Page 60 of Cold Silence
“I’ll get out the scanners,” Gage opened the small case he’d carried in and handed out small, black, handheld devices to each guy.
“We picked these up when we went to check out the hotel.” Travis turned his on and looked at her. “They’ll scan for hidden cameras and make the job go faster.”
“Let’s do this room first,” Gage said. “Then Claire can relax while we scan the other rooms.”
As if they’d worked together for years, they moved into action. Splitting up and choosing a wall to scan. Objects like pictures, drapery finials, etc., got a thorough check. Places she would never consider checking. One by one they pronounced the room clear.
She let out a breath and fell onto the sofa. The tension in her body almost too much to bear. But she had to, didn’t she? This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
Travis took Claire’s bedroom. He wanted to stay with her, but even more, he didn’t like the fact that any guy, even Gage or his men, would search such a private space. Man, he had it bad, and it was time to admit to himself that he didn’t care if she’d bailed on him before. He’d never stopped loving her, and their time together proved that. But what he did next? He had no idea.
He ran the scanner over the front of a dresser seated under two large landscape pictures in soothing sunset colors. Good thing they were able to buy the scanners locally so none of them had to paw through her things. He didn’t think he could invade her privacy like that.
A bone-chilling scream filled the house.
He dropped the scanner, lifted his sidearm, and charged to the living room.
Claire stood on her sofa, her terrified eyes fixed on a basket sitting on the floor. The lid had been removed and was lying beside the basket. The other guys raced into the room and paused to assess as Travis had done.
She lifted a trembling hand to point. “Snake. In the basket. Coral. Poisonous.”
“I’ve got it,” Travis said.
He started to move closer.
“No! Please,” she shouted. “It’ll strike and they’re deadly.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not my first snake rodeo.” He chuckled to relieve some of her tension. “We’ve all been here and handled our share of slimy creatures.”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lip.
“Trust me.” He smiled again but kept his gaze pinned to the snake. “I got this.”
He got a good look at the snake coiled in the basket. She was right. The thin body had smooth, shiny scales, looking highly polished. That along with the yellow, black, and red rings circling the body were all telltale signs of a coral snake. The blunt and rounded head was pointed at Claire, waiting to strike if needed.
Travis had to be careful. Put a lid on the basket. Not the lid lying next to it. It would take too much time to pick it up and move it to cover the snake. The reptile could strike in that amount of time. Travis had to approach from behind.
He stopped near the television to grab a picture book large enough to cover the basket and moved forward as silently and slowly as he could.Moving like pond water.He still remembered the first time his drill sergeant used that term, but he’d also heard it often enough directed at others during his years in the service. Not a term of endearment for sure.
He reached the basket. Lunged with the book. Contained the snake.
Claire dropped like a person taken out by sniper fire. Gage came forward. Placed his hand on the book and nodded at Claire.
Travis joined her on the sofa. She was crying now, her whole body shaking.
Gage lifted the basket and looked at his men. “Let’s get this thing outside. Call animal control and sweep the area.”
Travis appreciated Gage taking charge, as it gave him alone time with Claire to comfort her in private.
He pinned his gaze to Gage. “Make arrangements.”
Only two words, but Gage nodded his understanding. They needed to find another place for Claire to live for the time being. A place they could rent under a name not connected to Claire in any way. Then they would have to change up Claire’s transport. Use a decoy method. Send multiple vehicles out any time they transported her to confuse the suspect.
Claire’s crying ramped up, the sobs tearing at his heart. He should resist touching her. Too bad. He couldn’t. He swiveled and drew her into his arms. Her body convulsed under his hold, and he tightened his arms.
“Shh, honey.” He stroked her back.
Her crying continued, and just when he lost hope of her calming down, the sobs seemed to reach a pinnacle and then slowed.
