Page 110 of Fatal Strike
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HER HANDS TIED ANDa sweaty blindfold applied, Leah was shoved into the rear seat of a dark-colored Mustang matching Mr. Whitson’s and Elena’s descriptions of the vehicle involved in the crimes.
Four times the car came to a halt, and Leah assumed they were at stop signs or traffic lights. She calculated about twenty minutes before the driver shut off the engine. One of the men pulled her from the car. Waves slapped against the shore and seagulls cried out. Nothing more to distinguish where she’d been taken. Someone opened a creaky door and told her to climb the stairs. She counted twelve steps. The second floor? Her blindfold was removed but not the bindings around her wrists. She blinked. The two men who’d abducted her blocked the only doorway she could see as if she’d make a run for it. The room reeked of grease and marijuana.
Warren Livingston faced her. “Well, look who we have here.”
“The FBI has evidence to convict you,” she said.
He slapped her face, staggering her, but she stayed on her feet. “I’m smarter than they are,” he boasted.
Resolve rose inside her. She ignored the stinging and eyed him. “Doubt it.”
Dr. Rios and his wife walked into the room. “Looks like you’re taking care of our problem,” Dr. Rios said. “Where’s her partner?”
“We’ll get him.” Warren turned to one of the men who’d nabbed Leah. “Put her in with the others, then get out of here. I’ll call when I need you.”
In a small living room, Dylan lay on a blood-soaked sofa. An even bloodier shirt was wrapped around his left shoulder, where Leah had shot him. Fever clouded his eyes. His face was pale. Looked like he needed immediate medical help or he’d die. Silvia blanched at the sight of Leah. She sat on the edge of the sofa, holding Dylan’s hand.
On the opposite wall, Rachel and Elena were tied back to back, their ankles bound with ropes.
The man forced Leah to the tiled floor and tied her ankles. She’d been roughed up before, and Warren’s men were no exception. Livingston and Dr. Rios and his wife entered the area.
“Dylan, you brought this on yourself,” Warren said. “You were told to behave, or your girlfriend and mother would be harmed. Problem is, I didn’t say which mother.” He laughed, aspine-chilling sound. “I have all three women and an FBI agent as a bonus.”
Dylan attempted to speak. “Told you,” he whispered. “Idelivered the drugs like you said.”
“My man says he didn’t get them.”
He spoke haltingly, pain evident in his voice. “Then he stole them from you, not me.”
“You’re a stupid coward. All you had to do was deliver the goods and dump Mendez’s body. And you managed to botch up both. I’ve given you plenty of chances to comply. I even picked you up when the Feds had you trapped on a ferry. Lost a man doing it. Now you’re going to face the consequences.”
Mrs. Rios stomped across the room and held a gun to Silvia’s head. Dylan attempted to rise from the sofa but fell back.
“Where are the drugs? Tell me or this time she bleeds.”
“Stop,” Rachel said. “How much money do you need?”
Mrs. Rios jutted her chin at Rachel. “More than you have.”
“My husband left me wealthy. If you’ll give me a phone, I’ll make a transfer now.”
Warren towered over Rachel. “It’s the principle of the thing. You steal from me and the doc here, we recoup. Dylan either spills his guts, or he watches us kill all of you, one at a time. Slowly. Trust me, I know how it’s done.”
“Warren, why?” Silvia stood, the only person not tied. “You have plenty of money. The FBI and the police must know we’re missing. Leave before you’re caught.”
“Is sweet Silvia looking out for me?” Warren sneered. “Iput up with you for one reason: keeping Dylan in line after he decided to get your pills from one of my dealers. I admit I didn’t expect him to escape my men when he got shot.” He glared at her. “Do you think I’d choose a woman like you? A dumpy, cross-carrying fool?”
Silvia rushed him from the sofa and hammered her fists into his chest until he grabbed her hands. She spat in his face. “You worthless piece of trash. You’ll rot in hell for what you’ve done.”
He grabbed her by the throat and pushed her onto the floor.He tied her hands and feet. “Don’t say another word, or you’ll die first.”
Warren wasn’t bluffing. “Silvia, easy,” Leah said. “The FBI and Chief Everson are looking for us.”
“We’ll be long gone before they find you.” Warren laughed again, the same guttural sound Leah had heard a few moments before. “Hey, Agent Riesel, what did you think of thereconquistaslogan? That kept you guessing, I bet. As well as the time I reported being threatened and had a rock tossed through my window. Did you enjoy the box of roses?”
If Leah could stall him, Jon might be able to locate her. “Who killed Brad Dixon?”
