Chapter 32

Chapter

Thirty-Two

GRACE

S ome ancient motor seemed to rattle to life as I stepped into the hall of what had to be a house. The layout, the flooring, everything… Definitely not a hotel. The whir of fans and the hum of electricity joined the faint vrooming sound that reminded me of those window units used in some dressing trailers, particularly when we were on set.

The air was cooler out here, but not by much. The bedroom was hardly too warm. Other than the knocks and pings from that cooling unit, it was quiet. I headed toward the brighter end of the hallway. The other direction seemed lost in shadows and since there was some light coming from my room, I had to assume any other doors were just shut.

Carpet muffled my steps, but it didn’t feel all that thick. Thankfully, it did smell clean in here. As I rounded the corner, I spotted Goblin flopped on a love seat. He was flat on his back, head turned toward where Alphabet sat working at a dining table. Mouth half-open, Goblin let out a faint snore but his eyes were also open. At least it looked like they were.

The dog was adorable.

Shaking off the distraction, I glanced back at Alphabet, who lifted his chin in greeting. Then he tapped his headset. Oh, he was listening or talking to someone. Folding my arms, I crossed to his set up. There were three laptops, and a tablet, and a small circular device in the center that they were all plugged into, but I had no idea what it was.

I pointed to his empty coffee cup and Alphabet’s whole expression went lighter. He picked up the cup and pressed it to my hands, then he pointed to a plate that was also there. The plate was paper but the double-walled and insulated mug had to have come with us.

Before I could take the plate, he touched a finger lightly to the back of my hand then motioned to the screen. A text field popped up.

1-cup coffee brewer in kitchen. 3 dif types of coffee pods. No cream. Prefer the dark roast. Some sugar if you want. No sugar for me. In fridge are sandwiches. Same as on drive. Will talk 2 U as soon as we get a break.

He gave me a hopeful smile that practically gleamed in his sparkling blue eyes. The messy blond hair, that made me think all he did to tame it was rake his fingers, gave him such a tousled and sexy air. It was distracting as hell.

I offered him a thumbs up. Despite the absolute silence, I swore I could hear his cheer when he raised his hands. When I raised the paper plate and glanced at him. He shook his head, then signed “thank you” in ASL.

The moment he finished, he frowned. Oops. Worried I didn’t get it? I tried to hide my humor before I signed, “ I understand.”

His grin widened, it turned up his magnetism by a thousand watts. My stomach bottomed out at the pure delight reflected in his expression. He gave a little jerk and focused on the screen. “I’m still here, Bones. Don’t get your tighty-whities in a knottey.”

I inhaled my spit trying not to laugh. The fact Alphabet winked didn’t do much to help me resist cackling. I could almost picture Boney Boy’s bitchy expression. With a mission in mind, I headed into the kitchen. The windows in here overlooked some rather yellow and ordinary hilly plains beyond. I found everything for coffee waiting right there on the counter.

Another one of those round devices had the coffee maker plugged into it, along with a toaster, and what looked like a dual hot plate that was plugged in but not turned on. I hadn’t seen any of this stuff in the van, but it could have been in their bags.

A sticky note on the ancient fridge said Use only water in fridge except to shower. Even brush your teeth with this.

Did I use their water to brush my teeth the night before? I had to have. Well, I hoped I had. The water hadn’t killed me yet if I didn’t.

I pulled out a couple of bottles from the fridge and started coffee for Alphabet before I made one for me. I also retrieved one of the sandwiches. The last thing I wanted this early was a sandwich. Though, frankly, I had no idea what time it was, so maybe it was afternoon.

By the time both cups were ready, I’d finished the sandwich and cleaned up my small amount of mess. The trash bag attached to the door handle on the fridge needed no explanation.

“Scanning, hold position,” Alphabet said as I came back in. His computer screen showed a slowly, but steadily populating image of what looked like a parking lot with one side of a warehouse growing more and more visible. “Sixty more seconds.”

He didn’t wave me off, so I took a sip of the coffee while I watched the scanning lines add more and more detail.

“In ten seconds, switching to Lunchbox.” Then he was counting it down. “…three, two, and you’re clear Voodoo. Lunchbox is up, Bones, you’re next.”

The image on the screen rotated as more details were added. There were vehicles in the parking lot. The license plates weren’t familiar. Mexico? Maybe, but I couldn’t quite make out the detail. There were people visible from this angle.

People, which included men with guns. Goblin let out a low whine. I glanced over to where he was stretching his whole body out as he climbed down from the sofa. On the floor, Goblin sat and wagged his tail as he stared at me expectantly.

A light touch on my arm from Alphabet snagged my attention. He signed, “Can you let him out? He won’t take long.”

I gave him a thumbs up and then headed for the front door. I wanted an excuse to see more of where we were. Goblin didn’t move immediately, but when I gripped the door handle, I caught Alphabet giving the dog a signal.

Goblin bounded up and toward me. “Come on, good boy,” I said, then let us both outside. The air out here was definitely warmer than in the house. The sun shone down with an almost unrelenting glare.

I shielded my eyes as I descended the steps. Goblin was waiting for me, so I headed toward the grass so he could too. The coffee was almost too warm for the heat out here.

I couldn’t see the road we’d used to get here, though there was a dirt track. The house didn’t really have a drive. The sound of the motor out here was louder than in the house. Probably a generator. Goblin trotted around, peeing in several spots. He didn’t seem in a hurry, so I didn’t rush him.

A barn was visible in the back. Since Goblin seemed to be wandering that way, I drifted along with him. The dirt was exceptionally dry and cracked in places. The earth looked almost gray where it was splitting. The grass was yellow tufts. I wasn’t even sure it was fully grass.

There was a shadow cast by the bar, and I pushed one the door wider. It was hung on a rolling caster and squeaked, but the interior was out of the sun. The scents of sawdust and manure made my nose itch.

Okay, so the barn wasn’t in use now, I didn’t hear any animals. Didn’t mean it hadn’t been used before. Goblin barked once and I turned to find him between me and the house. He darted to me and then back.

“Are we done then?” I asked. Goblin barked again, tail wagging and I got it. “You’re as bossy as the other guys.”

At least he looked happier when I started following him. I’d finished my coffee by the time I let him back in the house. Alphabet was standing, but relief flickered over his expression at our arrival.

It also let me notice the fact he was wearing a shoulder holster with a gun tucked into it. The laptop in front of him had a completed image and there were numbers flowing up the front of it.

Lifting the headset off, he set it on the table. “Heard him barking.”

“I wasn’t moving fast enough,” I said, and a faint smile flickered over his face. “He’s very bossy.”

“He can be.” Affection colored the words. “I’m going to hit the head. Stay close?”

“Not really sure where else I can go—there’s a whole lot of nothing out there.” As much as I tried to not let it come out whiny or petulant, I couldn’t help the complaint. Really, where did he think I was going to go?

“Yeah. I’ll be right back.” At least he didn’t try to apologize. I stared at the computers, the screens were all on but they were all doing something. I couldn’t see anything from the other guys, but I assumed they were on the headset or maybe they were already en route.

As tempting as it was to hit some of the keys and see what was going on, I left it alone. A toilet flushed deeper in the house. Goblin had moved to the hallway when Alphabet went that way and stayed there until he returned.

Alphabet and Goblin were always together. Definitely his dog. The slow shuffle of Alphabet’s steps seemed more noticeable, and he was definitely limping.

“Did you get hurt?” It was probably none of my business. But I needed more of them on my side and he had saved my life at least twice that I could think of—so that was a good place to start.

He had his hands on his hips as he leaned back a little like he was stretching his back. “Just sat still for too long.”

Right. None of my business.

I looked back at the screen. “If I ask what you guys are doing?”

“I’d have to tell you I can’t tell you,” he answered without playing any kind of games.

“Can’t or won’t?” Yes, I was pushing it.

“Currently? It’s both. To be honest, Gracie, I don’t think you want to know.” The presumption scraped against me like I’d slipped down a gravelly hill.

“Can we make an agreement?” I focused on him and he straightened.

“Depends on the terms.” Smart man, never agree without knowing what was all involved. Normally, I’d admire that.

At the moment, it just added to my irritation.

“I’ll try not to presume what nefarious acts you and the others are up to in a foreign country, and you don’t just presume how I feel or what I want. Sound good?” It came out so snippy. I was biting off each word like it was impossible to chew.

Even Goblin stared at me, ears down like I’d upset him.

Alphabet sighed. “Gracie?—”

A whistle and a pop came from the laptop and a message flashed on the screen.

“Dammit,” he swore and limped his way back to the chair. He pulled his headset on before he took a seat, but there was no missing the way he stretched his right leg to the side as he sat and then moved it under the desk. “I’m here,” he said. “Gracie’s awake.”

He glanced at me and I waved him back to the computer as I carried my coffee mug into the kitchen. I washed it out with some water from a bottle, then carried a fresh water bottle out to leave for Alphabet before I retreated to my room.

It wasn’t much, but I could sit in here and try to figure things out. My tablet was also there on the dresser, next to the bag they’d apparently set there for me. I hadn’t noticed either earlier.

The next few hours passed with agonizing slowness. I tried not to listen to the partial conversation in the front room while I attempted reading. Periodic breaks let me check on Alphabet and I took Goblin out once more after I left Alphabet a sandwich.

The hours trickled by until I gave up trying to read and turned on one of the series he’d downloaded. I honestly wasn’t even sure I heard any of it. At some point, weariness hit me, and as it grew dark, I went to sleep again.

The next day, I woke to the guys arguing over breakfast. At least, it sounded like they were arguing until I made my way out there. Then the conversation broke off and the subject changed.

“Subtle,” Lunchbox said with a dirty look at Bones and then Voodoo.

“Whatever. Let’s eat. I want everything ready to go. We’re moving today.”

I frowned but headed over to make my own coffee.

“Hey,” Voodoo said, touching my arm. “How are you doing?”

With a shrug, I pointed to the coffee. “I’m still here. You?”

“Same.” He glanced to where Lunchbox and Bones were in deeper conversation.

“Where’s Alphabet?” I just realized neither he nor Goblin were here.

“Still sleeping,” Lunchbox said. “I’m going to make you some scrambled eggs real quick and some grilled ham. I’d do more but we don’t have time. We should be home by this time day after tomorrow, so I promise you a much better meal.”

“I take it we’re all leaving tonight then?”

“Don’t worry, Firecracker,” Voodoo said. “Soon as we wrap up business, we’ll be back to get you and Alphabet. You’ll have a couple of hours warning.”

They weren’t kidding about getting ready to leave. As soon as the scrambled eggs and ham were ready, Lunchbox put them on a plate and nudged me to it.

“Sorry it’s not more,” he said. “We’ll be back soon.”

There was a banging deeper in the house, then Bones announced they were leaving. Right, don’t let Alphabet sleep cause I couldn’t be on my own. Voodoo and Lunchbox both glanced at me like I was going to say something but Bones was already out the door.

“I guess, good luck?” What else was I supposed to say?

“See you soon,” Lunchbox flashed another quick smile and then they were gone.

As much as I didn’t want eggs or ham, my stomach was pinching from skipping dinner the night before. I should have eaten but I didn’t want to.

Eventually, Alphabet joined me and he invited me to play cards. “We’ve got a few hours before they get to work and there’s nothing else I can do, so—wanna try a hand or three?”

“Depends on what you want to play? I’m pretty good at gin rummy and poker.”

The corners of his mouth quirked. “My kind of girl.” It didn’t take him long to put together some fake chips in the form of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. He sorted out enough change for us to be evenly staked.

While he did that, I made him coffee and got him another sandwich. Then he took Goblin out for a few while I took a shower and changed clothes. Once we were back in the little living room, he dealt out the cards.

“Ante up,” he said with a glance at his watch. “Show me what you got, Gracie.”