Page 34 of Lethal Deceit (Hightower Security #2)

I tumble out of the car, barely waiting for it to come to a stop before half sprinting to the entrance. The late-afternoon heat clings to my skin, but I push through it, adrenaline drowning out everything else. Caleb outpaces me and reaches the sliding glass doors a fraction of a second before I do.

Adena catches up, breathless and holding a small black tracking device in her hand.

We enter the mall—an airy, upscale sprawl of polished concrete floors and skylights that flood the space with natural light. A giant sculptural palm tree rises from the center of the atrium, flanked by designer storefronts and the smell of espresso, cologne, and freshly opened packaging. Music hums low over hidden speakers, and a group of teens draped in boutique streetwear loiters near the escalators, scrolling their phones.

Caleb stops and scans the map close to the entrance, then he taps his finger where we are standing and along the most likely routes she would have chosen.

“She had a twelve-minute head start, but she won’t stay here long. She’ll be looking for a way out.”

I run a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots, frustrated I let Samantha get away and worried for Brooke.

“I should have taken the money.”

Caleb slides his finger to the exit points.

“If she didn’t have money, she would have stolen whatever she needed.”

“Or found a guy to buy it for her,”

Adena says.

Caleb shrugs.

“What she might have done is irrelevant. She’s here, and it’s up to us to ensure she doesn’t leave.”

He turns to Adena as she twists the tracking device and points directly ahead.

“The ladies’. Guess this one’s on me, gents.”

We haul butt to the nearest ladies’, and as Adena enters, Caleb and I station ourselves on either side of the door. To avoid looking like a lurker, Caleb pulls out his phone. And I keep my eyes glued to the tracker.

“Even with a butter knife, she shouldn’t have been able to open that window,” I mumble.

Caleb grunts his response.

“Looks like she used something as leverage to break the hinge. We dropped the ball. Brooke’s involvement isn’t something we’d planned for.”

I look across at him. He’s tense. Shoulders bunched and forehead lined.

“And I dropped the ball on watching Samantha. How about you and Hightower help me get her back, and we’ll call it even.”

He grins.

“Roger that.”

His phone buzzes, drawing his attention.

“Jake? You see her?” he says.

Adena exits, carrying the pack and glaring in an anger I share.

“In the last stall. Price tags from a store inside, along with her phone.”

I resist the urge to smash my fist into the wall.

“She could have left the area by now.”

Adena glares even harder.

“I know that. We all know that,”

she snaps.

Caleb ends his call and beckons for us to follow him.

“Zack’s heard from a pal of his. There’s been a sighting of a woman matching her description. Upper level, near the escalator. Cops think she just tried to abduct a kid. They’re minutes away from arresting her.”

I’m already increasing my pace as my anger turns to horror.

“Why would she do that?”

Adena answers in a snarky voice.

“She doesn’t live by the same moral code you do. You live to save lives; she lives for her own.”

Caleb doesn’t agree, but he doesn’t disagree. Instead he makes a cut-off sign in the air.

“The cops think she might be armed. They’re approaching with caution, and the kid is working in our favor, thank the Lord.”

I send him a clipped nod.

“We need to intercept the cops before this goes from bad to worse. I’ll take the stairs and see if I can come at her from the side.”

Caleb nods, and Adena speaks before she’s issued any direction.

“I’ll get above.”

After a warning from Caleb to be careful and to stay in contact, we split up, and I start praying God gives me an opportunity to make things right. I yank the door to the stairwell open and ascend the stairs two at a time, my footsteps clanging on the metal as I try not to think about Brooke’s well-being. Sweat is clinging to me as I reach the upper level, not from exertion, but from the fear Samantha is going to be in cuffs and Brooke will pay the price.

I push open the door and take a breath as I walk out as casually as I can, scanning the area. In seconds my eyes light on her, and I do a double take at the woman and kid she’s with. Rather than acting fearful, the kid is in her arms, and I’m close enough to see she’s smiling. Whatever scheme Samantha is pulling, the woman and the kid are oblivious to the potential danger they’re in.

A shaky security guard is just about hidden behind a potted plant, looking like he’s about to throw up in it, and more are milling around as if awaiting instructions.

There’s no sign of the cops, so Caleb must have intercepted them, but I have no idea how much time that will buy me, so I raise my hand and yell to get her attention.

“Honey! I’ve been looking all over for you.”

Samantha’s jaw flops, her eyes widening, and she quickly pushes the kid into the mother’s arms and twists as if preparing to run.

Good luck to her in that dress.

The woman flicks me a disgusted look.

“Is this him?”

I have no idea who she thinks I am, and I don’t have time to explain. I grab Samantha’s hand and yank her away from the pouting kid.

“Time to go,” I say.

When she resists, glancing at the terrified mall cop, I tighten my grip on her hand.

“It’s me or the real cops.”

She quits protesting and lets me guide her into the elevator. The second the doors close, I slam my palm on the ground floor button and turn to face her. She jerks away from me, face pale and chin tucked as she backs into the corner.

“I have to check in and say I found you,” I growl.

Her mouth twists to one side, but she doesn’t respond as I tap out a text to Caleb.

The doors open, but I’m not ready to end this conversation, so I close them again.

“My sister’s life is on the line. She might already be dead because of you.”

She lifts her chin, and the fear dissolves into something I don’t understand.

“Why is her life more important than mine?”

I gape at her, still buzzing with adrenaline and anger and worry, making my emotions run too high.

“That’s why you ran? You think I care more about her life than yours?”

She blinks rapidly, her chin wavering slightly, as she stares down at her new sandals. Her lips are wobbling, and she’s trembling.

“Of course I did! She’s your sister. You love her.”

She looks up as if daring me to confirm her beliefs.

Tension grows in my chest as she slowly meets my gaze. Without really knowing why I need to, I grab her by the back of the neck and pull her in, pressing my mouth to hers.

“If we get out of this, we’re going to have a lot to talk about.”

The elevator doors open, and I release her, alarmed to see moisture in her eyes. I slip my fingers into hers and gently tug.

She sniffs and clears her throat, tension growing on her face.

“Just let me go.”

As if on cue, Jake pulls into the parking garage, tires squealing, before he leans over to open the door.

“Get in!” he yells.

Samantha hesitates, so I pull her hand a little harder.

“I’m going to do whatever I can to help you. You have my word.”

Her lip catches in her teeth, and she tugs at it.

“Move it, sister, Caleb can’t stall the cops forever,”

Jake growls.

She swallows, looks at the elevator doors as they close, and then blows out a shaky breath before nodding.

“Okay. Okay.”