Page 78 of Valor

Tommy was their last hope.

Heading to the fridge, Heather tugged the door open and looked over the sparse contents. How could she get some protein into Allen and help him regain a little strength? In the back, near an expired carton of milk, was a resealable package of jerky. If he could manage to chew it with his neck injury, that was his best shot at feeling better.

She tugged the bag out. From this far away, Allen looked even worse. He laid there with his eyes closed, face pale, blood covering the collar of his uniform. How could she live with herself if she didn’t convince her father Allen was a good man? Look at all he’d done for her. Especially considering how her father had treated him.

She went back to his side, crouched, then sat next to him. “I found something in the fridge that isn’t expired. You should try to eat.” She dug a small piece from the bottom of the bag and held it to his lips. She’d expected them to be cool, but his breath and skin were warm.

He gently took the offering and grimaced as he tried to chew. “It really tugs, but I know I should.” With care, he rolled to his side, then leaned on his elbow, facing her.

For some reason, that felt a lot more intimate than when he’d been laying like a patient at her feet. Now, he was curled between her and the door, still shielding her even though he was weak.

“Thank you.” His gaze met hers, and something crackled between them.

“You’re welcome. Do you need anything else?” Not that she could provide much from what was in that room. Even the vending machine was empty. So, even if she hadn’t dropped her purse out in the middle of the store along with all the items she’d planned to buy, she couldn’t have made use of it.

“This is fine, though a glass of water from the tap would help if you can find a glass in here.” He half-grinned.

“I think there’s one by the sink. Let me wash it and get you some.” Moving was better than thinking about how being so close to him made her heart beat really fast or how her mind swirled with questions she couldn’t face.

Dad had always said that what was right was good and what was good would overcome. Defending Allen Pendleton was right. It was good. She had no choice. After she finished washing the mug and running the tap for a long time to get it as cold as possible, she took the water to Allen.

He finished it quickly and set it aside. “Thank you again.”

While she’d been busy, he’d eaten most of the jerky. He rested the package against her leg. “Take some. You need it too.”

She reached into the bag and ate one piece. Before she could finish chewing, the door swung open. The man whose image she’d drawn aimed a gun at her. “Get up. Hands up.”

She complied and helped Allen to his feet. The weaker she helped him to appear, the more they might be lax with him. That would give Allen an edge.

“Hold your hands in front of you, palms facing together.” He handed a zip tie to the store clerk. “Tie her hands, then his.”

The clerk’s eyes looked apologetic, but that wouldn’t help him when this was all done. He’d aided in their kidnapping and assault. Allen could’ve died. This wasn’t a small matter. Feeling sorry was great, but he shouldn’t have been helping in the first place.

Heather clenched her hands into fists and loosely held her wrists together. Hopefully, he didn’t know the trick to make your wrists as wide as possible. When she relaxed, she would have room to free herself from her ties. He clamped the tie shut, securing her, then did the same to Allen, except he had to have his hands behind his back.

“Now, take them out the back door and put them in my car. I have to take care of a few matters first, then I’ll meet you back there. Do not let yourself be seen.”

The man with the gun left them alone in the room with the clerk. Allen faced him. “You don’t have to do this. You’re not in deep yet. Help us escape and I can get any charges against you dropped. If you don’t, you’re facing some serious jail time.”

The clerk ignored him and turned Allen to face the door. He tried to drag his feet and fight against the clerk, but he was still weak, and his rapid blinking told her he was about to pass out. She wished she could grip his arm and lead him to the car. Hopefully, once they reached the place where they were holding her father, they would have some time to rest before they had to try to escape.

They got in the back seat of the car, and the clerk closed the door. He wiped his hands against each other as the man in the suit left the store. In one quick motion, he raised his gun and shot the store clerk. The gun made a noise slightly louder than apop.

Heather screamed as the manager fell to his knees, then face first onto the pavement. She’d always assumed silencers made no noise. That was how the movies portrayed them. The truth was, she had heard it, but it was muffled. Yet that didn’t matter because no one would’ve heard such a small sound.

“Where’s Tommy?” She searched the lot, praying to see the swirling red and blue lights. “Did you hear from Jackie?”

Allen made a noise for the negative. “No, she never called, which means she was rounding up Officer Daily to find him. She knows what happened to us and that we need more than one officer. Hopefully, she put a trace on your phone number. But that could take time because it has to be approved. You had about 40% battery life and that guy doesn’t know you have it. Keep it that way.”

She nodded, swallowing her fear as their attacker got in the car. “I’m so glad you’re still alive to make it to our little party.” The man snickered. “It’s our move-in celebration. Wouldn’t want either of you to miss it. Where is my drive?” He held out his hand.

“We don’t have it. I gave it to the FBI,” Allen said.

The man laughed. “Then it’s destroyed. That’s all that matters. I don’t want that information getting out into the world just yet. There’s too much to cover up otherwise.”

Heather glanced over at Allen, hoping he would convey some type of plan in a glance. He’d known what she was thinking before. Now would be a good time for that to happen again.

“How are you connected to Oliver and Aaron?” Allen asked.

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