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Though concerned about Em and the others, Robin was all too aware of her own precarious situation. After the two vehicles sped away, complete silence fell over the lot, which meant any sound she made would alert Luther or Dave. It would be impossible to climb the metal fence without the vibration betraying her presence. She’d have to wait and hope they left.
“Somebody’s still here,” Luther said.
“What do you mean?”
“If the boys were in that unit making noise, and the old lady was distracting Gary, who cut the hole and got Wyman out?”
“The woman that was with him in Florida.”
“She didn’t come with the old lady, and I don’t think she left with her.” Robin sensed Luther’s gaze searching the darkness. “I want her dead, but I want the money first.”
What followed was a terrifying game of hide and seek. The lot was lit intermittently: the perimeter fairly well, the interior less so, which meant Robin had to stay between the buildings to remain unseen. Finding a spot where a burned-out lamp left almost complete darkness, she took shelter in the recessed doorway of a unit. Biting her lip to keep from sobbing, she cowered in her hiding spot while Luther called out from time to time, “Anything?”
“Nothing.”
She hardly dared to breathe when one of them, Dave she thought, passed so near she could have reached out and touched him. Though the cloudy night was an advantage, the blackness around her emphasized her isolation. Her friends were gone. They’d saved Tom, but who would save her?
The worst times were when Luther and Dave didn’t talk to each other. It was difficult to tell where they were, close or far away, and Robin fought the panic every stalked creature feels—the instinct to run, even if running means discovery.
How long before they find me? How long before I die?
When a soft scrape sounded on the tarmac at the end of the row, she turned to see a glow that made her cringe. One of them had located a flashlight, and he swung it in a wide arc as he approached. Irrelevant thoughts tumbled into her head. She hadn’t made her weekly call to Shelly. She’d meant to get tickets to a Royals game so Cam could experience the thrill of a live sporting event. She wasn’t sure she’d put away the clean laundry Hua left neatly folded on the table in her room. She was going to die, and there was a lot she’d meant to do.
After a few seconds, a voice in her head, maybe Em’s, maybe Mark’s, maybe her own, told Robin to stop being a baby and think. Like many flashlights kept for emergencies, this one wasn’t all that useful. Its yellowish light indicated weak batteries, and its compact size made the illumination angle narrow. Unless the person carrying it got within a few feet of her, he’d see only shadows.
Pulling the hood of her jacket over her head, Robin drew the strings tight, leaving only her eyes uncovered. Then she stretched herself, face inward, along the metal wall of the building. It was unnerving to turn away from danger, but she knew her chances were better as an amorphous, low form. Her enemies expected an upright or a crouched figure. She was, as Em would have phrased it, shaking like a shirt in a hurricane, but if she could remain silent, they’d walk right by.
I hope.
With only her ears for warning, Robin lay there, trying to slow her racing heart. Damp seeped into her clothing. Cold concrete sucked the warmth from her arm and hip. Stealthy footsteps were close. Had Luther seen her? Was Dave creeping toward her, ready to pounce? Should she bolt from her hiding place and try to outrun them? Remain where she was? She took shallow breaths and forced her unwilling muscles to remain limp. The sound of footsteps passed, and after what seemed like an hour she heard Luther say, “Anything?”
Dave’s voice came from farther away. “No.”
As she blessed luck and lousy flashlights, Luther ordered, “We need to get the car.”
“Yeah. The headlights will find her.” Dave trotted off, but Luther remained where he was for a while, as if sensing Robin’s nearness. It seemed his light eyes would penetrate the darkness from sheer will and discover her lying there. She counted her breaths, counted the seconds, counted her chances of surviving.
Too noisy. Too long. Too low.
Finally Luther moved away. She sat up, slowly and with great caution, and tried to decide what to do. Which direction would the car come from? Which way should she go to make a run for the fence? No matter how she imagined it, her escape attempt didn’t end well. She could almost feel Dave’s hand gripping her ankle before she reached the top, pulling her back to the ground.
Still, she couldn’t stay where she was until headlights trapped her against the building.
The slightest of noises to her left made Robin tense further. A figure traced the building, fingertips lightly touching the metal wall for guidance. Had Luther circled back? She stretched out on the ground again, hoping what had worked once would work again.
It didn’t. A foot touched her foot. Then a hand squeezed it tentatively. As she coiled, ready to kick the hand’s owner in the face, she caught the smell of ginger.
“Hua?”
“Robin.” His voice was at her ear. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Stretching out a hand, he helped her to her feet. “Cam and I have devised a Plan B to fit this situation, but it requires all three of us.”
She had trouble processing his words. “You’ve got a plan?
“We must make these men believe they have won. Then we will divide them and beat them.”
Robin felt a sinking dread. “You want me to surrender.”
He must have heard the dread in her voice. “Temporarily. We will rescue you.”
In what universe do you two stack up against killers with guns?
“Come with me.” As Hua led the way, Robin clung to what she’d learned. Mink advice was to make a Plan B. Apparently Hua and Cam had that covered. Em always said to play it cool” Luther didn’t know she had help, so if she struck the right note, he’d think he had the upper hand. Last came Mark’s harsh lesson was Do whatever it takes, Babe. Whatever it takes. In a fight to the death there could be no hesitation, no holds barred.
“I put the money in the second unit,” Hua was saying. “Lead them to it. When things start to happen, take a prone position if at all possible.”
They reached the end of the building across from Robin’s unit and stopped in the shadows. Luther’s car was fairly well-lit by a lamp along the fence line. Dave was already inside. Luther was just opening the driver’s side door when she stepped out with hands raised. Seeing her, Luther nodded to Dave, who exited the car, approached, and took her arm in a rough grip. “I owe you one upside the head, lady.”
“If you want your money, you’d better hold off for a while.” Her voice shook, but she managed to meet Luther’s eyes directly. He came around the back of the car. “Where is it?”
“People think you have the same motives they do,” Mark had often said. “If your story sounds like what they’d have done, they swallow it hook, line, and sinker.” If her father was correct, Robin needed to sound as greedy, mistrustful, and selfish as Luther would be if he were in her situation.
“We thought we could get Tom out without giving up the money, but then you two showed up. My mom got Tom out, but she couldn’t stop for me with your friend on her tail.”
“Too bad,” Dave sneered, but Robin focused on Luther.
“She left the money, in case I had to give it up to get Tom back.” She nodded down the row. “Half of it’s in there. You get the rest when I go free.”
Luther glanced down the row. “The old woman left half a mil in that unit?” Opening the car door, he retrieved the failing flashlight from where he’d tossed it on the seat. “Show me.”
As Robin started for Unit #124, her mind spun with questions. What was the plan? What could she do to help when “things start to happen?” Dave and Luther both had their guns in hand, and Dave held her arm so tightly she might need reconstructive surgery later. If she lived.
The door to Unit #124 was closed but not locked. Robin rolled it up, exposing a dark space littered with boards, a couple of hammers, and a cordless power drill—mute testimony to Jai and Mai’s hasty retreat. In the center of the floor was Hua’s chartreuse backpack. “Watch her.” Luther opened the zipper and peered inside. “It looks like she’s telling the truth.”
“What now?” Dave asked.
“If you want the rest, you have to let me go,” Robin said.
“Not necessarily,” Luther answered.
At that moment steps sounded on the pavement outside the unit. “Hey!”
Hiding his gun at his side, Luther went to the doorway. Dave followed, dragging Robin with him. She almost fell when he stopped suddenly in apparent surprise. A tall figure in black stood at the corner of the building, his aggressive pose suggesting Wolverine in anger mode. When Robin noticed Cam’s mouth moving, she realized he was counting. Hua must have estimated how many seconds he could risk standing there before one of the gunmen recovered and started shooting. At “one” he made a sideways leap and was gone.
“Get him,” Luther ordered. “I’ll watch her.”
“That’s one big SOB,” Dave observed. “Bigger than me.”
“Just makes him an easier target,” Luther replied. “Now go!”
Dave sped away, rounding the building and disappearing into the night. Luther shined the flashlight on Robin’s face. “Now about that other half-million.”
“I told you. When I go free—”
The slap came from nowhere, and she reeled backward, trying to keep her feet beneath her.
“You’re gonna try to negotiate with me?” A second slap stung her cheek and sent her staggering again. “Tell me where it is, or you’ll find out what pain is, like your boyfriend did.”
A cry sounded from some distance away, a single yelp that modulated to a groan. Had Dave wounded Cam? She hadn’t heard a shot, but the gun might have a silencer.
That thought was interrupted by a third blow, with a closed fist this time. When she put her hand to her eye in response to the pain, Luther punched her stomach. The breath left her body with a woof, and she struggled to get air into her lungs again.
“Where is my money?”
Shock made her thoughts muddy, but Mark’s voice reminded, Whatever it takes, Babe.
“I’ll tell!” She made her voice tearful. “Don’t hit me again.”
Luther’s voice revealed satisfaction. “That’s a good girl.”
She needed a new plan. If Cam was hurt—or killed, but she didn’t want to think about that—only Hua was left to save her. There was no way he could come into the unit and get her. Dave might return at any moment. She had to get Luther out in the open, while he was alone and where Hua could—
What? Attack Luther? Disarm him and beat him into submission?
She had to try. “The rest of the money’s in the other unit.”
His tone was doubting. “How’d that happen?”
“When my friend got Tom out, he left it in case I needed it. As I said, we didn’t trust you to let us go.”
She heard the smile in Luther’s reply. “That’s the only smart thing you did tonight. Not that it’s going to help.” Bending slightly, Luther slid the backpack strap over one shoulder. With the gun in one hand and the light in the other he ordered, “Let’s go.”
Robin went first, her back rippling with anxiety at the thought of the gun just inches from her spine. When they were almost to the car, they heard grunts of exertion, and a second later Dave appeared at the corner of the building, his face anguished. Leaning heavily on the structure, he panted, “Bastard kneecapped me.”
Luther glanced nervously around. “You let him get away?”
Dave’s expression turned resentful. “I can barely walk. How was I supposed to chase him down?”
“You,” Luther said to Robin. “Help him into the car.”
Robin obeyed, supporting Dave as he limped to the passenger side. Sliding the seat all the way back, she helped him inside.
“You still got your gun?”
“Yeah.” His voice was weak.
“Keep an eye out for trouble. A few more minutes and I’ll get you to a doctor.” Dave tried to nod in acquiescence, but pain showed clearly on his face, and his head lolled back onto the seat.
As Robin closed the car door, Luther grabbed her by the hair, jerking her backward. “Hey!” he called to the night. “I bet you’re out there watching, so here’s the deal. You come out now, and I won’t kill the woman.” There was no reply, so he added, “She doesn’t have to die quick. A bullet to her knee will do what you did to my buddy there, maybe worse.” When there was still no reply he said, “Let’s count it down. When I get to five, she gets a non-lethal bullet hole. I get to pick where. One. Two.”
“I’m coming out.” Cam’s voice came from down the row. He appeared first as a dark form, then a clear image with hands raised in surrender. Robin held her breath. Would Luther shoot him immediately and end one threat?
He did not, and she let herself breathe again. Instead, when Cam was almost to the car Luther said, “Stop.”
Cam obeyed. His eyes sought Robin’s, sending a message she thought was positive. Hua was still out there somewhere. That was good, except now he had to rescue both her and Cam.
Luther had considered his options, and he dragged Robin to the driver’s side of the car. Opening the door, he leaned in and pressed a button. The trunk lid popped open. “Get in,” he ordered.
Cam did as he was told, stepping in easily and folding himself small enough to fit. When Luther ordered Robin to close the lid, she did so reluctantly. The next time Cam saw the sky, she was certain it would be only long enough for Luther to put a bullet in his head. To her surprise Cam appeared calm and even gave her a subtle thumbs-up sign as the lid closed over him.
“Now let’s get the rest of my money,” Luther said cheerfully.
Robin led the way into the open unit, which was lit by a small lantern. It was half full of the things she’d left behind in Cedar: her bedroom set, her living room furniture, and a tall bookcase filled with her mother’s hardcover set of Books That Changed the World. She noted a few new items that must be Tom’s. One was a weight bench that had ropes attached to it. Mottled with dark stains, the ropes had recently been cut. A small pool of something that looked like blood had settled under the bench.
“I haven’t got all night, lady.”
Though her throbbing face made it difficult, Robin tried to think. Her right eye was almost swollen shut, and her scalp burned where Luther had pulled out strands of hair. Still, she had to stall. Maybe Hua had called the police by now. Maybe Em would return for them when she realized they were late meeting her in town. Neither of those things was likely to save her or Cam.
Searching through the items as if unsure where to look, she said, “It’s in a black gym bag. You might have to get him out of that trunk and have him show you where it is.”
“Or I could put a bullet in there and see if that makes you any better at finding things.”
“I’m trying!” she said angrily.
As she moved to explore the back corner, Robin noticed the hole Hua and Cam had cut to get Tom out. Could she dive through it and escape before Luther caught her?
“Don’t even think about it.” He took her arm and pulled her backward. As she went, Robin caught sight of an eye and a shock of black hair behind the headboard of her bed. Hua.
“There it is!” she said, pointing in the opposite direction. “Behind the bookcase.”
As Luther leaned in to look, she twisted out of his grip. At the same time, Hua leapt out and swung at him with a softball bat Robin recognized as her own. Luther’s instincts provided a warning, and he turned at the last moment. Hua’s blow landed on his shoulder, and though he bellowed with pain and staggered backward, he was able to raise the gun and aim at Hua, who stood so close there was no way Luther would miss.
Whatever it takes.
With a swift motion, Robin pushed the bookcase, tipping it toward Luther. His eyes widened and he tried to step back, but he was too slow. The case fell forward and its weight carried him to the ground. Books tumbled out, burying him in philosophy, history, and economics. As Luther struggled to roll out from under them, Robin put a foot on his neck, holding him down. Hua hurried forward and took the gun from his hand.
“Are you all right, Hua?”
His chest heaved with exertion as he said, “I had to run very fast to get here before you, Robin, but your decision to bring Luther inside was very wise indeed. Now can you find some things among your possessions to tie around his limbs? If I had known we would need it, I would have worn my Elvis scarf.”
“Hua, Cam’s in the trunk of their car.”
“No, I’m not,” Cam said from the doorway. I told you there’s a release button in most cars now, Robin. You forgot, just like Luther did.”
***
“Get three rooms somewhere north of Cedar and message me the address,” Robin told Hua and Cam as they got into the van. “I’ll pick up the others and be right behind you.” To their great relief, she’d received a text from Em with a simple ok.
Robin drove the RAV to the park, where Em and Bennett stood next to the rental. “Everybody’s okay?”
Em frowned as she got a glimpse of Robin’s face. “We’re good. You look a little worse for wear.”
“You should see the other guy. Where’s Tom?”
“Under that tree. Bennett and I will return the rental car and walk back here while you get him situated in the RAV.”
“Is your hip going to let you do that?”
She looked offended. “It’ll be good for me.”
“Does Tom need a doctor?”
Em donned cotton work gloves and began wiping fingerprints off the car’s surfaces as she spoke. “I did some triage. He doesn’t seem to have a punctured lung or anything. It’s probably best if we get out of Dodge and see a doctor later.” Satisfied with her work, she let Bennett into the rental, followed him in, and drove away.
Taking a flashlight from the van, Robin found where Wyman lay on the ground. Though someone had wiped the worst of the dirt and blood from his face, he was a still mess. “Oh, Tom!”
He raised a hand almost to her face. “What happened to you?”
“Let’s just say I’ll live. Luther will too, if he’s lucky.”
“He didn’t believe I couldn’t tell them where you were. I’m not a good liar, but apparently I’m not convincing when I tell the truth either.”
“I’m so sorry,” she repeated. “It’s my fault.”
He laughed. “Hey, I got blown twenty feet in the air by a roadside bomb and lost a few pieces in the process. A little beating isn’t going to kill me.” He licked the split in his lower lip and winced. “Sorry about mentioning your, um, bed. It was the only way I could think of to let you know where I was.”
“Hey, it worked.”
Tom looked away. “Look, I know you and Cam are together, and I want you to know I won’t make any trouble. Not that I don’t find you attractive, but, I mean—”
“What makes you think Cam and I are together?”
“I’m a detective, remember? Shared apartment. Shared hotel rooms. Now that I’ve seen him, well, what girl wouldn’t want a guy who looks like that?”
When Robin giggled he asked, “What?”
Putting on a serious expression she said, “The guys are waiting a few miles north of here. Can’t wait to introduce you.”
***
They reached the motel with a pets welcome sign out front at 2:00 a.m. Hua and Cam had been watching for them from a second story balcony and came down to help Tom out of the car. They half-carried him into one of two rooms they’d reserved on the ground floor.
Once he was situated on a queen-sized bed, Tom explained his capture. “They must have followed me to the lot. One minute I was carrying my weight bench into the unit, and the next I was on the ground with my face smashed against the concrete.” He added, “They were going to put Robin and me in my Mustang and sent it over a hillside somewhere.” He made a rueful grimace. “The car was a goner either way.”
“Loss teaches us the worth of things,” Em responded, “but I wish I hadn’t been part of that lesson.” She made a washing gesture with her hands. “Now we need to make our sleeping arrangements and get some rest.”
That was tricky, but eventually it was decided that Hua and Cam would take one room while Robin, Mai, and Jai would take the second. Em would stay with Tom in the room they currently occupied. “I’m a decent nurse,” she told Tom, “and I promise not to try to jump your bones.”
Robin had noticed Tom’s gaze resting on Cam from time to time. The fact he’d be sharing a room with Hua seemed to interest him more than casually, and he turned his eyes to hers. She responded with an impish grin, and before he remembered his split lip, he smiled back at her.
