Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(47)

She had no choice, though. She had to move forward and find Ashley on her own. If she’d asked, Gabe would have kept trying to help her. He was that kind of man.

Too risky, though. Distraction killed people.

Deb would go it alone. It’s how her life had to be.

By the time she reached the third floor, her lungs ached from the strain. She was getting soft. Too much beer and too many fantasies. Time to get herself grounded and concentrate on finding Ashley.

She juggled the bags until she could shove her key into the lock. Before she could even turn the key, the door creaked open. What the hell?

Had she not pulled the door tight enough when she left? It stuck a lot in the summer, when the wood swelled, but this was November. That problem was basically gone. Still, it was hot in the corridor. She didn’t want to call the police for a false alarm.

But she wasn’t stupid, either.

She quietly put her bags down and reached for the gun in her purse. She didn’t flaunt the fact that she had one, but her father had drummed it into her head that she had to be able to protect herself. Her brothers and the Army had, too. Her ass had been kicked enough times that she knew how to kick one back.

Not moving, she listened at the door for a long while.

The apartment was so quiet. Too quiet for Ashley to have miraculously returned.

She tapped 9-1-1 into her phone, but didn’t hit “Send.” Still, she kept the phone ready, then slowly, methodically searched room to room. The living room. The kitchen. The bedroom. The minuscule bathroom that probably couldn’t fit a bad guy if he tried.

Just as she went back into the hall to check the final closet, her phone vibrated. She glanced down. Oh God, it was a direct message from her brother Rick from Afghanistan. She’d left e-mails and messages for all three male members of the family to get in touch as soon as possible.

Quickly, she opened the laptop she’d left on hibernate. The incoming video call flashed. Just when she thought she’d missed him, her brother’s face appeared in front of her. God, he looked exhausted. She studied him more closely. He pretty much looked like she felt. “Hi, Rick.”

“Hey, Admiral,” he said, his voice jerky in the connection. “What’s going on?”

Where was she supposed to begin? So much had happened. She didn’t want to tell him, but she knew she had to. Deb took a deep breath. “Ashley’s missing.”

“What?” He sat up straight and swiped his hand across tired eyes. “Say that again. I don’t think I heard you right. Communication is kind of garbled today.”

“Ashley is missing. I think she’s been kidnapped.”

The sleepy look left his eyes, and they took on a deadly intensity that was new to him since going to the Middle East.

“What are you talking about, she might have been kidnapped? Why didn’t you call?”

“I hoped I could find her before I had to tell you.” She hesitated. “I know how much stress you and Ben have been under.”

Rick nearly growled his anger. “Damn it, Red. She’s my sister, too.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Deb rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m really scared.”

She gave him a rundown of the investigation. If he could have leapt through the screen, he would have.

“This Gabe Montgomery. Is he legit?”

Praying her cheeks hadn’t turned pink, she nodded. “He helped when the cops wouldn’t, but we uncovered enough to make them listen to me. I’m going to bring Ashley home.”

Rick let out a frustrated groan. “I can’t get leave right now. Things are too volatile in . . . Never mind.” He leaned toward the monitor. “I’m sorry I jumped all over you. How are you holding up?”

She choked back the emotions that had been driving her crazy. “Alone. Like when Mom was sick.”

He frowned, then his eyes glinted. “What’s the motto?” He slapped his fist against his chest, his normal smile not reaching his eyes. “?‘Never give up. Never surrender.’?”

“You’re comforting me with quotes from Galaxy Quest?”

“Nonstop fun like I’m having will do that to a person.”

She smiled because he wanted her to, but they knew the truth. Things weren’t good for the Lansings. “Can you get hold of Ben?”

Rick’s eyes shifted left, just for a second, and Deb stilled, squeezing her nails into her palm to quell the foreboding rising within her. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m getting chatter about some big moves. Ben’s whole unit’s gone quiet.” Rick paused.

“What kind of chatter?”

“Sorry, Deb, you’re not need-to-know. I shouldn’t have said that much.”

She stared at Rick through the screen, studying his features. Oh boy. She didn’t like the looks. Something intense was going down. The worry for her brother that always bubbled under her skin poked through. But she knew asking more questions wouldn’t help. “I understand. If you hear from him, contact me. Please?”

Her gaze met Rick’s. He was scared for Ben. Deb shivered again. She couldn’t bear the thought of Ben’s black ops identity being discovered.

“I will, Admiral.”

Shouting sounded from behind Rick.

“I’ve got to go.” He faced the screen, his brown eyes determined, yet loving. “Find Ashley, Deb. I don’t want Ben to come out of that hellhole he’s in to find out she’s dead.”