Run, Hide - By Carol Ericson Page 0,34
One bed stood empty. The other held a sleeping form.
“It’s someone sleeping, Gavin.”
“Uh-huh. With blood.”
In the darkness, Jenna’s gaze picked out the shape of the person in the bed. One arm dangled to the floor. Could she really be injured?
With Gavin clinging to her side, Jenna shuffled toward the bed. She crouched to peer into the woman’s face.
Nausea clawed through Jenna’s gut and beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.
The woman’s mouth hung open in a silent scream, blood and foam speckling the sheets.
Jenna’s mouth yawned open to deliver her own scream, but she never got the chance. A large hand shoved the scream back down her throat.
Chapter Nine
Jenna dug her fingernails into the arm that had her in a vise from behind.
“Jenna, it’s me.” Cade’s harsh whisper weakened her knees. He slipped his hand from her mouth. “Keep quiet.”
Turning into his chest, she said, “I think she’s dead.”
“She is dead. Poisoned.”
“How do you know that?”
“The smell. I can smell it on her.”
“Why? What happened? We need to warn Jim.”
Cade gripped her shoulders, his long fingers pinching her. “We’re not going near Jim.”
She widened her eyes and pulled Gavin against her legs. “What are you saying, Cade?”
“It’s Jim. The pasta.”
Pressing her fist against her lips, she shook her head. “No, no.”
“Listen to me.” He cupped her face in his hands. “We’re getting out of here. Quietly. God knows where Miyata is.”
He hoisted Gavin into his arms and put a finger to his lips. “We’re sneaking out of here, Gavin.”
The three of them slipped out of Sonia’s room and back into their own. Amid heavy breathing, they stuffed their feet into their boots, grabbed the few bags they had and hunched into their jackets.
Cade pushed open the door and looked both ways, as his weapon dangled at his side. He motioned for Jenna to follow him.
Hugging Gavin tightly to her body, she followed Cade into the hallway. He jerked his thumb toward the back of the building, where they’d entered hours ago expecting a safe refuge.
Did that even exist?
Cade pulled Jenna next to him while looking over his shoulder. When he rounded the corner, he stopped, a curse on his lips.
Jim stood in front of the door, holding a gun at an odd angle in front of him. “I guess you forgot about the cameras all over this place. I told you I always watched the cameras.”
Cade raised his own weapon and had the satisfaction of watching Jim’s face blanch. “I didn’t forget. Just hoped you wouldn’t be keeping watch.”
“No chance of that. Your kid’s too valuable for inattention.”
Jenna hissed beside him, and Cade nudged her. “You’re working for the other side now?”
“I have no love for the other side.” Jim’s lips hardened to a straight line.
“Just a love of money?”
“It’s a matter of being appreciated. Zendaris pays well.”
Cade shifted his stance, coiling his muscles. “But there’s always a price. Do you think someone like Zendaris is going to let you live when he finds out you had my son and wife and let them slip through your fingers?”
Jim licked his lips. “Not going to happen. He’ll pay well when I deliver your son to him.”
“I told you, Jimbo, I don’t have the plans.”
Jim laughed, an odd, hiccupping sound. “I don’t believe that story. Nobody believes it.”
“You do know what those plans are for, don’t you?” Cade took another step closer while trying to block Jenna and Gavin from Jim’s line of fire.
“They’re for a weapon that will neutralize our drones. Prospero doesn’t deign to tell me anything, but Zendaris does.”
“Those drones are among our best weapons against terrorism.” Cade had to take a deep breath. He couldn’t let his rage affect his concentration. “That doesn’t bother you?”
“We’ll develop other weapons, better weapons.”
“And you’ll have your money.” Cade had already released the safety on his gun, and his finger caressed the trigger. “You killed Sonia. What did you do with Miyata?”
“He really is at the border, but he had no idea you were coming. I didn’t tell him. He was here when the message came through, but I let him go on his assignment without telling him.” Jim’s gun wavered. “Now send your kid over here and I’ll let your wife go.”
Cade laughed. “Why didn’t you try anything before now, Jimbo? You poisoned Sonia and tried to do the same with us. You figured you couldn’t take out Sonia any other way, is that it? You’re waiting for someone, aren’t you? You told them we’re here.”
Jenna sucked in a quick