Page 56 of Protecting Christina

I nodded.

He swore under his breath. “Fifty. He paid me fifty bucks to tell anyone snooping around that nobody’s home.”

“I’ll give you two hundred if you tell me where they went.”

He shrugged. “Nowhere. I haven’t seen anyone leave the house.”

“Thank you,” I said, pulled out my wallet, and paid the man.

“I hope you find them and throw his ass in prison.”

“I’ll try.”

He walked back to his porch, his shoulders, and head down.

Walking back to the officers, I gave them the update. “They’re all still inside. The neighbor just confirmed it.”

“Well, it’s their home. I can’t arrest them for staying inside their house.”

“I’m telling you they’re holding three women hostage, and that’s what you’re saying?”

“You don’t have any proof.”

When we were on a mission, we were all on the same side. This felt like we were not in this together and if they were going to hold me back, I was done playing by their rules. “Stand back, I’m kicking in the door.”

“You can’t do that,” the reasonable one said.

But the other guy smiled. “Let him. I’ll be happy to cuff him.”

Raising my leg, I was just about to kick the door when a piercing scream came from inside the house. The officers looked at each other and then at me. “Break it!” Grumpy shouted.

Without any hesitation, I slammed my boot against the wooden frame and pulled out my gun. I waved it around the room.

A man stood in the middle of the living room with his hands up in the air. “Don’t move,” I shouted.

Grumpy handcuffed him as I moved further into the house. Walking with one foot slowly in front of the other, I listened for any movement or rustling. Or worse, the cocking of a gun.

When I turned the corner, I found Simon sitting at a kitchen table, a hurricane lantern burning beside him.

It was the middle of the day. Why would he light a lantern? Was he heading into the dark basement?

“Where are they?”

He tilted his head in mock confusion. “Who?”

“Donna and the other two women. I know they’re here.”

He squinted his eyes. “You look familiar.” Then his face fell when he finally recognized me. “Motherfucker.”

“Yeah. I was the city worker. Now, I’m only going to ask you this one more time. Where are they?”

He smirked. “You can’t shoot an unarmed man.”

“Wanna bet?” I cocked my gun and his smile faltered. Then he looked down at the lantern.

I didn’t like that look on his face. I needed to move him to a more neutral spot and interrogate the asshole until he gave up their location. “Get up. And keep your hands where I can see them.”

“Where are we going?”

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