Page 71 of The Enforcers: KANE

Rachelle nodded. She just hoped Selina hadn’t messed up his mind beyond her ability to repair.

Baxter opened a small box that looked like it should hold a fancy fountain pen. Inside was a syringe. He took it out and depressed the plunger slightly, removing any air bubbles.

Then he nodded to Rachelle and they walked across to Noah’s cot.

His eyes snapped open, pure gold, and stared into hers. She started at the unexpectedness of it.

Baxter grabbed Rachelle around the neck, and she felt the pinprick of the syringe piercing her skin. And then all she heard was Noah Reilly laughing.

* * *

Kane woke up suddenly, realizing his bed was empty. Where was Rachelle?

He snapped the light on. Her clothing was gone from the floor where they’d tossed it, and her boots and combat vest were gone as well.

What the hell?

She was barely healed; she wasn’t well enough to be wandering around on her own, let alone going anywhere she needed a combat vest.

Kane yanked his jeans on and grabbed his phone. That’s when he saw the note on his bedside table.

Went over to Noah’s cabin to do interrogation per Carmichael’s orders.

A stab of fear hit his stomach. That wasn’t right. Carmichael would have come and gotten her.

He dashed out of the cabin, grabbing his gun but not bothering with shoes. A minute later Israel came out after him.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

“Don’t know,” Kane said. “Woke up to an empty bed and a note from Rachelle.” He handed it to Israel. His friend growled and shifted to wolf.

They approached the cabin carefully. Israel slunk up to the doorway, sniffing. He gave Kane a headshake.

Rachelle wasn’t in there.

Kane crept up the front porch steps and eased open the screen door. The inner door was shut, and there were no lights showing inside.

He counted down silently on his fingers, and on three Israel burst through the door, snarling. Kane followed, gun drawn.

There was no one there. Noah’s cot was in the living room, the chains lying discarded on the floor. There was no sign of his guard, or of Rachelle.

The place was completely empty.

Kane slammed open the door to Jace’s cabin, where Carmichael was supposedly sleeping in the second bedroom. He came out, still impeccably dressed in his suit, followed by Jace and Emma, both with guns.

Kane was pleased to note they didn’t holster them when he rounded on Carmichael.

“Where is she?” he snarled.

Carmichael raised his eyebrows. “Has something happened?”

“Rachelle’s gone.” He handed her note to Jace, who showed it to Emma, and then handed it to Carmichael. “I just went over to the guest cabin and it’s completely empty. No Rachelle, no guard, no Noah. Just a pile of chains on the floor. Do you want to explain that to me?”

Carmichael sat down on the living room couch. “That’s…distressing,” he said. Kane noticed he didn’t sound particularly distressed. “Rachelle may have told you that I’ve been concerned for some time that there were leaks in our organization. Maybe more than one.”

He shook his head. “I would not have pegged Baxter for one of them, though.”

Kane stepped forward, towering over the man. “Really. So how did they get out of the cabin and drive away without you or anyone else knowing about it?”