Hidden Sins (36 page)

“Happy Birthday, lovey,” Lawrence told his wife.

I walked over to her and smiled as Liv came over to hold the pillow while I pinned the crown on the wife’s head.

“This is beautiful,” the wife whispered, as I fastened the crown to her hair. After I finished, Liv spun around, revealing the Tiffany box to the wife. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as Liv lowered the pillow for her to grab the tiny box. She opened the small turquoise box, which revealed diamond earrings and everyone began clapping.

“Happy Birthday.” I smiled and took a few steps back, allowing the happy couple time to celebrate.

“So sweet,” Liv gushed as I placed the pillow on one of the tables.

“It is,” I laughed. “Not my thing but definitely sweet.”

Sean wandered over and gave Liv a quick hug.

“Nice work, Hannah,” Sean said, glancing at me.

“Thanks,” I laughed as the music turned up and the lights lowered slightly. I watched champagne get handed out and saw the happy couple begin to dance. It definitely looked like the wife was in heaven.

“You okay?” Liv asked, standing next to me.

“I’m just worried about my mom. I want to get a hold of the doctors,” I confessed. “I’m not mentally here.”

“I’m gonna go see if Sean’ll let you off early,” Liv offered.

I hadn’t wanted to let him down.

“Really?”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry,” I said, glancing around the party.

“Don’t apologize. It’s no problem. I’m sure he’ll say yes. There’s plenty of us around. We can handle it.”

I nodded and walked out of the private room to get some fresh air. I didn’t want any of the guests to see me so I slipped along the far wall and leaned against the bar, trying to force away the nausea from everything the day had presented to me. The bass of the music almost rattled the glasses stacked on the bar and I realized I just needed to get some peace and quiet. I’d give Luke a call and maybe I’d just get a ride with whoever he had in the parking lot.

“Hey, girl,” Liv said, spotting me. “Sean said no problem.”

“That’s awesome. Please tell him I really appreciate it.”

“Will do,” Liv said, giving me a quick squeeze. “He was hoping you could toss this pillow in the storeroom before you leave.” She handed me the velvet square and I nodded. I watched Liv return to the private room and sighed as the music continued to pound through the room. It was only going to get worse as the night wore on.

The storage room was right next to the dressing room. I’d never actually looked inside before. I glanced behind me and walked slowly down the hall, feeling some of the tension begin to slip away. I opened the door and flipped on the light. The room was pretty well organized, and I didn’t want to just toss the velvet prop on the floor, so I scanned some of the shelves to find a good home.

I stood on my toes and found a place for the pillow. As I slid it onto the shelf, the lights turned off and my heart stilled.

“Someone there?” I asked into the darkness.

Silence was the answer. My heart began racing as I slipped on the floor and tumbled down. The dress made it impossible to move quickly. I had to get out of here. I heard footsteps and forced down my fear. I had to get back on my feet. Reaching the door, I wrenched hard on the handle, but the door wouldn’t budge. I tried again and again, but I was trapped and no one knew to look for me because I wasn’t lost. The bass from the music pounded through the air as I let out a scream that I knew no one would hear. I slowly slid down the door to the floor as the footsteps came closer. I looked into the shadows and waited for what was to come.

They had found me.

Luke

“Look, I know you can’t jeopardize the case. But something’s going on here that needs attention and time’s not on our side,” I sighed into the phone, waiting for Sam’s response.

“Listen, all I can tell you is that what Hannah fell into is way deeper than she realizes. She can trust no one. Absolutely no one. I’ve tried to get the director to put more resources on her, protect her, but they feel it’s too risky.”

“How so?” I asked, my temper rising. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“A big bust is scheduled. We’re looking at over a hundred arrests if all goes well. But all must go well. If anyone gets wind that the agency’s been in contact with Miss Walker everything will be halted. Years of work will be for nothing. Lives will have been lost for no reason.”

Lives will have been lost. Hannah could fall into that number and the agency wasn’t worried about that at all.

I tapped my finger on the desk and glanced at the clock. Five more hours and I could pick her up.

“You knew Hannah’s mother would be there and didn’t tell me.”

“I can’t always tell you everything, especially if your heart’s in the wrong place.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“You’re involved with Hannah, personally. We both know how that can jeopardize cases.”

I let out a sigh.

“We both know she’s in danger,” I said, aggravated.

“Yes. We both do. And only one of us can do something about it,” Sam replied. “Give us twelve more hours, Luke. And you’ll see why I’m asking for patience.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said, feeling my cell buzz from a new voicemail.

“Don’t take your eyes off her, Luke. I know I told you she needed to keep up appearances, but I wouldn’t trust anyone. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

“Shit. I understand you should’ve told me this two hours ago.” My heart hammered through my chest as I disconnected the call. Why didn’t I think of this earlier? There was one person who had access to Mia, Hannah, and me. He would’ve been able to track her whereabouts with a simple question to Mia or glance at her work schedule. He had access to her cell through the work records. He knew where she lived. The intel was right in front of his nose. I’d been outthinking these people, giving them more credit than they deserved, thinking technology was on their side. They had an inside guy.

Button’s main trunk line appeared as a missed call on my cell with the voicemail symbol blinking. I clicked it on and listened to Hannah’s message. Another piece to the puzzle. I grabbed my pistol and dropped it in my holster as I called out for Mitch and Mia.

“What’s going on?” Mia asked, running from the back of the house.

“It was Sean. This whole time. It was Sean.”

Mia’s hands rose to her mouth. “Oh my god. I never would’ve guessed.”

“That’s how they always found her. That’s how she got the job at Buttons. That’s why Sean had a sudden change of heart toward blondes. They must have gotten to him once she arrived in town. Money must’ve been enticing.”

Mitch arrived in the room with two other men.

“My guess is that Sean was offered a large chunk of change to offer her a job once they tracked her down at that halfway house,” I continued. “I knew I didn’t trust that Nancy character. My guess is that Nancy somehow knew where Rikki was going to take Hannah that one day and Sean had Liv find her there to offer her the job.”

“Damn it.” Mia shook her head. “Makes complete sense. You think she’s in trouble right now? Even at Buttons with all the other girls around?”

“I’d bet my life on it. She’s in trouble right now because she’s at Buttons.”

“Is the bureau on the way?” Mitch asked.

I shook my head. “We’re on our own, at least for now. They’re within hours of making the bust. They don’t want to jeopardize the case.”

Mia shook her head as anger covered her expression. “Like usual. Everyone’s just a number.”

My cell rang. It was Sean. A fire flowed through my veins as I thought about this man, this supposed friend.

I answered the phone on speaker. “What’s up, buddy?”

“Slow night,” Sean responded. “Hey. I’ve been trying to get a hold of Mia. You know where she’s at?”

“Dude, I don’t keep tabs on my sister. Last I knew she was working on some piece for a client. She got tired of you already?”

“Appears so,” Sean laughed. I detected a slight bit of hostility.

“I was thinking of surprising Hannah tonight,” I sighed.

The silence over the phone sent a chill through the room.

“There’s a private function here tonight,” Sean said, after a beat too long.

“I guess I’ll just have to wait until I pick her up then.”

“You got it bad?” Sean asked.

“Sure do.”

“Sorry to hear that, man. I hoped you’d be a bachelor for life. Join the ranks and all.”

I laughed into the phone as Mitch caught my gaze and left the room.

“Well, sometimes the heavens need a good laugh,” I said. “You up for drinks tomorrow?”

“Sure am.”

“Great. I’ll talk to you then.” I disconnected the phone and tried not to punch something. The mere thought of losing Hannah was crippling, but I wasn’t going to lose her. I was going to find her.

“The guys are on standby,” Mitch said, coming back into the room.

“Get the team together. We’re going in now.”

Hannah

My head pounded and I felt groggy. I tried to sit up, but quickly realized I was tied to a chair. The rope around my ankles stung as I attempted to move my legs. There was a musty smell, but I was surrounded by silence. I listened hard, depended on all my senses, but was met with only the ragged sound of my breaths.

I didn’t want to open my eyes. I didn’t want to know what I was facing. I knew enough to understand it wasn’t good. As the fuzziness wore off slowly, I felt the fabric hugging dress still wrapped tightly around my body. I wasn’t sure if it was the dress or the restraints that made it difficult to breath. But I kept my breaths regular, soft, to not arouse suspicion that I’d awoken. My mind wandered to Luke. Would he know that something happened to me before it was too late? Would he be able to find me? Would he ever catch the people who were going to kill me?

I concentrated on the distance beyond my closed eyelids. The darkness that sat surrounding me created a false sense of isolation, but I knew whoever was here had to be close. The quietness all part of a deception built to break me, but I wouldn’t break. I was stronger than that. After all, I left. They didn’t.

I heard a shuffle in the distance and a pink glow penetrated my lids signaling life beyond. Unable to gauge the distance, I listened intently for footsteps or voices. I was greeted by neither.

But I smelled something. I smelled something familiar, too familiar. To keep the unease at bay, I thought about Luke and what we shared. I remembered being in his arms and experiencing what it meant to feel alive and wild. I felt the sensation of overwhelming strength as we became one. I channeled my anger and fear into something that would make me more.

In order to move on in my life, I had to face my fears. I had to face the people who put them there. Now was my chance. I needed to shatter the sins they’d hidden for so long, the sins that became mine. I had no plans to die, but did anyone? Even if a person could taste death at the tip of their tongues were they truly ready? It wasn’t a question I wanted answered, but it was one I was willing to face. If it meant I could be liberated from the demons that had followed me I would welcome it as long as I could take them with me.

“No need to act like you’re sleeping,” a man’s voice said. I didn’t recognize it, but I heard several sets of footsteps surrounding me. “You’re heart rate tells us you’re awake so rise and shine.”

I stayed still with my eyes closed. I didn’t want to be told what to do. I didn’t come across the country to be told what to do by the same monsters I’d left behind.

A sting flashed across my cheek. “I told you to open your eyes.”

Keeping my eyes closed, I spit in front of me.

“We have your boyfriend. Your fiancé is looking forward to meeting him,” the man said.

My pulse quickened.

“Looks like we got a response out of her on that one. Love this little machine.” He bent over me from behind. I felt his hot breath crawl over my scalp and it took everything I had not to vomit. “Why don’t you tell me what all you think you know about us?”

I didn’t respond. I focused on my breathing. Another slap seared along my cheek. This time I felt the sting for far longer, but I remained silent.