Wicked Shadows (Steele Security Book 5) Page 19

“Don’t be stupid,” Detective Gough replied. “So naïve and stupid. Take her back.”

  The butler wrapped his hand around her bicep and pulled her to her feet. Once they were out of earshot of the detective, Elle turned to him.

  “I don’t understand what’s happening. What are you going to do with us?”

  “Do you want to go to your room or to your friend’s room?” His reply was cordial, but his avoidance of her direct question was blatant.

  “Take me to Beth.”

  He opened the door to find Beth pacing back and forth across the bedroom, shouting obscenities and her own terroristic threats. When Beth saw Elle in the doorway, she rushed to her and pulled her into a death-grip hug.

  “I thought I dreamed you earlier. You really were here, weren’t you?”

  The butler pushed them into the room and closed the door again. Elle waited until his footsteps could no longer be heard before she told Beth what had happened. When she finished repeating every word for the third time, Beth paled and quickly sat.

  “What? What are you thinking?” Elle had to push her friend to speak her mind for the first time in their friendship.

  “They abducted us. Drugged us to bring us to this secret mansion prison. Put us in separate rooms. Concocted this elaborate video of how happy you are with Jax. The detective assigned to our case is in on this scheme. But now they’re letting us talk and stay together? Something about that last part doesn’t sit well with me. It’s the complete opposite of everything else they’ve done.”

  Dread settled in Elle’s gut.

  17

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Do you know where they’re keeping Katrina?” Elle asked.

  “No. You think she’s here too?” Beth rose from the bed and walked to the window. “It would make sense. Honestly, I haven’t been able to think past finding you and getting out of here.”

  “They don’t lock the bedroom doors. Maybe we should go look around. I don’t even know how long we’ve been here, but when I first woke up, I got as far as the front yard. There’s a tall brick fence around the property as far as I could see.”

  Elle told Beth the rest of the details she remembered from that night. Together, they agreed to explore as much of the house as they could before anyone stopped them. Since no one knew where they were, they couldn’t wait and chance being rescued. They’d have to be their own heroes in this real-life thriller.

  Elle opened the door and stepped into the hall. Something about the dead space gave her a sick feeling each time, as if a monster hid behind one of the doors, waiting to devour her. That’s probably not far off the mark, actually, she thought as she approached the next closed door. Much like she’d done when she searched for Beth, she inspected the room for any sign of inhabitants and moved to the next one. Beth checked the doors on the opposite side, also holding her breath until a flood of relief washed over her when she realized the coast was clear.

  “Katrina?” Beth’s voice carried down the hall to Elle.

  Elle’s gaze snapped to Beth’s, waiting to learn the fate of their mutual friend.

  Beth stepped inside the room, and Elle heard muffled cries. Without a second thought, she ran to the room and found the two women in a tight embrace. Katrina looked up at Elle and stretched out one of her arms to her. Elle immediately joined in, wrapping her arms around them both and clinging to them in the comfort of shared misery. When Katrina could release them, Elle and Beth stepped back to visually inspect her for wounds.

  “I’m okay. No one has hurt me. It’s so odd, though. Not that I want them to do anything to me, but I almost feel like we’re part of some rich, eccentric guy’s collection. A life-size doll collection.” Katrina walked to the window and pointed outside. “Look. Do you recognize where we are? I don’t see any landmarks I know from around LA.”

  They joined her at the window and took a minute to memorize the landscape. Knowing the layout of the grounds and what awaited on the other side of the brick wall would be helpful in an escape attempt.

  “Wait a minute—that looks so familiar.” Elle pointed at a rocky outcrop in the distance.

  “Rocks on the Pacific shore look familiar?” Beth asked. “They all look the same to me.”

  “No, it’s the unique shape they make. Mark and I used to laugh about how it’s shaped like a breast. I think we’re close to my family’s vineyard.”

  “Where no one is looking for us,” Beth replied gloomily.

  Elle and Beth gave Katrina a condensed version of what they knew, ending with Detective Gough’s involvement with their imprisonment while being assigned to find them. Katrina listened carefully, doing her best to keep up with the details while keeping her panic under control.

  “Wait—did you just say she’s assigned to Jax’s disappearance case, too?” Katrina asked.

  “Yeah. What are you thinking?” Elle asked.

  “It just seems like Jax is a common denominator in this whole sordid mess. Do you think he could be behind it?”

  “Even he couldn’t afford this place,” Elle replied. “But that doesn’t mean he’s not involved somehow. I just don’t know how or why. The movie production will be put on hiatus with me gone—it’s too late to replace me, and the sound stage has already been booked for the next movie anyway.”

  “So it’s a coincidence I rejected him just before I was taken?”

  “I don’t believe in coincidences.” Elle turned the facts over in her mind, examining them from various angles. But like a jigsaw puzzle with the picture missing, she couldn’t make the pieces fit together and make any sense. Her only hope was she knew her family wouldn’t give up until they got to the bottom of her recorded message fiasco.

  “Ladies, come with me, please.” The butler stood in the doorway eying them, no doubt eavesdropping on their conversation.

  “Where are you taking us?” Beth asked defiantly.

  “My employer wishes to have a word with you. It’s best not to keep him waiting.”

  The three ladies followed him down the hall, across the foyer, and down the stairs at the back of the kitchen. The narrow staircase opened into a large basement. Bile rose in Elle’s throat, and her neck muscles worked to swallow it down. The floor, walls, and ceiling were covered in thick black sheets of plastic. In Elle’s mind, there was only one reason why that would be found in a multimillion-dollar mansion.

  “Ladies, have a seat, please,” the voice behind them instructed. They gasped and turned to see who’d joined them. A handsome older man, distinguished by the strands of gray at his temples and salt-and-pepper smattering throughout, gestured to the four folding chairs. His face was vaguely familiar, though Elle couldn’t place where she’d seen him before.

  “Carrie? Carrie Snow?” With a slack jaw and wide eyes, Katrina stared at the woman beside him.

  He gently pushed Carrie forward as she nodded at Katrina, confirming her identity.

  “Have you been here the entire time?” Katrina whispered and walked with her to the brown metal chairs.

  “Yes. Is anyone even looking for me anymore?” Tears welled up in Carrie’s eyes, and her voice broke on her last word. Katrina didn’t have the heart—or the time—to tell her no one suspected foul play in her case. Widespread rumors of her repeat drug and alcohol addiction just weeks before she went missing provided more than enough of a cover story to explain her absence.

  The older man began speaking, drawing their attention to him and the empty chair beside him. “Ladies, I’ve brought you down here to ensure we understand each other. As long as you obey my rules, you are free to roam to any unlocked area of the house. I know you didn’t reach your current star status because you played by the rules, so I’m sure at least one of you will try me. In fact, I understand one of you has already tried to escape, so I’ll give you a demonstration of what happens when someone pushes me past my limit.”

  The man dressed in black leather, the one who sprayed Elle’s face the night she attempted her escape,
stepped into the room. He had another man with him—gagged, bound, and blindfolded. He directed the man’s steps to the empty chair, forcefully shoved him down onto the chair, and removed his blindfold.

  Still unable to speak, the man’s frightened gaze darted around the room, searching for someone to help him. He made direct contact with each woman, using his eyes to plead for help. The black plastic shrouding the room only added to his frantic behavior, and he attempted to stand. The rough man in black halted his movement with a firm hand on his shoulder, pushing him back down.

  “This man has been a member of my private parties for many years. I’ve trusted him enough to allow him into my home. He’d been welcome, until I learned he’s been running his mouth to others, boasting about his status with me, and revealing private details he swore to secrecy.

  “To show you how seriously I value my personal affairs, you will watch what happens to those I consider to be a traitor. Spider.” He nodded to the man in black. “You’re up.”

  The older man stepped out of the way, but he stayed close to the women to ensure they didn’t look away. The gagged traitor grunted loudly, obviously trying to beg for his life or explain some misunderstanding. The man’s cries had no effect on Spider as he leveled the gun against the traitor’s temple.

  “Do not look away,” the older man reminded sternly.

  “Any last words?” Spider asked mockingly. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t speak. Guess not, then.”

  The man yelled, his gaze locked on to Elle’s, begging for her to intervene on his behalf. Before she could murmur a word, a loud noise rang through the room. In slow motion, she watched matter spray from the opposite side of the man’s head while a single stream of blood ran down the entrance side. Spider returned his gun to its holster, an amused sneer covering his face while he watched the man slump to one side, lifeless.

  Gasps followed by muffled cries filled the room, each woman afraid to make too much noise and call undue attention to herself. Elle couldn’t cry and she couldn’t breathe. Her lungs seized in her chest, refusing to cooperate and do their job.

  “This is what happens to those who disappoint me. Spider has no problem killing them—in fact, I think he prefers it. If you try to escape in any way, you will be stopped. But one of your silver screen sisters will die in your place while you watch.”

  That visual prompted Elle’s body to inhale sharply, reminding her lungs of their intended function a little too well. Her rapid breaths on top of her racing heart pushed her closer to hyperventilation. The older man walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “Calm down, Elle. Take deep breaths and clear your head. As long as you cooperate, everything will be fine. You’ll have nothing to worry about at all.”

  The butler returned to escort the ladies upstairs, locking the basement door behind him. That was one door Elle didn’t mind being forbidden from entering again.

  “You may return to your rooms or any other unlocked room. The kitchen is always open and well-stocked with anything you may need. You have nothing and no one to fear if you adhere to the instructions. My employer has strict rules about that, and none of his associates will cross the line.”

  Elle ushered the others into her room, away from anyone else who may be watching or listening. She stood on the threshold, watching for their captors, and spoke quickly in hushed tones. Her voice quivered and her hands shook, but she knew they only had two alternatives. Have a nervous breakdown and let them win, or pretend they didn’t just witness a man get shot in the head in front of them so they could focus on an escape plan.

  “Listen. There’s no way they’ll let us go unharmed. Whatever their plans are for us are obviously bad, or we wouldn’t be here at all.” Her voice broke, and she pressed the back of her hand against her lips. “When he said we had nothing to fear—that was just to placate us. But I do believe if one of us runs, they’ll kill one of the others. So we have to go together. No one gets left behind.”

  “When? How?” Katrina’s eagerness surged through her posture, readying herself to run at that moment. Carrie’s apprehension was equally as obvious when she shrank back and wrapped her arms around her midsection. Beth jumped to her feet, prepared to fight the devil and rescue herself.

  “As soon as we can safely do it together. We can’t wait too long, though. It’s time we start checking out the house thoroughly and find anything of use.”

  Shadow spent the first week in his service-station apartment setting up his legal and illegal businesses, letting his beard grow out, and brooding in his anger and hatred toward the ones who took Elle. Through his contacts, he set up a collection of small arms to sell in backroom deals. The sooner his name became established, the sooner Nick could get him inside.

  With the service bay door open, he sat on a mechanic’s chair, working on a customer’s bike Jack had thrown his way. It was a simple job he could do blindfolded—a meaningless task to busy his hands and legitimize his business. He sensed the presence of another person before he lifted his eyes. He’d memorized the faces and names of every major player in the Devil’s Dominion motorcycle club. There was no denying who approached him.

  Spider Skull—the club secretary. The one who kept the membership list, the bylaws, the club rules, and the appointment book for every club officer. The one who knew the comings and goings of everyone—where they were, who they met with, and why. He had every piece of information and correspondence on the club members—the epitome of a field asset.

  But he wasn’t the sergeant at arms.

  So why is he here?

  “I heard this old place was in business again.” Spider walked into the garage and looked around, like he belonged there as much as Shadow did.

  “Word travels fast, then, since it’s only been a week.”

  “I have friends who keep me updated on things of interest around here.”

  “A small-engine repair and bike detail shop, with one customer, is interesting to you?” Shadow stood and turned, following his visitor around the room.

  “Don’t like anyone behind you?”

  “No. Prison will do that to a man if life doesn’t do it first.”

  “Where were you?”

  “Federal pen. Atlanta.”

  “Federal charges, huh? What were you convicted of?”

  “Drugs and weapons. Fucking undercover ATF agent.” He tossed his wrench into the toolbox, the loud clanking emphasizing his disgust.

  “Something similar happened to a friend of mine. He wasn’t dumb enough to get caught with drugs, though.”

  “You want to tell me your name first?” Shadow asked, narrowing his eyes.

  “First? Before what?”

  “Before I kick your ass and have to notify your next of kin.”

  He burst out laughing. “Name’s Spider. Jack’s a friend of a friend, and he suggested I drop by here.”

  “Jack’s a good man. Strange I didn’t hear your bike pull up. Did you pedal?”

  Spider smiled. His sneer sickened Shadow, but he hid his contempt. “Maybe. Or maybe I cut the engine and coasted in to test your reflexes. Took you a minute to realize I was on top of you.”

  It was Shadow’s turn to flash his smug grin. “The hell you say. You cut the engine a block and a half back, just when you passed the fire hydrant. If the car in front of you had turned, you would’ve lost your element of surprise completely.”

  “I’m impressed. And I’m not impressed easily. You’re Shadow, right?”

  “That’s right. Something I can do for you, Spider? Or did you just drop by for tea?”

  “After Jack told me about you, I did some checking up on you. Seems you already have a lucrative business starting, and not only with your one customer.” Spider inclined his head toward the work Shadow had done on the bike. “Some of the items you’ve acquired could be good for my club. But it would be bad for you if they find out about your extracurricular activities. It could be seen as an act of war against us.�
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  “Interesting perspective, since I’m not part of any club. You don’t see any colors on my back. I’m just doing some minor work on motorcycles for avid riders, restoring classics for rich collectors. What business are you referring to?”

  Spider nodded slowly, mentally sizing Shadow up. With a couple of steps, he sauntered up to Shadow, reached into his vest pocket, and pulled out a business card. “Come by here tomorrow night at eight. I want you to meet the officers of the club, maybe become a pledge if they like you.”

  “You trying to move in on my turf, Spider?” Nick asked from the doorway.

  “Renegade. What are you doing here?”

  “Shadow is a friend of mine. I’ve already arranged a meeting with the prez and VP,” Nick replied.

  “Strange it’s not on my radar since I keep the calendars for both of them.”

  Nick held up his cell phone and shook it from side to side. “Just hung up with Headbanger. You should get a call any minute now.”

  Just as Nick finished speaking, Spider’s phone began ringing. When he walked off to take the call, Nick and Shadow exchanged knowing glances. Word on the street spread fast when the information was given to the right people.

  Spider rejoined them, his suspicious gaze cutting back and forth between Nick and Shadow. “Good thing we all agree how Shadow could be an asset to the club. Of course, that just makes Bonebreaker even more suspicious than he normally is.”

  “Should make for an interesting meeting, then,” Shadow retorted.

  The clubhouse was a two-story cinder block building with no windows, painted completely black, sitting on the corner of the block. The long string of buildings attached also belonged to the club and were used for storefront businesses. The long corridor that attached to the clubhouse at the back provided a quick getaway when rival clubs took cheap shots, or when the federal agents arrived for a raid.

  Nick and Shadow arrived early, before the rest of the officers returned. Nick showed him around, being careful with his words since the paranoia had escalated and he never knew when extra eyes and ears were around. Headbanger made the food and drink run while he was already out on official club business. Nights when the entire club was required to attend church, their club meeting, the probies and pledges carried all the food and beer in. But they weren’t allowed in the officers’ area unless specifically called, so Nick and Shadow watched for Headbanger to arrive so they could assist.