Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(29)

“Did you delete their posts?” Deb asked.

Mylo lifted troubled eyes. “No. Someone wiped all the messages on my computer clean.”




The SUV shuddered as if driving over a cattle guard, then slowed to a stop.

Ashley caught her breath. As stiff as she was, it was now or never.

The back doors flew open, and Niko yanked off the tarp. Ashley blinked at the harsh sunlight beating into the SUV, its intensity blinding her.

“Bring her to the main floor,” a disembodied voice called out.

Niko ducked into the back of the vehicle and untied her from the hook in the floor. Ashley waited for the right moment and kicked out. She scooted from the Escalade and jumped to the ground. Her legs nearly collapsed beneath her, but despite that and her near blindness she prepared to run.

Several metallic clicks sounded and she stopped, whirling around to see a dozen men with automatic weapons facing her.

A tall, bald-headed man stood in the center. He smiled. “I hear you are an unusually feisty one. You’ll soon learn better, or we’ll beat the stupidity out of you. I am known as the Warden. That should give you an accurate idea of your future accommodations.”

He turned and went up the stairs.

Desperately, Ashley looked around, panic making it difficult to breathe.

A huge warehouse loomed in front of her, but when she gazed at the surrounding area, she saw no other signs of civilization. They were in the desert, no discernable landmarks beyond a few low hills. It was cold here, but not as cold as Colorado, and the air was dry. New Mexico? Arizona? Somehow neither of those seemed right. They’d driven too long.

Niko pushed her forward. “Don’t bother memorizing the landscape. No one gets away from here. Ever.”

She balked at the stairs; she didn’t want to go into that building. What if she never came out?

He grabbed her arm and dragged her up the stairs and through the door. Once inside, she hesitated again and he shoved her hard. Unbalanced, she fell to her knees.

“Ashley?” a male voice called out.

Justin? She couldn’t believe it. She pushed to a standing position and stopped, shocked and elated, but even more scared now. Justin stood across the room in shackles, one eye blackened, his jeans torn.

“What happened?” she asked, terrified for them both. “How did they get you?”

“Silence. This isn’t social hour. You’re here to work.” The Warden walked between them. “You and Justin were brought here because you have shown an aptitude for Point of Entry.”

“You kidnapped us because of Point of Entry?” she said, bemused. “A video game? Are you nuts?”

Horrified, Justin shuffled forward, but not in time to stop the vicious backhander the man gave her.

“Never cross me again. You are a convenience, not a necessity. I can replace you in a heartbeat.”

Ashley held her palm to her throbbing cheek, but she refused to cry.

“As I said, you are here because of the game,” the Warden repeated. “You were playing very well. You achieved Level 88, but, according to the searches of your computer, you were becoming too curious, delving into areas best left alone. You and your boyfriend’s little digital sojourn into the NSA’s database has resulted in an additional firewall and other problems for us that we expect you to solve. You’re here now, Miss Lansing, to work. If you’re smart, you will become an asset to our team rather than a liability.”

“No way in hell,” Ashley spat back.

“Niko?” The man gestured toward Justin. “If you would . . .”

The blow came so fast and hard. Justin hit the floor without crying out.

“Justin!”

Someone held her back, while Justin’s unconscious body was carted away.

The Warden smiled. “Remember this little lesson, my dear. Everyone is expendable and your actions don’t affect you alone. I only keep the ones alive who are useful to me.”





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CHAPTER SIX




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GABE OPENED THE door for Deb. She climbed into the SUV as he shut it and stared back at the house. And at Mylo. The kid raised his hand, and Gabe waved back.

“We spooked him,” Gabe said when he slid behind the steering wheel.

“And we’re no closer to finding Ashley,” Deb whispered. He could see her struggle to control the panic. No matter what her experience, the stress of the last few days had taken its toll. Lack of sleep, worry. She’d break soon.

“A game. How can Ashley’s disappearance be connected to a video game? It doesn’t make sense.”

“We’re going to find out.” Gabe dialed his brother Luke. This case was getting uglier and more confusing by the minute. He needed someone who could follow trails down rabbit holes.

“Montgomery here.”

“Hey, bro. Can you get away to my house, or could Deb Lansing and I come to yours?”

“The helicopter pilot? She’s the reason Zach’s watching the bar, right? I had to crack up at that, little brother. Movie star, big, bad, super spy, reduced to being a bartender.”

“He owes me after almost getting me blown up,” Gabe said. “Besides, he’s retired now, the bum.” He twisted in the seat and took Deb’s hand. “Deb Lansing’s sister is missing. I’m helping her out. We’re in Colorado Springs doing some investigating, but we have a cell phone video I want you to see.”