RJ (HC Heroes Series Book 7)

by Donna Michaels

  Adrenaline coursed through Lori’s body and brought a smile to her face. She realized it’d been a while since she’d felt that rush…and missed it.

  The doors opened and two groups of people with disappointment creasing their faces walked out of the rooms, grumbling on their way back toward the lobby.

  “All right, ladies, you’re first,” Kelsey said, hand on the doorknob. “Ready, set…go!”

  Lori funneled into the room with her team and their cameramen, her gaze immediately taking stock of a desk, two armchairs, a fireplace, bookcase, and a wall of shelves when she heard the door shut.

  She glanced at the large digital display begin counting down from sixty minutes.

  “Okay, let’s spread out and look for anything that seems like a clue,” Mel said, rushing toward the desk.

  “Just remember that there are also clues in here that are planted as red herrings.” Loni pointed out, while Lori headed straight to the other door in the room to see what kind of “key” they needed in order to unlock the door.

  “We’re looking for an actual key,” she said, eyeing the skeleton key-shaped hole. “A skeleton key,” she clarified.

  For the next forty-two minutes, they found and deciphered six clues that led to other clues, but none led to a key, let alone a skeleton key.

  Mel shoved a hand through her hair and blew out a breath as her gaze panned around the room. “I can’t believe we haven’t found it yet.”

  “What about this?” Abby asked, motioning them over to the fireplace. “There’s a poem in this frame. Maybe it’s a clue. I mean, it’s Edger Allen Poe. He’s kind of macabre and so are skeletons, right?”

  “Yeah. Good going, Abby.” Mel rushed over to lift the framed poem off the mantle, read it out loud, then frowned. “I don’t hear any rapping or see anyone or anything napping, do you?”

  Loni sighed. “No.”

  Rylee shook her head, glancing at the desk with Stef

  Lori stared at the books on the shelf. She’d hoped maybe one actually had Raven in the title, or some other “Poeism,” but found none. She did, however, find that most of the books were situated on the shelves by color, except for a black one that was shoved between two red books.

  The symmetry of colors was thrown off.

  She tried to ignore it but couldn’t. Colors were her life. Hues were her joy. The black book among red was too jarring. Her eye started to twitch. Dammit.

  Sighing, Lori grabbed the book, intending to slip it next to the other black ones when the whole bookcase, along with the floor in front of it where she stood, shifted, revealing a secret room…and a man with a gun.

  Before she could blink—or scream—he grabbed her arm and yanked her further into the room. Her mind registered Abby’s gasp, her sister crying out her name, the cameraman’s shocked expression, and Rylee lunging in their direction, but the wall snapped back in place, shutting her inside the secret room with her crazed fan.

  He had to be, since she’d autographed his tablet at Tex Pub the night of the fire. And talked to him a few times while he stood in her shop.

  She tried to recall his name and anything that would make him seem more human instead of the looming monster with a gun her psyche saw standing before her.

  “I-I don’t understand,” she stammered, trying hard to keep calm while her heartbeat raced out of control. “What’s going on? It’s George…right?”

  He stared at her, silently, gaze dark and full of hate. His mouth a thin line. “George was my son. He’s dead because of you.”

  Lori reeled back. “I’ve never killed anyone. You must have me mistake—”

  Pain, swift and sharp, cut through her jaw, vibrating straight into her skull as the butt of his revolver smashed into her face, sending her down to the floor.

  “Bullshit!” he snarled, pointing the barrel of the gun at her again. “You sent my son to prison and he died there, therefore…you killed him.”

  This was because of her jury duty?

  That drunk driving case all those years ago?

  “I don’t know who the other jurors were. But I remember you. I remember your name. How could I not? You were the one who read the verdict. And you are the one plastered on the television decorating stupid cakes. But that’s about to change. Pretty soon, you’ll be joining the judge, and that damn prosecutor too, whenever they take him off life support.” His lip curled as he grinned. “Bastard moved last minute, or my bullet would’ve done him in.”

  Lori thought about getting up but was afraid any sudden movement might provoke him into action, and she wasn’t thrilled with his actions so far. Besides, her head was pounding so hard it felt like it might fall off.

  And if she moved ever so slowly, soon her foot would be close to his and she might be able to kick his legs out from under him. She needed to be able to do something because she knew it wasn’t going to take Rylee long to figure out how to get the wall to move. And Lori couldn’t let this man shoot into the next room. Not with Loni in there or Abby and her baby. Or Mel and Stef.

  No, she needed to do something, and fast.

  “But I know they were just doing their job.” He lifted a shoulder. “Still, they had to die. They aided in George’s death. But you? You are the worst of all. You were the one who passed judgment, then traveled the world, living it up while my son rotted in a cell.”

  Her heart dropped into her stomach. Any thought she had of rationalizing with this guy just died along with her chances of surviving.

  “You set my cottage on fire…”

  That evil grin returned. “Yeah. I knew you weren’t home, though. I wanted to scare you. Warn you that your time was coming. And it is. I have to make it right. Killing you will bring the most justice for my boy.”

  He lowered the weapon, shoving it between his belly and the waste of his jeans, and her heart rate followed suit…until he pulled another gun from behind his back.

  Her mind registered she was about to die. And it was true. Her whole life flashed, along with her regrets.

  She only had one.

  RJ

  She never should’ve pushed him away. Never should’ve kept him at bay. Almost two weeks… She’d gypped herself out of almost two more weeks with the amazing man.

  “Yeah, that’s right…you’re going to die.” His gaze was as cold as his grin. “But first, you suffer.”

  As he aimed the gun at her, she moved, swinging her leg, her foot making contact with the back of his knee. He howled, but dammit, he didn’t go down all the way.

  Lori rolled to the side, looking desperately for somewhere to take cover, but unlike the other room, this one only had a table and two chairs in the far corner beneath a fake window.

  “Fucking bitch.” He pointed the barrel of the gun at her and pulling the trigger.

  Pain shot through her shoulder and a second later darkness—as black as that damn book—claimed her.

  Chapter Thirteen

  RJ strolled out of the escape room with his buddies…through the door they’d unlocked.

  Their cameramen surrounding them while they celebrated.

  “Yes!” Carter fist pumped the air when they found the corridor empty and the girls’ escape room door still shut. “I win!” Another fist pump and big-ass grin. “Thanks, guys!”

  Smirking, Mac leaned against the wall across from the study’s closed exit door. “Of course, we did.”

  Dex joined their boss and nodded. “Almost seemed a little unfair.”

  “Yeah.” Dean leaned next to Dex. “That rescue in Bombay had a similar room of antiquities.”

  A smile tugged at Gabe’s lips as he faced them. “And who would’ve guessed they’d use the same word, cypher?”

  Cooper snorted. “You’re right. It does seem unfair.”

  Carter strode closer, shaking his head. “Oh, no. Don’t go getting a conscience. At least wait until after my tattoo.”

  RJ flicked his gaze to the cameramen that had followed them into the hall. Thank
s to them, Mel was definitely going to find out.

  His lips twitched, but a smile didn’t form. Yeah, he was happy they’d solved their puzzle and it brought his military brother a win. But unease had crept up RJ’s spine tonight, ever since he’d stepped foot inside the building. No, he wouldn’t smile until that damn door opened and Lori walked out.

  He needed to see her, needed to reassure himself she was okay, and take her back to her apartment. But this time, he wouldn’t be sleeping in the hall outside her door and scurrying downstairs before she emerged.

  Hell, no. He was done with that shit.

  Tonight, he was putting an end to this damn distance thing.

  Pleased to have made a decision and pleased with that decision, RJ straightened his shoulders then stiffened as the sound of an alarm ringing, muffled behind a wall, stopped his heart.

  The study escape room wall.

  The room Lori was in.

  Shit.

  That knot lying dormant in RJ’s gut twisted tight. No way would those women hit the panic button and lose the bet if it wasn’t an emergency.

  He rushed forward as the study exit door opened and Abby, Mel, and Stef ran out, eyes wide, faces white as a ghost. Hell, even their cameramen where pale.

  The women all spoke at once, talking a mile a minute about trick doors and secret rooms and…fuck…a guy with a gun?

  “Hang on, calm down,” Mac said, grabbing his wife by the shoulders. “What’s going on?”

  RJ frowned, his heart pounding harder and harder as Loni rushed to Dean but there was still no sign of her sister.

  “Where the hell is Lori?” he asked, pushing his way into the room where he found Rylee frantically tugging books from a shelf.

  “She’s behind this wall,” Rylee muttered. “He took her. Come on. We have to get it open. The last I saw her, she was standing in front of this bookcase. She must’ve triggered the entrance.”

  “How long ago?” Gabe asked.

  “About two minutes,” Rylee replied, still tugging books.

  Christ, there had to be over two hundred, although half were now on the floor.

  “Dean, you and Coop get the other girls to safety, and get these cameramen out of here,” Mac said. “Carter, find the security room and get us some feed into that damn room. And look for the override to get us in there.”

  Gabe followed Carter to the door, ushering the still hoovering cameramen into the hall. “I’ll go with you. They’ll open for a badge. And I need to inform management and get my deputies here. We need to lock down this complex.”

  Adrenaline and fear mixed to dry RJ’s damn throat while his heart did its best to pound from his chest.

  What they needed was to get to Lori before it was too late.

  “Describe exactly what you saw, Rylee,” Mac said, his voice calm, his words precise.

  “I heard a clicking, like a lever had activated, and when I glanced in that direction I saw Lori standing in front of this case that had swiveled halfway, like a trick wall, which is what I must’ve heard. Anyway. I saw a man step out of the shadows pointing a gun at Lori while he grabbed her arm with his free hand and yanked her into the room with him. Then the wall swung back into place.” She blew out a breath and turned to him. “I’m sorry, RJ. I rushed forward. I tried to get to her, but the wall mechanism closed too damn fast.”

  “It’s all right,” he told her, his mouth on automatic while his insides screamed it wasn’t all right.

  It would never be all right until he got Lori back.

  What the hell was taking Carter so long?

  Why wasn’t Gabe back with the person in charge, wielding fucking keys?

  “Describe the gun,” Mac said.

  “Looked like a Glock Gen 4,” Rylee replied.

  RJ’s heart ricochet off his ribs.

  “And she was standing where?” Mac continued to prod Rylee.

  His boss’s cool demeanor helped calm some of the chaos raging inside RJ. Lori was behind that wall. She needed his help…needed him to get to her…if it wasn’t already too late.

  Shit.

  Sucking in a breath, RJ closed his eyes and pushed that thought right the hell out of his head. He’d never be able to function with that crap rattling around in his brain.

  Think like Lori.

  He opened his eyes and focused on the bookcase.

  What one did you touch. sweetheart?

  Half the shelves were empty, with books tossed on the floor. Obviously, it hadn’t been one of those or the damn door would’ve opened. RJ looked closer. He needed to think like an escape room participant. Look for a clue. Think like Lori.

  A smart, vibrant, creative, beautiful woman. Beautiful artist.

  Look for a clue.

  Think like an artist…look for a clue.

  The books were all different shapes. Different sizes. Different colors.

  They were grouped by color. Except for one.

  “That’s it.” He rushed forward and pulled on the black book sitting inconsistently between red books, and he heard a clicking sound a second before the ground began to move.

  “Rylee, stay here so you can show the others how to get in,” Mac said, moving next to RJ, who had already adopted an attack stance, waiting at the ready for the opening to become wide enough for them to rush inside.

  But when the wall finished swinging open, the only thing they found was an empty room. No sign of Lori or the armed man.

  But there was blood on the floor.

  Shit.

  RJ’s chest squeezed so tightly he found it hard to breathe.

  “She’s going to be okay,” Mac said, his tone as reassuring as the hand he used to cup RJ’s shoulder. “We’ll find her.”

  He nodded. Damn right they were going to find her. He wouldn’t settle for anything less.

  They moved further into the room and the wall slid back into place with a thud.

  “The blood drops are small, and inconsistent with gunshot wound. Could be from that glass,” Mac said, pointing to a window painted with an outdoor scene that appeared to have been busted outward.

  RJ walked over to peer over the debris and found the hole led to one of the corridors. No doubt the damn escape route the perp had used with Lori.

  Christ…how long ago?

  He was about to climb through the window into the corridor to follow the perps trail when the revolving door slid open and Carter stood in the doorway.

  “You two need to come with me. I found them. They’re still in the building, because Gabe got it locked down in time.”

  “Is Lori okay?” RJ asked, rushing forward, and when he and Mac re-entered the study, the trick wall slid back into place.

  “Yeah. Just come with me and you’ll see,” Carter replied, hurrying into the hall as he spoke.

  RJ followed on his heels, trying not to think…just act. They raced to the end of the hall then down another, where they entered a room with “Security” on the door, and a monitor displaying video for each of the eight escape rooms, lobby, parking lot, and outdoor exits.

  “There.” Carter pointed to the feed of an escape room decorated like a prison cell.

  Lori was sprawled on a cot, eyes closed, chest rising rhythmically, while an armed man paced the room. A familiar man.

  He stiffened. “I’ve seen him before. He was one of the fans at Tex Pub the night of the fire.”

  Son-of-a-bitch.

  He leaned closer, noting blood on her face and her shirt. RJ clenched his teeth. “What the hell did he do to Lori?” His voice sounded as hollow as his aching heart.

  Carter blew out a breath and pointed to another monitor. It was dark, but after the guy flipped a switch, it came to life and RJ immediately recognized the secret room they’d just left.

  For the next two minutes, he stood with Mac, Carter, Rylee, and Dex, watching the footage of Lori being attacked by a lunatic because she’d served as head juror years ago. Watching the bastard hit her with the gun and split her face open
set his blood boiling, but when the guy pulled out another gun and shot her, RJ’s blood froze in his veins. If it wasn’t for the fact he’d recognized the weapon as a tranquilizer gun, he would’ve lost his mind.

  Not that he was doing all that great at keeping it together, anyway.

  “When Gabe watched this he said he’s pretty certain that tranq gun was recently stolen from Kade’s shelter.”

  RJ grit his teeth. Damn. This madman definitely premeditated this. No doubt he heard about their outing tonight while at the bakery. RJ remembered the guy at the counter when Mel had been at the bakery talking about it.

  He’d probably cased this place out too.

  “Son-of-a-bitch!” He slammed his fist down onto the console. “How the hell do I get to that room?” he asked, ready to charge inside and take the bastard out.

  “Hang on.” Mac set a restraining hand on RJ’s shoulder. “You can see Lori is okay. You know as well as I do that we need a plan.”

  He twisted to face Mac. “He hit her. Made her bleed. Shot her. I have a plan. Take him out.”

  “Doesn’t quite work that way around here,” Gabe said stepping into the room. “We have the building cleared and exits covered. We’ll take it from here.”

  RJ shot over to his former commander and got right in his face. “Like hell, Chief. No way I’m leaving without Lori.”

  “Me either.” Mac moved to stand beside him on the right.

  “Or me,” Dex said from behind.

  “Me, too.” Carter covered his left.

  “We’re not leaving, Bro, so you might as well work with us,” Rylee said.

  RJ was grateful as hell that they had his six, but truthfully, he would’ve faced the sheriff without them. He meant what he’d said. No way he was leaving without Lori.

  Gabe’s jaw worked back and forth. “I see you’re still a damn rock wall, Rockford.”

  He knew when to hold his tongue…and his ground. RJ tipped his chin and didn’t blink.

  “Kind of thought you were going to give me trouble,” Gabe muttered, pulling something from his pocket. “Here. Raise your right hand.” The sheriff quickly deputized him. “Now come with me, the rest of you can either stay here, or I can have my deputies escort you from the building.”