“A good officer wouldn’t have left evidence behind.”
“You only knew what to look for because you know me.”
He went silent. Then cleared his throat. More silence.
She sighed. “All that aside, have you talked to the people at the FBI? Did you get the pictures? If so, then you know why I can’t just let this go.”
“Ava! Listen to me! Your ingenuity may have impressed me, your actions show you’ve got what it takes to join the organization, but right now, you don’t understand the ramifications of what you are doing.”
“Then tell me!” Her shout echoed in the hallway. She glanced up to see several people looking at her. With a silent groan, she turned her back. “Then tell me,” she said again. This time low and in control.
“Ava?” She turned. Caden stood just outside Mickey’s room, frowning. “You okay?”
She nodded and he slipped back inside, but not before shooting her another concerned glance.
“I can’t tell you, Ava, but if you don’t stop what you’re doing, you’re going to put people at risk. People you love.”
“Who? Mom? Nathan? Are they in danger?”
“I’m telling you to stop. That’s all.” He hung up.
Ava lowered the phone and drew in a deep breath. She wanted to release it in a scream. Instead, she blew out slowly. Took another breath and did it again. She dialed Sarah’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, I need a favor.”
“Sure. What’s wrong?” Sarah’s instant understanding that she was serious sent waves of gratitude through her.
“I don’t have time to go into it right now, but my mother may be in danger because of what I’m working on. Do you think Gavin could check on her and make sure she has some kind of security?”
“Oh, Ava . . .” Sarah’s compassion reached through the line. “Yes, of course. I’ll get him to do it right now.”
“I’ll explain later, okay?”
“Okay. Anything else you need?”
“Uh . . . no. Thanks.”
“You hesitated. You need the puzzle finished, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I’ll get to that soon.”
“Or I can just go do it.”
Ava groaned. “No, Sarah. I’m a target. If you go to my place, you might be a target too.”
“Look, I’m a journalist. I go into crazy situations often. I think going to your place to do a puzzle is kind of low on the danger scale. But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll get Gavin or a police buddy to go with me. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
Ava hesitated. Sarah made a good argument, but . . . she hated to let someone else do it. It was something she’d wanted to do herself, but this was too important to let sentiment get in the way. “Fine. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. I’ll let you know when it’s finished.”
“Okay. Thanks, Sarah.” She almost hung up, but hesitated. “Does Gavin know anyone in Durham?”
“I don’t know. Probably. Why? Oh. You need someone on Nathan too.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll get right on it and tell Gavin to text you when it’s all arranged.”
“Thank you.”
“Be careful, Ava.”
“Always. We’ll talk soon.”
She hung up and pressed the phone to her forehead. Her arm throbbed in time with the beat of her heart, and she realized how close she’d come to being seriously injured. Or worse. Whoever was after her wasn’t playing around.
Wait a minute . . . including betraying someone they love.
She’d said those words because she’d heard them before. Her father had said them when training her. John had said them in some fashion more than once.
Had John been the one operating the drone? Or had it been someone he’d sent to take care of her?
But why?
Because she wouldn’t stop looking for the truth?
Her jaw hardened and resolve centered itself like a ball in her stomach.
Well, whoever it was, for whatever reason, had just ensured she’d see this through to the end. Until she found the truth—or she was dead.
Nicolai stepped out of the stairwell, adjusted the ball cap, and made his way down the hall. His eyes scanned the rooms, not seeing what he was looking for, but knowing it was only a matter of time before he found it. After all, how many patients were likely to have a guard outside their door?
When this floor yielded him nothing, he took the stairs to the next. In the ER, there might be a patient from the local prison, but the officers on guard always wore the prison uniform. Nicolai wouldn’t bother to stop for those.
Most likely, the room he was searching for would be set apart. At the end of a hallway.
Two floors later, he found it.
Nicolai stepped to the side and leaned against the wall like he was simply taking a break from visiting the patient in the room just ahead of him. He pulled his phone from his pocket and lowered his head. Thus far he’d managed to avoid the cameras by taking the stairs and keeping his head down in the hallways.
Once he managed to kill Mickey Fields and the dead teen was discovered, there would be a full-on search for him on security footage, but they’d find nothing. Nothing they could work with to identify him, at least.
Now, to get in and get the job done. He stuffed his right hand into his pocket and curled his fingers around the plastic bag. For a moment, his vision dimmed and all he could see was the woman being tortured, her screams echoing in his mind even after all these years. He shuddered and focused his attention on the business of the floor. Nurses, doctors, physical therapists, visitors. It was a beehive of activity.
And was that Ava Jackson? His heart rate picked up and his breathing quickened. Yes, that was her, pacing outside the room at the corner. With her arm in a sling? Had she caught one of the bullets from the drone? He frowned. He hadn’t thought any of them had found a mark, but maybe so.
It had been a risky move to use the drone, but it was the best he’d been able to come up with at the time. His intention had been to take out the truck and the agent who seemed to have no other purpose in life except to protect Ava Jackson. Then he’d planned to chloroform Ava and take her with him. Yet, once more his plan had failed miserably.
His fingers tightened over the plastic bag in his pocket.
One man stepped out of Mickey’s room and joined Ava and the other agent. Nicolai recognized them from the Fields’s neighborhood home as leaders in the investigation. Special Agents Caden Denning and Zane Pierce. He’d wanted to know who he needed to watch out for. Some intel about the agents determined to stop him from completing his mission might come in helpful. Especially since it looked like Agent Denning had more than a professional relationship with Ava.
The three of them headed for the elevator, leaving the lone guard to settle into his chair next to the door. Nicolai had to give the officer credit. He didn’t slouch and he didn’t pull out his phone. His gaze was alert and intent.
A worthy adversary.
But Nicolai was smart—and more determined than ever to make sure the teen died. He had a list of people to kill and this loose end was delaying his timeline.
But he’d be patient. Watchful. And it wouldn’t take him long to figure out how to make the busy floor work in his favor.