Game of Fear (12 page)

A cursor blinked on the screen.

“This is wicked!” Mylo wielded his remote in the air like a sword. “How do they do that? Talk through the TV and all the speakers like that. You didn’t even have the surround sound on. He’s like a MechWarrior, he’s really in the room with us.” Mylo keyed in his e-mail, then tossed the remote to Justin.

They each entered their e-mail addresses.

Luke paused the video. “Very easy to track them now. And people enter e-mail addresses on websites and games all the time, so they aren’t suspicious.” He pressed Play.

“Congratulations, Eradicators.” The tone seemed a bit harsher than before. “You must take the oath. Swear to each other that whatever you do, whatever you see, from this level on, will never be revealed to anyone else. Swear it! The fate of the world depends on you.”

Justin groaned and settled on one end of the couch, sidling up next to Ashley. “Okay, we are officially part of the geek patrol. I wonder if we get badges and have to do secret handshakes.”

Ashley laughed and he leaned over to kiss her.

“Hey, quit fooling around, you two, and pay attention,” Mylo insisted. “I heard we get upgrades and other cool stuff after hitting this level.”

Ashley just sat there when he turned to her expectantly. “Oh my God, you’re kidding. Right? We’re swearing allegiance to a TV set? It’s not like they can hear us.”

Justin shrugged. “Well, um, it’s part of the game.”

“Oh, jeez. You guys really are geeks.” Ashley shook her head, then finally raised her hand. “All right,” she said with a sigh. “I swear.”

Immediately the screen lit with a familiar icon indicating a new level.

“Okay, it’s like the game heard us. That’s too Big Brother for me,” Ashley said with a slight shiver.

“For your first task, you will be asked to identify an access code with four related sets of numbers. They can only be retrieved by finding a way into your nemesis’s secret database. He has stolen a substantial treasure and hidden it in his vault. The code numbers for entry are in the following sequence: first, there are twelve digits, then three digits, and finally five digits.”

Mylo groaned. “Here we go again. More numbers crap. This will take weeks.”

The mechanized voice continued, “As always, you will be given hints and prompts along the way, but you will have only thirty minutes to unlock the vault door and attain your prize. If you fail, the bonus round will lock you out of Level 88 for an extended period of time. If you succeed, however, more complex and exciting challenges await you.”

“Man. We only have one chance?” Mylo protested. “That sucks.”

“Everyone still in?” Justin asked.

At their nods, he took control of the computer again. The machine chimed, but the sound was nearly drowned out by the addictive music from the game’s new level.

“If you are ready, enter the first four digits of pi to start the game.”

Justin took up his control. “Am I crazy thinking that he didn’t interrupt us when we were talking? Like he knew to wait.”

Mylo whacked Justin on the head. “You are so paranoid. Maybe they’re just timed blank sections. Or it’s some weird new gaming technology. His voice sounds pretty robotic and there are tons of advances in that field,” Mylo said. “Lighten up.”

The television blinked an eerie green glow in the darkened room, showing Ashley’s troubled face. “It is a little strange.”

“Oh for God’s sake,” Justin said. “I’m sorry I brought it up. We only have a half hour. Let’s just play.”

Ashley grinned. “You’re right. Besides, there aren’t many games that actually require math and brains. I don’t want to get locked out of the most challenging thing I’ve come across yet.” She gathered her calculator and other materials around her. “Let’s do this!”

Everyone was on an adrenaline rush, but Ashley seemed euphoric. “This is so cool. Math, coding, encryption. All my favorite things.”

“How come I’m not on the list?” Justin asked.

“I’m talking technological things, sweetie. Not people.”

Mylo groaned. “Give me some guys with guns this time. Those I can handle.”

Justin turned up the volume and looked over at Ashley. “Ready to play?

“Let’s go, Eradicators.” Ashley patted the controller and gave him a quick grin. “Concentrate hard. We’re breaking into the nemesis’s bank this time. I can’t wait.”

Luke’s wall screen went black. The video clip was over.

Deb, Gabe, and Luke just sat there, staring at the blank expanse.

Finally, Gabe turned to Luke. “This was taken last Friday night. They hit Level 88 at Ashley’s dorm, too. Justin disappeared the next day. Ashley, the following night. What do you think it all means?”

“Damned if I know, little brother, but we’ll find out.”

Cayman Islands—Tuesday Morning

Outside, the humidity hit ninety percent, the temperature nearing ninety-five, but that wasn’t what made the account manager sweat. This couldn’t be happening. He had to meet his client soon and the drinks he had last night must still be screwing up his head.

The bank was more crowded than usual due to the Monday holiday yesterday. Phones rang and conversations went on around him, but the manager’s entire attention remained on the computer screen in front of him.

He must have keyed the numbers in wrong.

Throat tight, he pushed forward in his chair and carefully retyped the twelve-digit account number and the nine-digit code, made up of a zero, a three-digit bank code, and a five-digit branch/transit code.

Finally he reached the last digit. Hands sweating, he typed the number seven, sent up a small Hail Mary, and hit “Enter.”

The screen went dark, flashed white, then black again. The account balance flashed on the screen, the white numbers showing him the same impossible figure.

His hand trembled. Panicked, he closed his eyes, then opened them again, and blinked twice.

“It can’t be right.” He reentered the numbers a third time, but nothing changed.

Oh, dear God in heaven. His chest ached, and he couldn’t stop his panting breaths. He clutched the desk, fighting the urge to run.

“It’s gotta be a glitch. It has to be.” He paused and stared from the computer to the phone, and back at the monitor. Desperation choked off his breath. The moment he dialed the computer group, everyone would know.

His boss definitely wouldn’t overlook this screwup.

The phone rang and he jumped. Quaking, he picked up the receiver. “Sir?”

“Well, what the hell is taking so long? Our client is waiting.” The president of the bank’s voice boomed through the receiver.

He swallowed, and his boss had to have heard the gulp. “Um. We might have a problem, sir. I’m missing one hundred twenty-five million US dollars.”

The guards led Ashley to a new part of the complex down a long hallway. Huge mechanical doors slid open. She braced, ready to run, but a forklift deposited a large box, then a guard keyed in a code on the entry pad and the garagelike door slid closed, blocking out the sun.

“Wait here,” Niko said. He walked down and met the guard several feet away. Too near to try to bolt, but too far to overhear their conversation.

She looked around quickly, trying to memorize the area for a possible future escape. She could break keypad entries. She hadn’t noticed a palm print reader or anything more complex.

A boy was mopping the floor and sidled closer, but he didn’t raise his head or pause in his task. “Don’t bother,” he said, his voice barely audible. “You won’t find a way out. If there was one where they couldn’t trace us, I’d be gone already.”

“Have you been here long?”

He grimaced. “Do I look like I’ve been soaking up the rays lately?” His face was vanilla pale, his sandy hair shaved close to his head.

“Sorry,” said Ashley. “I just got here.”

“I know. Everyone’s talking about it. How mad you made the Warden. Listen to me. Do what they tell you. Don’t fight them. Don’t question
anything
,” he whispered as he passed by closer with the mop. “Anyone who causes trouble . . .”

A door creaked open and the kid stiffened.

“What?” Ashley insisted. “What happens?”

“They either tag you with a microchip or you disappear,” he whispered and shuffled down the hall, adding, “I’m on my last warning.”

Only then did Ashley see the shackles around his ankles.

CHAPTER SEVEN

D
EB CLUTCHED THE
armrests of Gabe’s
SUV. The vehicle slid through a street lined with snowdrifts toward her apartment building. The place couldn’t have looked more unwelcoming. It wasn’t a home, and her sister wouldn’t be there. Might never . . .

No, Deb couldn’t think that way. She had to focus on the leads. Ashley was a fighter. She was smart. She’d stay alive no matter what the situation.

She couldn’t get over Ashley’s expression while she played that game. Her sister had looked so happy, so excited, so alive. About the game, and about Justin.

A whole side of Ashley she hadn’t recognized.

And that was all on her.

Ashley had everything to live for. Deb had to find her.

She sent a sidelong glance at Gabe as he pulled into a parking place. She didn’t know what she would have done without him. She could maneuver a chopper with finesse—it followed her every movement—but she was out of her element now. She’d needed Gabe. More than he knew.

Gabe shoved the gear into “Park.” “Neil will be able to justify Ashley’s investigation to the brass with Britney’s disappearance and the video connection. Let’s get Ashley’s things,” Gabe said. “Maybe there’s something in her stuff that will help since we know more of what we’re looking for.”

“I hope so. I’ve been through everything once, but maybe fresh eyes . . .”

Her voice trailed off as she stepped out of Gabe’s SUV. A few minutes later, they reached her third-floor walk-up apartment.

Gabe was limping slightly by the time they reached the top. “You must have a blast hauling in groceries from the car,” he said, a bit of strain in his voice.

Deb bit her lip and took in the tightness around his mouth. “Oh God, I’m sorry, Gabe. I forgot about your leg when I asked you to come up. I picked this place because, with my job, there’s not much chance to exercise. My legs need to be strong to handle the helicopter and lifting gurneys and wounded people. That kind of thing.”

Gabe’s expression tightened, and she cursed under her breath.

How stupid could she be? He used to do that kind of thing all the time as a cop. She’d just reminded him that his leg was no longer strong enough for him to remain in SWAT.

Way to make the guy feel good, Deb. She sucked at this. She wanted to say something to him, like how much she appreciated him, how much she couldn’t have survived the last days without him. Instead, she just unlocked the door. “Come on in. It’s not much, but it’s home. For now.”

“You need to change your lock. Anyone with a credit card could break in.”

Gabe followed her inside and she glanced around the sparse one-bedroom efficiency through his eyes. “The burglars would be disappointed. I don’t spend a lot of time here, and it shows. Ashley didn’t . . . doesn’t . . . visit me that often anymore, since she had . . . has no car . . .” Deb’s voice faltered. “I usually go to Colorado Springs to see her.”

Deb wrapped her arms around her waist. Yeah, the place looked like hell. Empty shelves. Her gear stacked in a corner. The lumpy couch and the red torture chair were accompanied by cloth-covered packing boxes used as end tables and a coffee table. She hadn’t put any personal touches in the apartment at all, except for one wall full of photos.

Gabe immediately walked over to the pictures. He studied one of a younger Ashley, complete with a silly beach hat and a sunburn on her nose. She sported a goofy face for the camera. “She’s a really pretty girl.”

Slowly Deb joined him, her heart aching as she took in the memories. “Ashley was so happy that day.” Emotions choked off the words in Deb’s throat. She put a hand to her mouth to stop the sob. “Oh God, Gabe, Ashley has to be okay.”

Gabe gently pulled Deb back against his body, folding his arms around her. For a moment she sagged against him, then she turned in his arms, her fists gripping his shirt. “I can’t . . . I need . . .” Her control was so close to shattering.

She stiffened. “Please. I need a minute.”

He kissed her temple, then turned his attention to a photo of three men standing in military uniform, one a two-star general. Deb struggled to regain her composure. She didn’t know how long it took, but finally she felt like she could speak without crying or screaming in frustration. She followed Gabe’s focus and cleared her throat. “My father. He was at the Pentagon, then near Colorado Springs for two years. They sent him to Kandahar about six months ago. My other brothers are in the Middle East, too. None of them can really keep in touch very much. E-mail and social media sites help when they can get access to the Internet.”

Gabe nodded. “My brother Seth is in the same business. Luke was in Afghanistan for a while, too. We almost lost him in an ambush. He was the only survivor and it still haunts him.” Gabe glanced at her. “Not that he says anything.”

“They can’t. When I was over there, at least I had a bit more information on where they were. Now, being a civilian, I get nothing. I just have to believe they’ll be okay.”

She studied an older picture, one of a dignified soldier, a smiling woman, and four small children.

“That’s your mom?”

Deb nodded, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. “She died of cancer when we were kids. A rare brain tumor. One minute she was there, the next she was just gone.”

Gabe placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “I’m sorry.”

“Thanks. I guess we’ve both lost parents we loved.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder, but a strange look crossed Gabe’s face.

“You’re right. It’s hard to lose someone you love. No matter how it happens.”

Odd choice of words, but Gabe didn’t give her time to ask. “We should probably head out.”

She nodded and walked over to the makeshift laundry basket Ashley used for storage. Deb’s eyes burned. She touched one of the journals and flipped through it. Not like any other girl, her sister’s books were filled with equations and numbers, not hopes and dreams and boys. God, this couldn’t be all she had left of her sister. The protective wall enclosing her fears broke open wide and her heart shattered.

“How could I have let this happen to Ashley?” Deb tried blinking back the tears in her eyes, but they slid down her cheeks. “I knew something was wrong that night, and I didn’t act on it. I failed her.”

Without hesitation, Gabe strode over to her. “Don’t push me away again, Deb,” he said. “Let me be here for you.” With that he wrapped her trembling body into his. He held her close, stroking her hair.

She shook her head against his shoulder. “This is stupid. I don’t cry. I never cry.”

He didn’t say a word, just quietly held her, sturdy, secure, solid. Finally, Deb couldn’t fight the battle to stay strong any longer. She collapsed against him, needing his comfort, accepting her vulnerability for one of the first times in her life. Somehow, despite all the horrible things happening around her, he made her feel safe.

With her head against his chest, she felt his heartbeat, its steady rhythm so calming to her battered psyche. His protectiveness soothed her spirit, made her feel less alone.

She loved that he towered over her. At five-nine, she’d been as tall as most of her colleagues in her unit, but Gabe was much taller than her. At least six-three.

She sighed, absently running her hand across his strong chest. His breath caught, his arms tensing around her. She stilled, a deep awareness rising within.

Was she wrong to want comfort? To escape, for a moment, from the grief that had been with her constantly since that phone call?

Being vulnerable scared her so. But right now, she needed whatever he could give her.

She needed his kiss and his touch.

She lifted her chin. He stared into her eyes, his own turning dark with passionate recognition. His fingertips drifted over her hair and he wiped away a tear from her cheek, his touch oh so gentle, as if afraid she’d pull away.

She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. His gaze held her prisoner. The world around her seemed to blur, as if the moment included only her standing in his arms.

Slowly, tenderly, Gabe lowered his mouth to hers. She closed her eyes. How long had it been since someone had touched her the way Gabe did?

She couldn’t even remember.

Deb had kept herself apart from the men in her company. Fraternization only caused strife. She had to be one of the guys over there.

How long since she’d felt like this?

Or yearned for a sensitive caress, not hard and fast, but slow and . . . heartfelt?

With a sigh, she leaned in closer, her tongue edging out to taste him. A slight tang of coffee and something wonderfully male. A rumble started low in his chest and he deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth.

When he lifted his head, his hooded gaze met hers.

Dazed by the emotions rising within her, she simply stared at him.

“Wow,” she said softly.

“Yeah,” Gabe whispered. “I won’t tell you how many nights I dreamed of what you would taste like. Better than I imagined.”

Heat rose into her face and she bit her lip. She wasn’t anything special. He didn’t know it yet, but she’d made a lot of mistakes. She’d disappointed a lot of people. She hoped Gabe would never know.

She took a step back and cleared her throat. “Um, I’m not sure this was a good idea.”

“Why? It felt like a really great one to me, and you weren’t backing away.” Gabe frowned and stroked her cheek. “It’s not wrong to need someone.”

She leaned into his touch. He made her feel too much—from the inside out. “It could complicate things. I need to stay focused on finding Ashley, no distractions.”

He dragged a fingertip down her arm and the hairs on her skin stood on end. A shudder ran through her—the good kind.

“I know you’re right,” Gabe said, his brown eyes flashing, heated with unfulfilled passion. “This isn’t the best time for either of us.”

Reluctantly, he stepped back. “But I also know this, Deborah Lansing. If it weren’t for your sister’s disappearance and a few compelling commitments on my part, I’d be backing you into your bedroom and we wouldn’t come out for a week.”

She swallowed, wishing life could be so different.

“Can I take a rain check on that week?” she asked.

Gabe gave her a devilish grin and kissed her again. “You got it.”

The tall expanse of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office building loomed high near the foothills. Gabe hadn’t entered Jeffco during business hours in months. Not since his very public exit because of his injury.

He let his limp grow more pronounced. Deb met his gaze and he recognized the comprehension in her eyes.

“You play the role well,” she whispered. “I assume this is part of your . . .
compelling commitment
? I’ll go along.”

Damn. She knew exactly what he was doing. Part of him was furious at giving the truth away, the other part was glad. It lightened his heart to have one person besides John Garrison who knew.

He couldn’t respond, though. Not here. He led her through the bullpen among curious stares. A couple of the musketeers were at their desks, and the heat of their glares followed Gabe the whole way. Crap. He should have done this over the phone.

Neil Wexler looked up from his desk, his eyes revealing his exhaustion.

“You look like hell, Detective,” Gabe said. “Working round the clock now, buddy? That’s dedication.”

Neil stood slowly and nodded. “It’s something, anyway.”

Gabe started at the fleeting sadness he saw in his friend’s eyes before Neil masked it. He hoped nothing was wrong on the home front. He and his wife should still be in honeymoon bliss.

“Have you heard something?” Gabe asked.

“About Ashley? No.” Neil shook both their hands and he sank with a weary sigh into his chair. “But I understand you’ve been busy in Colorado Springs making new friends.”

Deb winced, and Gabe shut the door without being asked. Neil was acting strange and, with the musketeers around, Gabe wasn’t about to talk about anything like the video.

He held out a chair for Deb. “I let my temper get the best of me,” she admitted, taking a seat.

Neil rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I understand, but you didn’t help things. And I don’t have any more information if that’s why you’re here. I did sign out the Shannon Devlin cold case file. I also talked with the police in Taos. Definite connection. They identified the car, but they’re waiting on Forensics to identify the bodies. No one has any doubt, though.”

Gabe leaned forward. “Something’s here, Neil.” He laid out the evidence. The video, the missing kids. P.O.E.

Neil’s entire demeanor changed. He sat up straight. “Three kids in three days?” He grabbed a pen, snapped out questions, and started taking notes.

Gabe could feel some of the tension drain out of Deb at Neil’s reaction. He had to admit to his own sense of relief. At least
someone
didn’t think they’d taken a sanity detour.

When they were finished, Neil walked them to the door and opened it. “Keep in touch. I’ll let you know if anything important comes up.”

Deb hovered, and Gabe knew she wanted something more. Neil patted her arm. “I promise I won’t ignore Ashley.”