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It’s nearly pitch black in the interior of the SUV, the only light the faint glow from the crescent moon overhead. We slip out of the car; the doors closing with tiny snicks. Then we move, four silent shadows disappearing into the thick tree growth along the quiet residential road.
Peter Holmes lives in an affluent neighborhood, the houses all on large lots separated by thick clusters of evergreens. His ranch is set back from the road, at the end of a curved driveway. From the information Leo pulled up online, we know the layout of the house, all the doors and windows, and thanks to photos left up from the last time it sold, even what the place looks like inside.
And the likeliest places he could be hiding Charlie. Like the large basement with a door directly to the garage. A perfect method for him to get her into the house quickly without being seen.
When I think of Charlie down there, terrified, possibly hurt, it’s a physical pain tearing at me. Claws shredding my lungs, stealing my breath, leaving me raw and bleeding.
She has to be there.
That’s the thing no one has mentioned. Even though we all know it’s a terrible possibility.
Just because her tracker is there doesn’t mean she is. The earrings could have been taken from her. She could be somewhere else.
Or worse. She could be there, but—
No. I refuse to consider it.
Just focus on getting to Charlie.
We make it from our parking spot down the street to the west side of the house in under a minute. From this vantage point, tucked into the thick growth of trees, we can see the side of the house that contains the bedrooms, the windows all dark.
The four of us huddle close, Cole’s voice not even a whisper. “I caught a glimpse of some light coming from the east side of the house, living room, I think. Leo and I will get a better look when we double back.”
He places his hand on my shoulder, dipping his head close to mine. “We’ll get her back, Ry.”
Then Cole raises his hand, a dim shape in the darkness, and signals us to move out.
My heart leaps, trips, staggers back to a regular beat.
This. This is when I rely on my years of training to take over. To regulate my pulse and my breathing. To focus on logistics and strategy instead of emotion.
And I run.
Finn and I sprint to the west side of the house, crouching below window level as we get close. Once we get to the wall, Finn gives a quick nod and drops behind me. We head toward the rear of the house, pausing under each window, listening for any sign that someone’s in there.
The first three windows are a bust, just sheer curtains showing nothing but darkness within. No voices, no sounds other than the crickets chirping and a dog in the distance barking.
As we head around the back, we pass another four windows, still quiet and empty. Approaching the patio, I hold my hand up to stop. It’s the riskiest of spots, double glass doors opening to the living room, and light spills out onto the pavers in front of us.
I gesture to Finn before moving, and he follows my cue. Moving in a wide semi-circle, we skirt the lit area of the patio, staying in the shadows until we’re past it.
Pressing back against the wall, we pause to communicate using a series of gestures.
No sound heard inside, no movement detected in the living room. Keep moving, to the rest of the rear wall and around to the garage on the east side.
We’re approaching the first of the basement windows when I finally hear something promising. It’s muted, a soft rumble of noise, rising and falling.
Kneeling on the ground, I tilt my ear closer to the window. At first, I’m cautious, not wanting to be seen. Then I notice the window is covered, blocked by a thick piece of plywood, cut to fit the window opening perfectly.
Finn kneels by my side, inspecting the wood before glancing at me. We shift to the side of the window and I carefully pull back one side of the plywood, exposing a thick layer of soundproofing on the other side.
That’s when I really hear it.
“How dare you! You fucking tricked me!” A man, furious, nearly shouting.
Then shaking sobs, a voice cracking. “Please. Let me go. Please.”
Charlie.
