Warrior Spirit by Cassie Miles

Author:Cassie Miles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2005-08-29T04:00:00+00:00

WHEN TREVOR AGREED to go along with Sierra, he didn’t really expect they’d be allowed access to the sporting goods store. The situation in the Galleria bordered on chaos, but security had tightened. The authorities would never allow him and Sierra to attempt their own rescue of the hostages.

Nonetheless, they came up with a plan. The first step was to get close to the sporting goods store. Trevor wished he had backup from the other bounty hunters. Since Murphy was here, he assumed the other men were busy with their own missions using their special expertise. He had no assignment. In a situation like this, there wasn’t much call for an interrogator.

He and Sierra approached command central for law enforcement—a group that now included Cameron Murphy. These men had taken a strategic position on the second floor, directly across from the electronics store where the hostages were being held. Their location underlined the irony of a commando attack at a shopping mall; the store occupied by command central was Victoria’s Secret—a place where few of these hard-boiled men had ever gone before.

Amid bras, panties and a whole bunch of pink lotions, orders were issued to the SWAT team sharpshooters. An intense FBI contingent worked on hostage negotiations. Other cops were deployed to clear all the cars from the parking lot and to deal with the media.

After an introduction from Murphy, Trevor faced off with the county sheriff, an elected official who was famous for being an outdoorsman.

Trevor stated his request. “We need a couple of deputies to evacuate the pet store.”

The sheriff raised both bushy eyebrows. “Come again?”

“If nerve gas is released in the Galleria, those animals will die.”

“Listen up,” the sheriff growled. “We’ve got a genuine crisis here. Human beings are in danger. We can’t be worried about puppies and kitty cats.”

His response was what Trevor had expected. “I understand, but—”

“Voters love puppies,” Sierra interrupted. “The voting public would be really upset if they knew you abandoned a pet store. You can’t let those animals die.”

The sheriff frowned and rubbed at his neatly trimmed beard as he considered her words.

“You know I’m right,” Sierra continued. “If one fluffy Persian kitty is overcome by nerve gas, you can kiss the little-old-lady vote goodbye.

With an impatient gesture, the sheriff summoned three deputies and gave the order. “Evacuate the damn pet store. And make sure the media people see you carrying puppies out of the mall.”

Sierra led the way across the upper level and down an escalator to the pet shop, which was on the first floor and around a corner from the electronics store. While the deputies opened cages and picked up animals, she took Trevor to the back of the place, near the fish tanks. She pointed to the ventilation shaft. “If we climb through here, we can get to my store.”

When she loosened the screws on the grate covering the air duct, Trevor peered into the narrow opening. His throat clenched. He couldn’t go in there. The mere thought of that tightly enclosed space made him want to puke.

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