have time to deal with right now.
There came a sharp knock on his window, and he started. Jessica. He motioned for her to get in the back seat.
Once she was in, he turned around. 'Anything new from the police?'
'No. Just that there was no forced entry.'
'Oh my god!' Lily nearly dropped the camera as she whirled in her seat to face Jessica.
'What?' Jim and Jessica both asked.
'The keys. I couldn't find the spare keys this afternoon.'
'Do you know when you had them last?' Jessica asked before he could get the same question out.
'I never use them, but Mark said he thought he might have left them up in his loft a few weeks ago.'
'Why were you looking for them today? I mean, if you never use them.'
Jim caught the hint of suspicion in Jessica's voice and wondered if Lily had also heard it.
If she did, she didn't let on. 'I was afraid a reporter might get a hold of them and bug the place.'
'Are you serious?' Jessica shook her head and rested her brow on top of the front seat.
Lily's eyes narrowed. 'You were here yesterday morning. You saw the chaos outside the studio. Besides, it looks like I had the right idea. Someone found the keys and used them, only for something much worse than bugging the place.'
Jessica took a deep breath and nodded. 'You're right. I'm sorry. It's no excuse, but when I'm scared, I get angry. Usually at the wrong people and at-'
Jim cut the apology short. 'Right now, we need to find Mark, and our best lead could be sitting on that film right now. We have to find somewhere to develop it ASAP.'
The three were silent for a moment. Finally Jessica said, 'Why don't we take them to that lab we used before?' She looked at Jim. Lily focused on him as well, her face full of confusion.
It took him a second to understand what Jessica meant. 'The one we used when Mark was locked up still?'
The fact that the photos Jim had taken that day with Jessica had caused Mark to dream his own water- boarding still caused Jim to shudder when he remembered it. At the time, he thought it had been a leak on his team, not evidence of a magical camera. Now he knew better.
A plus was that Mark had ended up working there after he'd been released. It was the perfect solution.
He glanced at the dashboard clock. It was close to five-thirty. 'They won't open for hours.'
Jessica shrugged. 'So we call Gary and tell him to open up. He doesn't know about Mark's camera, but he's afraid of you, Jim. He'll do whatever you want.' A trace of smile turned up the corners of her lips.
Gary wouldn't be the first person to fear him, but for once, maybe that fear would work for him. 'Good. Call the guy.'
'I hope I still have his number.' Jessica pulled out her cell and it cast a glow on her face as she scrolled through it. 'I had to call a few times when Mark had problems that caused him to be late to work.'
An hour later, he, Jessica and Gary waited while Lily developed the film. Gary had offered to run it through his machines, but Lily had said she preferred to develop it herself. Now, her choked scream from within the dark room told Jim and Jessica exactly when the film was done processing, and that whatever was on it wasn't good.
She came out with the still damp prints. Jim hated to look at them, but he had no choice.
Lily visibly trembled as she laid the photos out on the counter. Gary hurried over from where he'd been sitting half-asleep in a corner, Jim froze him with a look. 'Sorry. These are classified.'
Gary held up his hands. 'Fine. I'll just go in my office and take a nap, since I was awakened so early this morning.'
Jessica rearranged the five photos, her face stoic. Jim knew she was used to these kind of photos, but recognized that she was trying her best to detach, to gain emotional distance. He couldn't blame her. It was a survival mechanism for one in her profession. He'd learned it early on in his field as well.
One photo showed Mark half in his bed, half on the floor as dark clad figures held him. Another showed him entering the back of a van, and Jim swallowed hard at the rope around Mark's wrists and neck. He was clad in only a tattered t-shirt and sweatpants.
'Plates.'
Jim tore his gaze from the photo and looked at Jessica. 'What?'
She already had her phone out. 'We can see the plate number as well as the make and model of the van. It's a start.'
The third photo showed Mark on the ground in what appeared to be an alley. The scene was dimly lit, but his white t-shirt stood out in the darkness. The building they were behind had several doors visible and Jim squinted, making out a partial word and a complete second word. 'It says, something son Textiles'. He looked at the women. 'Does that sound familiar to either of you?'
Lily shrugged helplessly, while Jessica looped her hair over her ear and peered more closely at the photo. 'The warehouse district has a few used by textile manufactures, and Mark had the run in with the cult in that area. I bet they wouldn't stray too far from their home turf, so to speak.'
The fourth photo showed him tied to a cross, his eyes screwed shut. The fifth showed a window with sunlight streaming in. It made no sense.
CHAPTER TEN
'This area matches the photo, I think.' Jim put the car in park.
Jessie angled her head and looked up at the old building. The sky was just beginning to turn pink in the east, but the side street was still very dark. 'Lily, why don't you stay here while we check it out?'
Lily looked like she was going to argue, but instead quietly said, 'Should I call an ambulance?'
'We don't know if one is needed. Remember, all of the images in the photos might not have happened yet.' Jessie tapped Jim on the shoulder. 'You have your weapon?'
Jim nodded and opened the center storage compartment, withdrawing his own gun. 'This place looks deserted, though.'
'Still, better to be prepared.' Jessie exited the vehicle, scanning the alley for any movement. 'What do you think, Jim? I don't see anything except some trash bins that need emptying.' She looked around then squatted and pointed to the ground. 'Lots of footprints here though. With this new snow, they can't be more than a few hours old.'
The door closest to them had the faded words they had seen in the photo except now it was open a crack. Jim put his hand in the slit and pushed the door wider. He turned to Jessie and whispered, 'I'll go first. Cover me.'
Jessie nodded and pulled her gun. Ordinarily, she would have rolled her eyes at his chivalry, but she was too keyed up and barely noticed it. 'Right.'
They slipped inside and paused to let their eyes adjust. Jim pointed at his nose, indicating that he smelled something.
She mouthed the word, 'Fire?' at him.
Jim nodded and pointed in the direction he was going to go. Swallowing hard, Jessie motioned for him to move forward. She followed behind him, her eyes darting around. There was a short hallway that opened into a warehouse. The windows on the opposite wall faced east, and a dim golden light illuminated the room. Jessie looked to her right, into the darkest corners, senses alert for danger. No matter how hard she tried to walk quietly, her footsteps echoed off the walls and she cringed. A beam of sunlight illuminated dust motes, turning them golden. The beam ended in a rectangle of light on the far end of the room.
'Good God! Taylor!' Jim stopped suddenly and Jessie stumbled into him. She looked over his shoulder, seeing nothing but the glowing remains of a fire. She raised her eyes.
A wave of shock and horror exploded through her. Mark was suspended by his hands…on a cross-just as Jim had said. His head hung, and Jessie couldn't tell if he was still alive. Frozen, she barely heard Jim tell her to call for an ambulance and back-up.
