Chapter 22

They arrived back home in Las Vegas late, both worn out from the journey. Without a second thought, they fell into bed, sleep claiming them instantly. He decided to wait until morning to call Roy and let him know they were back.

He was eager to find out what had transpired while they were away. He hoped the ordeal was over and the culprits had been apprehended.

His sleep was interrupted early by the insistent ringing of his phone. After confirming she was still asleep, he slipped out of bed, picked up his phone, and moved to the other room.

It was Roy on the line, promising to be over within the hour. He started the coffee brewing before heading back to get dressed. After all, he couldn’t exactly greet his brother-in-law in the nude.

She stirred awake just as he was reentering the bedroom. Seeing him reaching for his pants, she stopped him. “Come back to bed,” she murmured, her voice low and inviting.

“Roy’s on his way over, I need to get dressed.”

She threw off the covers, revealing her naked body, and pouted. “He’s not here yet.”

Dropping his pants, he moved over her. “Damn, you’re impossible to resist. I guess we have time, as long as we’re quick.”

Just as things were heating up, a loud knock echoed from the door. “Shit,” he cursed, leaping off her and scrambling into his pants.

“He’s early,” he said, grabbing his shirt and heading out, pausing to glance back at her. “Sorry, babe. We’ll have to continue this later. Get dressed and join us.”

“His timing sucks,” she grumbled, still feeling the lingering heat between her legs.

Kyle was still buttoning his shirt when he opened the door to Roy.

“Seems like I’m interrupting again,” Roy said, a smile playing on his lips as he noticed Kyle’s half-buttoned shirt and flushed face. “Is Kiera awake? I should speak with both of you.”

“Yeah, she’s getting dressed. She’ll be out in a minute. I made coffee. Want some?”

“Yes,” Roy replied, following Kyle into the kitchen. He accepted the mug Kyle handed him just as Kiera walked in.

He greeted her warmly, watching as she kissed Kyle before pouring herself a cup of coffee.

Kyle sat with his arm draped over her shoulder. “So, did you search the house? Did you talk to Charlie?”

“By the time we arrived, the house was deserted. Everyone was gone. No trace of them. We didn’t find anything in the basement, no cages, nothing to suggest women were being held captive there.”

“But your guys saw the same two men who brought Kiera here entering and exiting that house with women,” Kyle said, his voice rising with frustration.

“You must have found the room with the cages.”

“We looked. We found nothing.”

Kyle stood, running a hand through his hair. “This is insane. What about Charlie? What did he say when you questioned him?”

“That’s the thing. He vanished along with the other men and the women. We’re still searching for them, but in the meantime, I have a proposal.”

He turned to her. “I’d like you to come with me to the house. Maybe you’ll remember something else.

“If we can locate that room, we might find some clues about where they went and whether they took the girls with them.”

“No fucking way. She’s still at risk as long as those assholes are on the loose, and I’m not going to put her in more danger. How could they have left that house without your men noticing?”

Roy lowered his gaze, his expression somber. “Two of my men were on surveillance. Both were found with their throats slit.

“I have to find the people responsible, and if that means Kiera has to revisit that house of horrors, then so be it. I’ll be with her, along with my team.”

“I’m sorry about your men, but I can’t let her go through that.”

She placed her hand over his. “Kyle, I won’t be safe until these men are caught. If going back there will jog my memory, then I have to do it. I have to help save those other women.”

He looked at her. He knew in his heart she was right. “Fine, but I’m going with you.” He turned back to Roy. “How did they know your men were watching the place?”

Roy scratched his chin, looking troubled. “Someone must have tipped them off. I’m starting to suspect we have a traitor in the bureau.

“We’re investigating all our employees. I just don’t know who to trust anymore. Look, I’m going to head back to the office and get things organized.

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours, and we’ll head to that house. I pray we find something.”

When Roy left, Kyle pulled her into his arms. He was worried about her. “You don’t have to do this.”

“But I do. I can’t live in fear that they’ll come for me again. I want to live my life in peace, with you.

“I’m sure they had the right house, but I can’t understand how they missed the room where the girls were kept.”

“Let’s eat something before Roy comes back for us. We’ll need to leave through the back and the garage, so we’re not seen.”

After they ate, Roy called to say he was waiting for them in the underground parking lot. Donning a hoodie and sunglasses, she held Kyle’s hand as they descended the stairs.

Roy was with another agent, and when he saw them approaching, he gestured for them to get in the back. The van’s windows were tinted, preventing anyone from seeing inside.

“Did anyone see you leave with Kiera?” he asked, glancing back at them.

“No, we were careful,” Kyle replied, eyeing the driver.

Noticing his gaze, Roy introduced them. “This is agent William Smith. Don’t worry. You can trust him.”

Kyle eased back, her hand nestled in his. “Heard anything about Charlie?”

“He’s like a ghost. Disappeared without a trace. The others too. But they’re out there. We’ll find them.”

As they neared their destination, he asked Kiera to close her eyes and sniff the air, then rolled down the window.

She did as he asked. At first, she couldn’t pick up any scent, but then a faint whiff of fish reached her.

“That’s it. That’s the smell,” she confirmed, opening her eyes. They were nearing the house where she’d been held captive, and she began to tremble.

Roy reached over the seat, offering a blindfold. “I’d like you to wear this before we get to the house.”

“What the hell for?” Kyle shot back, unsure of Roy’s intentions.

He turned to her. “I know this is frightening for you.

“But we’ve found that victims who retrace their steps exactly as they happened can recall more details—smells, the number of steps they took, the feel of the room they were in.

“It might help you guide us to where you and the others were kept. We couldn’t find the secret room, but maybe you can, blindfolded.”

She accepted the blindfold and handed it to Kyle. “It’s worth a shot. Put it on me.”

He complied, aware of the fear coursing through her.

They pulled up to the house and climbed out of the van.

“Now, Kyle and I will guide you in, just like those men did. Take your time, and if anything comes to mind, no matter how insignificant, let me know.”

William drew his gun and led the way, while the other two supported her arm, guiding her up the stairs and into the house.

“Are you sensing anything?”

Her lips quivered. The smell hit her hard. It was as she remembered—quiet, but musty.

“We walked straight a few steps, then turned right. I remember hearing something heavy being moved. Two men were grunting, then I heard a door open.”

The men scanned the room, but there was no door in sight. “There’s no door here, just an old grandfather clock,” William noted, inspecting it.

“Let’s shift it. There might be something behind it,” Roy suggested, and he and William began to move the clock, which scraped oddly against the floor.

“I recognize that sound. It’s what I heard while I was waiting for them,” she said, a chill running down her spine.

Once the clock was moved, they found nothing unusual. “There’s nothing here, just a wall,” Roy muttered.

“Wait, what’s this?” he asked, running his hand over a crack in the wall. When he pushed, a door appeared. Both Roy and William exchanged surprised glances.

“Damn, how did we miss this the first time?” William frowned.

They opened the door and, supporting Kiera, led her down the stairs. When they reached the bottom and flicked on the lights, William cursed.

“Shit, this is the same basement we searched before, just a different entrance.”

“No, I remember more stairs,” she insisted, removing her blindfold.

“There are no more stairs. We searched every inch.”

“I’m telling you, this is the place. The sounds, the smells. This is it.”

“I believe you, sweetheart.”

Roy stepped in front of her. “Kiera, you were terrified and under a lot of stress. Could you have miscounted the stairs?”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head.

“Roy, I believe her. And since we’re here, let’s do our own search.”

He looked at him. “All right, Kyle. No harm in taking another look.”

“Boss, should I call for backup?”

“Not yet. Not until we find something.” His phone rang, and he answered. After a brief conversation, he hung up and cursed.

“Fuck, that was headquarters. The Sex Kitten site is down. We’ve lost our lead. We were so close.”

“So what now? Is the investigation over?” Kyle asked, frustration creeping into his voice.

If that were the case, she could still be in danger. They’d have to constantly watch their backs, or enter the witness protection program.

“It means it’s going to be harder to find them. They’ll likely start up again under a different name.

“I’m not giving up on this case. We can still find Charlie. When we do, we’ll get the answers we need.

“Let’s start looking for another set of stairs. Check every corner, every wall. There has to be something here.”

They all began to comb the basement, Kiera included. After three hours, hope was dwindling.

After a thorough search, moving everything away from the walls and even checking for a trap door in the floor, they were ready to admit defeat.

Dirt-streaked and cobweb-covered, William lit a cigarette. “We’re not going to find anything,” he said, leaning against an old wood stove.

His weight jolted the stove, causing it to shift slightly, and the wall behind it separated.

They all turned to look. Their mouths fell open, and they moved closer.

“I’ll be damned. Whoever built this house sure liked secret doors,” William said, dropping his cigarette and stomping it out.

With the others lending a hand, he pushed the door open wider. They found a switch and flicked on the light.

“Looks like there’s a staircase leading down,” Roy announced, glancing at Kiera. “You were spot on. Let’s go see what’s down there.”

Before she could take the first step, Kyle’s hand closed around her arm. “No, I need you to stay here.”

“But Kyle,” she began, only to be cut off by Roy.

“He’s got a point. It’s safer for you to stay up here. We don’t know what we’re walking into.”

The trio of men began their descent, the two FBI agents drawing their guns and holding them at the ready as they moved.

They’d barely taken a few steps when they came across another door. It had once been secured with locks, but those were now discarded on the floor. Kyle pushed the door open while the agents kept their weapons trained on the unknown.

Stepping inside, they came to a standstill. The agents lowered their weapons, their eyes scanning the room.

A scream from behind had them spinning around. They were just in time to see Kiera’s hand fly to her mouth before she collapsed in a faint.