Page 63 of Twilight Tactics

David appeared in the doorway, hand around Spencer’s arm. “Yeah, I just hate leaving without knowing what’s going on and when the next attack will hit.”

“We’ll be fine,” Maya said. Elena nodded. “The sooner you take care of him, the sooner you’ll be back.”

“All right,” Sully said to the prisoner. “Let’s go.”

“No.”

“What?”

“No.” He straightened and shook his head. “I don’t want to.”

David snorted. “Doesn’t matter what you want, kid. Let’s go.”

“I-I—no. It’s—no.”

“What are you stammering about?” Sully asked. “You can walk or I can carry you.”

Elena cleared her throat on a chuckle. She had no doubt he could throw the skinny young man over his shoulder and transport him to exactly where he wanted him.

“It’s ... you can’t leave the property,” he blurted. “There are explosives rigged. If you try to leave, they’ll blow up the vehicle and everyone in it.”

They all froze for a hot second, then Sully narrowed his eyes. “Why didn’t the ambulance blow? Why didn’t anything blow when the staff left?”

“It’s a guess,” Spencer said, fidgeting and shifting, “but I would assume they’re just not ready for that. It would bring too much attention to the ranch if the ambulance went missing. They probably let it—and everyone who left—go so it didn’t mess up the big plan.”

“What is the big plan?”

“I have no idea. And I’m not kidding when I say that. I don’t know what they’re after or what the bottom line is. I just know there are explosives rigged near the gates and random places outside the fence. Like if you cut a hole in the fence and try to drive through it, there could be a bomb there. I’m guessing it’s places that look most accessible to a vehicle or a horse. Anyway, they can blow them anytime. They’re not timer based, they’re remote control activated. I ... um ... heard them talking about it.”

“Spying?” Sully asked.

A shoulder lifted in a small shrug. “Yeah, but they neversaid why. I have my thoughts, though. They don’t want anyone leaving this place alive. I think. I mean, I assume.”

Elena’s heart thudded, and a rage she hadn’t felt in a long time started to pulse within her. She was tempted to strap him into the driver’s seat of one of the golf carts and send him down the drive and through the gate. So tempted. But she checked herself. It wasn’t a good plan. Or what Jesus would do, but she had no idea how she was going to be able to love this enemy.

“Okay, so let’s blow up the bomb near one of the gates and leave,” Ollie said.

Spencer turned his focus to the teen. “I can’t believe you’re talking about this stuff in front of her. She’s just a kid.”

“Who needs to know what’s going on,” Sully said before Elena could say it.

“So, we need a jail cell for our captive until we can prove this guy wrong,” David said. “Or right.”

“Well, when we built this place,” Maya said, “I wasn’t picturing holding prisoners, but we do have the office in the barn. Just have to reverse the lock and put a bed in there. It has a bathroom attached and the window would be too small for him to climb out.”

Sully nodded. “Let’s do that.”

“I’ll help,” Elena said. She caught Ollie’s disappointed look. “And after that, I can work a little more with Ollie.”

The girl lit up.

“I can handle it,” Sully said.

“I don’t mind.” She held up her injured wrist. “As long as I can work one-handed.”

David nodded. “That’ll work. Y’all get busy with that, and I’ll get a guard at the gate so no one comes in or goes out. We’ll have to spread the word of this fast.” He scowled at the man in custody.

“I’m sure some of the others would be willing to help,”Elena said. “We can stop whoever we see and ask them to spread the word to come to the barn. Then we can let them know everything going on. Maya can talk to them while you guys are turning the office into a prison cell. We have to make sure no one leaves the property until we have a clear picture of whether or not there truly are bombs.”