The Truth of a Liar Read online

  I give up on getting a hold of anyone at our base and drive at full speed. It’s always been protocol. If you’re in an undisclosed location and you have a problem, you head back to base. And honestly, it’s the only place I can get to in this weather. I can’t chase Rowan and the attackers down. All that would do is get me lost in a forest of white and farther away from finding Rowan.

  The pine trees pass in a green blur on both sides of me, and usually, the woodsy scent would put me at ease, but right now, it smells more like fear. My worst fear. I look around for tire tracks, but with the snow falling at such a monumental pace, they’ve already been covered.

  I forgot to grab a thicker jacket, so within seconds, the snow permeates my light coat and my face is wet with melted snow. My boots are covered in soot, snow and dirt, the snowmobile kicking it up with my high speed.

  I’m not prepared at all. I should have been prepared. The thought echoes in my mind over and over.

  I mentally punch myself in the face. How could I let this happen? How could I let them take her? I’m supposed to be a good agent. I’m supposed to be an even better protector.

  I’ve failed her. This is the ultimate punishment for my sins.

  The farther I get from the house, the colder the weather becomes and the harder the snow falls from the dreadful sky above. It mocks me. I’ve always loved the first snowfall. It was my favorite time of the year. I always saw it as a new beginning. The white was a shining light of new things to come. It’s all a lie, which is pretty laughable considering my life until now. I try my damndest to keep my cool. My nerves are shot and I’m moments from allowing the anger to take over.

  Two long miles later, I pull the snowmobile in front of the small manufactured home. The dismal grey color of the makeshift house against the dark, ominous sky only forces my nerves to skyrocket. The house was meant to blend into the scenery, and it does its job perfectly. I would miss it if I weren’t looking for it.

  I have to do a double take as I dismount the black snowmobile. Usually, there’s a man outside manning the door. I’ve been here a few times in the past couple weeks to pick up food, and every time, no matter how late, there’s a person stationed at the front. Where are they?

  The front door opens with zero resistance when I twist the doorknob, and once again, I’m struck with apprehension. This isn’t usual protocol. It’s typically locked. Something is certainly wrong.

  When I walk inside, I find Liam moving around to each computer, inputting information. When he’s done with one, he moves on to the next.

  “Liam,” I say in a warning tone. “What’s going on? Why haven’t you answered me?” My voice has reached a high tone, my panic seeping through.

  He’s speaking low into the Bluetooth that’s attached to his ear and signals for me to wait. Seconds tick by and my heart rate spikes the longer I sit. I need to know where Rowan is now. I don’t have time to wait. I know I’m technically supposed to wait for his instruction, but I can’t force myself to keep cool and refrain from getting in his face to demand answers. “Liam!” I shout, ripping out his earpiece.

  He whips his head at me, staring straight in my eyes, mimicking my panic, and after what seems like hours, his eyes downcast and sorrowful. “We don’t know, Lark.” He sighs. “We don’t know. I’ve been on the phone with Logan since the silent alarm went off at the house.”

  “You saw what happened?” I clarify. They had cameras installed on the outside of the house before we got there two weeks ago. I’m damn thankful we thought of it.

  “Some of it. They snuck up on us during a shift change. There’s usually about three minutes in between shifts. They had to have known. They’ve probably been watching for days. We didn’t see what happened to you specifically,” he says motioning to the cut on my forehead. I instinctually touch it with my finger but he continues, “We saw one guy go in the kitchen through the back door and another man went through the window to the guest room. We immediately sent men out to pursue them and they caught up with them about a mile from the house but then they disappeared off the grid and we lost them.”

  My face scrunches. “They disappeared off the grid? How is that possible?”

  Liam shakes his head. “We’re trying to figure that out. I think they had a wireless jammer. It knocks out all wireless devices within so many miles. Logan had Chris and Evan put together an entire team to go out and survey the woods. Jones and his men were following the kidnappers with the Unmanned Areal Vehicle, following their trail, but something went wrong, apparently. In the meantime, we need to wait for further instruction from Logan.”

  “Wait?” I rush to Liam in a huff. “Hell no. I’m not waiting around.” I put my foot down. There’s no way in hell I’m going to just sit and wait around for someone to find Rowan.

  “Lark,” Liam says gently, his accent thicker than usual. My wide eyes and rapid breathing is probably a good sign that I’m not okay with just sitting around. “Logan has men all over the woods right now. We got hit here, too.”

  My eyes squint. “You did?” I ask. “What happened?”

  Liam breathes out. “Two guys. They came within about one hundred feet before we shot one in the arm. They fled.”

  “Jesus.” I scrape my hand down my face.

  “Aye. So, we sent Dover to the hospital to keep an eye out. Hopefully Davis’s guys can’t stitch the wound and will go to the hospital. It’s our best bet.”

  I nod, not feeling any better. Dover’s one of our best operatives. He’s been on the force for almost ten years, so I know he’ll get the job done. I just pray the group is stupid enough to take someone to the hospital. I’m not able to do anything productive so I sit down at one of the radios and listen for any unusual activity while wringing my hands in fear.

  “We’ve got something,” Liam says five hours later. His voice is tired, but he seems hopeful, which makes me slightly more optimistic, so I perk up. My eyes have begun to blur and I squeeze them with my fingers, willing them to stop seeing double.

  As of ten minutes ago, the guys out in the field hadn’t found anything. No trace of Rowan or who took her, and I’m beginning to think we might be looking in the wrong area.

  Davis and his group are elusive. They’re smart. We can’t forget the abilities they have. They work on an entirely different playing field. We’re the opposing team coming to play on their home turf. Maybe it’s time to rethink our strategy.

  “What is it?” I say, my heart rate speeding up, hoping it’s good news.

  “Dover called and informed me that someone who looks like a guy from Davis’s entourage was just admitted to the hospital.”

  “Which hospital?” I probe, rising to my feet to search for my coat.

  “Winston General.”

  My eyes narrow as I try to recall how far that is from where we are now. “That’s, what? Ten miles?”

  “If that,” Liam says. He opens his mouth to continue but stops when he watches me grab the keys off of the rack on the back wall in the main office. “What are you doing?”

  I shoot a look at him that tells him exactly what I’m thinking.

  I’m going to interrogate the guy from Davis’s group. I’m going to get some answers, even if it means doing it…forcefully.

  “No.” Liam shakes his head, dead set on stopping me from driving to that hospital. “Not going to happen, mate. Doesn’t follow protocol.”

  I turn in a huff and face him, slamming the keys on the desk. “Fuck protocol,” I spit. “This is Rowan we’re talking about.” He walks to me, his eyes apologetic, but I stop him with my hand. “Don’t.”

  I don’t wait for him to reply, I turn and head for the closet. I know it’s stashed with suits. It’s standard procedure for every person to have something to wear if the moment arises and we need to look like actual FBI agents. So I grab the clothing bag with my name on it and make my way to the bathroom, not saying a word as I pass Liam. He huffs behind me, but I refuse to look at him. If he can’t unders
tand why I have to do this, we are apparently we have different views on what is really important.

  Stepping in to the small, confined area, I hang my clothes on the back of the white door and lock it. I don’t have much room to move around, but I’m not doing well. At all. There isn’t a word for what I’m feeling right now. Freaking out doesn’t even begin to describe it. I need to settle down. I need a breather. I need to get my head in the right mind frame so I can find Rowan.

  As I stare at my reflection, I’m once again reminded of the dark places my mind can go if I allow it. I wasn’t lying when I told Rowan I’m sometimes scared of what my actions might be when I let myself to look deep into my soul. I have issues. Issues a mile long. If I’m going to be anything worthy to Rowan, I need to make me better. Her presence alone makes me better. Then find her, my subconscious screams at me.

  I shake my head, annoyed at myself for dwelling when I don’t have time to waste. I narrow my eyes and begin to undress with quick determination.

  I keep my eyes trained on a mildew spot growing on the wall and attempt to knot my tie as best I can. I’m being sloppy because I’m in officially in overdrive. Frantic. I give up after the first try and make my way outside.

  I take a deep breath and open the door, walking out in haste. I grab the keys, not particularly caring where Liam is, and head for the truck.

  I get in the drivers side and stick the key in the ignition, and start the truck when Liam knocks on the window. He’s dressed in a full suit and tie.

  I roll the window down. “What are you doing?” I ask. Half relieved, half confused.

  He gives me a level look, unaffected and pulls nervously at his tie. “You know what I’m doing, arse. Let’s go.” He swiftly opens the door and pulls me out by the arm. “I’m driving.”

  I narrow my eyes but walk to the passenger door and get in. “Is someone coming to man the station while we’re gone?”

  Liam nods, cranking the heat up to full blast. “Atkins should be here.” He’s cut off when someone approaches on a snowmobile. “There he is.” Liam points to a man with light blonde hair and brown eyes. He saunters up to Liam’s window, no worry in his eyes at all. If I had any spare time, I’d go out and punch him in the nose. Walking casually to talk isn’t very appropriate in this situation. We don’t have time to shoot the breeze. “Atkins,” Liam says to him. “This is Hawthorne.” Liam points to me.

  I nod, keeping my eyes straight ahead. “We have to go. Now.”

  Atkins eyebrows shoot up, clearly stunned by my abruptness, but I couldn’t care less.

  Not that the guy isn’t nice and all, but hours have passed. Every second wasted is a second Rowan isn’t found.

  Atkins looks a little put off, but he waves as Liam puts the truck in reverse and drives away.

  The dirt road is jarring, and I have to grab the handle for stability. Liam’s driving at somewhat dangerous speeds down the unpaved road but I don’t care. As a matter of fact, I’m thankful. He’s just as anxious to find Rowan as I am.

  It’s a good thing he’s with me. I don’t think I could do this with anyone else. He’s just as close with Rowan as I am—in a brotherly, friend kind-of-way, of course. He cares for her. I’m damn lucky it was him who decided to stay back at base and hold down the fort instead of going out into the field. He’s the best partner I could ask for.

  “What’s the plan, Lark?” Liam asks as we speed down the freeway. The hospital isn’t far, but the only way to get anywhere out there is by freeway.

  I rub my chin. Hell if I know. What I’d really like to do is go in and kick the guy’s ass and make him talk. But physically hurting someone in a government hospital is probably frowned upon. “Honestly, I’m hoping Dover will be able to lead us to him and then I’ll deal with him when we get there.”

  “Excessive force?” Liam smirks my way and I know he’s trying to lighten the mood. I appreciate it.

  I shrug a shoulder. “I’m not opposed to it. He comes from a deadly group. It might be all he knows. I don’t know what our tactic will be. The only thing I know for sure is we need to get in without being seen by Davis’s men and get our information.” I look down at my watch. “It’s been almost six hours.”

  Liam squirms in his seat, obviously disturbed by the amount of time that has passed. “I know, mate. We will find her. We’ll do all we can to get her back to you.”

  I swallow the ever-expanding lump—or maybe it’s worry—in my throat and change the subject. If I allow myself to think about time too much, I begin to go into worst-case scenario mode. And that, for me, is probably not the best idea. “Does Logan know about this? Our little field trip, I mean,” I ask.

  Liam gives me another side-glance and I immediately know we are going off the books here. “He—uhh—he knows we decided to go check out a lead. But that’s it. I thought it best to keep him out of it for now. At least until we know for sure.” He pulls at the white collar around his neck and he gulps.

  I nod. Logan is definitely one to get pissed over something small. Passionate. He’d say he’s passionate. I’m just not inclined to disagree. It makes him a great assistant director. So I can’t fault him for it.

  I take a deep breath as we pull into the hospital parking lot. It’s disconcertingly empty with maybe three cars. From the outside it appears to be a smaller hospital than what I’m used to. One massive building and small, almost trailer-like structures sit in the back. We pass Dover sitting at the back door, but he doesn’t recognize the ostentatious truck we’re in. The government would never approve of a vehicle like this. As a matter of fact, I have no idea where it came from.

  As Liam parks in the closest parking spot to the front door, I anxiously comb my hands through my hair. When it’s pushed back enough to look presentable, I straighten my tie and hop out of the truck.

  Liam meets me in front. “You ready?” He gives me a level stare and I know he’s asking if I can keep myself together to get the information we need.

  “Yeah,” I snap. “Let’s get this done and find Rowan.”

  He nods swiftly and I walk close behind him through the sliding glass doors of the hospital. A seating area sits to the right of us as we make our way to the desk in the back of the big room.

  A young woman with light brown hair, large, black rimmed glasses and tired brown eyes looks up and smiles at Liam.

  “Excuse me!” I say attempting to snap her out of her haze. I fish my badge out of the inside of my jacket and Liam does the same.

  “What can I help you with?” She only talks to Liam and it grates my nerves.

  I grit my teeth, annoyed with her pinchy, exhausted face and lack of interest. We’re the damn FBI, if we’re here, it’s urgent. “We need to know about a patient.” I attempt to appear calm on the outside, but my blood is scorching.

  “Oh yeah?” she questions, still not looking at me. I step in front of Liam and she snaps her eyes at me, clearly getting the message that I’m not messing around.

  Liam’s chest puffs as he steps in front of me and he smiles a grin I know all too well. All of those long, torturous nights back home have made me a bit of a Liam expert. The man has more tells than a bad poker player. We don’t have time for this.

  My face turns an angry red and I turn to Liam, my eyes telling him that I’m about to blow a gasket if he doesn’t stop with this shit and get a move on.

  “Hello, love,” he greets and winks—the man winks at her. I could ball kick him right now. “We’re looking for a man. He came in here about an hour ago.” He digs into his back pocket and produces a picture with four men on it. “He might look like him?” He points to one of the guys in the middle. The man we’re looking for has longer black hair and black eyes.

  The woman blinks a few times, visibly swooning by the sound of Liam’s accent and tears her eyes away from his mouth to look at the photo. God, it’s about damn time. She looks back and forth, careful to look at each face. “He was just taken to triage.” She points, undoubte
dly at the man we’re looking for. Now we’re finally getting somewhere.

  “Perfect,” he says and she blushes. “Thank you, darling. Can you tell us what room he’s in?”

  I fold my arms and watch as she types in his name into the computer. Motherf—I’m going to beat his ass for taking his sweet ass time. Does he not understand the urgency right now?

  “Fable Styles. Room one-oh-four,” she says. “It’s late, though. You won’t be able to talk to a doctor about his condition until rotation.”

  Liam shrugs. “That’s fine. We just have a few questions to ask him.”

  She bats her eyelashes, clearly smitten with him and waves as we make our way through the double doors and into triage.

  “What the hell, man?” I spew, pissed he took that approach to get the information.

  He keeps pace with me, his feet shuffling along the way. “This is how I do business. Flustering her wouldn’t do anything but make the process that much longer.”

  I huff, not wanting to argue. He got the information and it’s over now. “Fine.” But I don’t like it. Normally it doesn’t bother me, but this isn’t something to take light. This is life and death.

  We take the long corridor to the right and follow it all the way to the end where, lucky for us, the man is alone. No one is outside his door. God, they need better security at this hospital. I step in front of Liam and look through the small window in the door.

  The man doesn’t look to be in any sort of distress, and the room appears to be empty, as well. The nurse’s station is right inside the double doors, and it seems to be quiet for the moment. We have the entire back block of rooms to ourselves.

  “Stay here,” I tell Liam, ready to go in. He begins to object, but I stop him. “I need you to look out. Stay by the door and knock if someone comes by.”