Finding Her Son(55)

“Long story.”

“In position, Alpha Leader,” Mason’s voice came across the radio.

“Ten-four.”

“What’s the risk if we ram?” Greggson, the number-two entry man, sidled up to Decker and Mitch.

“Ghost, the guy I believe took her, lures pregnant girls off the streets. Then they disappear. I know of one girl, Kayla Foster, who’s missing. Another teenager ended up dead postpartum.”

Greggson let out a violent curse. “A real winner.”

“We could have a bunch of pregnant teens in that building,” Mitch warned. “You gotta go in careful.”

“Any way we can talk our way in?”

“Alpha One to Alpha Leader.” Mason’s voice crackled over the radio. “I’ve got movement. Second floor. Southeast corner. Someone just shifted a board.”

Mitch grabbed the lieutenant’s binoculars and peered at the window. Cobalt blue eyes stared out the small gap. He’d recognize them anywhere.

“Emily,” he breathed. “She’s amazing.” Her fingers slipped around the second slab. “She’s using metal to pry the wood away from the window.”

Decker ripped back his binoculars. “Assuming she’s locked in—and I doubt she’d try to break out of a second-story window if she weren’t—putting someone in her room might give us an advantage.”

“I can slip in and get her out,” Mitch said.

“How’s your leg?”

“Good enough for this.”

Decker studied him. “All right.” The lieutenant handed him an earpiece and a black tool bag. “Get in position. Reynolds and Greggson will pull you up.”

Within minutes, Mitch had the harness around him and was walking up the side of the building. No alarm had sounded. Those inside had figured a few condemned signs would keep people away. That and a paid-off cop.

When he reached the window, he made a quick cutting motion with his hand. He dangled thirty feet above the ground. Emily’s fingertips were clutched around the second board.

“Emily?”

The top of her head peered out, and her eyes widened when she saw him. Then they softened in relief. “I knew you’d come.”

Then she smiled. Mitch’s heart thudded against his chest.

“Stand back,” he said. She nodded and moved away from the window. He quickly pried the boards from their hinges before sliding through the window.

Emily launched herself at him the second he touched down. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”

She shook her head, burying deeper against him, hugging him tight as if she would never let him go.

“There was blood at your house,” he said, unable to keep the harshness from his voice.

“Ghost. I shot him.”

He set her back from him and unfastened the harness. He couldn’t stop grinning at her. “You are one spectacular woman.”

He hugged her close again, relishing the feel of her small body against his, her breasts pressed hard against him. “They’re going to kill me,” she whispered. “And another girl. She’s having a baby, and after she delivers they plan to get rid of both of us. We have to help her.”

He took one last breath, inhaled the scent of her, one last second to hug her close, then stepped away. “How many girls? How many guarding them?”

“I don’t know. I heard some teenagers laughing up and down the hall, so I don’t think everyone’s being held against their will. There’s a police officer. Vance. He killed Perry. He’s the one who shot at us, too. Just a warning,” Emily said bitterly. “A doctor is here, too. And Ghost, but he said he was going to move Sister Kate’s car. That’s everyone I saw.”

“You practically took a tour.” Mitch smiled. “Good job.” His dad had also been right about Vance. Mitch relayed the information to Lieutenant Decker. If Ghost exited the building, he could provide SWAT’s access opportunity.

Mitch bent to Emily and kissed her. “We’re going to get everyone out of here. I promise.” Mitch knelt in front of the door, testing the lock. “I wanted to send you out the window, but the SWAT team is moving into position. No time.”

“I heard the dead bolt shut.”

“Not a problem,” Mitch said as he pulled out a small tension wrench and eased it into the bottom of the lock and stabbed a pick above it. Two tries and the lock gave way. He pulled the pick out and slowly turned the wrench. “Voila.”

“You learned that in SWAT?”

“Nah. Noah taught me how to sneak back into the house when I was about fourteen.”

He communicated the new status to Lieutenant Decker.

“We’ll stay put for a few minutes. The guys are set up outside to see if Ghost exits. That way they can go in quiet.”

Emily studied Mitch’s face. He looked energized and alive.

“This is the life you want. The excitement,” she said quietly.

He turned his head. “I’m good at it. And yeah, I like catching the bad guys.”

“You’ll get back, Mitch. Your leg will improve enough to do the job. Then you can have what you want.”

He laced his fingers through hers. “What if I want you, too?”