Bryn approached Nate with trepidation.She awkwardly patted his jacket pockets until she found the key fob.Relieved, she stepped back and held it up for him to see.“Got it.”
“Good.Let’s get out of here.I need both of you to start walking.”When neither man moved, he barked, “Now!”
Phil stumbled forward first, heading across the big empty space toward the back of the building.Nate followed more slowly, clearly not wanting to cooperate.
“Bryn, stay to the side,” he warned as he and Bryn followed the men out.“Don’t get between us.”
“Oh, sorry.”She flushed and quickly moved out of the way.Then she abruptly stopped and cocked her head.“Do you hear that?”
He frowned.“Hear what?”He’d been so focused on watching their two prisoners that he hadn’t heard anything.
“I think it’s a car engine.”Her expression brightened.“Maybe the police are on the way.”
He frowned as the two men kept walking.The police would respond with lights and sirens if they thought there was something criminal going on.But from the way the two men were going much faster now, he realized they may have been expecting someone.
Another gunman?H sincerely hoped not.
“Bryn, stay back.Phil and Nate, stop where you are.”He used his command voice, but the two men ignored him.In fact, Nate sped up, almost running as he headed toward the open area.
Micah didn’t like it one bit.He sprinted after Nate, grabbing the back of his jacket and yanking him off his feet.Without the use of his hands, Nate went down hard with a muffledoomph.
Bryn had caught on quickly and did the same with Phil, who didn’t put up much of a fight.He stopped where he was and stayed on his feet when Bryn grabbed the back of his jacket.She forced him down to sit beside Nate.
“Bryn, run back and get that roll of tape,” Micah said.“We’re going to gag them.”
Bryn turned and sprinted back to the drywall pails.He trained his weapon on both men.“I can still shoot you and have time to shoot whoever is driving here to meet with you.It’s up to you how quickly die.”
Neither man seemed inclined to risk being shot.Bryn returned with the tape and quickly drew out two more lengths that she slapped over their respective mouths.
Something he should have done right away.He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.Two bars.
He re-sent the text messages to Rex, starting with the one where he requested his boss call 911.The video could wait and would take more bandwidth to transmit.
But if the car driving up wasn’t the police, then he needed backup to get there sooner than later.
Now he could hear the car engine more clearly.It was close, so he gestured for Bryn to come with him as he moved toward the side of the opening.
The problem with this vehicle approaching from the back was that there was a good chance the driver saw their SUV tucked between the crane and dirt pile, which meant he or she would be ready for anything.
Micah had the advantage of surprise, though, and he intended to use it.He tucked Bryn behind him, then risked a quick glance around the corner.The vehicle was slowing to a stop not far from the one Nate and Phil had used.
For a long moment, there was nothing but silence.The two gunmen didn’t try to talk through their gags, maybe they were hoping the driver of the car would come in guns blazing.
Then he heard a car door open and the slight crunch of gravel beneath the driver’s feet.He imagined Richard was the most likely person to have shown up there.
He risked another glance around the corner in time to see the man standing beside the SUV, looking suspiciously at the building while holding a gun in his hand.He was shorter than Richard but looked strangely familiar.He tried to place the face he knew he’d seen before when he heard Bryn gasp.
“Damien,” she whispered.
Shocked, he realized she was right.Clearly, Damien Rochester had faked his own death and planted enough evidence for Bryn to be the primary suspect in his murder.
And if that was the case, who was the dead man in Bryn’s house?
15
Damien wasn’t dead!Bryn couldn’t believe her eyes.Her former boss was alive and well.She blinked, then focused her attention on the details.Damien stood perfectly still holding a gun in his hand as he stared suspiciously toward the building.She couldn’t tear her gaze from him.All this time she’d assumed Richard was guilty of orchestrating this entire scheme.That Richard had gotten rid of his partner.
But she’d gotten it all wrong.
