Page 11 of Reclaiming Chaos
Chapter 5
Carlee
Ridge Bennett walked toward the front doors glancing around the area as if he could feel Carless’ gaze. Tall, dark, and handsome. He wasn’t hard to miss. His wavy hair was in need of a trim. The five o’clock shadow needed a shave. But she knew he’d never slow down for something so trivial, until he caught his prey.
He was beautiful and strong and everything she’d hoped. He’d exceeded her expectations in brains and determination.
He’d disappeared inside for an hour. At that moment, he was probably talking to Amy. If he was, then Carlee’s worst suspicions were confirmed. The one time in her life she’d wished to be wrong. She wasn’t.
She’d sketched the familiar office building, where she’d spent the last six years working, just this morning. Beneath that she’d written Ridge’s name again.
There was no denying it now. Him saving the girl should have been enough to make him believe her predictions were coming true. Him in the building was just another validation that her life was about to change forever, and it all started and ended with him.
The female Fed that had arrived with him had just left in another SUV. His partner was pretty and confident and, most notably, more in tune with her intuition than the others Carlee had seen from afar. The woman had scanned the area as if sensing Carlee had been watching her. As if feeling Carlee had been nearby.
The female agent eventually climbed inside the car, and it took off. Moments later, Carlee’s supervisor, Amy, had ushered Barbara out of the courtyard where they’d engaged in a heated debate. They were both good people. Carlee knew first hand. A comradery was building between them. They’d been the first to believe what Carlee had to say.
Barbara had been coming to the same conclusions as Carlee in her attempt to get to the truth. She’d hidden her psychic predictions as much as possible from the company that had groomed them both. It was imperative they all hid their predictions when realizing what exactly was at stake.
Barbara had left after terse words with Amy. Carlee had watched her drive away. Today was the last time Barbara would ever give the company access to her predictions. She was running, too.
Carlee glanced at her watch. Ridge would walk out the entry doors in the next five minutes. Ten minutes later she’d see the security guards sent to follow him.
Sometimes it was a curse knowing what was about to happen. She’d missed the butterflies in her stomach experience of her first kiss. Birthday presents were never a surprise. But sometimes in situations like these where the consequences mattered most, it was a blessing and she was going to need all the help she could get.
Knowing what was about to happen is what drove her to put a burner phone in his car. The device was tucked neatly in the cup holder in the center console. The phone she’d gifted him at her house had been sent to be analyzed. Ridge Bennett was nothing if not efficient at his job. It was what made playing this game with him so much more intriguing.
The next phone call she made to him was the only way to make things right. The only way they both walked out of this alive.
Right on schedule, Ridge exited the building, his expression was a mask of stone. He strode through the parking lot and paused before he got into the government-issued SUV. Hand on the door handle, he lifted his gaze once more to the top floor, and Carlee followed the line of sight. Mr. Russell was visible in the bank of windows, hands on his hips, staring at Ridge.
Carlee pulled her hat a little lower. Her heart raced. She was too close to the flames. Her skin burned with the risk of being exposed. Sweat dripped down her back. Heat licked through her chest.
It had to be like this. Carlee had to be here. She played a major role in what happened next.
Carlee picked up the phone and dialed a cell phone number. Her finger poised over the send button.
Ridge slid inside his SUV and pulled out. A moment later, two cars followed behind. One was a security guard she knew well. The other she didn’t know at all.
He turned out of the complex and drove toward the gate.
Carlee went through the employee lot. The parking area was the only unguarded entrance. An employee card key was all that was needed to enter or exit to cover her tracks, she’d stolen another worker’s card—one from another floor in another division not traceable to her.
Carlee was wrong for stealing it. Especially with everything Amy knew about Carlee and her secrets. The first time Carlee gave Amy a prediction with significant consequences was the first time Amy had let her guard down and actually helped Carlee make things right. Mira hadn’t been the first to be saved, and she definitely wouldn’t be the last.
Carlee waited for the bar to raise and lower behind her before she blocked her phone number and hit dial on the phone. It took five rings before Ridge answered.
“Agent Bennett,” he said with a commanding tone into the phone.
“Ridge, It’s Carlee. Sorry about breaking into your car. It was the only way to speak with you.”
“We can fix that, Carlee,” Ridge said. “Just tell me where you are, and we can talk face to face.”
“That would be suicidal if we did that right this minute.”
“Yeah, and why is that?” Ridge asked.
“Because you have a tail,” Carlee said into the phone. “Blue sedan has been following you since you pulled out of the compound.”
