Page 49 of Knight Watch

The sound of two people running came from the corridor. The room reacted as one, reaching for their weapons but relaxed when they saw it was only Emme and Cleo.

“King! The police just detained Sydney and took her to the station. Frida is already there.”

His body reacted even before his mind could process the words. “Which station?”

As Emme passed on the location, Mason came to his side. “I’m driving.”

Alex shouted something about the team continuing the search, but Kingsley’s mind was too far gone. He tried to grab the keys from Mason, but the man escaped his grasp and instead told him to get in the car.

It wasn’t a long drive, but it seemed like it took forever. Sydney, the love of his life, was captive. Alone and frightened and he wasn’t there for her. He hadn’t been there to protect her. Guilt gnawed at his guts like fire ants.

Wisely, Mason didn’t say anything, and instead, burned as many red lights as he could without getting them pulled over.

When they arrived at the police station, Kingsley immediately noticed Frida coming out of the building. Both men jumped out of the car, but before he could head for the door, she pulled him to the side. Mason stayed close, his eyes scanning the area.

“Where is she?” Kingsley felt as if he was ready to jump out of his skin.

Frida, on the other hand, was as cold as ice. “Calm down, Kingsley. Your woman is safe for the moment. But we don’t have a lot of time.”

Mason stepped in. “What happened?”

“From what I could gather, just as they were about to turn onto the main road, and ran into a police blockade. Seems Rutherford’s application for Sydney to be assessed was approved, but I wasn’t informed. That’s a major infraction. The girls tried to contact you, but couldn’t get a signal. If they used something to block it, we could nail them for that as well. As a matter of fact, Caitlin followed the cruiser, but she couldn’t get a signal at all and had to use one of their phones when she arrived.”

“That’s strange. I’ll let Shane and Emme know.” Mason pulled out his phone to send a message.

Frida continued, “And they weren’t the only ones. My phone stopped working as well. Caitlin tried to reach me, but couldn’t. It was one of my contacts in the force that let me know what was going on. It was a close call. We were almost too late to stop it. I’ve managed to get an injunction put in place to give us some time.”

Mason nodded. “It looks like an organized attack so Sydney could be snatched away. And that means our communication system is most probably compromised.”

Kingsley had trouble processing the information when he knew Sydney was still inside. “What papers?”

The lawyer’s irises burned like embers. “They are pushing to have her sent to the psychiatric ward for assessment. Rutherford managed to convince a judge to hear the case. They’re saying she’s delusional and Rutherford’s lawyers are saying she’s mentally unstable, and he’s a protective uncle, the only family she has left. I don’t know how he managed it, but he brought up medications she took after her father’s death as a proof, and that she was possibly an addict.”

The rage that overtook Kingsley hazed his sight red. It was only Mason’s steady hand holding him back by the elbow that stopped him from tearing the police station apart. It took the last, very fine thread of self-control he had to hear the rest of what Frida was saying.

“Listen, I have one trump card left. It’s something I prepared because I had a gut feeling things would go bad. Shane has already put it in action, but you have to do as I say and be convincing for it to work. Our other options will take a lot more time and won’t stop Sydney being taken from you.”

Those last words acted like a cold shower, allowing him to focus again and be the operative he knew so well. This was his mission, and it couldn’t fail.

Frida looked deep into his eyes before nodding. “Good. So, the only way any of us could have any power in the decisions made in regard to Sydney, if she were indeed in distress, which I know very well she is not, was if she were married. The rights of a husband prevail over those of her family. Do you understand?”

Kingsley shook his head. “We’re not married, Frida.”

“You are now.” Fishing papers out of her satchel, she produced what looked like a real marriage certificate containing their signatures. Reading his name next to Sydney’s gave him a jolt. “Shane pulled a few favors to create it and upload it into the system with the proper date. You married four days ago in Sweeting, Indiana. Mason and Caitlin were your witnesses. You were all there—we can produce proof of your plane tickets. I also found an officer who will vouch for its authenticity. This is legit, valid, and binding. It was a spur of the moment thing, so her ID hasn’t been changed yet. If the cops in there ask why she didn’t say anything it was because she wanted to take care of things by herself. You’re a decorated British officer, working legally here and in the middle of a mission. She didn’t want to distract you from your work. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Kingsley nodded and had to push aside the fact he was married—for real—to Sydney to the back of his mind. He would deal with that feeling later.

“Good.” She offered her hand, and he felt something in his. Careful not to look, he put his hand in his pockets and touched the rings with his fingers.

“There is one in there for Sydney. If they ask why she didn’t have it on, you took it for fitting and just picked it up. Stay calm at all times. Mason, go find Caitlin. She’s inside with Killian and about to be charged with harassment. Update her. Kingsley, I’m going in with you. You ready? Don’t mess it up. I’m putting my career on the line to save your woman.”

Kingsley subtly put his ring on and nodded. He was more in control than he’d felt in a long time, and he was ready to get his woman back, and vowed to keep her safe forever.