Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(60)
Nick bit out a curse. “Steve is in WITSEC and he’s my responsibility. He threw the protection agreement away to come here, because he refuses to stay hidden while the people he loves are threatened. I could lose my whole damn case against Jeff Gasmerati if something happens to Steve, so back off.”
“People he loves? Right.” Gabe lunged at Paretti and fisted his shirt at the collar. He brought them face-to-face. “Tell me the truth, *, are you a cop or a criminal?”
Paretti shoved Gabe back. “I’m a cop. I’ve always been a cop.” He clenched his fists, then suddenly, his shoulders sagged. “I hoped you’d understand eventually. The world isn’t always black and white when you’re undercover. Sometimes you have to do borderline things to stay alive and try to keep others that way, too.”
He looked over at Luke. “I’m sorry. I tried to keep you and Jazz out of it. Jeff wanted me to kill you.”
“You shot at us, Paretti. You almost killed Jazz.”
“I knew where I was aiming, Luke. I might not be a SWAT sniper, but I’m a close second to Jazz. I missed on purpose. I tried to scare you, to get you both to run. Or at least hide until things were safer. But you didn’t run.”
Steve glared at Gabe. “And you’re not running, either. Rumor has it that Jeff Gasmerati is dead set on taking you out.” Paretti gestured around the room. “Maybe all of you. What is it about Montgomerys and sheer stubborn stupidity? Why can’t you behave like a normal family and just leave.”
“Instead of telling us what we already know,” Gabe snapped, “tell us something that will help end this.” He clenched his fists. He wanted to punch something, anything.
Deb moved to Gabe’s side. She didn’t take his hand or even touch him, but just her presence cooled his temper a bit, like spring rain dousing a fire.
Paretti let out a sigh and looked over at Nick. Gabe’s brother nodded. “We’ve broken this many rules,” he said. “Go ahead.”
“I spent a couple months in a coma after getting shot,” Steve said. “And then time in recovery before I could start to piece together my memory. I knew something big was in the works before I was forced to disappear, but it’s hard to get info while you’re supposedly dead, especially when your bodyguard won’t let you so much as pee without watching.” He glared at Nick.
“You’re still alive, aren’t you?” Nick said.
“If that’s what you call hiding out like a coward.”
“I’m not hearing anything that will help my investigation . . . or find Deb’s sister,” Gabe snapped.
“Before I was shot in the head and shoved into WITSEC, I overheard bits and pieces about a couple of hush-hush construction projects Jeff Gasmerati had his hands on. Most having to do with tech and selling video games. Probably pirated, but I don’t know. My cousin was definitely part geek as a kid. He wanted to be the next computer whiz, but he never had the smarts.”
Deb clutched Gabe’s arm and leaned forward. “Did you hear any names mentioned? How about Point of Entry?”
An energy pulsed from Deb. Gabe studied his ex-friend. Could Jeff Gasmerati be involved with Ashley’s disappearance?
Paretti tapped his forehead as if forcing his mind to work. “I like Point of Entry. Good game,” Steve said, his brow furrowing. “But not that I remember. Most of the communication came in from some guy Jeff called the Warden. Right before things went south, there was a flurry of calls that he kept very private.”
Deb sagged in disappointment.
“Where were the construction projects?” Gabe asked.
“Winslow, Arizona, got a lot of mention. Another was in southern Nevada. The only other one I could place was the last job. In Idaho, Ohio, Ontario, or something. I can’t remember for sure.”
“Idaho?” Gabe looked at Luke. “Ernie mentioned Idaho. It can’t be a coincidence.”
“I’ll start following the money trail, looking for dummy companies or manufacturing sites Jeff may be connected with,” Luke offered.
“The FBI and the Marshals are both checking for the same things,” Nick said. “If I can find out anything, I’ll let you know.”
A loud, shrill sound split the night.
Everyone, including Deb, had a gun in their hands instantly.
“What the hell is that?” Nick yelled.
Gabe raced to the kitchen and yanked open the back door. “Alarm. Sammy’s is on fire. Call 9-1-1. Zach—Hawk!”
Gabe sprinted outside. Deb ran after him, while Luke picked up the phone.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe saw Nick close the door, shutting Paretti out of sight.
Licks of flames showed through the bar’s kitchen windows. The four of them raced across the icy parking lot. Just as they got within fifteen feet of the door, the bar exploded.
The other kids called it the punishment room. It was next to the infirmary. Not a good sign. Ashley stared around the plain gray walls and at the long metal table in the middle of the room, complete with stirrups and straps to bind someone, if needed.
They’d shoved her into one of two chairs in the room and left her there. Her feet were cold on the concrete floor. She rubbed her arms and shivered.
She’d never been taken here. She squeezed her eyes shut. God, had they found out what she’d done?