Part 16 (1/2)
”What the h.e.l.l have we walked into?” Madrid muttered.
”A nightmare,” Jess whispered.
He swept the beam around the large cell. A dozen bunk beds with paper-thin mattresses lined the far wall, four high and three across. A rusty sink and commode stood in the corner. Against the opposite wall a dozen more shackles and chains hung like macabre decorations.
”This is where the photo was taken,” he said.
Jess jerked her attention to Madrid. ”How do you know?”
”The sink is the same. See the rust stain?”
Jess had thought there was something familiar about the room. She hadn't been able to pinpoint what it was until he mentioned the sink. ”You're right. But if this is the same place, where are the women?”
”This might explain some of it.”
She looked over to see Madrid kneel. Her stomach heaved when the flashlight beam illuminated a s.h.i.+ny black stain on the floor, the size of a dinner plate. Even though the lighting was bad, Jess knew immediately it was blood.
”My G.o.d.” She pressed a shaking hand to her stomach. ”What is happening here?”
”Whatever it is, it's barbaric.” Fury shone in his eyes when he rose. ”And illegal as h.e.l.l. I want photos of everything, including the stain on the floor. Hurry. We've only got a few minutes.”
”Okay.” She pulled the disposable camera from the duffel and snapped photos while he held the beam steady.
”The wall. Quickly,” he said. ”We don't have much time.”
She jerked the camera to the wall, snapped half a dozen shots. She took a few more of the sink and commode. The bunks. The chains...
”These photos aren't definitive proof, but it will be enough to get an official investigation started.”
”I thought Angela was already investigating.”
”She was.” He took the camera and dropped it back into the bag. ”A lot of the stuff the MIDNIGHT Agency does is unofficial.”
”What's the point?”
”The point is that sometimes things aren't as blac and white as they seem.”
Jess wasn't exactly sure what he meant by that. The blood on the floor seemed about as black and white as anything she'd ever seen in her life. ”What are you saying?”
”I'm saying there's probably more going on here than you or I know about.”
”Like what?”
”Hard to say. Something international. Corruption on some level.” He motioned toward the stain on the floor without looking at it. ”One thing I can say for sure is that Angela would never let something so barbaric continue.”
”Maybe that's why someone saw fit to stop her.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. ”Yeah.”
”Like who?”
”Someone with a lot at stake.”
”Well, that certainly narrows it down.” She spread her arms to encompa.s.s the terrible room. ”Madrid, where does that leave us?”
His eyes drilled into hers. Within the depth of his gaze, she saw determination and tenacity and the strength of character to do the right thing no matter how difficult.
Or dangerous.
”Since I'm no longer with the agency, that leaves us with the freedom to do the right thing.” He paused. ”Even if it means crossing lines.”
Jess wanted to ask him which lines he was talking about, but they were interrupted by the slam of a steel door. Madrid quickly clicked off the flashlight, total darkness cras.h.i.+ng over them. Even with her heart hammering hard against her breast, Jess heard the pound of boots.
”Someone's coming this way,” she whispered.
”More than one person.” Taking her by the shoulders, he shoved her into the corridor. ”Time to move. Fast.”
He didn't give her time to think about it. His hand latched on to hers with the force of a vise grip. The next thing she knew she was being pulled forcefully down the corridor. They were midway to the hatch when overhead lights flashed on.
Horror whipped through her. A terrible sense of being exposed. Of danger. Vaguely she was aware of Madrid cursing under his breath. Of male voices shouting behind her. Heavy footsteps pounding steel. The sound of bullets being chambered.
”You, there! Halt! Now, or I'll fire!”
”Run!” came Madrid's voice.
He hit the hatch with both hands, but the steel didn't budge. ”Help me crank this,” he hissed.
Jess grabbed the wheel and spun it as hard as she could. But their efforts were in vain. She looked past Madrid to see three men rus.h.i.+ng toward them, rifles thrust forward.
”Get your hands up and turn around slowly!”
Her hands shot into the air. Beside her, Madrid sighed. For an instant she feared he was going to do something crazy. Instead, he raised his hands and slowly turned. ”Where the h.e.l.l have you been?” he snapped.
A tall man with long blond hair pulled into a ponytail sneered. ”Who the h.e.l.l are you and what are you doing here?”
Madrid frowned at the man as if he were dense. ”I'm here to pick up my s.h.i.+pment, and so far all I've done is waste my time. Where the h.e.l.l are the women?”
The three men exchanged looks.
The blond man lowered his rifle and stepped closer. Jess cringed when his pale blue eyes swept down the front of her, then to Madrid. ”I asked you your name.”
”David Collins,” Madrid lied smoothly. ”We've been waiting for an hour. Someone was supposed to meet us on deck, but no one showed.”
Pale blue eyes landed on Jess. ”Your name.”
”T-Trish C-Cooper.” She hoped her neighbor back in Phoenix didn't mind her using her name.
”This is a secure area. Off-limits to you.”
Madrid made a sound of frustration. ”Look, all I want is what I paid-”