Page 67 of Cole

Ray followed slowly, then said, "Text the boss. See what he wants us to do.”

Jeffrey became more focused as he followed Ray’s directions. After a moment, he said, “Boss wants us to verify it's her. If it is, we bring her to him."

"Bring her?" Ray's voice came out sharper than he'd intended. "What the hell does that mean?"

"It means exactly what he said." Jeffrey's shoulders reached his ears as he shrugged. "I guess we knock on the door and grab her.”

"And if she doesn't want to come?"

"Then we make her want to," Jake said, chuckling. "This isn't complicated, Ray. She's been snooping around our operation, probably gathering evidence and definitely causing problems for the boss. We gotta take care of the problem."

Ray’s mouth thinned into a straight line. This wasn't what he'd signed up for. Mining wherever they wanted. Dumping chemicals wherever. Sure. Those things were on Penson’s back. But kidnapping? Hell, that could put the three of us in prison.

"Maybe we should wait," he tried. "Talk to Penson first, make sure⁠—"

"We did talk to Penson." Jeffrey interrupted. "And he said to handle it. So that's what we're doing."

They pulled into the parking lot, near the stairs leading to the breezeway closest to room 7. Donna knocked and left the bag on the stoop. She called out and then laughed, probably hearing something from the woman inside. Donna hastened away, crossing the street to go back to the tavern.

"Come on," Jeffrey said, already out the door. "She'll open the door soon to get the food delivery. When she opens that door, we move fast and quiet."

Ray snorted. “As much as you drank at lunch, I’m surprised you can walk straight, much less try to grab someone without giving them a chance to scream their head off.”

“Fine,” Jake growled, climbing out and standing next to Jeffrey. “You get her. And if not… we’ll just tell the boss you chickened out.”

Ray narrowed his eyes, but climbed out as well. He jogged up the stairs, positioning himself outside the door where she couldn’t see him. He hated everything about this, but what was he supposed to do? Fight his own crew? Get himself fired or killed for not following the boss’s orders?

They didn't have to wait long. The door to room 7 opened, and a blond woman appeared, reaching for the food bag Donna had left on the doorstep. She was younger than Ray had expected, pretty in a girl-next-door kind of way, wearing jeans and what looked like a man's flannel shirt.

She looked tired. Worried. For a second, all Ray could see was that she wasn’t much older than his sister, and he hesitated.

Jake moved first, crossing the distance in three quick strides. The woman's eyes went wide with surprise, then with fear, as she tried to slam the door shut. But Jake was already there, his boot blocking it, his hand shooting out to grab her arm.

"Don't scream," he said quietly. "Don't make this harder than it has to be."

She struggled anyway, trying to wrench free, her mouth opening to call for help. Jeffrey was there in an instant, his hand clamping over her mouth, muffling the sound.

Ray watched, frozen, as they pulled her out of the room and into the hallway. She fought them, kicking and twisting, but she was small, and they were stronger.

"Get the vehicle," Jeffrey grunted, wrestling her down the stairs with his hand still over her mouth.

Ray forced himself to move, jogging to where they'd parked the company truck. His hands shook as he started the engine, his mind screaming at him that this was kidnapping.

But he pulled the truck closer anyway.

They shoved her into the back seat, Jeffrey climbing in beside her while Jake took the passenger seat. Ray gripped the steering wheel, staring straight ahead, refusing to meet her terrified eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Drive," Jake ordered. "Penson's house. Now."

Ray drove.

Behind him, he heard the woman's muffled protests, heard Jeffrey threatening her to stay quiet, heard the desperation in her breathing.

And he knew, with absolute certainty, that they'd just crossed a line there was no coming back from.

30

Janice stood in the middle of the small hotel room, surveying their temporary sanctuary with a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. The samples were safely on their way to her parents' lab, secured by professionals who knew what they were doing. Cole would be back soon from Penson’s house. And later this morning, Timothy and Frazier would arrive with reinforcements.