Rescued Duty (Last Chance Fire and Rescue #5)

Chapter 32

THIRTY-TWO

R oger is behind it all.

The text had lit up Naya’s phone screen five minutes ago, and she hadn’t been able to check the locks on the doors enough times. Zack was on his way.

He’d get here before Roger could think of sabotaging her in her house again. Right? She redialed Zack’s number, but it went straight to voicemail.

She called Ingram, but her friend’s voicemail came over the line too.

What if something had happened to them?

Naya rolled her shoulders. “Stop it. Overreacting is not going to change the situation.” She might have only been talking to empty air, but the confession slowed her heart rate.

Lord, I need Your direction.

If Zack really was in danger, she needed a clear head. The thought of anything happening to him sent a wave of nausea rolling through her stomach.

Naya wanted to be honest about her feelings. She wanted to be part of Zack’s life.

Permanently.

To make that desire a reality, she needed to find Zack first. Naya pulled up the Eastside Firehouse number with a quick Internet search. One of Zack’s buddies might have seen him.

The garage door whined in the background and Naya paused.

Ingram was home.

Thank the Lord. She’d be able to help.

Naya hung up. She’d wait until she filled Ingram in on the details, then they could go to the firehouse in person. The door opened and Naya hurried to the kitchen. “Thank goodness you’re back. I think Zack’s?—”

Naya rounded the corner and skidded to a stop in the entryway. Ingram stood by the counter with a gag over her mouth. Her pupils were dilated, eyes wide. Her hands were tied behind her back.

Naya’s focus flitted between her friend and the man who closed the door behind them. He turned around with a scowl plastered on his face. “Mr. Roger Callahan.”

His gray hair was spiked, and his eyes narrowed. The dark blue suit he wore was pressed in all the right places. His appearance was much different than the distraught man outside his house, worried for his wife.

“So we meet again.” He moved to Ingram’s side, and Naya caught sight of the gun he held snug to her friend’s back. “It was really nice of Ms. Chacko to drive me here for our meeting.”

So he was using his employees. Naya balled her hand.

“Throw that phone over here. Now!” Callahan swung the gun.

Naya couldn’t afford to make a wrong move. Not when Ingram’s life was on the line. Naya flicked her wrist, and the phone skittered across the floor. “We have friends who will notice if we disappear.”

“Not if it’s an accident.” Roger slammed his heel against the device, shattering the screen.

Naya studied the pair. “What do you want?”

“Ingram here was trying to get into Will’s office. It’s a shame all his work stuff is confidential information.” Roger pushed Ingram farther into the kitchen.

Did anyone else besides Zack know Roger was behind the attacks? She should have stayed on the line to talk with someone at the firehouse. Now she was trapped in her own house with a madman. She needed to find a way to get herself and Ingram out of here.

She scanned the kitchen counter. A block of knives sat by the stove. If she inched to the right, she could snag one, but the weapon would only be useful up close.

And against a gun?

Naya shuddered.

“One wrong move and she’s dead.” Roger slapped his free hand on the granite.

“What are you going to do?” Naya stood straighter, proud that her voice didn’t crack.

“Put an end to your investigation.” Roger leered. “Some secrets are better buried.”

“Like Will?”

Ingram let out a cry.

“Please,” Roger scoffed. “You ruined it for him. You and that good-for-nothing firefighter. Thanks to your research, you were about to bust open the empire I’ve worked hard to build.”

Naya blinked, trying to process what this guy was saying and his twisted way of seeing people. “So you killed Will?” Naya challenged.

“My partner did.” Roger huffed. “He could have had it all, but it all got messed up. Love over money. Such a shame.”

“Because of Sylvia?”

“Because of this lady right here.” Roger pointed the gun at Ingram. “The guy grew a conscience. Felt guilty for cheating on his girlfriend and putting her in harm’s way. Said he was going to come clean.” He scoffed. “Now I have to take care of things myself.”

Where was Zack? He’d said he was on his way to her house.

Ingram whimpered.

“Enough.” Roger slapped Ingram. “Be quiet.”

Naya lunged forward. “Don’t treat her like that,” she yelled.

“I said don’t move.” Roger’s elbow collided with Naya’s cheek.

The gun exploded close to her ear.

Naya screamed.

Ingram dropped to the ground.

Gunpowder filled the air, and Naya choked back a cough.

Her ears rang.

Roger wrapped his arms under Ingram’s shoulders and dragged her across the kitchen.

“Let her go.” Naya raced after them.

Roger pushed her out of the way, and Naya stumbled and fell into the cabinets. The handles dug into her spine. She held back a groan. Her back pulsated with pain. She crawled on her knees, her clammy hands sticking to the hardwood floor.

Roger shoved Ingram into the guest bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Tears soaked Naya’s face, and she swatted at fresh ones that spilled down her cheeks. “Just take me and let her go.” She closed the gap between her and Callahan and stood up, ready to throw a swing. She wasn’t going down without a fight.

“That’s my plan.”

Naya swung her fist, prepared to hit Roger in the jaw.

Roger’s hand shot out and latched onto her wrist. He yanked her injured arm down, then twisted it behind her back.

Needlelike pain shot through her elbow.

She bit down on her tongue, refusing to give him any sense of victory.

“Hold still,” Roger whispered in her ear. He used his other hand and pulled out a black stun gun. Before she could react, the flashlight shone in her eyes, and she blinked.

He thrust the device into her waist. The zap followed by the surge of electricity coursed through her muscles.

Naya’s body convulsed. Pain tore through her abdomen, and she doubled over.

“I’ve got a surprise for you.” Roger loomed over her.

Her legs twitched, but she couldn’t get her body to move away. A cloth covered her nose and mouth. Naya jerked her head, trying to get away from the sweet-smelling concoction. A minute later, Naya’s world tilted on its axis, and everything went blank.

Fogginess pricked at the edges of Naya’s consciousness. How long had she blacked out?

A door slammed shut, and the force reverberated through her body.

Loud voices echoed from somewhere, and her head throbbed. She slowly opened her eyes and took note of the area. Naya squinted against the harsh lighting.

Where was she?

The space was large. There was a small wired window cut into the only door that led out of the room. White industrial walls surrounded her, and paint supplies and chemicals were stacked in the corner along the concrete floor.

A stale, dusty smell filled her nostrils, and Naya wrinkled her nose.

Gross.

Naya tried to lift her hand only to be stopped by something strapped around it. Her arms were fastened with rope behind her back and tied to the chair.

She didn’t know where she was, but she needed to find a way out.

Where was Roger?

And Zack?

Was Ingram…

Tears pooled in Naya’s eyes, but she couldn’t wipe them away with her hands tied.

A shadow passed by the room, then the door swung open. Naya pushed her feet back and the chair squeaked.

Callahan and Hudson shoved Zack into the room. His hands were tied too, and his knees collided with the ground.

“Zack!” Naya started forward, but the ropes tied around the chair behind her back held her in place.

“Glad to see you’re both awake.” Roger grinned.

“It’ll make the last part of the adventure entertaining.” Hudson shoved his hands in his pockets. “Too bad it won’t end well for you both.”

So Hudson was Callahan’s partner. But why? What was in it for him?

The two men turned to leave.

Zack pushed himself up off the ground and nodded his head to her.

“Wait.” Naya’s heartbeat thrashed in her ears. She needed to stall them. And if Zack had an idea, she’d help.

Zack barreled toward Hudson. The guy went to turn around, but Zack sideswiped him. Hudson took a step back to regain his footing before shoving Zack.

“One last fight for old time’s sake, eh?” Hudson tackled Zack to the ground, and a series of grunts followed.

“You’re not going to get away with this,” Zack snapped.

“We don’t have time to waste, son,” Callahan yelled.

“Shut up, Uncle Roger. I’ve got it.”

Naya gasped. She and Zack had gone to school with this kid. And the whole time, Hudson’s uncle had been in the background, hiding the truth. Now he’d trained up his own flesh and blood to follow his lead. To cover up what was really happening at Ethos.

Hudson stood up and wiped his hands. Zack went to get up, but he took one glance at Naya and stayed put. Blood dripped from his nose.

Naya couldn’t let Callahan and Hudson leave. Not without all the answers. “I thought your company helped people.”

“We do. We help the firehouses put out fires with our foam. And families stay safe with our fire extinguishers. Each time they buy our products, we make the big bucks. And I can’t lose out.”

“You help people at the expense of their health.” Naya narrowed her gaze. “Why not change the chemical formula?”

“None of you nosy reporters know when to stop asking questions.” Callahan gripped the door handle.

“If you’re going to kill us, why not let the truth go down with us?” Naya sucked in a breath to keep from shaking.

Callahan paused, and a sly grin formed. “If you must know. I can share the brilliance behind this mind.” He crossed his arms. Hudson moved to his uncle’s side, his frame blocking the doorway.

“It’s too expensive to change the ingredients. We had a profit margin goal to secure.”

“Even when the chemicals would harm the people you’re supposed to be helping?” Naya asked.

“There’s too much money on the line. One employee learned that the hard way and invested unnecessary time inspecting the chemical formula. And it cost him.”

“My dad.” Zack’s jaw twitched.

“Douglas couldn’t keep his hands out of my business. I bought out the company he used to work for. He forgot who his boss was.”

“You were his new boss?” Zack’s brow creased.

Roger grinned. “Securing that business deal, taking over ProEco Plant, and climbing the corporate ladder to CEO of Ethos was my shot at making it big in the industry. Such a shame that Douglas couldn’t see the payoff in the end. Instead, he tried to thwart my success. And you thought you could do the same.” Roger pointed at Zack. “I should have killed you in that fire too.”

Naya gaped. How could anyone think such evil?

Her knees trembled.

Naya wanted to grab one of those paint cans and chuck it at the two men. But she couldn’t do anything with her hands tied. And in the wide-open room, any attempt to escape would be foiled. She hated being the victim.

Zack sat in a crouched position, like he too was debating what move to make.

They had to find a way out.

Zack’s dad and Powells had died because they’d gotten mixed up in this mess, and she couldn’t let their deaths be in vain.

Roger and Hudson would not win.

Evil could not win.

Naya tugged at her restraints. “Why don’t you?—”

“Enough,” Roger bellowed.

“You’re wasting our time here.” Hudson stepped into the hallway.

“I did you a favor by having that note put on your car. Too bad you didn’t listen.” Roger walked out behind Hudson and slammed the door shut.