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“There has to be some type of security headquarters somewhere around here. When we find it we’ll find the master switch to the doors,” Tyler said.
He led the way out of the courtyard. Damn, what good would it do to find Keira if he couldn’t let her out. Taking a path away from the main area of the resort the trail ended at a windowless building. The padlock on the door indicated they had probably found what they’d been looking for.
The other officer raised his gun to shoot the metal lock. Tyler placed a hand on the barrel and forced the weapon to point at the ground.
“No. We don’t want to draw attention. Look, I don’t think it’s locked.”
He stepped forward and tested, the metal fell away. Pulling the door open slowly, they both peeked in. No one was inside. It was their good fortune, protecting the island kept the security staff busy.
Tyler stepped in. A jumble of technology met his gaze. Great, he was as far from a computer geek as anyone could get. He knew the basics. He could type a report and get into his email. That’s where his knowledge ended.
The Coast Guard guy went to work checking everything. He turned to Tyler and grinned. “I think I found the release.”
“Great, Officer...”
“Chapman.” He swiveled to the mysterious switches Tyler couldn’t make heads or tails of.
He heard a click as Chapman flipped a switch. The monitors showed doors swinging open. Keira dashed out of one, her bag under her arm. She ran in the direction of the security building.
Tyler opened the door and stepped out just as she rounded the corning. “Keira.”
She stopped and then ran straight into his open arms. He hadn’t felt anything so good since the morning before he was shot. He kissed the top of her head, his arms tightened, afraid to let her go.
“Tyler you’re mashing me.” Keira’s voice came out in a pained squawk.
“I’m afraid to let you go.”
“I promise not to go anywhere if you just let me breath.”
His chest rumbled as a chuckle slipped out. He wanted to shout his good fortune to the world. Damn, he didn’t have the luxury, they weren’t out of danger yet.
“Come on we need to get the girls rounded up.” Keira led the way back. “Did you know there are no men here except for the clients? Bambi had brought me to my apartment before all the commotion. I knew something was going on when security, all women, brought the girls back.”
“I’d like to meet this Bambi person,” Chapman said wistfully.
Keira raised a brow and looked over her shoulder at the man.
“Officer Chapman, this is Keira Cavanaugh.” Tyler hurried to introduce.
“And I take it you two are an item.” They both stared at him. “I couldn’t help but notice the bear-hug.”
Tyler actually felt his cheeks warm. He coughed, and changed the subject.
“I think we better go find the others.”
*****
Gabe slid into the passageway, gun drawn close to his chest, back to the wall. The other men followed his example. He could hear noise farther into the tunnel. As they moved away from the door, the darkness deepened.
Abe shouldered him aside and Gabe noticed for the first time the captain’s night vision goggles. His captain moved forward with confidence, able to see the obstacles. Gabe didn’t have that luxury.
A whoosh of air zinged past his ear. Gabe looked around, what the hell was that? He couldn’t see a damn thing. Ping, another breeze brushed his cheek.
“They’re shooting at us.” Gabe pulled David’s arm as he dropped to the floor.
Abe, Shaun, and Captain LeRoy followed suit. Captain LeRoy had goggles like Abe’s. The two of them motioned them to stay put and lie low. Gabe watched them belly-crawl until they were out of sight.
Bullets continued to ricochet off the rock walls. Whoever fired, shot blindly in the dark. Gabe nodded his head in the direction the other men went and the three crab-crawled down the tunnel.
Gabe heard a ping, then a grunt. He pushed his pace as fast as his arms and legs would tolerate. The passageway widened, he waved his hand behind him, and stopped. Gabe leaned toward David.
“You and Shaun stay here until I signal or I come back.”
He didn’t wait for an answer, but inched forward. It opened up into a large chamber. As much as possible he kept to the wall out of view. Light filtered in from somewhere. Enough to illuminate the figures that faced each other.
A guard, tall and buxom, the strap of her rifle slung over her shoulder with the barrel trained on the opening. Bianchi, DeLuca, and Rosa stood in front of Abe and Captain LeRoy, guns drawn in a standoff.
He just needed to figure out how to keep the two captain’s safe.
A distraction.
He inched his way to Shaun and David.
After a lot of whispered arguing, a plan finalized. Gabe felt one of them brush against him. The two other men combat-crept to the other side.
Progress was slow due to echoing sound and darkness. At the mouth of the chamber, Gabe sucked in his breath and looked to Shaun and David directly behind.
With a slight nod in their direction, he rolled out from the tunnel literally bowling over tall, blonde, and beautiful. All hell broke out. Gabe lost track of the other two and could only hope things were going as planned.
Instinctively he ducked his head when he heard shots. He managed to avoid a bullet as he wrestled the rifle from the guard. He unclipped the strap and quickly secured her hands behind her.
He rolled to his knees, her rifle in his hand, ready and aimed toward the center of the chamber. David and Shaun had rifles trained on the two men’s heads while Abe and Captain LeRoy first cuffed Rosa, then moved on to the men.
“Got em’.” Abe grinned over his shoulder at Gabe. “Good work men. Let’s get these bastards out of here.”
Gabe nudged the woman to her feet. “Come on sweetheart, put a hustle on it.”
She threw him a glare over her shoulder, but she struggled to her feet. Abe and Captain LeRoy had the others already headed through the tunnel.
If Bianchi and DeLuca tried something stupid, they’d be at a disadvantage, without night vision as their captors had. For once, they made the journey out without incident.
Tyler, Keira, and another officer waited at the entrance. Gabe came through last, prodding the woman the entire way. When Keira saw her, a mischievous twinkle entered her eyes.
“Bambi, did you have an accident? You look terrible.” Then she laughed.
Tyler and the officer burst out in loud chuckles, and the officer asked, “This is your Bambi?”
Gabe could see the rage trembling through the woman, he stepped away to wait for the explosion. Bambi stumbled, but caught herself before she fell. She straightened in what Gabe assumed she thought was dignity.
Bambi glared at each of them. Walking around as she did so. She came to a standstill in front of Keira, tall enough to be eye to eye. For a moment Gabe thought she’d spit in Keira’s face.
“You are a fool. You helped ruin the best thing ever to happen to you.”
Keira raised a brow. “How? Living on an island paradise isolated from everyone I love. Unable to leave when I want to. They brought me here under false pretenses. My office was locked today. Why? As far as anyone knew I was the new payroll manager.”
“All new employees are monitored until they earn trust.” Bambi sniffed as if the explanation was beneath her.
“No matter how beautiful the prison, it’s still a prison.”
Bambi didn’t reply. Instead, she glared at those around her and went peacefully with an agent who had been on board one of the ships.
Captain Abe Rothschild took Antonio and Rosa DeLuca into custody and returned to the states. An agent of UNODC would take Dominic Bianchi, Bambi, and the others, working on the island willingly, to Europe. All would stand trial for exploitation of children.
*****
Keira watched until the island turned into a small speck in the middle of the ocean. She sighed as she pulled the shade down and turned in Tyler’s arms.
Exactly where she belonged.
It had been a long night with everyone filling in documents, and taking part in questions. All of the clients had given statements. Many would be facing charges. Best of all, the young girls would be returned to their families. Some of the girls had run from abuse, as Josey had done. A special caseworker was assigned for those. Each of them placed in a good home, handled accordingly, depending on the previous situation.
It felt good to help. If the outcome had been different, she didn’t know if she’d feel this sense of accomplishment. Snuggling closer to Tyler, she looked up at him. He had his eyes closed, head against the rest.
The corners of his mouth turned in a grin as he slept. Or maybe he wasn’t asleep. She wiggled, and slid her hand from his shoulder down to his ribs. Trailing her fingers lightly down his side, she laughed when his eyes flew open and he tried to move away.
“I didn’t think you were sleeping.” Keira laid her head onto his chest. “Tyler, do you always feel like you’ve contributed and helped people when you wrap up a job?”
His arms tightened around her. “Only when it turns out with the bad guys in custody, and this case was a bonus, no one was hurt.”
“I didn’t think about possible injuries.”
Keira smiled over at Josey. The girl still seemed to be nervous as if she were going to wake up and find herself on the island again. All the rest of the girls had left on one of the ships. Shaun Kincaid had taken a special interest in the girl.
“Josey, everything’s going to be okay. If Shaun said he’d help you and your sister, then you can trust him.”
Josey looked from Keira to Shaun and smiled. “I know you’re right. May I tell her?” When he nodded she sat up straighter in her seat. “Mr. Kincaid told me he’d make sure both of us would be able to finish school. I’m going to work hard to pay him back. I wish I could pay all of you back.”
“Seeing you fulfill your dreams, and both you and your sister safe, is payment enough.” Keira pulled herself away from Tyler for the moment to lean over and pat Josey’s knee. “I know you’ll accomplish what you set out to do.”
The yawn caught her by surprise. Hastily she placed a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry I guess my second wind is about to end.”
“Why don’t you put your seat back and rest, my dear?” Shaun told Keira.
Keira settled into Tyler’s arms. “I’m pretty comfortable right where I am.”