Tennessee Whiskey

by Donna K. Ford

  The bartender peered at her through dark distrustful eyes. He scanned the room behind her as he handed her the beer. The hairs on the back of Dane’s neck prickled as if she was being stalked by a deadly predator. She glanced over her shoulder to see the men behind her watching.

  Dane reached into the inside pocket of her jacket and pulled out a photograph, then slapped it onto the bar in front of her. “Do you know where I can find this guy?”

  The bartender paled. He worked his jaw from side to side as if he was chewing on his tongue. She could tell by his expression he knew exactly who she was looking for. He shook his head. “Nope.”

  She took a drink from her beer. “Hmm, I was told I’d probably be able to find him here.”

  The bartender shrugged. “You were told wrong.”

  Dane picked up the photo and put it back in her pocket. This was her third stop and she hadn’t found anyone willing to talk to her. Not that she really expected them to. But by the way this guy was acting, she figured he’d be on the phone with her guy before she left the parking lot.

  She tossed a five onto the bar as she stood. She glanced around the bar as she zipped her rain jacket and lifted the hood. She needed to keep her eyes open, but mostly she wanted to make sure everyone got a good look at her. She wanted to make sure Milton knew she was looking for him.

  Once back inside the relative safety of her Jeep, she checked her watch. The sun was already hanging low. She had to get moving. She had a promise to keep.

  Emma would be at work already. It was delivery day. With any luck she’d catch her before things got too busy.

  As she’d hoped the bar was empty. The Budweiser truck sat in the back, and a young man wheeled boxes of beer into the cooler. Emma was busy stacking the cases as quickly as the man could bring them in.

  Dane waited until the last load was finished and watched as Emma signed the invoice. Emma smiled at her as she entered. Dane swallowed the lump of guilt that was quickly growing in her throat.

  “Hey, do you have a minute. I need to talk to you about something.”

  Emma’s face paled, and Dane could see her body stiffen, readying for bad news. She knew Emma was going to be mad, but there was no other way around this. She stuffed her hands into her pocket to ward off the chill of the cooler and the icy darkness that had clouded Emma’s eyes.

  “What is it?”

  “Can we talk somewhere else? It’s freezing in here.”

  Emma’s lips thinned as she pressed them tightly together. “Sure.” Dane followed Emma into the bar. “Out with it. What’s wrong? Has something happened to Curtis?”

  “No.”

  Emma braced herself with a hand on the edge of the bar. “You leaving?”

  Dane frowned. “No.”

  “What is it then?”

  “I found where Curtis has been hiding. I talked to him.”

  “What do you mean you talked to him? Where is he? Why are you being so secretive?” Emma demanded.

  “I can’t tell you yet. But I promise he’s safe for now.” Dane bit her tongue, hoping that was true.

  Emma pinned Dane with the weight of her furry. “Dane, so help me God if anything happens to him—”

  “I know. I’m sorry. But it’s the only way I could get him to go along with this. I think I figured out who beat him up. If my plan works, we may be able to get him out of all of this and put Trevor behind bars.”

  “What plan?” Emma could feel the heat burning her face. She was so mad she could hardly hear what Dane was saying.

  “When I first came here, you told me that even the police here are protective of family secrets and would never sell out family. Is there anyone you know in your heart you can trust? Anyone on the force who will be true to the law and help us?”

  Emma ground her teeth together trying to make sense of what Dane was saying.

  “Curtis thinks someone on the inside has told Trevor that he didn’t have all the drugs on him. He’s afraid to turn to the police with what he knows and won’t tell me where the drugs are.”

  Emma pulled out a chair and fell into it with a thud. “What the hell?”

  “Who do you trust?”

  Emma shook her head. “If Trevor has someone on the inside, there’s no way to know who is and who isn’t involved in this.”

  “That’s why it’s important for us to get this right. If we trust the wrong person, Curtis could take the fall for everything.”

  Emma dropped her head, burying her face in her hands. “I don’t like this.”

  “I need you to think about it. Curtis is pretty certain someone on the force is involved. And I started thinking about the day he was beaten. He said he just came from a meeting with his probation officer. That’s a big coincidence, don’t you think?”

  Emma sighed. “Or it’s Curtis trying to put the blame on everyone except Trevor.”

  Dane frowned.

  “I told you, Curtis has a way of twisting things around,” Emma said, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. “You can’t always believe him. He convinces himself of his own lies when he doesn’t like the truth. He spent three years after Momma and Daddy died pretending they were on vacation and would be back for him. He made up elaborate stories about phone calls and letters that never happened.”

  “That was a long time ago. He’s a gown man now.”

  “No, he isn’t. He still does it all the time. A few months ago, he convinced himself he had a girlfriend. Come to find out he had been sitting in the parking lot of the diner in town watching some girl who had been nice to him and gave him a free ice cream. She had no idea he even had a crush on her.”

  Dane remembered the night Curtis had said he was going to meet a girl. Had that been real? She shook her head, confusion clouding her reasoning. “So what do you think we should do? Just turn him in to the police?”

  “It’s the only thing we can do.”

  Dane frowned. Emma was right. They would have to turn Curtis in, but there had to be something they could do to sort things out, so he wouldn’t take the fall for everything. She knew there was no way Curtis would testify against Trevor.

  “What if we got Curtis to tell Trevor where the drugs are hidden? Couldn’t the police just pick Trevor up when he goes to get the stuff?”

  Emma shook her head. “Who’s to say Trevor will be the one to go? He could have another kid like Curtis do it for him.”

  Dane’s head hurt. There had to be a way.

  “Dane,” Emma said softly. “I appreciate you trying to help Curtis, but you have to let this go. Tell me where he is. He’s my responsibility.”

  Emma was right. She had been so determined to help that she hadn’t been willing to admit the obvious.

  “You’re right,” she conceded. “I’ll go get him.”

  “Wait. I want to go with you.”

  Emma turned out the lights and put a closed sign on the door.

  “You don’t have to, I can go—”

  Emma cut her off. “He’s my brother.”

  * * *

  Emma held her breath as Dane took a narrow curve a little too close to the edge. She was anxious to get to Curtis, but she wanted to get there in one piece.

  “Slow down, you’re making me nervous.”

  Dane slowed, and Emma loosened her grip on the handle attached to the roll bars above her head. Dane had been quiet on the drive and Emma regretted snapping at her. She was only trying to help.

  Emma’s nerves were getting the best of her and she couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “How did you find him?”

  “It was an accident really. I remembered something he said the day we met and had a hunch. It paid off.”

  “When did you see him?”

  “Yesterday.”

  Emma clenched her teeth. “You knew where he was yesterday, and you didn’t tell me.” It was not a question. Emma was pissed.

  “I know you’re mad, but I didn’t want Curtis to run again. He said he wanted to protect you.
”

  “I can take care of myself. I can’t believe you. You know how worried I’ve been, and you still didn’t tell me.”

  “I know. I really was trying to help.”

  Emma stared out the windshield refusing to look at Dane. She had to get a grip on her anger before she saw Curtis, or she’d just scare him off again. It wasn’t like Dane had kept this from her entirely. Anger burned her throat like acid, but she was mostly scared. She didn’t know what was going to happen to Curtis, but she’d rather take her chances with the law than leave him at the hands of someone like Trevor.

  She looked at Dane. Her hands were clenched tight around the steering wheel, and a muscle jumped at the side of her jaw as she clenched and unclenched her teeth.

  “Thank you for telling me. I know you’re trying to help.” Dane glanced at her. She could see the turmoil rolling in Dane’s eyes. “As soon as we get back to the house, I’ll call the lawyer. We can run all of this by him and see how he thinks we should handle it. I think it will be better if Curtis comes forward before they have to come looking for him.”

  Dane nodded. She turned down the old river road that backed up to the farm.

  Emma frowned. Had Curtis been right under her nose this whole time?

  “We’ll have to walk the rest of the way.”

  Emma nodded as she slid off her seat belt. Adrenaline coursed through her making her jittery, and her stomach was in knots. She felt like running the rest of the way but made herself stay calm. It wouldn’t help if she lost control and pissed Curtis off. If she didn’t play this right, she knew he wouldn’t come home with her. He could be as stubborn as a mule sometimes.

  She reached for Dane’s hand, seeking the comfort of her touch to calm her worry and fear.

  Dane gave her hand a squeeze. “Let’s go get him.”

  * * *

  Emma gasped at the sight of the bus when it came into view. All the windows were broken, bullet holes riddled the tattered metal, and the back door hung open.

  Dane clasped her hand over Emma’s mouth and pulled her into her arms, rushing for cover behind a stand of mountain laurel. She scooted close to the ground until they were safely tucked behind a sycamore tree. She held her finger to her lips, motioning for Emma to remain quiet. She took Emma’s face in her hands forcing her to look at her. She shook her head. Emma’s eyes were wide with fear. Dane could feel her muscles tight as bowstrings beneath her hands. Emma was ready to bolt.

  “Wait.” Whoever had shot up the bus could still be there. They would be easy targets if anyone wanted to take care of loose ends. Dane peered into the clearing, searching the area for any signs that someone was still there.

  Tears streamed down Emma’s face. Dane shook her head again, trying to tell Emma not to give up hope. She looked around again. There was no sign of anyone except the faint smell of gunpowder lingering on the air. Everything was quiet.

  Dane held Emma’s face in her hands, forcing her to look at her. “Wait here. I’ll go check. You have to be quiet,” she whispered.

  Emma put the pad of the palm of her hand in her mouth and bit down, nodding. Tears glistened in her eyes.

  Dane kissed her forehead. She pressed her finger to her lips, reminding Emma to be quiet. She slithered down the bank onto the road. She approached the bus slowly, praying no one was there and dreading what she might find inside.

  The bus was in shambles. Whoever had been there had meant to make sure nothing inside survived. Broken glass littered the floor and fragments of old camping equipment had been ripped to shreds. She lifted a cot that had been turned over on the floor expecting to find Curtis among the remains, but he was not there. There was no blood, no sign of him at all.

  She stepped back outside, waving her hand to motion Emma out.

  Emma staggered onto the rocks like she was having trouble working her legs.

  Dane shook her head. “He isn’t here. There’s no sign of him.”

  Emma slumped to the ground. “Thank God.”

  Dane kneeled on the ground beside her.

  Emma’s hands shook. Dane could see the imprint of teeth marks in her palm.

  “Where is he? They’ve got him. Oh God, what are they going to do to him?” Emma asked.

  It was obvious whoever did this was sending a message. “I don’t know, but I don’t think Curtis was here when this happened.”

  Emma looked at her hopeful. “Why?”

  “This is overkill. Why shoot the place up if they found what they were looking for?”

  Emma took a deep breath. Some of the color was returning to her face.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  Dane helped Emma to her feet. As they stood Emma’s gaze moved to something in the distance and her mouth fell open. Dane turned to see what it was that had put this new fear in Emma’s eyes.

  “Shit,” Dane said when she saw the smoke billowing above the trees overhead.

  “That’s coming from the farm,” Emma choked out.

  Dane grabbed Emma’s shoulders once more and forced her to look at her. She pressed the keys to the Jeep into Emma’s hand. “Go back to the Jeep, and as soon as you get a signal, call for help.” Dane turned to run but Emma held her in her grasp.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ll take the path through the woods just in case Curtis is hiding or hurt out there somewhere. I’ll meet you at the farm. It’ll be okay. Go,” she commanded and pushed Emma toward the Jeep. As soon as Emma began to run, Dane bolted into the woods.

  * * *

  Dane sprinted across the field, her feet pounding against the earth, each step bringing her closer to the thick cloud of smoke growing in the sky ahead of her. She could see the barn ahead. She was almost there. She drank up the adrenaline fueling her to push harder, run faster. She had to get to the farm. She had to save Curtis. She tagged the fence, her hands grabbing the rails, and she pushed her body up and over in one swift vault. She burst out of the barn into the yard just as the Jeep jolted to a stop and Emma jumped out.

  “No,” she shouted as Emma ran into the burning house.

  Samson barked frantically, running past her the moment she pushed through the door.

  A wall of heat and smoke hit Dane full force as she burst through the door. She coughed, covering her mouth with her shirt and her hand.

  “Emma. Curtis,” she called. She couldn’t see anything. She followed the sound of Samson’s barks, calling out to Emma between coughs.

  “In here,” Emma’s voice called from the center of the living room. Heat and smoke burned Dane’s eyes, making it hard to see. She crouched as low to the floor as she could as she stumbled along the hall.

  She fell to the floor in the doorway of the living room. Emma was crouched next to Curtis who lay in a heap on the floor. Flames snaked up the walls, the curtains and antique sofa already engulfed in fire. Dane grabbed Curtis and helped Emma roll him over. Blood seeped from a wound on the side of his head and from a hole in his chest.

  Curtis looked up at her, his steel gray eyes pleading. “I’m sorry,” he said weakly.

  “Don’t you give up. Do you hear me? Don’t you leave me,” Emma yelled.

  Dane’s head swam. The fire was so hot she could feel her skin blistering. She pulled Curtis upright and looped her hands under his arms. “Grab his legs,” she yelled to Emma.

  She struggled for air. Her lungs were burning—she was burning. They made it to the kitchen, but the smoke was too thick to see anything, and she coughed and gasped for air. Emma had Curtis by the feet leading them out. She was at the door. They were going to make it. Dane heard a crash and looked up as the rail of the staircase fell. She instinctively put her arm up to brace against the fiery impact and threw herself away from the emblazoned timber.

  The pain seared through her skin and she screamed. With one last push she shoved Curtis and Emma through the door.

  Dane choked on the thick smoke and the searing pain. She panted and gasped, trying to get her
breath. The doorway was blocked now. She heard barking and peered back down the hall. Samson grabbed her pants leg and tugged. She crawled on the floor through the house, Samson at her side. He whined and barked as if he could frighten the flames away. The smoke was too thick and the flames too hot.

  Dane blinked rapidly trying to see through the black cloud stinging her eyes. The memory of the terror she’d seen in Michelle’s eyes flashed through her mind. This was her destiny. Michelle had come back for her. It was always supposed to be her. Dane fell to the floor, coughing. She laid her head on her arm, gasping for breath. Samson barked again, drawing her back to the present. Rage boiled up in Dane’s heart. “Not today,” she murmured. Samson had fought for her. She wouldn’t give up on him now.

  * * *

  Emma tumbled down the few steps to the ground, frantically dragging Curtis through the yard to get him away from the blaze. Smoke and tears burned her eyes and she coughed, trying to clear the acrid smoke from her throat. Her hair was singed but she was alive. They were both alive.

  Emma peered into the flames. “Dane,” she screamed. “Dane.” She held her hand over the wound in Curtis’s chest. She couldn’t leave him, but she desperately needed to get to Dane. The sound of sirens grew closer and she prayed help would get there soon.

  What was taking so damn long? She looked down at Curtis. His eyes were closed now, and he wasn’t moving. No. She couldn’t lose him. She couldn’t lose them both. She screamed as her heart ripped to shreds.

  She heard a crash at the back of the house and snapped her head up as a chair flew out her bedroom window. Glass and shards of wood scattered to the ground as smoke billowed out of the window. She held her breath. “Please. Please get out, Dane. Please.”

  She could hear glass breaking and saw the comforter from her bed thrown over the windowsill. Then she saw Dane throw one leg over the sill, then the other. She jumped from the window holding a large bundle in her arms.

  Emma clutched Curtis to her chest, choking on her tears. “Dane,” she croaked.

  Dane stumbled to her feet still clutching the bundle in her arms. She fell to her knees beside Emma. Samson was wrapped in her mother’s old quilt and her father’s robe. Samson lifted his head and whined at her. He wiggled closer and licked her face. They had made it. They had all made it.