Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

kid.”
    “We’re all smart here , and don’t swear.”
    Now he did smile. He drove the cart into the brush, then took off his belt and wound it around her wrists and ankles and buckled it to the steering wheel so she couldn’t move. He stuffed his handkerchief into her mouth. “Sorry, Anna, but you’re right. I’ve got ta make this look good.” She nodded. “You okay?” She nodded again. “I’ll be back to get you if they don’t get me first.” He kissed her forehead and left.
    Sticking to the perimeter of the wooded area, he dashed toward the back of the building s . V oices filtered from around the front. Familiar voices. Lucier listened. He’d never forget Slater’s, but the other one gave him pause until he realized it was Silas Compton’s. He didn’t recognize the third voice responding to Compton ’s orders.
    “Don’t release the two women for any reason. I don’t care whether one of them goes into cardiac arrest. It’d be a ploy, and Diana Racine is the princess of ploys. My daughter is queen.”
    “Yes, sir,” the third voice said.
    Daughter. Had to be Maia, Lucier thought. She and Diana were locked up together. That’s a break . I think . He waited a full ten minutes , until after the voices disappeared into the night. When he was about to start for the building , something press ed into his back , and a man’s voice said, “Don’t move . ”
    Lucier raised his hands and sighed. So close .
    He turned to face a handsome man, thin and wiry, holding a stick for a gun and carry ing a baby in a sling . With him was one of the most beautiful women Lucier had ever seen, and he’d seen a lot of beautiful women lately.
    “Are you the cop from New Orleans?” the man asked.
    Lucier nodded.
    “I’m Cal Easley. This is Anat Crane. We’ve come to get you out of here.

Chapter F ifty - Three
    T he Ticket to Ride

    “L et’s get as far away from here as we can,” Diana said. “If we’re going to be caught, I want to give them a run for their money.”
    “One thing in our favor. Silas won’t wake Phillip in the middle of the night . He’ll wait till morning. They’ve gone back to sleep.” Maia grabbed Diana’s arm, looked both ways outside the door, and hurried her out the b uilding, heading for the woods.
    “Diana.”
    She stopped in her tracks. Ernie . “I’d know that voice anywhere.” She whirled around , saw Lucier with two other people , and ran into his arms with t ears fill ing her eyes . Smothering him with kisses , she said, “ God, I thought you were dead.”
    He held her close. “For a while, so did I. A fter Slater brought you into my prison , I was so worried. I ― ”
    “Look,” Cal said, interrupting. “I’m glad you two found each other and are both able to talk about it, but not here . N ot now. We’ve got to move .”
    Maia and the woman Diana assumed was Anat Crane huddled in hushed conversation, obviously relieved to reconnect. Diana had no idea who the man carrying a baby in a sling was.
    “Wait,” Lucier said. “I left a young girl, Anna, tied up in one of the golf carts. Someone’s got to release her.”
    “Already did,” Cal said. “She gave me a run-down of tonight’s happenings. I told her to get back to her dormitory. The door will be locked, but if anyone asks about Steel , she’s to say he’s with you. She’ll be okay. No one will suspect anything.” He put his hand gently on Diana’s bac k, leading her toward the cart. “I’m Cal Easley,” he said.
    Cal Easley’s touch passed to Diana one of the oldest emotions known to man. Love. The love in his heart for the little girl he carried. The sensation was so intense it took Diana’s breath away.
    U nstrapp ing the baby’s sling , Cal transferred her to Anat. “Come on . ” Both piled into their cart. “D o you fly a plane, Lieutenant?”
    “No. Why, is there one in the compound?”
    “A couple of them , plus a chopper .”
    “Do you?” Lucier asked Cal.
    “No. Never mind.” Cal said. “We’ll need both carts. Follow us, be as quiet as possible.”
    “How did you know we were here?” Lucier asked.
    “Little Anna. ” Cal start ed his cart. “It’ll be dawn in a couple of hours. We have to be gone by then.”
    “What about Seth?” Maia asked. “What about my children?”
    Cal turned back to face her. “ W e’ll get your children. First Seth. He’s our ticket out of here. Trust me, Maia.” Then he took off.
    Lucier turned to Maia in the back seat. “I