Rescued (9 page)

Chapter 16

“Not now Marty. I can’t handle an argument now. I have to plan my next move. The group is leaving town at the end of the week and I have to learn everything I can before that happens.” She stared out the window as she spoke. Her mind raced. What horrors loomed in the future for these kids?

“I thought we were in this together. I thought it would be
our
next move.” His hand slipped around hers and tugged her over to his side.

“Not if
our
next move always means me playing it safe, and not doing what I’m trained and being paid to do. A little thing called
my
job
.” She closed her eyes to shut out the throbbing in her head.

Marty swung into the parking space in front of their room and directed his attention to her. “Rose, please. Let me explain. I can’t help wanting to keep you safe. That feeling is so strong, so intense, I can’t just call a halt to it.”

She met his gaze and opened her mouth to speak but no words materialized. She slid from the truck, unlocked the door to their room, and headed for a long overdue shower.

When she emerged from the bathroom, he was stretched back in the chair, his hands cupped behind his head. The laptop was open, an email waited with only a few words written to update his client.

Her heart squeezed tight. He struggled, too, she realized, sorting out the problems
he
faced. His anguish reflected in his eyes.

He took a job to find a missing college student, now he had the added burden his new mate. She wasn’t the only one here trying to balance a job and a personal life. She tugged her lip between her teeth as she considered easing his burden by leaving. He’d be free to do his job without worrying about her.
Yeah right, like the mate bond would ever allow that to happen.
“How did your client take the news that we really don’t have any news?”

Marty shook his head and straightened in his chair. “He’s still hopeful that the leads we have will turn up some good results. He kept assuring me money was no object and urged me to go out west if there was the slightest chance the trip would bring his son home to him.”

“I can’t imagine what he’s going through. Family is everything.” Rose was exhausted. The run had been relaxing but her muscles had begun to knot again from the new worries. She crawled into bed, turned to face the wall, and dragged the sheet over her shoulder.

The past few days had been long and frustrating but even with her high level of fatigue, she found sleep difficult. Why couldn’t she catch a break and find out what was going on with this crazy situation? A text to Mabel first thing in the morning would confirm the time and location of the picnic. She said a little prayer, asking to learn something that would allow them to piece together the real story about these kids.

The bed creaked slightly as Marty slid between the sheets and settled down. He stared at the back of his mate, wanting desperately to reach across the distance and fold her in his arms. The desire to protect her was strong and constant. He couldn’t bear to see her in any degree of dismay. It was his duty to make her happy and keep her from harm. He just couldn’t figure out how to do both in this situation. His heart ached, torn between her happiness and the need to keep her safe.

Marty reached out and took a strand of her hair between his finger and thumb. The silky texture caressed his finger as he twirled the tendril around and around. He would destroy anyone or anything that meant her harm. She was his mate. His life. His future. She was his to honor and protect.

Honor
. . .?

His brain absorbed the fact that his life, his mate, was a person with feelings, too.

“Rose?”

“Hmmm.”

“I need to tell you something.”

“I know about your
need
to keep me safe, Marty. I got it.”

“I just want you to know—I’ll be there for you tomorrow. You call the shots. You take the lead. I’ll be there for you and have your back every step of the way. Whatever you decide.”

She turned slightly. Marty gathered her into his embrace.

Rose shifted the gear stick into first, eased off the clutch, and pulled out of the parking space in June’s car. She had driven it to supper last night and would have to keep up the act to prevent questions from anyone in the group. As she parked near the picnic area, Wendy and her friends sat at the tables beside the lake. They all seemed happy. Like it was the most natural family setting ever. The criminals running this farce were some damn good actors.

She had seen Marty check his phone numerous times, obviously hoping for an invitation to the picnic but no text ever arrived. He promised to keep out of sight but remained adamant he would spring into action in a split second if Rose needed him.

Part of Rose considered this a victory of independence in the mate struggle, but another part of her missed his constant presence.
The job has to be my top
priority
.

She got out of the car and waved to Wendy and the others. She spotted four of Logan’s men in various get-ups stationed around the immediate area but there was no sign of Marty. Scolding herself for the umpteenth time to stop thinking about Marty, her focus must be on the conversation and body language of the group she was picnicking with today.

“Hey y’all,” Rose called as she approached the table set with fried chicken and all the fixings from a local fast food place. The boys had already plunged head first into the feast and barely stopped chewing long enough to say hello.

“Don’t mind them. They’re always hungry.” Wendy laughed and gestured to the pile of chicken bones on the table in front of the boys and their greasy fingers. “Come on, we have another table set up over here. Lunch will be more pleasant if we don’t have to watch feeding time at the zoo.”

Rose had never been a big fan of fried chicken. She was more a red meat cooked rare kinda girl but for the show, she could fake some sort of appetite.

The girls ate lunch and played a game while watching some of the other visitors to the park. “They say everyone has a twin,” Roxie said while sizing up a young man fishing down by the lake. “He could be the twin of that guy who was voted off the teen idol show last week, huh?”

“The one with all the hair?” Penelope asked. “Yeah, I can see it. Heck, he may
be
that guy.”

“Ha! Point for me. Your turn, Pen.” Roxie scooped up a victory fork full of coleslaw and toasted the table with it.

The game continued around the table as they finished their dessert of chocolate pound cake. When the empty plates and packaging had been disposed of and the leftover food packed away, the girls and the housemothers sat at the table and relaxed.

Mabel cleared her throat and shared a glance with Wendy. She nodded in the girl’s direction as if urging her to do or say something.

Here it comes.
Rose had been certain there was more to this invite than fried chicken and biscuits. Now she was about to find out.

Wendy turned in her direction. “Rose, our schedule has been moved up and we’re heading out west this afternoon. We packed all our things in the cars this morning, so we could leave right after lunch. Now, I know you have your scholarship here and you have plans to graduate and help kids in trouble but, we’ve talked it over and there’s a place for you to continue your education and training in Santa Fe.”

Wendy clasped her hands together and took a breath. “You can share my room while we train. All the expenses are paid. We have a very generous benefactor and all the arrangements have been made. Rose, we want you to come with us. Really. What do you say?” The girl beamed, obviously excited to be the one making the offer.

Rose pondered what to say next. She’d be on the inside, if she said yes, but she might not be able to communicate with the other investigators as freely. Her first instinct said stay close, but on the other hand remaining on the outside was the better choice. She’d have more freedom to move around since she had no idea how closely they were guarded at the facility.

Two thoughts prevented her from accepting. The recent knowledge her blood was in high demand, and if her private investigator status was found out, it could be bad for the others. She couldn’t afford to put anyone else in danger.

“Wow. I can’t believe you’d consider taking me with you. You don’t really know anything about me. I mean, we just met yesterday.” Rose paused and shook her head in amazement. She was flattered. It was fake flattery, of course, realizing why Wendy had been encouraged to extend the generous invitation. Get her into their fold, do a little community service brainwashing and they’d have her super blood to market to the highest bidder. No thanks.

“I can’t tell you how wonderful it would be to belong somewhere again. Since my parents died, I’ve been so alone.” She allowed her voice trail off to give the impression she was giving the idea some serious thought.

Mabel and Susan smiled at each other, as if they had pulled off the acquisition. Surely, they thought they had accomplished their goal of capturing the poor, lonely girl with the super blood and hadn’t had to lift a finger to do it. The same way they lured all these other girls into their trap.

“It sounds like such a fantastic opportunity. I would love to go with you, but I promised my daddy I would graduate college and that’s something I just have to do. I
have
to make his dream, our dream, come true.” Rose lowered her head and sniffled a bit.

“Aw, sugar. We understand. Maybe you could come out to visit on Christmas break. The girls would love to see you. We all would.” Mabel smiled a sweet, understanding smile, and patted Rose gently on the shoulder.

It was hard for Rose to believe the women would let the whole moving to Santa Fe subject drop this easily, but then, making a scene in a public place wouldn’t be a smart move nor would it do to switch gears from the caring mother role they perfected to cold blooded kidnappers in front of the kids. They had too much invested in their façade. Their obvious choices? Convince their victims to go under their own free will or take them kicking and screaming. Neither would work here in public.

Eager to continue the relationship, she pressed for the location. If she agreed to consider a visit, she would need to know the address or at least a more specific location. That would give her team a head start on checking out the location in New Mexico. “I’d love to plan a visit later this year though. Maybe you could text me your address when you get settled?”

She directed her suggestion to Wendy but Mabel answered. “Tell you what, I’ll do you one better. I have all the address information at the house. If you’ll run me home, I’ll get you everything you need. Susan and the girls need to finish up here so we can get on the road. Deal?”

Rose jumped at the chance to see what else Mabel had up her sleeve. She said her goodbyes and walked to the bug with Mabel close behind. Two men packed away their chess set at a table near the parking lot and moved to their truck. One of them was Logan’s man Oscar. She had back up in case Mabel was up to something. Like there was any doubt.

Convinced the drive to the house was to be an opportunity for an accelerated pitch from Mabel to change her mind about Santa Fe, Rose braced herself. Surprisingly however, there was only pleasant talk of how rewarding her work with these kids had been and how much satisfaction she got from helping people.

“Come on in and I’ll get the address for you.” Mabel led the way up the walk and opened the door.

The two stepped into the living room. “Make yourself at home, I’ll be back in a jiffy,” the woman said as she disappeared into her bedroom.

Rose eased down on the ottoman and surveyed the room for anything she may have missed last night. The living room was clean as a whistle. She turned to the sound of footsteps behind her but before she saw who was there, a bag of some kind slipped down over her head and someone wrenched her elbows together behind her back.

Really? This was plan B? If they couldn’t convince her to go willingly they’d hog-tie her and take her anyway?

Chapter 17

Rose heard the unmistakable sound of duct tape stripping from its roll. Her hands, bound together behind her back and another piece loosely secured the bag around her neck. Her memory of stored scents identified Mabel and Stan even before they spoke.

“Take her to the lab. I’ll stash her car.” Mabel’s footsteps hurried away. As soon as the front door close behind Mabel, Rose stiffened her body and formed an impossible to move statue. Her arms flexed and ripped the tape to separate her hands. Stan grabbed for her to regain his grip. She spun around to deliver a kick toward the sound of his astonished breathing. He collided with the floor and skidded to a stop when he smacked into the cabinet doors. As he scrambled to right himself, the knives rattled in the butcher block on the kitchen counter.

She ripped the tape from around her neck and yanked the pillowcase off her head in time to see the man lunge toward her. She side stepped his attack.

Shouting rang out from the living room. “Let go of me!” One sniff confirmed Logan and June had entered through the front door. Mabel would cause no more trouble.

The kitchen windows vibrated. The backdoor burst into splinters as Marty stormed through. His roar rattled the dishes stacked in the drainer when he spotted Stan holding a knife on his mate. “Nooo!”

Before she could blink, Marty swung one arm and backhanded Stan, sending him crashing through the window and out onto the patio. The stunned man scrambled to his feet, hobbled around the side of the house to his SUV, and hightailed it out the driveway.

Marty gripped Rose gently by the shoulders and turned her to face him. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” His eyes were intense. “Rose, answer me?”

“I’m fine. Did they catch Stan? I heard a vehicle leave.” She turned to the living room where Mabel sat in a huff.

“Oscar just called. The SUV’s have left the park and headed west out of town. I’ve called the police to come and pick her up. I’m assuming you’ll be pressing charges for kidnapping?” Logan had handcuffed Mabel and planted her in a chair. June stood ready in case she tried to escape.

“I want a few minutes with her first.” Rose turned to Mabel. Her nostrils flared and the fire from her inner animal flashed in her eyes. No, as much as she’d like to, she wouldn’t inflict the bodily harm this woman so deserved for her part in this whole scheme. She’d like to body slam the bitch to the floor, but her daddy had taught her the self-control she needed to work this job and work it right.

Getting some answers now was her primary concern. She wanted answers. While she wouldn’t physically injure the woman, she wasn’t above scaring the crap out of her to get the information she needed.

Mabel sneered at her and rolled her eyes. “And just what do you intend to do with your few minutes? Do you think I’m afraid of a mousy little thing like you? Oh, help, the little mousy girl is going to scare me,” she humphed in a mocking tone.

“Oh hell,” Marty said. He adjusted the hat on his head, glanced Logan’s way with a
y’all best look out
expression, and stepped back out of the way to give Rose room to work.

“June bug. Move back, honey,” Logan said as her steered his wife to the corner by the door and positioned his body, brick wall style in front of her for her own safety, just like an alpha male. Everyone read Marty’s message loud and clear.

Mabel’s expression changed from glaring sarcasm to certain fear as she watched the woman she had labeled as
little
make her way slowly toward her.

Rose’s eyes narrowed and focused on the woman. Her hands flexed from tight, curled fists to stiff, extended fingers, and back again. Her nails lengthened, exposing her razor sharp claws as she stepped over to the mouthy woman. Her eyes never left her target.

She leaned down to bring herself nose to nose with the evil before her. “Where are you really taking these kids and what are you going to do with them?” She spoke in an even voice, accentuating every syllable.

An increasing layer of fear replaced the smug expression on Mable’s face. “You- you don’t scare me,” she stuttered. “I’m not telling you anything.” She attempted to bring her tough side back to the surface but was less than convincing.

Rose placed one petite hand on Mabel’s shoulder and pressed down. She held back to a mere vise-like grip. Not the bone crushing strength she was more than capable of using.

Mabel sucked in a pained breath and flinched back, drawing on her last bit of resolve. “We know you’re not normal. You’re some kind of freak with super blood. Don’t think we won’t come after you again.” She let out an injured cry from the pressure applied to her shoulder. “You’ll pay for this!”

“Blood? What blood? Logan, do you have any idea what she’s talking about?” Teeth bared, Rose straightened and released some of the pressure on Mabel’s shoulder but kept direct eye contact with the woman.

“Oh, right, the blood. I’m sorry, I forgot to give this to you, Rose.” Logan walked over with an envelope, handed it to Rose, and turned to address Mabel. “That egghead in the lab you trusted so much sang like a bird,” he chuckled in a satisfied tone.

Rose thumbed through the envelope. Her first name
was
the only identification listed—no age, or other traceable info. She glared at the woman again. “Anything you want to add?”

“Yeah, congratulations on getting the paper file, too bad the info’s in the database by now.” Mabel snorted her satisfaction with an arrogant grin.

Rose glanced in Logan’s direction to see him shake his head once to the right then left and mouth the word, “nope.” He nodded toward the envelope and grinned.

She took another peek inside and pulled out a small plastic bag containing a thumb drive. Rose held it up and faked a visual exam of the device. “Logan, do tell. What
is
this strange object?”

“That? Oh, that contains the entire contents of the lab’s computer hard drive. The hard drive now minus the sketchy entries of your information from last night that we wiped before we called the police. Our songbird confessed he hadn’t uploaded the info yet. Memphis PD is on the scene tearing the place apart as we speak. And it’ll take about ten minutes for them to arrive here to pick her up and take her to jail for her part in your kidnapping.”

“It’ll be in your best interest if you cooperate and tell us what’s going on with these kids.” Rose gave her another chance to come clean about the operation, not that the authorities would go any easier on her for her part in this trafficking ring.

“There’s nothing wrong with guiding those poor runaways down the straight and narrow. They’re all of age and no one’s been held against their will except for me.” The smart-ass bitch voice was making a strong come back. Rose fought the urge to
guide
Mabel through the living room window and onto the front lawn.

Marty stepped out of the bedroom Mabel and Stan shared. “Rose, I think you’ll want to see this.”