Caught in the Frame (Ponderosa Pines Cozy Mystery Series Book 3) by ReGina Welling (novel24 .TXT) 📕

the time being.” Javier cracked the door she had disappeared through, making sure he was fully in the clear, then broke into a sprint in the other direction.

“We’re close; she’s got to be in one of these rooms. Someone has been through here lately; we can see footprints going in and out. Call Antoine; he’s going to want to see this, and we need to make sure a staff member can attest to her condition.”

“On my way.” Elation coursed through Javier’s veins; for a moment, he didn’t care what happened to Remy Vincent, as long as Baylee was alright. Still, he felt a responsibility to take the bastard down. It was clear Remy was getting desperate, and that meant it was only a matter of time before someone else got seriously hurt.

* * *

“Baylee!” Lila called frantically down the hall, then stood stock still and listened for a response. A soft shuffling noise perked her ears. With Chloe on her heels, Lila followed the sounds, pressing her ear to several doors before coming to a stop outside one roughened by time to a silvered gray. A muffled cry resounded as Lila and Chloe threw it open to find Baylee in a heap on the ground.

Chloe rushed to her side, crouching to release the gag that rendered Baylee unable to assure them she hadn’t been harmed.

“Did he hurt you?” Lila asked, searching Baylee’s eyes for clues.

“Not really, but my arms and hands are numb.” She managed to whisper, as Lila tried to loosen the knotted rope binding her to the exposed support beam. Hands trembling, Lila let loose a slew of curse words when pulling and tugging only caused the rope to tighten.

“Miss Lila, step aside.” Both women spun around at the sound of Antoine’s lilting voice. “Let me help. I’ve got a pocket knife.” After carefully cutting her free, he snapped a few photos with his camera phone, assured them he would make a full report and cooperate in any way necessary, then stepped into the hallway to keep watch.

“Javier!” Baylee’s choked cry resounded as he burst through the door. Flanked by Lila and Chloe and wrapped in the throw Antoine had had the presence of mind to pull from the back of the sofa near his desk, she stared back at him. Dark circles under her eyes and slightly hollowed cheeks spoke eloquently of exhaustion, but when he suggested rest and a visit from the doctor, she adamantly refused.

“Did you get him? Is that how you found me?”

“The others are taking care of that now.” Javier ran gentle hands over her to test for broken bones and to reassure himself she was okay.

“Take me to them. I’ve got information they’ll need.”

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

Baylee raised her chin defiantly. “He didn’t hurt me, if that’s what you mean. I’m fine, but now I’m seeing red. Let’s end this.”

He noticed she retained the blanket slung over her shoulders, though.

“Baylee’s safe,” Javier keyed up the radio’s microphone and spoke in clipped tones, alerting Nate and Dalton to the developing situation. “We’re bringing her down now. Is it clear? I don’t want her seeing him right now.” His first concern, at this point, was Baylee’s safety. Getting Remy was still a priority, but not as high as making sure his family was out of harm’s way.

“I’m not scared of him, Javi. I want to help.” When he hesitated, she said, “Please, Javi. I need to do this for Tomas.” She staggered to her feet, stiff from the position she’d been forced into for so many hours. The blanket slipped enough for him to see the raw, red marks where Remy had bound her wrists. The man would pay for that alone, Javier vowed.

“You will not confront Remy Vincent but I’ll take you to Nate if he says he can keep that from happening.” Baylee opened her mouth to protest, but Javier wouldn’t hear of it and refused to continue the conversation until Nate issued the all clear.

Back in the suite, Nate quickly checked Baylee for signs of shock or injury. Part of his focus remained on EV and Remy, while the others hovered around the recent captive. Soon, Baylee was firmly settled into a comfortably soft chair with a plate of food in her lap and a glass of water on the table at her elbow.

When he judged her color had returned enough to satisfy him, Javier said, “Okay, tell us what happened. Did you find any evidence?.”

Baylee’s eyes widened. “You mean you didn’t find it? And he didn’t…” Baylee searched their faces for the answer and saw only puzzlement. “Well, everything was going according to plan—I managed to snap several photos of some pretty damning evidence—until I left the room and came face to face with Remy himself. He chased me, dragged me to that empty room, and took my camera.” A smile lit Baylee’s face, and she continued, her voice full of derision toward Remy and smugness at what happened next.

“Didn’t do him any good, though. I managed to pull the memory card and hide it before he caught me. Once he realized I had already stashed the evidence, he started making threats. I could tell he didn’t have the stones to actually hurt me, so I kept my mouth shut as long as I could. I knew his texts from my phone wouldn’t fool you for long, Javi.” Admiration shone in her eyes, and was reflected back in kind. Javier had underestimated the amount of sheer badassery his sister-in-law possessed; he wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“Just one question. Where is the memory card now?”

“It should be in Chloe’s closet. I shoved it in her bag of dry cleaning before he caught up to me. I’d have gotten away completely but I made a wrong turn and hit a dead end. When he threatened to ruin Garritek, I told him where it was, but if he didn’t find it, the staff must have already gone through and