Pick a bedroom? They’d spent the last few nights next to each other, and she liked the security. She debated telling him she wanted to sleep by his side, but he was back into the I-am-the-protector role now. “Sure, as soon as I put away the groceries.”
Once she emptied the food into the fridge, she carried her suitcase upstairs. After checking out each of the three bedrooms, she picked the one with the attached shower. Not knowing how long they’d be here, she decided it best not to unpack.
Voices from the television floated upstairs. With all chores completed, she went downstairs to see what Stone was up to. In the living room, she found him asleep on the sofa. With care, she moved behind him. His face relaxed for the first time in many days, she itched to touch him but held back. They had to stay alert, even if they were hidden away in a small town on the ocean.
She debated waking him to suggest he climb into bed, next to her, but given he hadn’t slept in who knows how long, she let him be. It was close to bedtime anyway, so she tiptoed upstairs. Susan sat on top of the comforter, leaned against the padded headboard, and clicked on the TV, her mind not ready to rest.
She watched the Weather Channel for a few minutes. More snow was predicted for tomorrow. Wonderful. Just what they didn’t need. Of course, if they got snowed in, no one would be out looking for them either.
Next she flipped to the local Maryland news. Her body shot to alert. The screen showed a photo of her brother in his wheelchair, bound and tied.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Palms sweating, Susan flipped through the channels, trying to find more information about her brother’s kidnapping. How was this possible? Dominick Francisco was dead. Wasn’t he the one behind all the murders?
All of the channels showed the same image with little information. Shit.
Susan jumped off the bed and paced. She stabbed a hand through her spiked hair, forgetting for a moment there was little to play with.
Mom. My God, she’d be beside herself. First her mother was told her daughter was dead, and now her son had been kidnapped. With no one to calm her, there was no telling what kinds of pills her mother would ingest.
She pulled back the curtains to check the weather outside. Snowy, dark, windy. Think. It was a little after nine, and Arlington was only ninety miles away. If the storm got worse, it might take her two to three hours, but she’d arrive before her mom went to bed. She had to see her and tell her everything would be okay.
Stone. Dammit. He’d never let her waltz out of the house and drive by herself, and he sure as hell wouldn’t come with her. It didn’t matter the person who was after her no longer was alive. He’d argue someone was trying to get her attention. And he’d be right.
Her gaze shot around the room. Climbing out of the window wouldn’t work. She was on the second floor and Stone had the keys to the car.
A phone sat next to the bed. Dare she hope it worked? Walking softly across the plush carpet so as not to disturb Stone below, she picked up the phone and listened for a dial tone.
She pumped a fist in the arm. Wait. Given the age of the house, the walls were probably not insulated.
In order to lessen the chance he’d overhear her conversation, she turned on the shower full blast and dragged the phone into the bathroom. The cord barely reached. She sat on the cold floor and dialed her mom’s number.
The phone rang and rang. “Pick up, Mom.”
The answering machine came on, and she dropped her head against the wall. Her fingers trembled and her throat nearly closed. Susan cleared her throat when the beep sounded.
“Mom. Don’t freak. It’s Susan. I’m alive. Are you there? Please pick up.”
Seconds went by. And then her mother answered. “Susan?” Her voice cracked.
She sounded drunk, tired, and depressed.
“Mom, I’m okay. The FBI lied to you and Craig. I wasn’t in the car when it blew up.” She didn’t have time for a long discussion. “I can only talk for a minute. What happened to Craig?”
“You heard?”
Isn’t that what she just said? “Yes.”
“I got home from the grocery store and Craig wasn’t here. I thought maybe Doug had picked him up, but when I called, he said no. Then I got a phone call from someone who said they’d release Craig if you came to the warehouse, but I told him you could never come since you were dead. I didn’t understand what he wanted me to do.” Her mom sniffled.
Her mother must have gotten the information wrong. “Who called and said what?”
“I just told you.” Her tone came out scolding, like it did when she was ten.
“Did he give you a name, a number, the location of the warehouse?”
“A number.” Her mother rattled off a Virginia number.
“Let me get something to write with. Hold on.” She set the phone down, opened the bathroom door, and pawed through the side table drawer next to the bed. She came up with a pen, but nothing to write on.
Her hand. “Give it to me.”
Once her mother told her the number, Susan knew what she had to do. “Mom, I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”
“When can I see—”
Susan disconnected, her blood pressure drilling a hole in her temples. The number on her hand mocked her. Dare she call this person? He’d tell her where she could retrieve her brother, and then she and Stone would figure out a plan of attack.
With her heart beating slower, she dialed the digits, praying she wasn’t making a mistake.
An electronically altered voice answered. “Hello.”
Did she want to talk to this robot? “This is Susan Chapman.”
“Tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., meet me at the warehouse on Richter and Arlington. Come alone, if you want to see your brother again. I’ll be in touch.”
“Can I—”
The dial tone didn’t answer back. Stunned, she dropped the phone back onto the receiver. Was Craig even alive? Would he kill both of them once he lured her to the site?
In need of a warm shower to help her sort through the tangled emotions before she broke the news to Stone, she stripped and jumped into the stall. The hot water poured down her face and her body. The steam helped settle her mind. As she lathered the minty soap, she came to a decision. They would do what the man asked. If Craig died because she stood by safe and sound, she’d never be able to live with herself.
“Were you on the phone a minute ago?”
She jerked, nearly slipping on the wet tile. She must not have heard Stone knock, if he had at all, but she was thankful the steam had misted the glass shower door when he stepped in, though it shouldn’t matter. It’s not like he hadn’t seen her naked, had his hands all over her breasts and his fingers and big cock inside her.
She didn’t have to see the expression on his face to know he was beyond pissed. “Maybe.”
“We need to talk.”
She didn’t do commands well. “When I’m done showering, I’ll be happy to discuss the length of the stick up your butt.” She dropped her head and sagged. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”
“Water off. Now.” He waited a beat before he added the magic word, “Please.”
She shut off the water, reached outside the shower for the towel and wrapped the fresh-smelling cloth around her body. She stepped out with shoulders straight, ready to do battle.
His eyes widened perceptibly, but his wide stance told her the rest of the night wouldn’t go well. Her father always taught her to go on the offensive.
“My brother was kidnapped, and I spoke to his captor. There. Happy?”
“I wondered if you’d seen the report. Apparently, you had.” He stepped toward her and she battled anger, lust, and need at the same time.
“Yes.”
“You want a hug?”
Those were the last words she expected to hear, and the sweetest. All she could do was nod and step into his waiting arms. He cradled her, rocked her and kissed her, then stepped back.
“Now tell me ever
ything.”
* * * *
Without help, Stone would never be able to protect Susan. The stubborn woman wouldn’t take no for an answer. She wanted to leave right then and go to her mother.
That was out of the question. Whoever had her brother, Craig, would no doubt have the mom’s place under surveillance. If he still had his cuffs, he’d chain her to the bed again. But this running had to stop. He wanted to get the bastard as much as she did.
Surely whoever orchestrated this kidnapping had to know he’d bring reinforcements, unless this person believed he was persona non grata, which he still might be.
His mind spun with different possibilities. “It’s possible Joseph Francisco found out Dominick is dead.”
“How would he know that? Would your boss have called him?”
“Harrison? No, but Thomason might have.”
She sat on the bed. The towel dipped, revealing most of her breasts. He didn’t need to be lusting after her. They had a plan to conceive.
He cleared his throat. “How about you change and meet me downstairs?”
She glanced down and turned a pretty pink shade. “Sure.”
“I’m going to call Tom.”
“I thought you believed he was the one who leaked our location of his dad’s cabin.”
“I did, until I realize lots of people in the office know I used to stay there every summer.”
“Then by all means call him. I’m for all the help we can get.”
Stone spun on his heels and raced downstairs, wondering if he could trust Tom, or should he call Harrison instead? If only he understood how the Franciscos were tied into the murders, he might make a more informed decision.
He understood Dominick wanted Susan dead. According to the partner, Ronnie Stenoff, Dominick had killed Cho. Why? The Franciscos hated the Caravellos. The logic made no sense to him.
Not wanting anyone to trace the call, he used his disposable cell, which was in dire need of recharging. Stone dialed Tom, who picked up on the first ring.
“It’s Stone.”
“Where the hell are you?”
“Hello to you, too.”
“Jesus. I thought you were dead. Richard said you were seriously injured. When I didn’t hear from you, I thought the worst.”
Most of his muscles relaxed. Tom hadn’t betrayed him, and he wouldn’t have Richard’s death on his hands. “I’m fine. Or at least I will be with a little rest.” His thigh ached, but his leg functioned just fine.
“Is Susan dead?” Tom’s voice cracked. “I heard Dominick Francisco killed her.”
“No. I told Richard that’s what happened. I figured he might let it leak she was dead and whoever else was after her would believe it, but apparently I was wrong.”
He regaled his friend with what happened and how he’d killed Francisco.
“Where did you go afterwards?”
“You won’t believe it. We hitched a ride out of the area and ended up visiting Uncle Nicky.”
“No shit. How is the old guy?”
“Good. I know he’d love for you stop by.”
Susan came downstairs and stood next to him. Her brows furrowed. “I called because Susan’s brother was kidnapped today.”
“The guy in the wheelchair?”
“That’s him. I need backup. I can’t go in alone. I know I tied down Richard and broke just about every rule in the book by doing so, but—”
“You didn’t hear?”
“Hear what?”
“Richard confessed everything to Harrison. Told him how he was being blackmailed into giving the addresses of the jurors. When they guy took his kids, he went ballistic. He was told to kill both you and Susan. Only he believed Francisco had taken care of Susan for him.”
“Jesus. Does he know who the guy was?”
“No, and we’ll never find out. Richard ate a bullet this morning.”
Stone’s muscles weakened. “I thought he’d gone off the deep end, but I couldn’t be sure he was our mole.”
Susan waved her hands and mouthed, “Who?”
He placed a hand over the receiver. “Thomason.”
Her eyes widened, and she nodded as if she might have guessed.
“What do you want us to do?” Tom said. “You’ll get the full cooperation of the department. You know that, right?”
He hadn’t five minutes ago. “I have a plan I want to pass by you.”
“Let’s hear it.”
* * * *
She wasn’t happy they had to leave this nice house, but she understood her phone call to her mom had put them in jeopardy. Would the sick bastard have put a bug on her mother’s phone? If he’d ripped her brother out from the house, he probably put some kind of surveillance there.
Whatever. Tom said he’d give the local PD a call and ask them to watch over Caravello’s Maryland house in case anyone tried to break in. He also said he’d ask Harrison to order someone to watch her mom’s place.
Right now, they were on their way to Tom’s house outside DC in a badass snowstorm. The speedometer rarely reached forty and cars were piled up on the side of the road, either broken down or waiting out the storm. The snowplows wouldn’t be able to keep up with this snow dump.
Best case scenario, if they didn’t run out of gas or get in an accident, they would make the meeting a little after midnight. Tom had assured them, via Harrison’s instruction, that the team would have everything under control by the time they reached Virginia.
She appreciated their effort to plan a strategy, but she didn’t need a bunch of agents plotting what might be her last moments on earth without any input from her.
Stone stifled a yawn as he wiped the frosty windshield with his palm. “There’s one thing we can be sure of.”
“What’s that?”
“No one would chance attacking Fort Traynor with a gazillion agents inside.”
“That may be, but I for one will not be sleeping even if I know I’ll be safe. I’ll be worrying all night about what they might have done to my poor brother.”
“Or what they might do to you if you walk in there alone.”
She knew Stone’s opinion about her decision to follow the man’s instructions. “I don’t care what you big agents say, I’m going in.”
“We’ll see.”
An hour after they planned to arrive at Tom’s place, they finally rolled in. From the number of black sedans lining the road, half the FBI was there.
“We’ll have to park at least a block away. I’m sorry.”
“I can walk a block,” she said. The trek to Tom’s front door would be easier than what she’d have to do in seven hours.
Tom met them at the door and gave Stone a hug. “You must be Susan.”
“You guessed it.”
Tom sent Stone a how-did-you-get-so-lucky look, and Susan’s face heated up. No makeup, bloodshot eyes and about a ten pound weight loss made her less than attractive, but she was happy she hadn’t scared them with her appearance.
“Come on in. We’ve tweaked your plan a little.”
Tom introduced her to the other five agents, four of whose names she couldn’t remember. Harrison’s name she recognized. He was older than she expected, and not in the best of shape, but he had an honest look about him.
The rest of the men all had short haircuts, were about six feet, well built, and looked between the ages of thirty and forty. Short life span for an agent, she guessed.
Tom spread out a large pad on the coffee table with a diagram of the building.
Harrison leaned over the map. “We debated sending in a trained FBI agent in your place, Ms. Chapman, but if you’re familiar to any of them we—”
“No substitute. I’m going in. I don’t want to give whoever is doing this a reason to shoot Craig. And, before you ask, I won’t wear a wire. They’ll find it and kill me and Craig.”
All six men nodded, including Harrison, who was clearly the lead. “We agree. No wire, but we’ll give you a cell phone with G
PS on it in case they don’t realize its importance.”
“They’ll know, but I don’t mind the phone.” She leaned back against the seat, but the thick tension in the air kept her alert. “So what have you decided?”
“You’ll take one of our cars to the site. We’ll be…around. No one will know we’re there.”
This kidnapper seemed sharp and would know she was under the protection of the FBI. He’d suspect the agents would be strategically placed out of sight. They must have concocted some kind of escape route for her.
“And Stone? Where will he be?”
Stone took a hold of her hand and squeezed. “The less you now, the better.”
She swallowed, not liking the way he wouldn’t look at her. She didn’t argue. Stone would do what he thought best for both her and Craig.
“What happens to my mother during this whole plan? I don’t want anyone to go after her.”
The tallest of the group raised his forefinger. “Got that covered, ma’am. She’ll be safe. No one will get to her.”
Good. Her pulse slowed knowing someone was looking out for Mom.
Tom chugged the rest of his drink. “We all know what we’re going to do. Let’s get some shut-eye and be back here by 0600 ready to rock and roll.”
* * * *
Despite cranking the heat to full blast in the unfamiliar sedan, her bones wouldn’t get warm. Her fingers were stiff, and sweat dripped down the back of her neck. Nothing was working right. Not her mind or her heart. She’d never been this frustrated, and yes, scared, in her life.
Take that back. Almost burning to death came close, and having a gun pointed at her chest didn’t lower her blood pressure any, but knowing she could turn back at any moment had her doubting her decision. Then Craig’s smiling face entered her mind and she knew what she had to do. He’d always been her baby brother. When he lost use of his legs after the accident, she’d been the one to hug him and care for him. She’d promised she’d take care of him no matter what.
Monroe, Melody S. - Verdict (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 22