Our Time (Baytown Boys Book 11)

by Maryann Jordan

  His phone vibrated, and he looked down as his mom texted in return. Colt on his way. Just as he read that, his phone vibrated again, Colt replying. Stay out of sight. On my way.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, he startled when he heard footsteps coming back toward the truck.

  “Did you get it?” he heard John ask.

  “Easy,” Billy replied. “Wasn’t it, kid?”

  He could hear Colby crying, “This isn’t right. You shouldn’t take that.”

  “Jesus, this is easy,” Billy replied. “Quit crying. The old lady isn’t out of anything. The pharmacy will send her new pills, so she’ll be fine. Hell, if she doesn’t lock her house any better than that, we might make a return visit.”

  Jack heard the truck doors opening and slamming again and prayed that Colt was nearby. The engine started, and they pulled out of the driveway, bouncing him as Billy hit potholes. Once on the road, he could tell they were not speeding. At first, surprised that Billy was not gunning the truck away, he realized that Billy was probably trying to not draw any undue attention to himself.

  The truck made a few turns, but he had no idea where they were, hating that he could not alert Colt to their location. He had not been able to discern any conversation from the cab of the truck, but suddenly could hear John shout, “Shit!”

  Wondering what was happening, his heart pounded, fear and uncertainty tearing through him.

  Colt’s heart was beating harder than he ever remembered, horrific scenarios running through his mind. The truck crashing with Jack unprotected in the back. Billy discovering Jack and needing to keep him quiet. Billy and John turning on the two younger boys.

  “Hold on, man,” Hunter said. “Just remember, we gotta do everything by the book.”

  Hunter’s words bounced off Colt, and he wondered if he would be able to keep from wringing Billy and John’s necks when he finally got to them.

  Hunter was in contact with the other deputies that were following, and Colt knew he was putting roadblocks in place at either end of the road. When patrolling the county, they had a large, spread out, rural area, but he knew that he was a helluva lot better off than other rural law enforcers. For Colt, east and west were the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. South was the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and Hunter had already alerted the Tunnel Authority so that the black truck would not be able to get onto the bridge. Liam had been notified to the north, so that meant Billy had very few places to run.

  Hunter called out, “Over there. Dead ahead,” just as Colt’s gaze landed on a black pickup truck driving slowly toward them. Colt glanced in the rearview mirror, seeing another deputy’s car pulling behind him. As Hunter signaled, they moved beside him, creating a roadblock. With flat farmland on either side of the road, he prayed that Billy would slow down and come to a stop, not attempting anything stupid that could harm Jack in the back of the pickup.

  Heart in his throat, he finally breathed a sigh of relief as the black pickup truck slowed to a halt. Jumping from the SUV, he stalked toward the truck with Hunter right on his tail. Deputies had come behind Billy’s truck, completely cutting off his escape route.

  As Billy climbed from the driver seat, he shouted, “What’s the problem? We were just giving Colby a ride to church.”

  As Colt approached, he watched Colby’s wide-eyed, pale face as Billy continued to question why he was being harassed.

  With a sardonic edge to his voice, Hunter asked, “Is that right? Just a little drive in the country? Being a good Samaritan and giving a ride to a kid?”

  Colby looked between Hunter and Colt, his mouth opening, but shutting quickly as Billy growled, “Shut it, kid.”

  Suddenly, just as Colt reached the truck, the tarp shifted to the side, and Jack popped his head up from the bed. Colt felt as though his knees would hit the concrete. Until he had taken Carrie and Jack into his heart, he had never been afraid to do his job, but now knew what true fear was.

  Jack bolted from the back bed of the truck, his feet hitting the asphalt road, a shaky grin on his face.

  Billy turned around, stammering, “Wh…what the hell? Where…where did you come from?”

  Jack looked up at Colt and said, “You don’t know how glad I am to see you!”

  Colt felt relief pouring off Jack as much as himself. He grabbed Jack up in a bear hug, not caring if it embarrassed him or not.

  Jack immediately said, “I saw Billy and John force Colby into the truck. And then they went to some lady’s house and broke in. They said they stole her pills.”

  By that time, the other deputies had gotten Colby and John out of the cab of the truck, frisking each of them, finding the pill bottles in John’s pockets. They began putting handcuffs on the two older boys.

  Jack looked up and said, “Colby wasn’t doing anything, Colt. He was forced to go with them.”

  “I understand that, Jack,” he said. “We’re going to have to take everyone into the station where we can get statements from each of you. That includes you too, okay?”

  Jack nodded but startled when he suddenly said, “Mom?”

  “We're going to call her right now, buddy.”

  Jack walked over to Colt’s SUV, greeted Hunter, and climbed into the backseat, buckling his seatbelt. Colt slid behind the steering wheel, already having Carrie on the phone. “I’ve got them, babe. He’s good. He’s fine. We’re heading back to the station, and you can meet us there.”

  As soon as Colt disconnected with Carrie, Jack began telling what had happened. Colt stopped him and said, “Hang on, buddy. Once we get to the station, then you’re going to need to go over all of this. And I’ll be listening, but I can’t be taking charge since you and I are involved.”

  Colt glanced into the rearview mirror, seeing Jack nod. It did not take long to drive back to Easton, and Colt spied Carrie’s car in the front of the parking lot. “Looks like we’ve got a welcome party,” he said.

  By the time Jack climbed out of the backseat, Carrie was already running over. Dropping to her knees, she pulled her son into a hug. After a moment, her eyes snapped open, and she stood, her hands on Jack's shoulders and said, “Don’t you ever scare me like that again!”

  Jack looked up and said, “Mom, I’m sorry I scared you, but I had to do something. I just couldn’t let them take Colby away.”

  Colt stepped up, knowing that Carrie, Jack, and he had a lot to talk about later, but for now, he said, “We need to head inside so we can get everyone’s statements.”

  They walked up the steps and into the reception area, both Carrie and Jack’s eyes darting around. Hunter took the lead, and they followed through several security doors and back into a large room with many desks inside.

  Colt turned to Jack and explained, “Hunter is the lead detective in this investigation. He and Detective Perez are going to have you give a statement of what you know. Then they're going to talk to Colby. They’re also going to be interviewing Billy and John separately.”

  As he looked at Jack, he had to fight a grin, seeing the excitement on the boy’s face. Bending slightly so that he could look into Jack’s eyes without appearing to treat him like a little boy, he added, “Jack, just know that I’m very proud of you. Right now, make sure you keep to the facts and tell them exactly what happened.”

  Nodding, Jack said, “I get it, Colt. I can do that.” A few minutes later, Hunter walked into the room, his eyes moving past Colt and Carrie. They landed on Jack, and he smiled slightly. “Okay, Jack. Follow me.”

  Colt watched as Carrie’s gaze followed Jack’s every step he took until he disappeared behind a door. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her in close, kissing her forehead. “Babe, I know you’re freaked. Take a deep breath. He’s fine. He’s with us. And he is a fuckin’ hero.”

  Carrie’s head jerked back as her eyes sought his and said, “Colt! He put himself at risk. In danger. I mean, anything could’ve happened—”

  “I know, babe,” he said. “And I’m going to talk to him
, man to man, about what to do when faced with a dangerous situation in the future. But honestly, he did really good. He was worried about his friend and not willing to let his friend hang out there by himself.”

  Carrie did not reply but burrowed in closer to him. Finally, she sighed heavily and asked, “What happens now?”

  “For Jack, Hunter needs to ask him questions and get his official statement. Basically, Jack will explain what he heard, what he saw, and what he did.”

  “And Colby?”

  “Colby’s mom is being called and should be here soon. If what Jack is saying is true, that Colby was forced into the truck and was being forced to go along with what happened, then he’ll be released to his mom.”

  “Colt, when he called me, he said something about Mr. Jamieson,” she said. He did not reply, and Carrie continued to hold his gaze. “Do you think he knew what the boys were going to do?”

  “I can’t talk about an active investigation, sweetheart, but I will say that my detectives will find out from Billy and John exactly what’s going on.”

  “Oh,” she said, and he smiled as her soft voice hit him in the gut like it always did.

  Trevon signaled for him, and he said, “Babe, stay here for a while. If you need anything, then let someone know. I’m going to be in the observation room. They’ll bring Jack out to you as soon as he’s finished and then the two of you can go on home.”

  “You’ll be late?” she asked, her face already resigned.

  Nodding, he sighed. “Yeah, I want to see this one out, so I’ll be home whenever I can get finished.”

  She lifted up on her toes and kissed him lightly. “Okay, honey.” As her heels lowered back to the floor, she gave him a squeeze and said, “Thank you for bringing my son back to me.”

  With her soft kiss and sweet voice wrapping around him, he headed toward Trevon but looked forward to when he could get back home to them.

  A few minutes later, Carrie observed Colby’s mom, Janice, being ushered in. Her face was pale, and her hands clutched her purse as the officer escorted her through the back hallway.

  “Can I get you anything?”

  Carrie jolted at the voice next to her, having focused on the door Jack had gone through, and looked around to see one of the officers.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t even hear you come up. Thank you, but no, I’m fine.”

  “I’m Deputy Lisa Purdue,” she said, sticking her hand out in greeting.

  “I’m Carrie Beaumont.”

  Smiling widely, Lisa said, “I know. I hope I’m not speaking out of turn when I say that we have all been rooting for you and Colt. He’s a good man, and we’re really happy he’s with you.”

  Surprised, Carrie smiled in return. “I agree he’s a good man. I’m very lucky.”

  With her head tilted slightly to the side, Lisa replied, “I’d say you’re both lucky.”

  Just then, the door in the back of the room opened, and she watched as Jack was escorted toward her, Hunter at his side. Her gaze scanned her son’s face, searching to get a hold of what emotion was coming from him. He did not appear upset, but somewhat more…contemplative. This was not his typical expression, and her concern was heightened. She forced her hands to stay at her sides instead of reaching out to him the way she needed but knew he would not want.

  Before she had a chance to speak, Hunter said, “We’re all done, Carrie. Jack did really great. You should be proud of him.”

  Smiling down at Jack, she said, “I am.”

  “Of course, Jack can talk to you,” Hunter instructed. “But this is an active investigation, so we have impressed upon him the importance of not talking about everything at this time to anyone other than family.”

  She nodded her agreement, her mind full of questions but deciding to ask Jack when they were alone. She stuck out her hand toward Hunter, and he shook it firmly.

  “Don’t worry, Carrie. It’s all going to be fine.”

  “I know that Colt is going to be late, but can you let him know that we’re on our way home now?”

  “Will do,” Hunter replied.

  She nodded her goodbye toward Lisa as well and was about to turn toward the door when Jack halted. He faced Hunter and stuck out his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Thank you, Detective Simmons,” Jack said.

  Carrie observed the two, struck by how mature Jack appeared at that moment. Wondering if her heart could take in anything else that day, she said softly, “Let’s go home, Jack.”

  He smiled, and the two of them walked outside, climbing into her car. Once behind the wheel, she felt her hands begin to shake, emotions crashing into her.

  Jack reached over and placed his smaller hand on one of hers that was resting on the steering wheel. “Mom, it’s okay. We are all fine, and we're going home.”

  Her trembling lips curved into a smile, and she asked, “How did you get so smart?”

  “Because I’ve got you for a mom,” he replied. “Because you always gave me good people in my life to help me be smart.”

  A snort slipped out, and she shook her head. “Okay, I guess with that answer, we’ll have dessert before dinner tonight.”

  With an excited yelp and a fist pump from him, she laughed, watching her son bounce between youth and manhood.

  29

  Colt walked out of the sheriff’s building and climbed into the passenger seat of the SUV. Hunter, behind the wheel, turned and looked at him, asking, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I’m not going to fuck anything up,” Colt said. “And it’s not that I don’t trust you and the others to do the right thing. But yeah, I’m going to be there.”

  He had watched as Colby gave his statement before being released to his mom. Then he went to the observation room and watched as Hunter and Elizabeth grilled Billy first, then John. John was still seventeen years old, and when his dad showed up, he was furious with his son. Billy, on the other hand, had just turned eighteen, which meant they dealt with him as an adult.

  With the information from Jack and Colby, Hunter had turned up the heat on both of the others. Billy clammed up until faced with the reality that John was giving it all up. With the offer of a possible deal, Billy confessed as well, giving them what they needed.

  Afraid their prey might be getting away, they headed to one of the neighborhoods outside of Baytown along with several deputy’s cars. Colt was impressed with the properties in the neighborhood, each backing onto inlet waters.

  Hunter said, “We knew he lived here from already checking into him, but these houses are impressive for someone on a teaching salary.”

  Seeing their destination, Colt saw a car parked outside in the driveway and hoped that their suspect was still inside. Following behind his detectives and deputies, he allowed them to take the lead, knowing he needed to keep himself in check. Two of the deputies headed around to the back of the house while Hunter and Elizabeth knocked on the front door, announcing who they were.

  Shouts were soon heard from the back, and leaving two more deputies in the front, Hunter, Elizabeth, and Colt raced around the house. The deputies had their guns drawn on Tad. A quick glance from Colt showed that Tad had a boat tied up on his own personal dock, and with a suitcase at his feet, it was not too difficult to assume the young teacher was making a water escape.

  Tad’s hands were up, his eyes narrowed as he looked around at the law enforcement circling him. As Elizabeth read him his rights, he sneered and said, “I want my lawyer.”

  Colt walked nearer, feeling Hunter’s heat at his back. “You play it smart, don’t you fuckin’ try to play us.”

  “I’ve got nothing to say to you, Sheriff.”

  Leaning in, keeping his voice steady, Colt said, “You put my son in danger. I’m going to fuckin’ see you buried.” Turning, he stalked away, calling out, “Search everything he’s got. House, possessions, boat, accounts…everything. Finish tying up this case with a big fuckin’ bow.”

  Two deputies loaded Tad into t
he back of their vehicle, taking him to the jail in Easton. Colt entered the house but stayed out of the way, allowing his detectives and deputies to do their job.

  Several hours later, he and Hunter drove back to the station. By late evening, Colt sat next to Hunter across the table from Tad and his lawyer. Hunter had laid out the evidence they had gathered, and he fought to keep the grin off his face is it was obvious Tad slowly realized his freedom was slipping away.

  “You won’t get out of going to prison,” Colt said, “and the District Attorney is looking at the drug charges, but also contributing to the delinquency of a minor and gang activity, as well as accessories to arson, kidnapping, assault, murder and whatever else we can throw at you. You give us the names so we know where you sent the drugs, you might be able to work some kind of deal.” Looking at the attorney, he added, “I would strongly advise you talk to your client.”

  The attorney sighed and looked over at Tad before turning back to Colt and Hunter, saying, “I have done so, Sheriff. My client is ready to talk.”

  It was the middle of the night before Colt got home. Just like in years past, the house was quiet, seemingly empty when he first walked in. But immediately, he was struck with the difference now. Jack’s baseball glove and shoes were near the back door. George’s jacket was hanging on the back of one of the kitchen chairs. Carrie’s purse was sitting on the kitchen counter, a note next to it.

  Walking over, his eyes scanned the note, and following its instructions, he moved to the refrigerator. Opening the door, he spied that it was no longer empty as it used to be, but was filled with food. There, wrapped in cellophane, was some cold fried chicken and a beer setting near the front, just for him.

  He pulled out a couple of pieces of chicken, quickly eating them and washing them down with the beer, not sure when he had last eaten. With a quick clean-up, he headed up the stairs. Jack’s door was closed, but he opened it quietly, peeking inside. The room was dark, but with the light coming in from behind him in the hall, he could see that Jack was sprawled across the bed, sound asleep. He hated that he had not had a chance to talk to Jack more today but was glad that he was not awake and worrying.