Garret's Gambit by Dale Mayer (book club books .TXT) 📗

in that world know the business I’m in,” he said quietly. “It’s one of the reasons I keep extra safeguards in place, so that we are secure in there. But, once you leave it, you’re out in the big bad world again.”

“Damn,” she said, settling back. “Amy’s always been one to do things her own way.”

“Do you think there’s any chance that the baby isn’t Gregg’s?”

“That would be sad,” she said. “I can’t really tell you the answer to that.”

“And you don’t have to,” he said. “We can only hope that we get answers sooner than later.”

“It’s just really suspicious that she left at the same time we’re out looking for Gregg.”

There was a commotion, and, even from where they were parked, the sounds came through the vehicle. She gasped and leaned forward, pointing. “There. What was that?”

Charles hesitated.

“Shouldn’t we go help them?”

“No,” he said. “There are times when you have to trust in their abilities, and this is one of them.”

“But, if I wasn’t here, you would go, wouldn’t you?”

He nodded. “Well, yes,” he said reluctantly. “I would, indeed.”

“Then go,” she said. “Unlike my sister, I know to stay put.”

He hesitated.

She said, “No, don’t hesitate because of me. Just go. We have to make sure that nobody else gets hurt because of this mess. I’m already afraid my sister is involved to a point that—that she’s hurting the people I care about.”

He looked back at her and said, “They’ll be fine.”

“But you don’t even believe that yourself. You don’t know what they’re up against.” She added, “Would it be so terrible to go as a backup, just in case? Everybody needs help at one time or another.”

He chuckled at that. “Very true,” he said. “You have to promise.”

“I promise,” she said. Maybe her reaction was a little too fast because he looked at her. “I promise,” she said again. “I won’t do anything stupid.”

“Says you,” he said, but he got up and headed outside with one final look. “Please stay in place.” She nodded. And, with that, he was gone. She watched what was going on outside, feeling helpless and useless. She quickly dialed her sister back, and, when there was no answer, she sent a text.

Her sister responded. I think I’m in trouble.

Astra groaned. Rick?

Yes, he’s not who I thought he was.

And she wasn’t at all surprised. Where are you?

I need a ride. I’m in trouble.

Where are you, Amy?

Come and get me.

But her sister was not making any sense and not giving her any directions.

Where are you? Tell me so I can help.

And then there was nothing. Astra groaned and bent her head over her knees, wondering who the hell she could call for help. This night had seriously gone to shit. When her phone buzzed suddenly, she was surprised but delighted to see it was her sister again. But the message was one that immediately had her blood boiling.

We have your sister. We’ll trade her for her boyfriend.

Just then, two more vehicles came in the car park behind her. As she watched, they whipped around at a speed that was not normal at all. Still in shock from the message she had just received, she sat here, watching, as they headed around to where the men had disappeared from. Now she realized she was up against an ugly choice. Did she listen to Charles and stay in place? Or did she go see if she could help them get out of trouble?

She quickly sent a message to Garret, telling him that two vehicles full of company had arrived. When she didn’t get an answer back, she realized that chances were, he was either engaged or out cold. She slipped from the vehicle and into the front seat awkwardly and looked to see if another handgun was in the glove box. And, indeed, there was.

She grabbed it, took a deep breath, and slipped out of the vehicle once more. She crept forward, trying to stay well hidden from everything. And, sure enough, there was Charles and Garret, with guns pointed at them. No sign of Kano, but two men were down on the ground, either dead or unconscious, and three others were busy talking. One gunman reached out and smacked Garret hard in the face. Another poked at Charles, calling him an old man.

“You really thought you would pull one over on us, old man?”

At that, Charles just stood there and smiled.

“Look at that smile on him,” the other guy said. “Almost like he has some sort of secret weapon.”

“Outside of the girl, nobody was with him, when I saw them.”

“And are you sure it was a girl?”

“Yeah,” he said, “I am.”

“Well, she could be around here somewhere too.”

“Better go check the vehicle,” he said. “Make sure you take her out. Just a simple pop in the head. No theatrics. Just get the job done.”

The one guy took off at a fast pace toward her car. She stared, wondering what she was supposed to do. She knew that this guy couldn’t be allowed to carry on because, in that case, he would come back and tell them she wasn’t there. She turned, lined up her shot, and, as he bent down to check inside the back seat of the car, she fired one shot at him. And down he went. She spun back around to the other men to see the two guys laughing.

Garret looked sick.

One of the gunmen said, “Oh, you cared about that one, did you?” He shook his head. “Too damn bad, she’s gone now,” he said, chuckling. “She wasn’t any good anyway. You know that.”

Nothing in Garret’s face gave away his emotions, except for the clenching of his fists. She could see that easily. She wondered what to do with her next advantage because, if anybody came looking for the guy she’d shot, it would be all over again. She had to make the most of the few moments that she actually had available.

One of the men said, “Let’s move these two into the