Porter's statement sounded curious not regretful as if he wanted to measure my response. His words were like a knife in my heart, yet I had to stay with him while the blood drained from my body. I staggered back in shock before I could catch myself, a box of heavy cargo at my back the only thing stopping my retreat.

Calm down, I cried inwardly. Porter couldn't miss my reaction or my small gasp. I wasn't sure what I was to do next. Rational thinking under duress wasn't one of my stronger traits. I recovered as quickly as I could, but he was already measuring my weakness.

"How?" The word came out more devastated than I had planned.

"Don't look so sad, Caraleena. I did try. I personally spoke with Madeline. But by the time we agreed on terms she'd already killed him."

No, no, no. My head was shaking before he finished his story. "Did you see a body?"

Porter laughed. "Nah, why would she lie? I guess whatever Kael had to sort with her couldn't be sorted." He sucked in the side of his mouth in half-hearted sympathy. "I've had to run things, get the shipments going again, but to be honest, I'm in over my head. You want to stay and take care of some of the paperwork and..."

I interrupted, "No." I spoke emphatically. "We have to be sure."

Porter stepped forward. Inches from me now, he tilted his head again, his eyes boring into my skull. My breath caught, but I wouldn't look away. I wished I knew what he was thinking. All I could guess was some curiosity regarding my persistence. He didn't look overly suspicious or alarmed. Leaning back slightly, I felt the pressure of the gun at my waist.

With authority, I stated, "A team of us will go in, make sure he isn't still held in there. Do you have the layout of Madeline's new headquarters?"

"Whoa!" Porter leaned away from me, hands raised. "I hated Kael as much as the next guy," he scoffed, "but you are not getting me to agree to a suicide mission to poke around Madeline's!" His large Adam's apple bobbed as he laughed. "I have enough people trying to kill me already, thank you."

He was fighting to gain control over the situation. I could see the challenge in his small black eyes. There would be doubt in the minds of the criminals behind that camera too. Tension seized in the pit of my stomach. It was only a matter of time until more of them descended. I stepped toward him, coming a breath from his face. With concerted effort, my look was menacing. This would require straying from the smart, well scripted plan Ava, Garrett, and I had constructed. But we hadn't planned on Porter proclaiming Kael dead.

"Don't help me, and you won't have a job anymore." I spat the words and ignored the grimace that followed.

He shot back, "What gives you the right? You have no authority here Miss Cara..."

"Miss Harper. You learned that when you were transferred to the Manor, didn't you?" His evasive expression verified my suspicions. I pressed on. "I do have authority over you and Kael because I own this pile of rock. If you don't help me, your time here is finished. I have my own crew in the US. I don't have time for renegade employees." When Porter said nothing, only stared in bewildered silence, I nodded, confident that he was taking me seriously. "Now assemble a crew. We leave tonight."

Porter's face turned a deep shade of red. He didn't argue. Presumably, he trusted that I could follow through on my threat. I brushed passed him without another word, toward the main conference room. On my own, I'd find my way to the main house.

My thoughts oscillated between triumph and exhaustion. I had seen how Kael treated his employees. He had demanded respect, fear even. If I was to use them to my advantage, I would have to do the same even if it was the hardest thing I had ever done.

---

The manor was quiet when I came up from the dark stairwell. Unchanged, the modern elegance of the place felt false and contrived. I went to the foyer. Floor to ceiling portraits of my ancestors hung on the walls, reflected in the polished marble floors. My father's hung near the hall table. I stopped there, wondering why I had been drawn to it. Chiseled features and a square jaw were vaguely familiar from our brief encounter last year. Something inside me ached to talk to him again. It was strange to have such a connection to someone you didn't know. Slowly I took a turn of the room. The images surrounded and appraised me with disdain. I didn't stay there long.

Arthur and Maria were my first priority before returning to the crew downstairs. When I spoke to them I lied, saying our stay was going well and would be extended. I only wanted to allay their fears and ensure they were safe.

Maria chatted aimlessly about charities, new restaurants we should try, and the spring fashion trends in New York. Just hearing my voice seemed to put her at ease. Arthur sensed that something was wrong, I was sure. His intuitiveness missed nothing, especially relative to his family. Even if he had sensed something, he seemed content to allow me to continue my charade for now.

As I took the narrow steps back downstairs, I wondered if I would ever speak to my adoptive family again. Morbid as the thought was, I didn't know how long or how well I could continue this facade. The instant these smugglers discovered my weakness they would kill me. I had to find Kael before they learned the truth.

Porter had followed my instructions and assembled a team. His beady eyes missed nothing. When I entered I felt him watching me. Half a dozen men had gathered, exceeding Ava's hopes. I recognized a few of them. Bulky and rough, their appearance was as sobering as Porter's. I walked to the table and spread my hands across the blueprints spread over its surface. The feel of six pairs of eyes on me sent up the hairs on the back of my neck.

Clearing my throat, I delayed despite the cloud of expectation that hung over the room. Madeline's place was huge, a labyrinth of tunnels ran under the massive structure. The name in the corner caught my eye. Conway Castle. My attention stuck there a moment. Where had I heard that name before?

There was endless potential here. Guards could be hiding in any of the countless corridors and tunnels under the place. Worse, Madeline was inside. I stifled a shudder at the thought. No specific plan came to mind, but I couldn't show my insufficiencies. Not for the first time, I emulated what I thought Kael would do now.

I raised my head. With narrowed eyes, I appraised each man in turn until settling my attention on Porter. "Ok, what have you got?" I asked, my voice even.

Porter hesitated, briefly considering me before launching a discussion of the best entry point. I missed some of what passed between the crew, but I was sure we would review it later. As he spoke, relief washed over me. They believed me. Better still, they were going to help me.

Twelve hours later, I had an idea of how we would infiltrate Conway Castle, though I found keeping up my act exhausting. But I kept myself in check, masking any indication that I was far out of my comfort zone.

"You ready? We're almost there." Porter cut into my thoughts. His voice could just be heard over the boat's motor. Tonight, his face seemed even more narrow, his widow's peak pronounced by his receding hairline.

I gave a short nod and stood to adjust my backpack, praying that all the cables and hooks I would need were there. No one knew I was terrified of heights as well as water. After hours of self-coaching, I had almost stopped shaking outwardly, though my pulse pounded in my throat.

Porter came to lay a hand on my shoulder. "We should look at the prints one more time. The wing you're taking is down here." He motioned to the prints on the table.

I only nodded, not confident that my voice would be steady. If we were discovered inside and a fight ensued, my limited skills wouldn't be easy to hide. My plan was to find Kael before that happened. Room for error was large, and the implications of capture would weigh on me until I found him.

Ava had an exit strategy if tonight's mission failed to go as planned. I tapped my ear, feeling the concealed earpiece she had given me. Communications with her had been succinct. She only needed an outline of the plan to enact her own. Trusting her in this was essential.

The team of six was assembled on the upper deck. Small waves lapped against the boat. Clad in dark wet suits with waterproofed gear strapped on our backs, we looked ready to infiltrate a criminal base. Porter motioned for us to come close and look at the prints one last time.

"Remember, once you check your assigned wing, meet back here." He pointed to a rotunda near the back of the structure, our entrance and exit. "If he's alive, my money's on somewhere down here." He indicated the wings he and I would be checking. Both had long tunnels that spread like a spider's web. As he spoke, he opened a black case on the table I hadn't noticed. Inside, a syringe rested against black foam.

He turned it over in his hand with care. "Trust me, if they've kept him this long, he's drugged. If you find him, call me. I'll bring this stimulant and help you with extraction."

"No," I didn't hesitate. "Give it to me."

Porter raised a brow. I reached out and took it from him. My plan was contingent on finding Kael myself and keeping him with me. If someone else found Kael, I needed them to call me not Porter.

Porter didn't look affected by my decision. Good. These men seemed accustomed to authority figures who were abrupt and rude.

"Fine," he conceded. "It works quickly and it's short acting. Give half when you find him. Save the other half for later."

"Of course," I snapped. I wanted to ask how short acting the stimulant was, but he should believe I knew. My hands shook as I tucked the syringe into a zippered pocket in my black wetsuit.

We were close to shore, a brief, cold swim ahead of us. The castle loomed high over the water. Though I hadn't had time to consider why, the place looked familiar.

Eric called to us in an irritated whisper, "Let's go before we attract attention."

I jumped into the water before I could reconsider, thankful that the wetsuit preserved some of my body heat. The others jumped in after me. Our descent made a muted thump in the water. Lapping waves were then the only sound in the night.

As I swam closer to the high wall, a knot settled in my stomach. The stone fortress became larger on closer inspection. Narrow ledges for footholds were between the stones that encased her. Maria and I had taken a rock climbing trip in Colorado a couple of years ago. I'd almost enjoyed it then. I tried to focus on this as I advanced, though I knew this was far more dangerous.

Rising out of the water, I grasped the ledge. I removed my first clamp, placing it a generous arm's length above me. To be safe I placed a few more, taking my time to pull myself up against the wall. I flattened myself against the stone before I glanced behind me. The boat was lost to the fog.

"What am I doing?" I whispered to myself as looked up at the stone wall above me and prayed we'd make it out alive.    

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What do you think she'll find inside? Danger is always lurking... Thanks for reading guys!!

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