Caught in the Crossfire (Otter Creek Book 15)

by Rebecca Deel

  No. Resolve hardened inside Nicole. She had a wedding in two months and one day. She was marrying Mason no matter what these thugs planned.

  Nicole and Dawn stumbled in the darkness as the men dragged them deeper into the trees. “Where are you taking us?” Nicole asked.

  Fisher shoved her back against a tree and slapped her. Her head whipped to the side as the crack of sound broke the silence in the woods. “Keep your mouth shut,” he hissed.

  Tears stung her eyes, but Nicole refused to let them fall and give this jerk the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt her. Her cheek felt like it was on fire from the blow.

  Satisfaction bloomed in his eyes when she remained silent. “Move,” he ordered and jerked her into a fast walk at his side.

  As they progressed through the woods, Nicole’s cheek began to swell. She prayed Mason kept his head when he saw her. The group emerged from the woods onto a little used side road where a large black truck was parked in the shadow of the trees.

  Nicole and Dawn exchanged glances. This wasn’t good. While grateful they were still alive, if the men took them from the area, she and Dawn would be harder to locate. “Please, let Dawn go. I’m the one you want.”

  Fisher unlocked his truck with a remote and shoved her toward the cab. “Get in and keep your trap shut or I’ll gag you. Don’t get any bright ideas about trying to escape. Patton has a gun on him, too. He loves that gun. Give him an excuse, and he’ll demonstrate his skill.”

  Without other options available, Nicole climbed into the backseat. Dawn followed her inside. Patton shoved her over, hopped in beside Dawn, and aimed his gun at Nicole. “If either of you moves, I’ll shoot the other one. At this range, I can’t miss.”

  Fisher cranked the powerful engine and sped away from the woods.

  Although Nicole attempted to keep track of the turns, she was soon hopelessly lost. The roads didn’t have signs and the countryside looked the same to her. Too bad she didn’t have breadcrumbs to drop.

  She still had her phone. Hopefully, Fisher would stash them in a room by themselves and she could call for help then.

  “Get their phones,” Fisher ordered his partner in crime.

  Patton waved his gun. “You heard the man. Hand them over.” An evil smile curved his lips. “Unless you want me to take them from you by force.”

  Since the idea of either of these men putting their hands on her made Nicole want to barf, she handed him her phone and nodded at Dawn to do the same. He gave them to Fisher who turned them off while he drove and tossed them on the floor.

  When they emerged onto a highway, Nicole saw what she needed to orient herself. Fisher had taken them by the back roads to Highway 18. Soon, he took the Cherry Hill exit and raced toward a destination known only to him and Patton.

  He drove through town and several miles into the countryside before turning onto a dirt road. Fisher pressed the accelerator to the floor.

  When they emerged from the heavy tree cover into a clearing, she saw an old campground with multiple cabins scattered throughout the area.

  As she glanced around, she noticed the motorcycles parked in front of the cabins and a main lodge. Fisher had driven them into the middle of a camp occupied by a motorcycle gang?

  Fear for Mason’s safety exploded inside her. He might be trained by the military’s best, but he couldn’t use weapons and he was outnumbered. Even Linc wouldn’t be able to even the odds.

  Fisher parked in front of the lodge and yanked open Nicole’s door. “Out.” He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and jerk her from the truck.

  “What you got there, Fish?” A man with a gravelly voice sauntered from the lodge and gawked at Nicole.

  “Bait.”

  Gravel chuckled. “Pretty bait. You pulled off the plan after all, huh?”

  “Told you it would work.”

  He inclined his head toward Dawn who now stood beside Nicole. “And this one?”

  “Got a score to settle with her man.”

  “What if he don’t want her?” Gravel’s gaze trailed over Dawn in evident appreciation. “I wouldn’t mind a piece of that.”

  “She’s mine,” Patton snapped, voice a growl.

  “Settle down.” He held up his hand. “Didn’t know you had a prior claim. If you get tired of her, though, I want first dibs.”

  Dawn flinched.

  “Shut it, Patton.” Fisher glared at his partner. He dragged Nicole toward the lodge entrance.

  Nicole stumbled over the threshold and barely caught a glimpse of a comfortably furnished living room and reception area before Fisher forced her upstairs and down a hallway to a bedroom.

  He shoved Nicole face down on the bed and zip tied her wrists together. “Scream all you want. No one will help you. These boys are family and friends.”

  Patton pushed Dawn into the room and used the plastic ties to bind her wrists behind her back. “You ain’t going to escape. If you try, you’ll tick me off. You won’t like me when I’m angry.”

  “I don’t like you now,” she muttered.

  He hit her with the back of his hand. “First lesson. Don’t sass me. Next time, the response will be worse. Your man might coddle you. I won’t.”

  Dawn scowled, her cheeks flushing.

  Recognizing the signs of an impending explosion of temper, Nicole nudged Dawn’s ankle with her foot and shook her head. They couldn’t antagonize the cretins. She and Dawn had to remain injury free to run if they had the chance.

  “A guard’s at the door,” Fisher warned. “Cooperate, and you’ll see Kincaid one more time.”

  Patton stared at Dawn, his hand skimming down her cheek and her shoulder.

  “Not now,” his buddy snapped. “Later, G.”

  He flicked Fisher a glance, then refocused on his prey. “Get on the bed.” When she didn’t move, he narrowed his eyes.

  “Dawn,” Nicole murmured. At the moment, she and her friend were bruised, but healthy enough to run. If they challenged Patton and Fisher, she and Dawn would come out the losers in the skirmish.

  Dawn glared at Patton but sat beside Nicole. Triumph filled his eyes before he turned and left the room.

  “Why are you doing this, Fisher?” Nicole asked.

  He paused in the doorway. “Kincaid stole my woman and interfered with my plans. No one gets away with that.” He walked out, closing the door behind him.

  Nicole turned to Dawn. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded. “I bet Fisher killed Riva.”

  “And set up Mason to take the blame.”

  “He works with Mase every day. He has easy access to Mason’s tools.”

  “He’d also have had ample opportunity to dose his drink with ketamine.” Was Fisher responsible for the drive-by shooting, too?

  She refocused on the problem at hand. Escape. “We have to escape.” Nicole twisted her wrists, hissing when the bonds refused to give and dug into her skin. Sliding her wrists from the plastic loop was impossible. “My zip tie is too tight to slip free. You?”

  Dawn wiggled and strained for a moment, then shook her head. “No good. I have something that will work, though.”

  “What?”

  “A knife strapped to my calf.”

  Nicole stared. “Are you normally armed with a deadly weapon?”

  “Linc was worried about my safety. Since I don’t know self-defense or how to fire a gun, a knife was the best option. I need help retrieving it.”

  “Which leg?”

  “Outside of the right calf.” Dawn rolled until her back pressed against Nicole’s. “The knife will slide easily from the sheath.”

  “I hope I don’t cut you.”

  “If you do, I’ll heal. Hurry, Nic. One of the men will check on us soon.”

  She tugged on Dawn’s jeans-covered leg until the material cleared the sheath. Working by touch alone, Nicole wrapped her hand around the hilt and inched her way up the bed until the knife slid free. “Got it.”

  “Turn the knife around so
the blade is pointing toward our heads, and I’ll take it from there.”

  Nicole rolled onto her right side. Working by touch, she turned the knife, stopping each time the rumble of male voices neared the door.

  A few more minutes, and they’d be free. Then came the hard part, escaping this room.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Mason finally freed himself from the knot of well-wishers offering congratulations on the new promotion. Under normal circumstances, he’d appreciate the sentiments from friends and coworkers. Now, however, he wanted to return to Nicole’s side.

  Every moment he spent away from her stoked his worry. Didn’t make sense to be anxious since she and Dawn were in the middle of a crowded yard. Of all people, though, Mason understood things changed in the blink of an eye. He couldn’t escape the feeling danger stalked his bride-to-be tonight.

  After another coworker shook his hand and asked to be considered for the new crew, Mason eased around groups of people chatting and headed for his table.

  Mason stopped when he noticed the table was empty and scanned the area. Although he didn’t see Nicole and Dawn, Linc was conversing with one of the construction crew.

  Linc looked up, saw Mason, and mouthed the word, “Kitchen.”

  The knot in his stomach eased. Nicole and Dawn must be helping Emily. He turned as another friend called his name.

  “Congratulations, Mase. That promotion is well deserved.” Henry slapped him on the back, his gray hair gleaming in the outside lights.

  “Thanks. Would you be interested in working with the home rehab division?” Henry was the best Mason had ever seen with an electrical grid. Some of the old houses had tricky electrical problems. He and Dean had called on Henry more than once for his expertise in the field.

  A slow grin from the older man. “If I’m working with the right crew.”

  “Throw in with me, and I’ll make sure you’re with a good team.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Thanks for taking on an old man like me.” He shook Mason’s hand. “Brian made a wise choice when he hired you, my friend.” Easing closer, he dropped his voice, and said, “Some folks aren’t as pleased with this change in leadership as I am, though. Watch your back, Mason.”

  “I’m not surprised. What have you heard?”

  “I sat close enough to Patton and Fisher to hear their reaction when to Brian’s announcement. They were hot under the collar, and that’s stating it mildly.”

  “Did they say anything in particular or were they mouthing off?”

  “I didn’t hear specifics, but they used the word payback.” Henry laid his hand on Mason’s shoulder. “I recognized the tone, though. Those boys believe you wronged them, and they intend to cause trouble.”

  What was that about? As far as he knew, he’d never wronged either of them. “I appreciate the warning.”

  “Fisher has dangerous connections.”

  “I’ll be careful.”

  With a nod, Henry moved off to speak to someone else.

  Gut churning, Mason scanned the crowd for Nicole again and still didn’t see her. Also absent were Fisher and Patton. Hopefully, those two left and took their lousy attitude elsewhere. He didn’t want either man near Nicole.

  He headed for the rear of the building, stopping several times to accept handshakes and congratulations. After exchanging a few words with each person, he continued across the yard until he entered the building. Once inside, he picked up his pace as he walked to the company kitchen.

  He rounded a corner and pushed open the kitchen door. Scanning the interior, Mason frowned. Empty. Where were Nicole and Dawn? Had he missed them in the press of the crowd?

  Retracing his steps, he emerged from the building and strode toward Linc. The PSI instructor took one look at his face and broke away from the man he was speaking with. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nicole and Dawn aren’t in the kitchen. Have you seen them?”

  Linc’s jaw hardened as he searched the crowded yard. “The last time I saw them was ten minutes ago. I should have checked on them, but Simmons asked about the bodyguard training program. Take the right side of the yard. I’ll take the left. If you see Emily Elliott, ask her if she’s seen them.”

  As Mason searched, he grabbed his cell phone and called Nicole. His call was dumped into voicemail immediately. “Nicole, where are you? Call me, baby.”

  Growing more afraid for Nicole’s safety as each minute passed, he moved faster through the crowd until he spotted Emily with a group of women. He reached her a moment later and gently separated her from the group.

  “Congratulations, Mason. I’m so happy for you.” Brian’s wife hugged him. “Brian is a lucky man to have you working for him.”

  “Thanks. Have you seen Nicole?”

  Emily released her hold on him and stepped back with a frown. “Not for a few minutes. She and Dawn left the building before I did, maybe ten minutes ago. Since the only thing I had left to do was load the dishwasher, I sent them back out here. A lot of people are milling around, Mason. Did you call her phone?”

  “She’s not answering.”

  “That’s strange.”

  Linc hurried to Mason’s side. “Anything?”

  He shook his head. “When I called Nicole’s cell, I got her voicemail.”

  A grim expression settled on the instructor’s face. “Same response from Dawn. She wouldn’t turn off her phone. I asked her to keep her phone with her at all times.”

  “I asked Nicole to do the same. Something’s wrong.”

  “Is there anything I can do?” Emily asked Mason.

  “Keep looking for Nicole and Dawn. If you spot them, have them call me.”

  “Sure. Let me know when you find them, all right?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He and Linc moved away from the group of women. “Suggestions?” he asked Linc.

  “Let’s scout around the front of the building first. If we don’t find them there, we call Fortress.”

  “What good will it do if their cell phones are off?”

  “The tech will be able to tell us the last known area before the cells were turned off. It’s not great, but it’s a start. Right now, we don’t know where to begin our search.”

  They had almost reached the side of the building when Dean caught up with them. “Got a minute?” he asked. “I have the camera feed from inside the library.”

  “Send it to my email.”

  His coworker frowned. “I thought you’d be excited about the footage. What’s wrong?”

  “We can’t find Nicole and Dawn, and they aren’t answering their phones.”

  Dean tapped his screen a few times, then said, “I sent you the footage. I’ll help you look for the women.”

  When they rounded the corner to the front of the building, Mason’s heart sank. “They’re not here.” Where was Nicole?

  “Mase, you and Dean start at the center of the yard and go toward the left. I’ll take the right. I’ll call Fortress and have one of the techs pinpoint the last area their phones pinged a tower.”

  Mason and Dean moved until they were a few feet apart and began to walk, looking for anything out of the ordinary. They found nothing until they reached the edge of the tree line with sparse grass and plentiful patches of dirt.

  He crouched in front of a large area of dirt littered with footprints. Mason glanced over his shoulder. “Linc.”

  The instructor jogged over. “What do you have?”

  “The boot prints look like the ones at Riva’s place. It’s a common boot tread, though.”

  “The impression is fresh.” Linc pointed at two sets of smaller shoe prints. “Those are the size of women’s running shoes.”

  Shoes like Nicole and Dawn wore. “What did the Fortress tech say?”

  “Like we thought, the phones have been turned off. However, the tech said the last known location was in this area.”

  Frustration gnawed at Mason. He had to find Nicole, but they didn’t have a starting point.


  “Fortress can’t narrow the area down?” Dean asked.

  “Not unless the phones are on. I don’t see a security camera so that avenue is out.”

  Mason stood. “We need to call Ethan.” He grabbed his cell phone and called the police chief.

  “Blackhawk.”

  “It’s Mason. Nicole and Dawn Metcalf are missing.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Elliott Construction. We were attending a company cookout.”

  “Ten minutes.” Ethan ended the call.

  Mason slid his phone into his pocket and looked at Dean. “Find Brian. Tell him we’ll have a police presence on the grounds soon.”

  With a nod, his friend hurried off.

  “While we’re waiting, send the library security footage to my email.” Linc unlocked his vehicle. From a secured compartment, he pulled out a laptop.

  After connecting to his hotspot, he downloaded the footage from his email. “What time were the emails sent?” When Mason told him the times, he fast-forwarded the footage until he reached the appropriate time for the first email. Linc froze the frame. “See anyone you recognize?”

  Five people sat at the computers, three of them grandmothers. One was a teenage girl. The final person was a burly guy. Mason frowned. He didn’t recognize him, but something about the man looked familiar. Maybe he’d seen him around town. “Save that screen shot to compare to the next one.”

  With a couple taps on the keyboard, Linc said, “Done. Let’s see who was present when Gage received his email.” He changed to the second security footage, fast-forwarded to the right time, and froze the frame.

  Mason stared at the burly man who was once again at a library computer. Who was he? “Would Fortress run his face through their databases?”

  Linc chose the best picture, attached it to an email, and sent it to Fortress. He grabbed his phone. “Yeah, it’s Linc Creed. I need you to run the photo I sent through facial recognition.” A pause. “As fast as you can. My principal is missing and the man in the photo may be connected to her disappearance.” He ended the call a moment later.