Torn - Cynthia Eden Page 0,43
Still playing some game.
No, you can’t trust me.
“Because if you betray me, the world will know what you did . . . that friend of yours . . . your LOST agent . . . he’ll know, too.”
What was going on? How had the guy learned so much about her? About Wade? Because he had to be talking about Wade.
“But then . . .” His sigh carried over the line. “You’ve always been the monster, hiding in the room.”
He knows. He knows. Her gaze flew away from Wade’s. She couldn’t stare into his eyes right then. She was too afraid of what she might see. “Tell me where to go,” she ordered, voice breaking a bit. “Tell me where to come for the trade.”
“Jekyll Island.” His voice was even lower now. “Always a good place for a hunt . . .”
He hung up. For an instant Victoria just stared down at her phone. No, no, that wasn’t right. He needed to tell her more. He had to tell her where on that island to trade for Melissa. When to meet. She spun around and nearly ran right into Dace.
“Got the location,” he said, voice excited. “Fucker actually used Melissa’s phone—arrogant SOB. But we have an address on the bastard—let’s go get him, now.”
She took a step back. It all seemed so easy. The killer had just called them and basically handed over his location. Too easy. Nothing had ever been that easy before, and the situation made her nervous. But Dace and his captain were whirling and rushing into the hallway, already in hot pursuit.
What about the trade? Jekyll Island? The name was vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place it, not fully, and there was no time to stop and question anyone right then. Wade had her arm and he was hauling her with him down the hallway. Up ahead, Captain Vann was barking orders and uniformed cops were surging forward.
Just as they reached the glass doors that would take them outside, Victoria staggered to a stop. Her hand turned and she was the one grabbing Wade. “It doesn’t work this way.” He knew that. She knew that. It was never this easy.
“It can work this way if the perp is too damn cocky. Too sure of himself and he screws up with a small mistake.”
Like a phone call that could be tracked. Maybe the guy hadn’t realized how quickly they’d be able to lock on to his location. Maybe.
“Come on, Viki, we’re following those cops.”
And then they did. She and Wade jumped into their SUV and gave a fast and frantic chase behind the cop cars. Only those cars weren’t rushing in with sirens blazing to the scene.
The cops went in with a silent attack. Because they didn’t want the perp to know they’d found him? She figured they were trying to keep the element of surprise on their side. And a perp who wasn’t alarmed . . . she knew that would be a perp who was more likely not to hurt his hostage in a moment of panic.
They stopped a block from their target. The cops quickly set up a perimeter at the scene, and then the captain marched toward her and Wade. “Appreciate all the help,” he said with a curt nod. “But I’m sure you understand . . . my team has this now. You’re civilians, so you have to stay back.” He motioned to a spot behind the patrol cars.
Victoria had been wondering when that order would come in.
Wade’s face tightened with anger but he didn’t argue.
They stood behind the line of police cars as Dace led a team toward the house.
“They didn’t get a warrant that fast,” she murmured.
“Probable cause,” Wade said, not looking at her because his gaze was focused on the scene unraveling before them. “They think Melissa is in that house, so they are sure as hell running in with guns blazing.”
And, sure enough, the cops barely paused at the front door. She heard Dace give a loud shout and then he kicked in the door. The cops swarmed then, going in the front of the house. The back of the house.
She heard a woman scream.
Victoria tensed.
After that scream, the moments seemed to tick past in painful silence. Victoria realized she was actually holding her breath, and she forced herself to exhale and then suck in a deep gulp of oxygen.
Then she saw—
Dace, coming out, leading a man in front of him. A tall man with dark hair and wide