PROCEEDING ACROSS THE stretch of land to the house on the abandoned street, they made their way under the cover of the darkness without anyone the wiser.
Gray’s knee ached, but he moved with speed and agility, his weapons harnessed and located all over his body. His rifle was clutched against his chest.
He was hidden behind the house, waiting as Abel cleared the area which was a tediously long process, but worth it. So far, no explosives had been found with the radar that could detect an explosive from a mile away, just as Gray had suspected. The device used spinach leaves embedded with carbon nanotubes to sense chemical compounds. When a bomb was present a signal would be picked up by an infrared camera. It was worth a pretty penny and had saved many lives.
With Jamison on Gray’s six, they dropped to the grass and took a low position, waiting for the most opportune time.
Although the location was pitch black, the night goggles helped. What seemed like an easy mission was no doubt a very complicated one. Phantom was dangerous and wouldn’t make this simple.
Several windows were broken Gray noticed as he moved on the ground for the corner of the house. Slowly standing, he peered inside, seeing the empty kitchen. In the next window, he could see into the sitting area, also empty. The next window made Gray’s heart almost leap out of his chest. Through his goggles he could see a woman’s silhouette. She appeared to be tied to a chair, her head lowered as if she were sleeping.
Although he wanted to race inside and grab her, he stilled against the siding of the house, catching his breath. Phantom expected Gray to act impulsively, but now was not the time for Gray to lose his cool.
He concentrated on the inside of the room, looking for any evidence that she wasn’t alone. He saw a suspicious box connected to wires sitting a few feet from her feet. His chest tightened.
Giving Jamison a hand signal, the man approached with caution.
Gray bent close to Jamison’s ear and said, “She’s in there. Tied to a chair.”
“A hundred bucks says he has the window wired.”
“Not the window. He has a bomb attached to her.” It hurt his throat to say the words. “If we try and move her, the bomb will detonate.”
“I’ll call Cade in.”
Giving a quick shake of his head, Gray said, “No. I want to do this. You, Cade, and Abel find him. I’m going to her.”
“You’re not geared up for this.”
“Neither is she.”
“Are you sure about this, man?”
“Not a sliver of doubt.”
After a long hesitation, Jamison scooted backward and disappeared into the night as if he vanished into thin air.
Gray turned back to the window, scraping to the bottom of his nerves. One wrong move and Stormy would die. He couldn’t let that happen.
*
Stormy lifted her head, hearing a noise in the dark room. Her mouth was covered in a rough cloth and her hands and ankles were tied to the chair. She stiffened a second before a small light came on and she recognized the beautiful eyes looking at her.
Gray! He’d come. She tried to move, but he laid a hand on her knee. “Listen carefully, Stormy. Don’t move, okay?”
She nodded.
He reached up and tugged the cloth from her mouth and tears flooded her cheeks. “Gray. I knew you’d come.”
“I’m here, sweetheart. I’m here.” His voice comforted her.
“Please. Get me out of here,” she pleaded, not sure why he wasn’t in more of a rush.
She saw something in his gaze that targeted every molecule of her body.
“I want to, and I will. I promise. We have to do things…well, differently.”
“What’s happening, Gray?”
“Phantom has attached a wire to you. It’s connected to a pressure sensitive mechanism on the chair. If you move it will trigger an explosive.”
Fear scurried through her and she felt sick. “A bomb? He hooked a bomb up to me?” Her lips trembled.
Gray had now laid both his hands on her thighs. “Stay as calm as possible and listen to what I say. It’s important. Okay?”
“Okay.” She tried to breath, in and out, but her insides shook. Having him close soothed her, but the danger was like a heavy cloak.
“I’m going to look it over closely. Hang tight for me.”
She watched him pull back and use his flashlight to examine the mechanism.
A buzzing sound made her jump and they made eye contact. He lifted his radio from his belt. “Any sign of him?” Gray asked.
“There was a trap door underneath the house. Looks like a tunnel that leads outside of the compound. We’re following.”
“Copy that.”
“You didn’t think it would be that easy to get rid of me, did you, Gray?” The overhead light popped on.
Stormy stiffened, staring at Duncan who was in the doorway. His gun was aimed directly at Gray who was standing, his hands held up in defense mode.
“Well, well…it’s about time we came face to face. Looks like those gunshot wounds have healed,” Gray said.
Stormy respected the fact that he didn’t show a flicker of fear.
Duncan’s lips thinned, but then he grinned. “For a sharp shooter you certainly are a lousy shot.”
“No, I’m actually a great shot and that’s why you’re alive. How about I show you my skills?”
“Make a wrong move and I’ll show you. Got it?” Duncan directed his next words to Stormy. “If you try and get out of the chair, well, none of us will need any bullets tonight. Understand, sweetheart?”
She could only stare. Her heart beat so fast she thought it would bounce outside of her chest. Gray looked like a real-life hero. His feet were shoulder-width apart and his hands were clenched into tight fists, no doubt he wanted to use them to pummel Duncan. Wearing gear and guns, gloves on and Gray’s hat tugged low, he looked dangerous, but she knew he was a savior. Her savior. How lucky she’d been to meet him.
“Let her go, Phantom. You have me now. That’s what your plan was, right?” Gray said calmly.
“And what fun would that be? We’re not negotiating, lawman. I have the gun in my hand and you stupidly laid your aside.”
“You won’t get out of this alive.”
“What big threats you have.”