The Enemy

Chapter 6

Edward

Dartmouth froze. He'd been so certain that this wing of the floor had been completely deserted or filled with invalids. He sucked in a breath and raised his hands. He could do this. He could talk his way out of this. Slowly, he turned around."No sudden movements." The female voice was sure and sharp. "Nice and slowly."He kept his head down with his cap tilted over most of his face. He was looking at her trainers.

"Good." She cleared her throat. "Now put your hands behind your head and get down on your knees."

He nodded, and his mind cramped to come up with a plan. He could tell her he was checking in with a nurse. He could show her the key card he'd swiped and that apparently didn't work in this wing. He squared his shoulders. He could make this work. Then, he looked up to see her.

It was her. It was the blonde woman. He blinked. She took another step towards him. Her face came into full focus as his story died in his throat.

Dyed blonde hair that badly needed a touch-up. Large brown eyes. A couple of bruises and scrapes on her forehead and a cheekbone, but that wasn't what punched him in the gut. That wasn't what sent his pulse skyrocketing while he stopped, paralyzed. No. It couldn't be. There was no way.

She tightened her grip on the gun. "Sir, I will give you one more chance to comply. Put your hands behind your head and get down on your knees. Do you understand?"

It felt like his brain was leaking out of his ear. Her. It was her.

She was the early morning visitor.

He'd been watching her for weeks. He exhaled as he moved his hands behind his head and sank down to his knees. At least he'd installed the hacking device. He'd known this outcome had always been a possibility. But, why did it have to be her?

She approached him as his eyes took her in. She was in bad shape after rushing off to wherever she'd gone this morning.

He shook himself. He'd spent the day's entirety evading detection and had no clue what that emergency had been. He ducked his head. He couldn't let himself get caught by her. "Are you okay, ma'am?"

She paused.

"I was sent down to check on your status after the events of this morning."
"The nurse just cleared me."
"Looks like you've still got quite an injury to the head. The boss needs to know when we can collect your statement."
"Sir—" she was close now. He smelled lemons. She'd always smelled like lemons, and there was no mistaking that voice. "You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence."
He looked up at her. He looked her straight in the eye. She wouldn't recognize the color. "If I run, will you shoot me?"
Her eyes grew wide as she took in his face. It was unnerving to witness this expression from behind the threat of a gun. An expression he'd seen a hundred times before what felt like a hundred years ago. "I won't hesitate to protect my safety and the safety of those in this building."

"Stapleton—" he pulled the cap back to uncover his face. "You owe me this one. If I run, do not shoot me."

The blood seemed to drain from her face, and her grip slackened on her gun.
He leapt to this feet and dodged around her.
"Help!" she screamed, but he was already feet in front of her.
He gulped in air as he pushed his legs as fast as he could, nearing another exit with each step. A pain exploded in his left knee, and he slammed into the floor. A body pounced onto him and wrenched his arms behind him as a second person dug a knee into his back.
Cold metal slid around his wrists and locked tight. He was handcuffed. He was caught.
He could hear the commotion as she stayed pressing on his back. His cheek felt sore from where he'd landed on it. His leg was on fire with pain.
"Ward," Stapleton spoke into what he assumed was her phone. Her voice shook.

"It's Stapleton. You need to come back in ASAP. There's been a break-in at the station."