Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
“Looks like seven men from here,” Carter said as he looked through the night vision scope. “What do you see, Quinn?”
“I count nine,” came the response threw his earbud.
Carter swore. How could he have missed two?
“You didn’t miss them. You can’t see them from your angle,” Quinn stated as if he could read Carter’s mind. It had taken them all day to determine where Mia was being held. Turns out they call it the Big Island for a reason. It didn’t help that her uncle had his fingers in a lot of pies, forcing them to have to check a lot of locations. Carter was on edge due to the amount of wasted time. He was starting to lose his shit and he knew it. The thought of Mia being held captive all day all but destroyed his concentration. He refused to believe she could be dead. That was an outcome he wouldn’t recover from, for all kinds of reasons. The main one was that he was falling in love with her, and if he couldn’t protect the people he loved, then what the hell was he doing?
A hand touched him on the shoulder. “We’ll get her out,” Flint said. “Just hang in there a little longer.”
Carter nodded in the darkness. He’d given up any pretense at hiding how wrecked he was feeling hours ago. “I know,” he commented as he turned. They walked back to the others just as Quinn arrived.
They’d taken up a position on the roof of a warehouse, kitty-corner from the warehouse where Makaio was holding Mia. At least, they’d assumed it was her uncle. Bobby had gone underground, and rumor had it he was in hiding, so chances were good he didn’t have Mia.
Her uncle, on the other hand, had been seen out and about with Mark Bascom today and holding meetings with some developers. According to Emery’s sources, Makaio wanted to build some kind of high-security resort for the ultra-wealthy here on the Big Island. Sounded like some kind of dark money gathering place to Carter. The US is a major tax haven for non-Americans. A place like Makaio wanted to build would attract dubious high rollers from around the world.
“You sure he’s in there?” Flint said into the phone. He met Carter’s gaze and gave him a nod. “Okay, thanks. Let me know when you’re here.” He hung up. “Emery says they saw Mia’s uncle walk into the building a short time ago.”
Bowie leaned against the stairwell door. “What’s the plan?”
Carter blew out a long breath. “I wish we had the blueprints so we had a better idea of what we’re up against.”
“It would be better, but we’ve been in tougher situations than this and did just fine,” Bowie reminded him.
Carter’s thoughts instantly returned to the last few missions and how close they’d come to dying. He hoped Castle was making progress because now he had something he really wanted to live for.
Flint said. “I think this is how we proceed; Bowie and Carter go in. Quinn and I handle the outside. We’ll call Emery when we’re good.”
“Flint, does she know we’re keeping her and the cops a step or two behind?” Quinn asked.
Carter winced. “I’m sorry, Flint but I just don’t want to screw this up. If they roll too soon, it could all go to hell and Mia could get hurt.”
“I get it and I agree,” Flint said. “Emery doesn’t know and if we execute well, she won’t know. So let’s get this right, okay?” His phone went off. “It’s Emery,” he said and then answered. “Yeah.” There was silence and then, “Do we know who?”
Carter’s heart slammed against his ribcage fearing Emery was telling them Mia was dead. The last fucking thing in the world he wanted to hear.
“Okay, I’ll let them know.” He hung up again. “Emery says two of Makaio’s men just drove a guy into the warehouse. He had a bag over his head. They’re not sure who it is.”
“Shit,” Carter breathed. “This is going south fast.”
“Agreed. Emery and her people are getting antsy. They only agreed to work with us because Emery asked and because Hawk spoke with his connections. We got to get moving if we’re going to do this and keep it controlled.”
Bowie smiled. “Let’s go have some fun.”
“I thought about what you said, Mia, and I found I couldn’t argue with your logic, so I thought it was better to get it from the horse’s mouth so to speak.” Makaio gestured toward the door as two of his goons walked in with another man between them. A bag covered his head as well, but Mia knew right away it was Bobby. Her mouth went dry. What would he say? Was he going to make it worse for her? Was that even possible?
One of the men pulled the bag off and Bobby squinted and swore as he blinked in the light. His hands were tied behind his back, but his legs were free.
“Bobby, thanks for joining us.” Her uncle gestured to the couch. The guy who had kidnapped Mia pushed Bobby down beside her.
Bobby glanced at her and he blanched. She looked over at Donny in time to see a look of terror cross his face before he schooled his features into a blank stare. What the hell was going on? Her heart raced. Mia decided she had nothing to lose. “I thought Bobby worked for you.”
“He does,” her uncle said. “But rumors have been flying. Bobby seems overly ambitious these days.” He turned to Bobby. “My niece tells me she didn’t tell the police about my little gambling establishment.”
“Niece?” Bobby blurted and then turned to stare at Mia.
Mia gave him a little shrug. He was obviously shocked. What he didn’t know about her could fill an ocean. Moron.
“Yes,” her uncle continued. “She says she had nothing to gain from it because you were making her gamble to make money for you. She says you threatened her friends.”
Bobby swallowed convulsively. “I… I… She…” He looked at Mia again and then it was like a light bulb went on over his head. “She found out about the money laundering at Lono’s. I was just keeping her in line. I didn’t want her to go to the cops, so I threatened to kill her friends and blame her for the cooked books.”
Oh my God. Mia closed her eyes briefly and swore a blue streak in her head. Served her right. She’d asked how this could be any worse.
Makaio steepled his fingers under his chin. “I see. And the money?”
Bobby shrugged. “I saw a way to make some money and keep her in line at the same time.”
Mia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Did that mean that her uncle didn’t know about the small games Bobby held in Akela’s basement? No, he had to know about those but likely didn’t know Bobby was skimming the profits. Was he aware that Bobby was plotting against him? Maybe.
Another thing had been bugging her all day. Her uncle seemed to believe the story she’d told the cops about falling asleep at the wheel. Was Bobby the source of that info? Why did he want her dead? He obviously didn’t know she was his boss’s niece, so why take out his cash source?
“Mia?” her uncle barked.
She started. “I’m sorry… What?”
“Are we boring you?” he demanded.
“No, I just…” she met Donny’s gaze, and suddenly everything fell into place. Her blood roared in her ears and bile rose up her throat. “It was you,” she blurted out. “You tried to kill me last night. You used Bobby’s guys to run me off the road.”
Makiao frowned and Bobby stared at her. “What are you talking about?”
“Nakoa and Mikey ran me off the road and tried to kill me last night. If Carter hadn’t come along, I’d be dead.” She turned back to Donny. “This is all your doing.” She seethed. This slimy bastard had tried to kill her. She’d love to return the favor. Asshole.
Donny held up his hands and his eyebrows went up. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why would I want you dead?”
“Yes, Mia, do tell.” Her uncle swung his chair around so he could see Donny who had been standing to his left by his desk. One of Makiao’s men moved across the room and stood behind Donny, pushing him so he was now in front of the desk to the right of Mia.
“I—” he stared at the bodyguard. Then turned back. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Bobby cocked his head. “That’s how these guys found me. You ratted me out, you fucker.” He tried to stand but the security guy beside him shoved him back down.
Mia locked eyes with her uncle. Heart hammering like she’d been holding her breath under a massive wave, she spoke. “Donny ratted out your gambling warehouse. He did it because he and Bobby were trying to take over your gambling business. But something between them must have changed. Maybe you offered him another job or more money or a bigger piece of the pie or whatever, and he changed his mind.”
Donny’s face flushed. “That’s a bullshit story.”
Makaio tapped his fingers on the desk and eyed the man. “I asked Donny to oversee some more of my…endeavors, keep an eye on my money.”
Mia knew she had to continue now that she had her uncle’s attention. She licked her lips. “Donny had a better offer. He couldn’t tell Bobby he’d switched sides. Bobby would kill him. But if he told the cops about the warehouse then it would close down, and I couldn’t gamble, so Bobby had no way to raise the cash. Donny would keep his relationship with both of you and he would be safe.
“The one sticking point of course is me. Donny needed a scapegoat to blame the whole warehouse debacle on. Someone had to be the snitch. If he blamed me then everyone would want me dead. But there was still the risk that I could convince you that I wasn’t behind the raid. The best thing for Donny would be if I turned up dead and then no one would have a chance to question me. So, he got Nakoa and Mikey to run me off the road.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Donny fumed. His face was a dull red and sweat had broken out on his brow.
“She’s right,” Bobby admitted. “You were the one who told me that Mia called the cops. I believed you. You were so convincing.” He turned to Makaio. “She’s right. It was Donny. Donny did it all!”
Her uncle stood and Mia’s stomach plummeted. Did he believe her? Would it make a difference even if he did, or was she dead anyway? She was about to stand up when she got a sudden whiff of smoke. Was something on fire?
Makaio growled, “Are you telling me Donny wanted to take the gambling business from me?” He glared at Bobby.
“You stole it from me first!” Bobby pointed out. “I just wanted it back. I was trying to raise the money to give you a down payment on it. Then I was going to give you a good deal. I want to run it, but I’ll split the take with you.”
“And the games you do run for me in basements all over the island, you were just skimming on those to pay me?”
“Yes!” Bobby agreed. He struggled to his feet.
“You were going to pay me with my own money?” Makaio thundered.
Bobby immediately realized his mistake. “No! I mean I?—”
“That’s exactly what he was going to do,” Donny interjected, his smug smile back in place.
“Was he now? And what were you going to do? Rob me once you were overseeing more of my business?” Makaio pointed at him. “You were in on it with him.” He nodded to his enforcer but Donny was faster. He pulled out a gun and aimed it at Mia’s uncle. Suddenly, the lights went out, and the whole warehouse was plunged into darkness.
A gun went off and then another shot was fired from across the room. The door opened and Mia felt someone brush past her. Then running feet echoed around her. A sudden scream and more scuffling. The smell of smoke was undeniable now. The sound of crackling flames filled the air. As if on cue, an alarm blared, like anyone needed to hear that to know the warehouse was on fire.
Mia stood and glanced around the room. Her uncle’s goon was on the floor, his eyes staring sightlessly as red soaked his chest. Trying not to panic or gag, she went to the doorway and looked down. The entire warehouse was on fire. Gunshots cracked occasionally and it sounded like there were multiple shooters. Mia coughed. If she didn’t do something soon, she would die here.
She started down the stairs keeping low and trying to breathe shallowly. It was hard to see, and the smoke made her eyes water. Not to mention her hands were still bound, throwing off her balance. She was halfway down the stairs when she tripped over something. Throwing herself against the railing, she righted herself and ignored the pain in her ribs. She looked down to find the man who’d kidnapped her was half-laying, half-hanging off the stairs. He was dead. That must have been the scream she’d heard.
She stepped over the man and continued down, finally reaching the bottom. The smoke was getting thicker, and she was having problems seeing where the door was. A figure came out of the smoke toward her. Donny raised his gun and pointed it at Mia. She opened her mouth to scream when a shot split the air, and red bloomed on the center of Donny’s chest. He crashed to the floor in front of her. Mia looked up and almost fainted.