Chapter 35
Ridge
Light is creeping through the edge of the drapes when I open my eyes.
Shit, I’m still in Robyn’s bedroom. Still in her bed.
The smell of her shampoo is on the pillow. I’m on my side, one arm thrown over her waist, and she’s tucked into me with her back against my chest. I lie there for a moment, and it feels nice.
Too fucking nice.
I can’t believe I slept here. I must have closed my eyes for a second and gone under. I was more tired than I realized. The day caught up with me.
I ease my arm off her and roll onto my back, looking over at Robyn.
She’s still fast asleep. Her hair is a mess across the pillow. Her mouth is slightly parted. She’s snoring softly. It’s cute, and I can’t help but smile.
The smile quickly dies. She’s beautiful and sweet. I hope I don’t have to fuck her over with the Council.
Shit!
I slide out from under the covers. I move carefully, taking my weight off the mattress an inch at a time so I don’t wake her.
I find my pants on the floor and pull them on.
My shirt is on the back of the chair where I left it.
I do up the buttons and tuck it in. I grab my socks and shoes and carry them out to the living room, so I don’t wake her with the noise.
Once I’m dressed, I head back to the bedroom door. She hasn’t moved.
I find a pad and pen on her kitchen counter, write a quick note, and walk with it through to the bedroom. I leave it next to her phone on the nightstand where she’ll see it the second she reaches for the alarm.
I take one last look at her and walk out. I let myself out the front door, testing the lock behind me to make sure it’s locked. Smoke is in the corridor.
I should have left hours ago. I shouldn’t be here.
The male sees me and gives me a small nod, and that’s it.
Thank fuck!
I take the stairs down. Brutus is doing a loop of the perimeter when I come out the front. He lifts his chin and keeps walking.
I pull my phone out of my pocket as I cross the lot to my SUV. There’s a message from Flint that came in around the time I woke up.
Got her.
He sends me the female’s details, including a name, address, and a time.
Meet me there.
I have just enough time to get home, shower, and change.
I send him a thumbs-up.
I get behind the wheel and head for my place. It’s early, so it doesn’t take too long. I’m ready in record time and out the door and back in the SUV.
The address Flint sent me is in a quiet residential pocket on the west side. Modest houses, neat front lawns, and a school two streets over. I pull up behind his bike.
He’s already off it, helmet hooked over the bar, leaning against the seat. I get out.
“Morning,” I say.
He stands. “Her name is Rachael Da Silver. She’s thirty and works as a teacher at a nearby primary school.”
“A teacher.” I frown.
“Yep.” Flint nods. “She lives alone, according to the records. Rachael has no priors. Nothing. She’s the cleanest person I’ve ever pulled a file on.”
“Then how does she end up working for…whoever is orchestrating this?”
“That’s what we’re about to find out.” He nods toward the house.
It’s a small semi-detached with white paint that needs a touch-up. A planter with a wilted geranium sits on the front step. The curtains are drawn, even though the sun is up.
“After you,” Flint says.
We walk up the path, and I knock.
There’s nothing at first, so I knock again, harder. This time, there’s movement inside.
A second later, a voice comes through the door. “Who is it?” Her voice is a little shrill.
“Ma’am, we’re from Draig Security,” Flint says. “We need a few minutes of your time.”
There’s silence.
“Ma’am,” I say. “We won’t need long. Please.”
“I haven’t done anything. Please go away.”
“You are not in trouble,” Flint says. “Ma’am, open the door.”
There’s a long pause, and the door finally opens about four inches. Her face appears in the gap. The chain is still on.
Her eyes are red-rimmed and wide. Her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail at the base of her skull. It looks like Rachael hasn’t slept in days.
Behind her is the voice of a child making car noises.
“Vroom, vroom!” Followed by a crash. A toy clatters to the floor.
Flint and I look at each other because this isn’t what we were expecting. I’d pictured a lot of things on the drive over, but this certainly isn’t it.
We pull our credentials at the same time and hold them up.
“I’m Commander Ridge. This is Flint. We’re from Draig Security. We need to speak with you on a matter, ma’am. It’s important. You are quite safe.”
She looks at the IDs. Her hand on the doorframe is white at the knuckles. Her eyes still have that wide look, and her jaw is tight.
“It’s not a good time,” she says. “Please…please just go.” She moves to push the door shut. Flint puts his boot in the gap, and the door bounces back open.
“We need a few minutes,” he says. “That’s all.”
“Please leave.” Her voice cracks on the second word. “I don’t want any trouble. Please.” She glances over my shoulder, past me, out at the street. Her eyes dart left, then right, then back to my face. She is petrified.
“A male’s life is at stake,” I tell her. “An innocent male has been falsely accused of something he didn’t do. We’re not leaving until we talk to you.”
“I’m begging you. Go! Please go! You’re going to get me into trouble.” Her voice has dropped low. She’s looking past us again. “Don’t park here. Don’t come here. Please. You have to go.” Her voice is shrill. Her eyes fill with tears, which she blinks away.
“Ma’am.” I keep my voice level. “You’re safe. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
Her eyes narrow, and her jaw tightens up some more.
“You can’t promise that,” she snaps. “Don’t say that to me! You have no idea what you are saying.” Her eyes fill.
“We can’t leave,” Flint tells her.
“Not until you tell us what we need to know,” I add.
“We’ll stay right here.”
“Camp out at your door,” I add, feeling bad, but we can’t help her unless she talks to us.
“Please don’t do that,” she says in a small voice. “You’ll get us killed.”
“Listen to me,” I say. “I’m Commander of Security Central. I’m going to organize protection for you and your child. I’ll call backup right now. I can’t help you unless you let us in, unless you talk to us.”
She looks at me. She wants to believe it. I can see it on her face.
“How do I know you’re not with them?”
“You saw the credentials,” Flint says. “You can call the Security Central main line and verify our names. We’ll wait.”
“I don’t have time for that. I—”
Flint leans in. His voice goes quiet, but he is not gentle about it.
“Ma’am, we have you on camera at Vasanti’s Hardware last Wednesday.
We have you dropping a cellphone at the feet of a male who is now sitting in a cell.
If you don’t let us in, our next stop is the guardhouse, and we’ll tell them exactly what we have.
You won’t get protection then. You’ll get a transport to a holding cell.
So you need to decide and right now. Talk to us or go to jail, which will it be? ”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.” It comes out as a sob.
“Rachael,” I say. Her head jerks up at the sound of her name. “We know who you are. The head of our department has been arrested for treason because of a cellphone you planted with his prints on it.”
“I didn’t plant the phone.” Her eyes go wide.
“Maybe not, but you did get his prints on the device. Now he’s going to do serious time. A good male. An innocent male, and all because of what you did.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” she insists.
“We need information. We need to know who put you up to this.” Flint shows her a close-up of her face with the cellphone.
She goes pale.
“Please. We’re trying to help you. You’re in over your head. Let us help you,” I urge.
She makes a small sound at the back of her throat. Her face crumples. The tears come falling down her cheeks. She covers her mouth with her hand, and her shoulders start to shake.
“Rachael.” I lean my hand against the doorframe, and I make my voice as steady as I can. “I promise we’ll help you. I promise we’ll keep you safe. Both of you. But you have to let us in. If you don’t, we can’t do anything. You’ll be a sitting duck, and so will your child. Please let us help you.”
She nods. The chain rattles as she releases it and pulls the door open.
“Quickly,” she whispers. “Please.”
We step inside, and she shuts the door behind us, turns the lock, and slides the chain back into place. The bolt goes after that.
I pull my phone out and call the office, telling them to send a team to this address.
“I also need a safe house prepped,” I tell them. “We’re moving a witness and her child today.”
Once everything is arranged, I hang up.
Rachael is watching me with her hand clutched to her chest. “Thank you,” she whispers.
“You need to tell us everything,” I tell her.
She nods.
“Once the team arrives, we’ll move you to a secure location,” I add.
She comes across the entryway in one quick step and grabs my arm with both hands.
“Thank you,” she says. Her eyes are wide. “Thank you. Thank you. I’m so sorry. I’m so—”
“Mommy?” A small voice from the doorway behind her. We all turn. There’s a little girl in pajamas with a bunny on them. She has big eyes and a pink dump truck in her hands.
“Hi, baby.” She lets go of my arm and crouches, and her whole face changes. “What is it, sweety?”
“I’m thirsty.”
“Do you want some milk?”
Her face brightens, and she smiles. She’s missing both of her front teeth.
“Yes, please.”
“Go sit on the rug, and I’ll bring it to you with some cookies.”
“Yay!” the little girl yells and does as her mother asks. The rug is covered in a whole array of toys.
“Can I get either of you anything?”
“We’re fine, thank you,” I say.
She nods. “Take a seat.” She disappears into the kitchen.
Flint and I look at one another.
“She isn’t a trained asset,” he says under his breath.
“Highly doubtful.” I shake my head.