Page 35 of Going Down Hard
He glanced up to find an old guy smiling at him. His weathered face spoke of years in the sun, many hours smiling. “They’re good,” Stone offered without much enthusiasm. He didn’t want to start up a conversation. He had to stay on task.
“My grandson is the artist. Never really got into art myself, but the kid does alright with it.”
Stone smiled and turned to see Soph and Karen moving again. “I’ll come back later.” He tried to be polite but a group of teenagers moved between him and Soph, and Stone’s heart damn near beat right out of his chest when he lost sight of her.
Darting around the rowdy group, he picked up his pace. “I’ve lost visual.”
“I’ve got her. They’re heading for the haunted house.”
“Haunted house?”
“Affirmative.”
Shit. “Jesus. How the hell do we keep eyes on her in there?”
“I’ll go in right behind. You need to stay back. Hagar saw you with her yesterday so you’re a known entity.”
He didn’t want to let Jack take the lead but it made sense if they wanted to give the illusion Soph was on her own—defenseless. “Roger,” he agreed reluctantly.
“There’s a crowd. Not sure I like this…”
The uncertainty in Jack’s voice ramped up Stone’s anxiety another notch. “Should we abort?”
“No. I’m right on her.” Jack’s voice lowered. “No one between us.”
“Don’t hesitate to grab her and pull her out,” Stone ordered.
“Guaranteed.”
“You want me inside or near the exit?”
“Outside.”
Jack didn’t say ‘just in case’ but Stone heard it and his inside spiraled tighter. He spotted Soph’s high ponytail with its bright red ribbon and his nerves took a jolt before relief flowed through him. Just the sight of her made breathing easier. “I see her.”
Jack moved behind her, blocking Stone’s view.
“And you.”
“We’re going in,” Jack said in spite of the fact he knew Stone could see them now.
“Talk me through it.” If he couldn’t be inside with her, he’d use Jack as his eyes and ears.
“Shit.”
Stone lurched forward. “What?”
“All good. A headless dummy dropped from the ceiling.”
Stone could hear screams, rattling chains, moaning wails, as well as the hiss of fake smoke through his earpiece. “You still with her?”
“Yeah. We’re moving into the next room.”
“Keep talking.” Stone paced a six-foot span at the side of the building. “I need to hear what’s happening.”
“Someone has gone to a lot of effort to try to scare the pants off people but all your girl is doing is laughing her ass off.”
Stone smiled.
