Game of Fear

by Robin Perini

  A spinning sun exploded.

  “Congratulations, warrior! You’ve reached the pinnacle of Point of Entry VII. Level 88! You’ve earned a chance at the bonus game.” The voice dropped. “Now you must take the oath. Swear to each other what you do, what you see, will never be revealed. Swear it!”

  Niko appeared at her side out of nowhere and keyed in a few strokes. “Skip all that. Go straight to the mission.”

  The screen darkened and the music ended. Moments later, the mechanized voice droned. “Let’s begin your next challenge . . . there’s a traitor in our midst. An important man is being blackmailed for inappropriate behavior and being forced to misuse his power. Your job is to find the evidence the blackmailers have hidden to use against him so he is safe. There are four hundred and thirty-five doors. You must find the evidence by unlocking several special keyed sequences. Are you up to the challenge? You have two hours. No longer. Unlock the right door. Break the code. Find the proof. Nail the blackmailer.”

  Niko pressed closer. “Ashley, succeeding at this mission is critical. Are you ready?”

  “If I’m not, is the Warden going to shoot me, too?” she snapped.

  Niko blanched. “I wouldn’t doubt that outcome for a minute.”

  Washington, D.C.

  The e-mail arrived just before 5:00 p.m. Congressman Raymond Reynolds, chair of the Armed Services Committee, clicked the icon from the familiar address.

  A photo stared back at him.

  Not just any photo.

  “Oh my God. No.”

  His cell phone rang.

  Hands shaking, he answered. “H-hello.”

  “Congressman, I see you received our message,” a smooth voice commented.

  “Where . . . how? That’s private,” he sputtered.

  “Not anymore. Your every secret is ours, Reynolds. Every little sordid detail.” There was a pause.

  No. It couldn’t be. He kept everything encrypted. He was careful. It was only a diversion. A hobby. No one else was ever supposed to know.

  The voice chuckled. “I see you know what I’m talking about. Most constituents don’t approve of their public officials being on the wrong end of a leather whip. You really don’t have the figure for leather, Congressman. Neither does your . . . friend. I can see he enjoys being in charge.” The voice lowered. “I especially like how much your wife gets off watching you take it up the . . .”

  Reynolds sagged in his chair. “What do you want?” Resignation filled the room.

  “Nothing. Yet. But you’ll hear from us soon. When you do, we expect complete compliance. Do you understand?”

  He didn’t speak.

  “I expect a response, pet. Isn’t that the term he used?”

  Reynolds swallowed deeply.

  “Y-yes.”

  “Yes, what, pet. You know the rules.”

  Teeth grated. “Yes, sir,” he spat.

  “Actually, instead of ‘sir,’ I prefer the term you used with your friend, in that very interesting little room hidden behind your closet. What’s my name?”

  “Master.” Reynolds bit the word out.

  “Don’t forget it. I have you by the balls. But then you like that. Don’t you?”

  “You can’t—”

  “Silence!”

  Reynolds trembled, his whole world crumbling to dust.

  “We’ll have to work on your discipline, pet.” A delighted laugh sounded at the other end of the phone. “You’d be punished if I were there. And I would bring a special someone to make sure you’d . . . enjoy . . . or at least remember your submission.” There was a slight pause.

  “Do exactly as we say, exactly when we tell you to, Congressman Reynolds, and these photos might not leak to the press. But say one word of this to anyone—Justice, Treasury, the Capitol guards—and the photos are on the Internet before you finish revealing this call.”

  A click sounded. Reynolds closed his eyes and thrust his fingers through his balding white hair.

  This couldn’t be happening.

  God, what would they want?

  He rose and walked to the window of his office, staring out across the Capitol Reflecting Pool. It didn’t matter. He’d worked too damn hard to get here. He’d do whatever it took to stay. And damn them all to hell, they knew it.

  * * *

  CHAPTER TEN

  * * *

  THE AIR HAD turned frigid with a nip of snow since Gabe last stood on the porch with John. Driven by demons he’d yet to confront, Gabe needed the space. He didn’t want to hurt his family anymore, which meant keeping his father’s secret, and lying to his mother for the foreseeable future.

  The past might be a nightmare, but the present was worse. He was torn between two promises. One to himself to bring down those who had threatened his family, and his promise to Deb to find her sister. Two vows that ripped him up inside. He couldn’t give both everything.

  He’d let someone down. There was no way around it.

  The front door quietly closed and he gave a quiet sigh, recognizing Deb’s clean scent.

  “I’m sorry for leaving you in there. I just had to—” He turned and leaned against the banister. “You shouldn’t have had to hear all that. Guess you didn’t realize who you were signing on with when you picked me to help you. Pretty screwed up, huh?”

  Deb studied his face, her own expression sympathetic and strangely resigned. “Your family cares about each other. A lot. Nothing to apologize for in that. But, Gabe, you can’t afford to split your time. That’s clear to everyone in that house. If you’re already fighting Tower and his cronies, you’re in enough danger without adding Ashley and me to it.”

  Gabe shifted slightly. She was right. The risks surrounding him were very real and it could spill onto her, too, just because she was nearby. Things were coming to a head on the undercover op case at the worst possible time.

  “Ashley is in trouble, too.”

  Deb nodded and straightened. “I’m so grateful you believed in me, Gabe, when no one else would. I won’t forget that, but Neil has bought into the case. We’ll find my sister.” She stepped back. “You should focus on bringing Tower down so that people like me can trust the sheriff’s office when we need them. It’s for the best.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “That you have a duty to protect your family, and I won’t be the cause of tragedy ruining your life. I’ve done that enough in my life.”

  “Deb—”

  “Ashley is my responsibility. I’ve had to take care of my own for a long time. I’ll take it from here.” She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You’re a good man, Gabe Montgomery. Be safe.”

  Deb turned her back on him and started down the street.

  What just happened? Gabe rushed after her. “I can help.”

  “I don’t need it. I already called a cab.” She pocketed her cell phone. “Look, things between us got out of control. I mixed up my desperation for . . . something else. Today was a reminder. You go back to your undercover investigation. And your family. As for me, I have to stop keeping secrets from mine and face up to my mistakes. Again.”

  He’d seen that look before. Just a few minutes ago on his mother’s face. Deb wasn’t going to budge. She’d given him an out, but he had a bad feeling everything he was trying to do was about to come crashing down around him. “Well, you’re not standing out here alone.” His jaw set.

  “Fine. You have no coat on. Freeze.” She rubbed her gloved hands together and looked over at him. “This gallant sticking-around bit is ruining my dramatic exit, you know. I thought I’d done quite well.”

  He laughed. “You did. It was Oscar-worthy.”

  A yellow cab turned the corner.

  Gabe shoved his hand in his coat. “Your ride is here.”

  Her smile turned wistful. “I am
going to miss you, Gabe, even though I shouldn’t say it. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

  His heart tripped in his chest. She was saying good-bye. She didn’t need or want his help. The words hurt, because they were so very true.

  Every time Niko walked Ashley to the computer lab, he took her a different route. Was he purposely trying to confuse her? Or something else? She hadn’t been able to ask Justin if the maze treatment was standard operating procedure.

  Whatever the case, Niko’s attempts at obscuring the layout of this prison wouldn’t work. Her innate sense of direction and memory logged every twist and turn. She’d learned several alternate routes to the lab. She’d spotted a few loading platforms and exits along with a seemingly endless series of white corridors and doors. She’d memorized corridor names and numbers.

  At some point, she and Justin would have enough information to escape.

  Niko shoved her forward. “Quit daydreaming,” he growled.

  The man confused her. Sometimes, he seemed so nasty and threatening. Other times, it was almost like he wanted to reach out to her. Physically and emotionally.

  Yeah, girl. You’re crazy. Niko softening? Not likely.

  She touched her cheek, still bruised from where he’d backhanded her. Still, she wasn’t as afraid of him as she was the other guards, especially that redheaded guard. She never wanted to be alone with him. Or the Warden.

  “I need to stop and get some materials from the storeroom,” Niko said. “Stay right beside me,” he warned, “and don’t touch anything.”

  He stopped in front of a door, a stylized bomb with erupting flames painted on it. Very P.O.E.-like. Niko keyed in a pass code on the control panel and they walked inside.

  Holy crap, it was an armory. Ashley froze, staring at shelf upon shelf of weapons. Why would he bring her here and let her see all this? He had to know what she was capable of doing, of breaking into.

  She could barely breathe as he grabbed some ammo clips off the shelves and shoved them into his pocket. Ashley wished she dared knock him out and try to run now. Deb could do it. She could take this guy down in a heartbeat.

  Damn it, if she lived through this, she’d learn to protect herself better.

  “Time to go.” Niko took her arm and shoved her into the hall, then swiftly locked the door.

  She scanned the surrounding area. C5. C6. C7. If the room they’d just left was a munitions room, what was in these other ones?

  He walked her past a corridor that branched off to the side. Far down that hall, a reinforced door read C2. “Don’t even think of trying to escape through that door right now. Remember what I’ve told you.”

  He held her gaze a moment too long, and a strange thrill coursed through her.

  Was he saying don’t try now? But maybe later?

  He glanced up at the camera in the hallway and frowned. “Move it.” He shoved her harder and didn’t speak again until he’d sat her at her computer station. “Do what you’re told and don’t mess up,” he said coldly. “Two more kids were replaced today.”

  He walked away.

  His iciness had Jack Frost beat, but she still couldn’t shake the sensation he was trying to tell her something. Maybe even help her. Was she succumbing to Stockholm syndrome, had she lost her mind, or was he playing games with her?

  Gabe stood in front of Sammy’s Bar, the mid-high sun in the sky above him. He shoved through the doorway determined to find a way to push this investigation forward. Until Tower and Gasmerati were behind bars, his family was at risk.

  Hawk manned the bar, talking to a customer, his tone low. Zach and Jenna sat on two bar stools, while their son, Sam, had taken over a corner table, digging into an ice cream sundae. That wouldn’t do. Once Gabe started poking at hornets in the sheriff’s office, they could come back and sting.

  Gabe forced a cheerful expression on his face and rubbed Sam’s head. “Looks good, buddy. I may have to have one myself.”

  “It’s awesome, Uncle Gabe.” Sam gave him a trusting smile.

  The knife in Gabe’s heart twisted deeper. He had to protect them.

  He knocked fists with his brother Zach and smiled at Jenna. “You keeping this joker under your thumb and out of trouble?”

  Jenna turned on her bar stool, her pregnancy obvious, and a serene grin on her face. “Always.”

  Gabe laughed. “He’s a lucky man.”

  “Ask him about the helicopter pilot who’s got him turned inside out,” Hawk piped up.

  Jenna’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  Gabe sent Hawk a quelling look. “Yeah, but we have to take a short break for a while.”

  Zach stepped closer. “Because of a certain problem of dirty cops on the payroll? I heard you might need some backup.”

  “And exactly how would you know that?” Gabe turned on Hawk. Damn it, for a secret op, he might as well have it announced by the town crier. Everyone seemed to know anyway.

  “Don’t yell at Hawk. Luke called,” Zach said. “And before you say anything, little brother, he’s worried about you. You’ve got circles under your eyes, you’ve lost weight, and you forgot to limp when you walked in here.” Zach gave Gabe a knowing gaze. “That kind of oversight can get you killed.”

  Oh my God, he had. His leg hurt, but, against all odds, it was still improving. He needed to play the part of an injured failure in the bar. He obviously wasn’t thinking straight anymore, if he’d forgotten.

  Gabe glanced at Hawk. “Can you keep an eye on everything while I talk to my brother out back for a minute?”

  “And me?” Jenna queried. “What do I do?”

  “You get to distract Sam,” Gabe said without a regret. No way was he putting her in danger.

  Zach followed Gabe out the back. He turned to his brother. “I assume Luke told you that I’m still on the force?”

  “Oh, yeah.” Zach let out a low whistle. “Mom’s pissed, and John’s sleeping on the couch, but he should count himself lucky. She kicked Dad’s ass out.”

  “What are you talking about?” Gabe asked.

  Zach leaned against the brick wall. “That’s right. You were a baby. Maybe not even born yet, when things were at their worst. I was in the first grade, I think. Dad was drinking. Mom was weepy. They fought all the time.”

  Gabe froze. This had to have been around the time Whitney was born. Did his mother know about his father’s affair? Was that why she’d kicked him out? “How come I never heard of any of this?”

  “Because, by the time you were old enough to know what was going on, they’d patched their marriage up. Things were rough for a while, but Dad never drank again after she kicked him out. Looking back, she probably had postpartum depression. Maybe Dad couldn’t handle it.” Zach glanced at the back door. “I gotta tell you, hormones aren’t fun. Sometimes I just hold Jenna while she cries, and I take it on the chin when she gets upset, ’cause I can’t do a thing about it.”

  Gabe kneaded his temple, the headache moving from the back of his head to the front. “Look, Zach. Keep Jenna and Sam away from this place. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

  “Already ahead of you,” Zach said. “She’ll ream me for putting her under house arrest, but with her pregnancy, I won’t risk it.”

  “Who’s going to guard her?”

  “Seth. I contacted him last night. He just returned stateside. He’s flying here tomorrow.”

  “It’s a family reunion. Everyone’s here but Caleb and Nick.”

  Zach grew serious. “And we can help. Don’t be as stupid as I was and try to go it alone.”

  “Just keep your family safe,” Gabe said, opening the door and striding into the kitchen. “I’m going to end this. And if Deb Lansing comes in, keep an eye on her. She’s got it rough right now.”

  “She’s the one you meant when you said that you’d met your match?”

 
“Maybe. Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know.” Gabe’s cheeks flared with heat. “I just feel different around her. Like life isn’t as dark and ugly as I thought. Which is weird considering what’s going down.”

  They walked into the main bar.

  “Yeah, I get that,” Zach said, his warm gaze settling on his wife. “If the lady makes you feel that way, don’t let her go.”

  Gabe frowned. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Especially let her go.”

  The cab maneuvered through the snow-lined streets leading to the grocery store down from Deb’s apartment. She needed the distraction. She didn’t want to spend any more time than she had to thinking about the man she’d left standing in the street. He was the first man to comfort her since . . . she couldn’t remember when. She’d stood alone and strong for so long, she’d almost forgotten . . .

  Shoving the thoughts aside as quickly as she could, she filled a few bags and started her trek home. Her entire body was chilled, and not just from the November weather. She could be strong, she could fight, but sometimes, God, sometimes she just wanted to be loved.

  She had no choice, though. She had to move forward and find Ashley on her own. If she’d asked, Gabe would have kept trying to help her. He was that kind of man.

  Too risky, though. Distraction killed people.

  Deb would go it alone. It’s how her life had to be.

  By the time she reached the third floor, her lungs ached from the strain. She was getting soft. Too much beer and too many fantasies. Time to get herself grounded and concentrate on finding Ashley.

  She juggled the bags until she could shove her key into the lock. Before she could even turn the key, the door creaked open. What the hell?

  Had she not pulled the door tight enough when she left? It stuck a lot in the summer, when the wood swelled, but this was November. That problem was basically gone. Still, it was hot in the corridor. She didn’t want to call the police for a false alarm.