Page 32 of The Captive Missing

“You look… casual.” Theresa grinned. “How do you feel?”

“Terrified,” Val admitted, then examined both of their reflections in the full length mirror.

Standing side by side in the dim light, Val saw herself in the style of Theresa and vice versa. This just might work, she thought.

When Jason appeared, he was wearing his younger brother’s clothes. Black t-shirt, blue jeans and navy-colored hoodie. Wrapping her arms around him, Val felt a bulge just under one arm. Sucking in a breath, she glanced up into his face.

“I’ve got a permit for it,” Jason murmured, then drew her against him, offering her what comfort he could.

* * *

At two in the morning, the group was assembled and ready. The men shook hands and the women embraced. They all hoped that by this same time tomorrow, Jason and Val would be far north of here, having crossed the border into Canada.

Standing in the foyer, all the lights in the suite had been flicked off. Jason glanced at his phone before giving his father a final nod. The security guards shoved through the door first with Jeremy dragging Theresa along at his back. CT and Senior followed.

As the doors swung shut, Val could hear shouts ring out from the FBI agents. Then came the pounding of feet, the shuffle of bodies and the sound of elevator doors dinging. Jason clutched her tightly to him, she could hear the sound of his breathing. Please let this work, she thought. Please.

Through the doors they heard one agent radio for backup, then race by on his way to the end of the hall. When the far door to the stairs slammed shut, Jason dared to look through the peep hole.

“All clear,” he whispered.

Turning to face her, Jason adjusted her ball cap and then pulled up his hood, cinching it down to cover his forehead. Quickly, she rose up to kiss him, balancing on her toes to reach. It was just a peck, a fast brush of trust that passed between them before it was gone, replaced by the pounding of blood that pumped in her ears.

Taking her firmly in hand, Jason quietly opened the door and set a fast pace for the opposite set of stairs. No one at all was left on their floor.

The eerie sound of their steps echoed in the emptiness as they breached the stairwell. It was a long, long, long way down. By the time they reached the bottom, Val’s head was spinning and her lungs burned. She wasn’t sure if it was the carousel of their descent or the fear of their flight that had her short of breath.

At the bottom, Jason hesitated for only a second. His chest heaved and his eyes sought hers in the garish light. Swallowing hard, she gave him a slight nod before he opened the exit door and stepped outside.

It was the middle of the night in the city, but the sidewalks still had pedestrians and the streets still spilled with cars. Light from the towering buildings, overhead lamps and headlights forced odd pools of shadows to collect next to the hotel.

Glancing first one way and then the other, Jason stepped as casually as possible into the open. He pulled Val along next to him and they managed to walk a few yards before the first body leapt at them from the darkness.

“Stop! FBI!” The man in the suit shouted, gun drawn to point directly in Jason’s face.

Val’s heart stopped beating in that moment.

Jason released his hold on her and she backed a few steps away. Just as she considered turning to run, she saw her husband lunge forward to attack the agent. Faster than she had ever seen him move, Jason ducked to the side before knocking the weapon from the man’s hand. Then without hesitation, he pushed in closer, striking the agent in the throat with his clenched fist. Val could hear the gurgle as the agent collapsed onto the sidewalk, clutching at his neck, working for air.

“That will be enough.”

The voice that growled just behind her was familiar, making her jump. One large arm snaked its way around her shoulders, while the other leveled a gun at Jason. Agent Finn held her body firmly against his. She could hear the sound of his breath exhaling through his nostrils.

“Don’t-” Agent Finn’s voice rose as Jason reached beneath his hoodie. “Even think about it.”

Val wrapped both hands around Finn’s forearm where he held it pressed just beneath her neck. Wide eyes reeling she wanted to beg her husband to surrender. This wasn’t worth dying over. But she couldn’t get any words to pass from her throat.

Slowly, Jason raised his hands, palms out, but kept his gaze locked on Agent Finn.

“You couldn’t just chase the car out front?” Jason’s voice was tight.

“No.” Agent Finn shifted, adjusting the aim of his weapon. “Been doing a little training?”

“Being jumped by a crowd of people will teach you a few things.” Jason’s eyes darted to Val, then back to Finn. “Like you can’t trust another person to save you. Like sometimes you get fed to the wolves. Sound familiar? Johnny?”

Traffic whizzed past, other pedestrians gave them a wide berth, but no one stopped, no one attempted to interfere. The other agent regained his feet and, swearing to himself, came up behind Jason to disarm him. Tossing the gun a few feet away, he yanked down on Jason’s wrists and secured him with a set of shining handcuffs. Val could hear the ratcheting click as they tightened.

“Put him on the ground,” Agent Finn instructed.

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