I had to keep my promise.
On this thought, I felt the wave of shock penetrate my office and my head snapped up. Two police officers were walking into Berger’s office with a member of Wyler security. Four more officers were fanning out across the space looking like they were looking for something.
No Tandy.
No Benny.
I kept my seat.
People were moving, freaking, I could hear whispering. I felt eyes on me from other staff, but I kept my gaze on the officers.
And kept my seat.
My throat closed. My eyes stung. I watched Berger move swiftly out of his office with the two policemen and the security guard, and they went directly to the stairwell. Squawky voices could be heard on police radios and two of the officers fanning out made a move toward Bierman’s office.
I watched, my hand clenched around my phone.
And kept my seat.
I quit watching and looked toward the elevators. I locked my eyes there. I kept my grip on my phone.
And kept my seat.
An eternity slid by.
Then the elevators binged.
My chest tightened.
Benny walked out.
My chest loosened, but a tear dropped down my cheek.
He looked around, his eyes came to me, and he walked direct to me. Two police in Bierman’s office, two of them with Heath, Ben passed them as he made it to me, walking through my door, tall, handsome, healthy.
I still kept my seat.
“Tandy?” I asked, my voice scratchy.
“Downstairs with the police,” Benny replied, rounding my desk.
I still kept my seat, twisting my neck to keep my eyes on him.
He came to a stop at my side, cocked his head, his brows drawing, and he asked, “Baby?”
“I can’t move,” I whispered.
Tenderness softened his features before he whispered back, “Come to me, Frankie.”
That was when I could move.
I shot out of chair and into his arms.
They instantly closed strong and tight around me.
* * * * *
“They got to her roommate,” Benny told me much later.
That later was after he spoke for-fucking-ever with the police, then got me the fuck out of Wyler and took me home. When we got home, we walked our dog. Then I got into yoga pants and a tee and called to order pizza while Benny talked to Stark.
Finally, we stretched out on the couch, me on top of Benny, which was where we were now.
“The roommate called,” he went on. “Told Tandy they had her and that she had to go to her car in the parking garage. Nabbed her there, put her in their car, took off, and since I was in my SUV, Stark called me and set me on them.”
“How did Stark know where you could find them?”
“My question too,” Benny replied. “At the time, I thought either clairvoyance or he had helicopters.” I grinned at his quip and Ben kept talking, “But he knew where their base was so my guess is he predicted the route they’d take to it. A route that was on my route so Stark called me.”
“And you…what?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.
“I was bein’ tailed by Sal and his boys, probably because he was bein’ cautious ’cause he kinda likes you.” That got him another grin. “They came with me and we…” He paused before he finished, “Took care of business.”
“Is that all I want to know?” I asked, having been sequestered in my office while Ben talked to the police so I didn’t hear the full story.
“That’s all you want to know,” he confirmed.
“Was it clean?” I asked.
“Good Samaritans, seein’ a couple of women hustled into a warehouse and investigating,” Ben answered. “I called the cops beforehand so they knew we were there. No gunplay as Sal came in heavy and hot and scared the fuckin’ shit outta them. Figure the police are still scratchin’ their heads that Sal and his boys just happened to be there and were playin’ Good Samaritans. I figure by now they’ve cottoned on to who he is. But their guns, and mine, incidentally, somehow disappeared between there and gettin’ the women back to Wyler. So it’s all good.”
Sal was definitely invited to the engagement party.
“So it’s over,” I remarked, and his arms gave me a squeeze.
“It’s over,” he said softly. “And if Bierman and Barrow already didn’t buy jail time with the serious shit they were pullin’, this latest move would do it. Stark said they had plans in motion to take care of the whole crew who were amateur sleuthing, including women named Kathleen, Jennie, and Miranda. Barrow was picked up on a golf course in Florida. Stark also told me that Barrow kept his shit clean, probably so if anything went wrong, Bierman would take the fall. Nightingale tied him to it though, so he’s gonna be processed and sent back to Indiana to deal with his mess.”