“Lulu, look out!”
Her name blared over the speaker system and the voice sounded like…Roxi?
As she turned to look, she saw Jeff closing in on her and then the lighting system went wild, every strobe, disco and laser pattern turned on all at once. She gave a start, lost her footing and began sliding down the oiled surface of the lane like some bizarre bowling ball, finally coming to a halt inches from the pins.
Scrambling to her feet, she caught a glimpse of Armand in a face-off with Kathy two lanes over, though with chaos reigning throughout the building it was hard to be sure of anything. People were shouting, the music blared and lights flickered madly. Over it all she saw an incongruous flash of light, followed by a roar of pain and Armand stumbled backwards.
Her heart stopped, sure he’d been shot but even as the thought formed, a scream rose about the general noise and a large bulky shape appeared looking almost like a…a bear?
Sure it was some strange effect of the lights, she blinked to clear her vision only to find her view was blocked by Jeff standing mere feet away!
Fear, confusion, perhaps exasperation, she wasn’t sure what it was but suddenly she felt like her old self facing a brawl at the bar. There was no serving platter nearby, so she grabbed the next best thing, a bowling pin and swung it at Jeff with all her might. The force of the blow reverberated up her arm even as he crumpled to the ground.
Stunned, she stared at him, vaguely aware of Roxi cheering her on over the sound system.
“Way to go, Lulu!” Roxi’s excited voice blared over the music only to be followed by a more indistinct conversation… “What do you mean, what do I think I’m doing? I’m—” … “Hey! Lighten up! I was just adding to the ambiance of the event, making things interesting.” … “Wait! Give me back that microphone, I wasn’t finished!” …. “Armand, get your bearish butt outa there! The manager is a party pooper!”
And then Armand was at her side, Kathy slung over his shoulder. “Hurry. We need to get out of here.” He pulled her to her feet, then grabbed Jeff by the arm and, dragging the man behind him, they all disappeared into the service area just as the lights came on.
As the door swung shut behind them, Armand looked around the small service hallway, an area few bowlers ever saw. Pin setting machines lined one side while the other had shelves full of tools and spare parts, a work bench and, thankfully, no pinsetter mechanic. Perhaps the man was on a break or he’d gone up front to see what the commotion was about. Whatever the case, they likely didn’t have long before someone appeared.
He dumped the dazed Kathy and unconscious Jeff on the ground. He couldn’t believe he’d lost control and shifted yet again; such carelessness was uncharacteristic. Ryne would have a field day when he learned a DC might be required. At least Roxi had provided some cover by playing with the lights but it was imperative they get away before anyone started to ask questions.
Kathy stirred at his feet, her lashes fluttering, so he ripped a cord from one of the machines and used it to tie her arms behind her back, while taking assessing looks at Lucy over his shoulder. She was leaning against the wall beside him, her face pale.
“Are you injured?”
She raised a shaking hand and pushed what remained of her glasses up on her nose. “No. I’m just peachy keen. I get kidnapped and chased like this every day.” The words were followed by a shaky laugh that verged on tears. “What about you? You were shot.”
“A scratch.”
Her gaze drifted to his blood-stained sleeve. “It looks like more than a scratch to me.” She reached out to investigate but he pulled back.
“It’s fine. I bleed easily.”
“Since when? I don’t recall—”
“Leave it be!”
Her hand jerked back.
“Desolé.” His tone had been sharper than intended, however there was no time for explanations. “We need to get out of here. Do you think you can drag Jeff, while I handle this one?”
“I’m a waitress not some wilting flower.” She flexed her arm. “I’ll pretend he’s one of those heavy trays of beer I used to carry at the bar.” There was a weariness to her voice, but her spirit was strong.
She will be a mate to be proud of, his bear declared.
He nodded in agreement then jerked his head toward the exit. “Follow me. I have someone nearby who’ll pick us up.”
The alley was in darkness except for the pools of brightness created by lights over each of the back entrances. He chose a spot in the shadows on the far side of the dumpsters just to be sure they were out of sight of prying eyes, secured Kathy to a gas meter and pulled out his phone.
“Rudi, do you see us?”
“Yep, I have you in my sights.”
“Good. We’re ready for pick-up.”
“I’ll be there in a few.”
He tucked his phone away only to jump at the sound of the metal exit door slamming. His hand was already reaching for his knife when Roxi appeared.
“Damn that was fun! Did you like my distraction?” Her eyes sparkled and she had her thumbs hooked in her belt loops. “They’re still running around in there like a bunch of brainless zombies.” She laughed at her own joke then looked around and waved her hand in front of her nose. “Couldn’t you have picked a place that smelled a bit better?”
“Don’t worry, our ride will be here in a minute.” Armand checked on Kathy. She was fully conscious now and struggling to free herself while shooting deadly glares his way.
Nearby, Jeff groaned.
“Want me to hit him with something?” Roxi looked around for a weapon, a gleam in her eye.
“Maybe we should just call the police?” Lucy reached out and put a restraining hand on Roxi’s arm. “I know I wanted to avoid attention, but I don’t think going around knocking people out is a good idea. We can explain what happened and—”
“No! We can’t do that,” Roxi snapped. “I mean…”
Armand’s phone rang, interrupting the conversation. It was Rudi.
“Incoming to the north. One male, alone, on foot. Could be nothing. I’m maintaining my post to provide you with cover just in case.”
“Understood.” He relayed the information to Lucy and Roxi as he pocketed the phone.
Lucy tensed. “Kathy mentioned something about others being involved in their scheme.”
“It could be someone down on their luck searching the garbage.” Roxi shuffled nervously, her bravado of moments ago visibly fading.
Armand said nothing, instead positioning himself so the women were behind him.
“I see you have everything wrapped up. Excellent.” The silhouette of a man appeared, slowly walking down the alley, one hand casually tucked in his pocket.
Armand noted the man’s scent. A shifter but on whose side? He pulled out his knife, the blade hissing softly as it left its sheath.
Tall, well-built, the man stopped some distance away. “There’s no need for weapons.”
“Who are you?” Armand scowled, something about the man made him uneasy.
“Detective Soldoti.” He began to withdraw his hand from his pocket.
Roxi made a strangled sound in her throat then clamped her lips tightly shut.
Armand gave a low warning growl and gestured with his knife. “I advise you to move slowly. If I throw this, it will be in your heart before you can even blink.”
“Of course.” The man withdrew a leather wallet from his pocket in carefully measured moves. Holding it out, he stepped closer. “I’m on special assignment dealing with data retrieval.” He flashed his badge before putting it away again.
Armand replied cautiously. “Data retrieval? I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
“I’m fully aware of what’s going on here. The subversive…er….” He paused and glanced at Lucy then continued, “I mean, criminal group. The stolen information on the memory stick. My job is to retrieve it and make sure it’s handed over to the proper authorities.”
“Oh, thank heavens!” Lucy stepped forward, placing a hand on Armand’s arm. “This is too big for us to handle alone. We really need the help of the police.”
“Indeed.” Soldoti gave her a sympathetic look. “We appreciate the assistance of well-meaning civilians such as yourself, but we can take it from here.”
Armand still hesitated, wishing Lucy wasn’t holding his arm, that she was still safely behind him. His bear was telling him there was something off about the man. Soldoti seemed too smooth, too slick. “Might I ask how you learned of this…case?”
“Reno Smith gave me the lead, naturally.” The words rolled from the man’s mouth without even a blink of the eye.
Reno Smith. That was a name Ryne had mentioned. After a moment, he tucked his knife in his belt, out of the way yet still within easy reach.
Soldoti held out his hand. “Mr. St. John, if I may have the memory stick? Before it falls into the wrong hands again?”
Armand pulled it from his pocket and passed it to him.
“And the back-up copy?” Soldoti held out his hand again.
He raised a brow. “Back-up copy?”
Soldoti smiled. “I’m sure you weren’t going to be so foolish as to put your faith in a group of criminals and hand over the only real bargaining chip you had.”
The man was good. Or maybe Daniel had relayed his plan to Ryne who had then passed it on to Lycan Link.
“Sir?” Soldoti prompted. “I’d hate to have to charge you for withholding evidence or being in possession of stolen goods.”
He waited a beat, then removed the other USB from the hidden slit in his belt and gave it to the man.
“Thank you.” Soldoti pocketed both items and then glanced at Kathy who was still muttering and struggling to free herself. Jeff was now sitting up, rubbing his head. Soldoti sighed. “Jeffrey, get up. You look ridiculous. It appears your first undercover assignment got the better of you.”
Undercover assignment? Everyone turned to stare at the man who was now scrambling to his feet.
“Er…sorry…er…sir?” Jeff looked confused. “I knew there was another undercover operative in the area, but I thought it was someone else.”
“If you could easily ID someone as being undercover, they wouldn’t be doing their job very well, would they?” Soldoti looked at him blandly.
“I suppose not.” Jeff brushed at his pants and then rolled his shoulders trying to get the kinks out.
“You’ll learn. Next time you won’t make the same mistake. Good thing I was here to help you. Now grab this one,” Soldoti jerked his chin towards Kathy, “and we’ll be on our way. My car is parked at the end of the alley.”
“Right.” Jeff walked over to Kathy.
“You’re a traitor. A traitor to our cause!” Kathy seemed to come to life, snarling and kicking, as Jeffrey untied her from the meter.
Armand puzzled over the unfolding scene. His bear was cocking its head, too, testing the air, trying to catch any scent of deception from Soldoti. Either the man was telling the truth, or he was exceptionally skilled at deception.
“I’m sorry you were caught up in this, Lou.” Jeff gave her an apologetic smile as he dragged Kathy past her. “I did try to make it easy for you to escape though.”
“Um…thanks?” Lucy looked between him and Kathy. “Why did you hide that memory stick in my box of tampons, anyway?”
“I didn’t,” Kathy snapped the words. “I had it in my hand when your purse caught on mine. The drive fell out of my hand and I saw it land in the open box of tampons.”
Lucy shook her head. “I barely even remember that happening.”
“Enough talking.” Soldoti glanced at his watch. “We need to get moving.”
“Don’t you have to take our statements or something?” Lucy frowned.
“You’ve been through enough, already.” Soldoti smiled at her. “I’m sure Jeffrey has all the information we need. If we require your input, we’ll be in touch. Jeffrey, you have her contact information, correct?”
Jeff turned to answer and Kathy lurched to the side, grabbed a broken drinking glass from a garbage bin and suddenly had Jeff in a strangle hold, the makeshift weapon pressed to the base of his throat.
“Stay back! Everyone stay back!” She inched away, Jeff now her hostage.
Holding back a growl, Armand slowly began to move his hand.
“Detective?” Jeff appealed in a high-pitched voice.
Kathy swung her gaze to Soldoti. “Try anything and this goes straight into his jugular.” She grazed his skin with the glass and a thin trickle of blood began to creep down his neck.
Roxi gasped and Lucy clasped her hands tightly. Armand’s fingertips touched the handle of his knife.
Soldoti shook his head. “Is this melodrama really necessary?”
“Melodrama? You call what Lycan Link is doing melodrama?” Kathy’s face flushed and, she shifted her grip on Jeff.
It was just enough. Armand threw his knife and it struck the woman’s hand. She jerked back with a cry and Jeff spun around grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her.
“Nice trick.” Soldoti gave a nod of approval before addressing Jeff. “Please don’t let her best you again, Jeffrey. We’re behind schedule as it is.”
“I’ve got her this time, sir.” Jeff tightened his grip, his usually friendly face hardened.
“This isn’t the end! The fight isn’t over. It will never be over, not until we’re heard and treated with respect!” Kathy’s eyes had a wild look, her face contorted as she screamed her vitriol. “You can suppress and ignore, interrogate and torture all you want, but we’ll never give up. Never!”
“The poor woman has obviously lost her mind.” Soldoti shook his head as Jeff frogmarched Kathy away.
“Yes,” Armand nodded. It was troubling to see someone snap like that. What demons must live in her mind? Lucy inched closer and he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Thank you again for your assistance. You made my job much easier.” Soldoti inclined his head and then strolled after the others seemingly unperturbed by the noise Kathy was still making.
“Well,” Roxi rubbed her hands together. “I’m glad that’s taken care of. Real handy that Soldoti guy appeared when he did, isn’t it? Now we can all go home and relax.”
Armand eyed her wondering why she’d been so quiet when Soldoti was around. Roxi usually had more than enough to say for ten people. However, the sound of approaching sirens let him know they’d been there too long and someone in the bowling alley had probably called the police. It was time to retreat.
Chapter 20
Lou leaned against the car window, half listening to Armand and his cousin talk. For some reason the cousin kept calling Armand ‘Reggie’ which seemed an odd sort of nickname. Maybe it was his middle name?
It struck her that, despite knowing Armand for so many years, she still knew little about his background. What had he done before coming to Stump River? He’d managed to avoid revealing much last time she’d asked. The way he’d coolly handled the situation tonight made her think there was more to him than met the eye, just like Ryne. And, just like Ryne, he wasn’t one for sharing personal information.
“Are you falling asleep?” Roxi gave her a nudge and she sat up straighter.
“If I was, getting jabbed by your elbow put an end to it.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. What did you want?”
“I want to apologize. I shouldn’t have given you so much wine. If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have gone to the bathroom and been kidnapped.”
“True. But I should have made you come with me as a bathroom buddy.”
“A bathroom buddy?”
“Yep. My mother always said wear clean underwear and take along a girlfriend as a bathroom buddy.”
“Did she really say that?” Roxi gave her a doubtful look.
She widened her eyes and tried to appear as innocent as possible.
Roxi gave her a gentle smac
k. “Hey, wipe that innocent look off your face. That’s my routine!”
They both laughed then Roxi spoke again.
“It’s still hard to believe everything that happened was because you and Kathy got your purses tangled up.”
“I know. Fate can be a funny thing.” She fell silent, contemplating how one event had led to others. It had been a scary few days and yet it had brought Armand back into her life, so it hadn’t been all bad.
He was a good man; kind and patient, willing to help his friends. Yes, he could be annoyingly stubborn—just look how long it had taken him to finally respond to her—but he was an amazing lover. Remembering their nights together had her shifting in her seat; the feel of his hands stroking her, the rasp of his beard, his weight pressing down…
“Lucy?”
She looked around and realized they were at her apartment building. Armand was holding the car door open, his hand extended to help her out.
“Sorry.” She exited the vehicle and gave a little wave to Rudi as he drove off. The man hadn’t said much to her, mostly speaking in hushed tones to Armand, but he seemed a nice enough sort.
Roxi was already heading inside and they followed suit, Armand putting his arm around her waist holding her close to his side.
“How’s your arm?” She peered across his chest at the stained sleeve.
“Fine. Just a scratch, remember?”
“I still want to examine it.”
He chuckled. “And I definitely want to examine you.” His hand slid lower and cupped her rear, giving it a light squeeze before speaking in a more serious tone. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.”
He gave her a doubtful look.
“Okay, I have a few aches and pains and looking through only one lens in my glasses is giving me a headache.”
“I’m sorry they broke.”
“You didn’t like them anyway.”
“True. Tomorrow I’ll take you shopping and help you pick out a pair that suits you. No more hiding behind large glasses or too much makeup.”
Hiding? Was that what she’d been doing? She hadn’t seen it that way but maybe there was some truth to his words. It was something she’d have to think about…when she wasn’t exhausted from being kidnapped. “Thanks. But don’t go getting too bossy. I get the final say about what I buy.”
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