Page 94 of Her Guarded Hero

“And you are?” she asked questioningly. “Oh wait,” she smiled. “You’re Gunnar Olsen. Your granddaughters were here earlier today.”

“Did they leave?” Dalton asked abruptly.

The young woman’s smile faltered. “What’s your name?”

“Just answer the question.”

“I’ll get Mr. Lyle,” she said as she picked up the telephone.

Dalton stepped forward, leaned in, and placed his fists on her desk. “You call Mr. Lyle, but in the interim, you answer my question. Did you see Aurora and Lindy leave?”

She shook her head, her green eyes wide with fear. “Mr. Lyle, Gunnar Olsen is here to see you. Please come quick.”

In less than a minute the closed door to the reception area was flung open and a balding man burst in. “What’s going on?” he demanded to know. “Becky are you okay?”

She pointed a shaky finger at Dalton. “He threatened me.”

“Where are Aurora and Lindy?” Dalton asked Dennis. The man blanched at Dalton’s aggressive behavior.

“What are you talking about?” He saw Gunnar and turned to him. “What’s going on Gunnar? Aurora and Lindy came for a tour, but that was hours ago. They’ve left.”

“Not according to your girl here,” Dalton pointed his thumb at the redhead.

Dennis ignored Dalton. “Gunnar, seriously, your granddaughters are gone. Elsa took them for a tour, but they left. You have to believe me. Who is this man, and why is he acting like this?”

Should have had Aurora’s phone synched with his already so he could track her whereabouts. Dammit, his head hadn’t been in the game!

“I’m your worst nightmare,” Dalton answered Dennis’s question. “You’re going to take me on the same damn tour that your wife did, you got me? Better yet, get your wife in here, and you both will take me on this tour.”

“Becky, call security,” Dennis said.

Gunnar ripped the phone out of the wall. Dalton smiled.

“Guess you can’t call your wife, or security, but you can still take me on that tour. Gunnar, stay here and keep Becky occupied so that she doesn’t raise the alarm, won’t you? As for you Dennis,” Dalton pulled out his military issued pistol and shoved it into Dennis’s side. “Keep in mind that I have this on me. Aurora’s going to be my wife. I will do anything for her. Don’t do anything that will get you killed.”

Dennis gulped.

“Are you ready to give me a tour?”

Dennis continued to stare down at the gun.

“Answer me,” Dalton said grimly.

“Yes. But do you need to see the places where I saw her?” Dennis stuttered. “I mean I know Lindy and Aurora were safe and okay then.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know Elsa and Chuck were going her special facility. That’s where Elsa’s doing some experimental training.”

Gunnar pushed close to Dennis’s face. “What kind of experimental training?”

Dennis gave Gunnar a helpless look. “It’s her project. I don’t know.”

“So you’re saying you saw them in good health until they went on an expedition with your wife and some guy named Chuck?”

Dennis nodded.

“Tell me exactly where they went, and when.”