Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(75)

She knew they were in the desert somewhere, but—

The door flew open. Niko stood there watching her clutch the Warden’s tablet to her chest.

Silently, he walked straight to her, took the tablet, shut it down, and returned it to the drawer. Then he stared at her, his face expressionless.

Terror crippled her, and her entire body shook.

“Idaho,” he said softly.

“What?”

“Where we are. Isn’t that what you were looking for?”

The Warden strode in. “I told you to take her out of here.”

The blond man smiled at his boss. “I was explaining to Ms. Lansing that you didn’t feel comfortable with her being in your office without supervision, so I was to guard her until you returned, then accompany her to the cafeteria. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

The Warden stared back and forth between them for a long moment, then scanned his office before relenting. “Get her out of here. I think she’s learned her lesson for today.”

“Yes,” Niko said. “I think she has.”




The alarm sounded at midnight and all the automatic door locks engaged. The bed check would start soon to identify who had escaped.

Ashley snuggled in closer to her tear-stained pillow, grateful that Justin and Dave had several hours’ head start.

Tonight more rumors had started.

The guards called it cleanup.

The Version VIII final mission programming was almost complete.

The camp would be closed. The Warden would move on.

Within a few days, everyone they found expendable—all the recruits—would be dead.

“Please, God. Let them get away. Someone has to bring help to this hellhole, or we’re all going to die.”

Then she turned her face to the wall, waiting for the beating that was certain to come.





* * *





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN




* * *




ZACH’S PLANE TOUCHED down gently at the Angel Fire, New Mexico, airstrip. Gabe’s brother could definitely handle the controls. The plane came to a stop at the end of the short runway and Gabe peered out at the quaint mountain town, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo range.

“Nice landing,” Deb said, unbuckling her seat belt. “That’s a difficult maneuver, especially with this wind-shear factor on the way in.”

Zach gave her that famous movie-star grin. “I aim to please.”

Gabe scowled at his brother. “Hey, tone down the wattage on that smile, Dark Avenger. This isn’t a Hollywood set, and you’re married now.”

“Yeah, I am married now, and very happily, too, thank you.” Zach unclicked his belt and exited the pilot’s seat. “You know, in most movie scripts, jealousy is one of the first signs of the big fall.”

Gabe threw a quick glance at Deb to see how she was handling his brother’s teasing. Except for the slight flush of her cheeks that most wouldn’t notice, she didn’t blink.

He glared at Zach. “And not breathing is one of the early signs of imminent death, bro. Keep it up and you’ll have firsthand experience.”

“Nah, you need me to fly out of here.”

“Not necessarily,” Deb said, flashing her own grin. “I’ve got my pilot’s license.”

“Well, you two are a cheerful bunch.” Zach huffed. “I thought I was here to watch your backs, not my own. Let’s get a move on.”

Gabe laughed, but the trepidation inside him was building. He’d never met Shannon’s parents. He hated forcing them to revisit the night of the girl’s murder, or reliving it themselves, but unless Luke came up with something in his research, Gabe didn’t know what else to do to find a lead on Ashley’s whereabouts. “How are we getting to the Devlins’?”

Zach rose and unlatched the side door. “I called ahead. The guy who runs the place said he keeps a car on standby for pilots. We can take it if we’re not too long. Ski season is busy this time of year, so when the weather is clear, he has a lot of planes coming through.”

Deb and Gabe gathered their belongings while Zach opened the door of the plane. A numbing draft of cold air blew through.

“I really hate winter right about now.” Deb shoved her hands into the arms of her coat and zipped it up. “Ready.”

Zach completed his postflight check and Gabe scanned the area. Even though the runway had been cleared of snow, Angel Fire resembled a winter wonderland, a valley draped with a carpet of white surrounded by snow-laced mountains. Several ski runs cut distinctive swaths between the trees.

“I’d love to take a run down that big slope,” Zach said, his expression wistful. “A few of them look easy enough for Sam to handle.”

“Sam?” Deb asked.

“My wife, Jenna’s, son,” Zach added. “I plan to legally adopt him as soon as the paperwork goes through. He’s only six years old, but he’s adapted to being a Montgomery like he’s always belonged. Actually, Jenna has, too.”

“Why don’t you fly Jenna and Sam down here sometime?” Gabe suggested.

“You were reading my mind, little brother. Once they get home, we’ll plan on a fun trip.”

“Where are they now?” Deb asked.