No One to Trust (Hidden Identity Book #1): A Novel (13 page)

The rest of Sunday afternoon had been spent driving and holding on to her patience by a mere thread. They’d driven for several hours with one restroom break. Just when Summer had been ready to succumb to a Marlee-induced migraine, they’d stopped at the hotel.

Room service had taken care of her growling stomach and three ibuprofen had sent her headache running. Unfortunately, Marlee had everyone on edge with her constant complaints and insistence on returning home. David had disappeared into the first bedroom on the left with the statement, “When you can’t take it anymore, you can join me.”

Summer had endured. Now it was Monday morning and Summer left Marlee sitting on the bed whining about the fact she was going to miss her date that night. Tantalizing smells came from the covered dishes on the breakfast bar and her stomach rumbled. Summer made her way to the well-stocked full-sized refrigerator. She opened a bottle of orange juice and swigged it.

Adam sat on the couch in the small suite, his long legs stretched out to prop his feet on the glass-topped coffee table. “Need something a little stronger?”

She cut her eyes to the man. “If I were going to start, now would be the time I would do it.”

A small smile curved his lips. “She just needs to grow up a little.”

Summer lifted a brow.

Adam shrugged. “Okay. A lot.”

“Where’s Mike?” She started a fresh pot of coffee. It looked like Adam had finished off an entire pot by himself.

“He went to check out the hotel, scouting for anyone or anything suspicious.”

“Like what?”

Adam shrugged. “You know, like anyone hanging out in the lobby who doesn’t look like they should be there, that kind of thing.”

“Right. What about Chase?” Summer pulled two mugs from the cabinet, paused, and put one back. David could get his own coffee. Her pettiness shamed her, and with a sigh, she pulled it down again.

“His dad’s in the hospital. Chase has power of attorney and they called him to come in.”

“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” Sympathy for Chase flooded through her.

“He called. It’s not as serious as they thought, so he’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“Oh. Good.” Silence fell between them as Summer ate and tried to relax her frazzled nerves. The food didn’t help. Maybe conversation would. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“Two brothers and three sisters.”

“Wow. A big family.”

“Yeah.” He gave a fond smile.

“You’re all close?”

“Definitely. When we’re not playing practical jokes on one another and fighting.”

The way he said it made her believe he didn’t truly mean fighting. “Practical jokes?”

“Oh yeah. We’ve come up with some doozies.”

“Your poor mother.”

The dimple in his left cheek deepened. “She does get annoyed with us, but she’s a good sport.”

“Are your brothers and sisters older or younger?” She sipped the orange juice and moved to the small table to sit and wait for the coffee to brew.

“The two brothers are older, the three sisters are younger.”

“Which one is the worst practical joker?”

He grinned. “Me.”

“I figured.”

Adam glanced toward the other room and Summer followed his gaze. David appeared, his hair still damp from the shower. Her heart cramped at her loss. She loved him so . . .

“Morning,” Adam said.

“Morning.” David’s eyes slid to Summer. “Was that Marlee I heard still whining?”

“Well, it sure wasn’t me,” Summer said and sighed.

He nodded, and Adam said, “I could arrest her and put her in a holding cell. She’d be pretty safe in there all alone.”

David looked interested. “On what charges?”

“Disturbing the peace, aggravated assault on my ears . . .” He shrugged. “I could come up with a few more.”

Summer rolled her eyes. “Really, guys?”

“You want to arrest me?”

At Marlee’s soft question, Summer jumped up. Her sister had heard the entire exchange. She looked small and vulnerable, hurt and angry, all at the same time.

Adam flushed and dropped his head.

David swallowed hard. “Of course not, Marlee.”

“Then—”

“Your whining is getting old,” Summer blurted. “It’s setting everyone’s nerves on edge.” Summer was surprised at her ability to be so blunt with Marlee.

Marlee’s shocked expression said she was surprised as well. David looked like she’d announced she was joining the Peace Corps and leaving the country. Summer wasn’t sure where her backbone
was coming from when it came to dealing with her sister, but she wasn’t going to question it.

Marlee flushed. “I’m being that obnoxious?”

“Yes,” the three answered simultaneously.

Marlee’s eyes widened, then she pursed her lips and gave a short nod. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to tone it down.”

Summer lifted a brow. “Thanks. That would be nice.”

Her sister rubbed her right hand over her cast as though she were chilled. “So. Is there anything to eat? I’m starving.”

Summer passed her sister the covered dish. Marlee sat down and dug in while Summer waited for the criticism of the food.

When it didn’t come, she allowed herself to relax a fraction.

When they’d all eaten their fill, Summer stood and walked over to sit on the couch.

Which may have saved her life when the building rocked. Summer screamed as plaster cracked and the chandelier crashed into the chair where she’d just been sitting.

“Summer!” David squinted through the haze, trying to locate her. Insulation, plaster, and chunks of the ceiling rained down on him. Disoriented, he held a hand to his head and willed the dizziness to stop.

When Summer didn’t answer, panic seized him. Another blast tilted the floor and David fell to his knees, head spinning, ears ringing. He heard Adam’s voice over Marlee’s screams. David finally got his breath and crawled toward the couch, the last place he’d seen Summer.

Suspecting a bomb and expecting to feel the building come down around him at any moment, David knew they didn’t have long to get out. He found Summer on the floor, coughing. Water spurted from the sprinklers in what was left of the ceiling.

“Marlee,” Summer gasped. She swiped the water from her eyes.

“She’s all right. I think I can still hear her.” He found her hand. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, just got hit in the back with something and had the breath knocked out of me. And my ears are ringing.”

Relief nearly made him giddy. She pulled away from him. Adam was still on the phone with a 911 operator, he figured.

“Where’s Marlee?” Summer gasped.

“I’m right here.” Fear made the girl’s voice thick. “Can we get out of here? I don’t want to be buried alive.” A sob caught on her last word, and Summer wrapped an arm around Marlee’s shoulder. Her sister held her left arm against her chest.

“It’ll be all right.”

“I’m going to open the door and see if we can get out,” Adam said. “We’re on the top floor so there’s no jumping. Stay back.”

David pulled his weapon and noticed Summer had hers as well. Satisfaction darted through him. He’d taught her well. His motto hadn’t changed from the moment he started carrying. Keep your gun closer than your enemies. Marlee looked shell-shocked. At least her mouth was closed.

The one time he wouldn’t blame her for screaming.

Adam opened the door. Chaos littered the hallway, wires hung from the cracked ceiling. But at least the door opened and they weren’t trapped in the room. Other hotel patrons scrambled to find their way out.

The yells and cries were almost as deafening as the explosion. Adam led the way, his shoulders tense, jaw set. David pulled up the rear, his heart pounding, adrenaline flowing.

Summer followed behind Adam, stepping over the debris. Many wept in terror even as they plunged toward the stairs. One woman muttered the Lord’s Prayer. She tripped and fell to her knees. David reached down and helped her to her feet before falling in behind Summer and Marlee.

The lights flickered and went out.

Darkness surrounded them. Panicked screams echoed. David reached for Summer and gripped her fingers to make sure she didn’t stumble.

Adam placed his fingers in his mouth and let out a piercing whistle. The screams fell silent. “Everyone stop,” Adam said. “See if the generators kick in.”

Seconds passed.

Then an eerie glow came from the generator-powered lights hanging from what was left of the walls.

“All right, keep going.” Adam began again.

David let go of Summer’s hand and kept a wary eye on the people around them. His heart thudded in his chest.

“It’s a trap,” he muttered.

“It was a bomb, wasn’t it?” Summer asked. Her voice shook as she herded Marlee after Adam.

“No doubt.”

Her lips clamped shut but even in the dim light, he could read the look she shot him. They’d been found yet again.

Dust and plaster swirled. Breathing hurt. His lungs felt like someone was prying them from his chest with a crowbar. His ribs protested the continued abuse and his eyes watered. He swiped them with the corner of his shirt. Which simply transferred the dust from his shirt into his eyes. He blinked and pressed the back of his hand to one then the other. It helped. He had to be able to see if he was going to spot a threat.

Summer copied his movements as did Adam.

They made it to the stairwell with the others. A baby cried, a mother whispered reassurances.

David wanted to get the men responsible for this and wrap his hands around their throats. One by one.

But first. Safety. He slipped his weapon in his shoulder holster and motioned for Summer to do the same.

With a frown, she did.

Summer had hoped the interior of the stairwell would have been spared and allow them to descend the four flights without issues. She should have known better. The people pressed and panic reigned. They followed the crowd down.

“Everyone needs to calm down,” she whispered.

“Yeah,” David agreed. “They do.”

Someone shoved against her back and she slammed into David. He caught her, steadied her. Then placed his fingers in his mouth and let out an ear-splitting whistle that echoed in the enclosed space. Shocked silence greeted him. Adam turned with a raised brow.

David yelled, “Everyone listen up. Panicking is not going to get us out of here. We have a US Marshal here who’s going to take the lead and tell you what to do. If you want to live, be quiet and listen.”

Adam shot him an exasperated look, but took his cue. “These stairs are dangerous. Stand away from the railing—or what’s left of it.” People shuffled to obey. Muted cries still sounded, but at least they seemed grateful to have some leadership.

“Hey,” a voice called from below. “There’s a big hole in part of the stairwell between the second and first floors. But if we can get past it, the rest of the ones look stable enough.”

David pulled Summer and Marlee behind him. Adam dropped to his stomach and moved to the edge where the railing had been ripped apart. “What do you see?” David asked.

“He’s right.”

Sirens sounded in the distance, barely discernible, but Summer heard them. They were on the east end of the building. Through the wall next to her was the outside. Hope stirred. Help was coming. She sent up a silent prayer of thanks. Marlee’s fingers tightened. She’d heard them too.

Adam scooted back away from the edge. “We’ll have to help lower the elderly, women, and children over the gap. I think most of us young guys can jump it.”

Summer said, “Get those over who can’t make it themselves. Marlee and I can jump it too.”

Marlee whimpered.

Or not. She would be hampered with the cast.

David nodded.

Adam got everyone’s attention again and laid out the plan. “Anyone have any objections?”

“No. Let’s just get out of here.” A young man in his early twenties spoke up. Sweat coated his face. Blood flowed from a cut on his forehead. Summer dug in her jeans pocket and pulled out a clean napkin she’d slipped in before eating breakfast. She handed it to him and he took it with a grateful look.

“What makes you think this is the best way?” An older man challenged. “If those stairs keep crumbling, whoever’s trying to get over will go down with them.”

“True,” David said, “but I think it’s a chance we’re going to have to take. Unless you have a better idea?”

“What about going back up and down the other side?”

“The other side might be just as bad.”

“Or it might be just fine.” Eyes narrowed, he thrust his chin out.

David shrugged. “Go however you want to go. I’m going that way.” He pointed down.

The man shifted, and as David turned his attention to helping Marlee over a piece of concrete, Summer saw the weapon underneath the sports coat.

She caught her breath and her gaze slammed into his. He gave her a half smile. “I’m a cop.”

“Then why don’t you get up there and help some people?”

He gave her a measured look and scooted past her. She tugged on David’s hand. “That guy that challenged you says he’s a cop. He’s got a weapon under his jacket.”

David’s eyes sharpened. He maneuvered his way around the people waiting their turn to be helped over the hole with Summer and Marlee at his heels.

“Hey, no cutting in line!”

She turned to see who complained and to apologize, but she didn’t have the chance.

A hard shove sent her stumbling to the edge of the stairs where the railing had broken away. Heart in her throat, her foot slipped, caught on the debris, and she felt herself go over the edge.