by Kyle Pratt
He retrieved the bag from his father. “I’ll see Sue today. I’m certain she will ask if I got to her house. I’ll give her the letter then.” He turned to go, but stopped with a sigh. He had just delivered the worst news a parent could receive and now he had to rush off.
“Where is Peter?” his mother asked.
“The convoy took his…he’s at the armory.” He hugged her. “There is a lot that needs doing and I’ve got to see a bunch of people.”
Near tears once again she held him. “Come back.”
“I promise.”
Caden drove towards town. The hospital and sheriff’s office were about equal distance from where he was. Despite the assurances that he was recovering, he wanted to see Brooks. Also, despite the tears he was certain would follow, he wanted to deliver the letter to Sue and see the new baby. However, the information he needed to destroy MS-13 and save DeLynn was in the other direction.
Next stop, the sheriff’s office.
“It’s good to see you,” the guard said at the entrance to the building. “I suppose you heard about the troubles this week.” He buzzed open the door.
“I’m learning,” Caden said with a grimace and walked through to the office.
The sheriff looked up from the papers on his desk and blinked. “I really need the deputies to warn me when you come.”
“We need to talk and I’d like to see Zach.”
“Sure. Good to see you back here in one piece. Have you heard…well, about everything? It’s been a busy week.”
“Busy for us both.” Caden sat down. “Tell me about Bo’s murder and why you think Zach is involved.”
The sheriff outlined the case against the boy, concluding with, “He marched in here with a stolen rifle.”
“Really?”
“The AR-15 he was carrying belonged to a guy who died during the battle outside of town.”
Caden rubbed his forehead trying to absorb all the sheriff had told him. “Okay, it doesn’t look good, but do you really think Zach killed Bo?”
“I go where the evidence takes me and right now it’s taking me to Zach.”
“I remember reading once that the first person to speak in court sounds right until they get cross-examined.” Caden stood. “I want to clear up a few things—let’s go see the boy.”
“I need to phone his attorney.”
“He has a lawyer?”
“Kent Hollister, DeLynn’s father.”
Caden tried to get his mind around the idea of the missing girl’s father representing the possible kidnapper.
Hoover watched and smiled. “I’ll let him explain it to you.”
After the call, Hoover led the way. “Normally we would have transferred him to a juvenile facility, but the nearest one isn’t taking anyone new, so I did some rearranging and put him in a cell by himself.” He shook his head. “The whole juvenile system and Child Protective Services is collapsing. Actually, a lot of things are going to…hey, Douglas, let us in.”
The man buzzed them into a part of the building Caden had never seen. He scanned the austere cement and steel room and hoped such visits would remain a rarity.
Hoover seemed not to notice the difference and continued his rant. “Where was I? Oh, the county told me this morning that we might be late getting paid. That’s bad enough, but the money is hardly worth anything. Most of my deputies are having real trouble feeding their families. We’d need a huge pay raise just to keep up with inflation, but do you think we’ll get it?” The sheriff looked a Caden.
He shook his head. “I’m in the same boat. The state pays me with the same money you get.”
On their left was a line of green steel doors.
Hoover took a deep breath. “I guess I needed to vent. The kid’s cell is just up here.”
When the sheriff opened the cell door Zach jumped from the bunk. “Major Westmore, I’m innocent, please believe me.”
Caden started to ask a question, but Zach continued.
“We’ve got to act fast if we’re going to save DeLynn.”
Chapter Twenty Nine
The creak and slam of a steel door announced the arrival of attorney Kent Hollister. The deputy escorted him to where Caden, the sheriff and Zach sat around a simple table in a Spartan visiting room.
“My client has maintained his innocence in the murder of Robert Hendricks and wishes to cooperate in any way possible to prove that and facilitate the safe return of DeLynn Hollister.”
Looking at Zach, Caden frowned. “I think your attorney is too personally involved in this case.”
Hoover nodded. “I still think he’s guilty, but I’ve said the same thing. He didn’t listen to me.” He turned to Zach. “Your lawyer wants his daughter back more than your exoneration.”
“I told my client I had serious reservations, but—.”
“No. Stop.” Zach glanced at a clock on the wall. “We have less than twenty hours to find a way to save DeLynn. Hearing what I have to say is the best way to get her back and prove I’m innocent. Mr. Hollister has agreed to help me do that. Listen and I’ll tell you everything.” He took a deep breath. “I was on a rock outcrop across from Bo’s house.”
“My client was watching an alleged criminal, nothing else.” Hollister added.
“One of the MS-13 gang killed Bo’s bodyguard.” Zach closed his eyes.
“Did you find that body?” Caden asked.
Hoover nodded.
“I heard Bo say to them that he was looking for me. They were going to kill him right there, beside the bodyguard, because he wasn’t any use to them. Then Bo told them about my sister, Vicki. Cruz wanted to find her and they all got in his car and took off for my house. I ran the path over the ridge.”
Hoover shook his head. “I said before that it is impossible to run from Hendricks’ home to yours and arrive just after they did.”
“It was a hard run, but not impossible. I’ve offered to do it again to show you.”
“If you could do it, I certainly couldn’t keep up with you,” the sheriff said with a smirk.
Zach glanced at the sheriff’s paunch and then continued. “I really did arrive just after the gang. I hid in the forest, and saw them drag DeLynn from the house. They think she is my sister. Since they had her, they shot Bo. I tried to aim and—.”
“Let’s not go into things you didn’t do,” Hollister said.
“So, DeLynn knows who really killed Bo?” Caden asked.
“Yes! If we rescue her she can tell you. Anyway, the gang drove off with her, that’s when I….” Zach looked at his lawyer.
“Zach borrowed my car to pursue the real criminals in this case.”
Hoover frowned. “That’s not what you said during the 911 call.”
“It was all just a misunderstanding.”
“Can I go on?” Zach looked around the table and then continued, outlining the conversation he had with Cruz. “I only have until tomorrow at 9:00 in the morning to deliver twenty M4s to Cruz or he kills DeLynn.
“You were caught with a stolen weapon.” Hoover said to Zach.
“He was turning himself and the rifle in to you,” Hollister countered.
Ignoring the attorney, the sheriff’s gaze remained fixed on Zach. “You were seen arguing and threatening Bo Hendricks at Library Park.”
“We don’t deny it. Mr. Hendricks threatened my client’s sister, but Zach did not kill him.”
“He was found dead in your driveway.”
Hollister again jumped into answer. “According to your own investigation, Mr. Hendricks was on his knees. The assailant stood behind him when he was shot—execution style. How would my client manage that? Also, the bullet was a 9mm. My client doesn’t own or possess such a weapon.”
Caden held up his hand signaling for everyone to stop. Turning to the sheriff, he said, “We need to talk.”
Together they stepped from the room.
“Show me on a map where Zach’s and Bo’s homes are.”
“We’
ll need to go to the office. There is a big map of the county on the far wall.”
Caden had seen the map, but never taken much notice of it. Standing before it he saw all the logging roads, dirt county roads and detailed topography.
Hoover pointed with his index finger. “Bo’s house is here.” He pressed his thumb to the map. “And Zach’s house is here.”
Caden looked at the distance between the two points. “Zach said he ran as hard as he could and arrived at his home right after the gang.” He rubbed his chin. “I don’t see how. He’d either have to run around that ridge or over it.”
“He claims he went over it.”
“Well then that’s it isn’t it? If he can do it again, his story is believable, if he can’t, it isn’t.”
Hoover nodded. “What’s to keep him from just running off?”
“I think I can find people to keep up with him.” He tapped at his phone. “First Sergeant, get the six best runners we have and meet me at the sheriff’s office ASAP.”
* * *
Caden explained to everyone what he wanted and then, drove to Zach’s home. When he arrived at the blue single-wide trailer, he realized he didn’t know if anyone was there. He climbed the rickety wood porch and knocked on the door. There was no answer. He wondered if the mother was alive or perhaps still in the hospital. He tried the knob, found it locked, and retreated down the stairs.
Pacing the driveway, he decided to text Maria. “Call me when you’re alone.”
A minute later his phone rang. “Are you in Hansen?” Maria asked. “Why did you want me to be alone when I called?”
“Yes, I’m in Hansen. I’ll explain the secrecy in a minute. How’s Brooks?”
In a somber tone she said, “He was awake and talking earlier. He should be okay in a few weeks. Did you hear that Sue had her baby? Every day when I visit she asks—.”
“Every day? How long has she been in the hospital?”
“Sue had a fever and the baby was jaundiced, but they’re both better. I’m supposed to take them home later today. She’s been concerned about you, but I think she wants to know if you learned anything about Peter.”
“That’s why I wanted to make sure you were alone. I did get to their house.” He explained that he found Peter’s body and a note, but left out most other details.
Maria was silent for a moment. “I wish you hadn’t told me. I’m going to be driving her back to the farm in about an hour. How do I sit in the car and talk to her knowing that? What if she asks about you?”
“Sorry. I didn’t think of that.”
Hoover pulled up and parked behind Caden’s car. “I’ve got to go.” he said. “We’ll talk later.”
Stepping out of the car the sheriff said, “The boy is with your people and is headed over to Bo’s house.”
* * *
The March sun was low on the horizon by the time everyone was in place. Fletcher held the radio to his mouth. “We just arrived at the spot above Bo’s house.” He looked from the rock outcropping across to home. “Good sniper position.”
Zach stood tall and smiled. “I’ve done a lot of hunting.” Then hastily added, “But I didn’t shoot Bo.”
“I don’t think you did.” Fletcher turned to face Zach and the six soldiers with them. “Just so everyone is clear, when the deputy waves his arm you guys run. Follow the path over the ridge, but keep going after that. The finish line is Zach’s house. Your job is to keep up with Zach. Don’t let him out of your sight.” He pointed to the deputy below. “He will drive to the house as a kind of pace car. Are you guys ready?”
Zach nodded.
The soldiers shouted, “Hooah” and slapped Zach on the back.
Feeling a gentle hand on his shoulder, Zach turned.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how fast we can do this.” John Tyler said.
“If we’re going to find DeLynn, I’ve got to give it everything I’ve got.”
Tyler grinned. “I’ll try to keep up.”
Zach focused on the deputy’s vehicle, the pace car. He had been asked during his first interrogation if the gang had sped off. Truthfully, he had told them no. The car had driven away at a normal rate of speed. Now he was grateful that fact had come out. The deputy had been told to go the speed limit.
Zach focused on the deputy in front of Bo’s house. He was talking on the car radio to someone, probably the people at his trailer. After a moment the deputy stopped and looked in the direction of the rock outcrop.
Zach tensed, ready to run.
The radio crackled. “Go.”
The deputy waved his arm.
Zach shot into the forest.
* * *
The pace car would be there any second. Caden looked down the driveway with concern. Then from behind came the sound of snapping twigs and limbs.
Zach burst from the forest into the driveway and fell to his knees breathing heavily.
Right behind him was Tyler. “Geez Zach…Olympics…that’s what you should do.”
Caden showed the sheriff the stopwatch. “It can be done.”
As several more soldiers stumbled in, the pace car drove up.
“Okay, the kid’s story could be true,” the sheriff said.
“I think he’s telling the truth.”
“I am…telling the…truth,” a still breathless Zach said as he approached. “Let’s find…DeLynn now…okay?”
Caden rested a hand on his shoulder. “Transfer him to military custody while we conduct our operation.”
Hoover gave him a confused look. “What kind of operation are you going to do?”
“After we do some planning, Zach is going to call Cruz.”
* * *
Looking at the notes he had written and considering all the plans they had discussed, Caden was frustrated. For over an hour, with the Sheriff and the First Sergeant, he had been trying to plan an operation to rescue DeLynn and arrest or kill the members of MS-13. They had sent Zach with Hollister to load M4s in the car. The squads were ready, but without knowing the location of the meeting, in-depth planning was impossible.
Dressed in ACUs and with a bow and quiver on his back, Zach walked into the armory office with Kent Hollister. “I’ve put the rifles in the trunk of the car.” He looked at his watch. “We have less than fourteen hours. When do you want me to make the call?”
“We’re just about done here, but you can stow the bow. I’m not taking you on a dangerous mission.”
Zach took the seat at the table. “MS-13 is expecting me. I have to make the call.”
“Call from here. We will handle the rest.”
Kent sat beside Zach.
“She’s my girlfriend. I thought I was part of the ‘we’ here at the armory and besides—”
Caden took a slow, deep, breath. “Emotions are a bad thing in this type of operation. Even if you were married to her, I wouldn’t want you along. You are part of the armory team, but you are also still a minor.”
“MS-13 will probably want to see me.”
“Let’s hope there is a way we can do this without you standing in the line of fire. Here.” Caden handed Zach the phone that Cruz had given him. “Make the call.”
Zach frowned, but dialed.
“You got the guns and stuff?” It was Cruz.
“Yes. Put De…” He stopped, remembering that Cruz thought she was his sister. “Put Vicki on the phone.”
“Well, the kid is excited to see his sister.” Cruz laughed.
Zach heard fumbling and shuffling and then DeLynn’s voice as she read, “Zach, go to the ranger station and wait. You’ll be told.”
The call ended.
“My daughter—she’s okay?”
Zach nodded. “I heard her voice.” Turning to the others he continued. “They want me to go to the ranger station, but he said earlier that the meeting wouldn’t be there. Didn’t you guys check it?”
“We did. The place was deserted.” Hoover shook his head.
“They’
re probably sending someone there now.” Fletcher added. “They might even want him to show the rifles so whoever is watching can see, and then they’ll say where the meeting will be.”
Caden gave a reluctant nod.
“Zach needs to go there and find out where the meeting is,” Hollister said.
Zach is seventeen. Private Conner was eighteen. Conner was my responsibility, but now he’s dead. He stared at Zach. I won’t have two kids die in this craziness in a single week.
“What?” Zach asked with eyes fixed on Caden. “Why are you staring at me?”
Caden rubbed his forehead. “There is no way you’re going on this operation.”
“Can we talk about this?”
“We just did.”
“In normal times using a minor just wouldn’t happen, but these are not normal times.” Hoover leaned back in the chair. “If Zach does not show up at the ranger station with the guns, we may never find out where the meeting is supposed to take place.”
Caden looked at Hoover with surprise. “You’ve been saying he’s guilty, now you want to give Zach guns and send him on his way to a criminal gang. How you changed your mind about him?”
Hoover sighed and stared at Zach. “Yeah, I guess I have.”
“I’ve always thought Zach was innocent,” Fletcher said, “but are we really discussing sending one kid on a very dangerous mission to try and save another kid?”
“That other kid is my daughter,” Hollister said.
Hoover threw up his hands in frustration. “If we stand any chance of getting these guys…”
“Or rescuing DeLynn,” Zach added emphatically.
“…we probably need Zach along at least.”
“No,” Caden said.
“What else can we do?” Hollister asked.
“While you guys argue I need to use the latrine.” Zach walked from the room.
Fletcher rubbed his chin. “What if there was a way to bring him along, but keep him out of the line of fire?”
“How?” Caden asked.
“Keep him in the shadows,” Fletcher said.
“Yeah, we only need his voice,” Hoover added.