Into the Dark by Stacy Green Page A

building had to be included on the list. Who knew how many people had worked in the old building over the past century?
    Avery wouldn’t have time to interview all potential suspects. He needed to take full advantage of the FBI’s resources. He and the agent assigned to the case needed to focus on the most obvious candidates: current employees and ex bank employees. It was unlikely someone Emilie didn’t even know would help kidnap her.
    Of course, maybe the person didn’t realize what he was doing. Maybe this partner just happened to find out about the passage and used it to go after Emilie. The informant could be anyone with a connection to either the old building or to the bank .
    Nathan rolled over and stared at the wall. Last year, Avery had botched a drug bust the FBI and narcotics had been working on for six months. Then he’d lost crucial evidence in a murder case that resulted in a mistrial.
    Avery can’t handle this .
    * * * *
    “Jesus, Em.” Jeremy Vance guided Emilie to his waiting mini-van. One of the few people she called a friend, he was also the bank president. Without his support, Emilie would have never gotten back on her feet after her divorce.
    “That’s a nasty bruise.”
    “I haven’t looked at it.” Emilie glanced at Jeremy. Her boss was short and pudgy with dirty blonde hair rapidly being taken over by arctic highlights. Too much sun had turned his plump cheeks bright rouge. “I’m sorry your vacation was interrupted. I take it you came straight from the plane?”
    He smoothed his wrinkled, blue polo shirt and khaki shorts. “Don’t worry about it. I would have been here sooner, but I’ve been dealing with the police.”
    Emilie snapped her seatbelt into place. “Feel like you’re in the Twilight Zone yet?”
    “By the time I got to WestOne, the police had set up construction lights in the tunnel so the forensic team could do their thing. The bugs—holy shit. Saw one of the biggest crab spiders I’ve ever seen.” He stopped short at the horrified look on Emilie’s face.
    “Damn, Em, I’m sorry. You know I rattle off without thinking. How are you doing?”
    “I’m here and not in the stinking storm drains with the mole-man.” She shrugged. “That counts for something, right?”
    “You really think Lisa could be involved?”
    “You know she hates me. And she didn’t look sick when she left.”
    “But do you really think she’d do something like this?” Jeremy raised both sun-bleached eyebrows. “Just because she resents you doesn’t mean she would help some crazy man kidnap you.”
    “Who else is there?”
    “The police are also looking at anyone previously affiliated with the old building.”
    “People who used to work at the hotel?”
    “They would have knowledge of the original foundation. For all we know, the guy who tried to kidnap you could have worked at the old hotel. Maybe he didn’t have an accomplice.”
    “That’s true,” Emilie said. “You and I didn’t even know about the door, so why would Lisa? Although I wouldn’t put it past her to go digging around in storage looking for freebies.”
    “Come on.” Jeremy rolled his eyes. “You’ve never had any proof she’s stolen supplies.”
    “Did I accuse her of stealing? No. I simply said I wouldn’t put it past her.”
    “Em, don’t turn this into a witch-hunt because you and Lisa dislike each other.”
    Emilie bit her tongue. Jeremy had been so good to her, humoring him was the least she could do.
    “Let’s say the partner did work at the old hotel.” She changed the subject. “Why me? How did I get involved? And I still say it would have been much easier to kidnap me from home. Maybe the guy’s a drama queen. Maybe he liked all the attention he got from staging the bank robbery.”
    “You’re being awfully matter-of-fact about this.”
    “That’s how I roll these days. What should I do, sit in a corner and cry?”
    Jeremy smacked a meaty hand against the steering wheel. “You