Inevitable Series 04 The Unrelenting Read online

  "Okay, you did that. What do you want now?" Jim asked, not liking where this conversation seemed to be heading.

  "Mr. Sandburg made an offer to me when he was...my guest before. I want to take him up on it now."

  Jim raised an eyebrow, glancing at Blair.

  "I told him I'd see what I could do with the cops if he helped me get away. But he didn't so I think the offer is null and void."

  Jim held his hands up, spreading them wide. "You heard the man." He smiled, unable to hide his pleasure at his partner's ability to shoot down Brackett's plan so easily.

  "You think this is funny? You think the fact that he's standing over there now with you means this is over? That he's safe?" Brackett took two steps closer. "I wasn't sent to snatch him and let him go. I was sent to snatch him and bring him to them."

  Jim shifted in front of his partner as the impact of what those words meant settled over him. "Why are we here, Brackett? What do you want?"

  "I'm tired of being a puppet for someone else. I want out and I have a simple way of doing it. I take Sandburg and turn him over to my superiors just like I'm supposed to then I contact you, tell you where they're holding him, you bust in with everyone from Major Crimes and arrest them."

  "You expect me to hand over Blair to you? To trust you with his life?" Jim nearly laughed at the suggestion. "Forget it." He turned to Blair. "Come on, Chief. Let's go."

  Blair made no move to leave. Instead, he stood staring ahead, his gaze turned inward as if he were actually considering Brackett's suggestion. Weighing his options. "Maybe he's right," he said more to himself than to Jim.

  "No, he's not." Jim grabbed his Guide's arm and began steering him toward the passenger side of the truck. "We're going, Blair."

  "No, Jim, wait. Just hear me out." He pulled out of Jim's grip just as they reached the front of the truck. "He didn't have to call. He had me. You wouldn't have known what happened to me. I would have just been gone."

  "You're not going with him," Jim insisted. "We'll put you under twenty-four hour surveillance for as long as it takes but you're not going with him."

  "My superiors are very patient," Brackett interjected. "You going to watch him for the next year or two because that's how long they'll wait if they have to. And I guarantee you, the next person my superiors send won't call you the way I did."

  Jim turned sharply. "Who are these people? You keep saying 'superiors'. I want names."

  Brackett leaned back against his car and crossed his arms over his chest. "Two men, Caleb Grahm and Spencer Therman."

  "The millionaires?" Blair asked, incredulous.

  "Make that billionaires, Chief." Jim knew the two men by reputation only. They were ruthless businessmen who bought and sold and traded without fear. Well known for the competition between the two of them and the outrageous bets they placed with each other. Bets that sometimes closed down corporations and ruined lesser men. "What's their interest in my partner?"

  "He fascinates them. It's as simple as that."

  "You expect me to believe that these two men would risk everything by having you abduct Sandburg just because he fascinates them?"

  "What risk? They don't see any of this as a risk. You think you scare them? A local cop and an anthropologist? You're nothing to them." Brackett rubbed his temple in obvious exasperation. "Believe me, I tried to talk them into dropping all of this after the failure with Alex but I think they're just having too much fun."

  "Fun?" Blair repeated, disgust coloring the single word.

  "They wanted to send me sooner but they knew about your ribs. Wanted them healed before they pulled you in."

  "Pull him in for what?" Jim asked, not exactly sure he wanted to know the answer.

  "For whatever. They're curious about him and like children, they must have what they want when they want it." He sighed heavily. "They want to study him."

  "He's not a science project," Jim snapped.

  "To them, he is. That's all he is. That's all both of you are." He paused. "They plan to come for you too, Ellison. They're just starting with him. They figure once they have him, they have you."

  Jim tensed as Frank Croft's words of warning to Blair flashed through his mind.

  That bond is your greatest strength but you must be cautious because it can also be your greatest weakness as well.

  Jim finally understood exactly what he had meant.

  "They've been watching the two of you for some time now," Brackett continued. "They were there the day Alex tried to kill Sandburg. Had a few bets going on the outcome." He shifted his attention to Blair. "They had a bet on whether Ellison would arrive in time to pull you from that fountain. If he did, would you live after that. If you lived, would you have brain damage and on and on."

  Blair paled. "Did they know about the Lowry's, too?"

  "I think the bet was double or nothing on that one."

  "They knew what was happening to me, knew I was going to die, and they were just going to let it happen?" Blair fell back against the truck, his breath leaving him all at once.

  "Take it easy, Chief," Jim said, barely able to contain his own rage at the callousness of these two men. At the idea of anyone just standing by and letting another human being go through what Blair had been through and not lifting a finger to help. He turned a glare on Brackett. "If they're so interested in Blair, why would they let him die?"

  "Because we mean nothing to them," Brackett said, his patience clearly wearing thin. "They think of us as toys that they can use for their fun and games then discard when they're done. No consequences. No guilt."

  "They're the ones from my dreams," Blair said, his voice low, unbelieving. "They stood over me at that fountain and laughed and made bets and did nothing to help me. That's what I hear in my dream. What I've been trying to remember all along." He turned toward Jim, his mouth set in an angry line. "I want them caught."

  Jim stared down at his partner. Could see something in his eyes. Something that scared the hell out of him. "Blair, you are not going with Brackett."

  "Jim, this is exactly what I've been worried about since the day Brackett disappeared. If I don't go with him now and try to end this, I'll be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life waiting for this to happen again. I can't live like that."

  But at least you'd live. But Jim didn't say that. Instead, he turned his attention back to Brackett, trying to find another angle that would make his partner change his mind. "You think we'll actually put them away for any length of time just for planning and executing Sandburg's abduction?"

  "You promise to get me a deal and I'll spill everything I know about them. I can give you dates, times, names of every dirty deal they've done in the last ten years."

  "Give it to us now," Jim said, ready to make whatever bargain was necessary to keep Blair away from these people. "We can go to Simon right now."

  "If I don't bring Sandburg to them by a certain time, they're going to flee the country. But believe me when I tell you that they'll be back the second they think it's safe again."

  "Then why the hell didn't you come to us before this moment?" Jim spat out. "Give us time to get to them?"

  "Because they didn't let me go until today. Until it was time to pick up Sandburg," he said, his tone matching Jim's. "This is our only window of opportunity. Our only chance to end this once and for all."

  "He's right, Jim."

  Jim turned toward his partner's soft voice. "I'm not letting you do this," he said again. "I don't trust him, Blair."

  "Then don't trust him. Trust me." He took a step toward Jim, staring up at him with wide eyes. "Frank told me I should always listen to my inner voice. That it would never steer me wrong. Man, Jim, that inner voice is screaming at me that this is the right thing to do." His voice dropped to a whisper. "But beyond that....Jim, I just can't keep going on like this. I need to end it."

  Jim could hear the anguish in his partner's voice. Blair had been through so much in the last few months. Jim wanted to do all
he could to get these people out of their lives. But this...?

  "Brackett had me," Blair continued. "And Simon didn't see a thing before he was knocked out. He wouldn't have been able to tell you anything. I would have just disappeared." He paused. When he spoke again, his voice had dropped in pitch, had become the soothing voice Jim always associated with Blair's Guide-mode. "Jim, Albert Schweitzer once said that the tragedy of man is what dies within him while he still lives. Maybe that's what Brackett has come to realize. That he's dying inside and needs to find a way of living again. Maybe this is it."

  "I think you're too philosophical, Chief." Jim looked at Brackett. His gaze was locked on Blair, his eyes thoughtful and Jim wondered if he were actually considering his Guide's words. But Jim could not get past the fact that the Lee Brackett he knew did nothing for anyone but Lee Brackett. Yes, this would help him but was that enough of a reason to trust him with Blair's life?

  "He didn't have to call you," Blair said again, still using that same soft yet strong voice. "He didn't have to tell us any of this. What he's saying makes sense and if going with him will end this, then I have to go." Blair reached out and gripped Jim's arms and held tightly. "I'll be all right." Then turning, he crossed to Brackett.

  Jim's mouth went dry as his partner moved away from him. Part of him knew Blair was right about all this. That they really had no choice in the matter. But another part of him was screaming that this was wrong. That he would be a fool if he let Blair leave like this.

  As he watched, Blair reached Brackett and moved toward the door to the car but was stopped by a hand on his arm. Jim tensed as Brackett's words came to him. "I need to cuff you again, Sandburg." Jim watched as Blair hesitantly turned and put his hands once more behind his back. His Guide's heart rate climbed as the handcuffs were snapped around his wrists.

  "Why the cuffs?" Jim asked, finally able to find his voice again.

  "They were very specific about how they wanted him brought in," Brackett explained.

  Jim crossed to Blair and placing his hands on his shoulders, stared down at the younger man. "You can still change your mind."

  "No, I can't," Blair said evenly, meeting Jim's gaze and holding it. "Could you call the university for me?" he asked. "Tell them I'm going to miss class for the next three days just to be on the safe side. And, man, please try and keep my job."

  "Blair, I'm not worried about your job."

  "I am. I like to teach and if you don't call in for me, they'll can me for sure."

  Jim stared at him, amazed at his faith in both Jim and Brackett. In Blair's mind, this was going to work and he'd be back home in three days tops. Jim took a deep breath and tried to find that same kind of faith within himself. He failed miserably. "Okay Chief," he said when Blair continued to stare at him expectantly. "I'll go down there and threaten to shoot them if they try and fire you."

  Blair's smile was relieved. "That's the kind of support I was looking for."

  Jim shifted his attention back to Brackett. "Where are you taking him?"

  "I don't know yet. I'm supposed to get a call once I'm on the road. They'll tell me then where to go. Once I get to our final destination, I'll contact you at the first opportunity and tell you where to find him."

  First opportunity? Jim didn't like the vagueness of this entire plan. He didn't know where Blair was going. When he'd be called. What "tests" his partner might be subjected to during their time apart. "I'll follow you," he suggested, grabbing at any idea that might keep his Guide safe. Keep him within Jim's protective reach. "I'll stay far behind. They'll never know-"

  "You follow us and they get wind of it, we're both dead."

  "They won't-"

  "Jim," Blair cut in. "I'll be fine." He looked at Brackett. "How long before you contact him?"

  "A day. Two at the most. I just want to make sure it's safe. That they don't suspect me."

  "I can handle myself for that long, Jim," Blair said with confidence.

  Something twisted inside of Jim at those words because he knew that there would be no changing Blair's mind about this. He could see it in his face. In the way he squared back his shoulders. "Blair, I just don't--"

  "I can handle myself," he said again.

  Jim stared into his partner's eyes. Eyes that were too tired.

  Dammit! This is not right! He's not up for this.

  And Jim made his own decision. "I'm not letting you do this," he blurted out. Then grabbing Blair by the arm, began dragging him back toward the truck.

  "Jim, stop it! What are you doing!" Blair struggled against the tight grip but with little affect. With his hands still cuffed, he was easy for the larger man to maneuver. "Jim, this is my decision to make. Not yours!" He managed to pull free but staggered backward, lost his footing and fell hard on his side.

  Jim crouched down beside him. "You okay, Chief. I didn't mean to--"

  "What the hell do you think you're doing!" Blair struggled to push himself upright.

  Jim helped him into a sitting position. "There's too much that can go wrong. I just can't go along with this."

  "So you're just going to force me to do what you want?" he snapped.

  "If it'll keep you safe? Yes." Leaning forward, looking over Blair's shoulder, he checked his partner's wrists. Bruising showed where the metal rings had pulled against his flesh during their struggle. "Brackett," he said, glancing over his shoulder. "Get these things---Dammit!" He threw his arm up to protect himself. Too slow! The gun clipped him on the side of the head and everything went black.

  ########

  "Brackett, you son of a bitch!" Blair knelt down awkwardly beside Jim. He could see a thin line of blood running down the side of his face where Brackett had hit him. "Uncuff me."

  "He's fine." Brackett nudged Jim with his foot. The sentinel's head lolled from side to side but he did not stir. "I didn't even hit him that hard."

  "Uncuff me!" Blair shouted. "I want to make sure he's okay and call for help."

  "Are you kidding? We're going. Now." Brackett leaned down and roughly hauled Blair to his feet.

  Blair gritted his teeth as the cuffs bit into his already sore wrists. As soon as Brackett set him on his feet, Blair pulled out of his grip and turned to face him. "You think I'll go with you now?" He knew he was in a vulnerable position and would be hard pressed to stop him if Brackett tried to force him to leave. But he was ready to put up one hell of a struggle if it came down to it.

  "Listen, Sandburg, do you want this to end or not? Ellison was never going to agree to let you go with me and you know what? That's essential to this plan working. You back out now and next time they could come for him instead of you. Do you want that?" He nodded toward Jim. "Do you want him to go out one night to pick up Chinese for dinner and never come back?"

  Blair looked down at his partner. Brackett had said more than once that they were as interested in Jim as they were in him. Did he really want to risk another abduction? Did he want to put Jim in that kind of dangerous position? "I'll go but only if you call for help first. I won't leave Jim here like this."

  Brackett sighed. "If that's what it'll take."

  "Use my phone," Blair said. "It's already programmed with the number. It's in my jacket." He indicated his front pocket with a tilt of his head. "Just hit the speed dial and three," he instructed as Brackett opened the phone. "It rings right to the station. I'd have you call Simon--"

  "But he might not be quite up to it," Brackett finished for him. "Sorry. Didn't see any other way around that." He punched the speed dial, waited briefly then said, "Detective Ellison is at Harson's Station. He needs medical attention." He slapped the phone shut and slipped it into his pocket. "Can we go now?"

  Blair looked back at Jim. He hated the idea of leaving him out here but at least help was on the way. Maybe he could convince Brackett to wait until they could hear the sirens before leaving.

  "Afraid we're out of time." Brackett's hand curled around Blair's arm.

  Blair looked up at the
man beside him, a shudder passing through him at the touch. "Are you lying to me, man?" he asked quietly. He hadn't doubted it until this moment. Until he had to actually get in the car with him and leave for places unknown. "You've got me either way but I need to know. Are you lying?"

  "Sandburg, you're my ticket to freedom. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He hesitated a moment then added, "I promise."

  Blair took one last look at Jim before allowing Brackett to lead him to the car. Once again, Blair was belted into the passenger seat. He shifted slightly where he sat, trying to find a more comfortable position. Trying not to think about how trapped he now felt.

  Brackett remained crouched down beside Blair. "There is one other thing." Reaching over, he flipped open the glove box and pulled out a bottle and rag.

  Blair's heart climbed into his throat as his mind registered what Brackett was now holding. "Is that chloroform?"

  Brackett spun the top from the bottle. "Like I said before, they were very specific on how they wanted you brought in." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Maybe they heard how much you talk."

  Blair pressed himself back in the seat, trying to put as much space between himself and the bottle in Brackett's hand as he could. "You don't need to do this, man. I'm going with you."

  "Sandburg, I have no choice here. I was told to bring you in unconscious."

  "Why?" Blair breathed. "Why unconscious?"

  "I don't know. Maybe they don't want you to see where they're going to be taking you. Maybe it's a power thing." He shook his head in exasperation. "You know, I wasn't told how to make you unconscious. I could have just hit you over the head like I did everyone else. I thought the chloroform would be easiest on you." Brackett spilled some of the liquid into the rag in his hand.

  Blair's breath came in shallow gasps. His eyes locked on the cloth Brackett held.

  "Listen, Sandburg, I'm going to do this. I have no choice," he explained. "But it'll be easier on you if you relax."