Brain Storm by Cat Gilbert (detective books to read .TXT) 📖

“Go!” he hissed out. He grabbed the injured man and pulled him up over his shoulder falling into step behind us, as we ran for the galley.

The elevator was there waiting, and I shoved Connors inside as Lars struggled around the corner. A shrill alarm suddenly pierced the air around us, freezing me in my tracks until I recognized it. A cell phone. It had to be Keith’s.

I turned around and ducking past Lars, ran for the phone. I slid to a stop beside Keith’s body, frantically patting him down, feeling time ticking away. I knew they’d move fast once the windows shades went down, blinding them to the inside. Finally, I found it and fumbled it out of his pocket, stumbling to my feet.

Lars was already halfway down the aisle, and I tossed him the phone as I tore back up the aisle. The door to the plane blew as we rounded the corner into the galley. The debris cloud rolling through as Lars slammed the elevator and hit the button.

“Yes?” Lars snapped out as soon as he opened the phone and listened as the elevator dropped to the floor below. “He’s dead. This is Lars. We’re at the hangar under attack.”

The door opened, and hands reached in to pull us out. Lars motioned for silence as they disabled the elevator behind us.

“I have the package. I need delivery.”

He listened and then snapped the phone shut, slipping it into his pocket, as he gave me a quick nod. He had information, but for now, it would have to wait.

“Status,” Lars demanded and moved off as his men filled him in. Feet pounded through the floor over our heads, as they searched the plane for us and I knew it was only a matter of seconds before they figured out where we were. Within seconds, he was striding back toward me, issuing orders as he went.

“It’s Vivian,” Lars reported striding toward us, Connors having magically appeared at my side. “And she brought friends. Three in the plane, five in the hangar. Both exits are covered.” He pointed to the elevator and toward the back of the plane, where I assumed there was a loading door. “We have the element of surprise.”

“What about the man they just shot?” I asked, worried that his presence had given them away.

“She’s expecting the two guards from the warehouse to be here. She’ll assume it was one of them. We’re good.”

A dull thud issued from the open elevator. They were coming for us. Lars watched me, waiting for me to decide, his men restless behind him, drawing my attention. Jenny and the injured man were nowhere in sight, and I had to assume they were out of harm’s way.

Four men stood behind Lars, eager for the fight. I had no doubt they could handle what was about to come down the elevator shaft, but then what? We couldn’t fight the others, trapped in the hold of the plane and we’d have used up our ace in the hole.

“We can’t fight in here,” I whispered. He nodded agreement, his eyes on the elevator. I looked over at Connors. “They need to think nothing’s changed. That we’re still prisoners. You up for that?”

He nodded, and Lars smiled. “We let them take us by the loading door. Get them to open it.” With a wave of his hand, the men disappeared into the darkness of the hold, leaving the three of us standing alone by the elevator.

“Lars,” I paused, waiting until he looked at me, needing to make sure he understood. “This needs to look real. They have to believe it.” His eyes moved to the cut on my face, the muscle in his jaw clenching tight before he finally nodded in agreement as the top of the elevator disintegrated in a shower of dust.

“Run!” I yelled to Connors and pointed to the rear of the plane. We were already moving when the stun grenade dropped through the ceiling and rolled into the storage area.

“Shut your eyes,” Lars called as it blew, the noise deafening inside the contained space. I stumbled, disoriented and blind, the flash bright even behind my closed lids. I went down hard and came up weaving like a drunk, Lars dragging me by the arm.

“Let me go!” I yelled, jerking my arm free, hearing the sound of pursuit close behind us.

“Move!” Lars shoved me and I stumbled forward, trying to focus.

We needed to make noise, wanted them to know where we were. The last thing I wanted them to do was search the hold looking for us and find Lars’ men hiding there.

“Stop!” The voice behind us rang out, a spurt of gunfire emphasizing the command. Lars grabbed me by the back of the neck and whirled around, dragging me like a rag doll to stand between them. I fought, grabbing at his hand and he crammed the end of his gun into my temple.

“Stay back or I kill her,” Lars threatened, his voice low and vicious, like some cornered animal.

The man jerked to a stop and held up a fist, stopping the other two men who were coming up fast behind him.

“All we want is the girl.” His voice anything but reassuring as he took a step forward.

If possible, Lars squeezed my neck tighter, dragging me back against him. My head was cocked at what seemed an impossible angle, and I dug at his hand, ignoring the gun.

“Everyone wants the girl,” he said giving me a shake. “I’m the one that has her.”

“So?” the man asked, taking another step forward.

“So, maybe I know something you don’t know. I want to negotiate.”

The man paused for a second, letting out an amused, dismissive snort. I held my breath, waiting, as he watched us, deciding our fate.

Suddenly he swung his gun to the left of me, and I heard Connors quick intake of breath.

“Open the hatch,” the man ordered and within seconds, the hold lit up, as the loading door swung open.

“Go then.” The man jerked his head towards the opening. “Negotiate.”