The Belial Stone(80)
Chester, MT
Laney’s first thought, when she came to, was that she needed some aspirin. Her head pounded and her arms ached uncomfortably. She tried to move into a better position and couldn’t. Her hands were tied behind her.
Her eyes flew open as she remembered the attack at the house. There was one door opposite her and she was lying on the floor, surrounded by shelves of food. I’m being held captive in a food pantry?
She slid along the floor until her back touched one of the vertical beams. Pressing her back against it, she managed to work herself up into a sitting position. Her vision swam as she straightened. She bowed her head, breathing deep, waiting for the dizziness to pass.
Raising her head slowly, she gritted her teeth against the pain in her head. She struggled to free her hands. They were bound incredibly tight. God damn fallen angels.
She kept working at the rope for another five minutes but only managed to rub her wrists raw. Her shoulders slumped. Obviously, she wasn’t getting out of here until someone let her out.
She remembered Gideon's whispered threat. Tears gathered in her eyes and she willed them back. Get angry! she yelled at herself. Don’t give him the satisfaction.
Focusing on her breathing, she let the anger build, until the feelings of despair were replaced. She heard heavy footsteps heading towards her. They stopped just outside her door.
A key turned in the lock and the door flung open. She glared up into the face of Gideon.
“Good, you’re awake. I was worried.”
“Yeah. I’m sure you’ve been real torn up inside.”
Gideon reached down and pulled her to her feet. Laney’s instinct was to fight him, but she knew right now that would be useless. It would be smarter to go along and wait for an opening.
“You know, Dr. McPhearson, even though I want you dead – and I really do want that – I must tell you I admire your spirit. I'm a big fan of the human spirit.”
“Can’t say I’m such a fan of the angel spirit.”
Gideon paused. “Well, you really have been busy.” He gripped her arm tighter.
She bit her lip to keep from crying out.
“Let’s just keep that information between ourselves, shall we?” His grip tightened again and she nodded.
“Excellent.” He started to pull her down the hall. “Not, of course, that anyone would believe you. But best not to take the chance. You know, this might even turn out to be a good thing. You knowing who I am, that is. You can imagine how difficult it is to keep some things to myself. And you did remove the one person I could share this with.”
She refused to give into the tentacles of fear that were beginning to travel through her system. “Where are you taking me?”
“The Senator is waiting for you.”
“Why am I still alive?”
“Well, you’re no good to us dead,” Gideon replied, his voice upbeat.
He led her down a hall decorated in a Western style with Native American prints, exposed wooden beams, and animal heads mounted on the wall.
“What good am I to you alive?”
“Why, you’re leverage, my dear.”
CHAPTER 63
Gideon knocked briefly on a door before tugging Laney into a well-appointed home office. The giant picture window behind the hefty oak desk provided an incredible view of the rolling mountains in the distance. Awards and pictures of the Senator crowded the walls. The office of a man who loved himself a great deal.
Drawing her eyes from a picture of the Senator and a former President, she focused on the man behind the desk. She barely recognized him, despite the fact that he sat surrounded by pictures of himself
His face was haggard, with the beginning of deep jowls forming. His eyes looked smaller as the skin above them had begun to sag. Even his hair looked thinner. Or maybe it was just evil taking its toll. Well, he’s definitely a beneficiary of Photoshop.
The Senator didn’t even glance up at her. He sat leaning back in his desk chair, his glasses perched on the end of his nose and his shirt sleeves rolled up. He continued reviewing the papers in his lap, occasionally making notes. After a few minutes, he looked over his glasses at her and then Gideon. His look was glacial.
“Gideon, why is she still restrained?”
“Senator, she’s a security risk.”
Kensington scoffed. “Oh please, she’s a college professor. What’s she going to do, lecture me to death? Remove the restraints.”
Yeah, Gideon, remove the restraints, Laney thought.
“I don’t think that is a good idea.”
“I am still in charge here, Gideon. Remove them.”
“Very well. But it is your neck,” he replied softly.
The Senator glared at Gideon’s back as he cut the ties. Free, Laney rubbed her wrists, trying to restore the circulation. Gideon gave her a wink and a pat on the shoulder as he left the room.