Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(67)

Her legs couldn’t hold her any longer. She collapsed on the couch, nearly overwhelmed with relief.

“Hopefully there’s a note or something telling us where she is.” Gabe pulled out a pair of latex gloves from his duffel and sat down beside her. She leaned forward watching his every move. Her leg bounced with urgency. Was it almost over? Was this the key to finding Ashley?

Carefully, Gabe opened the flap and pulled out a box. “Point of Entry.”

“There’s got to be more,” Deb said.

Gabe opened the packing and peered inside. “Nothing.”

“No note?” Deb’s body sagged with disappointment, like she’d plummeted from a plane with no parachute. “There’s got to be something.”

For several minutes they carefully scanned every inch of the package. Deb shook her head. “Nothing on the outside or the inside.”

Gabe flipped the case over. “Intelligent Interactive makes the game. But that’s not who sent the game. What is your sister trying to tell us?” Gabe slipped his new phone from his pocket and hit the Speaker button.

“Hey, little brother, I’m still working on Dad’s files,” Luke said. “Any new crisis since last night?”

“Just another crazy mystery. Deb just received a package from Ashley.”

“What the hell?” Luke asked. “Where is she? Where’s she been?”

“It’s not that obvious,” Gabe said, handing Deb the phone. “You explain it, Admiral.”

Deb could barely speak, but she explained Ashley’s hidden message.

“That’s one smart sister you have,” Luke said quietly.

He didn’t add what Deb knew. That if Ashley had gone to these lengths and been unable to include a note, she was also in serious trouble. While part of Deb wanted to shout for joy that Ashley was alive, part of her heart twisted in agony.

No telling what her sister was going through, and they were no closer to finding her.

“She’s special,” Deb said, her voice choked. “We don’t know why or how, but I’m looking at Point of Entry VIII right now.”

Luke didn’t speak for several seconds. “You can’t be,” he said. “Point of Entry VIII isn’t even out for reviews yet. Super top secret.”

“Which means Ashley is somewhere that has access to the game.” Gabe fingered the box. “Should we try to play it or at least open it? See if she managed to send us any other message inside?”

“Has it been tampered with?” Luke asked.

“No. It’s still sealed.”

“Get Forensics to test it first. Unless you’ve already contaminated the evidence.”

“I’m not a rookie.” Gabe scowled at the phone. “I’m wearing gloves, but who am I supposed to trust?”

“Good point. I’ll keep investigating things from my end,” Luke said.

“And I’m phoning the FBI. I don’t trust anyone local,” Gabe said.

Deb gripped his arm. He gave her a tender smile and for the first time in what felt like forever, hope rekindled.

“Don’t let anyone know you have that game,” Luke warned. “Serious gamers are crazy. They’d kill to get hold of it ahead of release date.”

“I hope you’re exaggerating. I’m on enough hit lists now,” Gabe said.

“Don’t go crazy and do this alone, little brother. We can help.”

“I know.” Gabe clicked off the phone. He looked at the return address. “Intelligent Solutions. Reno, Nevada. It’s not quite the same name as the company that creates P.O.E. Maybe a subsidiary?”

“Everything points back to that game,” Deb said. “Even the first case with Shannon and her friends.”

“There’s some kind of connection. My father knew it.” Bleakness filled his eyes. “We have to go back to the beginning. Start over with the first murder we know of—Shannon Devlin. She had a Point of Entry, Version I game case in her backpack when she died. Her teammate had the POE license plate on his car.

“What do you have in mind, Gabe?”

He started pressing buttons on his phone. “We need to talk to Shannon’s parents in Angel Fire. I’m going to ask Zach to fly us there tomorrow.”

“What about your investigation?”

“I have to trust Garrison to handle it. My family knows the danger. They’re hunkered down. Your sister has called out for help. I’m not turning my back on her. Or you.”




Tower hadn’t met with Jeff Gasmerati one-on-one in the last eight years. The sheriff glanced at his holster and weapon lying on the table across the room. He didn’t like standing in the room with a killer and no gun at his side.

The head of the crime family wore Gucci and his eyes penetrated like a dagger. Jeff drummed his perfectly trimmed nails on his desk until the door opened. A hulking man entered the room.

“The latest surveillance on Lansing’s apartment. Menken pulled it off,” Sly said.

“He served his purpose,” Tower muttered.

Jeff scanned the paper. “Gabe Montgomery is getting too close.” His gaze met Tower’s. “They’re headed to Angel Fire. To Shannon Devlin’s parents’ house. The one you shot in the bus terminal.