Deadly Bonds (20 page)

Sara looked up. “What do you mean?”

“Jeremy and Neil are still here, as well.”

“What?” Alarmed, Sara looked toward the window. The sleet grew heavier and would soon be a solid wall of white. If they didn’t get home now, they risked getting into an accident.

“Neil said you were supposed to administer a test?”

Damn.
She’d forgotten all about that. Due to the death of his father, Neil had missed almost the entire week of school and wanted to make up a test before Thanksgiving break. It seemed the kid who’d avoided academic responsibility was suddenly determined to succeed. “Is he in the library?”

“He was headed up there, along with Theo and Jeremy. Said he’d wait for you. Jeremy was going to hang out until he was done and then Neil was supposed to drive them both home.” Cheryl’s forehead rippled with worry lines. “You’ve seen that car they gave Neil, haven’t you? That thing’s a death trap when the roads
aren’t
icy.”

It was a convertible with rear-wheel drive—the least ideal mode of transportation in a storm expected to lay down a sheet of ice beneath the snow.

“I’ll handle it. You get going before the storm gets worse.”

Cheryl grabbed Sara and hugged her hard. Her white bob smelled of rose petals. Cheryl swiped gloved fingers at her eyes as she pulled away. “I don’t like you being alone for the holiday. You sure you won’t join me and Mr. Cheryl, at least for Thanksgiving dinner? I do all the traditional trimmings. You can bring Becca if she’s still shadowing you.”

Sara forced a smile. “I’m Acapulco-bound. No killers trailing me there, and it’ll give Becca a break so she can be with her family. For me, it’ll be beaches and sunshine and I’m happy about that. But I’ll miss you.”

“Yeah, right. Enjoy yourself, but be safe.”

“Yes, Mom.” Sara winked, but now they were both getting misty. Damn, dealing with the board members and then talking to Holt had left her drained and emotional.

The moment was broken by a knock at the door. “You ladies need any help in the parking lot?” Chad White stood in the doorway, stomping flakes off his boots, a snow shovel in one gloved hand and an ice scraper in the other. Only his eyes and nose were visible beneath his wet coat and fur-lined hood.

Sara’s eyes widened. “You came prepared.”

“I was a Boy Scout in a former life.” There was a twinkle in his eyes.

“Well, I’ll take you up on that offer, young man.” Cheryl linked arms with him. “If I don’t get home soon, Mr. Cheryl will worry a trench in the floor.”

“Drive carefully,” Sara called.

The front door of the school closed after them, leaving her with the rustle of bare branches and the howl of the wind outside, and the utter stillness of a near-empty school inside. Though it was only four o’clock, the gray clouds had turned to a smear of charcoal reminiscent of twilight and the wind had picked up. The sleet had turned to snow, which now fell in thick sheets. Perhaps the expected precipitation would be more than the forecasted twelve inches. A chill moved across her skin and she rubbed her arms.

Turning from the window, she went to the address book on her computer and found Claire Rochard’s information. Unfortunately, it led straight to voicemail. Sara left a message explaining the situation and telling her not to worry.

As Sara passed the front hallway on the way to the stairs, Becca came rushing in. She closed the door against the wind and snow and immediately veered toward Sara. “I just got a text from Einstein.”

“And I just spoke with Holt,” Sara said. “He said they were close. Did they find Toxin already?”

“Not yet, but they’ve identified him as Brady Flaherty.”

“Isn’t that the guy they already arrested and let go?”

“They found a snitch who gave them more evidence.” Becca showed her the text.
Drug supplier ID’d Brady as Toxin.
Be on watch for Brady or his vehicle—dark 4-door SUV.
En route to his apt.
now.

The first genuine smile of the day touched Sara’s lips. “Sounds like Holt was right. This really will all be over soon.” Better yet, she’d seen pictures of Brady Flaherty on the news. She hadn’t seen that guy near her students. Theo would be safe, her students would be safe. Perhaps it would be a relaxing holiday after all.

The roar of an engine out front had her and Becca running outside. The porch and circular drive were empty of cars and people except for a dark blue SUV.

Becca pushed Sara behind her. “Inside!”

The passenger window went down and a man resembling Brady aimed a gun at them from the driver’s seat.

Becca pulled her gun. Sara scurried backwards, keeping low, until she was completely inside. The sound of gunfire had her moving faster. She got behind the heavy wooden door and stayed down, but kept it open a crack so Becca could dart back into the building and find cover, if necessary. Becca was returning fire. The SUV fishtailed as it sped around the drive and headed back toward the main road.

“Lock all the doors and stay inside,” Becca ordered. “Stay away from the windows. Call the police and have them send backup here. I’ve got to keep Brady in sight.” Becca took off at a run toward her vehicle and was soon driving into the gray afternoon in pursuit of Brady.

As Sara said a quick prayer for Becca’s safety, she shut and bolted the front door. She turned to find the three boys rushing down the stairs.

“What was all the noise?” Theo asked.

Jeremy was right on his heels. “Was that gunfire?”

“Yes, but we’re okay,” Sara assured them. “Becca and the cops are chasing the guy now. He’s far away from here. Go on upstairs while I finish down here.”

“Was it the guy who killed my father?” Neil asked when the younger boys returned to the library. “The guy Dr. Patterson has been looking for?”

“Yes.” She put a hand on his arm. “They’ll get him, probably tonight. Would you mind keeping an eye on Theo and Jeremy while I call the police and make sure we’re locked up tight? I left a message for your mother, but...”

“Oh, she probably won’t get it. She’s at my aunt’s house. Reception’s lousy there. We were supposed to join her.”

“That probably isn’t going to happen. Do me a favor and leave her a message at your aunt’s number so they know you’ll be safe here overnight. Tell your mom you’ll be there tomorrow.”

Neil moved away to make his call and rejoin the boys. Sara tried to call the police to report the shooting and get more support for Becca, but the phone in her office was dead. A broken tree branch had probably knocked down the lines. With the tall trees and propensity for wind and ice storms in the area, it happened at least once a year. She took her cell out of her desk and was relieved to find a text from Becca.

Got him
,
but I’ll be a while.
Stay locked up tight.

She was about to call Catherine to see if she had further information, but her signal dropped to zero. The cell tower went out too? Or perhaps it was overloaded with emergency calls. Holt wouldn’t want the distraction of her calling to check on them, anyway. And he would be here soon enough.

Deciding her time would be best spent keeping the boys occupied, she made quick work of checking the locks around the school. On the third floor she found Theo, Jeremy and Neil in the library. She took a calming breath, telling herself they were safe and this would all be over—finally. The sight of the boys healthy, even if subdued, reassured her. Theo had brought out a deck of cards and looked to be engaged in a game of War with Jeremy. A lock of hair fell into Neil’s eyes as he bent his head over his book.

“Looks like we’re all tucked in for the night, guys. Theo, your father called.”

“I know. He texted me a little while ago.”

“Ah.” She was surprised, but glad, Holt had found the time to personally contact him. He’d seemed eager to rush off to follow their latest lead. “Do you still have a signal? The landlines aren’t working and my cell just lost signal.”

“No.” Neil frowned at his phone. “I left a message with my aunt, like you said. But now? No dice. At least Mom will know we’re here for the night, safe.”

“So what now?” Jeremy nibbled at his lip. This past week, it had turned red and chapped from constant worrying.

Sara pulled on a cloak of cheerfulness. “Ever wonder what it would be like to stay at the school when nobody else was around? You get to find out...at least until the roads are clear enough to drive. But first, we’ll give Neil his test. Might as well make good use of our time.”

* * *

Toxin watched from his hiding spot behind the pantry door as Sara moved between the cupboards and the counter in the Academy’s large industrial-style kitchen. She hummed to the music on the radio, which conveniently covered any slight sound he might make. She stacked a package of graham crackers and a jug of milk, along with paper cups, on the counter. Her next trip added a few Hershey chocolate bars and a bag of marshmallows. She set about pulling things from the refrigerator to make sandwiches.

How sweet.
She and the boys were planning to make s’mores, but only after they ate a healthy dinner. She’d make a good mother.

After finishing the sandwiches, she laid out plates and began layering graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows, and topping it with another graham cracker. One by one, she microwaved them until the treats were gooey. He grew hard as she licked the lingering stickiness from her fingers. Not only was she a good mother, she was sexy as hell. She was perfect, and she was his for the taking. Whatever had happened between her and Holt on Monday night, the passion had cooled. Or it had all been for show. Toxin had seen Holt lurking outside the school this week, but that was as a SSAM agent, to protect her. He hadn’t dared to cross the threshold, even when Sara tried to talk to him. Again, perfect.

Four plates. Only Sara and the three boys left. Two more boys than he was expecting tonight, but he could handle it. One nudge and his entire plan had been set into motion—like flicking over that first domino to set off the chain reaction. An anonymous payment to Brady, a timely hack into the SSAM phone system to obtain the SIM card information and send a text to Becca implicating Brady as the true mastermind, a disconnection of the school’s phone lines and jamming device to prevent cell phone use, and now Toxin had Sara and Theo right where he wanted them. Becca was chasing down Brady, and poor Holt would be in the morgue by now while
he
was here with Sara and Theo.

Sara laid the plates and cups on a tray and lifted it. She paused at the door, looking back at the jug of milk, most likely wondering how she was going to carry it. As it was, she had to use a leg to kick the swinging door open, and zipped through before it hit her cute, tight ass.

It was time. Enter the hero.

* * *

“Why does Toxin subject his victims to death by neurotoxin?” Holt turned away from the darkness outside the conference room’s window. “I mean, he could use any number of over-the-counter poisons, but goes to
Henry
for a special mix. Why’s he risking getting involved with someone else? And to use a public message board...it doesn’t make sense.”

Holt didn’t expect an answer to the question they’d asked many times these past few months, but he found it helped to think aloud.

Max forgot about his injury and tried to shrug. His features tightened for a brief moment, the only sign that he was hurting. His arm was bandaged, but otherwise he was intact and denied being in any pain. The bullet from the dark SUV had, indeed, only grazed him.

They were waiting at Holt’s desk, giving Henry time to ruminate on his situation in the Chamber—SSAM’s interrogation room—before they questioned him. One of the perks of working for SSAM was access to the latest state-of-the-art equipment. The computer screen on Holt’s desk showed the Chamber and the one person they hoped could answer Holt’s questions. The rumpled, scruffy man sat alone, brightly illuminated by a florescent light that flickered every few seconds with an electrical hum meant to unsettle. The overall effect was harsh and unwelcoming.

“When I get through with him, he’ll be begging to give me every detail of his pathetic life.” Max was eager to get into the Chamber with Henry.

“I can’t allow that.” Noah stood in the doorway. He took off his coat, scattering drops of melting snow.

“Why not? He knows he’s not under arrest.”

“He’s just waiting us out,” Holt added. “Just like we’re waiting him out. He’s probably feeling safer here than on the street. Once Toxin learns he failed to lure me to my death...”

Noah looked at the bump on Holt’s forehead, sustained while diving to the ground to evade bullets, then at Max’s bandaged arm. “You two okay?”

“We’ll live,” Max said. Damian had immediately called a doctor to come take a look, but Max had refused to let go of Henry until they had him locked away in a room.

Noah’s attention moved to Holt. “Does Sara know you were hurt?”

“I didn’t see any reason to worry her. It was just a bump on the head from hitting the ground so fast.” The bump felt more like a mountain and throbbed like a sonofabitch, but he could take it. “Besides, she doesn’t need to know what’s going on with me. After the way I treated her this week, whatever we had is probably over.”

“Right,” Noah said. “Might as well pack you up and send you to the monastery today.”

Max smirked. “I can see you in that brown robe now.”

Holt grew uncomfortable with their analysis of his love life. “Let’s get back to Henry.”

Noah came to Holt’s side and glanced at the computer screen where Henry alternated between pacing the room and flopping into the chair. “Did he ask for a lawyer or his rights?”

“Nothing.” Max grinned. “Guy isn’t thinking straight. Probably all those drugs.”

“The minute he asks, or asks if he’s been formally arrested...” Noah’s voice held a warning.

“We have to shut down,” Holt said. “I know.”

“We don’t have any charges against him. Legally, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Max’s look was incredulous. “The guy’s house is a meth lab.”