Against the Clock (23 page)

Half a step away from the computer terminal Shirin stopped. She returned to the monitors, studied them closely.

"What is it?" Ben asked, sensing something wrong.

"She's being followed."

"By who? Can you see them? We
have
to get do down there before they get to her!"

Shirin didn't look away from the console of monitors; instead, she alternated her focused glare from one screen to the next, searching. "They're not here to grab her. They're following her. Hoping she'll lead them straight to us."

"How can you be so sure?"

"If they wanted to take her, they could've done it a long time ago. They're not approaching her. They're just watching her."

"Who? Which ones?"

"This one," she said, pointing to different images on the screen, "and this one. There could be more we can't see on these camera angles."

"But we can't just leave her out there!"

Ben was right. It was a trap, she was sure, but what choice did she have? And where was Barratt?

"I'm going down there," she said simply. "She'll be okay." Shirin walked to the counter, picked up her silenced Glock, checked the magazine, and tucked it behind her back into her belt.

"I'm coming with you." Ben followed her while trying to watch the monitors.

"No way, Ben! I need you here. "She threw on a tan pullover. "I'm going to need someone to be my eyes while I'm down there."

Off the supply counter, she took two burner phones and two Bluetooth earpieces. She handed one set to him. "I don't know how many of them are down there. I need you to talk me through it." She stood toe to toe with him. "Ben, I promise, I'll bring her back."

He couldn't say anything. She was right. He didn't like it, but he had to accept it. "What do you need me to do?"

"Keep following her on the video feeds. Each feed has a different number, a camera number. Just let me know which camera has the best angle of her. That will tell me where to go. Once I have her, you'll need to help me get out." She turned on her Bluetooth earpiece and placed it firmly in her ear.

She dialed her burner phone number into his and handed it back to him. "If we get disconnected, hit redial."

Ben didn't say a word, just nodded. He wished he was the one going after his sister. He wished he was the one looking after Shirin, but reality was awakening. He was way out of his depth. People had died. People were trying to kill him and trying to hurt everyone he cared about. This was not a world in which he felt comfortable or confident. Was this really the world where Shirin belonged?

18:41:24

"Can you hear me?" Shirin asked softly while riding the elevator down to the commercial level.

"Yes."

"Where is Robyn now?"

"Um…outside a clothing store. Witchery, I think. She hasn't moved since you left."

"What camera number?"

"Twenty-nine. Twenty-eight also has a view of her."

"Perfect. I'm not far from he
r
.
Keep me posted if she moves or if anyone comes close to her who doesn't look right."

"Will do."

Shirin exited the lift, turned right, and walked with purpose toward the escalators, which opened out onto the large shopping complex's main floor landing.

There was no way for her to convincingly identify all the people who may be following Robyn. It was not an ideal situation, but she didn't have a choice. Action was better than inaction.

As she rode the escalator into the main thoroughfare of the shopping center, the cool air conditioning and the energy of the shoppers was clearly distinct from the private and secluded executive floor she had just come from.

She stayed toward the middle of the large space, near the glass balustrade that overlooked the eight large shopping floors via one huge viewing space, covered with a sky-lighted vaulted ceiling. It was spectacular.

Out in the open she felt exposed, but from this position she was able to monitor those who might be watching. It was a trade-off, and the best she could do with limited resources.

Robyn was up ahead. Shirin could see her through the traffic of shoppers. "I see her," she said into her microphone earpiece.

"I can't see you," Ben muttered.

"Look at camera 32."

"I see you!"

"I'm going to walk past her, into the shop she just came out of. Tell me if anyone follows me into the store. Twenty-nine will give you a better view of who comes in behind me."

"Sure."

Shirin could sense his uncertainty, but she didn't have time to explain everything to him. She just had to trust he would do as she asked.

She wondered for a moment—if Robyn was anyone else's sister, would she still be doing this? Would she still risk her life to save her? She wasn't sure.

18:42:31

Ben pushed the ear bud deeper into his ear, wanting to hear every whispered word, every breath, every sound. It felt strange to see Shirin and Robyn on the black-and-white monitor feeds. It lent an incredulous feel to a situation so desperately real.

He could see Shirin walk toward Robyn, then veer off, into the front of the female clothing store. Robyn was looking around, as though searching for someone. He couldn't see her face, but he knew her. She was scared.

Why was Shirin going into the store and not helping Robyn? He didn't understand. He felt lost, and driven by emotion only; he couldn't trust his feelings. How could he love a woman who had been lying to him the whole time? He wasn't sure, but he did. How could he protect the little sister he'd protected all his life when he couldn't even protect himself?

Right now, he knew Shirin was the only reason he was still alive. He had seen her in action, had seen what she was capable of. Part of him was scared, part of him was in awe, but the biggest part of him believed she would get them through whatever the hell was going on. He believed that if anyone could do it, she could.

18:42:41

Robyn Mills tried to stand still, tried not to run and hide, tried desperately not to break down and cry. The memories of being attacked came at her in hot white flashes.

The look on that man's face as he strangled her haunted her, and the look on Trent's face as the knife was pushed into him haunted her even more. And after he had saved her, she left him wounded at the hospital curb. Alone! She didn't know him, but she hoped with all her heart that he was okay.

Trent had told her to buy something using the credit card he had given her. So she had; a scarf, which she now wrapped around her sore throat and neck. She hoped it would cover the bruising left by that evil man's garrote. She kept adjusting the scarf, like a nervous tick.

Trent had told her a woman would come for her, a friend of Ben's. She had used the card about fifteen minutes ago. How long would it take? Trent hadn't told her that.

Every woman who walked by, every woman she saw became the potential friend of her brother's, coming to help her. Yet none of them was.

A moment ago, she thought it would happen. A young woman, slim, jet black hair, dark skin, with eyes that penetrated her, walked toward her, then veered off, and disappeared in the fashion store. Another false hope.

How long would she have to wait? Not long, she decided. Trent had told her not to go to the police, but where else could she go? When she first arrived at the Plaza, she had tried calling Ben from a payphone, but some strange man had answered. Said he was a friend of Ben's and that Ben would call her back soon. It didn't seem right, something was off, so she'd hung up. His mobile went straight to voicemail. For all she knew, he was in trouble, too.

She was at her wit's end. She just needed to feel safe. She needed to know that her brother was safe. She needed to know Trent would survive. And what was she doing? She was standing around waiting.

She pushed herself off the handrail and started to walk off.

"Excuse me, miss!"

She heard a female voice calling her. Hope returned, for only a moment. It was the cashier from the store where she had purchased the scarf. She came toward her, holding a bankcard or credit card.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry, but I think you dropped this while you were paying for your item." She extended the card. "One of our other patrons saw it fall from your purse, and thought you had picked it up. But there it was."

"Oh…umm…thank you," Robyn replied, knowing she was a mess. She accepted the card without looking at it. "Thank you again. I've just had one of those days."

The retail clerk smiled with the implication of understanding and returned to the store. Robyn glanced at the card before slipping it back into her purse. It looked different. It wasn't her card. Reading the name printed on the front, she realized it was her brother's Visa. But how?

Without thinking, she headed back to the store, how did the cashier get her brother's card?

18:46:04

"She's heading back into the store." Ben's voice was loud in Shirin's ear. She could imagine him almost shouting on the other end while busily glancing from one camera feed to the other.

"Very good. Tell me if anyone follows her in."

Shirin was in the back corner of the store, near the fitting rooms. She had already picked a light-colored blouse and removed the long blonde wig from a mannequin while the store clerk was busy.

Robyn entered the store and approached the lady who had returned the card to her. A moment later, she headed toward Shirin.

"Any action?" Shirin asked Ben.

"No. The big guy you pointed out moved closer to where Robyn was. Looks like he's watching the entrance."

With Robyn only a few feet away, Shirin retreated farther back into the store, drawing her deeper into the most remote corner of the shop.

Hesitant, Robyn followed, and when she was close enough to hear, Shirin spoke into the earpiece loud enough for Robyn to hear her. "Ben. Your sister's here. Say hello but be quick!"

Shirin removed her ear bud and offered it to Robyn. She took it cautiously.

"Ben?" she asked, full of hope.

18:46:29

"Robyn." Ben's voice was quick, urgent. "We don't have much time. I'm safe. You need to listen to her. Do exactly as she says! There are men outside following you. I'm watching from the security cameras. Do
exactly
as she says. She's going to help you."

"Yes, yes! I'm just so glad you're okay!"

Ben could hear the muffling sound of the earpiece being moved.

"I'm back," Shirin said briskly. "Any movement outside?"

"None."

He kept watching the cameras and heard Shirin talking to his sister. "My name is Shirin. I'm going to get you out of here."

"Shirin, Trent needs help!" Robyn couldn't hold it back any longer. She broke down in tears.

"Where is he? What happened?"

"He was stabbed, I took him to the hospital, and he told me to leave, to come here."

"How bad was it?"

"I don't know. It was bad, it was so deep!"

Ben could hear the strain in his sister's voice. He could imagine her trying to compose herself.

"Which hospital did you take him to?" Shirin asked.

"Nepean."

"That's where I work, Shirin," Ben said into his earpiece. "I can make a call."

"Not yet," Shirin interrupted. "Let's get out of here first. I need you to focus on the cameras. Once we're clear, you can make that call."

18:46:58

Shirin herded Robyn into the dressing room, tossed the blouse and wig toward her, and told her to change quickly while she kept an eye on the entrance.

Robyn was done within half a minute, and already the transformation was amazing. From brunette to blonde, a dark colored top… At a quick glance, she looked like a different person. But she still wore the scarf.

"Lose the scarf," Shirin said while assessing her appearance.

Robyn didn't speak, but slowly drew the scarf away. Tears welled in her eyes. The welting and swelling from being strangled had gotten worse, and Shirin almost gasped before she caught herself. She rested her hand gently on Robyn's shoulders. It was a reassuring touch. "Wait here, I'll get you something else."

Shirin returned a few moments later and handed Robyn a pink turtleneck sweater. The soft curled collar would tuck high underneath her chin to hide her bruised and inflamed flesh. Shirin knew she would soon need medical attention, before an infection set in, but that was a problem for another time.

"Shirin!" Ben sounded alarmed. "The big guy is coming toward the store. He's at the entrance!"

"Is he alone?"

"Yes," Ben responded. "Wait, no. There's another guy coming behind him!"

"Okay, keep me posted." Shirin looked at Robyn. She adjusted the blonde wig after putting on the sweater. "Stay in the cubicle. No matter what you see or hear." She pushed her back into the fitting room and closed the door.