Читать книгу San Antonio Secret - Robin Perini, Robin Perini - Страница 11

Chapter Three

The stillness in the motel room made Sierra want to squirm. She sat perched on the edge of the bed, back stiff. She’d filled Rafe in on the van, the kidnapping, everything.

How Mallory had called her after discovering missing money at her job for the San Antonio Rodeo. How Sierra had followed the money trail by digging into a few files and discovering numbers that had been adjusted after Mallory had reconciled her books. How they’d both wondered if her ex’s threats about their custody battle might be related. How that routine traffic stop on the way to pick up Chloe from school had led to the abduction and her getting shot. No point in sugarcoating the truth.

Of course, in typical Rafe fashion, he hadn’t said a word. The muscle in his jaw pulsed erratically, and he just stared. Stone-faced and silent.

His unblinking gaze bored into her. Uh-oh. She recognized the expression and forced herself not to look away. Rafe might be an enigma to practically everyone, but she knew a few things about him. He maintained control 99 percent of the time. She’d only seen him lose it once: their night together. One he obviously regretted—as did she.

Sierra still couldn’t believe Noah had sent Rafe, of all people, to find her. Okay, maybe she could believe it. Rafe was one of the few people Noah really trusted—outside family. Still, she would have preferred to face almost anyone else from CTC.

Her discomfort didn’t matter, though. She’d had no choice but to ask for his help. Mallory and Chloe couldn’t wait. They needed rescuing.

And damn him, Rafe was the very best. CTC called on him when the job was too complicated, too dangerous and required no nerves and even less fear.

And now, she needed him.

With a shaky hand she pushed back her hair over her ear. He was full-on quiet, which meant he didn’t want to speak whatever was on his mind. A waft of the antiseptic he’d used still burned. She wrinkled her nose. She hated the odor. At twelve she’d spent every afternoon at the hospital during her mother’s final illness. That scent did more than make her gut ache, it made her heart hurt. She’d been unable to do anything to prevent her mother’s death. Sierra could do something now...if Mallory and Chloe were still alive.

No. She wouldn’t let herself even consider they weren’t okay. Maybe frightened, but they had to be okay.

“I can’t believe you’ve been kidnapped twice in two months,” Rafe finally muttered with a shake of his head.

“Old news that’s irrelevant,” Sierra said. “And it’s almost kidnapped. If Chloe hadn’t been so scared—”

“You’d all be dead.” Rafe crossed his arms. “This is how it’s going to play. First, I’m calling Noah. He’ll send a plane to take you back to Denver—”

“Not happening,” she interrupted. No way was he pushing her out. She had to make things right. “Not until we find Mallory and Chloe.”

“Sierra—”

“I’m a witness. I know them. You need me.”

“Do you know who kidnapped them?”

She frowned. “They wore masks—”

“Do you have any suspects?”

He rubbed in the obvious with each question. She didn’t have much to go on. “Mallory is getting ready to file paperwork to get full custody. Her ex has been fighting her—”

“Most abductions are committed by someone who knows the victim.” Rafe stroked the stubble on his chin. “He involved other people, though, and that means loose ends. What does he get out of it, unless he plans to keep them prisoner? Or worse.”

An icy chill settled in Sierra’s gut. “The only other lead I have is that she discovered missing money at her job at the rodeo. I looked through some files Mallory brought home with her. I found a few suspicious entries, but I don’t have anything solid. To be sure, I need a look at the accounting system.”

“We need a warrant to do that. CTC has a contact on the San Antonio police force—”

She shook her head. “No cops. At least one helped with the kidnapping. I can’t risk word getting out.”

CTC had dealt with corrupt cops before. It’s one of the reasons the company existed—when law enforcement couldn’t or wouldn’t help. Her father hated that about her career. He’d been a cop until a gunshot wound had put him in a wheelchair, but just because he was no longer on the force didn’t mean you took the cop out of the man.

Rafe shook his head. “I can’t promise anything but to be discreet—”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he placed his finger against her lips. “I’ll call Ransom and request getting Zane out here. He’s got the computer skills. We’ll find your friend, but you are going back to Denver. We can handle this. Let me do my job.”

“And you need to let me do mine.” With a jerk, Sierra flung his hand away and swiveled to the opposite side of the mattress from Rafe. She stalked around the bed and picked up her soiled jeans from the floor. She didn’t look forward to putting them on, but she had nothing else to wear. “I’m staying until we find Mallory and Chloe. If all you’re going to do is put roadblocks in front of me, just go home. I’ll contact Ransom myself and get someone else to help me.” She snatched her burner phone from the table. “Mallory and Chloe don’t have any more time. We’ve wasted too much debating already. I don’t need your protection, Rafe. I need your help.”

Rafe rubbed his temple. “You are so damn stubborn. Fine. I’m in.”

Without a word he stalked out of the motel room, returning in moments with a duffel. He dropped it on the bed, unzipped it and threw a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt at her. “Put them on. At least they’re clean.”

Catching the clothes, she nodded. “Fine.”

Okay, that had been easier than she’d expected.

Surprised he’d given in, Sierra vanished into the bathroom, secretly relieved she wouldn’t have to pull her jeans up over her wound.

She stepped into the huge sweatpants and slid them over her hips. After tightening the drawstring so they wouldn’t fall off, she slipped on the T-shirt that fell to her midthighs despite her five feet ten inches. Rafe’s clothes dwarfed her, but they would do.

Raising her chin, she stared into the mirror. “Are you sure you’re up to this? Maybe Rafe and Noah are right,” she said to the stranger looking back at her, scared, uncertain, despite her bravado in the other room.

No wonder Rafe was skeptical. Look at her. Circles under her eyes. Scrapes on her forehead, bruises darkening her cheek and chin. Where was the strong woman she’d always imagined herself to be? The one who could give all three of her brothers a run.

She knew the answer even if she didn’t want to admit it. Archimedes had ripped something from deep inside her soul. She pulled the neck of the T-shirt lower. The infinity symbol he’d carved into her flesh glared at her, red and angry. A sign of how helpless she’d been in that small room. Completely at his mercy.

He’d gotten the drop on her then, just like the kidnappers had today. Despite her skills at the keyboard, Sierra hadn’t reacted like an agent. Then or now.

But she knew in her gut she could help. Those accounts had made the back of her neck tingle. There was something hidden just beneath the surface. She could feel it.

“So, why didn’t you see the trouble coming? Again?”

She adjusted the soft fabric to cover the scar, bent over the sink and slapped some water on her face. Rafe had instincts. But so did she. “You’ve followed your gut a million times. Numbers don’t lie.”

Right. But this case was more personal than anything she’d ever investigated. “Get a grip, Sierra.” Mallory and Chloe couldn’t afford for Sierra not to be on her A game.

Neither could Rafe. He needed a partner he could count on.

She gripped the edge of the bathroom sink. “You can do this,” she lectured the shadow of herself. “For them.”

* * *

THE BATHROOM DOOR had remained closed for too long. What was Sierra doing in there? Rafe rubbed his hands over his face. What the hell was he going to do with her? She’d been through so much, but she’d fought like hell because her friend Mallory was in trouble. He admired the loyalty. He shouldn’t have expected anything less from Noah’s sister. But he could also see beneath the bravado, and the anger. Even the strongest could crack under enough pressure. Sierra loved fiercely. But that emotion could boomerang. Rafe should know.

He slipped his secure phone from his pocket and dialed a number. He needed facts, not feelings.

“I don’t have another job for you, Rafe.” Ransom didn’t mince words when he answered. “Not yet.”

Rafe grabbed his duffel and walked outside. “That’s not why I’m calling. I need information from the San Antonio Police Department, and I need it hush-hush.”

“What the hell’s going on?”

“We may have some dirty cops. How far do you trust Cade Foster?” Rafe stuffed his belongings behind the seat in his truck.

“If I could tempt him to leave the San Antonio PD, I’d hire him in a heartbeat.”

“Then I need everything you can find on Mallory Harrigan. For a new case.” After a quick glance around, he filled in Ransom on what he knew of Sierra’s friend, but he didn’t mention Noah’s sister. Not yet.

“I’ll get back to you,” Ransom said. “Does this have anything to do with Sierra Bradford flying down there a few days ago?”

Rafe nearly dropped the phone. “How did you know?”

“The same way I know you’ve been holed up in Mertzon,” Ransom said. “It’s my job to worry about my team.” He ended the call.

Sometimes Ransom Grainger could be damned scary. It made the guy the best—and the worst—to work for.

Rafe strode back into the motel room. Sierra hadn’t emerged. He paced back and forth a couple of times. He glanced at the bathroom door. No movement and no way around it. He had another call to make. He tapped in a very familiar number and let it ring.

Once, twice. His grip tightened. Maybe he’d luck out.

“Did you find her?” Noah snapped through the phone.

Or maybe not. “She’s okay.” Rafe winced at the half-truth.

A long silence settled through the phone until a sharp curse escaped his friend.

“What aren’t you telling me?” Noah asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Have you got a radar for trouble or something?” Rafe rubbed the bridge of his nose and repositioned his patch.

“When it comes to my family, you bet. Spill it, Vargas. What’s going on with my sister?” Worry laced Noah’s voice. “She’s safe, isn’t she?”

How was Rafe supposed to answer that? Noah wouldn’t be put off, so Rafe relayed the situation. He kept a few details to himself. No need to tell big brother everything.

“You’re taking the case,” Noah said. “Good. And Sierra’s coming home?”

Rafe didn’t answer.

“Tell me you’re putting her on the plane first thing tomorrow.”

Rafe shoved his fingers through his hair. “She won’t leave. Not until we find Mallory and Chloe. She blames herself.”

Noah let out a sharp curse. “You can’t convince her?”

“How easy is it to change a Bradford’s mind about anything?” Rafe asked.

“Point.”

“Besides she’s got the skills. You know that.” Rafe could deal with the ex, but if Mallory had been kidnapped because of the money, he could very well need Sierra’s expertise to save the woman and her child.

Noah let out a long sigh. “Well, if she’s going to jump into the deep end, I can’t think of a better man to watch over her than you.”

Rafe winced. If only Noah knew.

“Keep her safe. The family can’t lose her. Dad’s had enough hits the past few years.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, Noah. I promise you that.”

With a quick tap on the screen, Rafe ended the call. He paced the floor several times before hovering outside the small bathroom. Resigned to the reality of the situation, even if he didn’t like it, he tapped gently. “You okay in there?”

A bang followed by a curse erupted from inside. “I’d be better if you weren’t so big.”

A corner of Rafe’s mouth tilted up, but before he could respond his phone vibrated. He glanced at the screen and moved to the other side of the room. “What do you have, boss?” he asked in a low voice.

Ransom rattled off a series of facts. With each one, Rafe’s frown deepened. What the hell was going on?

“You’re sure about this?” Sierra wasn’t going to be happy about the news. Or how he’d acquired his information.

“I’ll let you know what I hear. Cade’s keeping his ear to the ground,” Ransom said.

Rafe pocketed his phone just as Sierra walked out of the bathroom. He bit his cheek. “The clothes look good on you even though you’re swimming in them.”

“I’ve been thinking,” she said, ignoring his comment and all business. “Her ex, Bud, had access to Mallory’s house. He could’ve seen the files she brought home. He knows where Chloe goes to school, and the route Mallory takes.”

“That gives him means and opportunity. The motive still feels fuzzy. What’s his endgame?”

“I don’t know.” She grunted in disgust. “I got nothing.”