Chapter 36

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

Heidi put the phone back, satisfied she'd done the right thing.

Now she had to get out of this office without being caught. That could prove to be difficult.

She crept toward the door, trying to stay light on her feet.

Her lungs were so tight she could hardly breathe as she paused. On the count of three, she cracked the door open. Peered out.

She halfway expected to be bum-rushed.

Instead, she saw no one.

If she was going to move, it needed to be now.

Quickly, she stepped out and closed the door behind her. She hurried down the hall, trying to move fast but appear casual.

She thought she was doing well . . . until Edward stepped out from one of the nearby rooms into the hallway.

Her pulse quickened as soon as she saw him.

He strode toward her, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. "What are you doing?"

"Looking for the bathroom."

He eyed her another moment.

Did he believe her?

Or did he know she'd been in the office? Heidi hadn't even thought to look for cameras.

What if this hallway was monitored?

Her throat tightened.

She stared up at Edward, trying not to show her panic. Stay calm, Heidi. Calm. The testing of your faith develops perseverance. Persevere now!

Edward continued to stare at her as if sizing her up. Finally, he nodded at a door in the distance. "The bathroom is over there. I thought I told you."

Her lungs loosened but only for a moment. The situation was still dire.

"You thought wrong." Heidi nodded at him before stepping toward the door.

"Rafferty wants to see you for dinner in five minutes," Edward called. "I'll wait out here for you."

Another tremble raked through her. "If that's what he wants."

She had to seem compliant. Grateful to be here and to have been rescued by Rafferty.

She slipped into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. Then she splashed some water on her face.

The liquid felt nice as it cooled her burning face. Then she found a clean towel under the sink and pressed the soft fabric against her face.

Only then did she look in the mirror.

She frowned.

She really did look like a wreck. Her hair sprang out from her ponytail in different directions. Dirt smudged her cheeks. Circles hung beneath her eyes.

Working quickly, she pulled her hair into a bun and tried to make herself more presentable. She brushed a leaf from her sweatshirt, swept some dirt from her shoulder, and drew in several deep breaths.

She couldn't buy any more time.

She glanced at herself once more in the mirror.

She could do this. She'd come this far. She couldn't fail now.

She stepped out and, just as Edward had promised, he waited for her.

He gave her another scathing look before escorting her down a hallway into another room.

When he opened the door, a dining/living room combination greeted her.

The area still looked cold and sterile with plain white walls. A sturdy wooden table added a little life to the space. But the black couches and concrete floor offset any homey feelings—as did the danger surrounding her.

Rafferty sat at the table, a salad in front of him.

There didn't appear to be a kitchen here. And how much electricity could be run to this place without tipping someone off that it was here? Or maybe it was on a generator.

It didn't matter either way.

Those things were the least of Heidi's concerns right now. She wasn't sure why her mind had gone there. It was her attention to details, she supposed. That had made her good at her job.

"Sit." Rafferty nodded to the seat in front of him.

Edward nudged her forward, and Heidi sat, just as directed.

Another man appeared and placed a premade salad in front of her. She thanked him and took the plastic lid off.

Spinach, grilled chicken, blueberries, and almond slivers.

Her stomach growled.

She really did need to eat. She'd been starving earlier, but the stress of the situation had gotten to her. Still, she needed food for energy.

"Thank you for the salad." She lifted a plastic fork.

Something about the setup left her feeling unsettled.

Who had Rafferty spoken with on the phone when he'd excused himself from their conversation earlier? Why did the man want to see her now? Was he onto her?

Her heart pounded harder.

She cleared her throat. "By the way, Monarch has been trying to get in touch with you. He said you weren't answering."

"I'm done with that man."

Heidi raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were allies."

"He's chosen his side."

She wasn't sure what that meant. Before she could ask, Rafferty changed the subject.

Rafferty leveled his gaze with her. "I know what you've been up to, Heidi. You and I need to talk."

A tremble raked through Heidi.

This was it, wasn't it? The moment when the truth came out.

The moment she might die.

Stephen kept an eye on the time.

It had almost been two hours. That was what Heidi had asked for.

In only five more minutes, that time would be up.

He and Gage had already discussed their plan of action.

They'd called Larchmont, and he was sending backup. They couldn't take down this operation alone.

But they could breach this bunker. Search the place for Heidi. Rescue her.

Best-case scenario, they could get her out without being seen. However, that was unlikely. They'd be in unfamiliar territory, which would be a huge disadvantage. They had no idea what they'd be up against inside that bunker.

Worst-case scenario, they'd be spotted. Gunfire would erupt. The most skilled operatives would win.

However, death never seemed like a win.

Stephen and Gage had been left with little choice right now.

They'd researched the dates and cities Heidi had told them about. So far, they hadn't been able to link the times and places with anything or anyone in particular. But Larchmont had some people working on it.

Gage glanced at his watch and then looked at Stephen. "You ready to move in?"

Stephen nodded. "I've been ready."

"Then let's go."

But just as they took a step toward the shack, the door opened.

Stephen and Gage slid back behind the trees and out of sight.

He watched as Heidi stepped out, three men flanking her.

Two guards.

And Rafferty.

Gage snapped some pictures on his phone to send to the team.

Stephen couldn't take his eyes off Heidi. She'd changed clothes and cleaned up. But her eyes darted around as if she was looking for them. She didn't look frantic, but there was definitely a touch of fear in her gaze.

A knot formed in Stephen's throat.

Should he step in? Or let this play out as planned?

"We'll follow them," Gage said quietly. "We need to see where they're going."

The knot grew larger.

He knew his colleague's choice was correct. But that didn't mean he liked it.

An SUV pulled from the barn, and Rafferty, Heidi, and one of the men climbed inside.

Where were they taking her?

Stephen glanced at Gage, an unspoken conversation passing between them.

They needed to get back to their vehicle so they could follow.