Dark Visions – Chapter Nine
Bre woke to the sensation of pain snaking through her chest and stomach. The pressure of lying on her side was causing her wounds to ache. She tried to change positions and lay on her back when she realized strong arms that encircled her waist held her against a strong muscular body. Frank! She had slept so soundly within the safe haven of his arms she momentarily forgot where she was and why she was there.
Carefully she lifted his arm from her waist and turned onto her back and pillowed her head against the thick muscle of his bicep. She draped his other arm carefully over her waist, hoping her movements didn't disturb his sleep, but when she shifted her head to check, her eyes locked onto dark eyes dancing with amusement.
"Comfortable?" he asked in a whisper.
"Sorry," she whispered in return. "Didn't mean to wake you, but it hurt too much to lay like that."
He smiled and lifted a hand to smooth a stray lock of hair from her cheek. "Don't worry, that's the best sleep I've had in weeks."
"Me, too," she admitted, snuggling closer to his warmth. "Completely dreamless and peaceful."
He rested his cheek on the top of her head. How could she smell this good in the middle of the night, after days in a hospital bed? He wished nothing more than to kiss and explore every inch of her body and silently admonished himself for his lustful thoughts. What was wrong with him? She was in a hospital, recovering from knife wounds and all he could think about was making love to her? Not to mention, more than half his team was in the same room, separated by a thin curtain. He was losing it...and fast.
Bre sighed softly as his thumb traced gentle circles on her cheek. His touch was maddening, spiraling tendrils of desire through her body. If only the situation was different. She wondered if he would give her the time of day if they had met under normal circumstances. Probably not, she was no raving beauty and she had the feeling Frank Donovan had exquisite taste. She pushed away the thought and reveled in the feel of his maleness lying next to her. For as long as it lasted, she told herself as sleep reclaimed her, she would take pleasure in his nearness.
Donovan felt her body relax as she drifted back to sleep and placed a light kiss on the top of her head. "Sweet dreams, Redhead."
The damp darkness surrounded her; a red glow lighted the room. She watched the paper swishing back and forth in the pan. The developer slowly brought the picture into focus. She watched with horror as the photo revealed a bound and gagged Monica, her eyes wide with fright. The photo gave no clue to Monica's location, although it did give indication that Monica was still alive and unharmed. Bre was thankful for that as she searched the dark room for clues.
She was in a basement; the dirt floor indicating it was in an old structure. It was so difficult to see any details. More photos were hanging above the table where he worked diligently developing another picture. She moved closer, hoping they would reveal more to her. The photos showed Alex and Jake arriving at the hospital. Cody and Monica leaving the hospital. Another shot of Cody and Monica in Frank's car. One of Nona sitting on a bed holding Bre's hand. Frank and Bre lying together in bed. Another showing Frank kissing her while she slept.
Something startled Bre while she slept, causing her to jump and accidentally jab Donovan in the solar plexus. He grunted loudly as he gasped for breath and heard the curtain being pulled back sharply.
"Frank?" Jake questioned.
"Okay," he tried to talk through the spasm in his stomach.
Bre woke and sat up quickly. "He's outside...now!"
The urgency in her voice didn't leave room for questions. Donovan scrambled to his feet and slid on his shoes, taking note that Alex and Cody had come awake from the sound of Bre's voice. Both he and Jake grabbed for their guns. "He's watching through this window...taking pictures," she informed them as they headed out the door with Alex following behind.
Cody moved to sit beside Bre and put his arm around her. "You okay?"
She shook her head. "He has Monica...or he will if we don't stop him now."
Cody nodded. "We'll get him, Bre." His picked up the phone by her bed and dialed Monica's cell phone. One ring, two, three, four...voice mail. Damn.
************
Donovan rounded the corner of the hospital with Jake on his heels. They could see Sabrena's room from where they now stood. No signs were evident of anyone being in the vicinity. Alex came around the building at top speed, colliding directly into Jake causing them both to fall to the ground, Alex landing on top.
Frank checked the surrounding area while his two agents struggled to untangle themselves from each other.
"I always knew you'd want to be on top," Jake said, grinning.
Alex thumped his chest before righting herself to a standing position. "You just keep dreaming, Shaw. It's the only way you'll ever find out what I want." She held a hand out to help him up.
"You know you want me," he replied with a chuckle. He gave her a quick wink before joining Donovan. "Find anything?"
Frank nodded. "Footprints in the soft dirt below these trees. That's about it."
Jake studied them. "Looks like whoever it was, was there for hours."
"It could have been him," Alex commented, turning to see a perfect vantage point to watch Sabrena's room. "With a zoom lens, he could watch like he was standing right outside the window."
"Well, he's gone now. No telling for how long," Frank said. "Let's head back."
************
"What happened?" Cody asked when his fellow agents returned.
All three looked downcast. "There was a sign someone had been there, but it's hard to say how long ago," Jake announced.
"It couldn't have been that long," Bre lamented. "The pictures...he had pictures of us." She turned to Frank. "Of you and me," she said, pointing to the bed. "You kissed me...I don't remember that."
"It was about twenty minutes ago," he admitted, hoping his embarrassment didn't show. His behavior with Sabrena was less than professional.
"Monica," Bre said. She pushed Jake out of the way and pulled the dresser drawer open, grabbing a pair of jeans. "Where are my shoes?"
"And, you're going where?" Cody asked.
"We have to find Monica," she reminded him, pulling on her jeans. "He has Monica!"
Frank, Jake and Alex were all looking at her as if she'd gone mad. Cody tried to explain. "She also saw a photo of Monica. She was tied up and gagged."
"Bre," Alex said, putting a hand on her arm to calm her. "We don't even know where he is."
Bre slumped down onto the bed. She had to get a hold of herself; her emotional outbursts wouldn't do anyone any good. She took the tennis shoes that Alex handed her, slipped them on her feet and then began to quickly fix her hair into a long braid that hung down her back.
"He goes to a basement...in an old structure. It has dirt floors." She sighed heavily. "I wish I could tell you more."
Donovan picked up the juvenile records Cody had printed out earlier. "There wasn't a trace of his activities at his current residence. What about his childhood home? Who owns it now?"
"Records show it is still owned by Steven Carmichael," Cody said, checking the files. "Shows here it was built back in the twenties. It isn't far from here; maybe twenty minutes by car."
"Let's go!" Bre said, hopping to her feet.
Frank blocked her path. "I don't think you're up to this," he stated matter-of-factly.
"I'm fine, Frank. My strength is returning. I won't hold you back."
Stubborn dark eyes held demanding green eyes, locked in a battle of wills. He knew if he told her to stay, she would, but he also knew if he did that she would hate him for it. He weighed the pros and cons of her presence and knew that, although she may get hurt, her intuition would be a valuable tool for them.
"Just follow orders," he said, sternly. "Don't make me regret this."
She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "I won't let you down."
To be continued...