In the Black

by Cynthia Rayne

  “So, can we go now? I wanna stop him before he does somethin’ terrible.”

  Maybe she could talk him out of this. If they both went to the FBI and told them everything, perhaps they'd be lenient. Their relationship was over, but she didn’t want Dave to rot in jail. Or worse, end up with a needle in his arm.

  Besides, she just knew Marshall was the leader of the group. His views were the most extreme. He had to be behind this.

  “In a minute. I’m still tryin’ to wrap my head around this. Why do you think he’s buildin’ a bomb?”

  “In order to disperse a chemical, you would need a delivery system for maximum damage. All those guys have military training, and Marshall used to work with IEDs in Afghanistan.”

  Improvised Explosive Devices were a real problem for the military. Terrorists used them to injure or kill a lot of soldiers all at one time.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Let’s put it this way, I’m ninety-nine percent sure.” There was still a small glimmer of hope. “My intuition has been screamin’ at me the past couple of days.”

  “Okay then. I’ll help you find him.”

  Ellie went to the window, opened it, and then dropped her duffel bag onto the ground below. Tommy and his buddies lived in a rustic red and white barn, which had been converted into a house and headquarters, or HQ as Tommy called it.

  It sat atop a brick foundation on the edge of a hill, surrounded by a couple of lush acres. There were large windows on the front of the structure. It was encircled by a brick patio with a large fire pit.

  There weren’t any trees in the front yard to hide behind. So, there was no way to sneak out of this place, without someone noticing. The backyard was another story since it had a lot of foliage obscuring the view.

  “What are you doin’?”

  “I can’t walk past your friends with a bag on my shoulder. They’ll tell Tommy, and I won’t make it over the county line.” She placed a hand on her hip. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

  Zane sighed. “You’re not. Come on, let’s go.”

  Together they walked downstairs, all casual like. The place was quiet until they passed the kitchen.

  “Where are you two going?”

  Mack was seated at the table, eating a bowl of shredded wheat. Tommy had introduced her to the whole gang earlier. Mackenzie Pierce was thirty-one years old with curly red hair, a snub nose, and wide-spaced blue eyes. A light dusting of freckles dotted her face.

  Mack was a strange name for a woman who was only an inch or two over five feet tall, but it suited her. For what she lacked in height, she made up for in attitude, or so Ellie had been told. And she was inclined to believe the hype. Ellie had a feeling Mack could give Tommy a run for his money when it came to getting her way.

  “None of your damn business,” Zane said.

  “Walmart,” Ellie said.

  They’d spoken simultaneously.

  Ellie winced.

  It was an amateur mistake. As a teenager, she’d been an expert at sneaking out of the house. Believable lies were the most crucial aspect. They should’ve coordinated a story before heading downstairs.

  Mack raised doubtful eyebrows.

  “They’re probably gonna sneak off to have sex,” Nox said, around a mouthful of cereal.

  Zane coughed and looked away. And she must be blushing because Ellie’s cheeks burned.

  “What?” Nox shrugged. “I noticed a vibe.”

  A vibe? What was he talking about? They were friendly, nothing more. These days anyway. Zane had made himself abundantly clear. He only wanted her friendship.

  “So, where are you really going?” Mack asked.

  “Out,” Zane said.

  “You’re going to see Dave, aren’t you?”

  Mack had somehow seen through them. And then Ellie remembered Tommy had told her Mack had a background in psychology and used to work for the feds. She’d also been a member of their hostage rescue team. So, she could probably spot a lie at twenty paces.

  Zane started to speak, but Ellie interrupted him.

  “You won’t tell Tommy?”

  She mulled it over for a minute. “I won’t lie to him if he asks me, but I won’t volunteer the information either.”

  It was enough for Ellie. All she needed was a head start. With any luck, her brother would be too preoccupied to notice.

  “Come on, Ellie, we should go,” Zane said, backing toward the door.

  Mack stood. “Hold up, Nox is coming with you.”

  “The hell I am.” Nox scowled.

  “They need you, even if they don’t realize it.” Mack patted his arm.

  “He’s a big boy, and he don’t need a babysitter.” Nox nodded to Zane.

  “Yeah, what he said.” Zane kept on walking.

  “But he might need back up.”

  Ellie groaned. She’d like to keep this quiet, but Mack might be right. Who knows what they were walking into? What if Marshall and the crew was there?

  Nox pinched the area between his eyebrows. “You’re gonna bug me about this until I say yes, aren’t you, Mack?”

  “Pretty much.” Mack grinned. “Bon voyage.”

  He huffed. “Fine.”

  “If you’re comin’, get a move on. We don’t have a lot of time.” Ellie was anxious to get back to the apartment. She was beginning to think, she shouldn’t have left. What if it was too late to talk some sense into Dave?

  Nox winked. “Don’t you worry, darlin’. I’m former military. I could be ready to go to the moon in ten minutes.” He bounded up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

  And he was true to his word.

  Fifteen minutes later, they were on the road.

  ***

  When they pulled up outside the apartment building, it was quiet.

  It was early in the morning, and most folks were at work. Although, there was a nondescript SUV near the office door. She was about to hop out of the Jeep when Zane locked all the doors.

  “Hey, what gives?” She slammed a palm against the glass.

  “Wait for it.” He nodded to the office.

  Just then, two men in dark blue suits headed out the door. They had short-cropped hair, gleaming shoes, which must’ve been freshly polished. They looked official, determined.

  “Are those…?”

  “FBI agents? Yeah,” Zane said grimly. “G-Men are easy to spot.”

  She sank down in the backseat, putting her head in her hands. They must be after her, or Dave.

  “Oh my God, the feds are involved. This is actually happening.” She blew out a breath. “They’re gonna take me to GITMO, lock me in a cell, and throw away the key.”

  This whole thing was bonkers, like a nightmare come to life.

  “Naw, domestic terrorists go to supermax. Worst case scenario, they’ll just execute you,” Nox said.

  Her stomach clenched. On the way over, Zane had given Nox the basics, so he knew what he was walking into.

  “You’re not helpin’,” Zane bit out.

  “Wasn’t tryin’ to.”

  Zane punched Nox in the arm.

  And Nox hit him back.

  “Stop it,” she hissed.

  “We’ll settle it later.” Nox shook his head. “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re screwed, darlin’.”

  “Yeah, I figured that out.”

  The agents drove off, but the boys didn’t get out of the car. Instead, they scanned the parking lot. Ellie waited anxiously.

  “What are you looking for?” she whispered, as though the agents could hear her for some reason.

  “They didn’t just bug out. I’m guessin’ they left someone behind watchin’ the place.”

  Sure enough, they spotted another suity agent in the corner of the lot, eating a sandwich and observing her door like a hawk scoping out a mouse.

  Something else occurred to her.

  “Dave isn’t here, is he?”

  “Nope,” Nox said. “The feds would be sweatin’ him in a
room, instead of spyin’ on his place.”

  “I’m guessin’ he high tailed it out of here after you and King gave him a beat down,” Zane said to Nox.

  She hadn’t had a chance to explain herself, or the situation before King had taken off with his posse. Truthfully, she was out of it that night.

  “That tracks.” Nox grunted. He looked all kinds of worried whenever we rolled up. Evidently, it was the feds he was concerned about.”

  “We should still check out the apartment, in case he left anythin’ behind.” Zane turned in the seat to face her. “Is there a back entrance?”

  “Yeah, there’s a freight elevator people use to move in. It’s in the rear corner of the building.”

  “Then we’ll park around the block and sneak upstairs.”

  “He’ll see you when you walk in the front door.” Since her apartment faced the pool, they’d have to take a stroll right in front of the agent’s car.

  Zane grinned. “Not if I come in through the back window.”

  He pulled out of the parking lot, slow and cautiously like they had nothing to worry about. She sucked in a breath as they passed by the FBI agent’s car, still crouching low in the seat.

  Thankfully, he didn’t follow them.

  After Zane had removed the license plate from their vehicle in case the FBI “got nosy” they headed upstairs. They stepped out of the freight elevator, and Zane broke into her apartment through the bedroom window by putting his elbow through the window pane and muffling the sound with a jacket.

  If she weren’t worried about a terrorist attack or going to jail, she would have been concerned about her personal safety. Evidently, she’d been an easy target for a thief.

  “How’d you learn to do that?”

  His smile was smug. “We usually kick down doors, but occasionally a mission calls for stealth. It’s hard to keep me out of a place.”

  Unfortunately, they’d broken in for nothing. They’d divided up the apartment to search it, but all of Dave’s stuff was gone.

  In the closet, her clothes hung in one half, and his side was barren. When she went to the bathroom, his personal hygiene products were gone—razors, shaving cream, deodorant, everything.

  Dave hadn’t left anything behind. Except for her.

  Once again, Ellie waited for a rush of emotion, sadness or anger. Instead, she felt nothing, just emptiness.

  Dave, what have you gotten yourself into?

  Then she heard strange noises coming from the living room. When she headed in, Ellie noticed the furniture had been rearranged. The apartment had come with the basics, including a couch, and a coffee table. And the guys had moved everything around.

  Zane and Nox were speaking to one another in low, urgent tones. They stopped once they saw her.

  “So, you decided to give this place a makeover?”

  “No, we were lookin’ for evidence. Any idea what this is?” Nox toed a square of carpet against the wall. It looked as though someone had cut into it with a box cutter.

  “No.” She’d never noticed it before. “That’s where the couch used to be.”

  “Evidently, Dave had somethin’ to hide.” Nox knelt beside it. “What do you say, Zane? Should we open her up?”

  “Have at it but be careful.” Zane herded her towards the door and placed his body between her and the hidey hole, which was infuriating.

  “Get out of my way. I wanna see what’s in there.”

  “Not until I’m sure it’s safe.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s probably—”

  When Nox flipped up the carpet and opened the panel underneath, something made a distinct clicking sound.

  And then things happened in slow motion, like a movie, or a dream.

  “Go!” Nox shouted, running for the door.

  Zane scooped Ellie up like a sack of flour and tossed her over his shoulder. He ran with her onto the balcony. There was a flash and then a big ball of fire in her living room.

  It surged toward them, and all she could do was point in horror.

  Before Ellie could say anything, Zane jumped over the railing into the swimming pool. Nox was right behind them. They plunged into the water as the fire billowed over their heads, venting harmlessly into the air.

  She floated up to the surface.

  Ellie coughed and sputtered, unable to believe her own eyes. Before Ellie could make sense of it all, Zane grabbed her by the shirt collar and yanked her to the side of the pool.

  Nox had already gotten out and was running for the Jeep. Once again, Zane lobbed her over his shoulder and took off running. Meanwhile, the FBI agent stopped gawking at the massive fireball and got out of his vehicle.

  “Freeze! FBI!” He pulled his weapon.

  Lickety-split, Nox shot out his tires, and then he laid down cover fire for them while Zane ran with her. He tossed her in the backseat, and Zane started up the Jeep. He pulled away from the curb on screeching tires, and they found Nox halfway down the street, running like a marathoner. Zane slowed down, threw open the passenger door, and Nox hopped in.

  The FBI agent was jogging behind them, shooting, swearing. Zane floored the Jeep, and they took off.

  Ellie couldn’t believe what she’d just witnessed.

  Her life had literally gone up in flames.

  Chapter 3

  “Do you need anythin’ else?”

  Ellie shook her head. “No, thanks, Zane. I’m fine.”

  It was a lie. Ellie wasn’t “fine,” in any sense of the term, but she was holding it together.

  Two hours had passed, and Ellie was in the meeting room at HQ. Zane had taken the long way home, down dirt roads and through fields, in case the FBI had put out an all points bulletin for the car’s make and model. When they’d gotten home, Nox had parked it in the woods, near a clearing to hide it.

  Thank God, Zane had taken off the license plates.

  She’d showered and put on some clean clothing. Except for what she’d had in the duffle bag, her stuff was either scorched or confiscated by the government. She imagined them collecting evidence, zipping her undies into clear plastic bags.

  “I promise, it’s gonna be fine. You won’t regret involvin’ the team.”

  On the way back, Zane had persuaded her to kick this problem to the entire group. It was too much for Nox and Zane to handle by themselves. And she knew he was right, even if she dreaded the forthcoming conversation with her brother.

  He’s gonna be so disappointed in me. And maybe Ellie didn’t want to tell him because it would make the situation real. She’d have to face this thing head-on.

  “We’ll be ready in a second. King’s coming down from his room. The hospital released him this mornin’.”

  Fantastic.

  “Okay.”

  Zane squeezed her hand, and she held onto it, clutching him for support. She could read the kindness in his eyes, the care, and Ellie desperately needed it.

  “It’s gonna be okay, roomie.”

  “I hope you’re right.” But I doubt it.

  When he walked away, Ellie wrapped her hands around a mug of hot tea, but they still felt cold. To distract herself, she took in the room, trying to quiet the noisy panic in her own head.

  It was an eye-catching place. There were three brick walls, and one large floor to ceiling window, with a breathtaking view of the woods behind the property.

  In the center of the room, stood a farmer’s table surrounded by several brown leather chairs. She sat in the corner of the table. There were a series of framed posters on the wall, all of them featuring motivational sayings.

  The only easy day was yesterday.

  Don’t run to your death.

  Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

  That last one made her breath catch.

  Everything about the situation was uncomfortable.

  In the center was the Navy warfare special insignia—a golden eagle clutching a trident, an anchor, and a rifle.

  It gave her a small slive
r of confidence. If anyone could sort this out, former Navy SEALs could. Or maybe I’m deluding myself. Either way, she would take the comfort.

  West sauntered into the room and sat at the head of the table. He nodded to her. They’d met many times. Normally, he was laughing and joking, enjoying the company of his brothers. Today, his lips were set in a thin line, and the rest of his face was just as grave.

  Dammit. So much for optimism.

  West was in his early thirties, like the rest of them. He had short-cropped blond hair and piercing blue eyes. His features were refined— high cheekbones, full lips, and arched brows. West had exuded a golden boy image, but he had the street cred. He’d been the prom king and the quarterback in high school.

  Annie Foster sat next to him, and she squeezed his hand. It was the nonverbal sort of communication only couples shared, a deeper intimacy.

  Ellie flinched.

  She missed that. Ellie didn’t want Dave back, but she liked being part of a unit, having a partner to stand beside. Right now, she felt so alone. Although, she supposed being alone is better than having a partner you couldn’t trust.

  Annie was a former Federal Marshall, and she’d joined the team a few weeks ago. Ellie had like her immediately, even though they met under difficult circumstances. Annie had long brown hair, dark eyes, and an athletic build.

  And then Tommy marched into the room.

  Tommy was six feet eight with reddish blond hair and a thick layer of stubble on his chin. He could bench press twice his own weight, although he didn’t have a bulky bodybuilder physique.

  As children, they’d been around the same height until he’d hit puberty. At fourteen, he’d had a growth spurt, and it hadn’t stopped until he was nineteen.

  They stared at one another, saying nothing. There were no words. Tommy was every bit as beat up as she was. Her brother was a good man, down to his bones and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he cared about. His only flaw, as far as she could see, was he loved Ellie too much.

  The room went quiet, as everyone watched them.

  She stood. “I…”

  Tommy held out his arms, and she flung herself into them. He oomphed in pain but didn’t step away from her. She buried her head in his chest and closed her eyes.