Under Declan’s direction, the team made their way confidently through the cruise ship, proceeding to what was still referred to as “below decks,” in other words, everything out of sight of the passengers. Declan had discovered a suspiciously large “medical area” that he suspected might conceal holding cells for the kidnapped women.
“Where’s the crew?” wondered Aurelian, beginning to sweat inside the suit.
“We might get a few stragglers, but most of them should be in whatever room they were in when we locked the ship down, banging on the doors and wondering what the hell is going on. Anybody with an all-access key card though…”
“Thatmustinclude Harold Dawes,” said Aurelian.
“Oui, mon ami. He may be roaming the ship as we speak.”
“He’s mine,” said Aurelian grimly.
The team finally arrived at the so-called medical area, and sure enough, there were the kidnapped women. Marc spoke to them quickly and authoritatively, explaining what was happening and how to get to the bridge, where they would be safe.
Kait, however, was nowhere to be found.
Aurelian held his breath as they opened the last of the cubicles.
Empty.
“Dammit!” he swore.
“It’s okay, Aurelian,” his friend reassured. “She may not be here, but she is somewhere. We will find her.”
“If she’s in the hands of that bastard…” Aurelian gritted out.
“C’mon, maybe the med office has a record of where she is,” said Marc, swiping the door open.
All five men brought up their flechette pistols as a gangly youth burst out of the room. His ID patch saidNevin.
“Guys, guys!” the young man shouted, his hands up in the air. “I’m a friend! I’m with, uh, you guys!”
“You’d better stop moving around, or you will be a very dead friend,” warned Marc.
Lawrence froze, his hands still reaching for the ceiling. “You don’t understand,” he said frantically. “I’ve been, uh, looking for you guys! There’s a woman on board who’s in terrible danger, and she needs your help!”
Aurelian lowered his pistol, although the others did not. “What are you talking about?” he demanded.
Lawrence gulped and said earnestly, “Her name’s Kait Pyne.”
Aurelian’s hopes soared.
“Her life is in danger,” continued Lawrence, “and I was afraid Mr. Dawes was gonna kill her, so I helped her hide!”
Everyone stood stock-still for a moment, as the information sank in. Lawrence’s chest rose and fell rapidly, his face red.
Finally, Marc lowered his pistol, and the others followed suit.
“Then you’d better show us where you hid her,mon ami.”
A few minutes later, Lawrence led them to the door of the pantry. He nodded. “She’s in there,” he panted.
Marc silently handed the key card to Aurelian.
Aurelian took off his mask, swiped the key card, and the door opened.
“Kait?” he called.
“Ah, you must be Mr. Reynard,” came a cultured male voice.
