by Liz Wolfe
“It doesn’t matter. Allan managed to remember to put the long range transmitter on the car. We’re tracking them now.”
Jonah rose and straightened his tie. “Let’s go find out where they’ve gone.”
They walked to the control center in silence. Frank was at the console, typing commands into the computer.
“What’ve you got Frank?” Ruth asked, peering over his shoulder.
“They’re on I-10 headed north. Not a big surprise.
Nothing but I-10 out there, and they had to take it north or south. They traveled for several hours, going about sixty consistently. Stopped twice for about ten minutes each time.” Frank looked up and grinned. “They stopped about an hour ago. Sedona.”
“Get a team on the road.”
“Already done, Dr. Carlson.”
“Ouch!” Shannon dropped the plate on the counter and grabbed her thigh.
“What is it?” Shelby asked.
“The cabinet door hit my leg, and it hurts.”
She was delicate looking but really, how hard could that door have hit her?
“It’s just that it hit right on the incision,” Shannon explained.
“You have an incision?” Mac looked up from the newspaper he was reading. “What from?”
“I have no idea. Sometimes at The Center, they’d knock me out and when I came to, I’d have no idea what they’d done. A week ago, I woke up with a bandage covering an incision.” Shannon shrugged, obviously not ready to talk about everything that had happened at The Center.
“I’d like to have a look at it,” Mac said.
“It’s fine.” Shannon shook her head.
“No, I insist, Shannon. Come on, we’ll go to your cottage.”
“No need,” Mel said. “You can use my bedroom. Right through there.” She waved at the hallway. “Third door on the left.”
“Really, Mac, it’s nothing. It’s healing fine.”
“Shannon. They made an incision for a reason. Don’t you want to know why?”
“Not really.” She sighed. “But I see your point.” She turned and headed down the hallway.
Zoe shuddered. “I’m going to go lie down for a while.”
“Nausea again?” Mel asked.
“Yeah. But it’s getting a little better.” She dropped her dishcloth on the counter and left.
“I need to get them all to headquarters so they can be checked out by a doctor. God knows what Thomas and Carlson did to them.” Shelby rinsed a plate and handed it to Mel to stack in the dishwasher. “So, business looks like it’s pretty good.”
“It is. Of course, that’s probably because I tend to get a lot of burned-out agents who need a rest. They don’t mind paying for the amenities.” Mel chuckled.
“Nothing like a safe place to come to.”
“And it is safe, if that’s what you’re wondering.” Mel chuckled. “I have better security than a lot of places.”
“Better than where we were, anyway.” Shelby dried her hands on a dishtowel. “It just really burns me that they found us at an FSA safe house.”
“Well, you know that ‘safe house’ is a relative term.”
“Still, they shouldn’t have been able to find us.”
“What did Ethan say?” Mel asked.
“He said he only told Chambers where we were. I’m sure he’s pretty horrified at the idea of a mole in the FSA.”
“That still doesn’t mean there isn’t a mole. Someone could have bugged Ethan’s office or phone. Or the director’s for that matter.”
“I don’t like to think there’s a mole either.”
Mel smiled. “It happens.”
“I know. I just don’t like it.” Shelby put the dishtowel down and leaned against the counter. “You’ve got a nice set up here. You happy with this? You miss the ops any?”
“Oh, I absolutely do not miss the ops. I had enough of that.” Mel laughed. “As for this. I figure it’s the best place for me now. This is as safe and happy as I’m gonna be after what I did for the past twenty-odd years. God knows some of them were odder than others.”
“Regrets?” Shelby asked, a little surprised.
“No. Not really. I did a lot of good for my country, and I had a lot of good times doing it.”
“They weren’t all good times, though.”
“They never are,” Mel admitted. “Still, it was my choice, and I don’t regret it.”
“There are some people who weren’t satisfied that you just retired. People who want to retire you permanently.”
“That’s why I’m here, doing this. I figure I can help out a few agents and generally live a very safe and peaceful life.”
“Helping out a few agents still puts your life in jeopardy, though.”
“No, it doesn’t. Because I’m the only one who decides who gets through these gates. A lot of agents—from all sides—know about this place. But not all of them are welcome here.” Mel laughed again. “And I know all their tricks, so the ones who aren’t welcome aren’t ever gonna get in.” Mel paused and looked at Shelby intently. “And how about you? How is it being out of the FSA?”
“It’s good. I’m just barely breaking even, but the agency’s only been open less than a year.”
“Breaking even’s not bad,” Mel agreed.
“Making a profit is better. I hired another investigator so I can take on more jobs, but that means more expenses.”
“Another investigator?”
Shelby nodded. “Paige Blackwell. She’s young but she’s already good. Worked for the Portland Police Department. We met on a case, and I hired her later.”
“So, you’ve taken on a protégé.”
“I don’t know that I’d call her a protégé.” Shelby frowned.
“It’s good to have someone in the wings. Keeps your own game sharp.”
“Well, this protégé wants to buy into the agency. I could use the money, but I’m not sure I want to sell part of the business.”
“I’m sure Ethan is paying you well for this.”
“Absolutely. That’s the only reason I took the job. Actually, it feels weird, you know?”
“Working for Ethan or taking money from him?” Mel laughed.
“Both I guess. Kind of like moving out and then asking your parents for rent money.”
Mel didn’t get to answer because Mac came back into the kitchen, worry creasing his forehead.
“We have a problem.”
“What kind of problem?” Shelby asked.
“I think Shannon might have a tracking device implanted in her.”
“Crap.” That would explain it. “Are you sure?”
“No. There’s no way to be sure until we open that incision.”
Shelby barely suppressed a shudder. “Is she okay with that?”
“If there’s something in there, I want it out and I want it out now!” Shannon sat down at the table and dropped her head into her hands.
“Can you do it?” Shelby asked Mac.
“I don’t have anything to do it with. No instruments, no anesthesia.”
“We have that here,” Mel said.
Mac’s head snapped up.
“What? Doesn’t everyone have a first aid kit?”
Mel asked.
“Who needs a first aid kit?” Bear asked, walking into the kitchen with Sam sitting on his shoulder.
“Mommy! Look how high I am!” Sam squealed. Shannon’s face relaxed as she smiled at her son. Her love for him was etched on every feature.
“If Bear took me outside, I bet I could touch the stars!” Sam declared. Mel looked at Bear and nodded her head at the door.
“The stars are very far away, little man. But there is no greater occupation than to reach for them.” Bear pulled Sam off his shoulder, tucked him under one arm, and jogged out the door, Sam giggling all the while.
“It’s nice to see Sam so happy. Bear is a very special man,” Shannon said.
“That he is,” Mel agreed. “Come with me,
Mac.” Mac obediently followed Mel into her bedroom.
Shelby sat down at the table with Shannon. “Are you okay with Mac doing this?”
“Absolutely. I trust him totally. And if he’s right—if they implanted something in me …” Shannon shuddered.
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you at The Center.”
“It was pretty awful. The worst was not knowing how Sam was or what they had planned for him. Then there were the times they’d knock me out.” Shannon made a noise that was half sob and half laughter. “I’d wake up feeling weird, you know? But no one would tell me what had happened.”
“Once we get you to FSA headquarters, we’ll get a complete physical done on you. And you’ll have access to the best psychiatrists.” Shelby tried to smile reassuringly. “I know it won’t be easy, but you’ll be able to put all this behind you.”
“What about Chase?” Shannon asked. “He’s still there.”
“I’ll make sure he gets out. Promise.” Before she had to say anything more, Mac and Mel returned.
“We’re all set. Mel has everything I’ll need.”
“Will Bear keep an eye on Sam?” Shannon asked Mel.
“Of course. He won’t let him out of his sight. And Sam will never know what’s happening here.”
Shannon nodded and walked into Mel’s bedroom with Mac. Mel and Shelby followed. While Mac was washing up, Mel pulled a small table over next to the bed and draped a clean cloth over it. Her first aid kit was a plastic drawer unit on wheels that must have contained just about everything you’d need for anything short of open-heart surgery. She laid out packages of bandages, sutures, surgical instruments, and hypodermic needles, as if she’d done it more than once or twice.
“This won’t take long,” Shelby assured Shannon, not knowing just how long it would take, but figuring that’s what she needed to hear. Shannon took her hand and squeezed it.
“I don’t think I ever thanked you for getting us out of there.”
“No thanks necessary. All part of the job.” Shelby heard Mel and Mac pulling on surgical gloves and got up from the bed. Mac placed a clean cloth underneath Shannon’s hips and legs.
“Just lie still and try to relax. You really won’t feel anything after I inject the lidocaine.” Mac pushed up the leg of Shannon’s baggy shorts and swabbed her upper thigh with betadine, while Mel stuck a hypodermic into the bottle of lidocaine and withdrew a small amount. She tapped the hypo with her finger and handed it to Mac.
Shannon raised her eyes to Shelby and held out her hand. Shelby moved closer and took the hand. Not that it would help, but it seemed to be the thing to do. Mac inserted the needle, administered the lidocaine, and gave the hypo back to Mel. After a few minutes, he picked up a pair of tweezers and raked them over Shannon’s thigh.
“Can you feel that?” he asked her. Shannon shook her head.
“Good. Let’s get this done then.”
Mel handed Mac a scalpel and moved next to him holding several gauze bandages. Mac sliced along the original incision, and Mel swabbed it with the bandages. Using a couple of instruments, Mel and Mac pried Shannon’s flesh open. Mac probed with a pair of tweezers, while Mel swabbed the blood away. Shelby kept her eyes averted.
“Here it is!” Mac held up a small, rectangular object. Mel held out a metal dish, and Mac dropped the device into it.
“Almost done, now,” Mac said to Shannon. He quickly stitched the incision while Mel disappeared into the bathroom with the metal dish. Placing a clean bandage over the incision, he applied some surgical tape.
“Just what you thought,” Mel said when she returned. “I’ll have to check my sources, but this looks like a state-of-the-art, GPS tracking device.”
“Any idea of the range?” Shelby asked.
“Hard to say. If they have direct access to a satellite, they can track it anywhere. If they’re using portable receivers—probably at least twenty miles, could be as much as a hundred.” Mel dropped the cleaned device into a bowl and nudged Mac, pointing to several plastic bottles of pills.
“Oh, yes.” He looked at the bottles, chose one, and opened it. “The incision was pretty minimal, but you should take these.” He handed two pills to Shannon. “It’ll ease any discomfort after the lidocaine wears off.”
“Thanks,” Shannon said, and gulped the pills without water. “I’m really glad that thing is out of me. You don’t think they put one in Sam, do you?”
“I gave him a bath last night, and I didn’t see any signs of incisions or any scars, so I’m betting they hadn’t had time to do it yet.”
“Thank God!” Shannon said. “I think I’ll take him and go to bed now. He’s probably ready for a nap.”
“Come on, I’ll give you a hand.” Mac reached out and pulled Shannon to her feet. “I’m sure you could use some rest.”
Shelby put her hand on Mel’s arm to keep her from following them. “This means The Center probably knows we’re here.”
“I’ll be shocked if they don’t have at least one car out front.” Mel looked at her for a moment. “Come on, you’re about to see something I don’t show to many people.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Shelby followed Mel down the hall to a metal door where she punched in a code on the keypad and opened the door. They walked down another short hallway to a larger metal door, and Mel entered a code again. Shelby stepped into a small room filled with electronic equipment. One wall was covered with television monitors. There must have been two dozen. Each screen displayed a part of Serenity Retreat or the surrounding streets. Another wall held a large console with buttons, dials, and switches along with two computer keyboards.
“I can monitor just about everything from here. The only thing I can’t see or hear is the interior of each of the cottages.”
“Where do those doors go?” Shelby pointed to two doors on the far wall.
“Safe rooms,” Mel said. “I can sustain about half a dozen people down here for two weeks. We have water, a generator, food, and satellite communication ability.” Mel sat down at the console and typed in some commands. The display on four of the monitors changed, and Shelby turned her attention to them. The displays changed again and then a third time.
“There,” Mel nodded at one screen. “That white SUV.” She typed in more commands, and the screen zoomed in on the SUV. They could clearly see two men drinking out of paper cups. “My guess is they’re from The Center.”
“Which street is that?”
“Right outside the front gate. They probably think we can’t see them because of the walls.”
“What about the back?”
Mel entered more commands. “It appears that there’s only one entrance to this place. Of course, that’s not true.” The screens showed empty streets surrounding the retreat.
“So, they’ve already found us. I guess the good news is that there’s no reason to worry about a mole in the FSA.”
“Probably, although I’d never discount that possibility completely.”
“You know, Mel, sometimes you’re kind of negative.”
“Occupational hazard.” Mel shrugged. Shelby knew what Mel meant. She had her own share of negativity.
“So, The Center knows we’re here.” Shelby sighed. “I need to get Zoe, Shannon, and Sam to FSA Headquarters.” There was no telling what The Center had done to them. They definitely needed to be checked out medically. And they needed to be out of danger.
“What’s your plan?” Mel asked.
“I’ll talk to Ethan. I’m thinking if I can distract the guys from The Center, then Ethan can send agents in for them.”
“Ethan isn’t fond of his agents deliberately putting themselves in danger.”
“I don’t see any other way to get them out of here safely. Besides, I’m not one of his agents any longer. If Ethan doesn’t like it—he can bite me.”
“I always did like your attitude, Shelby.” Mel laughed. “So what kind of distraction are you thinking of
?”
“If I can make them think I’ve left with Shannon and Sam, they’ll follow me. I don’t know how important Zoe is to them, but I know they want Shannon and Sam back. Once we’re gone, Ethan can send in a team of agents to pick them up. By the time The Center figures it out, Shannon and Sam will be safely on their way to Denver.”
“Easy. Simple. I like it.” Mel nodded and considered Shelby for a moment. “What about Mac?”
“He can make his own choice. I’ll call Ethan, and then I’ll tell Mac what’s up.”
“Let me know what you want. I can pretty much supply anything you’ll need.”
After Shelby talked over some possibilities with Mel, she headed back to the cottage to call Ethan. Zoe’s door was closed and Mac wasn’t there. Shelby assumed he was probably still with Shannon or watching Sam while she rested. Shelby pulled out her cell phone and punched in Ethan’s speed dial number.
“Ethan, Shelby here.”
“I was about to call you. I spoke with Chambers. He didn’t mention the safe house location to anyone. I don’t know how they found you.”
“Yeah, well, we figured that out. Shannon had a tracking device implanted in her leg. Mac took it out, and she’s all right. But The Center has already followed us here. Right now, there are two men sitting outside in an SUV. No doubt they’re waiting for us to leave.”
“Waiting? Why aren’t they just storming the place?” Ethan asked.
“They’re probably trying to figure out how to do that. We’re at Mel’s retreat in Sedona.”
“Her place is like a fortress,” Ethan agreed. “I can have an extraction team there tomorrow.”
“I’ll provide a distraction for them.”
“I doubt that’s necessary. You should return here with the others.”
“We still need to get Chase out of The Center. From what I’ve seen, these people are up to something that’s pretty horrible. I don’t think they’ll stop at anything to get Shannon and Sam back.”
“We’re still working on the files you copied. A lot of them are encrypted. Hopefully we’ll find out what they’re up to soon.”
“I’d really feel better if there was some distraction while you’re extracting Zoe, Shannon, and Sam.” Shelby paused. “In fact, I insist on it.”