SEIZED, A Romantic Suspense Novella by Suzanne Ferrell Read Free Book Online Page A

man passing through the sliding doors leading into the ER. “That would be Lieutenant Brush, sir.”
    “Thank you, officer…?” Jake asked as he pocketed his credentials and studied the chaotic activity inside the ER bay.
    “Wilson, sir.”
    “Wilson, is the SWAT team on their way?”
    “Not yet, sir. The lieutenant hasn’t told me to watch for them. They may be at the other emergency.”
    Jake snapped his head around to focus on the younger man. “Other emergency?”
    “Someone called in a bomb threat to the State House just before we got the news from upstairs to evacuate. We were on duty as protection detail for Senator Klein and happened to be here to help get people out of the building.”
    No SWAT. That could be a good thing. One less thing for their team to deal with, but who called in the other bomb threat? Was it real? Or had the lone gunman upstairs set it up as a diversion?
    “I’ll check in with your superior then.” He started to walk away, paused and looked back at the officer who’d returned to his duty guarding the perimeter. “Wilson, one of my associates will be arriving soon. Blond, about six-two, average build, name of Luke Edgars. He’ll probably be carrying a laptop. Let him in when he gets here, okay?”
    “Yes sir, Agent Carlisle.”
    As he wove his way through the chaos of stretchers, wheelchairs and staff, he pulled out his phone and hit the button for his youngest brother-in-law.
    “Just pulling up behind Castello’s SUV, Jake,” Luke said as he answered.
    “Try to get closer to the ER. There’s an officer by the name of Wilson securing the perimeter. He’s expecting you. I’m gonna need you up here.”
    “Where’s everyone else?”
    “Should be getting close to Judy. See you in a few. Oh, and you work for the FBI today, got it?”
    “Woo-hoo, a promotion. Got it.”
    Jake shook his head. Luke, the youngest of Sami’s older brothers, was a cross between a college frat boy and computer genius with intuitive field skills. Some day he was going to run into a case that forced him to grow up and harness that brain of his.
    He dialed Matt’s phone next.
    “You’re on speaker. How do things look out there?” Matt, always to the point, asked.
    “Seems someone called in a bomb threat to the State House moments before our guy took Judy and the others hostage.”
    “Think it was our bad guy?”
    “You know I never like coincidences, so for now I’d say yes. A good way to keep off the SWAT team’s radar. Usually a smart move, only this time he’s done us a favor.”
    “How do you figure that?” Matt asked.
    “Because,” Dave broke in, his voice strained, “they’d want us to stand down and there’s no way in hell I’m abandoning my wife to this maniac, no matter who thinks they’re in charge.”
    “Right,” Jake said. “Let me know when you’re outside the OR. In the meantime, The Boy Wonder and I are going to see if we can take over the situation out here. Anything else I need to know since we split?”
    “The gunman wants Senator Klein brought up to the main OR door. He gave the nurse ten minutes to see that happen,” Katie added.
    “His people aren’t going to let that happen,” Jake said, already scanning the area for the senator and his people.
    “You find a way to make it happen, Jake. Judy’s life might depend on it.” There was silence for a moment. “I can’t lose her.”
    Jake swallowed hard. He’d done whatever it required to save Sami, just as Dave would do to save Judy. “I’ll get him up there, even if I have to kidnap him myself.”
    Jake pressed the off button, pocketed his phone and pulled out his credentials once more. Donning his agent-in-charge face, he strode through the ER doors and straight up to the man Officer Wilson had pointed out. “Lieutenant Brush?”
    The older man turned and gave him a once-over from head to toe. “Yes. You are?”
    Jake flipped open his credentials. “Carlisle. FBI.”
    “Who called you in?”