Page 6 of Halloween in Sleepy Hollow (Heroes of Sleepy Hollow #7)

BEN

“And here’s where you can tell she’s not going willingly.”

With Cash hanging over one shoulder and Oliver the other, I point at the still frame from the security footage displayed on my phone. “Right there,” I continue. “See where his hand is? Not resting on her back, but pointing something at it.”

Oliver leans closer. His jaw works. “Shit.”

“You think he’s holding a gun on her?” Cash asks.

“I’m not sure,” I reply, “but if I had to guess, I’d say a gun or a knife. Something small.” Moving the video ahead slightly, I tap the screen where a glint of light reflects from lamp post overhead. “And it’s reflective. I suppose it could be a phone, but?—”

“No way.” Oliver’s voice is hard. He moves away from me to look out across the now-empty library parking lot, where, according the the security footage, an unidentified man and woman crossed it ninety minutes ago. “It’s a weapon. I’m sure of it.”

I’m pretty sure, too. It’s the only explanation that makes sense.

Oliver comes back to my side to look at my phone again. “And look,” he says. “Her posture. It’s not relaxed. She’s anxious. Scared.”

“What are the chances this has something to do with Ari going missing?” Cash asks. “Ari, Thea, and Shea,” he amends. “I want to think it’s all connected, since this is the first real clue we’ve found.”

“It’s a lead.” Oliver slips Shea’s phone into his left pocket, then reaches into his right to pull out his own.

He taps the screen a few times before lifting the phone to his ear.

A few seconds later, he says, “Cole. Ben found something. From the security footage at the library. At five-forty-five, a man and woman crossed the parking lot, headed towards the alley between the library and the bank. It looks like he’s holding something made of metal behind her. ”

Oliver goes quiet for a moment while Cole responds. Then he replies, “Right. I’m guessing gun. I know it’s not a definitive link, but the timing seems suspicious.”

After another silence, Oliver’s expression grows even grimmer than before. “Okay. I know he’s doing the best he can.” He stops. “Yeah. I want to focus the search here. The old bank. The dry cleaners and law offices across the street.” Another beat. “Right. See you soon.”

Once he ends the call, Oliver scowls at his phone for a second before putting it away. He takes a deep breath and huffs it out before saying, “Leo couldn’t get a current location on Ari’s phone. But its signal was last picked up within a two hundred yard radius from here.”

Cash winces as though he was struck. In a carefully controlled tone, he says, “Alright. So. We have the man and woman walking across the parking lot. Possibly with him holding a gun or other weapon on her. So if we’re looking at a kidnapping?—”

“If he was armed, he could force all three women to go with him,” Oliver interrupts. None of them would want to risk the other. And Shea—” Pain twists his features. “She says she’s fine. After the kidnapping attempts before. But she still has nightmares. If someone pointed a gun at her…”

My stomach churns.

Thea had a gun held on her, too. She was kidnapped. Nearly killed.

Shit .

Oliver spins around, scanning the darkened buildings around us. “Cole’s on the way with Rylan. He said he’d call Ian and Kane, let them know to head here, too. Then we’ll canvas the area. Search the buildings.”

“And nothing on Shea’s tracker?” Cash asks.

Oliver exhales heavily. “Nothing. It’s like she just disappeared. Or—” He turns towards the bank. “Or she’s someplace the signal can’t get through.”

As soon as he says it, my thoughts follow his.

Where would there be walls thick enough to block a GPS signal?

Cash sucks in a sharp breath. “The old bank.”

Oliver nods. “There’s a vault in there. Unless they’ve torn it out since the bank closed. ”

“I don’t think so,” I reply. Instinctively, I take a step towards the bank. “Thea was telling me how some investor bought the place. They want to turn it into a bank-themed restaurant. So if they’re going to do that, I bet they’d want to use the vault. Make it into a dining area or something.”

“Maybe we should go inside,” Cash suggests. “The bank, I mean. If there’s a chance they’re in there…”

“Let’s check the perimeter first.” Oliver jerks his chin at the bank. “As much as I want to go busting in there, we don’t have enough information yet.”

“Do we need more information?” There’s a terse note to Cash’s voice. “If there’s any chance Ari’s in there, I don’t want to wait.”

“I know.” Oliver meets his gaze. “And I feel the same. But we don’t know they’re inside. And if they are, we don’t know how many people could be involved. If there’s just the one man we saw or if he has accomplices. If we just rush in there unprepared and one of the women gets hurt…”

Cash’s lips thin. But he nods at Oliver. “I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.” With another glance at the bank, he says, “Let’s go, then.”

In silent agreement, we all head towards the bank, not to the entrance but the overgrown bushes to one side of it. In a low tone, Oliver says, “Okay, since I’m armed, I’ll take the east side myself. You two take the west. We’ll meet around back.”

Then he retrieves his gun from inside his jacket and holds it at the position I recognize as low ready. “I have a knife,” he adds. Removing a small switchblade from his inside jacket pocket, he hands it over to Cash. “And a taser.” That, he hands to me.

I stare at him for a second. Despite the dire situation, I can’t help asking, “Do you carry all this with you all the time?”

His lips twitch. “Yes. Shea says it’s overkill. But—” His features pinch into a grimace. “Apparently not.”

On that note, we split up, Oliver to the east and Cash and myself to the west.

As we work our way around the perimeter of the bank, by silent agreement Cash searches along the ground while I carefully peer through the windows.

He uses the flashlight on his phone to scan the thick grass, carefully shielding the light with his hand to keep the light hidden.

I don’t want to risk using my own flashlight, not at the level I’m searching, so I have to rely on the faint light of the moon to guide me.

We’re nearly at the back corner of the building when I spot the first glimmer of light through a window.

Pressing myself flat against the brick wall, I creep closer. Breath held and heart racing, I peer through the dirty glass.

And there.

Just a sliver of light glowing beneath a closed door.

The room itself is dark and empty, but the light beyond? It’s something.

Backing away from the window, I whisper to Cash, “There’s a light inside. I can see it coming from outside the door.”

Cash shuts off his flashlight and stands up straight. Then he looks inside, just as I did .

“I think that’s an office,” he says after a moment’s thought. “So there’s a light on in the hallway. Or some sort of light source.”

“It could have been left on by the construction crew.” But I really, really hope it wasn’t.

“Or the guy on the security footage could have left it on.” Hope tinges Cash’s voice. “He might have thought no one would notice, having a light on in a back hallway like that.”

I yank out my phone and quickly send a text to Oliver.

Spotted a light on inside. Looks like it’s coming from a back hallway.

Then I send another message.

I don’t want to wait. As soon as everyone else gets here, let’s move in.

After a few seconds, his response appears.

Okay. Cole texted. He’s five minutes out. There’s a door in the back that’ll be our best point of entrance. Meet me there.

I look over at Cash. “We’re meeting Oliver in the back. As soon as Cole gets here, we’re going inside.”

Cash’s expression is more dangerous than I’ve ever seen it. “I’m ready.” He pockets his phone and adjusts his hold on the switchblade. “And if I get my hands on whoever did this…”

He doesn’t have to finish it.

I feel the same way.

The thought is just one of many spinning in my head as we make our way to the rear of the building.

Would I hurt the person who took Thea? Would I kill them if it came to it?

Yes. To both. Unequivocally.

To most people, I’m just Ben Lewis, the guy who runs his own computer business and volunteers as a paramedic on the side. I’m a devoted husband and dad, who never misses a school event and takes his son to the playground every weekend.

The people who know that Ben Lewis would never think I have a dangerous side, too.

A side that only comes out when the people I love are threatened.

I first discovered it four years ago when Thea was in danger. When I realized I’d do anything to protect her.

Sure, I’m a nice guy.

But I also practice boxing three times a week. I spar with Grant and Ian at the gym. I’m trained in self defense and know ten different ways to disarm an opponent.

That Ben Lewis isn’t a nice guy. And I’m okay with that.

Once we’re close to the back door, Oliver steps out of the shadows and approaches us.

“They’re parked in the library lot,” he tells us with his voice pitched low. “Ian and Kane met them there. So we’ve got seven going in. Cole brought extra weapons.” He glances between me and Cash. “Are you comfortable with a gun?”

Cash snorts quietly. “I took lessons. After everything with Ari. I’m more than comfortable with one.”

“Leo took me to the shooting range at Blade and Arrow,” I explain quietly. “After Thea was kidnapped. So I’m good.”

Oliver gives both of us an approving nod. “Good.” In a rough tone, he adds, “But if it comes to it, let me take the shot. ”

Before either of us can respond, he adds, “Not because you can’t. But being a cop… it’ll be better if I do.”

I know he’s right. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

After another minute of anxious silence, four figures approach.

Cole’s the first to reach us, all dressed in black and with a somber expression on his face. He claps Oliver’s shoulder before turning to me and Cash. “Nice catch on the security footage,” he tells me.