Linc just growled.
36
Marisol nervously looked out the window at what appeared to be an old, abandoned warehouse. “This is where they’ve been staying?”
Linc peered out as Zander climbed from his truck in front of them. He held a large flashlight. “I guess so.” Linc got out of the truck and came around to get her, pulling her under his arm as they followed Zander into the warehouse. She didn’t even know what this could have been used for, it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.
As he got to the door, he drew it open. The inside was dark and derelict. She shivered.
“You cold?” he asked.
“She shouldn’t be with the amount of clothing you put on her,” Zander said dryly. He moved to the far end then crouched down and shoved aside a few crates, revealing a trapdoor in the floor. He gave three knocks followed by two then stepped back to wait.
The trapdoor opened and to her shock, a woman poked her head out. She wore a headlamp, adding more light to the dark building. “About time, boss.”
Zander shrugged. “They had to get dressed. Linc’s shy.”
“Huh. Got a small one, does he?”
Linc groaned.
“Nah, average,” Zander replied.
Average? She felt herself bristle then to her shock, she saw Zander grin at Linc. Glancing up, she saw Linc shake his head.
“This is Honey. She works for me. We’ve come to see the woman.”
“Webb gagged her after she tried to bite him. Which was actually pretty funny. What about Tiger?”
“We’re going to make a gift out of him, deliver him to Markovich.”
“Fun,” Honey said as she disappeared down the hole. “Want me to get on that?”
“Yep, have Ammo and Webb help you. I called Markovich on the way over. We’ve arranged a meeting place.” He followed Honey into the hole. Marisol gulped as she peered into the darkness. She wasn’t keen on climbing down a ladder she couldn’t see.
Then light flashed up at her, illuminating the way.
“I’ll go first, Mari-girl and guide you down, okay?” Linc soothed.
“Yeah, okay.”
He climbed down a few rungs then made space for her to follow. He moved at a slow pace and it felt like forever until they were at the bottom. Zander was waiting there.
“You are afraid of small spaces? The dark? Ladders?” he asked.
“Maybe all of the above?” she half-joked.
“You won’t do well down here then.”
Right. That was an understatement.
“Let’s get this over with,” Linc said briskly.
“She’s this way.”
Zander led them down a hallway, his flashlight bobbing. Then he knocked on a door. It opened, to reveal a dark-skinned, bald man. This room had more light, thanks to the battery-powered lanterns that had been set up. It held two chairs. Once close to the door, that the bald guy had likely been sitting in. Then another chair across the far side of the room, which her aunt was currently tied to.
As soon as Rosalind saw her, she started to wiggle, making noises behind the gag. She looked terrible, her hair was wild, her clothes dirty and torn in places. Her mascara was smudged down her cheeks. Marisol didn’t like seeing her like this.