AllFreeNovel
Share Us
But he hadn’t caught so much as a glimpse of the guy since the day Spence had followed his car. Maybe Davies was biding his time, waiting for the conference. It’s what Spence would do if he were trying to abduct someone. More people, more chaos, more activity all made it easier to grab someone.
Thank God Nico was going to be with him. Two sets of eyes… yada yada.
He glanced at Zoe and saw her staring into space, bouncing a pencil on her desk. He was pretty sure she wasn’t thinking about work. Probably worried about Davies at that damn conference.
“You want to take off and go to your place a little early?” he asked.
She blinked a couple of times, as if yanking her attention back to Spence. Finally nodded. “Yeah, let’s do that. I’m not getting much done here. Maybe a different perspective will help.”
Spence gathered his papers and stuffed them and his computer into his briefcase. Zoe did the same, then stood up. Drew a deep breath. “I’ve been distracted here,” she admitted. “Those charms have really thrown me. I wait for the mail, afraid to see what he’s sent me. Then I spend way too long thinking about what they mean to Ethan. I’m not really getting a lot of work done.”
He'd suspected as much. “How can you?” he asked. “With the distraction of those charms arriving every day?” He looked at her desk, which was tidy and neat. “You have everything you need for the conference? Maybe we should stay at your place tomorrow so you can focus on getting ready for it.”
Her shoulders relaxed. Her mouth curved up. It wasn’t much of a smile, but it was something. “Great idea, Spence. I’ll tell Janet I’m working from home tomorrow.”
“Good. Now let’s get out of here.”
They rode back to Zoe’s building in silence. Spence kept his eyes moving, watching for that white Subaru. Scanning everyone on the sidewalk. No signs of the car or Davies. But he wasn’t about to relax his vigilance.
After he pulled into his usual space beside Zoe’s car, he opened the door and stepped out. Let his gaze travel over all the cars around them, looking for something out of place. Something unusual. A different smell. A flutter of movement. An odd sound. Just like he did every morning and every evening.
The air in the below-ground-level was still, just like always. No currents moved against his skin.
Was that the scrape of a shoe over the concrete?
He froze, his hand hovering over his gun. Listened intently. Didn’t hear it again.
No movement. No sounds, other than the faint hum of traffic outside the garage. He waited another thirty seconds, scanning the area, looking for different.
Nothing.
He opened Zoe’s door and waited for her to step out. He began to lead her towards the elevator when he heard feet pounding on the cement. Running fast. Yanking his gun out of its holster, he stepped in front of Zoe and waited for the running person to get closer.
Davies appeared from around a corner, and Spence tightened his grip on the gun. “Get in the elevator,” he told Zoe. “Go up to the lobby and call the police.”
“Okay,” she whispered as Davies got closer.
She put one hand on Spence’s back, just as he’d told her to do, so he’d know where she was. Spence heard the tiny click of the elevator button when she pushed it.
“Zoe,” Davies said, panting, when he stopped six feet away from Spence. “Why are you hiding behind that guy? I’ve come for you. To take you away. I thought you might want a quiet place where you can prepare your presentations for the conference.”
Zoe gripped the back of Spence’s shirt, and he felt her hand trembling. Spence kept his gun aimed at Davies and watched the guy’s eyes. The eyes usually signaled the action. “Zoe isn’t going anywhere with you,” Spence said. “Now get down on the ground. On your belly. Hands on your head.”
When Davies didn’t move, Spence yelled, “Do it now! Don’t make me shoot you, Davies.”
“I just want to talk to her,” Davies said, staring at Spence, then looking behind him for Zoe.
“You can talk all you want after you get on the ground.”
The elevator dinged its arrival, and Zoe let go of him. As she stepped toward the elevator, Davies lunged toward her. Spence couldn’t shoot. Not in this small space, with Davies grabbing for Zoe. One flinch on Zoe’s part and the bullet might hit her.
Shoving his gun back into its holster, he charged at Davies, but the guy flew backward. Zoe must have shoved him away. As the elevator door dinged behind him, Spence managed to grab Davies’ jacket. The only thing he could reach. At least Zoe was safe.
Davies tried to twist away from him, but Spence held tight. Finally Davies half-turned and used both hands to shove Spence. He stumbled back a few steps, recovered and began to pull his gun.
Davies shoved him again, harder this time. Spence flew backward, scrambling for his gun, then his feet went out from under him and he fell backward, hitting his head on the concrete parking space bumper.
Dazed, he wobbled as he struggled to his feet. Pulled out his gun and pointed it at Davies, but the guy was almost out of the garage. Spence couldn’t fire his weapon now. There might be pedestrians walking in front of the garage entrance.
