Redemption Lost Read online

  Using the wall, she slid herself down until she was on her bottom and then turned on her tummy, letting her legs dangle down in. Then came her upper torso. And finally, the rest of her. She had to trust that Tammy was there waiting for her and would catch her. When hands grabbed hold of her waist, she knew she would be okay. At least physically. Carrie came in next.

  Looking at the boxes again made her ill even though they were empty now. The three captives had been freed. Had Jeremy done that? Her heart swelled. She had to find him. They could hear voices upstairs right beyond the door. They would have to be clever to get around the guard.

  Dizziness swept over her and she reached out to the closest thing to her—a box. The one she’d been in. She caught herself at the last second and didn't touch it.

  She shifted instead, placing herself up against the wall. She closed her eyes and focused on every sound as she waited for Tammy to stealthily climb the stairs and check it out. Carrie pulled Christy’s arm over her shoulder and they moved to follow Tammy. Christy moved her foot to the first step. No matter how hard she tried, however, she couldn't climb without putting her boot heavily on the next stair. The pain was too much. She couldn’t do it. Tammy came down and they lifted her, taking the weight off her clunky foot and helped her up.

  “I'm assuming they took your friend into an office,” Tammy whispered. “I was put there once when I had a fever, for the head nurse to ask me questions. I think it’s the only place that locks besides the basement door.”

  "You're probably right, then. All your instincts have been correct this whole time. Let’s stick with them.” Christy tried not to let them see how much it was taking out of her to stand against the wall.

  “We have nothing to lose.”

  “Except our freedom and their lives,” Christy said. Butterflies sprang up in her chest as Tammy took hold of the knob once again. Verifying that the coast was clear, she helped Christy up the last step and onto the main floor. They hustled down two doors, where they slipped into an empty office on the left.

  Tammy shut the door behind them, and the tiny click sounded like the shot of a gun. Loud voices and laughter sounded only feet away. Christy, Tammy, and Carrie stood absolutely still, hiding in the space behind the door as they listened to the oncoming group. Then it was yards away and around the corner. It would only take one person to step into the room to expose them.

  They searched the room for potential weapons. There was nothing obvious except a metal letter opener and some scissors. They needed to move on to the next room. They opened the door and Christy was about to step out, when a booming male voice rang out.

  The voice got louder and louder.

  “Christy,” Tammy hissed. “Someone is coming. Get in here.”

  Before she could move, the heel of a shoe presented itself. That was all. She couldn’t move; dizziness laced with pain swept over her. If that person had not been talking to someone behind them, she would have been seen. Tammy had the presence of mind to grab her and pull her back into the room. She shut the door, holding the handle so that no click sounded. The thud of feet passed by their room and went to the next. Christy turned to Tammy and whispered, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

  “I think you should stay here,” Carrie said. “We can do this without you.

  They heard the unmistakable sound of the next door opening. But the man didn’t stay long in that office. Almost as quickly as he’d entered, he left and shut the door after him. The room spun, and Christy had to put her hand on the door to prevent herself from falling. Tammy put her hand on Christy’s shoulder. “You stay here. I’ll go get it done.”

  “No.” She pulled it together enough to say those words and drew on some inner strength, deeper than before and stood up straight. “I can do it.” She bit hard against the pain and strode out into the hallway.

  * * *

  MARYBETH

  Two guards took Marybeth up the steps and into the infirmary. The entire time, she kept her eyes on the senator. Pain and confusion swirling in them. They took her to a large room that had an oval table in the center with chairs surrounding it. At first glance, she thought it was a staff meeting room, but then she saw the refrigerator, the microwave, sink, and the cupboards and figured it was the break room.

  Her eyes fell on Miller, gagged and bound to a chair. Hopefully that would be her fate also. She had learned over and over how to escape being bound to a chair. The quick moment she had to look at Miller's bonds of rope, she thought there was a good chance she might be able to break those bonds if she were to get the same ones.

  But she wasn't strapped to a chair. Instead, they pushed her back up against a table leg and cuffed her wrists together behind her. They didn't bother to gag her. There were two entrances to the room, the one they had brought her in and one on the back wall. It didn’t seem to get much use; boxes were piled in front of it. The guards left the room, shutting the door behind them. Without a gag, she'd be able to talk to Senator Miller. She’d only be able to get yes, no, or maybe answers, but at least there would be something. “Does that door lead to a closet?" He shook his head, no.

  “The hall?”

  The senator nodded.

  “Work on your bonds. They’re weak. You can escape them. Fabric has give. Press your hands out over and over again and eventually you'll be able to get one of your hands out.” He nodded and began to follow her instructions. While he worked, her mind muddled through escape ideas. There were two things she was really happy about. One was that Jeremy was not there. And the other was that they had left her backpack on the large oval table.

  All she had to do was get that backpack and they were saved. Her phone and all sorts of weapons were inside. At first, she thought she might be able to scrunch down and slide her hands under the table by using her back to push up on the table, but that wasn't going to happen. The table was too heavy, possibly bolted down. So, she started working on the handcuffs. She could work her hands out of them eventually. It was unfortunate she didn't have a tool to work the cuff lock itself. Little by little, she folded and twisted her hands, focusing on very minute movements. Even though it pinched and scraped, she kept working until, after what seemed forever, her hands came free.

  She stood, opening and closing her hands to reduce the pain. She grabbed her backpack went straight to the senator, where she started undoing his bonds. He had done as she had suggested, and the knot was tight. Too tight. Why they hadn’t used handcuffs on him, she’d never know. She grabbed her go bag and unzipped it, pulling out a knife and quickly cutting the bonds. His gag hung around his neck as the only indication that he had been a prisoner. He bent down and untied his feet.

  She grabbed her gun out of her go bag. The door opened and shut behind her and she turned, pointing the gun at the door. Alvarez stood in the doorway, registering her presence in the same moment she registered his.

  “Alicia, how nice to see you.” His tone was the same he’d used to greet her every morning as she started her day, watching his children. A wave of vertigo washed over Marybeth, but she held her gun steady, pointed straight at him.

  “Alicia. Is this what this has come down to? Is your name even Alicia? Are you working for some agency bent on hurting me?”

  Marybeth fought hard not to let her hands shake or waiver. He was the bad guy, she told herself.

  “How did you find out about this place? How did you hook up with that loser?" He waved his hand toward Senator Miller.

  Still, Marybeth didn’t speak, but she couldn’t prevent the slight tremor in her hands. Did she take the safety off? Was there a safety on this gun? What was she doing? She couldn't shoot this man. Maybe if she said nothing and simply held the gun, Jeremy would find them and do what needed to be done.

  “Alicia, shoot him.” Miller’s words were so quiet she barely heard them. She couldn't shoot. He was real—a human.

  Alvarez put his hands over his heart. “Miller. You hurt me with those words. But I do
n't have to worry, do I, Alicia? You can't shoot me. You idolize me. I’m everything you ever wanted to be.” His face contorted and he scowled. He took a slight step forward. Marybeth’s insides twisted like she was on a corkscrew roller coaster. She knew she should tell him to stop, but she was afraid if she opened her mouth she would truly break down.

  How did she get into this position? She couldn't stand here all day pointing a gun at him and waiting for Jeremy to save them. Alvarez’s first step forward proved that to her. He didn’t even think it necessary to get his guards to come and help him.

  “I’m a pretty good judge of character, and from what I’ve seen, you’re weak. You want to be strong, but you're not. In this life there are the strong and there are the weak. Both of you are the weak. In fact, you’re going to lower your gun, and I’m going to walk over so you can give it to me.”

  Marybeth did start to lower the gun. He took a step forward, but she dug deep and found the strength to raise her hand. She ignored the tears that were rushing down her cheeks. “How could you? How do you do this to all these girls?”

  “It’s a business operation. I found a need and I filled it. You can’t fault me for that.”

  “I can fault you for kidnapping girls, for forcing them to get pregnant against their will. You can’t spin that no matter what you say.”

  Alvarez took another step forward. That’s when she saw the bulge at his hip. Underneath that button-up shirt, he had a gun.

  Anger and strength surged within her. She pointed the gun steadily at his heart.

  “Get back.”

  Alvarez put his hands up near his waist and moved his foot back an inch.

  “You’re not the person I thought you were, but I’m not the person you think I am either. I may be new at this, but I’m not weak. I will see that you answer for what you’ve done here.” Now that she said it aloud, she realized she almost believed it. But could she do what had to be done? Could she really kill him—or anyone?

  Alvarez sneered. “You couldn’t if you wanted to, and I don’t think you do. You’re nothing but a poor excuse for a nanny. And that’s all you’ll ever be.”

  With a loud crash and tumble of boxes, Christy appeared through the back door of the room, followed by two girls, a redhead and a blonde, both with wild looks in their eyes. Relief coursed over Marybeth. She wouldn’t have to do it. Christy would decimate this man.

  “Marybeth.” Christy grimaced, her eyes darting between Marybeth and Alvarez. “Don’t listen to him. You are the only one who gets to decide who you are. End this.”

  What was she talking about? It was Christy who would take him down—Marybeth had done her job by holding him there. But then she realized Christy had no weapon. Now that Marybeth really looked at her, she could see her face wan and sweaty, and she seemed on the verge of collapsing.

  In that moment of distraction, Alvarez growled and wrenched out his gun.

  Marybeth pulled the trigger.

  Alvarez reeled back as the bullet slammed into his shoulder. His arm whipped back and his gun fired. A scream of pain from Miller told everyone where the bullet had gone. Alvarez’s gun fell to the ground at the same time Marybeth let hers fall.

  She had shot someone, and it was with real bullets.

  Miller’s screams filled the air.

  Alvarez staggered, a hand going to his wounded shoulder. He bared his teeth. Christy limped toward Marybeth—no—toward the gun that lay at her feet. Marybeth saw Alvarez lurch toward his gun. He wasn’t done. In a moment of perfect clarity, she knew Christy would not reach the gun before Alvarez got his.

  She dove for the gun.

  A crack rang through the air, and Alvarez’s chest bloomed red. He looked up at her in complete shock, then crumpled to the ground, dead. Marybeth blinked in shock, then turned to ascertain the source of the shot that had killed James Alvarez.

  Jeremy stood, silhouetted in the back doorway, slowly lowering his gun.

  Marybeth walked into the chaos of wrapping up at the safe house. Luggage and equipment was piled high in the front room as the team got ready for the next mission. She found Christy in the kitchen, drinking a glass of water, leaning on her crutches.

  “Marybeth!” Christy grinned.

  “I came to say goodbye,” Marybeth said, a sad smile on her face.

  “Ah. Right.” Christy’s grin faded to a half smile. She looked around at the mess and raised her eyebrows. “Want to go for a walk?”

  “Sure. Can you?”

  Christy didn’t say anything, just set down her cup and came at me, her leg in a proper cast, and using her crutches like she’d always had them. She even grabbed a small bag as they walked out the door and swung it onto her back. Always the spy. Always ready with a go bag. Marybeth patted the designer bag at her hip. No. It wasn’t the typical go bag in a backpack or fanny pack, but it looked good and it had everything she needed to feel safe and ready. They walked along the cherry tree-lined lane, the final leaves from the trees falling around them as they walked, crunching under their feet.

  Marybeth finally spoke. “I just want to say thank you, Christy. I know I put you through a lot. I just want you to know that it means a lot to me—the fact that you came, that you answered when I called for help.”

  “Of course, Marybeth.” Christy paused. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out how you thought—I’m sorry…”

  She trailed off. Marybeth knew what she was getting at. “That Alvarez was a snake? That’s hardly your fault.” She shrugged and half smiled. She still saw Alvarez’s red chest nearly every time she closed her eyes. “I’m just sorry it went down the way it did. I would have preferred if Alvarez could have been brought to trial, held responsible for what he did.”

  “Bradley’s death you mean?”

  Marybeth winced. “I still can’t believe he had him killed. It’s the only thing that makes sense, but it’s still so incredible. Alvarez was Bradley’s hero—and he had him killed, just to cover up his tracks.”

  Christy stopped and pulled Marybeth into a hug. Silent tears dripped down her face.

  “At least we were able to finish what Bradley started. He was onto Alvarez—he knew what he was doing with those girls, or at least he suspected it. Those pictures on his phone were all of girls getting into Alvarez’s black sedan. If he hadn’t confronted Alvarez with what he knew, Alvarez’s operation would still be running right now.”

  Marybeth nodded. At least he’d gotten some kind of justice. At least there was that. She pulled out of the hug and wiped her face. She cleared her throat. “Anyway, I heard Miller will be in jail for a very long time.”

  Christy nodded. “The greatest thing that came out of this is the release of all those girls. Miller set up a foundation with all the millions he earned with his adoption business to educate and help those girls to not only be able to function in society, but contribute in a meaningful way.”

  “That’s great—I can’t believe what Alvarez and Miller were doing. It still sends chills down my spine.”

  “You’re telling me. I was two days away from being artificially inseminated.” Christy shuddered.

  “How’s Carrie doing? And the other girl that helped you, what was her name?”

  “Tammy. You know, I think they’re going to be okay. They’re both really strong.”

  Marybeth smiled. “And Patriotware is going to be on 60 minutes?”

  “No thanks to me. It was all Ace. He was brilliant.” Christy said with a grin.

  “How’d he do it?”

  “Well, Patriotware was attacking Division, and he found a way to trace them back to where they were hiding. He hacked all their files and found all their customers and everything. He gave the information to the right people, and all their underhanded dealings, all their partners in evil—all exposed.”

  Christy slowed and looked at Marybeth. “There was one partner we didn’t expose, though.”

  Confusion crossed Marybeth’s face and she asked, “Why?”

/>   “Well, Polity…”

  Marybeth stopped completely and stared at Christy. Christy stopped too. “Polity partnered with Patriotware on some shady business. Arms dealing.”

  Marybeth shook her head. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

  “I thought you’d be devastated.” Christy furrowed her brow.

  “If you had come to me two weeks ago with this information, I would’ve been floored. I admit, it would’ve rocked me to the core. But after what we’ve been through, I think nothing could shock me anymore.”

  “You’re not the innocent girl you were. You’ve grown. You’ve changed.” Christy put her arm around Marybeth and they started to walk again.

  “I don’t really know who I am anymore. I don’t know what to do with myself.”

  “It’s difficult when you’re faced with evil and you have to make the decision to either hide away and pretend that it’s not in the world, or be one of the ones that protects the innocent from the evil and fights for good.”

  They walked in silence, arm in arm. The towering point of the Washington monument stood above the trees and houses, a stark reminder to Marybeth of the importance of her decision and what the founders of this country wanted for it.

  “What’s it going to be?”

  “I know what I want. I really know what I want now. I can never go back to pretending evil things don’t happen. That evil people don’t exist. I want to be a protector. I want to be like you and Jeremy—and Halluis and Ace too, of course.”

  Christy grinned. “Great. Then how would you like to help us bring Polity down?”

  Marybeth patted the purse on her arm. “I’m in, but I’m adding a little style to this gig.”