The Target (27 page)

Apparently, the nightmare of the last two weeks was quickly coming to an end. Her mother was sedated to the point of unconsciousness and her lone ally in the entire estate was Arthur, but he’d been dismissed for the evening. She realized how totally alone she was.

Alone and on her own.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Shut up. That doesn’t concern you.”

“I beg to differ. I’m the one with a gun pressed to my back.”

When he didn’t respond, she tried another approach. “You’re Ramsey, the guy who pitched the death threats to the police. To Detective Hutchinson.” Again he said nothing. “Would have been funny if the real FBI contacted them too. I guess your plan would have backfired.”

“The FBI was too busy chasing down bogus leads we’d planted. They weren’t concerned with you until we put a bug in their ear.”

“A bug so they could find my body,” she stated. “Sorry that didn’t work out for you. But you know, you probably should have used a different name. I mean Ramsey? Not very common. When Hutchinson mentions you to the FBI, don’t you think they’ll come looking for you?”

“Keep quiet. Like I said, it doesn’t concern you. After tomorrow, nothing will concern you,” he added with a laugh.

“Now keep your mouth shut when we get there,” Erickson said as they approached the locked and guarded gate to the senator’s estate. “We don’t have a warrant, so we’re at their mercy as to whether they let us in or not.”

“A warrant? We don’t need a warrant, for God’s sake.”

“He has security or have you forgotten that, Detective? They’ll have to notify the senator when we get there. There’s nothing to say he’s got to see us.”

“Well, the way you get around a warrant, Special Agent, is to say we need to visit some more with the senator’s daughter. And yes, we’ll be happy to wait inside while you call him,” Jaime said.

“All we need is to get inside the front door. See, no warrant because we were escorted in.”

“We’re not the local police, Detective. Anything we do will be scrutinized. And any hope of prosecution is hampered by not following protocol.”

“Fuck protocol. And why the hell are we worrying about prosecution at this point? We need to be worrying about saving her life.”

“I realize that, Detective. But we have rules.”

“And fuck your goddamn rules. We just need to get inside the house.”

“That’s all well and good but we probably need more than just getting inside. Rumor has it the senator’s got a fully functional bunker below ground.”

“A bunker? What the hell?”

“He’s paranoid, from what we hear,” Fielding explained. “The bunker is supposedly safe from nuclear attack as well as chemical warfare.”

“It’s fully stocked with supplies to last a full year,” Erickson added. “Along with a functional communication system.”

“A bunker? Who in the hell has a bunker?”

“Rich, powerful, paranoid men.”

“Or someone who’s got something to hide,” she said. “Well, I guess we know where they’ve taken her.”

“Yeah, we just got some more information as we were heading back to Denver,” Erickson said as they stood next to the car on the massive circular driveway. “We thought we might as well get with her now instead of hauling her ass up to Denver tomorrow.”

The man smoothed his trim beard, nodding. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate that. Let me find out where they are.”

Jaime was about to suggest they wait inside when the front door opened. One of the men who was with the senator earlier came out.

“What is it, O’Riley?”

“FBI came back,” he said. “They have some more questions for Ms. Michaels.”

The man paused only a moment as he stared at them, then nodded. “Of course. Why don’t you come inside? I’ll give the senator a call.”

Jaime let out a relieved sigh as they followed him into the mansion.

She barely took the time to look around, her eyes glued to this man.

“I’m Arthur, Senator Michaels’ aide. They are actually in the bunker with Miss Sara.” He looked quickly over his shoulder, making sure they were alone before continuing. “I’m actually relieved you’re here,” he said, his voice low. “I was contemplating calling the local police.”

“What is it?” Erickson asked.

“The senator and Mr. Dodds have been acting very strange for the last several weeks or so. Along with this Ramsey that Dodds has brought in. And what they’ve done to Mrs. Michaels should be a crime.” He cleared his throat. “I most likely will lose my position with the senator if he learns what I’ve told you but I’m extremely concerned for Miss Sara.”

“Arthur, we’re concerned for Sara as well. What exactly is going on here?”

“Look,” Jaime said impatiently. “Can’t we walk and talk at the same time? Where’s the bunker?”

“Yes, that’s where they have her. That’s where they’ve been holding Mrs. Michaels as well.”

“Holding her how?”

“She’s heavily sedated. She’s only been allowed to regain semiconsciousness once in the last several days.” He turned, motioning for them to follow. “My loyalties to the senator go only so far. When I fear their lives are in danger—Sara’s and Mrs. Michaels’— then it’s time for me to act. To think I was willing to call the local police after the way he spoke to Sara when he dismissed me—” He stopped, pulling out a key card which he swiped. The walls opened up, revealing a dimly lit staircase going down into the bunker.

“What do you mean?” Jaime asked.

“Something’s just not right. Miss Sara had a look of pure terror on her face when I left her with them. Perhaps she was afraid she’d end up like her mother. Perhaps it was something else.”

He started to precede them down the stairs, but Jaime stopped him with a hand on his arm. She pulled her weapon, Erickson and Fielding doing the same.

“Stay behind us.”

“Hutchinson, don’t go cowboy on us,” Erickson warned.

“At the bottom of stairs is a hallway. The living quarters are to the left. The main complex, along with the offices, is to the right,” Arthur explained.

“Where were they when you left?”

“They were still in Mrs. Michaels’ suite,” he said quietly as they crept down the stairs. “There’s been a staff member staying with her. Mrs. Reynolds. She’s been administering the medication. She may be in the room or he may have dismissed her as well.”

“Do you have any influence over her?” Erickson asked.

“No. She was hired by the senator. She reports directly to him.”

Jaime leaned against the wall when Erickson touched her arm, silently telling her they would go first. She drew her brows together. She
hated
being outranked. When they passed her, she motioned for Arthur to follow then she took up the rear, watching their back.

“The next door down,” Arthur whispered loudly. “It’s closed now. I would assume they’ve left.”

Erickson and Fielding each flanked the door. Jaime tugged on Arthur’s arm, moving him behind her and up against the wall. She took her position in front of the door, weapon pointed. Erickson held up two fingers then silently counted before turning the knob.

It was locked.

Before Fielding could lift his leg to break it, Arthur stepped forward and grabbed his arm.

“I have a key.”

“Well, that’d just be too simple,” Jaime murmured, watching Erickson snatch the key from Arthur’s hand.

The room was empty but the bed was not. Jaime assumed it was Mrs. Michaels who lay there. The woman’s skin was pale, ghostly.

Arthur went to her immediately, touching her cheek, then bending low, listening.

“Very shallow breathing,” he said. He reached over, fingering the IV drip, then pulled it out of her hand. Blood pooled where the needle had been and he covered her hand with the sheet.

“Should you do that?” Jaime asked.

“That’s how they’ve been keeping her sedated. Through the IV,” he explained.

“Why in the world would they do this?” Fielding asked. “She’s like a prisoner in her own home.”

“She saw or heard something she shouldn’t have,” Jaime guessed. “Why else?”

“I agree,” Erickson said. “Fielding, call it in. Let the local police know the situation. And get an ambulance out here,” he added. He then turned to Arthur. “Tell us about this bunker. Where could they have taken Sara Michaels?”

Peter paced in his office as Dodds and Ramsey discussed—

argued—the situation. He wanted Ramsey to take Sara away and he didn’t want to know what happened. Just like Dodds had done all those years ago with Joyce’s affair. He handled it and Peter didn’t know the details. A car accident was a car accident.

But no, Dodds didn’t want that. He wanted to keep Sara hostage awhile, a day or two, just in case something went wrong.

Peter took a deep breath. As if their hired assassin getting killed wasn’t cause enough for alarm.

And Ramsey, Ramsey wanted to kill her right here in the bunker and dispose of her body tonight. His plan was to drive her out to Dodds’ ranch in the plains and burn her. Peter shuddered at the thought.

“I’m telling you, a murder is too risky. It’s got to be an accident,” Dodds insisted.

“Then we do them both at the same time,” Ramsey said.

Peter stopped pacing. “Both?”

“Peter, we can’t take a chance with Joyce. You know that.”

Dodds smiled. “Besides, having both your wife and only child killed will generate more sympathy from voters than we could ever imagine.”

“Talk about risky, Dodds. I think that’s going too far.”

“As I said earlier Peter, it’s no longer your call.”

“How do you propose to stage an accident for both of them?”

“A car accident appears to be the easiest,” he said. “Of course we’ll need a driver. Which of your men are you willing to sacrifice, Peter? I think this would be a good opportunity to get rid of Arthur.”

Peter’s eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”

“We can’t very well have Sara drive, now can we? And it’ll be days before Joyce is coherent enough to get behind the wheel. We rig the brakes, just like before. Have Arthur drive them to your cabin in Woodland Park for a short vacation after Sara’s ordeal. Halfway up the pass, the brakes will fail while taking one of the sharp curves, sending them into the ravine. Unfortunately, a faulty gas tank that’s been leaking will cause an awful explosion.” He turned to Ramsey. “You can make that work, can’t you?”

“Of course.”

Peter stood in disbelief as they planned the murder of his wife and Sara. And Arthur. He wasn’t concerned with Sara. He had no feelings there. And Arthur, well, he’d served his purpose. But Joyce—despite her affair in the early years of their marriage—he still had great feelings of affection for her. The blinding love he’d felt at the beginning had been doused by her affair but he’d gotten past it. Their marriage was not perfect but they worked well together. And of course, the media loved Joyce. The fact that he’d managed to keep his own affairs secret over the years was simply an added bonus. He was roused from his musings by the ringing of his cell.

“What is it, O’Riley?” His brows drew together as he listened.

“They what?” He flicked his gaze to Dodds. “Very well. I’m sure they’re down here now. Thank you, O’Riley.”

“What is it?”

“The FBI came back. Arthur let them inside. They wanted to see Sara again.”

Dodds whipped around, his eyes going to the door. Then he glanced at Ramsey.

“Get her.
Now
.”

“This place is like a maze,” Arthur said as he led them down yet another hallway. He pointed to a set of double doors to their right. “Control room.”

“Control room? What is this, a spaceship or something?” Jaime asked.

“Well, you almost have to be a rocket scientist to understand all the controls in there. For the power source, air quality, vent lockdown in case of a breach. Things like that.”

“Crazy,” she muttered.

He stopped when they reached another set of doors. “The offices are in this wing,” he said. “I’m sure this is where they are.”

“Do you think they’re armed?” Erickson asked.

Arthur shook his head. “Not the senator, no. And I wouldn’t think Mr. Dodds would have a gun.” He shrugged. “But Ramsey, I never did trust him. If anyone’s got a gun, it’s him.”

“Okay, Arthur. I want you to go back and check on Mrs. Michaels, then wait for the police. And make sure no one comes down here.”

“Are you sure? I mean, I know my way around down here.”

“You did a good job, Arthur,” Jaime said. “But we don’t want to take a chance on something happening to you. Besides, don’t want you losing your job, man.”

He nodded. “Okay. Okay sure. I’ll go sit with Mrs. Michaels then.”

As soon as Arthur was out of earshot, Fielding laughed. “He looked like he was about to piss his pants.”

“Can you blame him? He probably feels like he’s in a Hitchcock movie.”

Before they went inside, Erickson stopped them. “Remember, this is our show, Hutchinson. You’re just along for the ride. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“You guys want to take the senator down, go ahead. I’m just here to get Sara.”

Once inside the hallway, Jaime felt a chill. She wasn’t sure if it was the air temperature, which felt to be in the fifties, or simply the shroud of dread that settled over her. The only sound was the air that hummed through the vents overhead. She realized how unnaturally quiet it was.

Then suddenly, down the hall in another area, they heard the clicking of a door as it was unlocked. They all looked at each other then increased their steps as they quietly moved down the hallway.

Jaime heard muffled voices and tilted her head.
Sara
. She tensed, ready to run but Erickson held up his hand.

“Listen,” he whispered.

“Let go of me, you bastard!”

“Shut the fuck up. Now come on.”

Jaime moved forward, ignoring Erickson. “Sara!” she screamed
.

“Sara!”

“Jaime? Oh my God! Jaime! I’m here!”

“Shut the fuck up!”

The sound of a fist hitting a face brought them all running down the hall. They skidded around the corner blindly, in time to see another door close in their faces.