Locked inside the cruiser, Hugo had been beside himself, barking and whining and tearing at the upholstery.
No one had wanted to go near the distraught K-9. But Scott knew exactly what the Bouvier was feeling. The same adrenaline-pumped rage and sense of helplessness was running through his veins like burning jet fuel. Cole had been taken, and neither he nor Hugo had been there to help and protect her.
When released, Hugo had jumped out of the vehicle and into Scott’s truck without any coaching.
The guy behind the counter at the convenience store barely remembered Cole’s presence, until reminded that she’d bought the bottle of coffee and package of nuts the police had found dropped by her driver’s side door.
Scott had questioned the cashier himself.
“I only called 911 because that big scary dog was barking and acting crazy, and scaring my customers. I seen the lady cop. Only I didn’t see nothing after she left. Dude came in, arguing about the gas pump not being honest. How he was being cheated of pennies per gallon. By the time he stomped out, nothing else was going on in the parking lot. Dude, I have no idea where the lady cop went. I swear.”
Scott had a few ideas, and each of them a worse scenario than the one before it.
If not for the wire on Cole, the police wouldn’t have a clue where to look for her. As it was, they’d lost precious time. Surveillance be damned.
He tightened his fingers on the steering wheel, tearing through the dark well above the posted speed limit.
For the past four days, Cole had been under constant, if distant, surveillance by him. He couldn’t be spotted shadowing her. For a change, the authorities agreed: X wasn’t going to back off. He was just waiting for his next opportunity. Though there was no obvious gain in his need to hurt, humiliate, and harass Scott, they doubted X would cease until he was once again locked up.
Cole’s night duty made her the likely target. Alone, after dark, patrolling lonely areas with Hugo. X wouldn’t be able to resist.
Cole was more than happy to be their bait.
Scott had had his doubts. But DEA and the Montgomery County Police Department were in agreement to let her try. Scott fought for and won a spot on the surveillance team. He was the only agent assigned to devote full-time to surveillance. He had to be in on the takedown. This time, he wouldn’t let Cole down.
Hugo pushed his muzzle through the opening, whining as he gazed at Scott. “I know how you feel, big fella. We’ll get our chance. I promise you.”
To keep himself focused, Scott went over in his mind what he knew. Cole was a professional law-enforcement officer and should have been able to hold her own against X until backup arrived.
She was supposed to signal for help the moment she spotted him. Why hadn’t she signaled them as planned? And why had Hugo not been released?
The van. X wasn’t working alone this time.
Scott shoved aside all thoughts about what that might mean. His gaze went to the GPS. Her signal was still moving. He would find her. He and Hugo would save her. That was the only scenario he could allow his mind to entertain.
And when he got his hands on X …
*
Cole didn’t know how long she was out. Her head pounded. Her stomach heaved with every jolt and buck of the van flooring beneath her. Her arms were tied behind her, allowing her to bounce helplessly as the vehicle suddenly swerved when someone up front shouted, “Turn here.”
She bit back a moan as she rolled over, not wanting anyone to know she was conscious. She ignored the taste of blood in her mouth and tested her bonds. They had used plastic handcuffs, pulled so tight her fingers tingled. She opened her eyes a slit as she tried to assess her situation. Think and assess.
She was no longer wearing her tactical belt. She lay flat on her stomach. No way to tell if they had taken the gun strapped to her ankle. Probably. They were efficient. She rolled a little to the right and left as the van left smooth paved road for rough gravel. Nothing in her pockets. No cell. No badge.
She shivered, chilled by sweat from the fight. But she fought the fear threatening to close over her head. She wasn’t alone. She was under surveillance. The police, and Scott, would arrive soon. Meantime, she had to stay alive.
What did she know? She heard two men’s voices. She didn’t get a good look at them, but she knew neither of them was X. And they weren’t amateurs. She’d been attacked and disarmed by men familiar with police and military tactics.
The van slowed. She lifted her head to try to see out but it was a panel van, no windows.
“Fuck it. He said there was a park here somewhere.”
“Turn off there. Yeah. There’s his hog.”
The van rolled to a stop but Cole continued to bounce in rhythm to shocks badly in need of replacement. She choked on the irony. As if it mattered whether or not the shocks in the van that snatched her were safe. She was not safe.
“She’s coming round.” Someone reached back and grabbed her ankle. A whimper escaped her as she kicked out in fear.