Shadows and Light: The Complete Series, page 18
Sarah was quiet for a moment before she asked, “How do you handle what he does . . . what they all do?”
“I have Aiden to hold onto. For awhile, every siren you hear, you find yourself holding your breath until you’re sure it’s not one of them. Eventually, you learn that no news really is good news. But I guess the bottom line is I trust them to come home at end of the day,” she said, glancing up at the wall. “You have to ask yourself. Can you let all this go and trust Jason to take over? It’s not up to you to find the bad guy.”
“How do I do that?”
“Like this.” Emma tugged the last sheet of paper gently out of her hand and taped Henry Norcross’s name at the top of the collage. Gathering the loose threads, she attached the whole group with tape to Henry’s sheet. Removing her iPhone off its charger on the bar, she took several photos of the walls. “I emailed the pictures to Jason and Jared. It’s in their hands now. I’m sure if they need more information, they know where to find you.”
“That’s debatable,” Jason said from the top of the stairs. He ambled to the pool table and glanced at the wall. “Did you really have to do this alone?”
“You were sleeping and I couldn’t shut it off. I’m sorry.”
Jason leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. “Don’t. I’m a big boy.” He brushed a loose hair from her eyes. “I would’ve helped you.”
“You can help me take it down. Emma took pictures of everything and sent them to your phone. I guess it’s your turn to do your magic.”
Jason glanced at the empty dish on the pool table and then glared at Emma. “Since my sweet twin just ate my cobbler, she can take it down by herself. You need your sleep,” he said, and helped Sarah off the stool.
“Hey, not fair, Sarah had some, too. If we all work at it, it won’t take long at all.”
“When you eat a man’s cobbler, there are consequences.” At the top of the stairs, he glanced back at his sister. “And don’t leave any tape on the walls or Mom will have a fit.”
“That wasn’t nice, Jason,” Sarah said as she followed Jason down the steps. “She was really nice to me.”
Jason paused on the bottom of the steps to the great room. “Of course she was nice. It’s easy to be nice to someone as sweet as you, but this is about cobbler. Emma probably set her damn alarm, and not because she wanted it, but because I called dibs on it.”
Sarah studied Jason’s face and laughed out loud. “You’re pouting. I know how to make apple cobbler if you want one that badly.”
Jason drew Sarah against him and his gaze burned into her. “That laugh is so damn hot. Cobbler is the last thing I want right now.” His mouth came down hard.
His kiss sent an electric jolt through her body, sizzling every nerve ending. Her legs melted beneath her. A moan escaped as her fingers clutched his t-shirt for balance.
He broke the kiss. “You have a beautiful laugh,” he whispered, then caressed her bottom lip between his lips. “I want to keep you happy.”
“I have a couple suggestions.” Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and met his lips with hers. “But not here. Upstairs,” she said, breathless. “There’s this great bed.” She took his hand in hers and strolled into the great room to the stairwell. As she crossed the large picture window, she froze. The shadow along the tree line moved.
“Did you see that?”
“What?”
Her heart skipped as she studied the wooded area beyond the grass on the east side of the yard. “I thought . . . a shadow darted across the east corner, but I don’t see anything now.”
Jason glared out the window. With his arm around Sarah, he said, “Could be a deer. Mac has sensors set all around the property. Anything man-size will cause his bells and whistles to go haywire.”
Sarah shook her head. “Sorry. I guess I’m a little jumpy.” She glanced up at Jason. “You know, security is what I do. Maybe I should take a look at the layout.”
Passion burned in his eyes. He cut her off with another mind-numbing kiss. “We had other plans, remember?”
Chapter Twenty
“I’m going to say this one more time. Under no circumstance is anyone to discharge their weapon inside the cabin. We’re here for the girl,” Singer said into his mic. “Restrain the McNeils if necessary, but everyone in that cabin better be breathing when I leave for the chopper. The alarm system is down for five minutes. Move on three.”
Eight soundless men snuck out of the tree line near the cabin. Standing on the first step of the porch, Singer raised his hand, then curled it into a fist, ordering everyone to stand down. He pulled a small device from his pocket, inserted it into the deadbolt, and silently unlocked the front door. Once inside, the men separated into pairs and headed into different areas of the cabin.
Singer crept up the stairs and headed toward the room at the end of the hall. As he waited for one of his men to join him, his breath hitched and his muscles bunched beneath the Kevlar vest. Blood pulsed through his veins and waves of adrenaline made him almost tremble.
He opened the door and crossed to the left side of the bed where Sarah laid with her back against Jason. The second man made his way to the other side of the bed. Once in position, he signaled Singer.
Singer cupped his hand over Sarah’s mouth while bringing the barrel of his semiautomatic pistol to her temple. Her eyes shot open and Singer reveled in the sight of instant fear. She reached out for Jason under the covers, gripping his side.
“I’m not going to hurt you, Dr. Tu. Relax,” Singer whispered, tightening the grip over her mouth.
The instant Singer spoke, Jason jolted out the bed but came to a dead stop. The man with Singer held his 9mm Ingram with silencer inches from Jason’s face. Using both hands to steady his weapon, he repositioned it at Jason’s heart.
Glancing at Jason, Singer spoke quietly. “I think the saying is ‘take a chill pill,’ Agent McNeil. I need to borrow Dr. Tu for a little while,” he said in a polished English accent. “I can assure you she’s in no danger from me.” He moved his hand off her mouth and flipped a strand of hair off her cheek, tucking it behind her ear.
Sarah shuddered.
“She has something I need. As soon as it’s delivered, you have my word as a gentleman that she’ll be released without harm.”
He brought his gaze back to Sarah. “Sorry it had to come to this, but you forced my hand hiding out here in the boondocks.” He lifted her off the bed and held onto her until she found her footing.
“Don’t touch her.” Jason’s voice was low, menacing. The barrel was pressed into his bare chest.
“Agent McNeil, please don’t threaten me,” Singer said, shaking his head. “I took great care not to kill you in Austin. I won’t bother being so careful now.” With his hand clamped on Sarah’s elbow, he tugged her to the foot of the bed. “And I didn’t come all the way out here unprepared. My men have the whole house and its occupants covered,” he said, waving his arm toward the door. He glared at Jason. “Let’s not make this any more difficult.” He then faced Sarah.
“Dr. Tu, you don’t want any harm to come to any member of the McNeil family, am I correct? There are two young boys under this roof.”
“I’ll come with you.” Her voice quivered as she shook her head. “Jason, I’ll be fine.”
“That’s very reasonable, Dr. Tu. Dress,” he ordered, handing her a jumpsuit that looked similar to a flight suit. He glanced at his watch. “You’ve got exactly twenty seconds.” To Jason, he said, “I don’t want anything to happen to your family. You have until the half hour to get them away from the cabin. I suggest as far as the road.” He then opened the door and grabbed Sarah’s arm.
Jason rushed him but wasn’t fast enough. A rifle butt struck his right temple. He collapsed onto the bed.
“No!” Sarah clawed at Singer’s arm.
Singer jerked her up against him. “He’s fine, Dr. Tu. Your man will wake up in a matter of minutes, I assure you,” he said as he dragged her though the door. When she continued to struggle, he flung her over his shoulder and raced down the hallway to the staircase. At the top of the stairs, he stopped and placed Sarah back on her feet. She tried the strike him in the face, but he caught her fist in his hand and turned her toward the stairwell leading down to the great room. The rest of the family was being detained at gunpoint by six men. Her eyes went to Ethan and David clinging to their parents.
She instantly stopped struggling. “I’ll go with you. Just don’t hurt them,” she whispered, her voice laced with panic.
“I have no intention of hurting the McNeils. I never wanted them involved in the first place,” Singer said, pulling Sarah down the stairs. All the McNeil men stared vengeance at him as he approached the bottom stair, their eyes black with hatred.
Singer turned to address Mary. “Dr. McNeil, your youngest son is fine. He may have a slight concussion, but I’m sure you can see to him.” Singer nodded up the staircase. “Go to him,” he ordered before walking into the small foyer. He reached for the doorknob. “My men have orders to hold you for five minutes to give me time to make my escape,” Singer scoffed. “Cliché, I know, but I always wanted to say that.” He laughed again. Looking directly at his hostages, he said, “If any of you attempt to fight us, my men have their orders to . . . well you know,” he said, then glanced at the two frightened boys. “I would advise no one open any exit for another five minutes. My men are very well trained. Please don’t test them.” He yanked on Sarah’s arm, pushing her in front of him.
Instinctively, Mac moved to stop him. His dad pulled him back restraining him. “He’s not kidding, son. Let him go. It’s not over,” Thomas said, quietly.
“That’s right, Mr. McNeil. You can have the next hand.” With that said, Singer quietly shut the door behind him.
• • •
Jason held his hand to his head as he and his mother entered the great room. “Where the hell is Sarah?”
When he recognized the man from the bedroom, his body stiffened, but the man shoved him to the center of the group before he could strike out. Jason stumbled, then righted himself.
“You’re a dead man.” He charged toward him, but froze when eight rifle barrels aimed at him.
“Uncle Jason. Don’t. Stop!” Both boys screeched.
“Jason,” his mother whispered close to him, her gaze on the frightened faces of her grandchildren. “They’re scared enough. Don’t add to it.”
Without lowering his gun, one of the men addressed the group. “The exits have been rigged for the next five minutes. Don’t open any of the doors or windows.” He repeated Singer’s orders while staring at Jason’s father. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Crystal.” Thomas nodded. Jason knew his father was memorizing every feature of the man’s face.
The man then turned toward the doorway. With the air of a perfect southern gentleman, he tipped his head toward Mary. “Sorry to disturb your evening. All will be fine if you follow the Colonel’s instructions. Evening.” He nodded and followed his team out the door.
The room remained silent for about two seconds before everyone began to speak at once, Ethan and David’s cries squealing above everyone. Jason darted toward the door, but Jared and Mac blocked his path. His hands clenched and the muscles in his arms knotted. He slammed down a feeling of revulsion so powerful, his body craved to lash out. Thomas put two fingers in his mouth, let out an ear-piercing whistle, and the room quieted instantly.
“Jason, I know you’re worried sick about Sarah, but you need to control your temper and tell us what that fucking bastard . . . ”
“Thomas, your language,” Mary reprimanded her husband. Thomas gave her a sheepish smile and took her hand in his.
“What did he say to you upstairs?”
Jason couldn’t catch his breath. Acid churned in the pit of his stomach while his heart pounded against his chest. Fierce hatred for the stranger who took Sarah clogged his mind. He couldn’t think or reason. He slammed his clenched fist against his thigh. Pain radiated through to the bone, icing his fury into stark, cold reality.
Grabbing a couple tissues from the box on the end table, Emma dabbed at the blood dripping down the side of his face, but Jason knocked her hand away. She took a step back, her hand frozen in mid air.
“Jason?”
Thomas moved between his daughter and Jason. “You want to go at someone, son, come at me.”
Fuck. Heat flushed to his head and his breathing came in short, shallow breaths. Pull it together, asshole. He shook his head, unable to believe he almost struck Emma. Unclenching his hands, he ran them over his face, his gaze on his father. Fear for Sarah and disgust in himself clouded the hatred pulsing through his veins.
“I’m good.”
“What happened upstairs?” Thomas repeated, his tone hard, unforgiving.
“He said he needed to borrow Sarah for something.” Jason tried to suck in air, but a lump clogged his throat. “He said he would leave her unharmed once he got it.”
This time when he took in a deep breath, it filled his airless lungs. Jared and Mac flanked Jason. Jared placed his hand around Jason’s shoulder.
“We’ll get Sarah back,” Jared said. “Hold it together. Focus. What else did he say?”
“He’s the Austin sniper, but Sarah doesn’t know him. I’ve no fucking idea who the bastard is, what he’s after, or where he’s taking her.” His eyes darted to the ship’s clock on the mantle. “He made a point to tell me I have until the half hour to make it to the road.”
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, his heart skipped and everything became clear. “Son of a bitch. The cabin. He’s going to blow it.”
The adults reacted at once. Mac raced toward the entrance.
“Mac, don’t open that door!” Thomas roared.
Mac stopped at his father’s desperate cry.
“We have two minutes left before we can open any of the doors. Mac, get our jackets. Jared, grab the blankets off the beds. We’re going out together.”
It took only a minute for everyone to gather at the front door. Jason counted the seconds in his head. One minute, two minutes. He then nodded to his father. At the end of the countdown, Thomas opened the door and everyone filed out of the cabin.
Jason held his breath and waited. He took one final glance around the room and followed his family out the front. He met up with Mac on the driveway where he found Jared and Aiden inspecting the vehicles.
“Every damn tire is sliced,” Jared snarled.
Jason glanced up toward the road. “He suggested we wait at the road,” he said, looking back at the cabin before pulling on Jared’s sleeve.
Everyone raced down the driveway. Once the family reached the road, they turned to face the cabin. Several seconds passed and nothing happened. Jason glanced down at his watch and back up at his brothers.
“The bastard’s playing with us.” He turned and moved toward the cabin.
The windows blasted inward and the whole place went up in a huge fireball. The air pressure shifted, and Jason could feel his body being sucked toward the cabin until the scorching heat from the explosion rushed back, knocking him onto the driveway. Mac lifted him and dragged him toward the road just as the three vehicles parked closest to the cabin exploded. Vehicle parts blasted into the air before falling back onto the driveway, showering the area with metal and debris.
Aiden and Emma clung to each other, wrapping the blankets over the twins. Jared held onto Jennie while Mary clung to Thomas. Shock quieted the group as their cabin burned.
Within minutes, emergency vehicles and police swarmed the property. Jason stood alone, his body rigid as he glared into the darkness. Jared, breaking away from the group, moved over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“We’ll get her back, Jason. I give you my word, we’ll get her back.”
Jason didn’t utter a sound. His mind pleaded.
Please keep her safe, Hanna.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sarah’s heartbeat hammered to the synchronized flop-flop-flop of the chopper’s engine. Her eyes scanned the sky and the landscape below looking for something familiar. Dense dark clouds blanketed the night sky. Far in the distance, the orange dome of a city glowed. Which city? She had no idea.
Her gaze settled on the man the soldiers referred to as Colonel. He flicked a dead leaf off his cargo pants and glanced at his watch. A smile formed at the corners of his mouth as he faced her. He nodded toward the window. The sky lit up and an ear-piercing blast followed seconds later. Sarah grabbed hold of the seat and searched the ground below.
“What was that?”
“I’m sure they got out. Since we’re in radio silence, it will be some time before we know anything for certain.”
“What did you do?” Sarah screamed, rage slamming into her with such force, she almost choked on it. “You blew up the cabin? How could you do such a thing? W-why?” Sarah stuttered, too shocked to form a coherent sentence.
“Calm yourself, Dr. Tu. Your new friends were looking into something they had no business concerning themselves with.” He shrugged. “Hopefully, everyone is right as rain and I only slowed them down a bit.”
They couldn’t all be gone. At that moment, she understood how someone could take another life. She wanted the man next to her to die a slow, horrible death.
“You bastard,” Sarah shouted, and her fist struck out at the side of his face.
Singer caught Sarah’s fist inches from his face and yanked both hands behind her back. He tightened his grip and forced her hands up the center of her back until she moaned in pain. He then removed a pair of handcuffs from his belt and clipped them in place. “Dr. Tu, this can be as easy or hard on you as you make it. Your choice.”
The metal cuffs dug into the tender skin around her wrist. She eased the tension in her fingers and relaxed her arm muscles, releasing the cramp at her elbow. She swallowed and asked the one question that plagued her since she awoke.
