“Then you’d better figure out how to get past that.”
“And if I refuse?”
He shook his head. “That’s just not an option.”
“But—”
“No more buts. This is your new reality. Deal with it.” He stood up and went to the door to the outer office. “Vivian. Would you ask Reid to come up here and escort our guest to her suite?”
“Right away, Mr. Olberman.”
“I am not your guest,” she protested, heart beating wildly. “And I want to go home. There are people who will find me. They’re probably looking for me right now.”
“The Phoenix Agency?” He laughed. “I can buy and sell them.” He gripped her elbow again. “If I were you, I’d figure out how to make this work. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to your family, would you?”
“My—my family?”
Oh god. Would he go after Greg and his wife? Their children? Her parents?
What would Troy do if he were in this situation?
As if he really was there, she heard his voice in her head.
Play along until you can figure out a way out of it. Use your brain. And have faith in me.
If only she had the same telepathic powers Mark and Faith did. But no matter. Despite what Olberman said, she knew the men of Phoenix wouldn’t stop until they found her and rescued her from this dreadful place and this malevolent man.
“I’ve had a suite prepared for you with all the amenities,” Olberman was saying. “Since you came here with nothing, there are many things you’ll need. Your wardrobe has been taken care of, but I’m sure there are personal items you require. Vivian will be along to see you shortly and assist you with your ordering.”
“My ordering.” Lauren could hardly breathe, the feeling of being trapped suffocating her.
“I’d like you to dine with me tonight,” Olberman said, as he was leading her from the room. “Reid will fetch you at seven. And I wouldn’t think it wise to refuse. Perhaps if you know more about me, you’ll see that I’m right about this.”
Never.
But she’d play along until she saw an opportunity. A chance of any kind.
Oh Troy. Hurry and find me. Please.
* * * * *
Troy used every iota of self-discipline he had to compose himself on the way to the hospital. He’d been in situations most men would consider terrifying. Life-threatening, even. But he had never been as scared as he was right now. He and Lauren had just discovered each other and were getting ready to build something solid, like his partners had found. Now someone had snatched it all away from them, and he had trouble keeping a lid on the rising panic.
“We have a one hundred percent success record,” Rick reminded him as they navigated the streets to the hospital. “We don’t intend to break it now.”
“If we just had even the faintest inkling of what this is all about.” Troy ground his teeth in frustration. “I don’t even know where to start. And any minute now, her brother’s going to wonder why he hasn’t heard from her. Maybe even show up at the house.”
“We’ll get it done.” Rick’s voice was calm and assured. “And this is a good place to start.”
Troy managed to find a space in the hospital’s side lot, locked the car and strode toward the entrance, Rick beside him. He swallowed his impatience while he waited for the elevator, then during the slow rise to the floor where Clark Hauser was. As he approached the room, he stopped and pulled in a deep breath, trying to center himself.
“Ready?” Rick asked.
Troy nodded and pushed open the door.
Gayle Hauser was sitting beside her husband’s bed, talking animatedly. Clark Hauser looked so much better than the last time Troy had seen him that he almost didn’t recognize him. The man’s face had good color, all but one of the machines had been removed and he was sitting up in bed talking to his wife while he indulged in a pastry she’d obviously brought for him.
“I’m sorry to just barge in like this,” he began.
Gayle Hauser frowned, then, as recognition dawned, gave him a smile. “You’re the man who came here with Lauren, right?”
He nodded. “I’m glad you remember me.”
“How could I forget? Without you, Clark might not even be with us today.”
“I assure you it was all her. I was just along for the ride.”
“And to take care of her. Afterward.”
Troy nodded at Clark. “Good to see you looking so good.”
“It’s a miracle,” the older man said. “Gayle has had to explain what happened to me several times and I still have a hard time believing it. That woman is worth her weight in gold.”
Her weight in gold? Was that it? Did someone take Lauren to try to use her for profit? Who the hell would do that?
But Troy knew just how many unscrupulous people there were in the world. He and his partners had dealt with far too many of them.
Gayle gestured at him. “Come in. Please. How nice of you to visit. Did Lauren ask you to come by?”
Troy shook his head. “Not exactly. My partner, Rick Latrobe, and I were wondering if we could ask you some questions.”
“Partner?” Her forehead creased with a frown. “Questions? About what?” She pushed her chair back and stood up. “Is something wrong with Lauren?”
Rick stepped into the background, leaning against the wall and letting Troy take the lead on this.
“No. Not exactly.” He pulled another visitor’s chair over and sat down. He didn’t want to stand and loom over Gayle Hauser like some menace. Questioning her would be a delicate process, and he didn’t want to frighten her. “Can you tell me how you first heard about Lauren and her gift?”
The woman’s body immediately tensed and she clasped her hands together in her lap. “Someone gave me her name. A lot of people knew how desperate Clark’s situation was, and friends were always helping me try to find answers.”
“So you don’t remember specifically who pointed you in her direction? Lauren would really like to contact that person and let them know she was able to be of help.”
“Oh they know.” The woman’s voice was shaky. “Everyone knows by now.” She filled the plastic cup on the bed table with water and handed it to Clark.
She’s trying to figure out what to say.
Troy had seen people do this more times than he could count. What was it she didn’t want him to know? It took every bit of self-control not to grab her by the shoulders and shake the information out of her.
“Tell him, honey,” her husband said. “What’s the big deal?”
The look she sent him had
keep quiet
written all over it.
“Is there a problem?” Troy asked the question as quietly as possible. The woman sitting near him looked ready to jump out of her skin. The same itchy feeling of danger he’d been unable to scratch was swarming over him.
“No.” She shook her head vehemently. “I’m just not sure I even remember, at this point. As I said, so many people were trying to help us. Why does it matter?”
There was definitely something wrong here. The more Troy pressed, the more agitated Gayle Hauser became. He’d have to choose his words carefully.
“I know you’re aware of the craziness that occurred following her last patient,” he said.
She nodded.
“Because of that, we’re trying to keep track of the people who refer Lauren, how they knew about her and if the referral came from a previous client.” He leaned forward, trying to create an atmosphere of confidentiality. “I’m sure you can understand how important that is.”
“I do.” Her glance shifted away from his, darting back to her husband. “I just don’t see how I can help you.”
Rick, who had been silent up until now, pushed away from the wall.
“Mrs. Hauser, is there some reason you don’t want to tell us where Lauren’s name came from? I mean, it’s not as if she advertises her services. She’s actually a very private person.”
“No. There’s no reason.” She focused on her husband, not meeting either Troy’s or Rick’s gazes. “I’d like to ask you to leave now. Clark needs his rest and I don’t like to have him upset.”
“Gayle.” Clark frowned at her. “Is there a problem here?”
“No. No problem. These people are going to leave, and you’re going to take a nice long nap.”
Rick nudged Troy and gestured toward the door with his head. Troy stood up reluctantly, wishing he could shake the truth out of the woman.
“Thank you,” Rick said for both of them. “We appreciate you giving us some time. Mr. Hauser, enjoy your recovery.” He placed a card on the bedside table. “I know you’re grateful for the help Lauren Cahill gave you. If there is something you remember, this is my cell number. We’d appreciate a call.”
He opened the door and motioned for Troy to walk out with him.
“She’s lying, damn it.” Troy balled his hands into fists. “I can smell it. And did you see how nervous she was? She was exactly the same way when Lauren and I were here. That woman is hiding something.”
He started toward the door again, but Rick put a hand on his arm.
“Take a breath here, Troy. If you push her, you won’t get anything.”
“I know, I know.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I need to find the right button to push.”
“Let’s get out of here first. I have some ideas.”
When they were back in the car, Rick pulled out his cell and speed-dialed a number.
“Andy? Yeah, yeah. I know you’re already juggling a hundred things for us. I’m going to add one more to your pile. If you can handle it.” He paused, then chuckled. “Not questioning your ability in the least. So show me just how good you are.” He spelled out the names of Gayle and Clark Hauser. “I want everything you can get on them, including financial information. And I need it yesterday.” He listened for a long minute. “Yes, good. But start with this one.”
He pushed End.
”He’s on it?” Troy asked.
“As always.” Rick glanced at him. “You holding up okay? Never mind. That’s a stupid question. If it were me, I’d want to wring someone’s neck too.”
“What else did Andy have to say?”
“Dan sent him a list of the ten patients Lauren saw just prior to Clark Hauser. He’s running all of them, but he’ll start with the Hausers first.”
Troy blew out a breath and started the car. “I don’t know what the fuck I’ll do if we don’t get her back. Kill somebody maybe. Probably.”
“Like I said, we’ll get her back. I refuse to accept anything less.” He speed-dialed a phone number again. “Let’s see what they’ve found out at the house.”
Troy maneuvered through the traffic while Rick spoke on the phone. He waited impatiently until his friend disconnected the call.
“Well?” He clenched his fists on the wheel. “Anything?”
“Yeah. At least a thread to pull.”
Troy frowned as he turned the corner. “What kind of a thread?”
“Andy traced the rental cars. They came from four different agencies.” Rick tapped his phone. “Okay, Andy sent the pictures to me as well as the addresses of the agencies.”
“He should have hacked into their files to see who actually did the renting.”
“Let’s see what we can get in person first. As long as we’re out, we’re going to take another field trip.” He called up the GPS on his phone. “Take a left at the next corner. We’ll take the closest ones first.”
“Good,” Troy told him. “I need to keep moving. Doing something. Otherwise, I’ll go out of my fucking mind.”
* * * * *
Lauren paced back and forth on the thick carpet, fear and anger simmering in a sickening boil inside her. Reid had fetched her from Olberman’s office and wordlessly marched her along a hallway to a set of double doors. Fishing a key ring from his pocket, he found the one he wanted, unlocked the door and hustled her inside. She found herself standing in a large, well-furnished living room.
“Bedroom’s in there.” He pointed to the right. “Full bathroom with it.” He waved his hand around the room they were in. “Television with satellite. Books. DVDs. Whatever you need.”
“What I need,” she told him between clenched teeth, “is to get out of here. To be taken back to my home.”
He shook his head. “Not happening. Be ready for dinner at seven.”
Then he was gone, locking the door on the outside.
Tears clogged the back of her throat and burned her eyes.
I will not cry. I will absolutely not cry.
Crying would do her no good. She needed to think.
As she paced she hugged herself, rubbing her upper arms. She’d somehow fallen into a nightmare, and she still wasn’t sure how it happened. She did know, however, that when someone had the resources Kurt Olberman obviously did, anything could be accomplished.
There had to be a way out of here. She just needed to think. To play along with him, until she found a way to free herself. Meanwhile, she prayed as hard as she could that Troy and Phoenix would be able to locate her.
One wall of the living room in the suite was fitted with large windows that looked out over part of the estate. A set of French doors led out to a small balcony and she was surprised to find them unlocked. But when she opened them and stepped outside, a man carrying a rifle loosely in his hands looked back up at her.
What did I think? That he’d leave me with an escape hatch? But at least I can get some fresh air.
Again she marveled at the pristine landscaping and the thick forest that stretched beyond it. She could see a fence on either side of the lawn and wondered if it circled the entire property. Something that extensive would be enormously expensive, but again, money appeared to be no object.
To distract herself from her uneasiness, she began to prowl the suite, checking out what Olberman had placed in there for her. Novels of every kind filled the shelves along one wall. A cabinet held more DVDs than she could watch in a year, a sign that he didn’t plan on her leaving here anytime soon. If ever. A polished wood credenza held office supplies—notebooks, pens, even sketchpads. A telephone sat at one end. She lifted the receiver, wondering if there was a dial tone. She heard the buzzing in her ear but when she tentatively tried to dial a number nothing happened. She opened the envelope sitting next to it and lifted out the square of white cardboard. It was apparently a directory to extensions within the house—kitchen, Olberman, Vivian.