Page 19 of Collapse

“What’s going on here?” she looked between the three of us, not comprehending fully.

“That’s the guy who’s supposed to be investigating your kidnapping,” I said, venom in my voice despite trying to control myself. “He’s kidnapped us instead.”

“What?” she said and looked at Larkin who still seemed to be in shock at this apparition.

“Andrea,” Evans drew her attention back with a command in her voice that was not to be overlooked. “You need to hang on, okay? You have to—”

“Oh God,” Andrea mumbled as her attention was drawn to something we couldn’t see. “No. Go away.” She backed up a couple of steps but then didn’t seem to be able to move anymore. There had to be a wall behind her on her end. With us, she had nothing but empty space.

“Go away,” she screamed as she ducked her head and seemed to hit at someone. “Stop it. Stop. No—”

Her head whipped toward us, her eyes on me, utterly surprised, before she vanished.

“No,” Evans shouted. Fury rode her now as she managed to get herself in a standing position despite her restraints. “Fuck you, Larkin. This is your fault. You have to let us go get her.”

Her sudden shimmying up along the pipe seemed to bring the agent back to the situation. He raised his gun again, aimed at Evans. When he realized she wasn’t loose, but still tied securely to the pipe, he lowered it somewhat.

“Sit down, Ms. Evans.”

“Sit down? Are you insane? Did you not see her? She needs us. You’re supposed to investigate her kidnapping, you ass.”

“Did you not hear what I said earlier?” he simply replied and aimed the gun at me instead. It barely registered in my mind. Andrea’s face. Shocked. Eyes wide with surprise and fear.

“It’s your job to investigate her kidnapping and here you are committing one yourself.” My voice was strangely calm. Maybe I was in some form of shock myself. What was wrong with this guy?

“Will you two—”

“If you help me with this, I will go willingly,” Evans said, making me look at her, gun forgotten. “You won’t need Hansen as leverage. I won’t give you any trouble. I’ll come along and I’ll work for you. Just let me help her.”

“Evans, no,” I heard myself say. She was pleading with the agent, her face dead serious. This was bad. She had not gone willingly before. She would do it under duress now. She would never be free if she did this. They would never trust her.

“Please do your job, let me do mine one last time, and I swear I’ll go with you,” she went on, ignoring my protests. “I won’t cause any trouble.”

Larkin looked thoughtfully at her. He was actually considering it. It would make transporting her easier for sure, but…I eyed him closely. Had Andrea’s appearance affected him? He really was considering it.

“Evans, you don’t want to do this,” I warned her. She would end up a caged lab rat if she went along with it.

“Yes, I do. Yorov has Andrea. I can’t let them take her with them.”

I had a bad feeling about this. The attack on Andrea replaying in my mind. Bad, bad, awful.

“Agent Larkin, listen to what I am offering you.”

“How do I know he won’t cause trouble afterward?” he asked and indicated me with a nod.

“What?” I blurted, shocked that the agent had bit on to her hook.

“You said it yourself. He’s been involved in all kinds of crazy shit these last few days. If he keeps quiet, so will you.”

“This is a bad idea, Evans. Don’t do it.”

“Fine,” Larkin said, producing a sigh of relief from Evans who sank down along the pipe until she was slumped on the floor.

“Seriously? You don’t trust her, do you?” I said and hoped he wouldn’t take the deal.

“Difficult to see when she’s lying,” Larkin said. “But I see you believe she’ll do it.”

Crap.

---