ICE PRINCESS, page 22
Vic fought back a smile. "Just fix it, Kiki."
A few minutes later, adjustment made, they returned to the living room.
"Perfect," Claudia declared. "Let’s move out."
Phillip gave each a backpack and motioned them to the door. "Last one to the van is a rotten egg."
Vic waited until they pulled from the driveway. "Guess it’s our turn now. Check your radios to make sure they work. Space yourselves in fifteen-minute intervals. If Hanson or anyone else is going to follow, one of us should catch him. Keep in constant contact."
Zach took up the rear. Claudia stopped him at the door. "Call when you get there."
"I will." He dropped a kiss to her lips and left.
Claudia hugged herself long after they departed. Almost over.
"How long to get to Big Bear?" she asked Rowan.
"Depends on the traffic. Give them at least two hours." She tugged Claudia’s arms away from her chest. "Come on. I’ve got something to keep you occupied while we wait."
"You’re not going to have me paint the fence, are you?"
Rowan laughed. "Actually, I thought we might try that quilting project we keep putting off."
"Neither of us is very good at it."
"Yeah, I know. But it passes the time."
"How about you, Kiki? Up for a little quilting."
"Kiki has other plans. Ta for now, girlfriend." She blew Claudia a kiss and left.
Time didn’t pass quickly enough. Claudia checked off the minutes as they went by, counting down thirty, an hour, finally two. Still, the blast from the phone was so sudden, she jumped.
Rowan picked up before it could ring a second time. It was Phillip. They were there and safe.
A single tear slipped down Claudia’s cheek. Allison was safe. It was over. She tied off her thread and stood.
"I’m going home to wait for Zach."
"Sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?"
"Frankly, I’m too exhausted."
And elated and sad and everything. By the time Claudia reached her own front door, she had run the gamut of every emotion there was. One thing was certain—there would be no story for her news station. Let them think the base was gearing for war. She would not violate Allison’s privacy.
She pushed into the kitchen, waiting for Miss Kitty’s traditional greeting. A low, rumbling growl greeted her instead.
Claudia had never heard a cat growl before, and didn’t take time to question it. A warning was a warning. She fumbled for the doorknob to ease back out. A man’s shadow fell across the kitchen floor. The door behind her moved.
In the back of her mind, Claudia knew she was surrounded, knew who her captors were. Crouching low against the refrigerator, she prepared to defend herself. She never got the chance. A police baton snapped out, clipping her leg and knocking her to the floor.
Claudia scrambled for a weapon. A knife, a pot, anything. Sinclair shoved her against the cabinets. Desperately, she reared back to kick. He was too quick. He slammed her to the floor face down, his body pressing indecently against hers.
"I saw you outside that night. Don’t you think I watched your moves? You’re great on your back, but once you’re flipped over, you’re nothing."
Want to bet?
Gritting her teeth, Claudia banged her head backward against his face.
Sinclair cried out, jerked back, but the bulk of his weight still covered her.
"Bitch." He grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her head back. "You’re good, little lady, but I’m better." He was excited, aroused, enjoying himself and his power. "Now, you’re going to tell me where my wife is or I’ll see you regret it for the rest of your life."
"Go to hell."
"Have it your way. It doesn’t bother me to put a woman in her place."
With Hanson’s help, Sinclair bound and gagged her, then dragged her through the house, into the garage, and unceremoniously dumped her in the backseat of his car.
"Keep her still and keep her quiet," he told Hanson. "If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. Push me any further and I won’t hesitate to turn you in."
Hanson shoved her to the floor. For extra measure he added his own weight. "Nice and cozy. Move and I’ll strangle you." He tossed a blanket over them and signaled for Sinclair to leave.
Chapter 18
* * *
Zach’s radio crackled to life on the seat beside him. Puzzled, he brought it to his ear.
"Yeah?"
"Pull into the next shopping center," Vic said.
"Is something wrong? We’re almost home."
"Just pull in."
He tossed the radio aside and made a sharp right into the parking lot. Vic was already there. Cruz was right behind him. Phillip drove on.
"What’s up?"
Vic didn’t waste time on preliminaries. "Sinclair and Hanson broke into your house. They have Claudia."
The world exploded before Zach in shades of red. Vic kept talking. Zach couldn’t understand a word. Only one thing stayed in his head—Claudia was in danger.
Vic shook his arm. "Did you hear me? You and Cruz go back to your house and wait until you hear from me."
"The hell I will. I’m going after her."
"You don’t even know where she is."
"But you do."
Braced on the car door, Vic hung his head. "Yes, I do. I didn’t want to take a chance. I’ve had a man, one of my fellow agents, watching her. He knows exactly where she is and will do his best to protect her."
"Not good enough. I’m going with you."
Vic shook his head. "No. It’s too risky."
A snarl ripped from Zach’s throat. He grabbed Vic’s shirt in his fist and yanked him close. "Goddamn it, that’s my wife! Take me to where she is now."
Cruz peeled his hands from Vic’s throat. "Take it easy. We’ll all go."
Released from the strangle hold, Vic adjusted his clothing. "We’re wasting time."
* * *
Claudia wanted to vomit in Hanson’s face. The man seemed to take great delight in her discomfort, using each jolt of the car to ground himself against her. She prayed whatever they planned for her wouldn’t come to that.
Courage. That’s what she needed. And strength. And to hold on to the belief that somehow, some way, Zach would find her.
"We’re here," Sinclair said. "Get her in the cabin before some damn hiker sees us."
Hanson yanked her up by the arms. Pain knifed between her shoulder blades. Claudia refused to cry out, refused to give either of them the pleasure of knowing they had hurt her. They grabbed her from either side, dragged her to a dilapidated desert mining shack miles from civilization, and shoved her inside.
"Now what?" Hanson pulled off her gag and rubbed his thin hands together. "Going to rough her up a bit?"
"Shut up and sit down. You’ve already caused me enough problems by not disposing of Sunline’s body like I told you." Sinclair pushed away the cardboard covering one of the windows and peeked outside. "I’m sure our intrepid young captain will want his wife returned to him undamaged. We’ll give him the chance to respond to our ultimatum first. If that fails…"
He shrugged and faced them once more. "I’ll get what I want one way or the other, little lady."
Hanson snickered. "Colonel Sinclair always wins."
Claudia struggled to sit on the worn cot. "You would do well to remember that, Hanson. Or are you really foolish enough to believe that Sinclair’s going to take the fall with you? By the time he’s through with you, he’ll make sure you get life in prison, and that he gets away scott free."
Hanson’s cocky smile faltered. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
She jerked her head toward Sinclair. "Ask him. This is a man who managed to convince the military police the beatings he gave his wife were a sexual game. What scenario do you think he’ll use to discredit you? We already know you killed Teddy and we know why. Sinclair won’t go down with you. He’ll blame it all on you. He’ll even say you set him and Allison up just to get to Teddy. That would be first degree murder. Who knows? Before this is over, the authorities might even find you dead. A victim of your own ‘suicide.’"
In one stride, Sinclair hovered over her. "Shut up."
Defiant eyes glared up at him. "It’s the truth. Ask him. He can’t stand for you to hear it."
Sinclair cracked his hand across her face with force enough to split her lip. Claudia’s head snapped back. A muffled cry tore from her throat. Tears stung her eyes. She blinked them away, then flashed him another hate-filled glare.
"Don’t tempt me, bitch." He pivoted on his heel and marched to the door. "Watch her. I won’t be long."
Claudia waited until she heard the car drive away, then shoved herself into the corner of the cot. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth onto her neck.
"See. I told you. He’s going to let you take the fall for kidnapping me. You’re already wanted for murder. He’s probably on his way to call the police right now. He can’t afford loose ends, and that’s all you are to him."
Hanson wiped the sweat from his brow with the back on his arm. "Get on your feet. We’re getting out of here."
"I’d love to oblige you, but you’ve tied my feet together."
"Keep your mouth shut, bitch, or I’ll slap you myself." He cut the cords free and pulled her upright. "Move."
"It will be faster if my arms are free, too. Plus it might help your case if the police find you trying to help me."
Mumbling curses, he cut her arms loose. "You keep ahead of me at all times. No funny stuff."
Claudia rubbed the circulation into her arms. "I wouldn’t dream of it."
He led her down a path alongside a dirt road. Claudia had no idea if he even knew what direction to take or where they were. It didn’t matter. As long as they were in the open, there was a better chance they would be found.
There was a rustling behind them. Hanson froze. Claudia kept walking.
"Stop," he growled. "Stay where you are."
Hands on hips, she turned to face him. Ten feet beyond, Kurt hid behind a bank of creosote bushes. Relief flooded through her. Hanson started to turn.
"Probably a coyote, you coward," she said. "It’s just curious and shouldn’t bother us if we keep on and ignore it."
He turned around, scanning the bushes suspiciously. "Yeah, well, you’re going first just in case it decides to attack."
It was the break Kurt needed. When Hanson walked on, he made his move. Claudia had barely had time to put one foot in front of the other before Kurt dashed forward. In less time than it took for her to realize what was happening, he had Hanson face down in the sand.
Plucking a pair of handcuffs from the back of his jeans, he gave her a wink. "You know I wouldn’t let you down."
Two quick gunshots swallowed her reply. Blood exploded from Kurt’s shoulder. He fell back, clutching at the wound.
Claudia skidded to her knees beside him. Hanson lay nearby, his blood staining the sand. She couldn’t tell if he was alive or dead.
"Get down!" Kurt snarled.
"Your shoulder." She feathered her hands over the wound, trying to ignore his wince of pain.
"I’m all right," he ground out through clenched teeth.
"But the bleeding."
He shook his head. "There’s a kubaton on my key ring."
"A…what?"
"A small, steel baton. Get it. Defend yourself." He chucked her under the chin. "You can do it, girlfriend."
She slipped it from his pocket and nestled the cold metal securely in her palms.
"Good. Now into the bushes before he realizes I don’t have back up and comes out of hiding."
"Kiki, he has a gun."
"And he needs us to get his wife. She’s his possession, his property, and he wants her back."
"He’s absolutely right about that." Sinclair’s shadow fell over them. "On your feet, both of you."
"He can’t. You’ve shot him."
"An accident. I was aiming for the man who murdered my Marine. I was defending your friend. I can’t be all bad if I was doing that."
Kurt sneered through his pain. "Very clever, but it won’t hold up in court."
A demonic grin spread over Martin Sinclair’s face. He kissed the barrel of the pistol, levered it at Kurt, and fired into his leg. "It doesn’t have to. I’m not the one accused of murder. Now," he dug his fingers into Claudia’s upper arm and yanked her to him, "I want my wife."
"Too bad."
Sinclair seized her throat in one hand and squeezed. "I’m not playing games with you any more, little girl. Give me my wife."
"Claudia, fight!" Kurt shouted.
Gasping for air, she flicked the weapon like a whip, slicing the keys against Sinclair’s cheek. He reared back with a howl.
"Now, Claudia, get him! Get him! Fight like I showed you!"
Fury unfurled, she attacked. In her hand, the keys became razors gouging into every area of exposed skin. He lunged for her and Claudia jabbed the kubaton under his chin, trying to stab into his jugular. Over balancing, she staggered back.
Sinclair lunged, a look of triumph on his face. Exposed and vulnerable, Claudia kicked out. He caught her ankle and yanked her down.
Claudia lashed out with her feet, digging into his ribs, his face, his stomach, his groin. He rolled away and leaped to his feet. She jumped up with him, nails curled for battle, teeth barred.
"Come on, you bastard," she snarled. "Come at me. Give me the excuse to beat the shit out of you."
Too late she saw him reach for his gun. Her heart was suspended in time. A look of triumph spread over his face as he pointed the weapon at her.
Claudia crouched low, digging her hands into the sand. She had one chance. Jumping up with a shout, she tossed a fistful of sand into his eyes.
Sinclair screamed and stumbled, hands raking at his face. There was a dart of movement to the side. Claudia jerked around in time to see Zach tackle Sinclair to the ground. Still blinded, Sinclair lashed out with the pistol, clipping Zach on the cheek. Zach rolled away, taking Sinclair with him.
She flinched with each blow Zach took. He gave as good, or better, than he got. He ducked each flailing swipe of the pistol until he seized Sinclair’s wrist in a vise-like grip.
Sinclair cried out as bone snapped. The weapon fell from his limp fingers and skidded down the hill. He refused to admit defeat. With one heave, he toppled Zach backward.
The men rolled down the incline, each refusing to release the other. Claudia ran behind, hoping for something that would give her an advantage to help Zach.
Suddenly the ground beneath the men gave way. Claudia’s scream pierced the air as the mine shaft gave way. Dust hurled into the sky obscured her vision. She crawled forward, fearful of the silence. A dark hole opened inches before her. She eased closer.
"Zach?"
There was the sound of someone spitting, a sharp intake of breath, and finally…
"Here," he gasped.
Claudia fanned the dust away. Ten feet below, Zach dangled from a worn rope. "Hang on. I’ll try to pull you up."
"Just stand away. I can do it."
Breath held and hands clutched under her chin, Claudia watched his slow ascent. Sinclair was right behind him and gaining. He made a grab for Zach’s ankle. Zach kicked him away…but it seemed like he still had miles to go.
The rope groaned from the weight. A cord snapped. Claudia jumped forward, grabbing hold with both hands and digging in with her heels.
Sand skidded beside her. She couldn’t spare the time to look. Whoever it was had to be help. There was no one else left.
Vic gently pulled her to one side and grabbed the rope. Cruz took up the slack behind him.
"Hang on. We’ll have you out in a minute."
"He doesn’t have a minute," Claudia cried out. "Sinclair’s trying to knock him off."
The rope groaned again. Another thread snapped. Vic flopped forward, hanging over the edge while Cruz continued to pull. Claudia saw a hand clasp Vic’s arm. Seconds later Zach scrambled for safety and Claudia’s arms.
She wrapped him in a welcome embrace, not bothering to hide the tears that drifted down her cheeks. With shaking hands she touched his wounds.
"I’m okay, honey. I’m okay."
His gaze fell to the cut on her lip, the bruise on her cheek. He touched both then tucked her head under his chin. From the corner of her eye, Claudia saw Sinclair crawl from the mine shaft. His breathing was labored, but hate still glared from his eyes. Sirens echoed across the landscape.
"It’s over, Sinclair," Vic said, trying to catch his breath.
"That’s what you think." In a lightning-fast move, he dove for the fallen pistol and swung around on them. Claudia was his first target.
Zach pulled her behind him. "You just don’t get it, do you? It’s over. You’re history. Your career is over. You’re going to jail. Shooting us isn’t going to change a thing."
The sirens drew closer. Sinclair glanced over his shoulder, then at the four of them. He pulled the pistol up, then turned it toward himself.
"No!" Vic leaped for him. It was too late.
Claudia buried her head against Zach’s shoulder as a final shot rang out and a body crumpled to the desert sand.
Zach pulled her to her feet. "Come on, honey. You don’t need to see this."
Claudia’s knees threatened to give way. She forced them to hold her up. "I knew you’d come."
He held her close. "I would have been here sooner, but I couldn’t run any faster. We split up to surround him. I hate to think what would have happened…"
She pressed her fingers to his lips. "I’m fine. But Kurt’s been shot. We have to get him to the hospital."
Vic hurried over to where Kurt lay. "He’s lost a lot of blood, but should be fine. Problem is, it will take a while for an ambulance to get here. It would be best if you took him to the hospital."
"Not a problem," Zach replied.
A few yards farther up the hill, Hanson groaned and struggled to sit up. Blood saturated his side. Still, Vic took the precaution of handcuffing him, reading him his rights as he did so.
