Deceived (Unlikely Heroes Book 3)

by Leslie Georgeson

  The girl turned around in her seat. “I think I hit them. They’re slowing down.” She set the gun on the seat and looked at Meg.

  “Where did you learn how to shoot like that?” Meg asked.

  The girl shrugged. “My dad taught me.” She hesitated, eyeing Meg closely. “Who are you?” Her voice was filled with awe. “How did you know to find me there?”

  The Jeep bounced along the road, flipping gravel as Curtis took a turn too fast. Meg fell across the seat, then steadied herself when the road leveled out again. She removed her windbreaker and gently wrapped it around the girl’s shoulders, covering her naked torso.

  “Th-thank you,” the girl whispered.

  Curtis took another turn. Meg steadied herself, then clicked her seatbelt on.

  “My name’s Meghan Gardner. I was once one of Larry’s victims too. But I got away.”

  A tear trickled down the girl’s cheek. Then she flung her arms around Meg’s neck and clung to her. Meg gently patted the girl’s back while she sobbed into her shoulder. Meg’s gaze met Curtis’s in the rearview mirror again.

  “You have my brother to thank,” she said proudly, nodding at Curtis. “He’s a hero. He was the one who figured out where Larry was keeping you. Do you know how many other girls were there?”

  The girl lifted her head from Meg’s shoulder and leaned back. Sniffling, she wiped her eyes. “No. But I saw at least two other girls there. They kept us separated, locked in rooms, until they wanted us.” She lowered her gaze. “My name’s Stephanie. Stephanie Mickelson.”

  Meg squeezed Stephanie’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you Stephanie. Why don’t you put your seatbelt on?”

  Stephanie’s hand shook as she reached for the seatbelt and clicked it on.

  “Would you be willing to testify against the men who held you captive there?” Meg asked gently.

  Stephanie nodded vigorously. “Yes. Of course.” She let out another sob. “My parents are going to be so worried about me.”

  They reached the highway. Curtis peeled out as he gunned the Jeep and they headed toward Coeur d’Alene.

  Meg glanced behind them. The truck was gone. Either Stephanie had injured the driver or Larry had called them off. She let out a sigh of relief. She knew Larry hadn’t given up. If she could get Stephanie to a safe place, then she could deal with whatever repercussions Larry sent later.

  Meg’s cellphone chimed. She yanked it from her pocket and glanced at the caller I.D. It was an Idaho area code, which meant it was probably Agent Miller.

  She swiped the screen. “Hello?”

  “Meghan Gardner?” a male voice asked. “This is Nick Miller.”

  Meg told him about the girl she’d rescued and gave him the address of the cabin. He listened quietly while she told her story.

  “You’ve given us the lead we’ve been searching for.” Then he chastised softly, “You need to stay out of this now and let the FBI handle it. I can have a man meet you somewhere and take you to a safe place until we catch Cummings. You and your brother. And the girl. Cummings will be gunning for you now.”

  Meg wasn’t going into hiding. Not yet. She had to finish this. She glanced at Stephanie. “Where do you want us to take you?”

  “Home,” the girl whispered, her eyes filling with new tears.

  “I’m taking Stephanie home,” she said into the phone. “Then I’m going home to Zach. Can you send some agents to her parents’ house to watch over her and make sure Larry’s guys don’t hurt her?”

  “Yes. I’ll have some men there when you get there. Are you sure I can’t convince you to come in too? We’ll keep you safe.”

  “Not yet. I have to see Zach first.” She had to apologize for not involving him in the rescue. Please forgive me, Zach. Please understand that I had to do this on my own.

  Agent Miller didn’t argue with her. “Okay. When you get home, have Zach take you someplace safe.”

  “I will. Are you sending someone to check out the cabin?”

  “They’re already on their way, along with the local SWAT team. I’m meeting them there.”

  “Thank you,” Meg said quietly, then she disconnected the call.

  She pulled Stephanie into another hug, then smiled at Curtis in the rearview mirror.

  “You did good, Curtis. Now let’s get Stephanie home to her parents.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Meghan was long gone by the time Zach made it home, got into his Envoy, and raced after her. There were no other travelers on the road at this time of night. And she’d left no trail. Realizing it would be foolish and fruitless to drive around aimlessly in search of her, Zach finally pulled into the sheriff’s office and went inside.

  Frustrated, Zach put out a BOLO on Meghan’s Jeep in the hope that one of his deputies would spot her before she reached her destination, wherever that might be. But the radio waves were mostly silent and no one spotted her. The only excitement was a belligerent drunk driver and a domestic dispute in town, neither of which concerned Zach. His deputies could handle it.

  He paced back and forth before the dispatcher, hoping for news of something about Meghan.

  Then, nearly two hours later, his cellphone rang. It was Agent Miller.

  Dread settled in Zach’s gut. There was only one reason Nick Miller would be calling him at four in the morning.

  “Please tell me Meghan is alive,” Zach said without introduction.

  Nick chuckled softly. “She’s not only alive, she saved one of Cummings’ victims. She and Curtis are on their way home now. They took the girl to her parents and I’ve got some agents keeping an eye on the family to make sure Cummings doesn’t come after them.”

  Zach breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll head home and wait for her then. How far out are they?”

  “They just left the girl’s house in Coeur d’Alene a few minutes ago, so I’m guessing they’ll be there in about an hour. I’m still at the crime scene and it will probably be awhile until I get away. Cummings cleaned out, just like we expected. He’s gone underground. No one can locate him. You’ll probably need to watch your back. If he knows you’re associated with Meg, he might come after you.”

  “Duly noted,” Zach murmured. “Thanks, man.” Zach disconnected the call. Waving to his dispatcher, he left the office and headed home. He would watch for her. He wouldn’t be able to relax until he held her in his arms again.

  He arrived home just before sunrise and pulled into the garage. Uneasiness settled into his gut. Zach’s instincts told him something wasn’t right.

  Releasing the strap on his service weapon, Zach pulled the gun free and cautiously exited his vehicle. Shadows lurked from dark corners in the garage. Zach warily glanced around as he slowly approached the back door.

  “Put the gun down, Sullivan,” a voice said from the shadows near the door. “You’re outnumbered.”

  Shit.

  Zach slowly turned as four men stepped forward, each with a weapon pointed at him. He hesitated, then lowered his gun.

  “Drop the gun and kick it over here,” Cummings ordered.

  Zach did as instructed.

  Cummings stepped in front of his men to collect Zach’s gun. He tossed the gun to one of his goons and turned back to Zach. He looked Zach up and down, his eyes cold.

  “Meggie found my pleasure house,” he murmured. “Can you believe that? After fifteen years, she found it again.” His gaze hardened. “The only way to get her to heel is to use you as bait.”

  He nodded at his men, who quickly surrounded Zach. Zach tensed, preparing for a fight, even though he knew he was outnumbered and didn’t stand a chance.

  “I want him alive,” Cummings told his men, “but just barely.”

  They were on Zach in seconds, attacking him like crazed killer bees. They kicked his feet out from underneath him, pounced on him when he hit the floor of the garage, and tore into him like hungry hyenas. Zach tried valiantly to fight back, but they kept kicking and punching and hitting him from all si
des, over and over and over. Blow after blow after blow. The beating went on for what seemed like hours. Every crunch, every crack, every snap of pain zinged through his nerves and pulsed with the erratic beating of his heart, ringing loudly in his ears.

  Then Cummings shouted, “Stop!”

  The men stepped back. Zach wheezed in a painful breath through what he knew were broken ribs, and peered up at Cummings through the blood that ran down into his eyes. He tried to move his right arm, but couldn’t. One of the men had kicked him under the arm and yanked his shoulder out of the socket. It throbbed with pain. His shoulder was probably dislocated. He spit out a mouthful of blood, gasped in another breath.

  “If you touch Meghan, you’re dead,” Zach hissed through cracked and bloody lips.

  The man to Zach’s left lifted his rifle and slammed it into Zach’s head.

  Pain exploded in his skull. Stars danced in front of his eyes.

  Then everything went black.

  * * *

  When Meg pulled into her driveway at just before six in the morning, she wondered if Zach was still there. She hoped so. She wanted to run into his arms and have him hold her tight. He would be angry that she’d left to take down Larry without telling him, but she was sure he would get over it. She’d saved a girl. Zach would be proud of her. Soon Larry would go down. The FBI was hunting him right now. He couldn’t hide forever. Eventually he’d be caught. But she would have to be cautious until then. Larry might send a man after her.

  Or he might decide she wasn’t worth the effort and just disappear.

  Curtis headed for the guestroom. “I’m going back to bed. I’m beat.”

  Meg went to her own room, but Zach was gone. Disappointed, she decided to make coffee. Then she’d head over to his house to apologize. When the coffee was ready, she filled a travel thermos and headed out the backdoor.

  Just as she reached the steps, a harsh laugh came from the trees. “Thought you could get away with it, did you Meggie girl?”

  Meg tensed, pausing on the first step when Larry appeared from behind a large ponderosa pine. He wasn’t alone. Of course he wasn’t. Four beefy goons came forward through the trees, each carrying a mean-looking gun. Meg drew in a deep breath and held her ground. They must have come straight here after they’d cleaned up their pleasure house.

  “I’m not marrying you, Larry, so just let it go. The FBIs looking for you. Every law enforcement officer in the country is on the lookout. You won’t get far.”

  Larry chuckled. “I’m heading for Canada. And you’re coming with me.”

  Meg took a sip of her coffee. The hell she was.

  Larry nodded to his men. They disappeared into the forest for a moment, then came back, dragging a man. A bloody and beaten man who looked suspiciously like…

  Zach.

  Meg’s breath caught. Her heart stopped. Her eyes widened.

  No. Not Zach. No!

  His head lulled forward as they dragged him toward her, his limbs hanging loosely from his sides. He was either unconscious…or dead.

  She gasped as they deposited him at the bottom of the porch. He rolled over onto his back and wheezed in a breath.

  She hardly recognized him from all the blood.

  Her heart pounding, Meg bounded down the porch steps and dropped at his side, tossing her coffee thermos into the grass.

  “Zach,” she whispered, leaning over him. “Can you hear me?” She ran her fingers gently over his face, flinching when she encountered numerous cuts, some that were still oozing blood. “I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

  He swallowed, gazing up at her with pain-filled eyes. She couldn’t tell if he recognized her or not. He looked dazed, completely out of it.

  Lifting her head, she glared at Larry. “I’m going to kill you for this, you bastard!”

  Larry chuckled. He motioned to his men. They came forward, surrounding her. The guy to her left snagged her arm.

  “Don’t,” Zach rasped from the bottom of the porch. “Don’t hurt her.”

  Meg fought and squirmed, but they easily hauled her to her feet and dragged her toward Larry, ignoring her struggles.

  Larry latched onto Meg’s arm and pulled her up against him. “Say bye-bye to your war hero, Meggie. It’s time to go.”

  One of the men lifted his gun, pointing it at Zach’s head.

  “No!” she screamed, yanking against Larry’s grip. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the sight of Zach’s bloodied face. “Stop! Don’t hurt him anymore. Please. I’ll go with you. I’ll go. Please, please just let him live. Pleeease.”

  “Don’t…do it, Meg,” Zach whispered between breaths. He lifted his head, his face contorted with pain, his gaze meeting hers. Blood dribbled down his chin. His voice steadier, he said, “Don’t do it.”

  She couldn’t bear to witness the pain in his eyes, couldn’t bear to see him so hurt like this. It was all her fault. She had to save him.

  “I have to,” she said. I love you. Turning, she glared up at Larry. “Let him live and I’ll go with you. Willingly.” This was the only way to save Zach. She’d sacrifice herself for him. She loved him that much.

  Her heart twisted. She loved him. The absolute sureness of how she felt filled her with strength.

  She vowed she would find a way to get free and come back to him.

  The back door of Meg’s cabin swung open. Meg jerked her head up, her eyes wide, as Curtis bounded out on the porch with Meg’s .45 gripped in his hands.

  “Stop!” he shouted, his eyes wild. “Let them go or I’ll shoot!”

  Larry chuckled. “Go ahead, you stupid fool. Shoot and see what will happen. You might have a Tourette’s attack and accidentally shoot your sister.”

  Curtis flinched. He lifted the gun and pointed it at Larry’s head. Larry dragged Meg up against him, pulling her head back against his shoulder, her face close to his.

  “Go ahead, Curtis. Shoot. What are the chances of you actually hitting your target? Are you sure you want to do that?”

  Larry give a quick, nearly imperceptible nod to one of his goons. Before Meg could blink, the guy sighted his gun on Curtis and fired. Curtis crumpled, the gun falling from his hands when he landed on the back porch.

  “No!” Meg screamed, fighting and squirming against Larry’s hold. “No!” Please not Curtis. God no! Noooo!

  Larry loosened his grip on Meg and she fell to the ground, sobbing. She didn’t think her heart could take another beating like this. First her parents. Then Evan. And now Curtis. Her chest squeezed so tightly she could barely breathe.

  But Zach is still alive.

  Meg snapped her head up.

  She inhaled deeply, sucking air into her pinched lungs.

  Larry’s thugs stood at attention, waiting for Larry’s instructions. Meg’s gaze darted back to Zach where he lay, beaten and bloody, but alive. Meg had to keep him that way. Zach slowly lifted a hand to wipe blood out of his eyes, leaving a smear across his cheek. He pushed himself up on his elbow, his face contorting with pain, as his gaze settled on her.

  “Please,” she whispered, rising to her feet and jerking her gaze away from Zach. “Please let Zach live. I’ll go with you. I promise I won’t fight. Just let him live.”

  And if she could get Larry to leave now, Zach might have time to get help for Curtis before it was too late. Her heart clenched. Damn Curtis, why hadn’t he stayed in the house? Why?

  The thugs all glanced at Larry, waiting. Larry looked at Curtis’s prone form, then at Zach where he lay on the ground. The breath wheezed out of Zach’s lungs with each breath. Meg’s heart clenched at the sound. He was badly hurt.

  Larry stared at Zach for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded.

  “Let the war hero live. I’ve got what’s mine.”

  Larry and Zach locked stares. Zach didn’t look scared. He looked pissed. Vengeful. With blood dripping down his swollen, beaten face.

  The goons stepped back, but kept their guns trained on
Zach. Larry turned away. Grabbing Meg’s arm, he propelled her forward, back into the forest.

  “Come on, Meggie girl. It’s time to go.”

  Meg glanced back once, her gaze meeting Zach’s. He lay crumpled on the ground, his face covered in blood, his body beaten and bruised, but his eyes sent her a promise.

  I’ll come for you. I won’t let you go.

  * * *

  Zach’s ribs throbbed with each breath, his body ached from numerous cuts and bruises and possible broken bones, but by some miracle, Cummings had let him live.

  Zach crawled to where Curtis lay on his stomach near the porch steps. He gently rolled Curtis over. The other man’s breathing was uneven. Blood pooled from a bullet hole in his chest. Curtis’s gaze latched onto Zach’s. He coughed up blood. “You look like shit, Sheriff.”

  Zach choked out a laugh, his injured ribs moaning in protest. “Yeah, I can imagine. Do you have a phone?”

  “Yeah, front jeans’ pocket.”

  Zach pulled Curtis’s phone free and dialed 911. Zach’s cell was smashed and broken on his garage floor from the beating he’d received. He gave the 911 dispatcher the details and location and hung up.

  “Hang in there, man. Help will be here soon.”

  Curtis coughed up more blood. “I’m going to do what you said, dude,” he whispered, clutching at Zach’s hand. “I’m going to clean myself up and go find Karla, see if she’ll take me back.”

  Zach squeezed the other man’s hand. “Good for you.” Curtis was growing paler by the moment. Zach pressed his hand against the bullet hole in Curtis’s chest, trying to stop the flow of blood. Despite his efforts, blood still oozed from a hole in the center of his ribcage. Zach knew it was only a matter of time before he bled out. That his chances of surviving were slim. He’d already lost so much blood.

  “Just hang in there,” Zach murmured, pressing harder against the wound. “Help is on the way.”

  Curtis hissed out a breath. “Dude, not so hard. You’re hurting me.” He coughed again, blood oozing from his lips.

  “Sorry,” Zach whispered, easing up on the wound. Blood pooled out, soaking Curtis’s shirt and the wooden deck beneath his body.