Page 77 of Guarding Truth
Caleb took charge. “One of you needs to drive until you find a signal to call the FBI and SWAT and get them here now. The rest of us need to go in. I don’t think they have much time. The hackers have what they want, and they know we’re here. It’s clean-up time for them.”
NINETEEN
SATURDAY, 2:50 A.M.
Voices filtered through her brain, but Juliette couldn’t focus.
“What are we going to do? I didn’t sign up for murder.” The voice was female.
Another voice, male, grumbled. “She’s not going to want witnesses. These three are a liability. They know too much.”
Three?
They must have Noelle. And Ivy? Juliette opened her eyes a slit and was hit by a wave of dizziness. What had they injected into her?
The female voice sounded familiar, and Juliette struggled to place it. She worked hard to adjust her eyes and found herself in a dark, square room. Across from her, Noelle lay crumpled on the floor. But Juliette saw her move her hand to signal she was alert but playing unconscious.
She tilted her head a fraction of an inch and saw the wooden legs of a chair. Attached to the chair, pink Converse.
Ivy.
Juliette took a deep breath to keep the nausea at bay. She could still hear voices, but they were distant, not in the room.
“What’s the plan? We’ve patrolled the area and found two cars just outside the perimeter, but no signs of anyone. But with two cars, there have to be more.”
When would the SWAT team arrive? The cars were her grandmother’s and Alana’s. But where were Caleb and Alana? She sent up a prayer that they’d found help. Two against three unfriendlies wasn’t good. Based on voices, they were up against two men and one woman. The door creaked. Juliette didn’t lift her head. Maybe they’d think she was still unconscious. Three sets of boots marched through the door. No shoes a woman would wear. So three men and one woman? Where was the woman?
“Time to move them,” one of the men said. “We’ll load them in a truck and take off.”
Ivy struggled against her bonds. The chair scraped the floor. “Leave me alone,” she cried.
“Police. You’re surrounded. Come out with your hands up.” A megaphoned voice echoed through the room.
“You morons!” One of the three men shouted commands. He must be the one in charge. Was he the General?
He continued ranting. “You patrolled but didn’t spot the police? Get out there and assess the situation. Now!”
Footsteps retreated from the room. A distinct locking sound sealed them in. After a few moments of silence, Juliette dared to sit up and saw Noelle doing the same. But Juliette had to sink back down until the nausea wore off. She checked out Ivy from her spot on the floor.
The girl’s left eye was swollen, but otherwise she looked like a survivor. The fierceness in Ivy’s eyes fled when Juliette made eye contact and Ivy realized who it was.
“Juliette!” Tears ran down Ivy’s cheek. “Where is Uncle Caleb?”
Noelle started working on Ivy’s bindings.
“He’s here, and probably trying to save us,” Juliette said, attempting to stand again. This time, she was successful, the nausea easing and adrenaline kicking in.
A noise froze them all in place. Someone was unlocking the door.
Juliette and Noelle sprang into action and flanked either side of the door. Whoever was unlocking it took a while, fumbling with the mechanism. Someone who maybe didn’t have a key?
She shot Noelle a look and mouthed,Caleb.
Noelle shrugged.
The door was flung open, but no one entered. “It’s me,” Caleb whispered, slipping through the entrance and propping the door open. “Don’t take me out.”
Juliette held back the urge to fling herself into his arms. Mainly because Ivy beat her to it. The reunion made Juliette tear up, but she sucked back her emotions. Now wasn’t the time to get sappy.