Page 95 of Inside Silence
Savvy
* * *
The first thing that strikes me is the silence inside.
A dead silence.
An involuntary shiver runs down my spine, and I shoot off a silent prayer I won’t find death inside.
It’s also dark down here. I don’t bother looking for a light switch, and I don’t want to use my flashlight, because that would only make me an easy target. Instead, I blink a few times to help my eyes adjust to the limited light from the parking lot coming in through the small, open window. Did someone come in or go out through that window?
A little spark of hope ignites in my chest. Maybe the kids were here but got out?
I motion for Auden to follow me as I start moving into the basement, keeping my back to the wall. I make out a few random pieces of furniture, clearly the space is used for storage, but right now those are places for someone to hide.
While keeping an eye on the rest of the room, my attention is focused on the large bookcase to my left. One of the sides is maybe a foot and a half or so from the wall, almost creating a room divider. But a foot and a half is enough for me to get through, and if anyone is hiding behind there, they’d have their eyes on the other side, which is wide open to the room. That might give me an element of surprise, because I’m sure whoever is down here is well aware of our presence by now.
I turn and signal Auden with a finger to my lips. Then I point a finger at myself and the route I plan to take, before indicating for him to go toward the other end of the bookcase. That way, if the perp is back there, we’ll have him covered from both sides.
God, I really hope there is another explanation for KC’s disappearance, because the thought of him having any part in the abduction of the kids makes my stomach turn.
Slowly, I start easing myself through the narrow space, trying not to brush up against anything. Taking in a deep breath, I brace myself for what or who I might be about to face and poke my head around the corner. What I wasn’t expecting was the still body of a man, lying on his side facing away from me, but I have no trouble recognizing my own deputy.
I take two cautious steps toward him, making sure this isn’t some trap to draw me closer, but when I notice no movement at all, I rush to his side and immediately feel for a pulse.
“Don’t worry, he’s alive. For now.”
My hand immediately reaches for the gun I set down so I could press my fingers to KC’s carotid. Stupid.
“If you touch that gun, I’ll shoot you, him, and then those brats on the other side of that armoire.”
My hand is frozen in midair as I stare in disbelief at the man I thought was my friend. The man I trusted to have my back when facing off with a dangerous criminal. Except, he’s the dangerous criminal.
Those poor kids. I hope to hell they managed to get out.
I shake my head, trying to make sense of what is going on.
“Auden, what is happening? What the hell are you doing?”
He smiles, and I’m almost surprise to see that familiar boyish smile instead of the evil sneer more suited to this moment.
“Not what I planned, I can tell you that,” he responds easily. “But I’m nothing if not adaptable, and I think this way is going to work out even better. The other way was messy, but I might actually walk out of here the hero today.”
He laughs, full of himself and, I hope, distracted.
“I know you’re smarter than that, Savvy,” he suddenly snaps when I inch my hand closer to my gun. “Back away.”
When I don’t immediately move, he aims his gun at KC’s head instead of me. Message received; I crawl backward. That seems to amuse him.
“Imagine that, the great Savannah Colter on her knees for me.”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, genuinely confused as he approaches. “What have I ever done to you?”
He’s still smiling as he crouches down and picks up my gun with his free hand. When he straightens up, he backs up only a few steps to the bookcase and slides my sidearm on a shelf. Then he turns his own weapon back on me.
“You’re funny. You think this is all about you? It isn’t,” he spits out. “This time it’s about me. I’m going to have the upper hand. I’m going to win this one. You want to know how?”
I don’t think he’s really expecting an answer so I keep quiet, hoping he’ll keep talking, so I can figure out my next move.
