Seeing Love: Saints Protection & Investigations (34 page)

She inserted one end into the hole and jiggled it around. In a few seconds, she felt something inside that the bobby-pin was hitting against. Continuing to move it around, pressing against the obstruction, she heard a click. She winced in fear as the noise echoed in the concrete room. She held her breath waiting to see if someone had been alerted. Licking her dry lips, she finally let the air rush out of her lungs in relief.

Pressing her ear against the door for several minutes, she heard nothing. No talking. No movement. Taking the knob in her hand, she turned it slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. When the doorknob reached its limit, she pulled the door open an inch at a time once more holding her breath. Still no sounds.

When the door opened enough for her to peek out, she realized she was in a larger basement room. A few pieces of furniture, some paintings, and odds and ends lined the walls. On the other side of the room were stairs that she assumed led to the main level of the house.

Tip-toeing up the steps she hesitated at the top, leaning her ear close to the door, hearing voices on the other side. Voices raised in anger.

“What are we going to do now?” a voice spoke, soft, but vibrating with anger. “I’m telling you, I think she knows.”

“I don’t know what to do now,” a deeper voice answered. “But we have to do something. We need to get him out of here.”

“We’ve got a good thing going and I’m not about to have it fucked up because of some seer,” the first voice said.

“You believe she can really tell what’s going on? What we’ve done?”

“I’ve got no idea if she can or not, but I saw the look on her face. I know she knows something.”

“What if she finds out what’s downstairs?”

“Well, tomorrow it won’t matter. We’re leaving.”

“Shh. Look, there’s that FBI guy’s SUV across the road. Fuck, I’d better get over there.”

Faith heard retreating footsteps, but felt no safer. Not able to see what was happening on the other side of the door, she was too afraid to try to escape that way. Turning their words over in her mind, she glanced around the room as she quietly went back down the steps.
What’s downstairs?
Looking around, she saw nothing that would not be found in any basement. Boxes, metal shelves with plastic tubs. An old table and a few chairs in one corner. A treadmill covered in dust that looked like it had not been used in ages.

Sighing deeply, she rubbed her temples, trying to keep the threatening headache from overtaking her. Walking to one wall, she began slowly perusing the area. Nothing. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand on end and she felt her vision blur.

Unsure if what was happening was nerves or—

A sudden vision filled her mind as she passed by one of the shelving units. She closed her eyes tightly as her hands reached out to steady her shaking body. Knuckles white against the grey metal shelves, she pulled involuntarily. They moved.

Her eyes flew open as she looked at the area that had shifted. Instead of just metal shelves moving away from the wall, it was evident they hid another door. Her breath came in pants as she walked on unsteady feet to the edge and peeked around. Her hand reached out to the doorknob of its own volition. The rushing of blood roared in her ears as she turned the knob and slowly opened the door.

It swung open and a gasp escaped her lips.

M
rs. Dukakas opened
the door, her eyes registering surprise at seeing Monty and Mitch standing on the front stoop. Without waiting for her to welcome them, they stepped inside the house, Mitch immediately heading for the family room where he heard voices.

Ivan, Anton, and Dmitry were sitting, the pall of a devastating Christmas Eve hanging over the room. The three men’s eyes furtively looked up as the two stalked in.

“We have new information that indicates we need to search your basement,” Mitch stated.

Ivan stood immediately, expression uncertain as he queried, “What are you looking for?” Instinctively, Anton and Dmitry stood, flanking their uncle in support.

Constance walked into the room, her eyes tearful as she looked up at the visitors. “Do you have any news? Anything about Erik?” she begged.

Anton stepped toward Monty, his face a mask of anger. “What the hell are you trying to pull here, Lytton?”

Before he could respond, a call came through on his and Mitch’s ear-pieces. “Basement. All clear. No one here.”

Anton stepped forward to intervene when Mitch put his hand on his gun holster. “Easy men.”

Ivan’s jaw was set, eyes blazing, voice like gravel. “You two better explain what the fuck you’re doing in my daughter-in-law’s house, making demands.”

*

While Mitch was
inside talking to the building’s inhabitants, Bart circled back around to his truck, seeing it empty. His head swiveled around quickly, looking for Faith.
Where the hell did she go?

Monty and Mitch left their target, unhappy expressions on their faces. They walked back toward the others who were appearing as ghosts from the back.

He already heard through his earpiece that the location checked out clean and the occupants were furious. Before the others could get to him, Bart growled loudly, “Faith’s gone.”

While the others looked stunned, Jack pulled out his phone, speaking to Luke.

“What’d Luke find? Does he know where she is? She can’t be far and no matter what you all think, she was right about what she saw!” Bart’s jaw was set, his teeth grinding together in anger. “I fuckin’ swear if they’ve—”

“We’ve got this,” Jack said, walking up to the Bart, and quickly joined by Monty, Blaise, Cam, Chad and Mitch.

Shaking his head, Mitch looked at Bart. “I believe her, but I gotta tell you,” he said, jerking his head to where he came from, “I’ll be lucky to not have disciplinary action over that.”

“Not waiting,” Bart warned. “Not fuckin’ waiting.”

Jack pierced him with a long look. “Understood. Been there myself. But we want them to go down? We do this by the book.”

Locking his jaw, Bart nodded as Luke gave him her new coordinates. They all stared for a second at each other before turning around to look right behind them. Feeling his pocket vibrate, Bart pulled out his phone.

2 missed text messages

“Fuck!” he shouted. “She’s there!”

*

Faith stood numbly,
looking into the room that so closely resembled her drawings. A room equipped to look like a boy’s bedroom. Comfortable bed covered with a dark blue comforter. A bookcase on the side, filled with books and games. An overhead light plus a floor lamp provided excellent illumination. What had been outside of her vision included two chairs at a table still containing a tray with lunch leftovers. A thick rug covered the concrete floor giving the space warmth and comfort. A door on the opposite wall stood open, showing a full bathroom.

And in the middle of the bed, sat a boy playing a video game. Dressed in a clean shirt and jeans, socks on his feet. He looked up, his smile halting in place. Erik Krustas.

“Who are you?” he asked, his head cocked to the side. “Is the surprise ready?”

She stepped closer, standing at the foot of his bed, her heart beating a staccato pattern as she willed the light-headedness to pass. “Su…surprise?”

“Our trip. I only had to stay in this room for a week, while the secret trip was planned, and then we’re leaving on Christmas. That’s tomorrow, you know. Did you come here to help me get ready?”

“Is…is that what you were told?”

His face scrunched up in confusion. “Yeah. But honestly, I’m getting bored. That’s why I’m glad we’re leaving tomorrow.”

Licking her lips, she knew she had to get him out of there. Her eyes darted around, landing on his shoes on the floor. “Erik, there’s been a change of plans. You need to put your shoes on now. Do you have a coat?”

He giggled as he pulled his shoes on. “I don’t need a coat here in my hiding room.” He looked up at her, saying, “You never told me what your name was.”

“Faith. I’m Faith. Lots of people have been looking for you all week.”

His nose wrinkled adorably as he peered at her. “But why?”

Pulling in her lips, afraid to tell him too much, she simply said, “Well, no one knew where you were. They were scared.”

Laughing, he replied, “That’s silly! I was right here!”

She could not help but grin at his animated face. “Yes, yes. You were.” Looking behind her, she turned back quickly and said, “We need to go. We need to try to sneak out of here and find some friends of mine, okay?”

“Like another game?”

She hesitated for a moment, before nodding. “Absolutely. A game we’re going to win!”

Hearing a noise coming from the stairs, she hurried to close the door.
Dammit!
Looking at the confused expression on Erik’s face, she said, “I need you to go into the bathroom for a few minutes and close the door. I’ll surprise whoever comes in.”

Laughing, he did as she asked while her eyes glanced around for anything to use as a weapon. The large book on the bed was the only thing she could grab before she heard a sound at the door. Slipping behind the door with the book grasped over her head, she held her breath, hoping whoever came in could not hear her hammering heartbeat.

Slowly the door opened. “Erik?” a voice whispered, as a body came into the room.

Slamming the book down on top of their head, she saw the body pitch forward as they cried out moaning on the floor.
Shit, in movies it knocks them out!
Not knowing what else to do, she kicked the man in the groin, turning his moan into cries of agony.

Rushing to the bathroom door, she threw it open. “Come on, Erik. We’ve got to go now!”

Grabbing his hand, she rushed him through the bedroom toward the open door. Erik pulled on her hand when he saw the man on the floor.

“What’s wrong with him?” Erik asked.

She pulled him through the door into the basement. “He’s just feeling sick,” she said and continued toward the stairs in the back.

*

With Erik tucked
safely behind her, Faith continued slowly toward the second set of stairs she hoped led to the garage. As she was about to reach the bottom, the door above opened and a dark figure appeared. Scurrying backward, still protecting Erik, she moved into the shadows of the basement corner.

Several huge men came quietly down the stairs, weapons drawn. As one turned toward her, she gasped.

“Cam!” she cried out.

The men immediately whirled around and Cam barely had time to lower his weapon before she rushed into his arms.

“Where’s Bart? I have to let him know I’m okay,” she said, her words coming in a rush.

Bart rushed from the closet she had initially entered, grabbing her from Cam’s arms and crushing her body to his.

She felt his arms quivering as they held her while he whispered over and over, “I’ve got you, princess. I’ve got you.”

Jack and Chad quickly looked into the room where Erik had been kept, seeing the still writhing man on the floor. Hauling him up, Chad used zip-ties to restrain the groaning man.

Jack kneeled to the floor in front of the small boy whose eyes were large with fright. “You must be Erik? I’m Jack and we’re here to help.”