Tell me. Whatever it is, just tell me.”
Luke inhaled audibly. “There are no guarantees in situations like this, Chase. I could do and say all the right things and he could still . . .”
“Kill her,” Chase finished for him. “I know. I know you can’t control him. But I’m asking you to try your best. Try to bring her back to me safely. Please.”
Luke nodded wordlessly before making his way through the line of officers. Chase moved in as close as Aiden would allow. He’d released his arms but he could still feel his friend close behind him. He wanted to tell him not to worry. As much as he wanted to go after Lewis, he wouldn’t do anything that would jeopardize Vivien’s life.
He was close enough to hear everything Luke said, though he couldn’t hear Lewis’s responses.
“I know you want to walk out of here, Eric,” Luke said casually as if discussing the weather over a loud speaker. “And we want that too.”
Lewis yelled something back that sounded like “yeah right,” but Chase wasn’t sure. Every second Vivien was in danger, the faraway ringing sound in his ears got closer and more deafening.
“I know you, Eric. I know you’ve been bullied your whole life. I know you were bullied into taking the fall when you were in the Marine Corps and I suspect you’re being bullied now into taking the fall again.”
Chase had to admit, Luke was good at this and he was extremely thankful his friend was there. As much as he’d always hated how well he could coax information out of him, he appreciated his abilities a great deal at the moment.
“I know you don’t really want to hurt anyone. Come on, Eric. I’ve seen your record. Everything you’ve done has been petty. The only person you ever hurt is yourself.”
That was good news. Chase hoped like hell Lewis didn’t have it in him to murder anyone.
Even from a distance he could see how distressed the man was becoming. His gaze darted everywhere and even though it was cool out, he was soaked with sweat.
Luke moved in closer so Chase took a few steps forward as well. Aiden moved silently with him. “How long are you going to keep being the fall guy? When are you going to stand up for yourself and tell the truth? Are you a puppet, Eric? Just going to let everyone else pull your strings?”
The man shook his head and shouted something Chase couldn’t decipher. He glanced around at all the officers holding their positions.
Chan tossed him a sympathetic look before returning her attention to Lewis.
“She’s a federal agent, Eric. You hurt her and your life is over.” Luke sounded genuinely upset about this. “But if you let her go now, you’ll face much lesser chargers. You could see the light of day again, breathe fresh air, maybe have a life of some sort. Right now, the path you’re going down, it doesn’t lead anywhere good, man. Trust me.”
Eric shouted a few obscenities involving some unsavory things he’d rather do than trust the police.
Luke held his hand up, palms facing forward. “I’m not going to lie to you. I have no reason to. We have snipers trained on you now that could take you out at any second. I’m trying to end this a different way. A way that doesn’t result in you leaving here in a body bag.”
The man’s shifty gaze darted all over the place—looking but not really seeing.
“You have two options.” Luke moved in closer. A few more steps and he’d be within touching distance.”Let her go now and I will take you out of here in cuffs and get you the help you need. Or, you do something stupid and prepare for a bullet to end your life tonight. I know that probably sounds like the easy way out, man. But it isn’t. Every moment of your life is a chance to turn it all around. Every second that passes is a second you could start walking in the right direction instead of the wrong one. There is still hope for you, Eric. Don’t let this mistake be your legacy. Don’t let a run of bad decisions end your life.”
Lewis dropped his hold, letting his arms fall at his sides but Vivien didn’t move.
Chase’s heart froze solid in his chest. This was it. This was the moment of truth. Luke’s grand finale had been good but he didn’t know if it had been enough.
Fuck it.
He was close enough to put his body between Vivien and Eric Lewis. He’d take a dozen bullets for her if need be.
“He’s going to jump,” Vivien screamed as Chase charged toward her. Lewis turned and spun out of reach.
The Cumberland River reflected the lights from downtown like a black mirror.
Gunfire tore through the mayhem and Lewis hit the ground before he could make it to the edge of the bridge.
Chase grabbed Vivien, practically tackling her to the ground as he wrapped his arms around her and used his body to protect her from anymore bullets that might be heading in their direction.
“Are you hurt?” He practically shouted the question in her beautiful face.
She shook her head as her electric hazel gaze met his. “No. Well, maybe a little since you just tackled me there, linebacker.”
He couldn’t joke right now. Couldn’t smile or laugh. All he could do was hold her tightly and thank the universe for allowing it.
“Remember when I told you that if you ever disappeared on me again I’d kidnap you?”
Vivien nodded.
“I’m going to. Soon. We are going to hole up somewhere far away where no one can find us.”
Vivien smiled weakly and he could see how exhausted she was from the entire ordeal. “Good. I think I’m definitely ready for that vacation now.”
Thirty-three
After Vivien had given her statement approximately a dozen times, they’d gone back to Chase’s and slept until the next morning when Chase had promptly started packing.
“I still don’t know that I believe Campbell,” Vivien said absently while placing folded clothes into a suitcase.
“I sure as shit don’t believe a word he’s said,” Chase agreed. “Playing innocent and swearing up and down Lewis was blackmailing him from the beginning.” He shook his head while adding socks and underwear to his bag. “Blackmailing him, my ass. Campbell was in on it from the jump and Captain knows it.”
Vivien placed her own folded clothes in a neat stack in her oversized travel bag. “He said Lewis was going to set off all the explosives downtown unless I was brought to him. Then he said he hadn’t known Lewis at Holston or even remembered him from when he was a guard where Lewis did time, but then he just happens to be the one to arrest him and last night he was the one who had the clearest shot? I call bullshit. I didn’t even know he was on the scene. And the look in his eyes. It was . . . crazed.”
“Internal affairs is looking into all of it. He’s suspended without pay and is still in custody for the time being. He’s lucky, otherwise I would be dealing with him myself. They’ll be thorough. But I don’t care what his reason was, coldcocking you with his pistol and delivering you to a psychopath was not okay. If IAB doesn’t get rid of him, I will,” Chase promised.
“Don’t talk like that,” Vivien said, sliding a hand down his chest. “It’s over now. You don’t have to take anyone out.”
Chase kissed her firmly on the mouth. “I don’t have to, but I damn sure want to.”
“Just take me out, babe.
Take me anywhere.”
Chase pulled her body close to his. He already knew where they were going but he hadn’t told her yet. They had unfinished business on a beach in South Carolina. And if he’d learned anything from this entire ordeal, it was never to leave anything unfinished or unsaid.
A gentle knock came at the door and Annalise Gamble stood on the other side looking nervous.
Chase regarded her warily. “Annalise, I swear to God if you have bad news—”
“I’m sorry,” she broke in. “It’s not bad exactly . . . just disconcerting.”
Vivien stepped around the bed. “What is it? What’s happened?”
Annalise’s gaze darted back and forth between them. “So after questioning Lewis, we’ve learned that the request for Vivien’s unit to consult on the case did come from Campbell. Sort of. He put a bug in Cap’s ear about contacting the FBI. He maintains that he did so because Lewis was blackmailing him. Lewis was being paid by a contact for Murphy because of her vendetta against Vivien for shutting down Cop Block.”
Vivien frowned. “Blackmailing him with what exactly? Did he say?”
Annalise nodded. “Guess who was an active, card-carrying, meeting-attending member of Cop Block?”
Chase scoffed his disbelief out loud. “Campbell? Did the dude become a cop just to hate on other cops? What the hell?”
Annalise sighed. “Yeah. It’s weird. His convoluted story was that he was going on his own undercover mission to take down the group by starting a local chapter here. Pretending to be their guy on the inside. So he says. He’s still in police custody but his rep is there and he’s obtaining an attorney. As far as we can tell, Lewis recognized him at a meeting, saw an opportunity, and took it. He threatened to blow Campbell’s cover. If he outed him to the Captain he’d be fired or harshly reprimanded for insubordination. If he told Murphy, Campbell would be dead. So either way, he was screwed.”