Authors: Shawna Platt
He stopped and bought a car seat on his way back to the hotel. They weren’t going to travel all the way to New Mexico with Ryker in Kinsey’s arms. The little guy was starting to grow on him and it wasn’t only Kinsey he wanted to keep safe.
A half hour later, Keith and Kinsey were on their way to New Mexico, with Ryker safely tucked into his new seat in the back. Keith decided not to mention the phone call from Hakon. No sense in upsetting her more. Right now, his priority was getting her to Ted and Margaret’s, and he felt fortunate the trip would only take a few hours. The less time they spent on the road, the better.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Ted stood on his front porch looking out at the vast landscaped yard; the lines in his face deep with worry. He’d seen the newscast of Kinsey’s escape and how she was being charged with kidnapping. Margaret walked out and stood beside him. She placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m sure there’s a logical explanation for all of this.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t Kinsey. Something’s up, Margaret, and I don’t like the way it feels.”
“Have you tried to call her?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Well, there’s nothing we can do now but wait.”
Ted straightened his spine when he saw the unfamiliar car pulling into the driveway. As the car approached, he leaned forward and squinted; he saw who he thought was Kinsey in the passenger seat. He rushed past Margaret and made it to the car before Kinsey could open the door. She got out and gave him a hug. He brushed a hand over her hair and drew his eyebrows together.
“Oh, Kinsey! What the hell is going on?”
“It’s a long story and I hope you don’t believe what you’ve been hearing. Please, give me a chance to explain.”
“Of course! Come inside.”
Keith made his way around the front of the car and shook Ted’s hand.
“I’m Keith Anderson.”
Ted accepted the handshake and shot Kinsey a look.
Kinsey nodded as she opened the back door to removed Ryker from his seat. “I wouldn’t have made it here without his help.”
Ted relaxed and addressed Keith. “Then I guess a thank you is in order.”
He watched Kinsey remove Ryker from the car and stepped forward. “Is this the baby they say you kidnapped?”
Kinsey shook her head. “He’s mine. I kidnapped no one.”
“Yours? You had a baby? Kinsey, what in the hell is going on?”
“Let’s go inside and I’ll explain everything.”
Margaret placed an arm around Kinsey and walked her inside while Keith and Ted grabbed the bags from the car.
Margaret sat, holding Ryker while Kinsey finished explaining everything that happened since the time she left. Ted, who was sitting next to Margaret, rose and walked to Keith, who stood guard at the front door.
“So you’re the one responsible for Brianna’s accident?”
“Unfortunately, and I’m doing everything I can to remedy that.”
“And you’re the one who bullied and threatened Kinsey into this program?”
He sighed. “Yes, but I’m also the one here now, helping her escape.”
Keith never saw the blow to his jaw coming and fell back a couple steps, steadying himself on the corner of an end table. He rubbed his jaw, then held his hands up.
“Look, I’m sorry for the role I played in all of this. The head of this program is completely out of control and I want him brought down just as much as the rest of you.”
Ted shook out his fist and took a step closer to Keith. “How do we know we can trust you?”
Keith chuckled. “She’s here isn’t she? If I wanted to turn her in, I would have already done so. You have no idea how much my neck is on the line here.” He pointed to Kinsey. “You think she’s the only one in danger? Once Hakon figures out what I’ve done, he’ll want my head on a platter. I’ll be running for the rest of my life.”
Ted took a step back and studied Keith. He nodded slightly and walked back to the couch where Margaret held Ryker.
Kinsey tried to reassure them. “Keith truly has helped me. I know he’s responsible for a lot of what’s happened, but he is trying to make it right now.” She shot him a look and nodded. “I trust him. I trust Dr. Westcott and Dr. Rayner as well. They weren’t aware of what was happening to the participants.”
Margaret rubbed Ryker’s head. “What are you going to do, Kinsey?”
“I don’t know. For now, I was wondering if I could hide out in your cellar out back? You mentioned it at your retirement party?”
Ted nodded. “Yes, fully finished. You’re welcome to it. Anyone comes here looking for you, they’ll have to get through me first.”
Keith snorted. “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. You have no idea who you’re dealing with.” He resumed his position by the front window and looked out.
He turned back toward Kinsey. “There’s something you don’t know and I think it’s time you find out.”
“What else could possibly go wrong?”
“Hakon has men stationed at your parent’s house. They’re not allowed to leave until you’re captured and it’s important not to try and contact them. It could place them in more danger.”
“Are they in danger now?”
“Not physically, no. They will monitor all calls going in and out of the house, including texts from cell phones. If you try to contact them, they will know it.”
“I haven’t.”
“Good. Keep it that way for now.” He held his hand out. “Let me see the cell phone Conrad gave you. I have to take a chance on something.”
She pulled out her phone and handed it to him. “What are you taking a chance on?”
Ted spoke before Keith had a chance to respond. “You better not do anything that will endanger Kinsey and the baby.”
Keith shook his head. “Don’t think I’m not aware of that, but I have a plan and I’m going to need some help to pull it off.” He took the phone from Kinsey and stepped out on the porch.
Ted turned and addressed Kinsey. “There’s no need for you to stay in the cellar with the baby. You can stay right here in the house.”
Kinsey protested. “No, I don’t want to put you guys in any danger. You mentioned the entrance to the cellar is well hidden and I’d feel more comfortable with that.”
Margaret agreed. “I think it’s for the best, at least for now. They will be well hidden out there with no chance of anyone seeing her walking around in the house.”
“All right.” He grabbed Kinsey’s bags that were brought in from the car. “Let’s get you set up. We’ll supply anything you need to be comfortable, for as long as you need it. The cellar also has an underground line for electricity, so you’ll at least have some decent light and should be fine down there until we can figure this out.”
Margaret walked toward the back of the house, while Ted and Kinsey headed for the back door. “I’m going to grab some blankets and anything I think you might need. I’ll meet you out there in a minute.”
Keith knew he was taking a chance when he called the clinic at the compound. He didn’t have Sorina’s cell phone, but felt that was just as risky. Anyway he looked at it, the situation was going to get worse before it got better. In order to make his plan work, he needed Sorina’s help. If Sorina and Conrad were willing to help Kinsey escape with Ryker, maybe they’d be willing to help bring Hakon down.
The program itself was a solid idea, as long as the participants were truly voluntary and not forced into it with threats against their families. If they could take Hakon down and restructure the program, it could truly be a success.
He left a message with the front desk to have Dr. Westcott call him at her earliest convenience. It didn’t take long for him to receive a call back.
“Hello?” Keith asked.
“May I ask who this is?”
“Is this Sorina Westcott?”
There was a pause on the other end. “Yes, who is this? I have this number programmed in my phone, so don’t play games.”
“We need to make this quick. In order to bring a resolution to this problem, I’m going to need some help.”
“Is everyone safe?” Sorina was doing everything she could to keep the conversation generic and short. Even though she was using the non-traceable phone her dad gave her, she knew the number she called was from the phone he gave Kinsey.
“For now.”
“There’s nothing I can do at this time, but I think I know someone who can. I’ll have him get in touch with you shortly. It’ll be from this number.”
The call disconnected and he paced the porch hoping the call back would be soon. He sprang on it the second it rang.
“Yes?”
“Are they safe?”
“Who is this?”
“Dr. Brice Rayner. If you’ve done anything to harm either of them…”
Keith cut him off. “Shut up and listen. I have a plan, but I need help. Are you willing or not?”
“If it involves keeping them safe, yes.”
“Get to Gallup, New Mexico as soon as you can. Call me at this number when you arrive.”
The call disconnected and Brice turned to Sorina. “Can I take this phone with me?”
Sorina nodded. “Of course.”
As Brice raced out of Sorina’s office, she let out a deep breath. The program was continuing as if nothing happened. Kinsey’s escape was talked about less and less as the days went by. All the participants seemed frightened and just wanted to forget about it. Everyone assumed she’d be caught eventually, but Sorina had a feeling things were about to blow sky high, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Brice arrived in Gallup and Keith met him outside a deli. Brice wasted no time asking about Kinsey and Ryker.
“They’re both fine, I promise.” Keith studied him for a moment. “How far are you willing to go to keep them that way?”
“Whatever it takes.”
“Glad to hear it.” He motioned to his car. “Let’s go.”
On the way back to Ted and Margaret’s, Keith filled him in on his plan.
When they arrived, Brice was taken to the underground cellar where Kinsey was hiding out with Ryker. She wasn’t surprised to see him, since Keith had already informed her of their conversation. She was surprised, however, at how he rushed to her and captured her in a full embrace. He showered her face with kisses and then turned his attention to Ryker.
“How is he doing?”
Kinsey was still trying to recover from his sudden onslaught of affection. “He’s doing fine.”
Brice unwrapped him from his blanket and checked him out. When he was satisfied with what he saw, he wrapped him back up and placed him in his makeshift bed. He turned to Kinsey.
“I need to speak with you,” he glanced at the others in the room, “privately, if possible.”
Margaret spoke. “Go ahead. I’ll look after Ryker.”
As they climbed the stairs out of the cellar, Keith added, “Stay in the back of the house. Don’t go out front where you might be seen.”
Brice shot him a
I’m not stupid
look as he followed Kinsey outside. They sat on the porch swing on the back deck.
Brice reached up and flipped her red hair. “New do?”
“They’re looking for a brunette.” She paused for a short moment. “Where were you? Dr. Westcott and her dad helped me escape and you disappeared.”
Brice ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, first I thought I’d be able to talk to Hakon and see what I could find out about Tessa’s case.”
Kinsey sat upright. “What? She’s been through enough. You could make things so much worse for her. She’s still being followed and stalked at home. They’re threatening her into silence about what happened.”
“Calm down. I didn’t draw any unnecessary attention to her, I just wanted to feel him out and see what he knew. I told him the participants were uneasy since Tessa’s ordeal.”
She waited, and when he didn’t say anymore, she questioned, “Well, what did he say?”
“He basically said it was my fault if the participants weren’t feeling comfortable in the program.”
She smirked. “That doesn’t surprise me. He’s quite the piece of work. Who the hell does this guy think he is?”
Brice took a deep breath. “He’s a power hungry man who thinks he’s above the law and he has a lot of powerful people in his pocket. If he can’t buy them, he blackmails them.”
Kinsey stood and paced around the deck. “He can’t be allowed to continue to get away with this. Someone needs to do something.” She turned to Brice. “Can’t
someone
do
something
?”
“Keith has a plan, but it’s risky.”
Kinsey continued to pace. “I hate that man, and I don’t hate people, Brice. He’s evil and I hope he dies.”
“He’s my father, Kinsey.”
She stopped on a dime and turned to face him. She couldn’t find any words, so she simply stared at him. After a moment, she turned and walked to the rail of the deck. He came and stood beside her. She leaned forward on the rail and placed her head on her arms.
“You’re joking, right? Please, tell me you’re joking.”