Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(59)

Ernie Rattori’s hand had done its job. He’d have to thank Gasmerati sometime for agreeing to the donation.

Tower wanted no outside witnesses for what was to happen next. He and the deputies snapped on latex gloves and made their way down the corridor.

Menken was still yelling in his cell when the sound of their footsteps finally broke through to him. The deputy’s face had turned purple with rage, but Tower could see the panic as well. The man’s behavior fit perfectly into his plans.

“Good evening, Menken.”

The deputy lunged against the bars. “You’ve kept me locked up in this stinkin’ jail cell for hours and haven’t even let me call anyone. Didn’t even spring me, after all I’ve done for you. You owe me, Tower, and don’t you forget it. Now, get me out of here.”

“Certainly.” Tower unlocked the cell door, then tugged a belt from behind his back, holding it in his gloved hand. It was Menken’s belt, complete with fingerprints, and was already looped to use as a noose. “Officers, I believe our prisoner is depressed. How could we have forgotten to remove his belt? We shouldn’t be so careless. Bad things can happen when a man is suicidal.”

Menken howled and charged Tower. The other two officers grabbed him.

“Remember,” Tower said. “No unusual bruises.”

Menken started yelling and fighting, but the deputies took care of the rest.

Ten minutes later Tower stared at the hanging figure in disgust. How could the man have been so stupid? Jeopardizing everything.

“You’ll get out of jail all right, Menken,” he told the lifeless man. “Unfortunately, it will be in a body bag. Deputies, make sure there is no evidence left behind, then disappear. I’ll reestablish the security loop, then join the others at Montgomery’s house across the street.”

Without a last glance, Tower walked out.




Only a few stars twinkled in the frame of the small one-foot-by-four-inch window. Ashley huddled under the thin wool blanket and buried her head into the pillow. She could fight during the day, she could be like Deb. But at night—at night everything changed.

The moon had moved past her window. Lights-out.

A few coughs echoed through the corridors. A few sobs. Some male; some female. They were all in hell, and in the dark, there seemed to be no way out.

She couldn’t let it get to her. She had a plan. If only . . .

A metal door slammed closed. Footsteps pounded down the concrete hallways. One after the other. Closer and closer.

The boots thudded with the precision of a metronome.

Her chest tightened. Please, go on. Please don’t find out.

They didn’t slow. They passed her room.

A tear squeezed out of the corner of her eye.

Then, the footsteps paused.

The clang of keys. A metal door creaked open.

“No. I didn’t do anything!” The boy’s high-pitched yell identified him at once. Geeky, tall kid with Buddy Holly glasses. Math genius. No name.

“Please, don’t take me.”

Ashley buried her head under her pillow. Was it her fault?

A loud, horrible scream sounded down the hall.

The large metal door opened again.

The footsteps came back.

Ashley’s pulse pounded in her ears. She squeezed her eyes tight.

The keys jangled and clinked.

Her door opened.

“Lansing,” a low voice whispered. “You’ve been a very bad girl.”





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CHAPTER FOURTEEN




* * *




GABE CROSSED HIS arms and faced the man who at one time he would have trusted with his life.

“Maybe I’d better take off,” Deb said, backing to the door.

“Don’t leave, Ms. Lansing,” Nick Montgomery said.

He wore a U.S. Marshal badge, and while he appeared calm, Gabe could see the regret in his eyes.

“You’ve been seen with my brother,” Nick continued. “It’s not safe for you to leave alone until this operation has been closed, no matter how well you can defend yourself. Hopefully, Steve has the nails for Gasmerati’s coffin. He came out of hiding to help.”

“And to save Grace,” Paretti added. “I won’t let her take the fall for me.”

Gabe looked at his former friend. He couldn’t believe the man he’d known since childhood was standing here alive. He should be happy, but the betrayal cut too deep. “Why should I believe anything you say? You lied to me for years.”

“Steve had to in order to survive,” Nick cut in.

Gabe whirled on his brother. “And why should I trust you, brother?” He paced back and forth, thrusting his fingers through his hair. “You knew his betrayal was tearing me apart, Nick, but you hid the fact Paretti was alive—even from me.”

“Just like you hid the fact you’re running an undercover op in the bar from the whole family,” Nick snapped. “You can’t have it both ways, Gabe. Your secrets are okay, but no one else can have them? Life isn’t like that. Sometimes tough decisions have to be made.”

“So, I’m just supposed to throw my arms around this traitor and welcome him back into the good-guy fold? Not happening, bro.”