by Linda Warren
“You’ve been in here most of the day?”
“Yes, and we’ve talked and talked, but, Ethan, you have to help us.” In a low voice she told him most of the things Sarah had told her.
He looked over her shoulder at Sarah. “You saw Boyd shoot Greg?”
“Yes.”
“He’s dead?”
“Y-yes.”
Ethan knew Daniel had been hoping to find Greg alive. Now that hope was gone, but he had to let it go and concentrate on getting the women out of here. Which meant he also had to ignore his own reactions to having both Serena and Sarah in the same room. They were so alike, yet so different. It was downright eerie.
He cleared his throat. “The cops are on their way. We have to wait…and pray that nothing breaks before they get here.”
Serena fingered his collar. “Where’d you find this get-up?”
“I—” Voices outside stopped him cold.
Sarah shuddered. “It’s him. I know his voice.”
Ethan did, too. He opened the toolbox and took out his gun. “Get into the closet,” he ordered. “Maybe he won’t look there.”
Sarah was trembling so badly that Ethan had to literally drag her inside. He reached for Serena, but she pulled back.
“No, Ethan, if Sarah’s not here, they’ll search and find us, and they’ll kill us before the cops arrive. I can be Sarah. She’s in no condition.”
“No, Serena—”
A key turned in the lock, and he made another grab for her, but she evaded his hands and shut the closet door. Sarah sank to her knees, her body trembling severely. Ethan removed his cap and knelt beside her. “Hang on. It’s almost over.” She just shook her head, unable to speak. Rage filled Ethan. Whatever Boyd had done to her, he had completely shattered her spirit.
He checked the clip in his gun, then shoved it in place. He stood with his ear to the door, gun ready.
Serena quickly took the pins out of her hair and shook it loose around her. She undid two buttons on her blouse and kicked off her shoes a moment before a man entered the room, a man with dark hair and eyes. She knew from Sarah’s description that it was Rudy Boyd and her stomach churned.
“You see the trouble I go through to come and see you,” he remarked as he locked the door.
“Then don’t come.”
His eyes opened wide at that. It probably wasn’t something Sarah would say. She had to be careful.
“But when you pull a stunt like you did today, I have to teach you a lesson.”
Serena knew he was talking about the man discovering her downstairs. Boyd assumed Sarah had been trying to escape, and Serena had no idea what he had in mind for her sister now. She just had to stall.
He walked farther into the room and glanced around. “Is Ric in here?”
“No.” Serena shook her head.
“That bastard,” Boyd growled. “He left the door unguarded, but I’ll take care of him later.” Boyd sat on the sofa and his gaze slid over her; it was all Serena could do not to shudder. “See you’re feeling better. No headache or nausea today.”
“No.”
“Just an urge to run, huh?”
“You can’t keep me locked up forever.”
He laughed cruelly. “Sarah, baby, I can do whatever I please, and for the moment it pleases me to have you at my disposal.” The way he said disposal sent a shiver up her spine.
He watched her for a moment. “Since you’re feeling so spunky, you can strip tonight, then later you and I will have some private time together. And after that, you’ll never run away again.”
Serena bit her lip to still its trembling. “No, I don’t want to.”
He rested his arms along the back of the sofa. “Ah, Sarah, baby, don’t you know by now that you don’t get a choice?”
“Please, just let me go!” she blurted.
He laughed that cruel way again, and it turned her stomach even more. “So you can run to the cops and tell them how I shot your lover cop? That’s never gonna happen, baby. You’re not going anywhere until I’m through with you—and the only place that’ll be is the morgue.”
An involuntary gasp erupted from her throat. The man was vile as Sarah had said, but she had to keep stalling for time. Where were the cops?
He crossed his legs. “Now, I’d like some entertainment. I’ve had a very harrowing day. Strip. Show me that beautiful body and all the moves you’ll make tonight.”
“I…I…” She froze, unsure of what to do.
“Just a taste. It’ll be much more fun with your clothes on. You’re usually in your bathrobe moping around, hoping to reach my compassionate side. Baby, I don’t have a compassionate side. Unfasten your blouse before I lose my patience.”
“No, I’m not stripping,” she said, knowing there was no way she’d take a stitch off in front of him.
Slowly he got to his feet. “What did you say?” His eyes were black with anger.
She swallowed. “I’m not removing my clothes.”
“I hate sassy bitches.” He hit her across the face and she fell to the floor. “Get up, bitch!” he shouted. “No woman refuses me.”
At that moment Ethan kicked the door open and came out with his right arm straight, gun in his hand. It was pointed at Boyd. “Don’t touch her again.” His voice was razor-sharp.
Boyd jerked up. “What the…” His voice trailed off as he noticed Sarah huddled in the closet. Boyd glanced from Sarah to Serena.
“Yup, there’s two of ’em, Boyd,” Ethan enlightened him. “Serena, are you all right?”
“Yes,” she answered. Sarah was crying openly and Serena crawled to her on hands and knees. “Shh,” she soothed. “Everything’s going to be fine.
Boyd gathered himself, shaking his head. “What are you doing here, Ethan?”
“Glad to see you remember me, Boyd. To answer your question, I’m here to nail a slimeball.”
“C’mon, Ethan. I know this looks bad, but—”
“Save it. I was in the closet. I heard every word you said.”
Boyd’s demeanor changed. “You won’t get out of here alive. The place is full of my men.”
“The police are on the way and they’ll take care of your men. It’s over, Boyd, and where you’re going, there won’t be a strip club in sight.”
Boyd smiled a crooked smile. “If you think you’re holding all the cards, think again.”
Ethan frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“If you want to see your sister alive, you put the gun down.”
Ethan kept his face blank and his gun pointed at Boyd, but fear burned his insides like acid. “What’s Molly got to do with this?”
“Well, she became a little too curious, asking questions, and I don’t like questions, especially from a woman. I gave her something to calm her down—heroin, to be exact. My man will either inject her with more heroin or release her. He’s just waiting for my call.”
“You’re lying.” But Ethan knew he wasn’t. He was well acquainted with creeps like Boyd. He also knew that Boyd had just played his ace and it was a good one. Damn, Molly, why couldn’t you have done as I asked?
“You can either believe me or not. It’s up to you.” Boyd was calm; he obviously thought he had Ethan backed into a corner.
“I need proof.”
“Sure,” Boyd said, and reached for his shirt pocket.
“Don’t!” Ethan commanded.
“It’s just my cell phone.”
“Okay, take it out slowly.”
Boyd removed the phone. “All I have to do is call and you can hear her voice.”
“Do it, and don’t pull any tricks, because I’d just as soon shoot you as look at you.”
Boyd poked out a number, then snapped, “Get her on the phone, dammit. Wake her up.”
“Serena,” Ethan said, “get the phone and bring it to me.”
Serena scrambled to her feet and took the phone from Boyd, then held it to Ethan’s ear. Ethan never took his eyes off Boyd.
Ethan waited until her voice came. “E-Eth-an, h-help me.”
His blood ran cold. “You bastard,” he hissed.
Serena lowered the phone and moved away.
Boyd raised both hands. “All I have to do is say the word and they’ll release her. It’s up to you. Just let me walk out of here. That’s all you have to do. Once the police arrive, your sister’s a dead woman.”
Ethan didn’t have many options, but he’d learned a long time ago never to make deals with people like Boyd. He’d also learned that there was always a way to beat an ace. Now he had to gamble—and gamble big.
“Where’s Molly?” he asked, his voice as calm as Boyd’s.
“I’m not giving you that information until you let me leave. You got one minute. It’s your choice.”
“Where’s Molly?” he asked again, losing some of his calm.
Boyd’s lips thinned to a sneer.
“There’s ten bullets in this clip,” Ethan said. “I can place each one in a different part of your body. That’s your choice. Now where’s Molly?”
“Hey, Ethan—”
Aiming the gun over Boyd’s left shoulder, Ethan pulled the trigger. Boyd jumped and someone started beating on the door. “Rudy, what’s going on?” Evidently they had orders not to come in.
“Tell them to back off or I’ll put a bullet through your heart,” Ethan said.
“It’s okay!” Rudy yelled.
“Serena,” Ethan said. “Pull that big chair in front of the door.”
Serena immediately did as he instructed. At this point, she was just reacting, not thinking.
“You won’t get out of here alive, Ethan,” Boyd said. “So give it up. Let me go.”
Ethan fired several more shots around Boyd. “Where’s Molly?”
Boyd didn’t answer.
Ethan fired again and again, the sound deafening in the confines of the small room. “Where’s Molly?”
Boyd flinched, but he didn’t respond.
“There’s one or two bullets left in the clip. I wasn’t counting, but I’m positive I can put one of ’em right in the center of your empty heart.”
“You won’t kill me,” Boyd said smugly. “It’s the end of Molly if you do.”
“Look me in the eye, Boyd. I’m dead serious.”
They stared at each other and Ethan didn’t blink or move.
“You’re crazy!” the other man bit out.
“You’ve got five seconds to tell me where Molly is. One, two…” He began to count.
Boyd swallowed noticeably, and Serena saw he was afraid. She fell down by Sarah and held her tight, waiting for Ethan to pull the trigger, waiting for the sound to echo through her brain.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“THREE, FOUR…”
Gunshots echoed in the hall and suddenly the door was rammed open and police officers surged into the room.
Serena let out a long sigh of relief. “It’s over, Sarah. The police are here.” Thank God.
Ethan slowly lowered his arm as they handcuffed Boyd. For the first time he realized his stomach was curled into a hard knot. He took an agonizing breath.
“You’ll never find her, Ethan. You just signed her death certificate,” Boyd snarled.
The knot in his stomach solidified into a burning rage. He grabbed Boyd by the collar and jerked him forward. “Where is she?”
“Dead, Ethan, dead.” Boyd laughed.
Daniel caught Ethan around the chest and pulled him back. “Cool off, Ethan.”
“You can’t make anything stick, Garrett,” Boyd snarled. “You got nothing on me.”
“How about murder and kidnapping, for starters,” Ethan said.
Daniel swung his head toward Ethan. Ethan hadn’t meant it to come out this way. “I’m sorry,” he said. “Greg’s dead. Boyd shot him, and Sarah saw the whole thing. That’s why he’s had her locked away.”
“It’s all right Ethan. I figured as much. I was just hoping.” Daniel turned to one of the other officers. “Read him his rights.”
“My lawyers will have me out before dark,” Boyd boasted.
“Keep dreaming,” Daniel replied.
Boyd grinned at Ethan. “You’d better hurry up and look for your sister. I’m through with her. She was very useful. She did exactly what I wanted her to, like a good little girl.”
Ethan made a dive for him, but Daniel blocked his path. “Get Boyd out of here,” Daniel shouted to his men. They could hear Boyd laughing as he went down the hall.
Ethan jammed both hands through his hair, trying to calm down, trying to think. He quickly told Daniel about Molly.
“Ethan,” Serena screamed from the closet, “call an ambulance! I don’t think Sarah’s breathing.”
“There’s one on the way,” Daniel said as he and Ethan lifted Sarah from the closet and laid her on the floor. Daniel felt the pulse in her neck. “Damn, I can’t find it.” Daniel opened her robe, exposing her breasts, but he didn’t seem to notice. He rested the side of his face against her chest. “Her heart’s beating and she’s breathing. It’s shallow, but…”
Ethan stood and took Serena in his arms. “Ethan!” she cried. “I…she…”
“Shh,” he said. “She passed out, that’s all. She’ll be fine.”
They heard the ambulance a moment later. Daniel covered Sarah before the paramedics came through the door, and then he gave them details of her condition. “She’s been severely traumatized,” he finished, and they loaded Sarah onto the stretcher taking her vitals and giving her oxygen.
“I’m going with her,” Serena said to Ethan.
“I’ve got to find Molly,” he told her. “I’ll meet you at the hospital later.”
“Okay.” She hugged him and kissed him lightly. “Good luck!” She hurried after the paramedics.
Daniel stared at Ethan. “Where do we even start?”
“Let me think.” He closed his eyes, but he was so worried that his mind was a blank. The instant he opened his eyes, he saw Boyd’s phone. He snatched it up and pushed “redial.” The last number appeared on the small screen. He showed it to Daniel.
“Boyd called this number. Find out who it belongs to and we’ll find Molly.”
Daniel reached for the phone on his hip and gave succinct instructions. Ethan was already out the door and Daniel followed. Outside they went immediately to Daniel’s car. “This could take a—” His phone buzzed.
Daniel answered, then scribbled an address on a piece of paper. “That’s the same street as the boys’ club.”
“That’s it!” Ethan said, and told Daniel about Molly’s “errand.” Daniel put the siren on and they raced through traffic. “You know, Daniel, I don’t think Boyd’s moving drugs through his clubs. He probably sells them there, but I feel his shipments are going through the boys’ club. That’s why he needed Molly. Unknowingly, she probably picked up drugs for him. God, can’t you go faster?”
“I’m breaking the speed limit now.”
She has to be okay, Ethan kept thinking. He didn’t know what he’d do if she wasn’t.
Daniel switched off the siren as he turned onto the street. The address was a house down from the boys’ club; it had apparently been converted into apartment units. Daniel caught Ethan before he could jump out. “We can’t just go barging in. They’ll kill her. We have to have a plan.”
Ethan tried to calm down and noticed he still had the Apex Plumbing shirt on. He tapped the name sticker. “I’ll pretend to be a plumber again. Just give me back up and make sure there’s an ambulance ready.”
“It would be best if one of my men or I went in. You’re not on the force.”
Ethan’s eyes darkened. “She’s my sister and I’m going in.”
They glared at each other. “Damn, Ethan, you’re making me break the rules.”
“So?”
Tense silence, then, “I’m probably gonna regret this. Be careful, okay?”
As Ethan started to get out, he stopped abruptly
. “I left my gun and the toolbox back at the strip club.” He cursed.
“I have something that might help,” Daniel said as he left the car and opened the trunk. Inside was a toolbox, which he handed to Ethan. “I keep it for emergencies.” He motioned to the officers arriving behind them, and one came running up. “I need a weapon.” The officer produced a pistol and Daniel placed it in the box. Daniel and Ethan met each other’s eyes before Ethan headed for the building. He went up the front steps, and knocked at the door. Be okay, Molly. Please be okay.
“Who is it?” a man yelled.
“Apex Plumbing,” Ethan shouted back.
“Didn’t call no plumbing company.”
Ethan swallowed. “I got a message to come to this address. It was called in by, let me see—” he took a moment “—Rudy Boyd. That you?”
The door swung open and a jeans-clad man stood there. He had to be in his early twenties, but there was a lot of hard living on his young face. Ethan didn’t see anyone else.
“Ain’t got no plumbing problems. Don’t know why Rudy called.”
“You sure? Have you checked everything? I mean, I’m here and I don’t want to have to come back.”
“Stay there. I gotta call Rudy. He owns the place.”
“Sure,” Ethan said, and the man closed the door. Ethan waited, knowing Boyd wouldn’t be answering.
The man came back. “He don’t answer. Anthony don’t, either. That’s strange.” He seemed to be talking to himself.
“I’m on the clock, kid, so make up your mind. If the owner called, then there has to be a problem.”
“Maybe. I guess it won’t hurt to check.” He opened the door wider and Ethan stepped into the small seedy apartment.
“The kitchen’s right there—” he pointed “—and the bathroom’s next to it. Make it fast.”
Ethan noticed that the bedroom door was closed and there was no one else in the living area or kitchen. But how many people were in the bedroom? He walked into the kitchen, set the toolbox down and opened the doors beneath the sink, all the while keeping an eye on the young man. He had turned up the TV and sunk into a chair to watch a movie, some action film; that told Ethan the kid was probably alone—except for Molly. He saw two officers through the grimy back-door window. It was time. He removed the gun from the toolbox and nodded at them. With the gun behind his back, he moved toward the kid, who was so engrossed in the movie that he didn’t even notice Ethan until the gun barrel was placed against his temple.