Rick must have Darrell working on the inside, though the thought of that angered her. Why would he divide the team like this and not tell everybody what each of their assignments were? Hell, she blushed, remembering how she’d found out her objective, and she’d been told in a roomful of people. Rick must have his reasons for keeping Darrell’s assignment private, reasons that could’ve come from higher up. If Darrell was working a classified angle, no one would’ve been told, and he was too much by-the-book to let even Shelby in on his assignment.
His last words echoed in her mind, “I really don’t want to have to kill you, little bit. Be a good girl, and we might let you live.” He’d been convincing. She’d been scared in her confused state, but he’d had to make it realistic if William was to believe he would actually hurt her. If anybody could sympathize with Darrell and his need to play his role to his best ability, it was Shelby. She’d been given an impossible assignment, having no choice but to accept it. The same was true for Darrell. If the bureau needed him to be undercover, then she knew he’d accept whatever task that had been laid before him. How he was able to get in, she didn’t know. Whatever key he used to unlock that steely door guarding the path to William’s trust had worked. Hopefully, with what he had on William and the evidence they’d gathered on Mason, it would be enough to take the two down.
Though she didn’t like Darrell incapacitating her like this. Why had he brought her here anyway? He knew Mason had found out she was an agent. It was too dangerous for her to be around William.
Oh crap. Had William ordered her dead? Was that why Darrell had to stage a kidnapping? No matter what the others said about Mason, she didn’t think he had it in him to kill her. Carl? That was a different matter. But Shelby? No, he wouldn’t kill her. He’d had the chance to execute her if that had been his wish. She’d been bound and at his mercy, all the while he’d known the truth about her. He’d been enraged. She’d seen the hurt in his eyes and had known how utterly devastated he’d been. If he hadn’t killed her in his fury, he wouldn’t order it after the fact.
Unless he’d had time to calm down and realized he’d screwed up by not killing her when he’d had the chance.
That thought hurt more than she liked to admit.
She jerked at a sudden shout, muffled by the car, but it was a panicked sound still. She hoisted herself up and glanced through the window. Where were they? If Darrell was in trouble, she should try to help. More importantly, if something happened and he was made, she didn’t want to be waiting around for William to show up alone without Darrell around to protect her. She fisted her hands and rolled her neck, forcing away the numbness from the weaker parts of her body. She had feeling, but not one hundred percent. It would have to do. She couldn’t sit here doing nothing.
And what if the shout had nothing to do with trouble? It would look as if she was trying to escape. Darrell might have to drug her again. No way did she want more of this crap in her system. It was a risk she had to take, so she’d have to be careful. She opened the door and slipped to the ground, staying low. She gently shut it and looked from left to right, searching for any sign of Darrell. She was in a shaded area, and when she looked up, she realized she was in a large building that was completely open on one end. She crawled to the side and hid behind some crates as she peered around the opening. She watched as a jet took off in the distance and then, much closer to her, a smaller plane’s hatch opened, stairs distending.
An airport.
There was no movement. Things were almost too quiet considering her whereabouts. The scream she’d heard hadn’t made any sense. Then again, maybe it hadn’t been a scream at all. Now that she knew she was at an airport, it could’ve been a jet engine starting. For all she knew, Darrell and William were on the plane talking and there was no immediate danger.
Then she heard it again. Someone shouted…another voice yelled after that.
“You’re surrounded. Come out with your hands up!”
Yes! Darrell must’ve called in backup. But where was he? If he was still with William, he would be vulnerable. The jackass could try to kill him if he discovered Darrell was playing him. She looked to the side and saw a sniper stationed on the opposite side of the runway. A glance to the right confirmed more guys closing in wearing SWAT uniforms. She didn’t know these people, which meant they didn’t know her and probably not Darrell. If he was on the plane with William, the jerk could push him out, instigating fire. If the men thought their lives were in danger, they’d shoot first and ask questions later. She had to warn them about Darrell possibly being trapped on that plane.
Shelby crouched over the crate and slid against the wall until she reached the opening. Staying low, she crawled out and to the side. The movement in her peripheral caught her.
“Childers?” she said, shocked. What was Carson doing here? Had her team been on location all weekend preparing to take down William and Mason?
Then she looked to the side and saw a furious-looking Mason closing in on Carson. Oh no! On instinct, she jumped from the side of the building and screamed a warning to Carson before Mason could take him out.
