Page 703 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Walter’s words were like a red flag in front of a bull. Sydney went wild. She stood up straight and ground her heel into Kendall’s foot. Kendall loosened his grip on her arm just long enough for her to lunge at Walter, knocking the gun out of his hand. Walter scrambled to pick it up and she took off in a mad sprint.

“Get her,” Walter yelled.

She could hear Kendall’s heavy footsteps behind her and felt his breath on her back. Then came the vicious yank on her hair that jerked her backwards.

“I’m getting tired of chasing you down,” he said, dragging her back to Walter.

“If we weren’t trying to make this look like an accident, I’d shoot you right now,” Walter said. “You’re a foolish girl, just like your father.”

Sydney’s chin jutted out. “You’re right. I am just like my father, and I’ll die fighting the same evil he did.”

“Well, you got the dying part right anyway.” He looked at Kendall. “I’ve got some rope in my truck. Tie her up and then put her in the warehouse. There’s going to be an accident—a fire. No one’ll ever question it. For years people have been saying this oldwarehouse is a tinderbox.” Kendall let go of Sydney and Walter leveled the gun at her. “If you so much as move a muscle, I’ll shoot.”

The sound of an approaching vehicle stopped Kendall in mid stride. Walter turned to look. “Who is that?”

Sydney’s heart leapt when she recognized the driver. It was Sean. He was coming to rescue her!

“It’s Sean O’Conner,” Kendall said.

Walter’s eyes narrowed. “What’s he doing here?”

Kendall shook his head. “I don’t know.”

By the time Sean got out of his truck and walked to the unfolding scene, Kendall had returned with the rope. Sean’s expression never changed as he looked from the gun Walter was holding to Sydney’s panic-stricken face.

“What’re you doing here?” Kendall asked.

Sean’s eyes cut to Kendall’s truck. “I saw you tearing up the pavement back there and thought I’d better see what was going on. Walter, I didn’t know you were part of this.”

“Well, what did you think? That an operation of this caliber runs itself? You’ve been given everything on a need-to-know basis.”

Sean nodded. “Gotcha.”

Walter’s eyes met Sean’s. “I guess the question is—can I trust you with this?”

Sean straightened to his full height. “I believe I’ve proven my worthiness on many occasions.” He looked at Kendall. “Isn’t that right?”

Kendall shrugged. “He does have a point.”

“All right,” Walter said. “We’re wasting time.” He motioned. “As you can see, we’re having a little unexpected trouble with our lady friend here and could use your help. Kendall, hand him the rope so he can tie her up.”

Sydney’s eyes flew open wide. “You! I should’ve known!”

Walter looked at Sean with a raised eyebrow. “She really hates you.”

Sean chuckled. “I seem to have that effect on women.” He stepped behind Sydney and tied her hands. “You’ve got enough rope here to tie up ten people.”

Walter lowered the pistol and looked at Kendall. “Let’s go get the stuff.”

Sydney struggledagainst Sean with all her might.

“Would you be still?”

“I wouldn’t give you the pleasure, you low-down double crosser.” For some strange reason, Sean’s betrayal hurt more than Kendall’s, even though she’d halfway suspected Sean of something the entire time.

“I said hold still! I’m trying not to hurt you!”

Tears sprang in her eyes. “I hate you!” That’s when his words registered. She stopped moving and tried to make sense of what he had just said.

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