by Stella Kelly
“Save it, Stoner.
Brown brought the belt down hard, the fury on his face overtaking any reason. It whipped the bed a mere inch from Jimmy’s legs, making the boy scream out in terror. “Next time, I don’t miss. You stay put and keep quiet.”
“Okay, Brown, you made your point,” Stoner intervened. “People are gonna hear his screams.”
“Well, maybe I should keep goin’ till he can’t scream no more. Huh? What do ya think about that?” His question was directed at Jimmy, the tension and anger dripping from Brown’s words.
Jimmy huddled into a smaller form, trying his best to appear invisible. He wanted so much to be far, far away from this room. He wanted to be safe in his mother’s arms again, or in Trudy’s arms. He closed his eyes as the tears streamed down his small face. If only someone would come to his rescue.
<><><>
Cole listed their options for getting out. The far end of the beach meant doubling back near the mansion and crossing the entire property. The iron front gate would make too much noise and had to be opened with a code. There was the wall with the broken spotlights and it was also the closest option. “We’ll run around the far side of the cottage and over to the stone wall. There’s a spot Cameron used to enter the grounds undetected. We’ll scale the wall there.”
Katrina’s breath caught at the mention of Cameron’s name. The reality of his death was starting to sink in now, but there was no time for grief or sorrow or remorse. Time was of the essence to save Jimmy.
Standing in the darkened front hallway of the cottage as Cole spoke to her, the moonlight streaming in and illuminating his beautiful face, Katrina couldn’t help her mind from wandering back to the moments they’d just shared. She couldn’t help the tiny smile that crept across her face at the mere thought of what they’d done tonight; how physically close and intimate they’d become. She felt like she’d known him much longer than a week after what they’d been through and there was nothing that could come between them now – only death. And, considering the circumstances, that was a high possibility.
“Stay close to me and when I run, try to keep up.” Cole’s instructions were direct. Katrina realized he’d slipped into Secret Service mode and she wasn’t about to question anything. She knew she was in strong, capable hands now and she would allow him to lead.
Holding hands, they made a run for it in the darkness, staying within the camouflage of the landscaping. They were together, a two-person team on a mission in this wild, frightening night. Looking toward the mansion, Katrina could make out silhouettes in the living room window and she knew the house was still awake. Slinking in the shadows with Cole leading the way, Katrina suddenly spotted movement at a distance.
“Cole,” she yanked on his hand forcing him to stop and pivot.
“What is it?” he whispered.
“The men, over there, look.” Katrina’s gaze pointed the way and Cole saw too. Without a second to spare, he pulled her behind a bush and they hunkered down to wait. The sound of low talking and footsteps grew louder as the men walked up the front walkway of the cottage and opened the front door of George’s cottage – the door they had left only a moment before. When the door slammed shut, Cole gripped Katrina’s hand tighter and they ran along side the flowerbed that skirted the high stone wall. They waded through the flowers and lush plants until they reached the right spot. Cole turned and put out his clasped hands and Katrina placed a foot into them, holding his shoulders.
“Steady,” Cole said as he hoisted her up onto the wall.
Katrina turned and looked at him before she dropped her legs onto the other side, feeling for the propped up logs with her feet. Cole swiftly scaled the wall and followed.
They were out. They were free.
They ran as fast as they could toward Gloria’s neighborhood. With each step they took, Katrina felt farther and farther away from her friends and more and more guilty. What would happen to them now? All they could do was wait for Cole’s team to arrive to save the day, and waiting meant more opportunities for the captors to enforce their way on the hostages. Although being off the mansion’s grounds felt liberating too, deep down she felt a helpless dread she couldn’t shake. She would have to save Jimmy, that much she could do. They had to get to Jimmy.
Chapter Eighteen
The porch light came on and the door opened a crack. Gloria’s husband Millard was stood on the other side. His initial look of concern softened when he realized it was Katrina and the door opened all the way.
“Katrina, welcome.”
“Hi Millard,” Katrina came in without being asked and Cole followed, giving the man a polite nod.
“Gloria,” Katrina called out into the house. She turned to Millard who looked surprised at her outburst.
“What’s wrong?”
“Millard, there’s trouble at the mansion. Is Gloria here? I have to talk to her.”
“Yes, she’s in the kitchen.”
As he said this, Gloria came around the corner drying her hands on a dishcloth. “Katrina, Agent Nielsen!” Her warm smile turned to a frown at the look of her visitors. “What’s happened?”
“There’s been a break-in at the mansion. The staff is being held hostage and they’ve taken Jimmy to another location. A motel close by.”
Gloria’s mouth fell open. “Oh no!” she cried, her hand on her mouth. She turned to her husband. “What can we do?”
He hunched his shoulders. “How could this have happened? And not more than twenty-four hours after the other incident last night!”
“Maybe they’re related,” Gloria asked.
“We have to call the police immediately,” Millard instructed as he walked over to the phone.
“No, Sweetie. This is Agent Nielsen,” Gloria put a hand out indicating Cole. “He’s Secret Service. I’m sure he has a plan.”
Gloria, Millard, and Katrina all looked at Cole. Again, he nodded. “No police involvement. My team is handling the situation at the mansion, but it’s Jimmy I’m worried about. We have to get to him as soon as possible.”
“Yes, of course.” Gloria agreed.
“Needless to say, don’t go to the mansion for your shift tonight, Gloria.” Katrina hugged the short woman. They both held their embrace a little longer than intended, their emotions swelling.
Stepping back, Gloria held Katrina’s shoulders and looked her square in the eyes. “Jacques, Damien, Georges…have they been hurt?”
“No, they’re being held in the living room with the entourage. But…” Katrina looked down. “The men who are holding them are ex-convicts and things could get ugly very fast. We have to do what we can to end this.”
“How ever did you escape?” Millard asked, amazed. “Wait, you weren’t followed, were you? Is there a chance those men may come to our home?”
Cole noticed Millard’s look of concern. “No, they have no idea we even exist.”
“Cole and I were down on the beach snorkeling when the break-in happened. We were sitting on our towels drying off when we heard a number of gunshots and we cautiously approached the mansion to investigate.”
“You really took a chance then,” Gloria appeared shocked. “What did you see?”
“We counted five men at the mansion and then two men left with Jimmy in the SUV. One guy found me in the bushes and Cole had to, well…”
“Do whatever it took to keep you safe,” Millard’s eyes burrowed into Katrina’s and then he looked to Cole and nodded. “I would have done the same. It sounds like life or death over there. I only hope your friends will remain unharmed. And you’re sure they didn’t see you leave?”
“No, and unfortunately, the hostages being harmed or not is out of our hands right now, and Agent Kensing’s is either out of commission or has a plan of his own.”
“You two haven’t worked out a ‘what if’ scenario for such a situation?” Millard looked a little puzzled that the two agents were so disconnected when they were supposed to be the cream of the crop
.
Cole smirked, trying not to take the comment personally. “Unfortunately, Agent Kensing is old school and I’ve never worked with him before. There is protocol, and he knows what it is. The problem arises if he is unable to fulfill that protocol.”
“And if we arm ourselves and go to the mansion or involve the police?” Millard suggested again.
“There are too many armed men in the mansion for us to handle on our own. Like I said, we have to assume my fellow agent is down. Perhaps if this was the movies or something,” Cole threw Katrina a look, “but I’m realistic. Jimmy is definitely my main priority at the moment.”
“Where is Jimmy?” Gloria asked.
“The guy Cole questioned said a motel near a park. Shouldn’t be too hard to find since motels seem to be a thing of the past here on the island,” said Katrina.
“It has to be the old Prospect Motel over near the Arboretum,” Gloria clarified.
“It must be that one,” Millard agreed. “It’s land-locked so no one wants to stay there anymore because the walk to the beach is too far. Only short-term renters and groups of broke college kids stay there now and the place looks like it hasn’t changed in thirty years. My cousin upgraded most of the plumbing there a few years back, though I don’t know why the owner even bothered.”
“Yes, he said it was practically falling down.” Gloria scrunched her face and put a hand across her heart. “Poor Jimmy, having to stay is such terrible conditions with those horrible men!”
“Yes, at this time of the year there’d be no chance of prying eyes watching them around that motel. That’s your place for sure,” Millard said, convinced.
“That’s where we’ll go then.” Cole looked over at Katrina who acknowledged that they should be going.
“Hold on, what do these men want exactly? Mr. Winters’ isn’t even there so it can’t be about money.”
Cole shook his head. “As it turns out, Secretary Mitchell is a very wealthy man, and even more so now since his wife’s inheritance. His assistant hired her brother and a group of his convict friends to raid the mansion and hold Jimmy ransom for five million dollars.”
Gloria turned to Cole. “What can we do to help you?”
“We need your car,” he instructed.
“Of course, take either one,” Millard offered without hesitation.
“And Gloria, I need to borrow some clothes.” Katrina looked down at herself.
Gloria nodded in agreement. “Yes, Maisa’s should fit you. Come with me.”
They said their goodbyes and hopped into Millard’s black jeep, assuring Gloria that they would do their best to make everything okay.
With the top down, the night’s balmy air surrounded them and Katrina was grateful for the outfit and runners Gloria had lent her. Looking over at Cole as he changed gears, Katrina’s face was stony, serious. The danger of their impending rescue was sinking in now. She knew they would be facing large men with guns willing to cut down anyone at a moment’s notice.
As Cole sped down the Bermudan road in the darkness, Katrina’s legs began to turn numb and her mind raced with potentially dangerous outcomes. She decided then and there she wanted to live a full life, have a family of her own, and enjoy her freedom. Would taking part in this rescue leave her with a serious injury or dead? Had she just traded her freedom from Cameron for another type of entrapment?
Glancing at Cole again, his blond hair unruly and wind-swept, his tanned muscular forearm tensing as he gripped the wheel, she knew she would go to the ends of the earth with him. She felt so close to him, on a level she’d never experienced before. She knew in that moment that she would go wherever and do whatever it took to help keep him safe. They were in this together.
Chapter Nineteen
Cole slowed the jeep down as he cut a sharp right onto Lane Hill. Picking up speed, he passed several vehicles chugging along, the occupants oblivious to the perilous situation at hand. Katrina envied their ignorance and wished she could join in their calm complacency.
Merging effortlessly onto Cavendish Road, he notched the jeep into fifth gear once the road was clear for a long stretch. Katrina held on to the armrest, her knuckles turning white as they drew closer to the terrifying unknown. The motel was just up ahead on Middle Road on the right, smack dab in the middle of nowhere. Why anyone would open a motel on this deserted stretch was beyond reason.
“It’s just there, Cole,” she pointed to the orange neon sign up ahead. Although the sign was missing a few letters, there was no mistaking the name Prospect Motel. Cole slowed down, turning off the headlights, and cruised past. He looked past Katrina and scanned the parking lot.
“The SUV,” he nodded in its direction.
Katrina noticed how wild his eyes looked – wild yet focused like an animal after it’s prey. Cole was circling and Katrina knew she’d better stay with the program or be left in his wake. She noticed he’d pulled his gun out and laid it in the console in preparation. She felt so wrong for this mission, so unprepared. She began to take in a few deep breaths, trying her best to calm her pounding nerves, certain Cole must hear her heart’s break-neck palpitations.
Pulling onto the gravel shoulder, Cole turned the wheel aggressively. The billows of dust rose into the air as the jeep circled back around. As the wide treaded tires found asphalt again, they screeched slightly and the sound brought Katrina into the present with a start.
“What’s the plan?” she hollered over the motor’s engine.
“Don’t know yet.”
“Okay, but you’ll have one eventually, right?” Katrina didn’t want to doubt Cole, but she was finding it hard to maintain her composure.
“I have to gather more information.” Cole shot her a look, finally noticing her frantic expression. He smiled gently, attempting to put her at ease. “I’m not going to charge in with guns blazing, Spitfire, so no need to worry. I’ll be smart about it. Jimmy’s life is at stake…and yours too. I’d never jeopardize that.”
Katrina’s gaze lingered as Cole’s watched the road ahead. He had complete command of the situation. Cole parked the jeep on the soft shoulder at a distance from the motel. With the engine off, they sat pensive and again an involuntary nervous numbness crept into Katrina. Would she be able to rely on her own legs?
“Cole, I…”
“Katrina, it’s okay. I’m the one going in. I just need you to watch out for me and make sure everything goes well. Here.” Cole handed her the dead man’s machine gun firmly.
Katrina stared at it with wide eyes and then glanced at Cole, swallowing hard. “I can do it. You can count on me,” she stammered slightly, internally conjuring up her courage for him.
Cole leaned over and put an arm around the back of her neck, bringing her so close that they touched foreheads. “I know I can count on you. You have more fire in you than anyone. You’ve proven that already.” Their eyes locked and Cole found her mouth, passionately reassuring her in his own intimate way. Katrina reached out with her free hand and gripped his strong forearm. Their mouths released and Cole kissed her forehead tenderly before sitting back – his trademark reassurance. “Are you ready?”
“Don’t ask. Let’s go.”
With Cole in the lead, she crouched down behind him as they ran from car to car in the motel parking lot.
“I have to get closer,” Cole instructed over his shoulder. He stopped for a moment and turned. “I need to put you somewhere safe for a minute.” Looking around, he motioned to the bushes under the neon sign. Reaching back, he grabbed her hand and led her over to it. “Wait here.” There was no room for argument. “Watch the surrounding area.”
Hunkering down, Katrina clutched the gun defensively in her still white-knuckled hands. She tried everything to stop trembling, but it was no use. While watching the beautiful agent agilely stride over to the SUV, she thought back to the day when she first met Cole on the beach. She’d been so short with him, abrasive. She’d actually believed he was a little slow! If only she’d kno
wn then how wonderful, capable, and courageous he was. A true-life Thor. Her true life Thor.
She had no idea what she would do without him now. The warmth that spread over her with the thought, the immense power she suddenly felt in that safe knowledge, made her feel invincible. Under the eerily lit neon motel sign, Katrina felt too open, too unprotected, so she half crouched and ran toward Cole. But as he looking back, she noticed his face drop with disappointment – the expression making her insides drop too.
“Katrina, please be careful. You really shouldn’t even be here with me. It’s too dangerous. Maybe you should go and hide over…”
“No way, I’m here and I’m doing this,” she insisted.
He kissed her quickly, “I guess there’s no point in arguing with a spitfire like you, is there.”
Katrina shook her head in triumph.
<><><>
The curtains were drawn on all of the motel windows making it impossible to know which room held Jimmy.
“Wouldn’t the room coincide with where they’ve parked?”
“Not necessarily, that’s the problem. We’ll head around back and see if we can find out more that way.”
Cole crouched and ran toward the side driveway leading to the back of the motel and Katrina followed closely. Rounding the corner, they walked cautiously through the back grass, making their way past the many whirring air conditioners and passing each room like slinking shadows in the night. When they were half way down the length of the building, Cole eased his eyes above one of the air conditioners and peered in the bathroom window. The bathroom door was open and in the distance he spotted an elderly man and woman playing cards on a small table in front of their curtained front window.
“Not this one,” Cole whispered and crept to the next room. Looking up, he spied a young man dressed in a black tank top and black pants leaning over the toilet. His arms were covered in tattoos and he looked ragged and beaten down from years of hard living, though he couldn’t have been more than twenty. When he finished his business, he turned off the light and left. Cole squinted in his efforts to see past the bathroom doorframe into the next fully lit room. For a moment, Cole saw nothing but the end of the bed with a floral bedspread. And then he saw movement. An older, heavier man dressed in black walked around the bed and out of sight. He was holding a gun.