by Elle James
“Do you have any idea who is helping them, willingly?”
Juan shook his head. “None of my contacts would share that information. I don’t know if that’s because they really didn’t know, or they were that afraid of repercussions. One person said it had to be someone most people trusted to be able to hide in plain sight.”
“Did they give you any idea of where the waypoint is?” Aubrey asked.
Juan’s lips thinned. “They said they move from place to place to keep anyone from noticing their activities. One of the places they used to use was this old barn. It was far enough off the road they wouldn’t risk someone noticing a light burning inside.”
Matt looked around the space with renewed interest.
“I’ve already looked all over this barn. There are no signs that it has been occupied recently. But this is the kind of place they are most likely to take advantage of.”
“Off the beaten path and abandoned,” Matt said. “Juan, are you going to be okay? Asking questions could stir the hornet’s nest for you and your family.”
Juan nodded. “I packed my wife and children into the van today and sent them to Arkansas to visit my wife’s sister for a week.”
“What about you?”
“I want to find the missing little girl as much as you two,” Juan said. “I couldn’t look my wife and daughter in the eye without at least trying.”
“Don’t do anything that will put you at risk,” Matt said. “Your wife and children need you alive.”
He nodded. “I’m not staying at my house and I’m careful to vary my routes. I didn’t spend six years running convoys through Iraq without learning a few things about avoiding enemy attacks.”
Matt blinked. “I didn’t know you’d been in the military.” He realized he didn’t know much about Juan and needed to remedy that as soon as possible.
“If you need a safe place to stay, go to the Whiskey Gulch Ranch. We have a security system and we will protect you there.”
“I have a business to run. And I will not be frightened into hiding.”
“Please consider hiding until we find these people and neutralize them,” Matt urged his friend.
Juan shook his head. “I don’t see you hiding.”
“We have to find that little girl,” Aubrey said.
Raising his hand like he was swearing an oath, Juan said, “And I vow to help in your search.”
“For now, we’ll have the sheriff check some of the abandoned buildings we think might be somewhere they would hide,” Matt said. “Please, don’t go looking on your own. If you actually stumble on their hideout, you’d be outnumbered and outgunned.”
Juan nodded. “If I go looking, I’ll do it from a distance, with a pair of binoculars.”
“Be careful of perimeter guards and stay way back,” Matt said.
“I will.”
Matt held out his hand.
Juan put his in it and Matt pulled him into a hug. “Be careful, my friend.”
“Y tu amigo.” Juan turned to Aubrey. “Take care of this man. He’s one of the good guys.”
She smiled. “I’m beginning to figure that out. And I’ll do my best.”
Juan left the barn first and drove his truck back down Hatcher Road to the highway. Instead of turning right to go into Whiskey Gulch, he turned left and headed south.
Matt and Aubrey got into her Jeep and headed into Whiskey Gulch just as if they were returning from Mrs. Blair’s house.
“I need to get some gas,” Aubrey said.
“I’m buying,” Matt insisted.
“I can pay for my own fuel,” Aubrey said.
“I know you can, but you’ve been playing chauffeur to me. Let me do this.”
Aubrey frowned. “When I left my marriage, I swore I’d never let myself become dependent on any man, ever again.”
“I admire your spunk and determination. But, one tank of gas isn’t becoming dependent.” He grinned. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll let you buy dinner. Don’t get me wrong, though. It won’t be a date. When I take a lady out on a date, I pay for dinner.”
She lifted her chin, her mouth firm. “When we go out on a date, we’ll go Dutch.”
“I like that,” he said with a smile. “When we go out on a date. Not if.”
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “I didn’t mean to assume.”
“Oh, assume all the way. I only wish I’d asked first.” His grin broadened. “Because I will ask. And it’s reassuring to know you’ll say yes.” He winked, liking the woman driving a lot more than he thought he’d ever like someone. She was strong, determined and had a heart big enough to risk her own life in an attempt to save the life of a stranger’s child.
Aubrey pulled into the gas station and started to switch off the engine.
Matt caught her hand. “Leave it running.”
“But the instructions say to turn it off.”
“Given what we went through at your place early this morning, I’d like to keep it running in case we need to make a quick getaway.”
Aubrey glanced around. “You think they’d be so bold as to attack us in broad daylight?”
“When we drove by the sheriff’s office, I didn’t see one service vehicle. I have a feeling they’re all out checking abandoned structures in the county. I might be overreacting, but I’d feel better if you stayed in the vehicle and kept it running.”
“When you put it that way...okay.” She moved her hand back to the steering wheel and watched the road.
Matt slid his credit card into the machine and placed the nozzle in the tank. Soon, the pump had fuel flowing. All the while he kept watch on the main drag running through town.
As he finished up and was placing the nozzle back on the pump, his attention was on the machine. The squeal of tires down the block made his head jerk up.
A small dark car barreled down Main Street, aiming for the gas station where they were parked.
The driver wasn’t slowing at all; in fact, he sped up the closer he got.
His heartbeat leaping into his throat, Matt yelled, “Aubrey, shift into Drive. Now!”
He could hear the gears shift.
“Go! Go! Go!” he yelled. He didn’t have time to jump in.
A door flew open on the driver’s side of the oncoming vehicle and a man dressed in black and wearing a black bandanna over his face threw himself out of the oncoming car.
As Aubrey gunned the accelerator, Matt dived away from the pumps.
* * *
AUBREY’S HANDS SHOOK as she slammed her foot down on the accelerator and the Jeep shot out of the gas station and onto the street. In her rearview mirror, she saw Matt dive away from the pumps, as a vehicle slammed into them. An explosion rocked the earth and a huge fireball rose, engulfing the pumps where Matt had been standing moments before.
“Matt!” she screamed, and her foot left the accelerator.
The crack of gunfire sounded behind her.
A man dressed in black, wearing a black bandanna over his face, ran toward her, firing a handgun at her Jeep.
The back window exploded, sending shards of glass spraying over Aubrey’s back. She mashed the gas pedal, sending the Jeep leaping forward.
More gunfire sounded behind her.
Matt emerged from the inferno of the gas pumps, firing his handgun at the man shooting at the Jeep.
Aubrey cried out, so relieved tears welled in her eyes.
The gunman jerked, fell to his knees and then toppled face-first onto the pavement. He lay still in the middle of Main Street.
Sirens sounded from the direction of the fire station. Within a few short minutes, an emergency vehicle raced toward the fire, followed by a large red fire truck.
Aubrey pulled to the side of the road and shifted into Park. She was shaking so hard, s
he waited a few seconds before getting out of the vehicle.
Matt pocketed his weapon, hurried toward the man lying in the middle of the street and waved the first responders over.
The firefighters dropped down from their truck and went to work containing the fire that had spread to the building beside the gas station.
EMTs rushed toward the gunman and started working to revive the man who’d tried to kill Matt and Aubrey.
Aubrey walked toward Matt. The closer she got, the faster she moved until she was running.
He met her halfway, his arms open.
She ran into them and was engulfed in his embrace.
“I thought you went up in the explosion,” she said. Her voice cracked. She clung to him, her fingers curling into his shirt.
“I saw him coming and moved.” He brushed her hair back from her face and stared down at her. “Thank you for doing exactly what I said.” He shook his head. “If you hadn’t, that car would have hit you first and slammed you into the pump.” Matt kissed her forehead. “I don’t even want to think about how that would have ended.” He kissed her cheek. Then he kissed her lips, wrapping his arms around her, holding her so close.
Aubrey melted into him, a heat swelling inside her that had nothing to do with the nearby flames.
When the ambulance arrived, the EMTs loaded the man onto a gurney and into the back of the vehicle. About that time, Sheriff Richards arrived on scene.
Matt and Aubrey filled him in on what had happened before he spent a few minutes with the fire chief. When he was done, he returned to Matt and Aubrey.
“You two are a magnet for trouble,” the sheriff said. “We were checking out the abandoned buildings you suggested when we got the call from dispatch that the gas station blew up.” He shook his head. “I’ve been sheriff here for ten years and we’ve never had a gas station blow up. Nor have we had a house shot up like a scene from a Hollywood thriller.”
“Trust me,” Matt said. “We’re not asking for it.”
“I believe you,” Sheriff Richards said. “I just wonder when your luck will run out.”
Aubrey swallowed hard. Moments before, she’d thought Matt’s luck had run out. Her heart had hurt so much, she’d had a hard time breathing.
“I hear you and your deputies have been out searching empty buildings,” Matt said. “What did you find at those locations?”
The sheriff stared at the fire as the firefighters doused the flames on the convenience store gas station and the building beside it, bringing the fire under control. “We didn’t find anyone in either location you proposed and a few others, including the warehouses by the railroad track.”
Aubrey’s hopes plummeted.
The sheriff turned back to them. “However, I found evidence that they had been there fairly recently in the old racehorse barn.” He pulled a plastic bag containing a pink hair bow out of his pocket and held it up for them to see. “I found this and some food wrappers inside the building. I also found a spot where whatever truck they’re using to haul those ATVs leaked oil on the floor of the barn. It was fresh. They moved not long ago.”
Aubrey took the bag containing the bow from the sheriff’s fingers and held it close to her pounding heart. “They were there. Isabella was there.”
“We don’t know that it was Isabella,” the sheriff warned. “And we don’t know where they moved her.”
“Hopefully, not far,” Aubrey whispered.
“We still have surveillance on all roads leading out of the area. If they try to leave, we should see them.”
“Think they’re waiting until the heat dies down to move?” Aubrey asked.
Sheriff Richards nodded. “That would be my bet. Or at least my hope.”
“Have they gotten anything out of the man I tagged who shot up my mother’s house?” Matt asked.
“He hasn’t regained consciousness.” The sheriff tipped his head toward the departing ambulance. “And your recent attacker isn’t going to make it. They’ve got him on life support, but they think the doctor at the hospital will call it when he arrives.”
Matt swore. “So, we’re no closer to finding Isabella or the people who are making our lives hell.”
“Not at the moment,” the sheriff said. “The fact we found evidence they were at the racehorse barn is encouraging. They’re still out there and probably getting a little nervous. We just have to tighten the noose and flush them out.” He frowned at Matt. “Please, don’t go out looking at abandoned buildings. At the rate you’re going, you’re likely to run into the hornet’s nest and get yourselves killed.”
“We’ll play it as safe as we can. So far the attackers have come to us, not the other way around.” Matt’s arm slipped around Aubrey’s waist.
“Just so you know, I’ve asked the FBI and the DEA to get involved. They should arrive within the next hour.”
“Good,” Matt said. “I have it on good authority the people we’re dealing with could be connected with Los Zetas out of Nuevo Laredo. Now would be a good time for the FBI, DEA and whatever other federal organization to step in and help us. This could be much bigger than your department can handle.”
The sheriff nodded. “Exactly. I’d like to call in the National Guard and the Texas Rangers, as well. I saw what those thugs did to your mother’s house. They’re armed to the teeth. I don’t want to sacrifice my people in a war where they’re outnumbered and outgunned.”
“With all those agencies converging on Whiskey Gulch, the cartel will be feeling the pinch. They might try to make a run for it before they get here.”
“I thought of that. That’s why I have all hands on deck on surveillance of the roads in and out of the area. I also have my techno-wizard of a nephew putting his drone in the air to make sure those guys don’t try to make their escape cross-country. I’ve asked for the Customs and Border Patrol to back up my nephew with drones of their own. They should be here sometime this afternoon.”
“Remember, if you need help, you have the men of Whiskey Gulch Ranch available to backfill. We’re all trained in military special operations.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. We might have need of your services.” The sheriff held out his hand. “For now, keep your heads down.”
“Thanks, Sheriff. Same to you.” Matt shook the man’s hand and gathered Aubrey close.
“Ready to go to the ranch?”
She frowned. “I feel like we’re close, like on the verge of finding Isabella. I hate to give up now.”
“You heard the sheriff. He’s calling in the big guns. The feds. When they get here, they’ll take over and hopefully nail the bastards.”
“And find Isabella. Alive.” Aubrey leaned into Matt. “Is there anything else we can do right now? An abandoned building we can stake out? A contact we can lean on for information? Anything?”
Matt chuckled. “You don’t give up, do you?”
She stopped and looked up into his eyes. “Not when a little girl’s life is at risk.”
“I’m not giving up either.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “But after what happened this morning and now at the gas station, I’m afraid to take you with me. I’d feel much better if you stayed at the ranch.”
Before Matt finished talking, Aubrey was shaking her head. “I can’t. I don’t want to leave any stone unturned. Every man or woman working on this has a different perspective. We see different possibilities. If I’m not there, what I might have seen in a situation could be the one thing that leads us to the kidnappers.”
“You have a point,” Matt sighed. “I don’t like that you aren’t safely tucked away at the ranch, but you have a point.” He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his in a brief kiss.
Aubrey’s lips tingled where his had touched hers. “Why did you do that?” she asked in a breathless voice.
“Remember, we aren’t
strangers. Even though we’ve only known each other for a day and a half, we’ve experienced a lifetime together.”
She smiled up into his eyes. “If you’re going to kiss me, kiss me like you mean it.” Aubrey leaned up on her toes, wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and kissed him hard, thrusting her tongue past his teeth to caress his.
He gathered her close, pressing his hand to the small of her back, his hips pressing into hers, the ridge beneath the fly of his jeans nudging against her torso.
Fire burned low in Aubrey’s belly. If they weren’t looking for a missing child... If they were alone in a hotel room...
But they weren’t. As much as she wanted the kiss to go on forever, they had work to do. A child needed them.
Aubrey broke the kiss and leaned her head against Matt’s chest. “As much as I loved that, can we pick up where we left off later? After we find Isabella?”
Matt hugged her hard against his chest and set her at arm’s length. “I’ll take a rain check on that kiss. I’m not done with it.”
Aubrey smiled. “You’re not just saying that?”
“Are you kidding? I’m on fire and no amount of cold showering is going to douse that flame.” He led her to her Jeep, frowning at the mess the shooter had made of her back window.
“I’m sorry your Jeep was hit. But I’m glad he missed you. Do you want to drive, or are you ready for me to take the wheel?”
“After that...” She drew in a shaky breath. “I’m ready for you to take the wheel.”
He chuckled. “After that kiss? Or after the explosion?”
“Weren’t they one and the same?” She leaned up and brushed her lips across his. “Yup. Definitely an explosion.”
He helped her into the passenger side of the Jeep and climbed into the driver’s seat.