Page 67 of Silk and Steel

But when I find Blumbert, I’m taking the fees out of his ass.

At last, I find my way out of the maze, and into the hangar itself. A single engine Cessna that’s seen better days sits with chocks behind its wheels. Not enough fuel to make it all the way to Colombia, but if the pilot “hops” from one private airfield to the next…it could work.

“Cole Drake! You’re bleeding, Cole Drake.”

The voice seems to come from everywhere. A speaker system? I can’t trust my ears, it seems. Just like I couldn’t trust my eyes in the hallway.

But speakers require electricity. I feel around the walls until I find a mass of wires. I give them a hard yank, and a shower of sparks heralds the voice distorting, then fading altogether.

I gave away my position with that lightshow. I throw myself on the floor an instant before gunfire splits the air. Blumbert is apparently not afraid to use a gun instead of a knife. Or, there are more accomplices.

Or maybe Blumbert was never even here to begin with.

I belly crawl like a worm under a stack of wooden pallets. Not the best cover, but it will break up the visual line. The shotsseem to have come from the west end of the hangar. I focus my attention there.

I spot a figure against the wall. Arms over its head, slumped as if unconscious. Emory! They chained her up like a dog. I will make them suffer.

I circle around the Cessna and approach carefully, using a stack of tires as cover. It’s hard to make out many details. Emory’s body is largely covered with some kind of drapery, and a potato sack covers her head. It should be easy to come up and free her.

Too easy.

My gaze turns away from Emory, instead watching the hangar. The closer I get to her, the more dangerous it is for both of us. Expecting renewed gunfire at any moment, I reach out for the drapes shrouding her body.

“Emory, can you hear me?”

I pull the curtain back, and find myself staring into blank, lifeless eyes.

Because it’s a mannequin.

I spin around, leveling my gun at chest level…and stare right into the eyes of Blumbert. He has a gun drawn on me, as well. Why didn’t he fire?

“I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t just shoot you in the back,” he says, lips peeled back in a sinister smile. “The truth is, I believe in giving my prey a sporting chance. Not too sporting, though. Lost a lot of blood, haven’t you? Getting weak? You can barely hold that gun.”

“You willing to gamble your life on that?” I snap, trying to keep my arm steady. I think I have lost a lot of blood.

“Hmm. As a matter of fact, I will take that bet.”

Two gunshots ring out in the hangar. Then silence.

17

EMORY

“Everything alright back there?”

I can see Banner’s gaze in the rearview mirror as he checks the back seat. I shift a bit in my spot. His gaze is nothing short of unsettling. I get the impression he’s not happy that I’m here. Not happy at all.

“We’re fine, Phil,” Julian calls back cheerfully.

“It’s awfully quiet. I don’t like that she’s quiet. She could be planning something.”

I remain tight lipped, because Iamplotting something. An escape. If Cole is walking into a trap, I have to warn him.

Julian snorts. “Don’t worry. Emmy has seen the light. Or she will soon enough. She won’t give us any trouble, will you, dear?”

I glare at him in response. I can’t act too docile, or that might make him suspicious. Banner grumbles under his breath.

“I’m sorry, Phil. I didn’t catch that,” Julian says. His tone is cheerful, and he’s smiling, but his eyes are hard and dark.

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