Twenty-one minutes later a car, a couple of trucks, and a patrol cruiser pulled up his drive.

Thad stood on his porch. The what-if monsters plagued his every thought.

What if Joe is wrong?

What if Karly has been moved out of town? Out of the state?

What if she’s hurt and needs help?

What if…

Joe was the first out of his car. Gabrielle, the DEA agent he’d seen before, came next. The rest followed. A couple of feet from the cabin, Joe tossed Thad a Kevlar vest and helmet. “Put those on. You might need them, and no arguments. I have more equipment you’ll need in my trunk.”

“Yes, sir.” Thad rolled the lighter than normal vest over to study the label. His startled gaze met Joe’s. “What’s a small-town sheriff doing with the good stuff? The military can’t even get this gear.”

“Wait until you see what’s in my trunk. I’ve been stocking up. Where we’re going, we’ll need every advantage we can get.”

Thad assessed the men walking up the gravel path behind Joe. The air practically crackled with energy.

“Thad,” Chase nodded curtly.

Thad held out his hand to Chase, then Rivers. As usual, Rivers didn’t say anything, just studied his face. Rivers, who always saw a whole lot more than anyone else noticed.

Bill Mason followed, along with Ashley Bryant’s father. Bill had mentioned General Bryant preferred to go by the name Dale.

“Gentlemen.” Thankfully, Joe’s voice sounded more confident than Thad felt. “I’d like to introduce you to Special Agent Gabrielle Dalton. She’s part of a Joint Task Force team that has been assigned to Elkridge.”

She’s not just here to observe.

“Call me Gabby,” she said, studying each individual, assessing the newly formed team. “I’ve just got word from our inside contact. Karly is safe. There are no plans at this time to relocate. Our contact has bought us some time. So let’s take the time to map out a plan.”

“You know as well as I do we can’t wait.” Joe rumbled with frustration. “Get your people in there now. Karly’s a civilian. We need to get her out of there.”

Gabby turned on Joe. “It’s not that simple, and you know it.” If the DEA agent had been two inches taller, they might have been nose to nose.

“Then bring us up to speed so we do know what we’re dealing with.” Chase pushed his statement toward Joe, to get his attention and possibly defuse the tension.

“May I?” Joe removed a rolled map and aerial photographs from his bag and pointed at the kitchen table.

“Help yourself.” Thad stepped back. “Whatever you need. Just hurry.”

Joe pointed to the back of Lonely Ridge, and the river running alongside. “Years ago, old mining shafts were turned into underground caverns to grow marijuana. By growing their crops deep in the ground, they prevented satellites from detecting the heat signals from the grow lamps.”

General Bryant stepped up to the table to survey the map. “What else have you got?”

Joe pointed at an old logging road. “This is where my brother was shot.” He moved his finger an inch to the west. “This is the opening to the compound where Karly is being kept. There are three ventilation shafts here, here, and here.”

“Compound?” Thad asked, unable to mask his skepticism.

“Best-kept secret in Colorado.” Joe pointed. “When Colorado legalized marijuana, there was no need to maintain underground processing. It was too expensive. The growers became legitimate businesses and bought warehouses closer to town. There is still some illegal activity in the forest, but the state is using drones to suss out the growers.”

“If the businesses went legit,” Chase leaned in to look again at the map, “then why are these caverns, or whatever you call them, still used?”

“Heroin and women.” Gabby’s intent scrutiny swept the room, pausing at each person.

“Women? What about women?” Thad’s heartbeat ramped up.

“The compound was converted into a heroin and meth repacking and distribution facility. Drugs are smuggled in for packaging, and then transported into Canada and other US states.” Joe dragged one of the photographs closer. “See this tree-bare spot? It’s a landing strip.”

“I’ve seen a couple of small planes lately, but I figured they were hobbyists out for a ride,” Thad grumbled.

Rivers pointed to an Indian reservation in the bottom corner of the state. “Federal Regulations don’t have jurisdiction on tribal reservations. Anyone can land a plane just about anywhere, and it would be hard to trace. The local tribes need cash, and the drug dealers need safe distribution routes.” Rivers drew a line with his finger across the map. “Anyone could fly in and out of here without being noticed.”

“But what about the women?” Thad asked again.

“The place needed to be staffed.”

He could do without Gabby’s superior attitude. “Let me guess.” Thad crossed his arms. “Women smuggled in illegally.”

“Yes, but these guys are greedy and smart—real smart.” Joe pointed to another road leading in from the west. “Drug traffic can be disrupted, so they’ve diversified. Pregnant prostitutes and sex slaves from California, Oregon, Washington, and Utah are being smuggled in to work the lines until they deliver. Once the babies are delivered, the whole operation shuts down and moves to a new location. It could be six months, a year, or more, until the facility is used again. That’s why it’s so critical we do this right. If we screw up, there’s no telling where they will set up next.”

Thad concentrated on the DEA agent. “What am I missing? Why pregnant women?”

“They are less likely to steal or use the drugs. Once the babies are born, the child and fetal material are sold on the black market. The women are then transported back into the sex trade in a different state, with a different handler. According to my intel, a group of women and a large quantity of heroin will be moved in the next couple days.”

“But why Karly? She’s not pregnant.”

Gabby looked at him, her eyes softening a smidge. “No, but based on my intel, when the women are moved, she will be moved with them.”

“We need to stop this now.” Thad said a couple of decibels below bullhorn level.

Thad was more than ready to take down every one of the bastards involved with selling women and children, but when it came to the bastard who took Karly—he wanted vengeance. Personal vengeance.

Joe put his finger on the entry point of the underground cavern and gave Thad another measuring assessment. “You’ve had some trouble getting around.” Joe pointed at his leg. “I can’t have anyone on this team who can’t perform.”

“I’m good.” And I’ll keep telling you I’m good until Karly’s back home safe. No way was he sitting this one out. “You just worry about making sure no one gets out the front. If Rivers can help me locate that underground vent, we can hopefully gather some more information until backup arrives. If shit goes down, I’ll get in and out, no problem.”

No problem. What the hell am I saying? No problem, my ass.

“If something happens, hold your position.” The command in Joe’s voice left no room for interpretation.

A cell phone rang and they all checked their phones. Joe put his to an ear. “Yes?” Joe’s face went blank. “No. We’re not waiting.” Joe gave the statement an authoritative punch. “No. You don’t understand. I’ve got one of my people up there. Our plan is to make sure no one gets in or out, but if we are spotted, we’re going in, and your two-year operation will be blown. Then I suggest you get word to your inside man. You have less than an hour.”

Joe ended the call and looked at the group. “Backup is two, maybe three hours away. We are on our own until then.”

A new load of adrenaline shot through Thad. “Rivers, can we get close enough to find out where they’re keeping Karly?”

Rivers pointed at Thad’s chest. “You sure you won’t freeze up when someone points a gun at you?”

Thad gritted his teeth. “We all have a job to do. I’ll do mine. You just worry about doing yours.”

Joe opened his mouth to say something, but Rivers waved him off and got up in Thad’s face. “I know you can do your job. I just wanted to make sure you know it.”

Rivers’ face cracked in what Thad could only guess was a smile. He wanted to push Rivers aside and race out the door, but he resisted the urge.

“Enough with the niceties,” Joe said. “You are all deputized. All that means is you have the authority to make sure no one leaves that compound until backup arrives. Chase and I will make our way to the front of the compound. Thad, Rivers, you two will hump in from here. According to our inside source, this shaft is the closest entrance point to where Karly is being held.” Joe turned toward the general. “Did I cover everything?”

“Not quite.” Dale moved closer to study the map. “Mason and I will cover the air strip to make sure there is no movement from that direction. That way you have all the exits covered. If something goes wrong, the rendezvous point is here.” The general circled with his finger a small ridge just above the compound. “But nothing will go wrong...right, gentlemen?”

“That’s right, because we’re going to get in position and make sure no one comes out of that compound.” Joe nodded. “We’ll wait until our backup arrives. No one moves unless I give the signal. Stay out of sight. Understood? I don’t want anyone getting shot.”

Or killed. Thad understood perfectly. But if he got a whiff of Karly, all bets were off.

Please let this be a nightmare, Karly fought her way out of a drug-induced fog.

Fear licked the back of her throat.

Her vision turned from muted grays to fuzzy colors. She blinked, then blinked again. Her tongue was thick and dry. Her body moaned. Everything hurt. Her hands and feet tingled with tiny pinpricks from lack of circulation. Nothing worked. Every muscle screamed out in pain. She tugged against the metal wrapped around her wrists, only to be rewarded by pain shooting up her arms. She tried freeing her feet. Same result.

A hacking cough broke through her internal panic and expanded her awareness.

Who’s there?

A scream welled in her throat, but she gulped back the terror and hid in the silence.

Where am I?

With every breath, she memorized her sterile surroundings. Trays of what looked like instruments of torture. Cots pushed against the wall. Cabinets full of supplies. Oh, God. Are those chains?

She fought to remember. Something. Anything.

A man’s hot breath. Running. A pinch on the neck. Gloating laughter in her ear. He called her by name. How did he know my name? He called her something else...coño, maybe?

She wrestled with the metal binding her wrists. The clink of a chain against the cot’s frame triggered panic. Nearby voices made her lower her eyelids into a squint. She forced her trembling muscles to still.

A tattooed hand reached from over her shoulder, landed on her breast, and squeezed. A bitter acid taste burned the back of her throat. She dared not move.

“Macedo, what the hell are you doing?” a woman she couldn’t see demanded. “You know better than to handle the inventory.”

Inventory? What the hell does that mean?

Karly cracked her eyes open enough to see a petite woman in a white lab coat looking at her. “Taking that woman from town was a very stupid move. People will start looking for her, if they haven’t already.”

Her kidnapper stepped closer to the woman, his nose inches from her face. “Watch your mouth, bitch. I run this place.”

She shoved him, rocking him backward, and held her ground when he rebounded. “If you run this place, why are you still taking orders, huh? Big guy? Tell me that.”

The man reached toward her face, but a swift hand slice deflected the move. “Don’t touch me. I’ll remind you again. I have poisons. Something that will make your dick shrivel until it’s black and oozing with puss. You will beg me to cut off your goods. You think you know pain. You don’t. I can get to you any time, any place.” She emphasized can to the point even Karly cringed. “Plus, I have important friends, unlike you, so don’t try it.”

The man’s skin flushed white. “One of these days, Doc, you’ll push too hard, and find yourself on a bus to hell.”

“And this place isn’t? I don’t see any sandy beaches or fruity drinks with little umbrellas, do you?”

A woman’s groan deflected Karly’s attention, but she didn’t move.

The doc pulled the stethoscope from around her neck. “I have a patient to check on. Why don’t you go see how the women are doing with the heroin shipment, okay? Leave me to do my job.”

When the man leaned in to take a sniff, the doctor pushed back. Macedo responded with a demonic, horror-movie laugh.

This nightmare was worse than any thriller movie—and she’d only watched a few. She hated the violence. The edge-of-your-seat fear. Characters who played their parts too well. Macedo could have been an excellent character actor, only he wasn’t acting, and she wasn’t sitting in a movie theater eating popcorn and sipping on a thirty-two-ounce soda. This was real—too real.

She bit her lip.

Crying out wouldn’t help. Neither would bursting into tears.

The collar around her neck was attached to a chain bolted to the wall. She wasn’t going anywhere.

Oh, please, please, please, someone get me out of here.

The doctor spoke in a low murmur, too low for Karly to hear.

Seconds stretched into an eternity before Macedo’s looming form passed between Karly and the light when he left the room.

“You shouldn’t hold your breath, it's not good for you.” The doctor pressed fingers under Karly’s chin, checking her pulse. “I’m Doctor Abbott.”

Karly jerked her head away, her lungs burning. “Where am I?”

“Didn’t you hear? You're in hell.” The doctor pressed her fingers to the vein again, counting and looking at her watch. “You must have pissed somebody off.”

Karly twisted her wrists, trying to get free. “There must be some mistake.”

“There’s no mistake. Macedo only follows orders. If you are here, someone wanted you here.”

I’ve got to get out of here.

If the fear didn’t kill the oxygen in her lungs, the despair would.

She twisted her wrists and tugged at the restraints, but the metal straps didn't budge.

“Where am I? What is this place?”

“Listen to me.” The woman clasped her jaw and yanked her chin up. “If you want to live, you need to stay calm. Watchful. There are half a dozen men just outside that door, so don't think about trying to escape. You won't make it far. I’ve sedated you as long as I dare to keep Macedo away. Now get some rest, you’ll need your strength.” She turned. “And, you,” she said to the other woman. “If another contraction comes while I’m gone, use short breaths.”

“Please, don’t take my baby.” The woman’s plea ended on a sob.

Take her baby?

Karly tried getting a good look at the person talking but the collar stopped her.

A memory stirred. Mara had said Jenna’s sister had been afraid someone would take her baby. That’s why she left town. I wonder if…

The doctor grabbed Karly’s wrist, tugged, and leaned in to whisper. “I’m going to uncuff your hands and feet, but please don’t try anything stupid. You’ll only get hurt.”

No. Don’t trust her. Don’t trust anyone. She forced her lungs to draw in air.

“I’ll be back.” Dr. Abbott smoothed hair from Karly’s face after releasing her hands and feet. “Stay quiet. Trust me, you don’t want anyone coming in here to check on you, especially Macedo.”

The woman disappeared through a metal door. The door clicking shut sounded like a cage locking. A whimper broadcast Karly’s fear.

The woman was right. She needed to stay calm, strong, brave. Thad thinks I’m brave.

Thad. He’d look for her. She just needed to believe. Act brave, even if she didn’t feel brave.

She’d have to fight.