“How is it you weren’t on the list that Cabrini had of people who worked for him?” Scott knew Callie had found that list and the FBI had rounded upeveryone on it.
“Plain luck. I’d retired a few years ago and was no longer any use to Cabrini.”
A rustle in Heather’s direction told him she was struggling to get free.
“You can’t leave us in here,” Heather shouted at him. Then she screamed.
Stokinger laughed. “I don’t think anyone will hear you doing that. And if any of that sound manages to get up a few flights of stairs and through the concrete walls, I doubt it will be all that effective.”
“Where are the explosives?” Scott asked. Best get as much information now while the judge seemed in atalkative mood.
“Oh, they’re all over. I was an explosives expert in the war, you know. I’ve got quite a bit of C-4 sitting on the coffins and then even more planted on each floor of this building. I want the whole place to come down and I don’t want more than shards of bone to be found. Certainly nothing that canbe identified.”
“You can’t just leave us here to get blown up,”Heather argued.
“And why even bother walling up that opening if the place is going to explode anyway?”
“Well, you see that’s the great part of this plan. I’m leaving to go back to Florida this afternoon. The explosives aren’t set to go off until tomorrow morning around four. I won’t be anywhere near here, so I have a perfect alibi. Not that anyone would suspect me. You certainly didn’t. Plus, that early, no one is likely to be around to get hurt. I wouldn’t want to injure any innocent bystanders, you see.”
“But it will killus,”Heather yelled.
“Yes, I’m very sorry about that, my dear. But you and Mr. Holland aren’t innocent any longer. You are a threat to my retirement and must be removed.”
“We’ll get out of here and stop you.” Oh, yeah, the warrior princess was back. She’d need that strong will.
“This is why I’m bricking the rest of this opening. Even if you somehow manage to get the manacles off, which is doubtful, there won’t be any way to get through this wall.”
A tiny whimper sounded to his left. Scott wanted to try and convince the man to let them go, but it wouldn’t do any good. His mind whirred with ideas and ways to get them out of here. The opening was getting smaller as each brick was cemented into place. Could he get these cuffs off before the cement dried?
“Someone will come looking for us.”
Heather wouldn’t give up. He lovedthat about her.
“They might,” Stokinger replied. “But they won’t find you down here. And if they look around the building they won’t see the explosives either. I’ve hidden them in the lumber and debris.” One more brick went up and there was only a tiny space left.
“Enjoy your last day with each other. I’m sorry I couldn’t have left you closer together.”
“Nooooo!” Heather wailed as the last brick slid into place, shutting off any light from that avenue. The flashlight on the floor still shone bright, but how long would that last?
The sobs beside him tore at his soul. He should have insisted she stay upstairs while he came below. But would it have made a difference? Would Stokinger have knocked her out up there and dragged her down here? Or would she have heard him enter the basement and been able to hide then get help? Why would she have hidden from the judge, though? There was no reasonto suspect him.
“Are you sure you didn’t want to leave me to have all the fun?” he said, repeating the words she’dvoiced earlier.
Chains clinked as she struggled and yelled, “Oh, you…are you seriously making jokes now?” A sniff echoed through the small chamber then another sob. “I should have stayed upstairs then I could have rescued you. I’m so stupid. I’m sorry,Scott. Sorry.”
“Hey princess, no beating yourself up. We’ve got some time to figure this out.” Glancing up at his hands, he pressed the button on his watch and the face lit up. It was nine twenty-eight. His mind ran through the math. “We’ve got about eighteen hours and thirty-two minutes before the explosives go off.”
“Do you really think we can get out of here?” Her voice held hope and he couldn’t squash that. He honestly had no idea if they’d be able to even get the manacles off never mind get through the wall, but he wouldn’t share his fears.
“Sure, if I’m wrong, I’ll do all the construction work on your house for free.”
She snorted in a most unladylike way. “You’re hysterical. You should go into comedy.”
His eyes were starting to adjust to the darker environment and he could make things out a little better. Heather twisted and turned like she was trying to pull the bolt out of the wall. Wrapping his own hands around the metal, he pushed and pulled. Shit, it was in solid. Didn’t mean it wouldn’t eventually get loose, but would it take longer than eighteen hours and twenty-something minutes?
Time passed as they both struggled with their shackles. He didn’t even know what to say to her. How did you apologize for putting someone’s life in danger and getting them killed? Well, they weren’t dead yet, but it seemed like a foregone conclusion if they couldn’t get out of the chains or break through the wall. If his estimates were correct, they were well under the building, so there wasn’t any chance of another way out except theway they came.
“Scott.” Heather’s tiny voice cut through him violently. “I wanted tosay I’m sorry.”
