Chapter Forty-One

Davis sped down Jack Block’s access road surrounded by abandoned rail cars and barbed wire fence. He was winded and sweating like a bloody race horse from his suppressed need for action. He methodically pulled air into his lungs and forced himself to focus on the mission. He couldn’t allow himself to think about Grayce, kidnapped and brought to this desolate place by violent criminals.

He spotted the abductor’s black SUV in the parking lot. Scanning the lot and his mirrors, he searched for any sign of the bastard. He rechecked his gun before he jumped out of his car and ran to the trailhead.

A surprised shout made his back muscles flex involuntarily. “Davis, what are you doing down here?”

Wound tight, Davis reeled around with his gun leveled.

“What the…?” Roger Burdrick backed away.

Davis recognized two men walking toward him, wearing SFD issue sweats: Roger and Scott, fire fighters from the West Seattle station. Davis signaled them to be quiet with a cutting motion across his neck.

Both men nodded, approaching in silence.

“What the hell are you two doing here?” Davis whispered.

“We’re finishing our check of the commissary.” Roger pointed to Harbor Avenue where the fire department maintained a storage area of surplus equipment. “Then we use the hill to do part of our workout, but not today with the bomb threat. We’re waiting on orders.” He pointed to the winding path leading up the hill. “Are you following a lead on today’s threat?”

“Yes, the bomber is armed and holding my girlfriend hostage. We think he’s going to make a getaway by boat and take her with him. A federal agent is ahead of me. I need you to cover my back,” Davis said.

Trained for every kind of emergency, the firefighters gave the thumbs-up, battle ready.

“Davis, I can go with you. Roger can stay here,” Scott said.

Davis, already heading up the path, turned briefly. “You’re unarmed. Stay here. Make sure no one leaves the area. FBI is five to ten minutes out. Be careful—this guy is dangerous.”

From the hill above, Davis heard a distinctive yelp. “Mitzi?” He called out in a hushed tone as he sprinted toward the sound.

He kept his gun level.

“Davis. Oh, my God. Is it really you?”

He heard Grayce’s voice coming from a stand of trees.

Suddenly, he saw Grayce emerging from the woods with Mitzi by her side—both safe and unharmed. Overcome with relief, he felt shaky, like trekking on K2 at twenty-four thousand feet without an oxygen tank.

“We’ve been hiding in those trees since we heard men’s voices coming from the parking lot.” Grayce’s hair was disheveled, her blue jeans and blouse smeared with dirt. He saw no evidence of assault. Mitzi seemed her usual energetic self, prancing next to him.

With one arm, he lifted Grayce against his chest and pressed her tightly. “Thank God. Are you all right?” He looked down at her smudged face. Dreading the question that had his gut twisted into knots, he asked. “Did he hurt you?”

“No, I’m fine, but it was awful.” Her usual bright eyes were flat, her plucky voice unnatural.

He lowered her to the ground. “Where is the bastard?”

Grayce spoke in a low undertone. “They’re at the water on a boat. We’ve got to get away.”

“They?”

“Gator and a guy named Brandon. And Hunter Hines went toward the water with a gun in his hand. He’s not one of them, is he?”

“Hunter Hines is a Fed.”

Grayce shook her head. “We’ve got to get away. They’ll be coming after me.”

Davis had one arm around Grayce’s shoulder, holding her next to him as they descended down the path. Mitzi walked next to them. He still had his gun in his other hand, not taking any chances. “There’s no time to explain. I need you to wait in my car until the FBI gets here. There are two fire fighters in the parking lot to protect you.”

“But who’s going to protect you?” She kept her arm wrapped around his waist. If he weren’t wound so tight, he might have laughed.

Gunshots erupted behind them. He grabbed Grayce’s arm and dragged her behind a tree. Mitzi leapt next to Grayce and positioned herself between Grayce and the path. “Get down and stay down,” he commanded in a hushed voice. “Mitzi, stay.”

With his Glock drawn and ready, Davis peered around the tree to see a blond man, holding a gun, running toward them. The man leapt off the path and crouched behind a tree. Davis lost sight of the man.

Hunter Hines, in a bulletproof vest, suddenly came around the corner from the path above.

Davis shouted, “Look out, Hines.”

A shot rang out.

Hines dropped to the ground and rolled toward the trees.

Davis sprinted toward the shooter, but couldn’t get a clear shot as the attacker ran full speed back up the slope in the woods.

An uninjured Hines quickly jumped to his feet and ran toward Davis. He was out of breath, disheveled, but maintained formidable control.

“I followed the bastard as he ran down the path. Did Dr. Walters get away? Where is she?”

“She’s right here.”

Grayce and Mitzi came from behind the tree.

“Thank God, Dr. Walters, that you’re safe. Was that the man who abducted you?” Hunter asked.

“Yes. His name is Brandon.”

“Brandon Billows,” Hunter said.

Hunter turned toward Davis. “Get her and the dog away from here. I’ll follow the perp. He’s going to try to get back to the boat.”

Grayce placed her hand on Hunter Hines’ arm. “You can’t go alone. Brandon has a very violent accomplice. Gator is wounded and in the boat.”

Davis couldn’t listen to Grayce’s distress. Rage surged through his body, the overwhelming need for revenge pulsed in every cell. He struggled to keep his head clear.

“Thank you for the warning. I’ll track him, but I won’t do anything until help arrives. Now that you’re safe, I’ll let the FBI and Coast Guard catch him. I was desperate when I thought he had you,” Hunter said.

Grayce said in a quiet voice, “Thank you.”

Davis wrapped his arm around Grayce, “I’m right behind you, once I get Grayce into a safe place.”

After the hell they’d both been through, Davis didn’t want to leave her, but he had to make sure that bastard was put away or put down.

Davis, Grayce, and Mitzi hurried down the last incline and around the bend to the parking lot where Scott and Roger had positioned themselves at opposite ends.

The fire fighters came running. “We weren’t sure what to do when we heard the gunshots. We stayed in position to make sure the bastard didn’t get away,” Scott said.

“You did the right thing,” Davis said.

Roger stared at Grayce in disbelief. “How did you save her so fast?”

“I didn’t.” Davis pushed her hair away from her eyes. “She and Mitzi saved themselves.”

Davis clamped his hands on her shoulders, hesitant to let go. “I need you to wait here until the FBI arrives. Roger and Scott will watch out for you.”

He tucked his gun into his jacket, dug out his car keys, and handed them to Roger. “There are blankets in my trunk. She’s had a shock.”

Davis ran his hands up and down Grayce’s arms. “Honey, get in the car with Mitzi. Wrap up in the blankets and rest.”

“How am I supposed to rest while you’re chasing those men?”

“Grayce, you’ll be safe in the car with Roger, Scott, and Mitzi on guard.”

Davis pressed a hard kiss against her lips. “I’ll be back soon.”

She touched his face reverently. “Davis, be careful.”

He started to close the car door, then, hearing squealing tires, turned to look. “Thank God. The cavalry has arrived.”

Four black SUV’s came racing down the access road, then swerved and surrounded his car.

Davis had took out his wallet, which contained his ID, and lifted it and his free hand into the air. He glanced at Scott and Roger, who looked at him with moon eyes. “Hands up lads,” he cautioned. Roger and Scott obeyed, looking like boys who had gotten caught cutting class by their sadistic vice principal.

The leader, heavy-set, with a square jaw, barked, “Step away from the car. Show me your hands.”

Davis shook the wallet in his hand to draw attention to it. “I’m Captain Davis, Seattle Fire Department. Are you Agent Andersen?”

The agent stepped around Davis and spoke to Grayce. His gun was now pointed at Grayce. “Ma’am, are you Dr. Walters?”

“I am. Please tell your men to stop pointing their guns at us. Captain Davis is here to help.”

Andersen leaned forward to talk to Grayce. “Are you injured, Dr. Walters? Do you need medical attention?”

“I’m fine, thank you. The man who abducted me is on his way to the dock on the other side of the hill. He’s about to escape by boat. Hunter Hines is up there alone.”

Andersen gestured to four of the men to start up the hill. “How did you rescue her, captain?”

“She escaped on her own, but I don’t know the details. We need to help Hines who is on his own with the two armed guys.”

Andersen pointed to the north end of the parking lot. “Close off the perimeter, Buckley. And close down the road. Block off all access in and out of the park.”

He pointed to another agent. “Get the civilians out of here. Take them to the end of the road.”

Davis started to follow Andersen. “Davis, you’re finished here. You wait with Dr. Walters for questioning. This is an FBI operation.”

* * *

Davis sat in the FBI’s SUV with Grayce nestled in his arms. His heart hammered against his chest; he consciously tried to slow his speeding heart. It took all of his self-control to sit and wait. He’d been left behind while the FBI agents and Hunter Hines got to take down the bastards. He wanted to be the one to capture the scum. What he really wanted to do was kick the shit out of them for terrifying Grayce.

Wrapped in a blanket, Grayce had become very quiet. She hadn’t spoken since they had entered the car. Mitzi slept on Grayce’s feet, trying to warm her.

Color was coming back into Grayce’s face. He didn’t probe about her abduction since he knew she still faced grueling questioning by the FBI.

He did the only thing he could do. He held her and tried to soothe their jagged emotions. He ran his hand along her back, kissing the soft whisper of hair surrounding her face. She hadn’t stirred for ten minutes, and he wondered if she was asleep.

Finally, Agent Andersen and Hunter, strutting like roosters, came down the hill, both grim but pleased. Brandon and Gator were both handcuffed. Gator had a shirt tied around his leg, but walked unassisted. Agents escorted the bastards, one on each side.

Grayce’s entire body tightened when the pair walked past.

“Don’t look at them, honey. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you.”

Grayce shook her head. “It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t want me to go to Mrs. Leary’s alone. I underestimated how evil they are. They’re just kids really. Like Hollie and Angie.”

He didn’t know how he would do it, but he was determined never to let anyone harm this compassionate woman. His job was to be the guardian of her special light.

“I’m glad that you were spared confronting Brandon and Gator,” Grayce said.

Davis suppressed a grimace. She still didn’t understand him, nor the male need to decimate the enemy.

She looked up into his eyes. Her eyes were wide and fathomless.” I know you wanted to chase them, but I’m glad you didn’t. Being exposed to the violence takes a toll on your soul.”

Or maybe she did understand.