Page 62 of Torment
Looking over my shoulder, Slater’s car pulls into the parking lot and stops in front of the van. He steps out, his shoulders tense and jaw set in a hard line.
“I’ll be happy when this fucking thing leads us to where it needs to and I can blow it the fuck up,” he says tightly as he approaches us.
“Yeah, well I don’t think this is doing anything more than laughing in our faces,” Elias says, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Once you and the officer Nick called get this thing cleared, I want people at every lot within five miles of this place,” I say.
Cole raises a brow. “You think there’s more than one?”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I don’t check it. Instead, I take a step back from the van.
“Probably,” Nick answers.
“I don’t think this is about transportation anymore,” my arms gesture to the lot. “No one to watch it, no sign of anyone either.”
Slater studies me. “Then what is it about?”
My gut answers before my brain does.
Distraction.
I don’t say it out loud yet. Instead, I scan the perimeter again. Lot six sits open on three sides. Chain link fence on the back stretch, a row of pines lining the far edge. And no cameras pointed directly at the van. It’s convenient.
“They wanted it to be seen,” I say finally.
Cole shifts beside me, uncomfortable. “Not too smart for kidnappers.”
Silence stretches. The realization settles in all of us at the same time. Nick exhales slowly.
“They wanted you distracted.”
“All of us,” I correct, grinding my molars.
Maverick drags a hand down his beard. “They wanted us out of Perdition.”
No one argues, because it’s obvious now. Slater steps toward the open back door, crouching slightly but doesn't touch anything yet.
“You thinking secondary target?” he asks.
“Always.” I crack my neck.
Cole glances toward the lot entrance. “You want someone heading back?”
I don't answer right away. Because the question hits somewhere deeper in my bones than it should. A quiet instinct I don’t like.
“Not yet. We have four more still on property,” Maverick says, then nods to Slater. “Loop them in.”
Slater says nothing as he pulls out his phone, texting Kellen, Declan, Levi and Owen. My hand flexes at my side as Elias finally breaks the silence.
“If this is a distraction, what’s the play?”
“Timing,” Nick answers.
“Or access,” Mav adds.
My eyes flick to the van. Pristine, inviting us to focus on it. To stay here and keep digging. To waste time. I start stepping backward without thinking.
“Officer’s two minutes out,” Nick tells us. I nod once.
