Page 32 of Hostile Saint

Lynx smacked the back of his head. “Dude! Total jailbait.”

That had me laughing even more, and so proud of my girl. “Isn’t she an angel?”

Vice had his hands braced to his knees to stay bent over. “The way the sun was hitting her, I was shocked wings didn’t appear.”

Now Dagger eyed him. “Wings?” His stare squinted. “Did you get into Pup’s leftover pain meds?”

I laughed even more, my chest loosening and filling with air.

“Nah! I’m serious, Dag!” By the way Vice was talking, I knew he’d seen my girl. “Somethin’ about her, like a fairy sitting in the flowers—Where ya going?”

Lynx and Dagger were headed for the kitchen. Lynx said, “To get a beer.”

Dagger added, “And find your balls.”

Standing up straight, Vice waved a hand while dismissing them, then told me, “Yep. She looked clean, fresh bandages, and calm.” He grinned. “It’s from far away, but I managed to get a pic—” I gasped, dying for a glance of the photo, but Vice suddenly appeared bored, checking out his fingernails. “Not that I know anyone who wants to see it.”

I reached out with a hand, so desperate, you would have thought I was going to finally get to touch the real Lacey.

A cellphone was placed in my palm.

There she was, in a flowered courtyard, just like Vice had described. The morning sun beamed down on her. The same sun I touched again that very morning, just like I had every morning while in that rental. My throat tightened. The picture was, indeed, from far away, and there was tall fencing all around her, but there was no mistaking… “My Pretty Girl,” I moaned, so happy she looked healthy, all considered, yet so sad because I wanted to feel her. Smell her. Kiss her.

As I stared, Dagger and Lynx returned, handing Vice a beer. Vice asked me, “Can ya tilt that phone slightly, kid?” When I did, he pointed to the screen, his tone shifting to some sort of Pro Mode. “That fencing is electric.”

“No shit?” asked Dagger.

“Yeah, I guess they ain’t taking no chances of escapees.”

Behind Lacey, who was sitting in a Victorian iron chair, was a huge old grey castle-like building. According to the barred windows, it looked to be three-stories high.

“Security?” Lynx asked Vice.

“Only a few outside cameras near entrances. We can easily knock them out. No guards. Just a couple of big ol’ orderlies.” He pointed again. “The pic is from me standing in some woods. The same ones she appeared from when they found her.” He further explained, “No neighbors at all. Easy to get in and out with no witnesses, especially at night. They don’t even have a high number of patients. Quite exclusive.”

“Sounds too easy,” grumbled Dagger as if he was sensing a catch.

Vice nodded while rubbing his fingers together to represent money. “The place is soon going to be locked up tight. Once their new system is in, you’ll need a passcode to get in. We break in, alarms will ring-n-sing. Her room is on the third floor. Not much time to not care about triggering loud alarms. Oh, and no elevator. If she’s not coming willingly, we will have to carry her down the open and exposed stairs. Her cries will be heard throughout that whole damn old ass building, alerting the orderlies.” His finger came into my view. “Sorry, kid. Just give me a sec.” He swiped the picture to another one to show us a grand sweeping staircase made of polished wood. “I looked up pics on their website. This staircase is our only way of reaching her unless we scale the outside of the building.” He swiped his finger to put Lace in front of me again.

Lynx asked, “She afraid of heights, kid?”

“I-I don’t know. My bedroom was on ground level. Hers was on the second floor, but she never had to use it. Only me.”

After a moment of pondering, Dagger asked, “Vice, will you be able to get us a code to get in, if needed?”

“Already on it, boss. I’ve ordered a motion-activated camera. Plannin’ on hiding it underneath the overhang in front of the door, but I’m hoping I stalled that project.”

“Come again?” comically asked Dagger.

Vice beamed proudly as he pulled a beautiful knife from his leather pouch that hung on his belt. “This doc is a fanatic about the impressive lawn. It just so happens their lawn sprinkler system is having some technical difficulties. It should take a couple weeks to find all the leaks.” He housed his knife again.

Lynx rumbled, “Let me get this straight. As Romeo has to ‘woo’ his girl, and we are hiding on the skirts of this property, there will be lawn men wandering about?”

Vice tapped his temple. “Front yard. This place is massive. I gotchu, Boo.”

Lynx snarled, “Boo?” He shook his head to clear his thoughts. “My VP,” he leaned back to stretch, “how’s our schedule? How long can I hang here?”

From the floor, I peered up at Lynx. “I’ll be fine. If you need to go, I’ll figure something out.”