“The point is that sometimes things aren’t as blac and white as they seem.”
Jess wasn’t exactly sure what he meant by that. The blood on the floor seemed about as black and white as anything she’d ever seen in her life. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying there’s probably more going on here than you or I know about.”
“Like what?”
“Hard to say. Something international. Corruption on some level.” He motioned toward the stain on the floor without looking at it. “One thing I can say for sure is that Angela would never let something so barbaric continue.”
“Maybe that’s why someone saw fit to stop her.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Yeah.”
“Like who?”
“Someone with a lot at stake.”
“Well, that certainly narrows it down.” She spread her arms to encompass the terrible room. “Madrid, where does that leave us?”
His eyes drilled into hers. Within the depth of his gaze, she saw determination and tenacity and the strength of character to do the right thing no matter how difficult.
Or dangerous.
“Since I’m no longer with the agency, that leaves us with the freedom to do the right thing.” He paused. “Even if it means crossing lines.”
Jess wanted to ask him which lines he was talking about, but they were interrupted by the slam of a steel door. Madrid quickly clicked off the flashlight, total darkness crashing over them. Even with her heart hammering hard against her breast, Jess heard the pound of boots.
“Someone’s coming this way,” she whispered.
“More than one person.” Taking her by the shoulders, he shoved her into the corridor. “Time to move. Fast.”
He didn’t give her time to think about it. His hand latched on to hers with the force of a vise grip. The next thing she knew she was being pulled forcefully down the corridor. They were midway to the hatch when overhead lights flashed on.
Horror whipped through her. A terrible sense of being exposed. Of danger. Vaguely she was aware of Madrid cursing under his breath. Of male voices shouting behind her. Heavy footsteps pounding steel. The sound of bullets being chambered.
“You, there! Halt! Now, or I’ll fire!”
“Run!” came Madrid’s voice.
He hit the hatch with both hands, but the steel didn’t budge. “Help me crank this,” he hissed.
Jess grabbed the wheel and spun it as hard as she could. But their efforts were in vain. She looked past Madrid to see three men rushing toward them, rifles thrust forward.
“Get your hands up and turn around slowly!”
Her hands shot into the air. Beside her, Madrid sighed. For an instant she feared he was going to do something crazy. Instead, he raised his hands and slowly turned. “Where the hell have you been?” he snapped.
A tall man with long blond hair pulled into a ponytail sneered. “Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?”
Madrid frowned at the man as if he were dense. “I’m here to pick up my shipment, and so far all I’ve done is waste my time. Where the hell are the women?”
The three men exchanged looks.
The blond man lowered his rifle and stepped closer. Jess cringed when his pale blue eyes swept down the front of her, then to Madrid. “I asked you your name.”
“David Collins,” Madrid lied smoothly. “We’ve been waiting for an hour. Someone was supposed to meet us on deck, but no one showed.”
Pale blue eyes landed on Jess. “Your name.”
“T-Trish C-Cooper.” She hoped her neighbor back in Phoenix didn’t mind her using her name.
“This is a secure area. Off-limits to you.”
Madrid made a sound of frustration. “Look, all I want is what I paid—”
Too quick for the eye to follow, the blond man spun the rifle and rammed the butt into Madrid’s solar plexus. Air whooshed from his lungs and his knees buckled, hitting the floor with a thud.
Jess screamed, but before she could move the rifle came down a second time on the back of Madrid’s neck with bone-crushing force. He reeled forward, would have gone down completely, but he broke his fall with his hands.
Jess knelt at his side. “My God, are you all right?”
When Madrid managed only a croak, she glared at the blond man. “Why did you do that?”
“I have no tolerance for liars,” said the man.
Taking her lead from Madrid’s earlier statements, Jess elaborated. “We were asked to come here. Something about a shipment. I don’t know what kind of shipment and I don’t care.” She motioned toward Madrid. “We do not deserve this kind of treatment.”
The blonde’s lip curled. “I don’t believe them.”
The other two men exchanged looks.
Madrid raised his head. “Maybe you ought to check with your boss, Einstein,” he said between gritted teeth. “While you’re at it, tell him you’re beating the hell out of his best customer.”