“But you heard them. They’re leaving in thirty. What if we lose their trail? If I may... I have another idea.”
“By all means...”
“What if I set off the fire alarm inside the house?”
“How do you plan to do that?”
“I can use my computer to figure out what system they have. It won’t be hard to make it go off. The men might think their cigarettes have started a small fire somewhere. It will distract them.”
“What if they take Sarah and run?”
“It would get them out of the house, at least. Maybe we could take them down.”
“At the sound of the first gunfire, they’re going to be using Sarah as a shield.”
“By the time all of this happens, backup will be here.”
Mark let out a long sigh. “You really think you can hack into the fire alarm?”
She nodded. “I know I can.”
“I suppose it’s worth a shot. But, Laney...”
She started to pull her computer out. She paused as Mark leaned closer. Slowly, he pressed his lips to hers. Explosions sounded in her head and electricity traveled through her brain.
The kiss only lasted a moment when he pulled back and gazed at her.
“What was that for?” she asked, her lips still feeling like they were on fire.
“Just in case.”
“In case what?”
“In case we don’t get out of this alive.”
* * *
Mark leaned over Laney, watching as she typed into the computer like a whiz. His eyes couldn’t even keep up with how fast her fingers were moving.
A flowery scent tickled his senses. He wished they could relax. Maybe enjoy each other. But they couldn’t. Not right now.
Not ever if they didn’t survive this.
As they waited, he looked at the cars parked out front. Those men wouldn’t get very far without any wheels.
Making a split-second decision, he pulled out his gun and put a silencer on the end.
“What are you doing?” Laney asked.
“Making sure these guys don’t go anywhere.” Aiming carefully, he hit each of the tires and watched as they flattened.
At least that was out of the way.
“How’s it coming?” he asked Laney.
“I’m almost there. Just a couple more minutes.”
As he waited, he pulled out his phone and called his FBI contact. No one answered. He looked at his screen and realized his signal wasn’t strong there. Was that why there was no answer? Or was it something else?
“There,” she whispered, closing the computer. “It’s done.”
Like clockwork, an alarm sounded in the distance. A moment later, men rushed from the house. Just as they suspected might happen, one of them dragged Sarah with him.
So far, their plan was playing out just as they’d guessed. But where were the FBI? They should be here by now.
“Did you see a fire?” Sol yelled.
“I didn’t see anything,” one of his men answered.
Just then, Sarah screamed. Mark’s muscles tightened until he was ready to spring.
What was going on?
Before he could take action, he heard a stick break behind him. He turned in time to see three men surround them.
* * *
Laney bristled as the men stepped closer, guns drawn. Mark pushed her behind him as he faced the men.
“You’re coming with us,” one of them muttered. “Move!”
Having little choice, they walked toward the house. Sol was waiting there, a satisfied smile on his face.
As soon as they were close enough, he stepped toward them. She had no idea what was going to play out over the next several minutes, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to find out. Anxiety tried to grip her, but she pushed it away.
“I was hoping I might see you again,” he said, glaring at her. He quickly turned his gaze toward Mark. “I’m only sorry you’re here to witness all of this. Thankfully, you’ll be dead before you can report back to your superiors.”
“Don’t worry—they’re on their way.”
“Maybe they were. But a logging truck overturned and it’s blocking the highway. Thankfully, Nikolae—Nicholas to you, Laney—was able to arrange that when he realized you were headed this way.”
Laney’s stomach sank. Was he bluffing? If he wasn’t, none of them would ever see the light of day again.
They might let Mark go easily—with a shot to the head. They might keep Sarah, hoping she’ll eventually see things their way. But Laney—they’d torture her until she did exactly what they wanted.
“You’ll never get out of the US,” Laney said.
“Then we’ll have to implement our plan here and then die for our country.”
“Why do you hate the US so much?” Laney said. “Why go through all of this trouble?”
“Would you believe me if I told you it goes back to the Cold War? Old ties with Russia? Loyalty toward people who fought to give us the life we have. The US doesn’t deserve to thrive. We want people to know what it was like to stand in line for bread. To do without.”
“That’s a little extreme, isn’t it?” Laney asked. “I mean, that happened decades ago. Sometimes you have to let things go in order to move past them.”
“My family was killed during World War Two at the hands of American soldiers. So don’t talk to me about being extreme. I want the US to feel the pain I did. To feel loss. To feel helpless to do anything about it.” He offered a sardonic grin. “And for the money, of course.” He raised his gun to Laney. “And you’re going to help me make this happen. You think you’re so smart and that you could stop us. But you can’t.”
“I’ll never reinstall that program. Never.”
Sol narrowed his eyes. “Never say never. Now move.”
Laney flinched as he grabbed her arm and began pulling her toward the house. She dug her heels in, trying to stop him, to delay the inevitable.
A few minutes later, Sol shoved her into a room and at a desk where a computer waited. “Reinstall it.”
Laney shook her head with all the force she could muster to let them know how serious she was. She wasn’t going to back down on this. “No, I won’t do it.”
Sol motioned to someone at the door, and Mark and Sarah were pushed inside.
“Work or I’ll kill them.”
Her heart jumped into her throat, nearly choking her with emotion. “No...”
An evil gleam hit Sol’s eye. “You want to bet? I’ve worked my entire life to make this happen. Nothing and no one is going to stop me.”
“I can’t believe you’d sacrifice your daughter for this—even if she isn’t really yours. You have been planning this from the beginning.”
“For longer than you can imagine. Longer than you’ve been alive.”
“I found out he kidnapped me when I was a girl!” Sarah shouted. “That’s why he had his men grab me. I was going to go to the police with the information. He planned it so that other woman looked just like you, that way when I described her, you’d automatically look guilty.”
He didn’t deny it. “Don’t worry, darling. You’ll be safe. As long as Laney cooperates. I always knew you preferred her over me.” The men aimed their guns at Laney.
“That’s not true. I always thought of you as my father. I had no idea you were such a monster.”
The smile dipped from Sol’s face, and he dug the gun into Laney’s back. “I’ve only ever loved you.”
“Well, you sure have a funny way of showing it.”
Laney had to buy time somehow until the FBI could get there. “How did you manage to lure Sarah into my house?”
“That woman was there,” Sarah said. “I thought she was you at fi
rst, and I rushed inside, desperate to find out what was wrong. That’s when someone jumped out and put a cloth over my mouth. I don’t remember anything after that.
“I believe you, Sarah,” Laney said.
“They wanted me to find my phone, Laney.” Tears glistened in Sarah’s eyes. “They wanted me to lure you here. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“I know,” Laney said softly. “I know.”
“Enough talk!” Sol shoved the gun harder. “Work! Now.”
Laney began tinkering with the keyboard, her mind racing. How could she turn this to her advantage? She only knew of one option, and even that was risky. But maybe it would buy some time.
When Sol turned to talk to Sarah, she quickly pulled up a dummy website she’d been working on. It wouldn’t fool him for long, but maybe for long enough that help could arrive.
Please, Lord.
“How’s it coming, Ms. Ryan?” Sol growled.
“I’m doing everything I can,” she muttered.
“Well, do it faster.”
“You’re not going to get away with this.” She tapped more keys.
“Sure I am.”
He’ll kill us all when he’s done with us. There wasn’t a good way out of this. No matter how she looked at it.
Finally, she hit one more key and then pushed back from the desk. “There. It’s done.”
The gleam returned to Sol’s eyes. “Great. Hayden! Come in here and check this out. Hayden is our computer expert,” he explained with satisfaction.
She sucked in a breath. Hayden, if he was as expert as Sol claimed, would be able to identify what she’d done rather quickly. They were on borrowed time.
Her gaze shot to Mark.
He offered a slight nod to let her know he understood.
And, in one swift move, he kicked the gun from Sol’s hand, and a shot fired through the air.
TWENTY
Mark lunged across the floor and grabbed Sol’s gun. As he did, two men burst into the room.
Reacting swiftly, Laney grabbed Sarah and shoved her behind a chest of drawers, away from danger. For the time being, at least.
Sol wasn’t going down without a fight. He drew his hand back and then swung at Mark. Mark ducked. He obviously needed to give the scrawny man more credit. That had been close.
As he straightened, a round of gunfire electrified the air in the room.
Mark dove onto the floor, near the desk. A bullet skimmed his biceps, but he ignored it and raised his own gun. He had to keep Laney and Sarah safe. He’d worry about his injuries later.
He began firing back at the men in front of him. Mark’s first bullet hit the man he presumed to be Hayden on the shoulder, causing him to drop his weapon. He fired again, the bullet this time hitting the second man and taking him down.
Now it was just him and Sol.
Before Mark could stop him, Sol grabbed one of the guns his guys had dropped. He aimed it at Mark.
As he did, more footsteps pounded in the distance. Backup—for Sol—was on the way, which meant he’d be outnumbered again.
Come on, guys. Where are you?
Was the road really blocked because of an overturned logging truck? How long would that delay the feds?
He’d try for as long as he could to hold these men back. At least he could buy some time.
“Laney, the window,” he yelled behind him, his gun aimed at Sol in a standoff.
He needed Laney to try and escape with Sarah. It was their best chance of surviving. Mark might not make it out of there, but at least the women could. That was all that mattered. Right now, he was in between the ladies and men who were after them. He needed to keep it that way.
“Don’t move!” Sol shouted.
“You wouldn’t shoot your own daughter,” Mark said, praying his words were true.
“You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
Mark kept himself between the ladies and Sol, stealing a quick glance back. Laney fiddled with the lock, trying to get the double-hung window open. Her hands trembled terribly. Finally, she nudged it upward.
“We can’t leave without you,” she shouted as men exploded into the room.
“Go! Get Sarah to safety.”
“But...” She hesitated near the wall, crouching low, and holding Sarah’s hand.
“No buts. Go. Now!” He fired his weapon, hoping he didn’t run out of bullets. Because his gun was the only thing keeping him alive at the moment.
Casting one more glance his way, Laney finally nodded. She grabbed Sarah, and they climbed out of the window.
Now he had to figure out how he could escape there with his own life.
* * *
Laney ran through the woods as fast as she could, not looking back, just holding on to Sarah’s hand. She had to get the girl to safety.
She didn’t stop until she reached Mark’s car. It was then she turned to Sarah. “I need you to wait here.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Wait here? Alone? Why?”
“I have to go back and help Mark.”
“They’ll kill you, Laney.”
Her heart lurched. She didn’t want to leave the girl. Didn’t want Sarah to worry about her dying. But she couldn’t leave Mark behind.
“I’ve got to do everything I can to help. You understand that...right? The FBI is on their way. They should be here any time. But if something happens to Mark...”
Finally Sarah nodded. “Go. I’ll be here. I’ll be okay.”
Laney stared at her another moment. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine.”
With one more glance at her, Laney started back through the woods. Her mind raced. What would she do when she got there? How could she help? She didn’t even have a gun.
It didn’t matter. She had to at least try. That’s what you did when you loved someone.
Loved...?
Did she love Mark? It was too soon, she realized. Certainly she couldn’t love someone that quickly.
But she felt the beginnings of the emotion blooming in her heart. She hoped for more. That’s why she had to do everything within her power to save him.
In the distance, she heard a car rumbling down the driveway. Her heart raced a moment.
Was it the FBI?
She hurried toward the edge of the tree line and saw a sedan pulling down the lane. She glanced at the driver.
I know him from somewhere!
After searching her thoughts for a moment, she realized it was Captain Hendricks. He’d made it!
Without wasting any more time, she flagged him down. He stopped the car and motioned for her to get in. She climbed into the front seat, feeling breathless with anticipation.
“What are you doing here?” the captain asked.
“You’ve got to help. They’ve got Mark inside.”
“They’ve got Mark? He was supposed to wait for backup.”
“We didn’t have any time. We can explain all of that later. Right now, we just have to help him. Where is everyone else?”
“A log truck overturned. The road is still blocked. I managed to find another way around, though.” He pulled over and put the car in Park. “We should go the rest of the way on foot.”
She nodded, too shaken to argue.
He concealed the car off road and they started weaving through the trees.
“So tell me what happened,” he said.
Laney gave him the rundown, her mind never leaving Mark for long. She couldn’t help but picture him hurt. She only prayed that wasn’t the case.
“The Old Guard is no one to be messed with,” the captain said, sidestepping some underbrush in front of her.
As he said the words, tension pinched her sp
ine. The Old Guard? She hadn’t mentioned them. She’d only told Mark on their ride here, and he hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, either. She’d heard all of his phone conversations.
The captain was working with Sol! It was the only explanation. No way had these guys been able to find all their locations so easily. They’d had an inside source the whole time.
Panic raced through her. What was she going to do?
She glanced around and finally spotted a thick branch.
She glanced at the captain again. He had a gun in his hands. But if she could take him by surprise...
Without wasting any more time, she grabbed the stick and swung it as hard as she could. It hit the back of his head, and he moaned before falling to the ground. His gun rolled out of his hand as he hit the dirt.
They both lunged for it at the same time, but Laney was quicker. She grabbed it and aimed it at him, her hands shaky.
“You won’t do it,” the captain mocked, sitting on a nearby rock and rubbing his head where she hit it.
“Don’t test me, Captain,” she seethed, the gun trembling in her hands.
“Maybe you should call me Nicholas.”
The air left her lungs. “You are Nicholas?”
Satisfaction stretched across his gaze, his lips. “That’s right, Laney. It was so easy to pull the wool over your eyes.”
“Why? Why would you do this?”
He shrugged. “This has been part of our plan for a long time. I came here as a young teenager, integrated into society, gained a position of power. It was all for this moment. All for a bigger purpose.”
“I don’t know how you can live with yourself.”
He stood and stepped closer to her. “Quite easily. It will be even easier once I get the money that’s rightfully mine.”
“Stay where you are or I’ll shoot.”
Fire flashed in his gaze. “You’ll go to jail.”
“It will be worth it if it stops your plan from being accomplished.”
“Nothing can stop us. You ensured that, didn’t you? Thanks for your help.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to stop this. I can promise you that.” Before she could question her decision, she fired.
The bullet hit the captain in the knee. He groaned and grasped his injured leg, all while muttering under his breath.
Shadow of Suspicion Page 18