Page 103 of Preying Heart
“We have the compound surrounded. He won’t get away.”
I’m not going to stand around arguing. They aren’t going to find anyone but the legitimate residents. It’s the wilderness area with the old cabins or the junk heap of the former dude ranch that I have to search.
While Justin confers with his colleagues, I take Glock and sneak off. The tracker’s GPS isn’t precise enough to know exactly where Remi is, and frankly, I’m surprised Gavin hasn’t found Remi’s new phone. He probably spotted the old burner inside her apartment and left it behind. Lucy might have dropped her phone on purpose to give us a clue. Hopefully she’s okay, but we never used the tracking feature because she doesn’t like the lack of privacy. Neither do I.
“Glock, you know what to do. Look for Lucy and Remi.” I take him back to the road, looking for the heavy tire tracks of an old pickup truck that are still fresh. My flashlight beam sweeps the gaps in the rail fence. I’m sure Gavin didn’t drive up the front entrance where they’d have cameras. Neither did he park in the visitor’s traffic circle.
Glock bounds off at a fast jog, and then I spot an old pickup driving without headlamps. I shine my light into the windshield. Two men. Must be Gavin and Slade.
I charge at the pickup, and it barrels straight toward me.
“Glock, get out of the way!”
I dodge and twist, zigzagging, and it swerves back and forth, trying to nail me.
The ground is bumpy and muddy, causing it to slide and spin.
It’s about to hit me, so close. I lunge to my left and grab on to the door handle. It’s the old-fashioned one with the push button. I pull the door open and yank the passenger out.
It’s Slade who’s handcuffed and gagged.
I check that he’s alive, but have no time to tend to him. The pickup brakes and swirls around. I pull out my gun. Glock jumps onto the truck bed.
I load a clip and aim.
The pickup is coming straight for me and Slade.
I have only one shot.
Headshot?
I move my sights and shoot.
Remi
Gentle hands wipe my face with a warm wet cloth. Sweet-scented soap like baby shampoo tickles my nose, and I suppress a sneeze. My head hurts like a throbbing balloon, and my stomach turns in on itself. I swallow and moan, willing my eyes to open.
“You’re going to be okay.” A female voice hovers over me. “We’re going to be roommates. I don’t expect you to remember me.”
She lifts my head and kisses my temple. Who is she?
The ray of light shafting through the window is blinding. I raise my hand to block it out. “Where am I?”
“You’re at the Farm. They treat you well here. Three square meals. Fun crafts and activities.”
“The farm? What do they grow?” I’m not sure if I’m dreaming. “I was in a dark hole. All alone. Under the stairs.”
“You’re with me now.” She smooths my hair back. Her green eyes are catlike. Bright and misty at the same time.
“Mom?” It’s like looking in a mirror, almost. My brain is playing tricks, and her image cycles in and out between my memory and what’s in front of me. “You’re a lot older.”
“You’re as beautiful as I imagined. They sent me pictures, but I never thought you’d come to live with me. They really do treat me well if I’m obedient.” She helps me sit up, and I notice I’m in a well-furnished basement. The wallpaper is a pale turquoise blue with trailing vines and bursts of violet. It looks familiar. The windows are just below the ceiling, and sunlight streams in through clumps of grass.
The bed I’m sitting on is soft. A twin bed next to another matching one. A nightstand sits between the two beds. There’s a microwave and a tiny refrigerator near the TV stand with a flat-panel television and a small round table and two chairs.
“This looks like a motel room. Where are we?”
“I told you already. The Farm. They took me off the streets, but I was too drugged up to get you and Slade back from the system. I’m so sorry.” She hugs me tight. “I thought I’d never see you again. But when Slade told me you were pregnant, I called in a favor.”
