5. Chapter 5
Chapter five
Isla’s next day in captivity started with a steady din of rain and wind hitting the windows in her room.
She groaned and turned over, pulling the pillow over her head.
She had no idea what the day would bring.
Fear threatened to bring her down into a dark hole.
But she’d promised to cook—everyone else had a job to do.
She was the only one that had no place to go and nothing to do.
If anything, cooking would pull her mind from the darkness.
She threw the covers aside and stepped out of bed.
The clock on the nightstand said it was seven. Those who weren’t on the job last night would already be downstairs meeting with Mitch and Max. Looking in the bathroom mirror, Isla found a stranger looking back. This was really happening. Her mind buzzed with all the unknowns that lay ahead.
After brushing her teeth, Isla put on a little lip gloss, opened her contact case and put them in, brushed on some mascara, and brushed her hair into some kind of order. Then she went down to cook breakfast.
“Morning, everyone. How does bacon and eggs sound?”
Lara lifted her head from the papers she was reading and smiled. “Molly, you don’t need to cook for us, really!”
“Please, I want to. Let me contribute in some way. I need to keep myself busy or I’ll go insane.”
“Well then, bacon and eggs sound wonderful.”
She pulled out two skillets and two cookie sheets and got to work.
Before long, breakfast was done and the papers were off the table.
Dirk pulled out dishes and silverware, placing them on the island as she placed the filled platters down.
Coffee refill in hand, Isla leaned against the counter as she watched everyone dig in.
“Oh my God, Molly, these eggs are the best!” said Dirk. “What’s in them?”
Isla shrugged. “A little of this and a little of that.”
“You sure can cook! I’m in love.”
Isla grinned. “I worked for a caterer for years. I learned a few tricks of the trade. I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
Isla tipped her head and directed the next question to Mitch. “So is there anything I should know? Have you heard how my parents are doing? I can’t help but worry.”
Mitch wiped his lips with a napkin and said, “I talked to the agent working their case this morning. They’re fine.
As a matter of fact, your mother’s spoiling everyone with her culinary skills as well.
And your Dad is whipping their asses playing cards.
They’re complaining they’re broke and that your father’s a card shark! ”
Isla felt her heart warm. “That’s my dad—you better warn them not to play chess with him. He wins every time! So they’re okay?”
“I’ll inform them of his skills,” Mitch chuckled. “As a matter of fact, your folks sent their love and wanted you to know not to worry about them, that they’re fine and actually enjoying themselves. They’re treating their stay with us like it’s a vacation.”
“The next time you talk to your people,” Isla said, “can you tell them to let my parents know I love them?”
Mitch nodded solemnly. “Not a problem, Molly. I’ll pass your message along.
Now, I’m off to get in a few hours of sleep.
Dirk, give me a call at noon, I have things I need to do today.
You’re in charge of keeping an eye on the monitors.
Lara, you’re up tonight so plan on getting some rest this afternoon.
Max, you’re taking over surveillance from Dirk.
Colt, you’ve got the night shift with Lara.
Keep your eyes open and wake me if you need to.
Stay aware—things are heating up and I don’t want to be taken by surprise.
Hernandez’s henchmen are asking questions. They’re on the move.”
The rain continued to fall. Darkness loomed behind the windows.
Fog swirled above the trees. An eeriness enveloped the house.
Isla pulled out her paints and worked on the painting she’d finished drawing yesterday.
She wanted to give it to Mitch as soon as possible.
Who knew when or if the agents here now would be changed out?
She couldn’t imagine them staying with her 24/7 without time off.
Everyone here she’d just started to feel comfortable with could be replaced at any time. She wanted Mitch to have this.
The thought of having to get to know a new batch of agents scared Isla.
She trusted the people here with her now, maybe because they’d been with her from the beginning.
Mitch had warned that you never knew if someone were on the take; it was unlikely but possible.
Good people could be swayed for many different reasons.
Nothing was one hundred percent foolproof.
She knew that, and that really scared her.
She realized that the only time she wasn’t terrified was when Mitch was with her.
Isla’s eyes grew hot, and it was all she could do to keep from crying. This was all too much.
“Hey, you okay?” Mitch’s voice made Isla jump. He leaned against the door jamb.
Isla wiped at her eyes in case a tear had fallen. “Just feeling sorry for myself,” she shrugged. “I’ll be fine. I thought you were headed upstairs to get some rest?”
Mitch walked into the room. “I’m on the way now. I wanted to check on you before I did. I shouldn’t have informed my team about current events in your presence. I’m sorry if I frightened you.”
“No, I’m glad you did. I want to be involved. This is my life and I have a right to know what’s going on. So please, if it’s possible, I’d like you to keep me in the loop.”
Mitch nodded. “I’ll let you know what I can. You have my word.”
Isla spent the afternoon painting and prepping a chicken casserole.
The house was quiet, everyone going about their business.
She’d serve lunch at one. She was just about to clean up her paints when Lara came flying up the stairs.
“Molly, run upstairs and get Mitch and then go into the safe room and lock the door. Don’t open it until we come for you. ”
Isla headed up the stairs without question, her heart beating fast. Looking over her shoulder, she asked, “What’s going on?”
“We’ve been breached,” Lara said. “It could be nothing. But until we check it out, I need you in the safe room.”
Isla pounded on Mitch’s door. “Mitch!” She opened the door, and Mitch flew off the bed.
“What’s up?” he asked as he grabbed his gun off the nightstand.
“We’ve been breached. Lara sent me to get you. She said for me to go into the safe room.”
“Do what she says. Don’t worry, Molly, it could be anything. We’ll check it out and come and get you. Don’t open the door unless it’s one of us. Do you understand?”
“I do. Just be careful. Please!”
Mitch pulled on his clothes and his boots and went down to the basement to the control room.
His team stood behind Lara as she tried to zoom in on a guy with a rifle slung over his shoulder on an ATV.
“Could just be a hunter that’s come onto the property,” Lara suggested.
“Hunting season. Is the property posted?”
“It is, but that doesn’t mean someone couldn’t trespass,” Mitch answered. “Let’s go guys. Lara, keep a visual. Colt, do you have our gear?”
“All ready to go,” Colt answered. “The ATVs are in the driveway. Let’s go figure this out.”
Mitch drove while Dirk hung on with his firearm at the ready.
It took ten minutes to circle behind the suspect before the team was in place.
Sliding off the ATVs, the team spread out and silently crept up on the stranger who had left his own ATV and was headed in the direction of the house.
Dirk used hand signals to let them know that he was in position to take down the suspect.
Mitch nodded and Dirk sprung out from behind a tree and tackled the guy to the ground.
“What the hell!” screamed the man in a choke hold on the ground, with Dirk straddling his back and his rifle now in the hands of Max who stood at the ready. Dirk dragged him to his feet as the rest of the team had him in their sights. “Who are you guys? Jeez!”
“No, the question is, who are you and what are you doing on our property?” Mitch asked sternly.
“Your property? This property belongs to Curt Olson. It’s not your property! I was only hunting. Curt’s a friend of my Dad’s.”
“Did Curt give you permission to do just that?”
“Well, no, I just figured.”
“You figured wrong,” said Mitch. He looked straight into the young man’s eyes and said, “You didn’t see us, we aren’t here. Do I make myself clear? If I hear that you told anyone, I mean anyone, I’ll throw your ass in jail! Are we understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the young man stuttered. “I understand.” He jumped on his ATV and roared out of sight.
“Let’s get back to the house,” said Mitch.
“This guy could have been a diversion. I don’t want to leave the house unprotected.
Dirk, take his information and connect with Kip Norton.
Find out about this kid. Colt, get the ATVs refueled and take care of the equipment.
Max, you go and check out the surveillance tapes with Lara.
Check the perimeter with a fine-tooth comb.
Make sure we’re still wired. Let’s not take chances.
Things are starting to heat up and I don’t like the feeling I’m getting.
Stay on guard. I’ll let Molly out of the safe room and get in contact with headquarters for any updates they may have. ”
They made good time getting back to the house.
All was quiet on the home front. They piled off the ATVs and went in their separate directions.
Mitch ran up the stairs and entered the master closet and pushed aside the shelving unit.
He pushed a button on the panel. “Molly, it’s Mitch. Open the door.”
The door clicked. Mitch pulled it open and Molly stood in front of him, tears staining her cheeks.
“Is everybody okay?” she asked. She’d never looked so upset. “I was so worried.”
“Everyone’s fine. It was just a kid trespassing on the property.”
“Mitch, I was so scared. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if anyone got hurt because of me.”
“Come here.” Mitch pulled her into his embrace. He knew he shouldn’t—but he couldn’t help himself. She needed comfort. “Everyone is fine. We’re trained for this. It’s what we do. You needn’t worry about us.”
“How can you say that?” she said, pulling back a little. “You’ve admitted to me that this Hernandez is dangerous. He can outsmart any of us. He’s desperate to get at me. Nothing is going to stop him!” She sobbed now, her tears dampening his shirt.
“Fine, I won’t tell you to not worry,” said Mitch. “But keep in mind it’s our job, okay?”
Mitch rubbed her back. Molly pulled herself from his arms and looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m embarrassed. I haven’t cried since my marriage ended—and now I can’t seem to stop. Please don’t judge me. This isn’t me. I don’t know why I’m acting like this.”
Mitch put his fingers under her chin and lifted her face, staring back into her eyes. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I promise I won’t judge if you stop apologizing for your feelings.”
Molly said, “I promise.”
Mitch wiped the tears from her face with his fingertips. Without thinking, he pulled her in and brushed a whisper of a kiss across the top of her forehead, just along her hairline. He immediately knew it was a mistake—he knew it was completely out of line. He couldn’t want her. Not like this.
Molly touched her head with her fingertips. She looked as shocked as he was by what he’d just done. He turned to leave, his face burning with shame.