The dad-to-be growls. “Enough. We can play the blame game later. What’s the fastest way to extract them?”
I’m a Fed. Why complicate things? “How about I flash my FBI badge, and we walk them out?”
The Aussie bodyguard disagrees with a shake of his head. “They might hold our women as hostages, or worse, this could escalate into another Waco.”
A siege and standoff? I suppose it’s possible. While I stare at the monitor, the meeting ends. Soon after, our ladies’ heat signatures make their way up to their residence.
I count ten orange blotches in the first group, while ours has seven. By the time our spouses enter their weekend home, we all let out our collective breaths.
Wheels rubs his leg, then stands. “Fuck this. I want my wife out of there.”
Sud scratches the stubble on his chin and nods in agreement. “Y’all ready to go?”
Sensing the tension, Bear turns his head to me. The only one with a badge, the ultimate decision is mine. As I’m about to suggest we go bang on the front gate, our blobs leave the relative safety of their building. All the men groan as they bounce back down the hill toward the armed guards.
God help me. What are they up to now?
Chapter 9
“You know, I’m cursed with morals. I was raised a certain way. I wish I wasn’t. I wish I was raised by wolves.” — Carson Daly
Gwen
Holy crap. The note said “eyes and ears” everywhere. Quelling the impulse to search for hidden security devices, I stuff the note in my pocket next to my prototype weapon.
“I lost them.” Sam enters the cabin, then eyes us all. “What now?”
“Anyone else hungry?” After two deep breaths, I calm my racing heart, then snatch my sweatshirt off the door hanger. Someone knows what happened to Dolly and I’m going to find out.
Our private detective wipes her brow, unzips her black leather jacket, and raises her hand. “Me. I’ll go with. If the rest of youz would list what you want, we’ll bring it back.”
“This pregnant person needs some ice cream. I’m coming, too.” Once Lilac grabs her oversized Patten hoodie, the remainder of our entourage follows her out the door.
In silence, we make our way down the steep, muddy slope. Halfway there, Mia hisses, leaning into our group. “What gives these Armageddon cosplayers the right to spy on us? That’s so rude.”
She slips on a rock and might’ve fallen if not for Rose grabbing her arm. “Can’t you at leasttryto act normal?”
The older one’s authoritative tone causes the younger sibling to make a crude Italian gesture. “You wouldn’t recognize normal if it bit you in the ass.”
Under the moonlit sky, Sam rolls her eyes. “Stow it. This is urgent. We have our first clue as to the mystery of Gwen’s missing neighbor. If you don’t behave, you two are going to screwit up.”
This is all my fault. Had I known the weekend spa doubled as a survivalists’ training camp, I never would’ve allowed my friends to help me find Dolly.
While we huddle, I revise my last plan to include the note. “Listen up. When we reach the cafeteria, I will return to the locker room to retrieve my phone. Then, I’ll simply call Slate and ask him to come get us.”
Because four sets of eyebrows raise, I explain before they have a chance to dissuade me. “If I get caught, I’ll pretend to be lost… as well as a little bit drunk.”
Our resident PI will argue how she’s more qualified for sleuthing, but I whisper in her ear. “If anything happens, I’m trusting you to get the rest out of here.”
In agreement, we arrive at the bottom of the hill. Once all the other ladies turn right, I sneak into the shadows. Thick dew wets my sneakers in the tall grass between the fence and the back of the building.
It seems like days, not hours, since we handed over our belongings. Heart thumping, I squat beside a fist-sized rock. Once I pick it up, I stand and yank my elbow back. As I’m about to smash the window, I try the door handle.
I can’t believe my luck when it turns. Inside, I race to the room with all the lockers. Shit-shit-shit. A pull-down iron gate, the kind you find in inner cities, blocks my way. Unless a key,a lockpick, or a hacksaw magically appears, I’m leaving empty-handed, dammit.
Suddenly, someone pokes my shoulder. Prepared to do battle, I jump, then let out my breath. Thank God, it’s only Sam. Eyes wide, she puts a finger to my lips before pointing out an armed man who trots out of the forest toward the registration desk.
Why, oh why, had I not listened to Axel?
