All the Light There Is: The Healing Edge - Book Three

by Anise Eden

  “And your hands are the right ones?”

  “Our hands are the only ones we can control—which is why we’re so pleased that you and Cate will be joining us.”

  “You think that after this kidnapping stunt, we’ll still want in?”

  Harris barked out a laugh. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Pharmaceuticals are amazing things. We’ll dose you again later and, like I said, by tomorrow morning, you won’t remember any of this. Neither will Cate. She’ll wake up in her bed, safe and sound in the lodge, but Phil will be found unconscious on his speedboat, floating around in the middle of the Bay, and you’ll be missing, presumed dead. Cate won’t remember what happened. She’ll blame herself for that—for forgetting.”

  A whirlwind of rage kicked up inside of me. My hands fisted. “Pete—”

  Pete shushed me, but he looked as outraged as I was. Then he mumbled into the cell phone again and nodded at the reply.

  We heard the pacing start again—this time slower, more deliberate. “She’ll be devastated, of course. Naturally, her new family at Mercier will take her under our wing, with the blessing of Skeet’s good friend, Ardis—all the people she trusts. With you gone, the glue that holds the MacGregor Group together will dissolve, and everyone will go their separate ways.”

  “Only presumed dead?”

  “I thought that part might interest you,” Harris said, and I could hear the sick smile in his voice. “Yes, you’ll be fine—just locked away in a secret facility while we figure out how to use you to activate the double kheir. And you’ll cooperate, because Cate will be with us at Mercier, her safety guaranteed as long as you do what you’re told. We’ll need you to do a few highly illegal favors for us, of course. That’ll give us enough blackmail material to keep you loyal after your release. Once we get the information we need, we’ll arrange for you to wash up somewhere—alive, if somewhat worse for wear—and you’ll return to a joyous Cate. And if it turns out that you can’t activate the double kheir on your own, once we bring you back, we can test the theory that your special relationship with Cate is the key. You’ll never tell anyone what happened, and you’ll convince Cate to stay with Mercier, if any doubts remain.”

  “And then you’ll have us right where you want us.”

  “Where we want you isn’t a bad place to be, Ben. You should count yourself lucky. Once you and Cate are in with us, you’ll be protected from the winds of global change. A lot of people would kill to be in that position.” The pacing stopped again. “So there you have it. I believe I’ve told you quite enough. Now, it’s your turn.”

  Ben coughed, and it sounded labored. “Give me a minute?”

  “Fine,” Harris said, “but then I’m getting my answers.” We heard Harris’s footsteps walk away from Ben.

  They were going to interrogate him next. Every cell in my body screamed, and I felt as though I was about to fly apart, a trillion atoms exploding. I leaned my head against the wall and closed my eyes. Just keep breathing, I ordered myself. You have to stay alive if you’re going to save Ben, so keep breathing.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Suddenly, we heard a lot of rustling outside the lean-to. Pete pulled out a gun with a silencer and gestured for Asa and me to stay still. He crouched down and slowly made his way out of the shed and around the corner. We heard muted voices arguing, but it sounded like a friendly disagreement. I wondered if Lonzie and Clayton had arrived. Much to my shock, however, the faces that appeared outside of the opening to the shed belonged to the Marines of Yankee Company.

  Asa and I jumped up. I threw myself at Hector and Kevin, two of the men I’d spent a lot of time with the previous week, and squeezed them until they coughed. So that was what Pete had meant by reinforcements. The Marines were in full combat gear, ready for action. For the first time since Phil had knocked him out, I allowed myself to believe that Ben was going to be all right, after all.

  Pete was still outside talking to someone. From the few words I caught, it sounded like he was filling them in on what was happening. Then Pete rounded the corner with a man wearing casual sporting attire. “I’m Max,” he said, extending his hand. “You must be Cate and Asa. Hi.”

  “It’s great to meet you,” I said as we each shook his hand. “I understand you’ve been busy behind the scenes this week, helping us out.”

  “A bit. Then I called these mutts in,” Max said, punching Hector in the chest. “I hope they don’t disappoint us.”

  “Did you say ‘mutt’?” From around the corner came none other than Captain Abbott. Wearing combat gear, he resembled a tree trunk even more than usual. “I’ll have you know,” he barked, “that this is a purebred Rottweiler. Cate, here’s the package you requested.”

  Sure enough, at the Captain’s feet sat a dog the size of a footlocker. He appeared to be all muscle. Even though he was panting, Tank sat at attention, as though waiting for an order. His coat was mostly black, but he had two brown spots above his dark, soulful eyes. He seemed almost human, and I understood immediately why Ben loved him. I stepped forward, then hesitated.

  “Hey, Tank!” Pete said jovially, earning him a soft but heartfelt ruff. “You look good, boy! Show him the back of your hand, Cate.”

  I did as instructed. Tank leaned forward and sniffed.

  “That’s Cate,” Pete said. “She’s one of the good guys.”

  Tank responded by giving my wrist an enormous lick. I couldn’t help but smile. “It’s nice to meet you too!” I whispered, scratching the top of his head. I knew that Captain Abbott wasn’t much for public displays of emotion, so I just gave him the most grateful smile I could muster. “Captain Abbott, I’m so glad to see you. And thank you for going to all the trouble of getting Tank. I can’t believe you brought him here yourself!”

  “Well, I heard there was good hunting here,” he said, “and it was no trouble getting him. He’s retired, and his foster parents were happy to get rid of him. They said to warn you that when he’s bored, he eats everything—furniture, walls, vehicles. Sit.” Captain Abbott pointed to a spot outside the shed, and Tank obediently walked over and sat. “What’s the latest?”

  Max produced a tablet computer and pulled up a map. The Marines gathered around. “Okay, so this is us. Given the parameters, we’ve got Ben narrowed down to two possible locations, here and here.”

  “Two teams, then,” Captain Abbott said. “Hector, take Tank. If anyone can find Ben quickly, it’s him. Do we have anything we can use for tracking?”

  Pete grabbed Ben’s jacket. “This.” Then he held up his hand, and everyone fell silent as we heard a voice come over the radio.

  “Break time is over,” Harris said menacingly. “No more excuses. I want my answers—and if you don’t give them willingly, my assistant here will gladly beat them out of you.”

  “I’ve heard enough,” Captain Abbott said, nearly spitting with anger. “Let’s go get our man. If you can capture any of these bastards, do it. If not, shoot to kill.” He turned to Asa and me. “I assume we can’t keep you from joining us.”

  “No, sir,” Asa and I said together.

  “All right, then. Go with Hector and Kevin. Let’s move, let’s move!”

  We ran outside to find another four marines waiting. Several of them followed Captain Abbott in one direction, while Asa and I ran to keep up with Pete, Max, Hector, and Kevin—and of course, Tank. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far to their Jeep. We all climbed inside. Hector started the engine while Kevin shouted directions.

  Pete ended up in the far back with Asa and me. He gave Asa a com device with an earpiece and microphone, and put one of his own in, as well. “Once we get there, go wherever Hector and Kevin tell you to go, get low, and don’t move. Asa, if you can pick up anybody’s thoughts, talk to me. But if you can’t, it’s okay—we’re gonna get him out of there, one way or another. Do not put yourself in danger, either one of you. Got it?”

  Asa nodded so vigorously that he had to readjust his com.

  Pete ga
ve me a hard look. “Cate, we both know the only reason you’re here is that you’re safer with us than alone back in the lean-to. After all, Owen knows where he left you, and he thinks you’re just playing a game, so if someone asked him where you were, he’d have no reason not to tell them. Frankly, you’re a liability on this mission. The best thing you can do for Ben is exactly what I said to Asa—go where you’re told and stay there. Is that clear?”

  I reached out and clutched Pete’s forearm. “I’ll do whatever you say,” I said, my voice breaking. “Just get him out of there.”

  Pete covered my hand with his. “Don’t worry, sis. I’ll bring him home.”

  I just nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying.

  “Put these on.” He handed us some bulletproof vests and helped us strap them on. A flash of terror threatened to push me into a panic attack, but I ordered it to retreat. Later, I promised myself. You can fall apart later.

  The Jeep slowed to a stop. Kevin turned back and put his finger in front of his lips. We all stayed silent as Hector got out of the car and made a hand gesture that brought Tank immediately to his side. Tank whined softly when Hector gave him Ben’s jacket to sniff.

  Kevin nodded at us, passing out flashlights as we all got out of the Jeep. “Don’t turn these on unless you really need to,” he said. “Just stick close to us. We’ll make a path.”

  Hector crooked his finger, and Tank leapt into action. At first, he walked around quickly in circles, sniffing. Gradually, he moved more slowly, spending more time at each spot he was investigating. Finally, his whole body tensed, and he began to strain against the leash. We all followed as he dragged Hector through the forest—and that was no small feat, since Hector was somewhat tank-like, himself.

  It was so dark, I could barely see a few feet in front of me. I grabbed a strap that fell across Pete’s back, and Asa held on to the edge of my bulletproof vest. We ran in convoy, concentrating on not tripping each other or ourselves.

  Suddenly, the pace slowed. I saw light ahead. We drew closer and ended up gathered together behind Tank, who had stopped dead in his tracks. Still concealed by the forest, he was staring at a large shed in a dirt clearing just ahead. Light poured out of the building from an opening the size of a garage door. I didn’t know if he had stopped on his own or on Hector’s orders, but Tank didn’t look happy. He was snarling, revealing large, white teeth.

  Hector approached Asa and me, and pointed to the base of a wide tree trunk. “You two,” he whispered, “sit behind that tree with your backs to the clearing. Don’t make a sound. Tank will guard you.”

  We nodded and did as we were told. Hector unhooked Tank’s leash and pointed at us. Before I knew it, Tank had bounded over and was sitting directly in front of Asa and me. He appeared relaxed—maybe because his tracking job was done—but there was a commanding quality to his presence, and I didn’t want to find out what would happen if Asa or I tried to leave that spot.

  Even with Tank there, though, we couldn’t resist peeking around the tree trunk to watch as the Marines made their final approach. Tank didn’t seem to mind us turning to look, as long as we didn’t try to get up. Quickly but silently, the men closed in on the shed, using things like trashcans, discarded boxes, and piled-up tires for cover in what could have been a choreographed dance. Using only hand signals, they moved as a unit with an intuitive ease that could only have come from years of practice.

  Ben’s in there, I thought, my heart pounding into my throat. Please, God, let him be okay. I turned back to Tank and smiled as best I could. “Thank you, Tank,” I whispered softly. “You’re a good dog. Good boy.”

  I’d seen that he only had a nub of a tail, but I heard it wagging, swishing against the pine needles and dried leaves on the ground.

  Asa elbowed me. I turned to look. We held our breaths as Hector and Kevin flanked the open doorway. All at once, they burst inside, followed quickly by Max and Pete. We heard yelling and sounds of a scuffle, but no gunshots—Thank God, I thought. The sounds of fighting went on for some time. With my stomach knotting, I turned back to look at Tank. His ears were pointed forward, and he was snarling again. I got the feeling that he wanted to be in on the action.

  Asa was concentrating, trying to use his telepathic skills to listen in. “Anything?” I whispered.

  Looking despondent, he shook his head, then turned back towards the shed. I felt his hand grip my arm hard. “Oh no,” he whispered.

  I peered back around and froze. Max, Pete, Kevin, and Hector were being slow-marched out of the shed with their wrists tied behind their backs. At least ten men in Mercier security guard uniforms surrounded them, holding them at gunpoint. Another dozen security guards in ATVs kicked up clouds of dirt as they roared into the clearing from an access road. They formed a circle, trapping the Marines in.

  Reedy turned out to be a slimy-looking guy whose every movement was jerky. He stood in the doorway of the building, looking back and forth from the scene outside to the scene inside. “Four guys?” He made a point of bending over with laughter. “Seriously, Ben? Four guys? This is your rescue squad? Jesus, you’re pathetic!”

  Blood pounded in my ears. If Reedy was talking to Ben, that meant Ben must still be conscious, at least—didn’t it?

  But there was no sound from inside the shed. The hairs on my arms stood on end. Reedy sauntered into the yard and stood in front of the Marines. “Okay you guys, here’s the deal. We’re not going to kill your friend. He’s just going to have a bad night. Meanwhile, if you swear you won’t come back, our guys’ll take you to Annapolis and drop you off on the front steps of the Naval Academy. The midshipmen will love that. What do you say?”

  “Pete, he’s lying,” Asa murmured into his com. “They’re going to drive you out to the marsh and kill all four of you. And yes, they’re going to keep Ben alive, but this guy plans to do him some grievous bodily harm as soon as Harris’s back is turned.”

  Pete took a step forward from the line of Marines and addressed Reedy. “Well, I’ll tell you what I say.” He looked at the ground for a moment, as though carefully considering his next words. Then he locked his gaze on Reedy’s. “I say you’re feedin’ us not just one, but several lines of bull. You’re gonna drive us outta here, all right—then kill every last one of us. And you’re gonna find a way to do Ben some serious damage, too, even though you know it’ll piss off your boss. You just tell me if I got any of that wrong.”

  A long, thin shadow appeared in the doorway. “So?” we heard Harris ask. “Did he get any of that wrong?”

  “Of course he did!” Reedy blurted out. “I mean, yeah, we’re gonna kill these guys. But I know the plan is to keep that Ben bastard alive. I’m not gonna hurt him bad, much as I’d like to.”

  “Just cut off a few fingers, right?” Pete asked in his gravelly voice, repeating another prompt from Asa. “Maybe gouge out an eye? Break his back so he can’t walk anymore?”

  Reedy’s jaw dropped. Then he ran up and sucker-punched Pete in the gut. Pete bent over a little and grunted, but then straightened back up.

  “What do you know about it?” Reedy screamed at him.

  “Quite a bit,” Pete said. “I’m a telepath.”

  “No you’re not!” Reedy’s eyes darted around. “What? You’re lying!”

  As Asa murmured into his com, Pete grinned. “I know that right now you’re thinking, ‘Holy shit, he’s reading my mind. I better get out of here.’ I’d say that would be a very wise move.”

  Reedy stepped in one direction, then another, appearing confused. Finally, he spat a couple of epithets at Pete, then turned and ran around the outside of the shed, disappearing behind it.

  I jumped as I heard a soft thwap nearby. Tank yelped and twisted to one side. He looked up at me as his eyes glazed over, the bottom half of a dart sticking out of his haunches.

  I lurched forward just in time to put my arms around him as his whole body relaxed and fell onto the ground, pulling me over with him. In an i
nstant, Asa was by my side, stroking Tank’s head. I pointed at the dart, and Asa nodded. With great care, I grasped the edge and pulled. Fortunately, it slid out easily. But we were too late; whatever tranquilizer he’d been given had already taken effect. Tank was sound asleep, tongue lolling out of his mouth.

  Asa and I exchanged horrified looks. We couldn’t see or hear anyone, but whoever had shot Tank couldn’t be far off. Asa hooked his thumb in the direction of the Jeep. I nodded, and we got to our feet, crouched over and ready to run. Was it possible that Tank’s shooter hadn’t seen us yet? If we could radio Captain Abbott—

  “That’s far enough,” a gruff voice said. We looked up to find ourselves surrounded by four of Mercier’s armed security guards. Two of them grabbed us by the elbows and pushed us towards the clearing. “Let’s go.”

  My heart sank as we were taken toward the shed. As we drew closer, I could see the determined rage burning in the Marines’ eyes, and I knew the battle wasn’t over yet—at least not as far as they were concerned. I cursed inwardly as the security guards stopped us just before the point where I would have been able to see inside the door to the building.

  Harris stepped out of the shed to greet us, moving with easy confidence. Dressed in khakis and a golf shirt, he stood out among the uniformed men.

  “Cate, what a nice surprise.” He smiled, but had the sense not to try to shake my hand.

  “Cate! Are you okay?” Ben shouted from inside. He made the question sound like a threat to anyone who might cause me to answer in the negative.