Way of the Shadows (Shadow Agents 8)

Mercer’s favorite order. Any means necessary.

“We’re losing him!” Noelle yelled.

Thomas glanced back. Two of the deputies were around Sarah. The others were standing nervously beside Noelle and peering worriedly at the sheriff.

“We have to carry him out of here!” She whirled toward Thomas. “Help me!”

Always. He rushed back to her side, but when he saw the sickly pallor in the sheriff’s face, Thomas knew the odds weren’t good for the man.

The memory of the perp’s laughter drifted through Thomas’s mind.

You think this is the end? You have no clue.

Hell. What would happen next?

* * *

SHE HAD BLOOD on her hands. Noelle stared down at her palms. Mercer had used his chopper to airlift the sheriff to the nearest hospital. She could still hear the whoop-whoop of the chopper’s blades.

Sheriff Hodges had been alive when they lifted off. Gut wounds could be so tricky. Would he be able to hang on and live long enough to reach the hospital?

Noelle wasn’t so sure.

“We did it,” Aaron said as he watched the aircraft rise. “Chalk up another capture for the EOD.”

She didn’t share his enthusiasm. “We lost Sarah Finway.” She turned toward him. “And Sheriff Hodges will be very, very lucky if he survives.”

“But Patrick Porter won’t ever hurt anyone else again.” Aaron nodded grimly. “We can be sure of that.”

She needed to wash her hands. She needed to change clothes. She also needed to interrogate Patrick Porter. I’m sure that’s not his real name. Patrick would be full of secrets.

Mercer and Thomas had secured the man in the sheriff’s station. She knew Mercer would be transporting the guy out of the area at the first opportunity.

She wanted her answers before that transfer. She wanted to know everything.

Noelle marched toward the station. Aaron followed closely, but he didn’t speak. There were deputies inside the station, just two men. The others had gone with the sheriff. Mercer’s orders. She knew he just didn’t want a big audience around for what would come.

Once inside the station, she headed toward the small bathroom first. Noelle washed the blood away and tried not to remember the desperate look in the sheriff’s eyes.

Failed.

Noelle knew that desperation would haunt her for the rest of her days.

A knock sounded on the bathroom door. “Noelle?” Thomas’s voice called. “I’ve got fresh clothes for you.”

She opened the door.

“Courtesy of Mercer,” he said as he lifted a bag toward her.

Right. Mercer the Magic Man. He could do anything. She took the clothes from him and started to shut the door. Thomas’s hand flew out, stopping her.

“He’s going to try messing with your head.” The words were a grim warning.

“I already know that.” She was used to killers and their mind games. Finally, an area that was her specialty.

“Don’t believe him. Don’t believe the lies he’s going to tell. Don’t trust him.”

Her head tilted. There was an odd note in his voice that made her nervous. “I know killers, Thomas. So that means I’m used to their lies.” Some killers could lie so perfectly. They’d fool lie detectors. Fool law enforcement. Deceive everyone.