Kirk nodded. Both men hurried for the penthouse door, jumped over the unconscious guard, and ran in opposite directions.
†
Lee sank against the wall of the elevator and held her breath a moment as she scrambled for a plan. She was having a difficult time thinking clearly, as the drugs clouded her thoughts. She pushed buttons six through lobby, so Finn wouldn’t know what floor she actually departed the elevator. When the door opened, she hurried from the elevator onto the fifth floor. Lee paused a moment to hold her head, and waited for the hallway to stop spinning. As she looked around, she swore the walls were breathing. It was a frightening image, but she knew it wasn’t real. She hurried along the hall as best she could and entered the first unlocked door she reached.
She shut and locked the suite door behind her and looked around at what appeared to be the lobby of a realtor’s office. She stumbled across the lobby and entered the first office on the right. She shut and locked the door behind her, collapsed behind the desk, and again held her head. She didn’t know how to make the room stop spinning. Once her vision cleared, she grabbed the nearby phone and pressed 911 onto the keypad. As she placed the phone to her ear, she realized there was no dial tone. She groaned and pressed several different buttons in an attempt to get an outside line. When she couldn’t obtain one, she became frustrated and slammed the phone down. As she looked up and stared at the sprinklers above her, a thought occurred to her. She returned to the office door and entered the hallway. She scanned the hallway then saw the fire alarm pull station only a few yards down the hall. Lee gathered her strength and hurried down the hall while clinging to the wall. It almost seemed as if the hallway was getting longer and the fire alarm was moving further away. She was determined to reach it. Help would come.
Chapter Thirty-three
Ross walked along the nineteenth floor corridor. The floor was quiet and seemed abandoned for the weekend, as was the rest of the building. Ross appeared defeated after finding no trace of Lee and tapped his earpiece.
“I’ve got nothing, Kirk,” he announced while looking around. “I don’t think she’s been here.”
“I’m just inside the parking garage,” Kirk responded through Ross’s earpiece. “I don’t think anyone’s left since we arrived. Seems quiet.”
“Maybe we missed them,” Ross announced as he cast his back against the wall. “You stay in the garage. I’m going to sweep the building. If she’s here, we’ll find her.”
The fire alarm sounded, alerting Ross. He looked at the ceiling a moment then appeared encouraged.
“What’s that?” Kirk asked through Ross’s earpiece.
“That’s Lee calling for help,” Ross replied. “I know how to find her, but so will the guys hunting her.”
Ross ran along the hallway and entered the computer closet. He hurried to a box on the wall and saw the potential fire was coming from the fifth floor in one of the suites.
“I have her,” Ross announced then hurried from the computer closet and for the elevators past the receptionist’s desk. “She’s on the fifth floor.”
“Should I meet you there?” Kirk asked.
The lights above the elevators indicated both were moving. He pressed the elevator button, hoping to slow the bad guys’ approach and then ran for the stairs.
“No, you wait in the garage in case I lose her,” Ross informed him. “She’s got company closing in on her.”
Ross hurried through the fire doors and ran down the stairs, hoping somehow to beat them to the fifth floor.
†
Only a moment or two had passed when the alarm suddenly silenced. Lee lifted her head from where she sat on the floor beneath the fire alarm pull station and stared at the ceiling. What had happened? Who turned off the alarm? She wanted to stand, but she didn’t have the strength to pull herself to her feet. She crawled across the floor to a small table in the lobby and attempted to pull herself up. She heard a tremendous crack as the suite door was kicked open. Lee expected to see Finn, but it was another unfamiliar man with a gun in his hand. He kept the gun aimed at her as he approached.
“No sudden moves, sweetheart,” the man announced. “The boss wants you alive.”
The man suddenly cried out and fell to the floor near her feet. She let out a startled scream then looked up to see Finn sneering at the man while cracking his neck. He then glared at her and pointed a warning finger.
“You are your own worst enemy,” he announced sharply then extended his hand to her.
She jumped away from his hand, although she knew she couldn’t stand on her own and he’d be on her any second.
“We don’t have time for this, little missy,” he hissed and grabbed her arm.
Finn pulled her roughly to her feet, throwing her off balance. She fell into him. He caught her around the waist and hurried her toward the open suite door. She attempted to fight him, but it did little more than slow him down. Finn slammed her backwards against the doorframe, pinning her body with his, and kept her from falling. He stared into her eyes with irritation.
“That little fire alarm stunt of yours just gave the others your exact location,” he snarled. “Any moment, six heavily armed men are coming right here to end life as we know it. Now stop being a pain in my ass and let’s get the hell out of here.” He searched her frightened eyes. “At the moment, I’m all you’ve got. You need to trust me.”
She stared back at him, not liking his body pressed against hers, but she almost had no choice. Lee slowly nodded. He moved away from her and caught her around the waist before she could sink to the floor. He half pulled and half carried her to the fire stairs. As they stepped into the stairway, the elevator dinged. Finn silently pulled the door closed and looked at Lee, who now clung to his shoulder.
“You’re not going to like this,” he announced, “but we’re pressed for time and low on options.”
Finn lowered himself before her and swiftly tossed her over his shoulder while clutching her just above the knees. She let out a startled gasp. He ran down the steps with her over his shoulder and his gun clutched firmly in his free hand. He glanced at her backside near his face only once and grinned at the sight.
“Pity we couldn’t do this more often,” he teased while taking the steps at a face pace.
Lee resisted the urge to scream as she watched the blurry steps behind them and bounced around on his shoulder. Every moment felt as if she was going to fly headfirst onto the concrete steps. As they reached the landing on garage level, the door burst open to reveal a man with a gun. He aimed his weapon at Finn. Finn shot the man in the chest, leaped over his fallen body, and out through the garage level door with Lee still over his shoulder. As he ran across the parking garage, his pace increased and her bouncing on his shoulder became almost unbearable. She was certain he was going to drop her.
When he reached his sedan, he barely stopped before slinging her off his shoulder and to her feet. She was unable to maintain her balance and felt dizzy to the point of passing out. She fell roughly against the car and immediately felt the surge of pain through her upper back. Finn opened the door, grabbed her without warning, and practically threw her into the passenger seat. Another man appeared from the doorway and fired at Finn as he approached the driver’s side. Finn fired back with a barrage of bullets, forcing the man to take cover behind another car. Kirk appeared from several cars away and fired at Finn as well. Finn fired back at Kirk then jumped into the car with Lee. He started the car and burned out in reverse, skidding in a half circle before jetting forward with tires squealing. The man leaped out from behind the safety of his car and fired at Finn as he drove through the parking garage at high speeds. Kirk saw the man several cars away and aimed his gun at him.
“Drop the weapon,” Kirk yelled.
The man turned and fired at Kirk. Kirk took cover behind another car then returned fire. Kirk tapped his earpiece.
“Ross, one of Sal’s men has Lee. He’s getting away in a black sedan. License pl
ate delta alpha 3296,” Kirk announced. “There’s a shooter near the south stairs.”
†
Ross stepped over the dead man in the realtor’s office doorway and touched his earpiece while entering the hallway.
“I’m on my way,” Ross announced as he hurried for the elevators. He removed his cell phone and pressed a button while waiting for the elevator. “Holden, one of Sal’s goons has Lee. Black sedan. License plate delta alpha 3296 leaving the parking garage. Apprehend with caution.”
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. Ross returned his phone to his jacket pocket, aimed his gun at the open elevator doors, and checked to see that it was empty. A man suddenly appeared from the far stairwell and fired at Ross. Ross fired back then dove into the elevator. He pressed the first floor button.
“I don’t have time for gunplay,” he muttered.
The man ran for the elevator as the doors were closing. He aimed his weapon. Ross fired first through the nearly closed doors. The man went down just as the doors shut.
†
Meanwhile, Finn continued to drive recklessly through the parking garage. Lee screamed while clinging to the center console and the passenger door as they flew around a sharp curve. They were speeding toward the exit. The wooden arm remained down across the exit and the chain-link fence was mysteriously lowering. Lee screamed with horror while Finn cried out with an excited howl. The sedan smashed through the wooden arm, shattering it, and just barely made it beneath the lowering fence. The car careened onto the street and took the sharp curve, sending the car in a semicircle, leaving behind a massive skid mark. Finn stepped on the gas and jetted along the road away from the office building. He looked into the rearview mirror then at Lee, who stared out the windshield with a horrified look on her face while clinging to the car.
“Now that was fun,” Finn cried out enthusiastically. “Admit it, honey bunny; this is the best date you’ve ever been on.”
Lee slowly turned her head and stared at him with her mouth hanging open. He laughed, obviously humored by her expression.
“Where are you taking me?” she finally demanded.
He appeared disappointed. “Not even a thank you? For a well-bred young lady, you’re terribly rude.”
“I’ll thank you when you don’t get me killed,” she replied nearly out of breath from the drugs and the surge of adrenaline. “Where are you taking me?”
“I’m taking you someplace safe,” he announced. “You’re welcome.”
A car suddenly appeared before them from a cross street, cutting off their route. Lee screamed.
“Seatbelts, please,” Finn announced and turned the wheel sharply to avoid the car.
Men fired out the car’s side window at them as the sedan squealed while turning. Finn stepped on the gas and sped along a side street while Lee frantically attempted to connect her seatbelt. The car chased after them.
†
A police car pulled into the parking garage past the shattered wooden arm. Both officers surveyed the damage as they drove past then pulled up to the entrance of the building. As they got out of the car, the driver removed his sidearm while the officer on the passenger side removed the shotgun. He pumped the shotgun, causing the distinctive clatter to echo throughout the nearly silent parking garage. As they approached the door, they saw a dead man lying behind the first car not far from the entrance.
“Ah, hell,” the first officer muttered and quickly scanned the area with his shotgun leveled.
“I’ll call it in,” the second officer announced and reached for his shoulder radio.
The second officer suddenly fell to the concrete floor, startling the first officer. He looked at his fallen partner then turned in the direction of possible fire. Before he could even get a shot off, two nearly silent shots struck him and tossed him to the garage floor.
†
Several police cars now joined in on the race across the city, chasing after Finn’s speeding car. Lee peered into the side mirror several times and each time witnessed yet another police car crash into a parked vehicle along the narrow alleyway. Her stomach had been fluttering and her heart pounding since she got in the car with Finn. Lee wasn’t sure how long they were racing around the outskirts of the city attempting to lose the men shooting at them. She didn’t even know where they were by that point. Finn pressed a button on the steering wheel.
“Talk to me,” announced the familiar male voice over the car’s speaker.
“Extraction of sweet cheeks was a success,” Finn announced and ducked as the rear window shattered from a bullet. Lee screamed. “But we’ve got some rival suitors looking to claim her sweet, little ass.”
“Where are you?” the voice Lee now recognized as Sal suddenly asked.
“Five minutes from your little soiree.”
“Come in the back entrance,” Sal said over the speaker. “I don’t want my guests disturbed. Your friendly neighborhood fed just sent the agent at the back gate in search of you. You have a clear path.”
“Yes, sir,” Finn announced as he concentrated on his driving. “But you’d better have that gate open when we get there, because we’re coming in hot.”
“I’ll have someone standing by.”
Finn looked at Lee and grinned enthusiastically while raising his brows. “Expect a very sharp turn.”
Lee again braced her hands on the door and center console. She saw the rear entrance of the estate just up ahead. The car chasing them was on their rear and continuing to fire at them. The gate started to open as they approached. The sedan skidded into a turn and jetted for the mostly open gate. Lee screamed, convinced they weren’t going to make it. Sparks flew as the car scraped the gate. Once they were through, the gate began to close. The car behind them slammed on its brakes while making the turn and stopped before the mostly closed gate. Before the security guard could react, the car outside the gate peeled out in reverse and drove away. A few minutes later, the fed’s SUV returned to the back gate. The agent stepped out of the vehicle and looked at the slightly bent gate then the guard, who simply stared back. The agent shook his head and removed his cell phone. He pressed a button and placed the phone to his ear.
“We lost the sedan, but I have a bad feeling they made it onto the estate grounds,” he announced.
Holden cursed through the phone from the other end. The agent disconnected the call and groaned softly.
Chapter Thirty-four
Monroe entered the grand foyer inside Sal’s mansion while casually looking around. When no one was looking, he swung around the banister and hurried up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He tapped his earpiece while glancing into several rooms along the second floor hallway.
“Zack, what’s your location?”
There was no response. Monroe cursed softly under his breath and continued his search. A strange grunting sound came over his earpiece, causing him to stop in the hallway.
“Zack?” Monroe announced as his brows knitted. “You okay, buddy?”
Monroe kept his finger to his earpiece and turned toward the stairs to make sure no one had followed him.
“Zack, where are you?” he demanded in a whisper.
In the hallway several doors behind Monroe, Zack flew backwards from a bedroom doorway and crashed into another room. Monroe turned and looked down the empty hall with a bewildered look, having heard a thump. He turned back toward the stairs and touched his earpiece.
“Damn it, Zack, answer me!”
Mac crossed the hallway behind Monroe and stormed into the room after Zack with a determined gait. There was another garbled groan through the earpiece. Monroe looked around then shook his head.
“You better not be playing games,” he muttered aloud to himself then continued down the hallway.
As Monroe approached the bedroom down the hall, he heard the muffled sound of a dog barking. He appeared curious and hurried into the nearby bedroom on the left. Monroe suddenly stopped in the doorway to see Zack and Mac on the f
loor twisted together like a pretzel. There was a lot of grunting, and it was impossible to tell who was winning. Monroe stared at the couple a moment as if uncertain what to think until he saw the woman’s face. His eyes widened with horror.
“Mac!”
Monroe reached inside his shoulder holster and removed his gun. In the second it took him to aim his gun, Mac had freed her leg from her bizarre hold on the immobile Zack and kicked the gun from Monroe’s hand. Monroe chased after his flying gun and nearly tripped over Gil, whom he found gagged and tied with expensive silk neckties. He muffled a scream to Monroe while thrashing around on the floor. Monroe leaped to Gil’s side and swiftly removed the gag then immediately worked on the neckties binding his wrists behind his back. Gil gasped then appeared angry.
“It was Tonya,” he snarled with a look of mayhem in his eyes. “The little bitch hit me with a candlestick.”
“Yeah, she pretty much fucked us all,” Monroe muttered while working on the tight knot.
Zack was tossed over the bed with a bounce and struck the floor near them. He appeared slightly dazed then slowly moved into a crouched position and looked at his two friends, who just stared at him.
“Seriously?” Monroe demanded. “Are you going to let a girl kick the crap out of you?”
“Hey, feel free to step in anytime,” Zack snarled back. “That demented demon bites!”
“What the fuck?” Gil lashed out hotly and appeared annoyed with Zack. “So do you!”
Zack suddenly grinned and raised his brows slyly. “Yeah, I got her good too.”
Mac casually stood by the foot end of the bed and folded her arms across her chest while staring at them. She sneered at Zack with limited patience.
“I wasn’t finished with you,” she snapped in an icy tone while tapping her manicured fingernails on her arm.
Zack grinned at his friends. “Excuse me,” he announced playfully. “Round two of foreplay.”
Witness Protection 2: The Return of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Page 20