Page 35 of Strider's Misstep

Rising, I go one way around the table while my Arizonan counterpart goes the other. In similar poses with folded arms, we watch the footage from various angles, covering all the exits.

My fingernails curl into my palms as time seems to fly by with nothing to see. Not that we’re really certain what we’relooking for. Surely, they won’t be so obvious as to carry two unconscious women outside.

“There!” Data points at the screen. He runs it back, then forward again in slow motion.

I see it now. A hotel laundry basket appears at an exit. As it comes more fully into view, there’s only one man dressed as a janitor nonchalantly wheeling it out, and while there’s no sound, I’d swear he was whistling to himself.

Legend taps away, and on his screen he’s following the cameras. When the man on Data’s screen disappears out of range, Legend already has him appearing on the other. Data’s about to switch the views, but Chaz stops him.

As I focus on where the laundry basket is heading, Chaz continues to stare at the empty exit.

“Yeah!” he exclaims. “Get as good images as you can.”

My attention caught, I glance over. There are three other men who do not look like they’d be attending a book signing, and they’re keeping their distance but definitely following the cart.

The janitor reaches a white van. This was obviously planned as he pulls out a ramp. When the others catch up with him, they help him push the cart up and inside the van.

“Get the fuckin’ license plate,” I growl, unable to stay quiet, though I know my brothers will already be on top of anything I could think of.

Data reads a message that flicks up on his screen. “Mayhem’s tracking them through traffic cameras.”

“Why not get StoryTeller to follow them?” Madman calls out.

Legend points to the timestamp on the screen. “We’re not watching this in real-time. They were already close to the van when he first called us. They’re long gone now.”

It’s something I’d forgotten myself, but I quickly catch up. “Where are they now?”

“Heading north,” Legend informs me.

“Brothers!” My loud shout has everyone’s attention. “Get ready to ride.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JASMINE

Coming to, I find my hands tied painfully behind me, thin plastic digging into my skin. The soreness of my wrists is competing with the pounding in my head. Focusing my eyes, I see Helo looking far more awake than me and brighter than she should be as she shakes out her free hands.

“How did…?” Surely they tied her just as tight as me.

She snorts softly. “It was one of our regular pastimes in the Night Stalkers. Who could get out of zip ties the fastest.” As I redouble my efforts, she shakes her head. “No, you’ll hurt yourself. You have to be prepared from the start and tense your muscles just so when they put them on. I’ll get yours off you in a moment.”

Still feeling woozy, wondering how she could have shaken the effects of whatever they’d injected us with so fast, I can only watch as she stealthily moves around what appears to be some kind of basement they’ve imprisoned us in. There’s a chest of drawers that she goes through, tutting when she can find nothing to help. I hear a smashing, see her tense, turn, and regard the door, then relax when no sound can be heard.

She comes over to me. “Got a piece of glass that should work.”

I don’t even grunt when a jagged edge cuts into me. I just want my hands untiednow. I let out a gasp of relief as the hard plastic binding my wrists falls away.

“Sorry I nicked you.”

Shrugging, I tell her, “You got me free.” I see her grinning, and ask, “What?”

“You’re a real prez’s old lady, aren’t you?”

Vigorously, I shake my head. “I’m nothing to Strider.” I try, but I can’t say the words he’s nothing to me.

She cocks her head strangely, but whatever she’s about to say remains unsaid as footsteps sound. Flinging herself to the position I first saw her in, she pulls her hands behind her back. As she beckons to me, I do the same.

The door opens. I catch my breath as a man all too familiar comes into sight.No, this can’t be happening again.

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