by Brian Shea
“Maybe State Police could help? Assuming she’s on the highway.” It was Rusty who spoke now.
“Good point. We’ve got a description of the bald guy’s vehicle. But we’re assuming he has her. And assuming he’s still using the Range Rover,” Jones said.
“That’s a lot of assumptions, but it’s better than what we had a few minutes ago,” Nick said.
“At least we know she’s probably alive,” Anaya said, speaking for the first time in a while.
“How do we know that?” Rusty asked.
“Because she’s still moving. If not, then I’m guessing they’d have dumped her somewhere,” Nick said, nodding his head as if reassuring himself he was right.
“Good point. I’m going to get in touch with Arkansas State Police and see if we can get someone to intercept.” Jones stepped up and walked to his desk.
Nick was silent for a moment and then put his phone to his ear. “Where are you?”
“Um, we’re still in Tennessee. We lost a little time to some road construction.” Declan said. “Why? What’s up?”
“How far are you from Memphis?” Nick asked, intently.
Declan looked at the GPS on Izzy’s phone and said, “Hour and a half, tops. Again, why?”
“We’ve got a lock on the girl. She’s heading your way,” Nick said, excitement filling his voice.
“Where are you?” Declan asked.
“There’s no way we can make up the time. Maybe once she stops moving we might be able to get a flight out, but I have a bad feeling we are operating on borrowed time,” Nick said.
Nick didn’t need to add any detail to the statement’s meaning. Everyone in the group was well aware of the stakes.
“All right, we’ve got this,” Declan said, confidently.
“Sorry to put you in this position. I wish I could do it myself, but…” Nick never finished the sentence.
“I know.” Declan hated the seriousness of Nick’s tone. Especially in light of recent information. He lightened the tone and added, “It’s time you let the varsity team play.”
A little chuckle escaped Nick as his friend’s cockiness created some levity. “Okay, just remember who saved your ass last time.”
“Um, I’m right here,” Izzy said, in the background.
“I’m going to send you a link. It’ll allow you the ability to track Mouse’s position. I’m also going to send you a photo. It’s a little grainy. It’s from a convenience-store camera, but you should be able to identify her from it,” Nick said, returning the conversation back to the business at hand.
“Mouse?” Declan asked.
“Yup. She’s tiny, but don’t let her size fool you. She is as tough as they come,” Nick replied.
“I like her already,” Izzy said.
“Be safe. If she’s with the guy from my apartment, then take precautions. He’s dangerous,” Nick said.
“So am I.”
Declan let that comment hang in the air for a moment before clicking the end button.
“State has all the information. They’re going to set some units up on I-40 and look for the Range Rover. They’ll keep me posted,” Jones said, re-entering the room.
“As soon as she’s safe, we’ll need to figure out how to help the rest of the girls,” Nick said, scanning the room.
“I agree, but let’s focus on finding Mouse first and go from there,” Jones said.
“I think you should be resting,” Anaya said, looking at Nick sitting uncomfortably and favoring his injured side.
“There’s no way I’m going to lie down and take a nap while that asshole is hunting a little girl,” Nick said, intensely.
“No point in arguing with his stubborn ass. I think I’m the only one left in this state that will work with him. Hell, why d’ya think he has to slum it with us city cops? His Bureau buddies can’t keep up,” Jones said, laughing.
Nick smiled at the group but couldn’t help feeling the not-so-subtle truth in Jones’s remark.
42
She moved quickly through the herd of people meandering outside. A few of the passengers lit cigarettes. They stood waiting for their bags to be offloaded from the undercarriage. Her ticket itinerary said this was a transfer to the 1214 bus. She had a little over an hour at the station.
Mouse went directly to the bathroom. She’d used the privacy of the toilet on the bus but wanted to organize the cash in her backpack, worried that someone might find it odd that a girl of her age would have a wad of money. She slipped a twenty-dollar bill into her pocket and zipped the sack up.
The station wasn’t very big, and it felt smaller with the crowd. Some were huddled on the floor with their cell phones connected to a wall plug. A man shuffled past her whose smell reminded her of the drunk that had helped her get the ticket. Mouse made for a place serving hot food. There was no name above the enclave, just a sign that read Open 24 Hours. She ordered a burger, hot dog, and French fries. Her stomach rumbled as the scent wafting off the grill entered her nose. The Powerbars and Gatorade had sufficed up to this point, but her body yearned for real food. What better way to embrace America than through their greasy staples.
Mouse found a small aluminum table by a large fake plant. Using her hand to clear off the crumbs from the last visitor, she laid out her feast. The only thought in her head was, “Which one should I eat first?” She committed and gripped the burger with two hands, breathing through her nose as she began devouring it like a shark in blood-filled water. She paused only long enough to shovel a few fries into her mouth.
It had been a long time since Mouse could say she was happy. It was an elusive concept under the circumstances of her life. But right now, right here, in the Greyhound bus station in Memphis, she felt it. Or what she perceived was the closest thing to happiness that she’d experienced since her mother’s death.
Leaning back, surveying the pile of grease and mustard stained wrappers, she rubbed her belly, contented. Looking at the itinerary, she did the math. Only twenty-two more hours and she would be in Saginaw.
And then on to Pidgeon. On to her new life.
43
The group sat watching the blip update position. There seemed to be a lag time, and Nick guessed this was because Jay’s tech support was sending them a hacked signal.
“This is killing me,” Nick said through gritted teeth.
“Don’t I know it,” Jones said. “Good thing is we’ve got a lock on her. Only a matter of time now.”
Nick nodded and slowly stood. The meds from the hospital had run their course, and the dullness of the pain was gone. Sitting unmoving in the chair, it felt like a vice gripped his side. But standing up was like the knife was being plunged back in again.
“Easy, Nick,” Anaya said, swooping in to assist. “Why don’t we find you someplace more comfortable?”
“Nah, I need to move around a bit. I’m gonna grab some water,” Nick said. He was hunched and not able to stand erect, so his tall frame seemed stunted.
“There’s a fresh pot of coffee in the break room. I’m gonna contact dispatch and see where we’re at with the troopers. Looks like we’ve got to reach out to Tennessee now,” Jones said, already moving to the door.
“Sounds better than water,” Nick said, forcing a smile.
“I’ll be outside for a bit. I’ve gotta let Jasper stretch his legs,” Rusty said.
“Hey, Rusty, you and your partner can cut loose for a while. I’ll hit you up if we need your services,” Jones said.
“Nope, I’d rather stay close. Seems every time I leave, y’all call me right back. I’m gonna ride this out,” Rusty said with a cock of his head.
The group temporarily separated. Nick took small steps and the walk to the break room seemed a marathon’s distance. Anaya followed, keeping his slow pace. She smiled at his efforts and kept her hand near the small of his back. Not touching him, but prepared to react if he needed. She looked like a parent hovering over their toddler as the first steps were taken.
“I’m fine,” Nick said.
“I didn’t say you weren’t. Can’t a girl get a cup of coffee?” Anaya jested.
“Sorry, I just hate being a lame duck,” Nick said with an uncharacteristic timidity.
“There’s nothing lame about you,” Anaya said playfully.
“Says you,” Nick said. He changed the subject, adding, “So, I never really got a chance to thank you before.”
“Thank me? For what?” Anaya asked.
“For saving my life. If it wasn’t for you and Mouse, I’d most likely be dead,” Nick said, humbly.
“Oh that. Geesh, that was nothing,” Anaya said, feigning bashfulness.
“You ever shot a gun before?” Nick asked, genuinely.
“Why? Did I do bad?” Anaya asked coyly.
“Not at all. Under the circumstances, you did great! It’s harder than people realize. You shot at a moving target in the dark and hit him. Best part was you didn’t hit me,” Nick said, giving her a kind smile.
“I was actually aiming for you. Thank God I’m such a lousy shot,” Anaya said, laughing at her own joke.
Nick chuckled, but the pain struck him like a sledgehammer and caused him to stop.
“How’d you get into all this?” Nick asked.
“All what? Social work?”
“Yeah. From what Jones tells me, you’re the go-to person around here on cases like this,” Nick said, paying forward the compliment.
“I guess you could say it’s my calling. Someone helped me out of a bad situation a long time ago, and ever since that day, I knew this was something I had to do,” Anaya said, instantly regretting the exposure to her past.
“How bad?” Nick didn’t want to pry but he was fascinated by the woman and wanted to know more.
“I don’t usually talk about it, but let’s just say that Mouse and I aren’t so different,” Anaya said softly. She then added, “Well there’s one glaring difference. She’s ten times tougher than I ever was.”
“I’d say you’re pretty damn tough,” Nick said. His cheeks flushed at his cheesy attempt at a compliment. He knew his delivery did little to bely its flirtatious undertones.
Anaya smiled and busied herself at the counter of the breakroom, pouring the coffee.
“I don’t even know where to begin with the other girls on that map,” Nick said, easing back from the last comment.
“I think, right now, it’s important to focus on Mouse. Once she’s safe, we can figure out the next step,” Anaya said. She was pensive for a moment before she added, “One thing I do know is the first indication they get that we’re on to them, they will change tactics. This is why they’re so hard to catch.”
“I know. That’s my fear. These groups are always two steps ahead of us. We usually only catch the sloppy ones,” Nick said, glumly.
44
The overhead speaker crackled, and the boarding announcement for the 1214 bus was barely audible over the noise of other travelers. Her full belly had brought on a weariness she hadn’t felt in a while. The adrenaline dump that had fueled her for the past few days was gone. Mouse was left with a strong desire to sleep. That’s what she planned to do as soon as she got on the bus.
There was a slow gaggle of people making their way toward the side exit that would bring them to the bus departure area. Mouse moved quickly, wanting to ensure she secured a seat in the rear again. She exited the air-conditioned building and was smacked with the heavy humidity of the Tennessee air. The smell of diesel fuel was overwhelming and caused her to cough. As she fell in line with the other passengers, something caught her eye. It was something in the movement, a directness that seemed out of place.
Mouse turned and saw him approaching. He was closing the gap quickly. Caught in her momentary lapse of contentedness, she’d let her guard down. Frantic, she looked for an escape. She opened her mouth to scream.
“Mouse!” the man yelled.
Hearing her name caused her to pause, stopping the scream before it began. Perplexed, she stood frozen by indecision.
“It’s okay! We’re here to help,” a woman’s voice shouted.
The woman appeared, stepping into sight from behind the man. She had dark hair and tanned skin. They both stopped approximately ten feet away and put their hands out. The two looked like they were trying to calmly approach a stray dog. Unsure and cautious.
“We’re friends with Nick and Anaya. We’re here to help you,” Izzy said.
Mouse looked around nervously, her eyes ping-ponging between the approaching pair and the bus she was about to board. She’d never seen these two people before. They knew her name, but life had taught her many lessons. Trust was not given easily.
She looked toward the bus and then back at the two, who had stopped their slow approach. Some of the other passengers had taken notice of this odd exchange, not knowing what to make of it.
The man had kind eyes, but the rest of him looked like he was cut from stone, standing rigid as if ready to pounce. She heard her father’s words. Commit to the action needed. Then act. The problem was Mouse could not make a decision.
And then something strange happened. The stone man slapped at his neck as if reacting to a bee sting. Seconds later, he crumpled to the ground. The woman next to him panicked, dropping to her knees to render aid. He lay on the ground, unmoving.
“Declan! What the…” Izzy couldn’t finish the statement.
She dropped to her knees next to Declan. Someone appeared beside her. Izzy moved for her sidearm, which was concealed under her untucked shirt.
“I’m a doctor! Is this your husband?” he asked.
He took up a position alongside her and rapidly moved his hands along his neck, checking for a pulse. He bent low putting his right ear just above Declan’s mouth as he looked for the rise and fall of his chest.
“Huh? What? No. Not his wife. You’re a doctor?” Izzy jumbled the barrage of questions.
“Relax. He has a pulse and he’s breathing. Any history?” the doctor asked.
He sat up and pulled a phone from his pocket.
“I…I don’t know,” Izzy stammered.
Their plan to recover the girl was quickly falling apart. Izzy shot a glance toward the girl. She was still standing in the same spot. Frozen in place. Izzy held up a finger toward that girl, indicating for her to wait while she figured out what to do with her fallen partner.
“Yes. Hello. I’ve got a man unconscious. He’s got a pulse and is breathing. Please step it up,” the doctor said into the phone. He ended the call and turned to Izzy. “Good news, there is an ambulance close by. Should be here in a minute.”
“What the hell is going on?” Izzy asked.
“Not sure. Looks like a bee sting,” the doctor said.
He directed Izzy’s attention, pointing to a small red dot along the right side of Declan’s neck. There was a tiny drop of blood and the skin around it was raised slightly.
“Is your friend allergic?”
“I don’t know. Shit! Bee sting?” Izzy asked. The question was more to herself than the doctor.
A loud siren filled the air as an ambulance rounded the corner. The blue and red lights bounced off the windows of the bus terminal creating a disco tech effect.
“Jesus, that was fast,” Izzy said, looking in the direction of the noise.
“Well, the lady on the phone did say they were just around the corner,” the doctor said, reassuringly.
He then stood and began waving his arms overhead, flagging down the ambulance. He pointed down at Declan as the ambulance pulled along the curb.
In the commotion, Izzy looked back toward Mouse or where she used to be. The girl was gone and so was the bus. Izzy pulled out her phone as the two large EMTs approached purposefully, wheeling a gurney between them.
“Something happened to Declan! Bee sting. He just collapsed. The girl is on the move. Keep tracking her! I’ll figure this out. They’re prepping him to move,” Izzy said in rapid fire succession to Nic
k.
She hung up without waiting for a response and addressed the medical team. Izzy lifted her shirt just enough to expose her badge that was clipped to her beltline. They nodded to her, indicating they got the message.
“I’ll follow. Where are you taking him?” Izzy asked one of the paramedics as he loaded Declan onto a gurney.
“Memorial,” the man said, strapping in Declan’s chest.
“Thank you,” Izzy said to the doctor before running off toward the parking lot.
Cain had planned it. He would wait until the Heathen was in line for the bus and then approach. His lines rehearsed, he would have acted like a thankful parent finding his runaway daughter. If she resisted, then any onlookers would understand. It would be perceived as a father trying to recover his rebellious teen. The gun pressed against her side would quickly calm her down, and he would extricate her to his Ford Escape. Quick and easy.
In a moment of chaos, it all fell apart. Just as he’d begun moving toward the Heathen, someone called out to her. A man and woman had known where she was. They were there to intercept her.
This man and woman knew exactly where she was. How was that possible? And then, in the midst of their intrusion, the man collapsed. There were so many things wrong with what Cain had just witnessed. His small window of opportunity had been stolen from him. Rage caused his hands to tremble as he watched the Heathen’s bus pull out from the depot.
45
Izzy broke into a sprint to the Camry as she saw that the ambulance was already pulling out of the bus terminal parking lot. She entered the car and dropped it into drive and accelerated to catch up. Pulling out her cellphone, she called Nick again. Her last message had been an onslaught of craziness and she wanted to clarify things.
“We saw the girl. Almost had her. Declan’s in an ambulance, and we’re heading to the hospital,” Izzy said in rapid-fire succession.