Colby Core Read online

  Maybe he had told.

  A new kind of fear radiated through her.

  If he’d told, she would die. This morning. Now.

  What would happen to the children, then?

  And the patients…

  “Tessa, I’ve explained to you about our guest,” the Master offered.

  “Yes.” He had ordered her to find clothing suitable for the man. The image of Smith’s naked body blazed across her mind. She blinked it away. The Master had told her nothing else. But she knew what she’d overheard in the questioning room.

  “We’re sending Mr. Smith on an errand,” the Master explained. “This errand is of the utmost importance to me. I would like you to accompany him to ensure he stays on track.”

  The bottom dropped out of Tessa’s stomach.

  “Where are we going?” She glanced at Smith, but quickly focused her worry back on the Master. This was the worst thing that could happen. She couldn’t leave just now. She needed to be here—with the children!

  “Mr. Smith will explain the details once you’re on the road,” the Master assured her. He shifted his attention to Smith. “I’m confident forty-eight hours will be sufficient time, will it not, Mr. Smith?”

  “Since I don’t know exactly what you expect of me,” Smith challenged, “I can’t estimate the required time.”

  Tessa openly stared at him. Did he not realize that he could not defy the Master in such a way?

  Tessa gripped the arms of her chair, bracing for the Master’s reaction.

  The man who ruled her world, as well as that of numerous others, nodded. “True.”

  Dismay replaced some of the fear. Her gaze swung back to Smith. Who was this man?

  “The errand is quite simple,” the Master clarified. “You contact Phipps and ask for a face-to-face meeting with Renwick. My deputies will provide you with the intelligence we would like you to pass along and then you’ll return here.”

  Tessa’s heart pounded so hard she struggled to focus on the conversation. This couldn’t be happening. It shouldn’t involve her participation.

  “What makes you think he’ll allow me to return?” Smith asked.

  “I’m certain you can persuade him with the concept that there is much more to learn now that you’re a part of our family.”

  Smith nodded. “You’re setting him up.”

  “I’m only responding to his actions,” the Master countered. “The first move was his. I must protect my family.”

  Why would he send Tessa away now? “The patients,” she said, before she could stop the words. “They’ll need me.”

  “I’ll see to their needs,” the Master said, a note of censure in his tone. “Forty-eight hours will pass quickly.”

  Tessa knew better than to question his decisions. “Of course.” Her mind spun with thoughts and worries. Her chest ached with…fear.

  A rap on the door dragged Tessa’s worried gaze from the conversation to the open doorway.

  Krant. The technology soldier.

  He carried a square box, the size a dozen donuts. The memory of eating donuts with her friends at school flashed. Tessa pushed it away. A distinct fear trickled inside her. She prayed whatever Krant carried wasn’t for her.

  “I have just the thing,” Krant said to his boss, eluding to a prior conversation.

  “Excellent.” The Master gestured to Smith. “Why don’t you brief us all while demonstrating how your technology works?”

  Krant moved toward the desk. He sat the box there and removed a circular mechanism. Like a halo or a strange too-small belt made of stainless steel.

  “This” he said as he opened the object and reached toward Smith’s throat, “locks around the neck like a choker-style necklace. Only it’s steel and provides vastly more potential for wow impact.”

  A click echoed in the room as the necklace locked around Smith’s throat. Smith held still but the tension he felt was obvious in his rigid jaw and stiff posture. Was he as in the dark as Tessa? Did he understand what Krant was doing?

  Krant turned to the Master. “You have a timeframe in mind?”

  Tessa didn’t understand any of this.

  “Forty-eight hours,” the Master said. He considered the clock on his desk. “With a half hour of preparation time to be fair.”

  Krant made adjustments to the neck band, then dropped his hands to his sides. “Done.” He turned to the Master. “Anything else?”

  “No. Thank you, Krant. That’s all.”

  Krant nodded, then took his leave.

  Tessa clenched her teeth to prevent demanding more information. Demanding would get her sent off to the silent room. A shiver rushed through her at the thought. The silent room was on the top floor next to the Master’s quarters. No windows, no light whatsoever…and chains. She shuddered.

  “So—” the Master rubbed his palms together “—we seem to be fully prepared now.”

  Smith touched the necklace-type device Krant had locked around his throat. “A tracking device?” he inquired.

  The Master shook his head. “There’s no need for you to wear a tracking device. I feel certain you’ll follow my orders precisely.”

  Tessa felt herself leaning forward in anticipation of what came next.

  “Actually the device you’re wearing contains a small explosive.”

  Tessa’s gaze locked on the device.

  Smith’s fingers settled there once more.

  “If you do not return here within the forty-eight-hour timeframe the device will activate and…” He shrugged. “There will be quite a disaster for you.”

  “If,” Smith countered, “Renwick detains me?”

  “I’m confident you will persuade him otherwise.” The Master stood. “Tessa.”

  Her attention flew to him.

  “Prepare for travel. I’m counting on you to keep Mr. Smith motivated.”

  She pushed to her feet, her legs shaky. Tessa couldn’t find her voice to respond so she nodded before hurrying from the room.

  Forty-eight hours. This could interfere with her plans. If anything went wrong…she might not be able to come back. What would happen to the children then? To the patients?

  By the time she reached her room, she had calmed herself to a degree. The jeans and sweater she wore were sufficient. She retrieved her overnight bag from the closet and packed the essentials. Toothbrush and paste. A change of clothes. She didn’t dare put anything else in the bag for fear of having it found in a search. He would never allow her off the compound without a search.

  But then, she couldn’t risk leaving anything he might find in her room.

  Her fingers rushed over the hangers in her closet until she found the jacket she searched for. She turned the jacket inside out and found the small gap in the lining’s hem. She fingered the hole until she fished out the key.

  She held the key in her hand; the metal felt like ice in her palm.

  Leaving it was out of the question.

  Taking it could get her killed.

  She had to try.

  Moving quickly, she straightened the clothes, including the jacket, in her closet and closed the door. She checked her room to make sure all was neat and orderly. Crossing to the dresser, she studied her reflection. There was only one way that she could think of to get the key out of the compound. She placed the key on the dresser and reached for the hairbrush. Carefully, she arranged her hair into a twist and pinned it securely. Then she tucked the key into the sleek bun. With a hand mirror she ensured that nothing showed.

  “Okay.” She released a shaky breath. This was the only way. As long as she didn’t shake her head too hard, it should stay.

  With the ID that identified her as Tessa James tucked into her bag, along with her hairbrush, she left her room. The urge to see the children one last time nearly overwhelmed her, but he would be suspicious of such a move. And he would be waiting downstairs.

  Tessa descended the stairs, her shoulders squared, her face clean of emotion.

&n
bsp; As she’d suspected, the Master, Howard and Smith waited in the entry hall. Smith had been outfitted with a coat.

  “I’m ready,” she said in the strongest voice she could muster. This would be the first time she had left the compound without the Master in…ever, she realized. She had never left, unless accompanied by him and his deputies. Her heart stumbled into a frantic rhythm. What did this mean? Why was he sending her with this stranger?

  The Master patted her arm. “I’m certain of your loyalty, Tessa. You won’t fail me.”

  “I won’t,” she promised, the words more breathless than she would have preferred. She wanted desperately to mention the children, the child in particular, but he would be displeased if she displayed such uncertainty.

  The Master’s attention moved to Smith. “I trust you fully understand your mission.”

  Smith shrugged. “I fully understand what you want, I just don’t see it happening. Renwick is your enemy. I doubt he’ll be cooperative.”

  “You’ll find a way,” the Master repeated his earlier assessment. “Tessa will keep you on the proper path.”

  Fear snaked around her spine. “I will,” she said to the Master. To Smith she directed, “We will return within forty-eight hours.”

  He didn’t argue with her but his gold eyes failed to underscore that seemingly agreeable silence.

  “Howard,” the Master said.

  Howard stepped forward and handed a small hand gun to Tessa.

  “To protect yourself,” the Master explained with a glance at Smith, “if the need arises.”

  Tessa picked up the weapon with cold, shaky fingers. “Thank you.” She fumbled with the zipper of her bag, then placed the weapon inside.

  Howard handed her a cell phone. She placed it in the bag as well.

  When her gaze landed on the Master once more, he said, “You know what you have to do. I’ll be waiting for your return.”

  She nodded, unsure what else to say.

  Howard opened the door. The blast of cold air sliced through Tessa.

  Smith glanced from the Master to her, then walked out the door. She followed, too scared to look back.

  Trudging through the ankle-deep snow, she followed Smith to the black SUV parked in front of the house. All other vehicles would be in the massive garage. None were ever left outside unless they were about to be utilized.

  Smith climbed behind the steering wheel; she slid into the front passenger seat. She hugged her bag as if it were a lifeline that possessed the ability to save her.

  He started the engine, and reality crashed in on Tessa.

  Dear God.

  This man didn’t even know Renwick. She had given him the name. There was no way he could make this happen. No way they could make it back here in time with what the Master requested.

  Tears burned her eyes.

  She would have no choice.

  “Put your seat belt on,” Smith told her.

  She stared at his profile, her mind unable to fully wrap around the idea that this was actually happening, that she had put herself in this position. Why hadn’t she just let the Master and his men do what they would with Smith?

  He turned to her. “Seat belt,” he echoed.

  Releasing her bag, she tugged the belt into place and snapped it securely. Her arms went immediately around her bag once more.

  There was plenty she wanted to say, rant mostly, but she couldn’t do that. The Master could be listening. The vehicle was likely equipped with a tracking device as well as listening devices. Possibly even a camera.

  She had to remain calm. To keep Smith under control…to figure out a way to breach Renwick’s security and to do whatever the Master had tasked Smith to accomplish.

  Her eyes closed to hold back the tears.

  Impossible.

  Smith was going to die.

  She was going to die.

  And the children would have no one to save them.

  Fury roared inside her. She forced her eyes open. No. She turned to the man behind the wheel. He would have to help her.

  As far as Tessa knew, Smith was just another horrible man who helped abduct young women and children. Whatever he was or had been in his life, he was about to step into a new role.

  One way or another, she needed him to be a hero.

  Chapter Seven

  10:10 a.m.—47 hours, 50 minutes remaining

  The security gates opened and allowed him to pass.

  Riley stopped the SUV at the end of the long, winding drive. “Which way to the city?”

  Tessa stared at him as if she hadn’t understood the words.

  “Which way?” he repeated.

  Her mouth worked a moment before she said, “Left.”

  Riley pulled out onto the road, heading left. It had been too dark for him to determine the route they had taken but he had marked the time. About thirty minutes from the bar to the compound.

  Until they were out of the vehicle he couldn’t risk asking any questions. Their conversation would likely be monitored. The whole damned SUV was probably rigged with tracking and monitoring devices.

  He touched the contraption around his neck. It was tight but that didn’t bother him. It was the promised charge set to go off in forty-seven hours and fifty minutes. His first task would be to get this thing removed. For that he needed Stark…and a bomb expert. He hoped like hell the New Orleans Bureau office had ready access to that kind of support.

  The so-called Master was up to something. It was possible he wanted to test Riley before welcoming him into his family. But Riley had a bad, bad feeling that this whole extreme exercise was about distraction. Something else was going down.

  The half hour it took to reach the outskirts of New Orleans felt like a lifetime.

  Tessa hadn’t uttered a word since telling him to go left. Judging by her posture, she was terrified.

  She was another aspect of this situation he hadn’t figured out. Why would she be sent with him?

  Riley doubted she represented much of a physical threat. Her alliance to the man who called himself the Master appeared solid.

  Except she had given him the information that had ultimately set in motion his survival and escape.

  Had to be a setup.

  The whole scenario was far too pat.

  Riley turned into the parking lot of the first convenience store they reached. He parked directly in front of the entrance and turned to his passenger. “Stay put. I’m going in for coffee.”

  She blinked but said nothing.

  Taking the keys with him, he entered the store. The cashier glanced at him but didn’t bother with a greeting. Early twenties, he guessed. A slash of purple brightened her black hair and caked-on dark eye shadow along with the black clothes gave her a goth appearance. He stopped at the counter and hoped like hell she was friendlier than she looked.

  “Excuse me. I know this is going to sound like a strange request—”

  She laughed. “Man, this is New Orleans, everything is strange.”

  At least she had a sense of humor. “Do you have a cell phone I could use to make just one phone call?”

  Her gaze narrowed. “Why would I let you use my cell phone?”

  Riley didn’t miss the way she assessed his battered face. “I got into a little trouble last night and I need to call a friend. It’s really important.”

  She pursed her lips and thought about his request a moment. “All right.” She pushed the cell phone she’d been tinkering with across the counter. “But if you walk out that door with it I’m calling the cops.”

  He grabbed up the phone, careful to keep it out of view of the front store windows. “Thanks.”

  Riley headed to the far side of the store where the coffee maker was stationed. He entered Stark’s cell number and checked to ensure Tessa remained in the SUV as he waited through two rings. He needed to be able to see her but he didn’t want her to see him using a phone.

  “Stark.”

  “It’s Porter,” he sai
d, relieved to hear his colleague’s voice.

  “Where are you? We lost you at—”

  “I know,” Riley interrupted. “I’ll explain everything when we rendezvous. Right now I need you and a bomb tech. One who knows high-tech devices.”

  “What’s going on, Porter?”

  “No time.” Riley poured a cup of coffee, keeping a close eye on the SUV. “Just tell me where we can meet ASAP. Someplace neutral in case my movements are being tracked.”

  Stark discussed the possibilities with someone on his end. Ross maybe. Riley couldn’t make out the muffled voice, but he knew his Colby Agency colleague was in the New Orleans area and working with Ross.

  When Stark came back on the line, he asked for Riley’s location. “Hey,” he called out to the cashier. She glared at him as if he’d interrupted something important but since there were no more customers in the store that couldn’t be the case. “What’s the address here?” She rattled it off and he passed it on to Stark.

  Stark asked Riley to hold, while he then confirmed the directions he relayed to Riley. “Should take you about fifteen minutes with the lack of traffic this morning.”

  “See you in fifteen.” Riley ended the connection and deleted the number from the cell phone. He returned to the counter and reached toward his back pocket. That was when it hit him that he not only didn’t have his wallet, he also had no ID and no money. “Damn.”

  The cashier rolled her eyes. “Forget it.” She held out her hand for her cell.

  Riley placed the phone in her palm. “Thanks. I’m really sorry.” He hadn’t meant to take something he couldn’t pay for.

  “Don’t worry about it.” She waved him off. “Just stay out of trouble.”

  Riley thanked her again as he exited the store. He hoped he could do exactly as she’d suggested.

  Tessa didn’t look at him as he climbed back behind the wheel. He placed the coffee in the cup holder, realizing then that he hadn’t asked her if she wanted anything. He was really off his game this morning.

  “You want some of my coffee?”

  She shook her head.