Shadows and light the co.., p.85
Shadows and Light: The Complete Series, page 85
The thought rocked her at her core. Then another thought broke through and her heart rate slowed and her breathing relaxed.
Mac knew about the Capitol.
“Good, Lexie. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. I don’t have time to talk you through a panic attack.”
Then shut the hell up.
Lexie twisted her head, trying to locate Ryan. Ramirez cleared his throat and Lexie faced him instead. For the first time, she noticed the cuts and bruises on his face, neck, and hands. She searched his eyes and couldn’t miss the pain.
“There’s blood … are you okay?”
Lexie glanced down at her clothing. She didn’t even feel the wound on her right arm, but it bled through her blouse sleeve. She’d always heard that adrenaline blocked pain. She didn’t look forward to the moment it drained from her body.
“Lexie?”
Since she couldn’t speak, she nodded her head.
“I’m just so very sorry …”
Please don’t be polite to me. Lexie bit down on her jaw and pushed back the tears.
“Okay, before you two get chummy, let me tell you the rules of our interview.”
A man approached Lexie holding what at first looked like a strait jacket. He unfolded it and placed it over Lexie’s chest. He then took the two long straps on either side of the vest and wrapped them around the back of her chair. He pulled the top two tight, binding the vest to her chest and tied a knot just above her shoulder blades. He knotted the lower straps at her waist. Pulling the straps back around to the front, he again knotted them, one over her breast and the other at her hip. It was so tight, she had trouble expanding her lungs.
“What the hell is this?” Ramirez yelled. “She had nothing to do with me.”
Lexie’s attention was so focused on what the man was doing, she hadn’t noticed the vest. One glance down at her chest and any calm she had established moments ago flew out the window.
Two rows of four pockets filled with some type of plastic were sewn down each side of the vest. Wires connected each of the pockets across the middle and attached to a smartphone.
“Get that off her now!” Ramirez struggled with his bindings.
The men around them took several steps back, and the others moved to guard the exits.
“That’s all up to you, Senator Ramirez. The vest will only ignite if the cell phone rings. You control that.”
“What are you talking about?” He too scanned the chamber, trying to locate Ryan’s position.
“The group of men with you, as well as myself, have pledged our lives to protect this country. You are not only a disgrace to the office you hold, but a threat to our way of life. That ends today.”
Ramirez shot a look toward Lexie. “If you have a problem with me, then let her go. You have me.”
Ryan let out a laugh. Lexie could almost see the smirk that undoubtedly crossed his face.
“Now, what fun would that be? Your daughter is incentive to keep you honest. That phone attached to the vest has a nine-digit number. We’re going live in a couple of minutes, the feed being broadcast to every news station in Austin. This can be over in a few minutes or you and your daughter can share eternity together.”
Ramirez choked down a sob. “What do you want from me? Let Lexie go and I’ll give you anything.”
Lexie was powerless to keep the tears from falling this time. She closed her eyes, focused on Mac’s face and repeated over again I love him. The words gave her power.
“That’s the easy way out, Senator, and I’m not in the mood to make this easy. So, I’ll ask a question, and if I don’t like your answer, I’ll dial a number. Understand?”
“You fucking bastard. You’ll not get away with this.”
“Like I said, we are prepared to die today, but not without taking you to hell with us.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Streams of sweat rolled down his back the closer Mac got to the door of the Capitol building. He kept his pace even, using the cane he held in his right hand to control his rhythm.
Mick Ryan’s tech guru had to be watching everything. The fact Ryan wasn’t in the Senate Chamber proved he wasn’t a normal lunatic looking for his ten minutes of fame. He behaved like an officer on a mission, sending his infantry into battle ahead of him so he could continue to command from a protected position.
“Mac, slow your pace. I need you to sit on the last bench before you reach the entrance.”
Jason’s voice came over the hearing aid in Mac’s ear. The tension was hard not to miss.
I don’t have time to sit. He never even glanced at the bench in question.
“Damn it, Mac. Do it. The tech team has new information. They have sent it to your phone.”
Keeping in character of an elderly man out for a visit of the Capitol, Mac slowly moved toward the bench. He eased down and pulled out his phone. As he waited for the photo to load, he scanned the few pedestrians roaming the grounds. When his phone sounded, he glanced down at the image, and the phone slipped from his hand, hitting the walkway. Lexie sat facing her father with a fucking bomb vest attached to her chest. He leaned over and picked up his phone, whispering, “Get the bomb squad …”
“They’re en route. Just a couple of minutes.”
Doubt, dread like he had never known, overwhelmed his senses.
“I know what’s going through your head, bro. You can do this. Take your time moving into the building. I’ll let you know if Ryan dials any numbers. In the meantime, we’ll try to lock onto the GPS of that cell phone and block it.” Jason paused. “The team has moved into place, and SWAT is working through the buildings that have a view of the chamber. Can’t believe we’re up against another fucking sniper. Your only concern is Lexie. Focus on her.”
Mac shut off his phone and placed it inside his coat pocket. He stood, slouching his shoulders and spine. He leaned his weight on the cane and slowly worked his way toward the entrance.
The moment he stepped into the cool ground floor, he couldn’t help glancing up at the rotunda as he banked down the urge to sprint up the stairs into the Senate Chamber. He eased into the rear of a tour in progress and made his way up the stairs. Once on the second floor, he circled around the gallery, paying attention to the portraits of governors that hung on the wall, as well as other artwork. He peered over the banister and scanned the crowd.
He moved away from the group and turned his face down into his sport coat as he studied a painting. “I don’t see any signs of Ryan or his men. If they are here, they have blended into the woodwork.”
“You’re not exactly sporting the FBI look yourself, bro. Give it another glance before you head toward the chamber. The visitors are light today, but we still have potential civilian casualties and hostages.”
Mac knew the stakes. The Senate Chamber was blocked off, and that should help corral the visitors to the left side of the building.
“Give me a rundown of what’s behind the door.”
“You have a man at each entrance. Next to Lexie, there are two other men, one working the camera. Lexie and Ramirez were both tied to the chair, but one of Ryan’s goons just cut Ramirez loose. Ryan must not want the voters to see their senator tied up like a fucking turkey. Damn brave woman, your Lexie.”
That was the only thing keeping Mac going. Then Jason’s voice hitched.
“Mac, the interview just went live. Forget what I said. Move in now. Ryan dialed the first digit.”
• • •
The camera light went dark and silence filled the room. The cameraman stepped away from the tripod. Lexie couldn’t prevent the chill that raced down her spine as the fourth digit of the cell phone number appeared on the screen.
Okay, Mac, anytime now would be great.
She wanted to blame Ramirez, cuss him out, break something over his big head, but she didn’t believe he was lying to Ryan.
“Damn it, I answered your question,” Ramirez roared.
It never occurred to her what would happen if the senator told the truth and Ryan didn’t believe him. With each ticking second, she was losing ground and had no idea how she would live through this nightmare.
“Maybe I didn’t make myself clear,” Ryan’s low, menacing voice came out loud and clear over the PA. “I expect completely truthful answers, not this crap you’re feeding me.”
“It’s not crap. Okay, I have lied before.” His stare bored into Lexie. “I kept Lexie’s true identity a secret from my family, the voters―”
She let loose an angry groan from the back of her throat. I’m not your daughter. What the hell did she do in this life to deserve this? If he came up with an excuse why he deserted her, left her in the hands of her crazy-ass mother, she was going to puke all over herself. Again she squeezed her eyes shut, blocking out the truth, and focused on Mac’s face in her mind’s eye.
Do something, Mac. Do it now.
“Even your daughter can’t stand listening to your lies.”
“I’m not lying. I gave up my own child for this seat. Do you think I would dishonor her and my position by getting into bed with the cartel? I vowed to uphold the duties and responsibilities of this office, and I have never wavered from it. I don’t know the man in the photo, nor have I ever had dealings with his associates.” He paused and took in a deep breath. “Lexie, please look at me.”
No, hell, no!
“Had I known what your home life was really like, I would have taken you from her. She made it look like everything was well in your world. You were involved in activities, and your grades were great. I didn’t see any abuse …”
Lexie opened her eyes and gave the senator her meanest glare as she shook her head. How could anyone be so blind? And to think that her very life and Gabriel’s happiness depended on this spineless jerk. Nausea churned in her stomach and tears spilled over onto her cheeks. She tried to push the fear back like she had done several times in the last several days, but she didn’t have the strength.
“Don’t cry, please don’t cry.” Ramirez twisted his neck so he could address one of the men. “Whoever you are, I don’t care. I only care about getting my daughter out of here. Take that damn vest off her and I will give you anything―money, a confession … it doesn’t matter. Write out what you want me to say, and I’ll say it. Just please let Lexie go.”
“Senator Ramirez, I don’t think she believes this act any more than I do. We’re on a timetable here. The camera goes back on in ten seconds. I suggest you learn quickly how to tell the truth. You have only five digits left.”
• • •
Mac pressed his back to the closed Senate Chamber doors. Time was up. “Any luck blocking that cell phone?”
“We’ve almost got it, Mac. Can you give us a couple of minutes?” Sarah asked through his earpiece.
“The drone?”
“Still working that, too. It’s five minutes out.”
His chest tightened until he couldn’t breathe. “We need to get everyone out …”
“I just gave a kid a $100 to pull the fire alarm,” Jason interrupted. “If Ryan is keeping tabs, hopefully, he won’t be alarmed when a teenager does something stupid. Don’t worry about anything but Lexie.”
“I’m going in.” Mac wedged open the door, placed his cane into the threshold, gave a hard shoulder shove, and entered the room. He turned his back away from the men and quietly clicked it shut.
“Sir, you can’t be in here.”
The man tried to hide his weapon behind his leg. Mac tipped his fedora down over his eyes and lowered his voice. “Just ignore me, young man. I won’t be a minute.” He turned and stared at the dais as if it were the sculpture of David. “Isn’t this something?” he said, taking a couple of steps into the chamber. “I’ve wanted to visit the Senate Chamber for years. My son’s family gave me this trip.” He planted a sheepish look on his face and glanced at the senator. Three men surrounded Lexie, hiding her from his view.
“Is that Senator Ramirez? I don’t mean to break up his interview, but I would love to meet him.” Mac raised his voice so it carried across the room. The only person who didn’t turned toward him was Lexie.
The man reached for his elbow. “Sorry, you have to leave. This is a closed interview.”
His next move Mac had seen his grandfather do more times than he could count. He shrugged the man’s hand off his arm and stepped around him as if he had every right to be there. He approached the banister. “Senator Ramirez, I sure would like to shake your hand.”
Lexie’s shoulders loosened, and she tilted her head slightly. There wasn’t anything Mac could do, but just being close eased his fear.
Senator Ramirez called out to him, somehow keeping the terror from his voice. “Sir, this isn’t a good time. If you make an appointment with my office, I would be happy to see you sometime tomorrow.”
“I understand. Just in for the day. It’s mighty nice to see you in person, especially after that nasty business at your home. Glad to see you up and about.”
Mac straightened away from the banister and slowly made his way to the back of the chamber. He relaxed his movements as he glanced at the balcony and then at the number of paintings on the walls. The tension in the room made his heart pound like a bass drum, but from outward appearances, he was just an old man taking a last look around.
Ryan’s man, shadowing his every step, charged around him and held the door open wide. Mac gave him a grin and repositioned his hat. He turned to the senator and waved. “Have a good day, Senator. It’s been a pleasure.”
“Mac, the cameras outside the chamber doors are down and the team is in place,” Jason’s voice piped into his ear.
Mac covered his mouth with his hand and coughed out, “Pull the fucking alarm.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
He came!
Lexie didn’t dare glance toward Mac’s direction but allowed his deep baritone voice to soothe her heart momentarily until her mind screamed, Get out, God, please get out!
He was in the wrong place. Even if Mac somehow fought his way through the men surrounding her and Ramirez, nothing could stop Ryan from entering the last five numbers.
She had never allowed herself to lose hope in all those years living with her mother, nor during the mourning period after Rico died. She knew her life would get better because she would make it better.
This day was a new low for her. Hope of getting out alive hung by a thin thread. But that thread strengthened the instant Mac’s voiced sounded in the room. She focused on his essence, praying that somehow she’d have a chance to tell him her feelings.
There were so many things left unsaid. She should have told him how she felt this morning, or last night, last month, last year. Why was she so afraid of falling in love again?
The pain in her life had never been because of too much love. Her mother didn’t know how to love, only how to take. The man in front of her had a great capacity to love. Daniel Ramirez just chose not to love her. Rico loved her in his own way, but she wasn’t first in his life, and never would have been.
But the moment Lexie held Gabriel in her arms, she’d finally understood the meaning of unconditional love. That tiny infant changed how she viewed the world, and she’d thought Mac McNeil was a threat to that world. Mac had the capacity to hurt her so deeply, she would never recover. So she closed her heart to protect her son.
An openhearted person put pride aside in order to accept love. A fool shoved love to the side to keep her pride alive. Somewhere along the way Lexie stopped accepting love in her life.
She was a damn fool and almost allowed the love of her life to walk away from her and Gabriel. Why did it take this moment to realize that, instead of worrying about Mac breaking her heart, she should have pulled him in close and held on for dear life?
She raised her head and stared at Ramirez. Fear lived in every feature as he looked past her. It didn’t matter at that point how horrible a father he was to her; she believed him. Ramirez wasn’t responsible for smuggling terrorists into the United States. But whether he was being set up or just in the wrong place at the wrong time when that photo was taken, Ryan would never believe him.
A fatigue-clad thug brushed her arm. The further Mac moved into the chamber, the tighter the men closed in around her. The slightest provocation would set them off. Mac was too good of an agent to attempt a rescue like this without backup. And knowing a little of his team, they knew exactly what was at stake.
She calculated the weight of the explosives and the impact that much C-4 would make on the building if Ryan set it in motion. The circuit connecting the cell phone to the detonator wasn’t child’s play either. She needed a miracle.
Glancing down at the small screen on the cell phone, her lungs relaxed. Thank God! Still only five numbers.
Time to get out, Mac. Go!
Ramirez shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. “Lexie …”
She shook her head. Don’t say it’s going to be all right, because nothing about this situation is all right.
His eyes also filled with unshed tears. It wasn’t hard to decipher the heartache from what might never be said. He may have not wanted her, but he sure the hell didn’t want this to happen to her. Ramirez would never ask for it, but he needed her forgiveness.
The intense anger that filled Lexie just moments before drained from her heart. Forgiveness. Her life may be too short to hold back something so easily granted. She tilted her head and nodded. I know… you didn’t want this for me.
All she could do was pray her eyes expressed what was in her heart. Their gazes held and a temporary, unspoken truce formed between them.
