Away From the Dark (The Light #2)(105)

I turned with my brow furrowed. “What the hell is that?”

“It’s a shell corporation. One that’s been on our radar as part of the Shadows. It’s worth millions, probably more.”

“So even stopping the production at the Northern Light won’t stop the money?”

“It will stop the influx of new money. There’s already a good amount out there. We just need to prove that it was obtained illegally. Hell, it could make a small dent in the national debt.”

“Send agents to that house now.”

While Agent Adler dialed, Brady switched to a time-lapsed feed of the house. With the time stamp reading 03:04:50, another SUV pulled up to the house. A man and woman got out and went into the house. I looked at my watch. That had been about an hour ago. By the time Special Agent Adler had given the order to go to the house, Brady had the screen on the live feed.

Less than two minutes after the order was given, three people came out of the house and got into the new SUV. It was the new man and woman plus Richards.

“Shit! What the f*ck just happened?”

Special Agent Adler’s eyes narrowed. “Shit!”

“There must be agents at the mansion. Get someone there now! Catch him!” I was screaming orders at men, one of whom was my superior.

Brady followed the SUV through the streets of the neighborhood; however, once the SUV left the gates of the subdivision, we lost the feed.

“I gave them the license number. We need to sit tight,” Brady said.

“Please.” I turned to Agent Adler. “I need to be on a plane to Detroit.”

Special Agent Adler nodded. “I’m going with you.”





CHAPTER 38


Stella


Thick fog penetrated my thoughts, its tentacles clawing at my memories. It wasn’t new, my mind knew its tricks. I’d played this game before. Steel shutters of internal defenses snapped shut and barricades went up. From somewhere deep I knew to stop the invasion. Its deception was difficult to fight. There was a tunnel and a light. The brightness enticed, pulled me closer, and my battered, exhausted body longed to surrender.

The promise of reprieve it offered was real. All I needed to do was lift the shutters and allow the fog to infiltrate. My reward would be rest and time to heal. The appeal grew as pain from my back and cramping from my midsection remained on my side of the barricades. If only I could open them a little, enough to allow the fog to enter, it would save me from the pain.

My desire grew . . . maybe I could allow just a little . . .





CHAPTER 39


Jacoby


Pictures from the home in Bloomfield Hills came via the agents’ cell phones as Adler and I were driven back to the airport. I lost any semblance of professionalism as Sara’s picture materialized.

She was there and she was alive, unconscious and alone in the house.

I didn’t know why Richards had left her, but at that moment I didn’t care. My cheeks dampened as tears of relief freely flowed. I wiped them away, watching as Agent Adler’s iPad continued the slide show of images. As they materialized, I saw her bandaged eyes and my gut twisted. Thankfully, even though her eyes were once again bandaged, I didn’t see injuries like those of the other women at the Eastern Light. What I did see, what made my heart skip a beat, was the bag of clear liquid hanging from the pole near her bed.

“Tell them to disconnect the medicine, immediately,” I said, my body shaking with fear. That motherf*cker had told me he’d try to keep her off the medicine. Now there it was.

“But Jacoby, you don’t know what it is—”

“I do.” My volume grew. “I don’t know the name of it, but it’s a memory suppressant. I’ve seen it attached to more women than I want to admit. Tell them to disconnect it immediately.”

Agent Adler handed me the phone. “Here, you’re not only an agent, you’re her husband. You tell them.”

“Agent?” I said, speaking to someone in Bloomfield Hills.

“Yes, sir, this is Agent Billings.”

“Billings, disconnect the medicine immediately.”

“Sir, by what authority . . .”

“I’m Agent Jacoby McAlister.” My name had made the rounds. They all knew I was the one who’d been inside The Light.

“Sir, it’s an honor—”

“Disconnect the medicine. As soon as the paramedics get there, have them start her on IV fluids. We need to dilute the medication in her system. Make certain that they only give her clear fluids. How is she?”

“She’s unconscious and, well . . .”

“Tell me, Agent.”

“Sir, her eyes are covered, but there appears to be bruising around one eye that has drifted down her cheek. I’d assume it’s not new.”

I shook my head. “It’s not. She was struck on Friday. Is there anything else?”

“We haven’t tried to move her, but there’s blood on her dress.” He gasped.

“What?”

“I haven’t removed her dress.”

“Don’t!”

“Sir, her back is bloody. I’d wager to guess she’s been whipped.”

My teeth clenched together as rage surged through my veins. I was going to kill Richards when I saw him. The * got all up in arms over a blackened eye and he whipped her! “Get her to the hospital. I want an agent beside her every minute. Do not let anyone prescribe any medication. There’s a possibility that she’s pregnant.”