Read Dark Refuge for Free Online

“She can’t go back.”
    “She has to, Em. I don’t like it either, but there are six women being held captive. One of them is kept at all times to insure the others return. If Sissy doesn’t go back, whoever is being held as collateral will die.”
    Sissy took a sip of the cognac and smiled at Em. “Gabe’s right. I have to go back, but somehow we need to figure out how you can get all of us out.”
    “Where are you kept?”
    “I don’t know. There’s always a handler with us, and we’re taken out blindfolded. Russo’s mine tonight. He’s so mean.” She swallowed, and the tension radiated off her in waves. “How long have we been here?”
    “Only half an hour or so.” Gabe laughed. “You’re pretty high-priced, Sissy. You can tell Russo that I wanted my money’s worth. Here’s what we’re gonna do.” He walked across the room to a small cabinet, spun the combination lock, removed an envelope and took out what looked like a clear bandage.
    He showed it to Emeline and Sissy. “Em, do you remember that espionage case Dad had me investigating, the contract employee we suspected was stealing company secrets? This is how we got him.”
    “What is it?” Em took the item from Gabe and showed it to Sissy. “A plastic bandage?”
    “It’s a location device with a built-in GPS. I have a pretty sophisticated tracking system built into my mobile that can lock on to the signal this thing throws out once it’s activated. It’s linked specifically to my equipment, but I can add the app to yours, Em. We’ll be able to track Sissy and find where they’re keeping her.”
    “I actually have a bandage over a scrape on my thigh. Can we stick it there? No one should think anything of it, in case they notice it.”
    Gabe knelt beside Sissy as she pulled up her skirt, exposing what looked, to Em anyway, like an inordinate amount of perfect creamy thigh. She felt like a troll next to this beautiful woman, but she watched, fascinated by Gabe’s strong, dark fingers as he peeled the older, more traditional bandage off her thigh and replaced it with the GPS.
    His phone rang, and Gabe answered as he stood. “Okay. Let him stay in the lobby. Tell him we’ll be down in about ten minutes. Thank you.”
    “It appears Russo is growing impatient.”
    Sissy shuddered. “I hate him. He rarely lets me go with someone he doesn’t recognize. He probably thought you must have a lot of money, and he’s greedy.”
    Gabe nodded. “Gotcha. Emeline, I’ll go down with Sissy. I want you to wait here. Use the tablet to familiarize yourself with the app. The tracking software’s already loaded on it, too. In fact, go ahead and download the app to your phone while we’re gone.” He grabbed the computerized tablet and clicked it on, typed in a password, hit one of the icons and handed it to Emeline. A schematic of the CGI building came up on the screen with a yellow dot blinking right where it should be. She showed it to Sissy. “There you are. Just make sure you don’t wash the bandage off.”
    “Not a problem,” Gabe said. “It’s got waterproof glue. That thing’s not going anywhere without solvent.” Then he grabbed the bottle of pills and dumped about a dozen into a small plastic bag and gave it to Sissy. He watched while she stuck them in her pocket. “Your mindspeech is already strong, Sissy, but if you can take more of those pills, at least two a day for the next few days, you should be able to project a couple of miles, at least. Are any of the other women Chanku?”
    “I don’t know. I can’t talk to them without words, not the way I can with you two.”
    “When are you all there at the same time?”
    “Generally during the day. We sleep then. Russo’s anxious because he still expects me to go out and pick up another john tonight.”
    “Crap.” Em grabbed her hands. “I’m so sorry.”
    “I’m okay.” Sissy sighed. “I’ve been doing this now for way too many years. One more won’t be a problem.