Tessa knew Essid believed Sam and Zoric to be indisposed with his men on the loading dock. “Carter, the computer man and some trucker.”
Essid pointed a nine millimeter at Chase. “What else, Mrs. Scott? Captain Hunter’s life depends on it.”
Tessa gasped and spoke hurriedly. “There’s a helicopter and the captain’s men on the roof. I was on my way there.”
Essid lowered the gun and winked knowingly. “That’s much better. Thank you. I guess my plans have changed yet again thanks to you. We had planned to leave that way and cross to the other building before making my call for the final explosion.” He sighed dramatically as he waved his weapon in the air. “These people are not your friends, you know, Mrs. Scott.” He watched her frightened face freeze as he looked to Chase. “The man you’re trying to save did nothing to save your family when he could have.”
Tessa choked. “What about my family?” She looked from Chase to Honey. “Where are they?”
Essid looked over his shoulder at Honey standing awkwardly as if someone had just jammed spikes into her feet. “Do you want to tell her or should I?”
“Tell me what?” Tessa’s eyes locked dangerously on Honey. “You told me you’d keep them safe!”
Essid looked around at Honey incredulously. “You talked to her?” he asked bewildered. “Have you been talking to this infidel while sleeping with me?” he roared.
Honey did not bat an eye when she narrowed her gaze at Tessa. “I killed your precious little family last night while they were sleeping.” She watched as all the air seemed to be sucked from Tessa’s body. It reminded Honey of the video she’d once seen of a nuclear blast. All the wind forces the trees to bend to the ground, the buildings explode and a fiery glow devastates the world. Tessa’s scratched hand went to her throat silencing a scream. “To think they trusted me. One more day and I would’ve had your handsome husband in my pants.”
With empowered rage, Tessa charged her, only to be yanked back into Mansur’s burley arms. A damn of uncontrollable tears gushed from her eyes as sobs racked her body pressed against Mansur’s chest. Screams of torment bounced around the room as Mansur struggled to keep her confined.
Chase cocked his head at Tessa hoping to be able to see her with his good eye, not yet swollen with violence. He knew what was coming. Confession. Betrayal.
With one step toward Honey, Essid slapped her so hard she stumbled back in surprise. “You filthy whore! Are you sleeping with him too?” he roared.
Chase spit blood on the floor trying to draw attention back to him. “Do you think I’d lay with someone who took to the likes of you? From what I hear,” he smirked, although his mouth looked crooked, “you’re pretty short on satisfaction,” again the smirk, “and I do mean short.”
Before Honey could dodge, another blow struck her upside the head, knocking her to a sprawled position. Her weapon clattered noisily to the floor as she hurriedly tried to scramble to her feet only to be kicked down again by Essid. “Tie her up!” he said to the Libyan that could still walk. Drag her over there,” he pointed to a spot on the floor. Goon number one awkwardly tied a dirty handkerchief tightly around Honey’s mouth. Jerking it tighter, Honey struggled only to be kicked in the buttocks.
“Although I would love to see how this plays out,” Essid motioned for Chase’s hands to be tied behind his back before being shoved into a chair with wheels that nearly toppled with the sudden slamming of his weight. A gag immediately was shoved into his mouth. “I think Mansur and I need to make our way out of here before I incinerate this place.” He stepped toward Tessa and yanked her from Mansur, shoving her back so she stood in front of Honey. The sobs had been replaced with sniffs as she looked with pure hatred down at Honey Lynch.
Honey struggled against her bonds as she looked up at Tessa with wide eyes. Stealing a look at Chase she tried to say something only to see that he too was trying to communicate with Tessa, not her. Essid stood over her and frowned. “I had hopes for you, Irish trash. Isn’t that what the beautiful Sam called you?” He turned to the two Libyan goons as he walked toward the door. He handed them a small pistol he took from inside his vest pocket. “Mrs. Scott?” Tessa turned like a robot to glare at her tormenter. “When I leave, this man will give you a gun. It has one shot. Use it however you choose,” he smiled. “Decisions. Decisions. Will it be Honey who actually killed your family or,” he looked at Chase who desperately tried to get Tessa’s attention as he shook his head ‘no’. “Or will it be Captain Hunter who had it in his power to alert authorities and stop her?” Essid watched as Tessa shifted her eyes back and forth between his two captives as she wiped snot, tears and blood from her grief contorted face. “It can only be one.” He motioned for Mansur to leave ahead of him before looking back at his men and whispering. “When she is done kill the other one.”
“And the woman,” his man said looking over at Tessa.
Essid shrugged. “Whatever you please. Just be quick about it if you want to get out of here alive.” He nodded and closed the door behind Essid.
With outstretched hand, the Libyan moved to Tessa’s side and handed her the loaded weapon.
The evening at Lake Tahoe once again remained cool and crisp. Tourists meandered slowly from shop to shop, café to café. Music began to drift over the lake as a black SUV passed through the traffic of Incline Village. Darkness fell quickly up here and the Scott family couldn’t make out the lodge they’d been ushered to at Squaw Valley once again. Robert looked at the bulky driver before turning his head to look in the backseat at his three kids fighting sleep in the hopes of just one more swim in the pool before bedtime. He’d been awakened the night before by pounding on the door. FBI agents, in full military style outfits, startled him by their aggressive behavior. They quickly told him a female forest ranger had tipped them off as to their location.
“You mean Honey,” he said bewildered. “I don’t understand.”
“Honey works for us, Mr. Scott. She’s been tracking a mob boss out of Vegas who killed three people last week in the desert. An eye witness came forth but by then he’d skipped. This cabin you’re renting actually belongs to his ex-wife, who by the way disappeared last year. We think he’s nearby. Honey spotted him in town after she left you. Get your kids. We’re taking you some place safe while we finish this. Sorry for the inconvenience. We’ll do right by you.”
Robert had tried to reach Tessa but only got an answering machine. When he and the children were settled in the luxurious resort accommodations, he noticed a message from her. Her voice seemed a little too calm. Tessa’s confidence in Robert gave him assurance she wouldn’t try and look for them in the middle of the night. “Sounds exciting, babe. Talk to you soon. Kiss the kids for me. I’m having a good time too.” He had no way of knowing it wasn’t really Tessa’s voice only a reproduction of what Tessa sounded like.
He’d frowned at the message. Had she lost her mind? Why wasn’t she demanding they come home? Was that even her voice? Maybe he didn’t sound concerned enough when he’d left the message. But then again he really had tried to make light of the situation. Secretly he had wanted her to inform him in so many words she was either coming up to take over or he should get his butt home where her babies would be safe. It never happened so he continued the vacation without her at Squaw Valley.
Squaw Valley had been the site of the 1960 Olympics. There were fun places to have your picture taken if you wanted to pretend you were receiving a gold medal. The scenery took your breath away anywhere you looked. He and the children had taken the tram up the mountain, went ice skating, swam, and explored every shop and café before their FBI driver had offered to take them into town for a little shopping. Sean Patrick couldn’t get enough of the big guy and asked him a million questions. All were answered with patience and respect as they ate dinner by the lake that night. Robert had a few questions of his own but the driver always seem to evade a direct answer.
Government bullies, he thought silently. No tell
ing who really owned that cabin. The thought occurred to him that maybe the president needed it to go over some peace accord in the Middle East. That would make this guy Secret Service, not FBI. He didn’t really care at this point. Tessa would be proud of his sudden spark of imagination. The kids thought he was a superhero and the government would pick up the tab for everything. Tessa wouldn’t need to know the money saved on this little trip would now enable him to buy that golf club he’d been wanting but couldn’t afford. No cooking, picking up after the kids or spending money; this was turning out to be a relaxing vacation after all. He just needed to make sure he looked a little ruffled with exhaustion so Tessa would fuss over him upon returning home.
A slight pain of guilt once again surfaced as he thought of the way he had been treating her of late. He left everything for her to do: kids, yard, pay bills, make sure repairs were done, cook, clean, and of course the nonstop laundry saga. Some days he worked twelve and thirteen hours at the law firm. He just didn’t feel like doing much when he got home. Tessa worked so hard at making their lives perfect. He’d forgotten how wonderful and beautiful she could be. The children adored her, the church depended on her and former parents of students often dropped by the house to just say hello. She always had time for a down and out friend or make a batch of cookies for that cranky old fart next door who complained about everything. He’d never understood why Tessa put up with him. Robert smiled at the children. Sighing, he admitted to himself that he knew why Tessa did all those things. She did them because she loved them. That woman was his angel. This important lesson she’d thrown at him was a gift. When he saw Tessa in a few days nothing was going to stop him from showing her how proud he was of her.
Removing the small box from his pocket, Robert lifted the lid. The necklace he’d purchased was a sterling silver cross with a cubic zirconia diamond in the center. He and the kids had picked it out at the jewelry store next to the restaurant at Squaw Valley. Heather made the final decision deeming it “pretty enough for Mommy”. The boys caved, having picked out a turquoise bear to celebrate their brave encounter. But when Robert suggested they might not want to bring that up around their mother, they gave way to Heather’s choice. Tessa would love it. She would insist on wearing it immediately, promising the kids to never take it off then would lovingly kiss him for being so thoughtful and sensitive.
His heart missed her. That forest ranger certainly made an impact on him. She’d flirted, laughed and wasn’t so subtle about her availability. Had it all been a trick to distract them from her real purpose? His thoughts began comparing Honey and Tessa. Some kind of mental checklist appeared, as only a lawyer likes to do, comparing and arguing the merits of both women. In the end, Tessa’s attributes surpassed Honey’s with a considerable lead. Closing his eyes he could almost feel her soft, unblemished skin between his fingers. How had he been so lucky to marry such a woman? He unbuckled his seatbelt as the SUV came to a stop outside their fancy resort cabin. As the beefy driver helped the boys out of the backseat, Robert gathered Heather up in his arms, noticing her curly hair felt just like Tessa’s. He walked up the steps as the driver opened the door and flipped on the lights. He hoped his wife had not worked too hard while they were gone. A smile played around the corners of his lips. Probably took long baths and naps every day, he mused. That would be okay too. She deserved it.
“Carter?” Vernon said as he watched Zoric and Sam check their weapons. “They just beat the hell out of the captain and Honey is incapacitated.” Vernon had located which room Essid had taken Tessa and the captain by using his heat sensors. Finding the computer access to the room had been child’s play for him. They could actually watch the movement of each person in the room.
Carter frowned at seeing his friend beaten, bound and gagged. “We can’t worry about them now. We’ve got to get those people off the fifth floor before Essid melts this place down.”
“What about them?” Joe said pointing to the computer.
Zoric pushed passed him toward the door. “They’re on their own for now.”
“Essid and Mansur are taking the elevator to the lobby.” Vernon informed them as he grabbed his rifle. “The stairwell is clear.”
Sending Joe to the sixth floor stairwell door had been a last second decision. Setting a five minute lock time on the door would prevent the last two Libyans from surprising them. Chances were they’d panic and use the elevator. By the time they had the hostages to the door, locks would be released. Elevators were to power down at the same time. Escape would have to be through the roof.
“Let’s move, people!” Carter ordered. “If Mansur can’t handle his brother, we’re all going to be front row center to a Libyan bar-b-que.”
Chapter 31
The heat forced sweat mixed with blood into Tessa’s eyes as she tried to wipe her head and nose on her shoulder. Her hand shook nervously as she lifted the gun to aim at Honey. She wasn’t sure if it was aimed at her chest or her head; it didn’t really matter. Tears threatened to blind her already foggy vision as she pictured her children trusting this woman who pretended to care for them. The handsome face of Robert, smiling, teasing her about playing all day with the children instead of paying the bills tugged warmly at her heart strings. All the picnics, Christmases, and vacations at the lake would be held only in pictures if this terrible information were true. How could she exist without them? Why would God let this happen? But then again why did any tragedy in the world occur?
Men like Essid created chaos and disaster for their own glory. It had nothing to do with Islam or being American. It had to do with being evil. They destroyed anything that threatened their narrow world view and kept decent people terrified to stand up and resist. Tessa had to admit her resistance evaporated when Honey blurted out she’d killed her perfect family. Revenge blinded her now. She’d become just like them.
Reason pushed into the back of her mind as her eyes cut to Chase shaking his head vehemently and trying to speak through the gag. “I trusted you!” she screamed at him one last time before turning her back to him. Then walking behind Honey she kneeled down and shoved the gun in the back of her neck with one hand.
Honey stiffened, feeling the weapon push against her brain stem. Unlike Chase, she did not try to talk. It was as if she’d accepted her fate and waited patiently for Tessa to pull the trigger. Her eyes went to the amused Libyans as she felt Tessa’s free hand jerk her head back by the hair. As she released her grip, she felt Tessa’s breath on her ear. “What you did…” Tessa choked. “Why would you do such a thing?” Honey felt Tessa’s hand slide down her back and to her plastic cuffs. “I wish I could kill you for every life you took from me!” Tessa growled. “I hope you burn in hell, Honey Lynch.” Tessa stood up next to the woman she’d trusted with her children, her gun held loosely in her hand. “Are you,” Tessa swallowed knowing what was going to happen next. Would she be sorry later? This too didn’t matter. “Are you ready?” she asked again. Honey looked up at her with resolve in her eyes, hearing Chase trying desperately to free himself to save the assassin. Honey nodded slowly and turned her eyes back to the Libyans.
Tessa took a half step back as Honey swung her arms around with lightning speed. She aimed the knife Tessa had taken from her jeans, hurling it into the chest of the closest Libyan. Before Tessa realized it, Honey had sprung to her feet and slapped the gun from her hand and turned it on the second man, firing before he could even lift his weapon. Stunned by her speed, Tessa turned to Chase, pulling the gag from his mouth. He stared at her with his good eye in disbelief.
“Here!” Honey removed the knife from the chest of the Libyan, wiping the blood carelessly on the leg of her faded jeans before tossing it to Tessa. She stole a look out the door. “Cut him loose. Hurry. We don’t have much time!”
Tessa cut the cuffs and helped Chase stand. He appeared to shake off the pain as Honey tossed him a rifle. “Here come the hostages, Chase. We better hurry them along.”
When Honey slipped out
into the hall the first bald computer hostage saw her and quickly turned to run. Zoric and Sam cut him off and shoved him around. “She’s with us. Now get movin’,” Zoric snipped. “Now!”
When the last of the hostages came through the door, Carter appeared and ran to Chase with concern. “You look like hell, buddy. Who’s your friend?” he said looking at Honey Lynch.
Chase smirked. “Seriously, Carter? You’re looking to score at a time like this?”
“Haste makes waste,” he said as they followed the last hostage up the ladder to the roof. “Are you two…” implying a romantic connection.
“No!” Chase said as he reached the roof. His hand still clung to Tessa’s as he hobbled after the team. He watched Director Clark wave them across the narrow catwalk in what little light remained and then over to the helicopter. The helicopter once full lifted off to take their precious cargo to a safe place before returning for the rest of the team. They were gambling that Essid had not planned to bomb his only escape route. The team left behind felt confident in waiting until the helicopter returned for them. In the meantime they would try and locate Essid and Mansur, taking the appropriate measures when needed.
“Let’s go!” Chase said starting out over the catwalk as he tugged on Tessa’s hand only to find her resisting with her heels dug in. “What’s wrong? Come on this place is going to blow!”
“I’m” Tessa looked over the edge of the six story building. “I’m afraid of heights. I can’t.”
Chase jerked her arm violently. “Get over there now or so help me I’ll give you something to really be afraid of, Tessa Scott!”
He felt her backing away as her eyes returned to the space separating the two buildings. The solar lights began glowing as twilight turned to dark. It was hard to understand how a catwalk made of metal could present such terror. Granted there was only a half inch tube railing with protection slacks every three feet, but unless there was an earthquake the chances of a person falling was almost nonexistent. The thought of a bomb going off underneath them presented a bigger nightmare in his mind than walking across a noisy bridge you could see through to the ground level. But then again danger, risks and impossible situations followed him wherever he went. He tended to measure the danger by how many lives were lost or how many of his bones got broke. So far this hadn’t been so bad. The last few days must be spinning out of control for someone like Tessa Scott. He looked around to see the helicopter returning for them. The other team members motioned for him to hurry who were safely on the roof of the other building. Chase grabbed her around the waist, squeezing her so hard he winched with pain.
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