“Big group hug, also known as my crazy family,” Vanessa said. “I’m off for eleven days, due back the first Monday in December.”
Brigit found this time of year excruciatingly painful. Hearing them talk about their holiday plans reminded her of how alone she was.
“Dude, you never take vacation.” Chad forked pasta into his mouth.
“I know, right?” Vanessa finished her iced tea. “Time to shake things up.”
“Brigit, every year Elliott cooks a complete Thanksgiving dinner.” Vanessa started cleaning up. “It’s for staff who stick around and leftovers are scarfed up over the weekend as the crew returns. His stuffing is to die for! And this year Shane baked several pies. Lucky you get to sample everything first.”
Not feeling lucky. I’d trade it for my family.
After placing his dish in the dishwasher, Chad said, “Gotta fly.” He started to leave, but turned back. “Oh, Brigit, I signed for a package for you this afternoon. It’s in my office. And one more thing, ladies, Henninger Security is running their annual maintenance check, so I shut down the system. If I didn’t deactivate it, it would signal false alarms all weekend. Pain in my ass.” He headed down the hallway. “Happy Turkey Day!”
Anxiety gripped Brigit by her throat. The security system was off and she was going to be alone in a humongous house. Her palms grew clammy. After cleaning her dinner dishes, she hurried to Chad’s office.
His spotless and clutter-free workspace looked like a mini-command center. Three poster-sized monitors hung on the wall. Four additional flat-screened monitors consumed his desk, along with two specialized keyboards. All screens were dark. A reminder note on his keyboard read,Call Henningerbeforebooting up or you’ll trigger the alarm.
He’d left the standard-sized brown box on his desk. It had been forwarded to her from Porter, Gabriel and Sethfield. Her name had been spelled wrong—Bridgette Forney—and the sender hadn’t included a name with the illegible D.C. return address.
On her way back to her office, her phone buzzed with a text from Colton.I’ll be home Friday. We need to talk.
After staring at his cryptic message, she silenced the device and slipped it into her sweatpants pocket. Was he going to tell her about his relationship with Alexandra? Had Tucker pieced together her past? A shudder ran through her. Seeing Colton leave with the leggy brunette had put things in perspective.
Vinny Ray was a tangible threat and Brigit needed to make a decision. Either take off again or come clean, about everything. By Friday, she’d either be long gone or ready to confess the truth.
Entering her office, she rifled through her desk drawer for scissors. After slicing through the packing tape, she lifted the cardboard flaps. A wave of fear pounded through her and she stumbled backward. Had someone mailed her a dead animal?
She poked the fur with the tip of the scissors. The thing didn’t move. On closer examination, she realized it was a black wig. Her heart hammered against her rib cage. She pulled the wig out of the box. No note or receipt. On a hunch, she checked the inside of the wig and let out a strangled cry. It wasthewig with the snipped orange boutique tag. The one Ray had yanked off her head all those years ago.
Brigit needed to leave.Now.
Think, think!She couldn’t go home. She’d have to hide. But where?Think, dammit!Ray had sent the wig to her office. Maybe he hadn’t tracked her to Mitus Mansion. Being in the house alone, with no security system, terrified her. With her thoughts in a jumbled mess, she couldn’t formulate a plan. Panicked, she grabbed the wig and bolted upstairs to her bedroom.
With lightning speed, she shoved the wig and some clothes into an overnight bag and ran from her room, slamming the door behind her. The sudden bang sounded like a gunshot and she shrieked. Alone in the darkened hallway, a chill careened down her spine.
She ran through the deserted home to the lower level. As soon as she bolted into the parking garage, she triggered the motion detector. Light flooded the spacious area. Normally filled to capacity, the garage was vacant, save for three cars. The Bentley, the Mercedes-Maybach, and her black Escalade, tucked in the back corner.
Frantic to escape, Brigit fished out her keys as she jumped into the SUV. She threw her handbag and overnight bag onto the passenger seat, shoved the key into the ignition and started the engine.
Go!Go! Go!
Brigit shot a glance in the rearview mirror. Before she could fully grasp what was happening, someone wearing a black leather glove placed a cold damp cloth over her nose and mouth, pinning her to the headrest and muffling her desperate scream.
44
PAIN
Brigit winced. A shootingpain radiated through her, halting her already shallow breath. Groaning, she gasped for air.Ow. Ow. Ow. Cracking open her eyes, darkness greeted her.Nightmare?Slowly she regained consciousness. The frigid cold stung her cheeks, her head throbbed, and her blurred vision crippled her ability to see.
Adrenaline shot through her. She was lying on her side, but when she tried to move, she couldn’t. Was she paralyzed? Frozen? Bound? Her cheek felt taut. More panic sent her heart into a burst of palpitations.Vinny Ray.
She was trapped, unable to move her arms or legs. A thunderous roar, like an earthquake, vibrated her surroundings. Within seconds the rumbles that had interrupted the silence rolled away.
Suddenly, the darkness lifted. Squinting, she looked around. Her cold breath was visible in the air. There were trees nearby, but tall grass and brush blocked her view.I’m outside.
Something large and dark sniffed her and she gagged from the vile stench. The involuntary reaction sent waves of unrelenting spasms pounding through her.Wolf.The animal licked her cheek and she trembled. The jarring movements nauseating her. This was no nightmare. It was a living hell. More thunderous noise grumbled above, only this time the ground didn’t shake.
The pacing predator lay back down, creating a shield from the bitter wind. As the sun broke over the horizon, Brigit had no concept of time, only of pain and of fear. The animal made a few sounds, like whimpers. On occasion it would reposition itself, but stayed close, as if guarding her.
