Colby Core (5 page)

“His name was Robinson,” Riley explained, using the name of one of the men involved with the incident in Alabama. “I called him, and he gave me the job. Considering what happened in Alabama, I'd say you've chosen at least one who wasn't on the up-and-up.”

Brooks grabbed Riley by the hair and yanked his head back. “Don't get smart,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Or we'll take you back to the questioning room and bring you down a couple of notches.”

“That's enough,” the Master scolded his minion.

When Brooks had released him, Riley stretched his stiff neck muscles.

The Master seemed to digest what Riley had said so far. “You were to convince me that I had a mole,” Master suggested. “I was expected to accept you into my family where you would gather intelligence about my work and report to Renwick or Phipps.” His
work
. Yeah, right. “That was the plan.”

Another of those long, assessing moments passed. “You're very fortunate to still be alive, Mr. Smith. You seem to have made yourself rather invaluable with your announcement.”

Anticipation whispered through his veins. Now was the turning point. He was either dead…or in all the way.

“I find myself curious,” Master said. “Renwick has
his own business. It's low level and quite distasteful. He has neither the intelligence nor the strategic skills to accomplish what I have accomplished.”

There was no denying the man's skill at covering his tracks and running a tight, efficient operation. The idea that he'd gotten away with this unthinkable business for twenty years twisted in Riley's gut. This bastard had to be stopped.

“I suppose Renwick's endgame is to cut supply,” Master went on. “When supply dwindles, demand appears to increase, ultimately spiking prices. He cannot hope to offer the caliber of merchandise I alone provide my clients.”

The discussion sickened Riley but the more the man talked, the more potential for Riley to learn. “That would be my guess.”

Master leaned forward and braced his forearms on his desk. “This turn of events leaves me no choice.”

Riley braced for the revelation.

“You're going to sacrifice everything for me, Mr. Smith. Whatever Renwick intended to pay you,” he added with a ruthless stare directly into Riley's eyes, “it won't be nearly enough.”

9:30 a.m.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Tessa clapped the little girl's hands together as she and the children sang along with the video. The girls giggled and laughed as the song ended.

This was Tessa's favorite time of the morning. The patients had been fed, as had the children. She had an hour of free time with the children. She hugged the little girl in her lap. Sophie had grown so much. Tessa was amazed every day with each new learning adventure. At two years old, the child was already showing indications of being exceedingly bright.

Tessa resisted the urge to smile as she surveyed each of the other three girls. So beautiful. So smart. Milly was five; the twins, Casey and Willa, were four. And sweet little Sophie would soon turn three. She hugged the child again.

No matter what else Tessa did, she had to protect the children. Her arms instinctively tightened around
Sophie, who instantly squirmed. But she had to act fast. Time was running out. Fear forced her heart into a faster rhythm. Tessa drew in a deep breath of courage. She couldn't let the fear hold her back.

Their futures depended upon her alone.

Fear could not stop her. She could not fail for any reason.

The door to the children's room opened. Tessa looked up to find Brooks hovering there. Revulsion instantly thickened in her stomach.

“The Master needs you.”

“I'm taking care of the children,” she said, careful to keep any hint of challenge out of her tone.

“I'll watch the children.”

If he'd said he intended to terminate her existence, Tessa wouldn't have experienced a deeper fear. “I—”

“He wants you in the library.
Now!
”

She nodded. There was no arguing. She had been summoned. “Be a good girl,” she whispered to Sophie before settling her on the floor.

Tessa pushed to her feet and crossed the room. She hated the way Brooks stared at her when she sidled past him in the doorway. He did things like that when the Master wasn't looking. Leered at her or blocked her path so that she had no choice but to brush close to him when she passed. Even he, however, didn't repulse her as much as Howard did. But both knew better than to touch her or to speak out of turn in any way.

She hurried down the two flights of stairs. The sooner she knew what the Master needed, the sooner she could get back to the children. Brooks keeping watch made her nervous. In no way did she trust the man.

The door to the library stood open, so Tessa walked in without knocking. She drew up short when her gaze settled on Mr. Smith. Howard loitered in the corner.

“Tessa, sit, please.” The Master gestured to the chairs in front of his desk.

Surprised to be invited to take a chair, she selected the one farthest away from the man, Smith. He made her nervous in a very unfamiliar way. Desperation had made her give him the information that likely had saved his life until now.

Maybe he had told.

A new kind of fear radiated through her.

If he'd told, she would die. This morning.
Now.

What would happen to the children, then?

And the patients…

“Tessa, I've explained to you about our guest,” the Master offered.

“Yes.” He had ordered her to find clothing suitable for the man. The image of Smith's naked body blazed across her mind. She blinked it away. The Master had told her nothing else. But she knew what she'd overheard in the questioning room.

“We're sending Mr. Smith on an errand,” the Master explained. “This errand is of the utmost
importance to me. I would like you to accompany him to ensure he stays on track.”

The bottom dropped out of Tessa's stomach.

“Where are we going?” She glanced at Smith, but quickly focused her worry back on the Master. This was the worst thing that could happen. She couldn't leave just now. She needed to be here—with the children!

“Mr. Smith will explain the details once you're on the road,” the Master assured her. He shifted his attention to Smith. “I'm confident forty-eight hours will be sufficient time, will it not, Mr. Smith?”

“Since I don't know exactly what you expect of me,” Smith challenged, “I can't estimate the required time.”

Tessa openly stared at him. Did he not realize that he could not defy the Master in such a way?

Tessa gripped the arms of her chair, bracing for the Master's reaction.

The man who ruled her world, as well as that of numerous others, nodded. “True.”

Dismay replaced some of the fear. Her gaze swung back to Smith. Who was this man?

“The errand is quite simple,” the Master clarified. “You contact Phipps and ask for a face-to-face meeting with Renwick. My deputies will provide you with the intelligence we would like you to pass along and then you'll return here.”

Tessa's heart pounded so hard she struggled to
focus on the conversation. This couldn't be happening. It shouldn't involve her participation.

“What makes you think he'll allow me to return?” Smith asked.

“I'm certain you can persuade him with the concept that there is much more to learn now that you're a part of our family.”

Smith nodded. “You're setting him up.”

“I'm only responding to his actions,” the Master countered. “The first move was his. I must protect my family.”

Why would he send Tessa away now? “The patients,” she said, before she could stop the words. “They'll need me.”

“I'll see to their needs,” the Master said, a note of censure in his tone. “Forty-eight hours will pass quickly.”

Tessa knew better than to question his decisions. “Of course.” Her mind spun with thoughts and worries. Her chest ached with…fear.

A rap on the door dragged Tessa's worried gaze from the conversation to the open doorway.

Krant.
The technology soldier.

He carried a square box, the size a dozen donuts. The memory of eating donuts with her friends at school flashed. Tessa pushed it away. A distinct fear trickled inside her. She prayed whatever Krant carried wasn't for her.

“I have just the thing,” Krant said to his boss, eluding to a prior conversation.

“Excellent.” The Master gestured to Smith. “Why don't you brief us all while demonstrating how your technology works?”

Krant moved toward the desk. He sat the box there and removed a circular mechanism. Like a halo or a strange too-small belt made of stainless steel.

“This” he said as he opened the object and reached toward Smith's throat, “locks around the neck like a choker-style necklace. Only it's steel and provides vastly more potential for wow impact.”

A click echoed in the room as the necklace locked around Smith's throat. Smith held still but the tension he felt was obvious in his rigid jaw and stiff posture. Was he as in the dark as Tessa? Did he understand what Krant was doing?

Krant turned to the Master. “You have a timeframe in mind?”

Tessa didn't understand any of this.

“Forty-eight hours,” the Master said. He considered the clock on his desk. “With a half hour of preparation time to be fair.”

Krant made adjustments to the neck band, then dropped his hands to his sides. “Done.” He turned to the Master. “Anything else?”

“No. Thank you, Krant. That's all.”

Krant nodded, then took his leave.

Tessa clenched her teeth to prevent demanding more information. Demanding would get her sent off to the silent room. A shiver rushed through her at the thought. The silent room was on the top floor
next to the Master's quarters. No windows, no light whatsoever…and chains. She shuddered.

“So—” the Master rubbed his palms together “—we seem to be fully prepared now.”

Smith touched the necklace-type device Krant had locked around his throat. “A tracking device?” he inquired.

The Master shook his head. “There's no need for you to wear a tracking device. I feel certain you'll follow my orders precisely.”

Tessa felt herself leaning forward in anticipation of what came next.

“Actually the device you're wearing contains a small explosive.”

Tessa's gaze locked on the device.

Smith's fingers settled there once more.

“If you do not return here within the forty-eight-hour timeframe the device will activate and…” He shrugged. “There will be quite a disaster for you.”

“If,” Smith countered, “Renwick detains me?”

“I'm confident you will persuade him otherwise.” The Master stood. “Tessa.”

Her attention flew to him.

“Prepare for travel. I'm counting on you to keep Mr. Smith motivated.”

She pushed to her feet, her legs shaky. Tessa couldn't find her voice to respond so she nodded before hurrying from the room.

Forty-eight hours. This could interfere with her plans. If anything went wrong…she might not be able
to come back. What would happen to the children then? To the patients?

By the time she reached her room, she had calmed herself to a degree. The jeans and sweater she wore were sufficient. She retrieved her overnight bag from the closet and packed the essentials. Toothbrush and paste. A change of clothes. She didn't dare put anything else in the bag for fear of having it found in a search. He would never allow her off the compound without a search.

But then, she couldn't risk leaving anything he might find in her room.

Her fingers rushed over the hangers in her closet until she found the jacket she searched for. She turned the jacket inside out and found the small gap in the lining's hem. She fingered the hole until she fished out the key.

She held the key in her hand; the metal felt like ice in her palm.

Leaving it was out of the question.

Taking it could get her killed.

She had to try.

Moving quickly, she straightened the clothes, including the jacket, in her closet and closed the door. She checked her room to make sure all was neat and orderly. Crossing to the dresser, she studied her reflection. There was only one way that she could think of to get the key out of the compound. She placed the key on the dresser and reached for the hairbrush. Carefully, she arranged her hair into a
twist and pinned it securely. Then she tucked the key into the sleek bun. With a hand mirror she ensured that nothing showed.

“Okay.” She released a shaky breath. This was the only way. As long as she didn't shake her head too hard, it should stay.

With the ID that identified her as Tessa James tucked into her bag, along with her hairbrush, she left her room. The urge to see the children one last time nearly overwhelmed her, but he would be suspicious of such a move. And he would be waiting downstairs.

Tessa descended the stairs, her shoulders squared, her face clean of emotion.

As she'd suspected, the Master, Howard and Smith waited in the entry hall. Smith had been outfitted with a coat.

“I'm ready,” she said in the strongest voice she could muster. This would be the first time she had left the compound without the Master in…ever, she realized. She had never left, unless accompanied by him and his deputies. Her heart stumbled into a frantic rhythm. What did this mean? Why was he sending her with this stranger?

The Master patted her arm. “I'm certain of your loyalty, Tessa. You won't fail me.”

“I won't,” she promised, the words more breathless than she would have preferred. She wanted desperately to mention the children, the
child
in particu
lar, but he would be displeased if she displayed such uncertainty.

The Master's attention moved to Smith. “I trust you fully understand your mission.”

Smith shrugged. “I fully understand what you want, I just don't see it happening. Renwick is your enemy. I doubt he'll be cooperative.”

“You'll find a way,” the Master repeated his earlier assessment. “Tessa will keep you on the proper path.”

Fear snaked around her spine. “I will,” she said to the Master. To Smith she directed, “We will return within forty-eight hours.”

He didn't argue with her but his gold eyes failed to underscore that seemingly agreeable silence.

“Howard,” the Master said.

Howard stepped forward and handed a small hand gun to Tessa.

“To protect yourself,” the Master explained with a glance at Smith, “if the need arises.”

Tessa picked up the weapon with cold, shaky fingers. “Thank you.” She fumbled with the zipper of her bag, then placed the weapon inside.

Howard handed her a cell phone. She placed it in the bag as well.

When her gaze landed on the Master once more, he said, “You know what you have to do. I'll be waiting for your return.”

She nodded, unsure what else to say.

Howard opened the door. The blast of cold air sliced through Tessa.

Smith glanced from the Master to her, then walked out the door. She followed, too scared to look back.

Trudging through the ankle-deep snow, she followed Smith to the black SUV parked in front of the house. All other vehicles would be in the massive garage. None were ever left outside unless they were about to be utilized.

Smith climbed behind the steering wheel; she slid into the front passenger seat. She hugged her bag as if it were a lifeline that possessed the ability to save her.

He started the engine, and reality crashed in on Tessa.

Dear God.

This man didn't even know Renwick. She had given him the name. There was no way he could make this happen. No way they could make it back here in time with what the Master requested.

Tears burned her eyes.

She would have no choice.

“Put your seat belt on,” Smith told her.

She stared at his profile, her mind unable to fully wrap around the idea that this was actually happening, that she had put herself in this position. Why hadn't she just let the Master and his men do what they would with Smith?