Page 49 of Gage
Gage glanced at Bas. “It’s possible. Still, they’d need someplace to keep her. Some place where there isn’t anybody around—”
“Her house! The one in Dallas. Suzanna mentioned to Ms. Patti that she’d let the staff have some time off, since she wasn’t going to be home. Didn’t think it was fair to have them showing up when there was nobody there who needed them. I overheard them talking. Do you think Blackthorn would take her there?”
Instead of answering, Gage grabbed his phone, dialing Jansen. “We think the Blackthorns might have taken Suzanna back to her home. The staff has been given time off since Suzanna was out of town, so it’s empty.”
“I’ll head there now. How far out are you?” Gage could hear the sound of the sirens start through the phone, and took a deep breath, hoping Jansen could get there fast.
“We’re actually not far from there, maybe five minutes or so.”
“You’ll probably get there before me. I’m a good ten minutes away, even with lights and sirens. I’ll call for backup. Listen, Newsome, if they’re there, don’t do anything stupid. We need everybody to come out of this alive, especially if you want Suzanna cleared in her husband’s death. Just for the record, I believe you. I don’t think she did it. I never really did, though Ikind of hoped it would be an open and shut case. I’ll admit it, I’m an idiot, and I’ll apologize to Mrs. Dawkins when we’ve caught the Blackthorns.”
“I’ll remember. Let’s find them and save Suzanna. Right now, that’s all that matters.”
He disconnected, and called on the calm he used whenever working a case. Trained to look at any situation with focus and skill, he’d mastered the ability to block out anything and everything except getting the job done. Too bad it didn’t want to work now, when he needed it most.
“She’s going to be fine. I’ve said it over and over again, Suzanna Dawkins is strong. She’s resilient, and most of all she’s smart. If anybody can outsmart Blackthorn, it’s her. Just focus on getting us there in one piece.” Bas grabbed the dashboard as Gage swerved through an intersection, disregarding the right light.
It seemed like hours passed before he screeched to a halt in front of the Dawkins house. A large dark blue Escalade was parked close to the front door. He shot a glance over at Bas, who was studying the landscape. Although there were large trees, none were big enough to obscure somebody hiding behind them. Neither were the bushes lining the front on either side of the front door.
“How about I go around to the back, and you cover the front.”
Gage nodded and opened his door. “I’m going in. If the door is unlocked, I’ll head inside that way. If not, I’m going to break the window on the right.”
“Got it. I’ll come in the back. Text me if you see anything.”
Gage waited long enough for Bas to disappear around the side of the house before making his way to the front door. Grasping the knob, he checked it, surprised when it opened easily beneath his hand. She was here, he was sure of it. Suzanna was somewhere in this house with the two people responsiblefor murdering her husband, and he needed to find her. Save her. Then he could tell her how he felt.
Easing the door open, he stepped inside, noting the eerie quiet. He didn’t like that. It wasn’t too late—it couldn’t be. He wasn’t sure he could go on if Suzanna wasn’t okay. Calling on his training, he moved silently through the foyer, surveying each open doorway as he passed. At the base of the grand staircase, he finally heard what he’d been waiting for. Voices. At least two, one male and one female. He couldn’t tell if it was Suzanna’s voice, but the man had to be Blackthorn. Following the sound, he went left. He wished he knew the layout of the house, but he’d figure it out as he moved. Now he could make out what was being said, and it chilled his blood.
“Steven found out you sabotaged the particle light microchip, didn’t he? That’s why you killed him.”
“It was my project! I did everything to make it a success. I brought on the IT personnel who worked the program from start to finish.I brought on the marketing professionals to facilitate the launch and publicity for the microchips, and well as distribution. I approached Sandoval about providing secure courier services. Why shouldn’t I reap the glory? Instead, Steven met with Sandoval and refused to use him.”
“Because Gustavo Sandoval is a criminal.”
Donald barked out a laugh. “It’s business, Suzanna. Everybody in business is a criminal in one way or another. At least they are if they want to be successful.”
“That’s not true. Steven wasn’t a criminal.”
“Oh, my darling Suzanna, Steven really had you fooled, didn’t he?”
“I don’t believe you. I knew my husband, and he was honest. He was good to his employees. He was loving and kind.”
“Then why did he cheat me out of what was rightfully mine?”
There was silence, and then the sound of furniture falling, and he knew he couldn’t wait any longer. He raced into the room, catching Suzanna in his arms as she barreled into him, knocking him to the floor and landing atop him. Flipping them over, he sprawled on top of her, protecting her body. He had no idea what kind of weapon Blackthorn might have.
“Stay here.”
“No! He’s got a gun and a knife. He…he killed Elizabeth.”
He didn’t have time to think about that now. Blackthorn needed to be taken down before anybody else got hurt.
“Stay here. I mean it. I can’t worry about you and catch him.” Without any other word, going low, he raced into the room, catching sight of Bas struggling with Blackthorn, a large blade caught between their hands. He knew Bas was strong, but Blackthorn had momentum and fear riding him, giving him the advantage.
Leaping across the table, he tackled Blackthorn from behind, all three men going down in a tangle of arms and legs. Bas grunted, his hand still wrapped around Blackthorn’s, struggling to keep the knife from plunging downward.
Wrapping his arm around Blackthorn’s neck, Gage applied pressure, cutting off the blood flow to the carotid artery. It was a move he knew well, had used it more times that he liked to count on opponents. Blackthorn struggled, trying to toss him off to no avail. Gage wasn’t about to let Blackthorn win. He’d already killed his wife. Suzanna was a witness; he’d spend the rest of his life in jail.
