She looked up just as Agent Manning stepped from the darkness.
* * *
Tanner and Devin moved closer to the lake house. They had to take out these two guys outside and then get inside to find Addie. One wrong move and their whole plan could be ruined.
He motioned to Devin, and they split up. Tanner moved stealthily toward the man he’d seen driving the car, the one who’d followed him and Macy to the barn. The man heaved another suitcase into the trunk of the vehicle.
These guys were definitely planning on getting out of here. They probably changed locations every few days to avoid being caught.
As Tanner took a step toward him, he heard a moan from the other side of the house. Devin must have reached Sam already.
At the sound, the man in front of Tanner tensed and reached for the gun at his waist.
Tanner had to make his move now.
He lunged at the man and slammed him on the ground. Before the man could react, Tanner brought his fist back and smashed it into the man’s jaw.
The man sprang to life and wrestled Tanner off him.
He reached for his gun again, but Tanner kicked it from his hands.
The man sneered and lunged at Tanner.
They both rolled over and popped up to their feet almost at the same time—facing each other and ready for hand-to-hand combat.
“Where’s Addie?” Tanner asked, pacing in a half circle and waiting for the man to make his next move.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” The man smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He had no respect for human life, and that made him the worst kind of perpetrator to encounter.
“We just want the baby. You can leave as planned, and we won’t stop you.”
“The plan is to take the baby with us. Nice try, though.”
“Who are you anyway?” Tanner asked, his entire body tense and ready for battle. “How are you connected with this?”
His opponent continued to prowl, reminding Tanner of a lion that was about to strike as they faced off. “That’s none of your business.”
“I’d say it is.”
“You’re going to have to kill me before you get that baby.”
He lunged at Tanner, slamming him into the house behind them. The entire building shook. Tanner felt a jolt of pain before a blinding ache coursed through him.
As the man charged toward him again, Tanner turned. His elbow connected with the man’s chest, sending him backward, and knocking the wind out of him.
Tanner tackled the man to the ground again and gave him one more punch to the jaw.
Before the man could get back to his feet, Tanner jerked him up and slapped handcuffs on his wrists. He shoved him against the car before wiping the blood off his lips.
“Now, where’s Addie?” Tanner demanded.
“I’ll never tell.” He sneered and raised his chin.
Devin appeared with Sam in tow from around the side of the house. Sam had a bloody lip and a swelling around his eye.
“He’s not talking,” Devin said, shoving Sam toward the car.
“Did you check the house?”
“They’re not there,” Devin said.
Tanner stepped closer to the men. “Tell me where she is.”
Sam smiled again, that same evil, sardonic grin. “Now why would I do that?”
Tanner was missing something, and he had to figure out what. Everyone’s life depended on him doing that sooner rather than later.
Twenty-One
Macy pulled Addie closer and took a step back. The child clung to Macy, on the verge of tears. The farther away from Manning that Macy stepped, the more she felt like the forest was closing in. The more isolated she became. The farther hope slipped away.
“You got the baby,” Manning said.
He appeared all business in his black cargo pants and a matching black T-shirt. She’d guess he had a bulletproof vest beneath it. A gun was strapped to his waist, and he didn’t appear the least bit surprised to find her out here.
“I was afraid they were going to get away with her,” he continued.
“I was also.” Macy’s throat felt tight as she said the words. “But I’ve—we’ve—got to move. I’m afraid they’ll find us.”
“Absolutely. You need to get out of here before those guys come after you. I’ll accompany you.” He reached for her arm to escort her.
Macy’s stomach sank. What if Manning was the mole? She didn’t like this, but maybe she should play along and not tip him off that she didn’t trust him. Hopefully, Tanner and Devin would be back soon and could help in case things turned ugly.
“How’d you find us?” She moved carefully through the woods with Manning’s hand on her arm, guiding her.
“I was backup.”
“And you’re the only one who came?” Something wasn’t adding up. Macy tried to take a step away, tried to consider her options. She couldn’t outrun the agent, especially not with Addie in her arms. She’d end up injuring both herself and the baby. She couldn’t risk that.
“I happened to be close by when Saul called me,” Manning said.
Was that because he was in on all of this?
Macy’s feeling of despair tried to bite deeper. How was she going to get out of this? If only she could tell Tanner what was going on. She didn’t know anything about hand-to-hand combat. But she could use her mind.
“We should keep walking.” Manning led her farther away from Tanner and deeper into the middle of the vast forest surrounding the house. “We need to make sure you’re out of sight.”
The meaning of his words caused ice-cold fear to form in her gut. Her being out of sight would give him the opportunity to kill her and take Addie without anyone being the wiser.
“I think I’ll be okay. Why don’t you go help Tanner and Devin? I’m worried about them.”
“I think they’re handling themselves just fine. Besides, Tanner is in a world of trouble with the FBI. He should have never gone rogue.”
Macy raised her chin, determined to defend Tanner. “He was looking out for Addie.”
“Look how far that got him.”
She ignored his comment, deciding to play along and stay on his good side. “When’s everyone else going to arrive?”
She stepped over a root, trying to be careful. The ground was uneven out here. It was so hard to see.
“It’s hard to say. This place is off the beaten path, to say the least.”
Which was why it was weird Manning was here, Macy mused. Had Tanner called him as backup? Or was there more to this story?
“I think we should wait for Tanner and Devin now.” She stopped beside a tree, trying to both catch her breath and calm her racing heart. Plus, she needed time to think.
“No, we need to keep moving.” Manning’s grip on her arm tightened. “We’re almost at the road.”
“We’re more likely to be spotted there,” Macy said, resisting the urge to yelp. His grip was painfully tight. Certainly Addie could sense her anxiety, her racing heart. As if to confirm, the baby let out another deep-seated cry.
“You think there are more of these guys than the people you saw at the house?” Manning glanced around, as if looking for approaching trouble.
“I’m sure they have little foot soldiers doing their work,” Macy said, knowing she was baiting him. But she had to buy some time. “I guess Robin and Sam had money to hire whoever they wanted. Cowards. They couldn’t even do their own dirty work.”
Macy glanced at Manning and saw a shadow cross over his face. The bad feeling continued to churn in her gut.
Psychology, Macy. Use psychology. It’s what you know best.
“I’m glad there are honorable men like you to stop people like Robin and Sam,” she continued.
“That’s my job,” he said.
> She swallowed hard. “I know your parents must be proud of you.”
“I suppose.”
“Oh, stop being humble. They probably have pictures of you all over their house. Ones of you at the FBI Academy, getting awards and recognition for your service. You’re the type of guy who should be a hero.”
He said nothing.
“Why’d you want to join the FBI in the first place?” she asked, trying to passively get through to him. They were getting closer and closer to the road, which made Macy’s gut twist tighter and tighter.
“To put away the bad guys. Of course.”
“Did you always want to be the good guy?”
His grip on her arm tightened, probably subconsciously. “Actually, I did. Who doesn’t want to be the hero?”
“The most important thing is protecting the innocent, right?”
The shadow over his face deepened. Just ahead, she could see the highway. Could see the gleam of a vehicle.
She knew exactly where this was going.
And she couldn’t let that happen.
She paused beside a tree, her head pounding with anxiety.
“Why’d you stop again?” Manning asked, trying to nudge her forward. “We’re almost there.”
Manning was going to take Addie and leave Macy for dead. She had no doubt about that.
“I’m not going anywhere else without Tanner. I promised I’d wait for him.”
“He told me to come get you.”
“But he didn’t know where I was.” Her voice cracked as she said the words.
This was the moment when Manning would either offer a logical explanation for his presence or show his true colors.
Macy could hardly breathe as she waited for his reaction.
Had her talk done any good? Had it made him realize that he was wrong to do this?
She looked up and saw Manning’s placid expression turn into a sneer. “You think your little boyfriend’s a hero, don’t you?”
“I know he is.” She’d turned her back on Tanner once. She’d never do that again.
“Well, we’ll see if he can get you out of this one. Hand over the baby.”
Macy glanced at Manning and saw he was holding a gun.
Macy had been right. He was the mole.
* * *
Tanner left Devin at the house with the two men, and he sprinted toward the woods to find Macy. Addie was still missing, as was Robin. A bad feeling churned in his gut.
He reached the edge of the woods and paused. He wanted to call out to her, but he knew better.
Something was amiss here.
Macy wouldn’t have left her spot unless something had happened.
Where had she gone?
With his gut still clenched, he paced deeper into the forest, searching for her, fearing the worst.
Had Robin done something to Macy? His anxiety deepened.
Just then, he heard the sound of tires against gravel. Someone was driving this way and moving fast—urgently fast.
He darted toward the noise just in time to see a sedan barreling down the lane toward the county highway in the distance.
Robin, he realized.
Did she have Macy and Addie with her? He tried to glance through the car window, but he couldn’t see anything. The glass was tinted, and the car was moving too fast. Besides, Macy could be on the vehicle’s floor and out of sight.
He couldn’t let Robin get away.
Just as he reached the driveway, the car zoomed past. He could feel the heat from the vehicle, only inches away from him. Another step closer and he would have been sideswiped.
Quickly, he pulled out his gun. Aiming carefully, he pointed his barrel at the tires.
He pulled the trigger and heard a pop.
He’d hit one tire.
But Robin wasn’t slowing down. She continued to charge ahead, her car wobbling on the uneven tires.
He raised his gun again, aimed and shot out the other back tire.
Another pop sounded. This time the car veered out of control. It careened, only stopping when the front bumper collided with a giant oak tree.
He sprinted toward the car, and just as he reached it, Robin pushed her door open and tried to climb out. She’d taken only a step when he grabbed her arm, turned her around and handcuffed her.
His gaze shot to the back seat.
It was empty. No Macy or Addie.
“Where are they?” he demanded.
“Who?” She sneered, as if she was enjoying this. The woman looked crazy. Black dirt—or was that ash?—lined her eyes. Her hair stood up in several directions. She smelled like sweat and grime.
“Where’s Addie? Macy?”
Her sneer remained. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
He pressed her against the car. “Tell me. Now.”
“I’m not making this any easier on you,” she muttered.
“Fine. We can do this the hard way.” He jerked her away from the car. “I’ll let Devin deal with you.”
“You do that. Meanwhile, your little girlfriend can suffer.”
His muscles went taut. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Except that she should have stayed out of it.”
He stopped right there on the gravel driveway and jerked Robin around to face him.
“Tell me where she is. Now.” His voice came out as a low growl.
He could see the smart remark on the tip of her tongue, so he gripped her arm even harder. “I’m going to make sure they throw the book at you and that you spend the rest of your life in jail.”
“You have no pull.” The challenge in her gaze taunted him.
“Oh, but I do. You’re facing kidnapping and murder charges. No amount of money will buy your way out of this one.”
“My inside sources told me you’re on the outs with the FBI.”
“But my friend Devin is engaged to a federal prosecutor,” he bluffed. “I’d say he has some pull.”
Her face paled. His ruse had worked.
“We’ve got evidence,” he continued. “Enough to put you away for life. So I suggest you start talking so I can at least tell prosecutors that you were cooperative. Crimes against infants are never taken lightly. And when we tell everyone what you did—how you killed that poor child’s mother for money—there’s not a single person who will have any compassion for you.”
She swallowed hard. “There’s a second house on the lake. She’s there with Addie.”
“That’s what I needed to know.” He kept his hand on her arm and continued to lead her to Devin.
“I’d hurry. Because she’s not there alone.”
* * *
A bad feeling churned in Tanner’s gut.
He followed the woods back to the second house, hoping and praying that Macy and Addie were okay. The door was ajar when he got there.
He drew his gun, preparing himself for the worst.
Carefully, he stepped inside. This was definitely where Addie had been staying. There were baby supplies everywhere. Some kind of dirt was on the floor. Ashes. Those were ashes. Just like Robin had on her eyes.
There’s been a fight here, he realized.
Most likely, a fight between Robin and Macy. It had ended with Robin driving away without either Macy or Addie.
So where were they?
At once, the truth hit him.
What if Robin had been leading him astray? Buying more time so someone else could grab Addie?
It didn’t all make sense to him. If Robin was locked up for this crime, she wouldn’t get the money anyway. But who knew what she was planning. Maybe she simply thought it was the ultimate justice for Addie to end up with nothing and with no one to take care of her. That if she couldn’t have her father’s money, no one should.
He walked around the outside of the house, searching for any other evidence of where Macy might be. He knelt on the ground outside the window.
There. Foot impressions in the dirt.
Those were Macy’s size.
Macy had been here. She must have discovered this house somehow, grabbed Addie and escaped.
But where had she gone?
There was still a mole out there, and if that person got their hands on Macy before Tanner found her, it could spell disaster. He had to find her. Now.
He wandered back through the woods. That was the most likely place Macy would have gone. But, if she was hiding here, why wasn’t she emerging?
He didn’t like this.
Gun drawn and ears perked, Tanner listened for any telltale sounds.
He used the trees for cover, on guard against anyone else who might be out here, as he moved through the area. Something was going on out here. He just wasn’t sure what.
A stick cracked in the distance.
The skin on Tanner’s neck pricked.
He knew something too large to be an animal had caused the noise.
Then he heard it. It was Addie. She let out a wail.
Macy was close enough that Tanner could hear Addie. But Macy was remaining quiet. Why?
Something was wrong.
Carefully, Tanner crept forward, certain to be on guard for the unexpected.
“Tanner, watch out!” someone yelled.
Macy. That was Macy.
He ducked behind a tree as a bullet sliced by him, lodging into a tree only inches away.
His adrenaline surged.
Who was with Macy? Who’d fired that shot?
Was it the inside man who’d been feeding information to Robin and Sam the whole time? Anger rushed through him at the thought.
That betrayal didn’t matter right now. What mattered was keeping Macy and Addie safe. He’d deal with the rest later.
Carefully, Tanner peered out from around the trunk of a massive oak, trying to identify the shooter.
“Hush, you’re making this harder,” someone barked. “Can’t you keep that baby quiet?”
Tanner recognized the voice, but he didn’t want to believe it. It was...Manning.
Manning had been the mole.
The Baby Assignment Page 17