Oh, she was pissed. And Duke wondered who’d catch the brunt of her anger.
She stomped toward them, flipped the shield up on her helmet and screamed, “What the hell happened out there!”
By the time she reached them, her protective headgear was tucked under her arm. Damp with tearstains on her cheeks, her puffy eyes and smeared mascara proved she’d been crying.
“Julie, honey, it’s all right. We’ll find out what happened. We’ll get to the bottom of this,” Duke assured her, trying his best not to knock Frank sideways. Could he be responsible for something like this? Surely not.
Then again, the evidence suggested he didn’t care about Julie’s welfare.
“I’m supposed to trust you!” she accused, shoving the helmet against his gut. “You were supposed to build this incredible car.” She slapped his arm. “It was equipped with all these safety features.” The tears came. “And let’s not forget the superior brakes that you said were untouchable! ‘No one can tamper with them’ you said!”
“Julie, listen—”
“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say!” she screamed, ranting as she stormed toward the garage. “I’m tired of listening!” She stopped, turned around and glared at all of them—Sam, Frank, Duke, and the rest of the crew. “Somebody wants me dead! Apparently none of you understand that, or if you do, you just don’t care!”
“Julie, honey…”
“Don’t you ‘Julie honey’ me!” she raged. “You promised me a car that was second to none, the safest vehicle on the road or the track. That’s what you said!”
“He told you the truth, Julie,” Frank said, glaring at Sam. “There’s no way anyone can tamper with those brakes unless they’re on this team. Sam has a security code on the wiring. If someone messes with your car, an alarm goes off and—” He stopped talking all at once. He studied Sam with intense eyes. “The only way the alarm isn’t activated is if someone unhooks the security system which is coded and virtually impossible unless…”
“Unless what?” Duke demanded.
Sam and Frank glared at one another. Their eyes were cold. Frank looked mad enough to kill him. Sam appeared smug. In fact, he came across as a man who didn’t have anything to worry about.
At that point, Frank clenched his fists and his teeth. After his nostrils flared a few times, he said, “The only way that alarm wouldn’t go off is if the person who designed the security system decoded several of the alarm triggers. Only one man on this team has the knowledge required to disengage the system.”
“Two people knew about that feature,” Sam reminded him. “You and Hank.”
“Hank didn’t snip the wires on that car,” Frank said confidently. “And I’d cut my own arm off before I’d harm this little girl. And that’s not what I said in the first place. I said only one man could’ve done this. You and I both know that, Sam. If Hank were here, he’d tell you to get the hell off his property. That is, if he didn’t kill you first.”
“Frank!” Julie yelled.
“Little girl,” Frank began firmly, “there wasn’t a thing wrong with that car yesterday. Me and the boys went over it with a fine-tooth comb. We often check things out whenever Sam isn’t around.”
“And why would you do something like that?” Sam asked.
“Reckon after today, you can put two and two together,” Frank replied. “I don’t trust you.”
The men stood nose to nose. Duke couldn’t remember a time when Frank looked more furious.
“You got a right to your opinion, old man,” Sam said, obviously trying to get a reaction.
“Why you…” Frank went after him, and Duke stepped between them while some of the crew held them off one another.
“That’s enough!” Duke yelled, forcing the men to part ways. “This is madness. The two of you work on the same team.”
“Not anymore I don’t,” Sam said bitterly. Turning on Duke, he added, “You have a few choices to make. You know what I’m talking about. I’ll be back tomorrow when I cool off. You let me know what you decide.”
Frank narrowed his gaze. His eyes were full of questions, but he didn’t ask them. He was more concerned about Julie, and the sincerity was evident in the way he studied her.
Didn’t Duke know better than to doubt Frank? Hadn’t Frank proven throughout the years how much he loved Julie?
Debating on whether or not to address the bill of sale on the crazy mare, Duke finally decided against discussing it. He was afraid he’d choose a side without meaning to do so and effectively, choose the wrong one. Instead, he faced Julie and forced a smile. “Honey, I know you were scared.”
“Is that the best you can do?” she asked, her voice raised an octave higher. “I was terrified. Let your coveted life pass in front of your face and you’ll see why I don’t trust myself in any car right now.”
“The car didn’t let you down,” Frank told her. “Whoever got their hands on that wiring did the damage, Julie.” A beat later he added, “And as far as trusting yourself? You’re the best driver I’ve seen in a long time. If you drove out of that mess there, you can drive yourself out of anything. I always said you were sharp and gutsy, little girl. You confirmed that belief out there today.”
“I don’t care. I never want to see another race car again. I’m done. Do you hear me, Frank? I’m finished!”
“After coming out of this without a scratch? Julie, no one handles a car like that. You should’ve been in the wall or flipping metal. You’re where you need to be. Racing stock cars and taking names. No one will beat you. You were one of the finest in drag racing. Come on over to stock cars. Let’s make women out of those boys who think they’ve got a right and claim to the winner’s circle.”
“Is that all you can say to me, Duke Hinman? I almost died out there!”
“When?” Frank asked. “I didn’t see nothin’ but good driving out there. I agree with Duke and myself—course that’s a given—even when you were in trouble, I had confidence you’d pull out of it and hold it together.”
“You did not,” Julie said, her voice finally back at a normal pitch. “I heard you tell someone I was going into shock.”
“What’s an old man know anyhow?” Frank asked, giving her a tight hug and a kiss on the forehead.
When Frank released her, Duke quickly snatched her hand. “Come on, Julie. I want to talk to you privately.”
“I guess we’ll see you later, Frank,” Duke said, keeping his distance. He then addressed the others. “Get the car back in the shop. Fix those brakes and make sure we have several mechanics present whenever you’re working. And I want two men watching every vehicle here, and I want that done around the clock. Am I understood?”
Positive responses resounded.
“I’m not driving again,” Julie stated firmly.
“We’ll see about that,” Duke said, dragging her along behind him. He ignored her protests until they reached the house.
As soon as they were inside and the door slammed behind them, she said, “You hurt Frank’s feelings, and seeing him upset doesn’t sit well with me.”
“I don’t give a damn,” he bit out, pacing the foyer.
“What is wrong with you?”
“Hank is missing.”
“What?” she screeched.
He grabbed her and kissed her hard on the mouth. It wasn’t a tender kiss. It wasn’t a sweet smooch. It was an outright lusty lip-lock he needed in order to assure himself she was right there in front of him. And kissing her at that moment didn’t make a lick of sense.
“What the hell was that for? You tell me Hank is missing and then you kiss me?”
“I was just making sure…never mind,” he muttered, running his fingers through his hair. “We’ve gotta get you out of here.”
“Why?”
“Julie, someone tried to kill you today.”
“Ya think?”
“Save the smartass comments for another man and a different week, if you don’t mind. Yes,
someone tried to kill you. Hank is missing. And I think Frank is somehow responsible.”
“Frank?” she asked, sadness creeping into her eyes. “Are you serious, Duke? Do you know what you’re saying?”
“Believe me, I’ve had a hard time processing this, too.”
“You must be ill,” she said, her arm rising and falling against her thigh.
“Julie, I have proof.”
She shook her head and backed away from him like he was a new disease, the next deadly plague. “I don’t believe you.”
Duke retrieved the bill of sale from his pocket and handed it to her. “Read the notes.”
She scanned the document so quickly, he wasn’t sure she took the time to review the paperwork he provided. Julie had a nasty habit of being loyal to a fault. If someone close to her wanted to harm her, they wouldn’t be short on opportunities.
“So what? You know how Frank and I operate. We always buy the nutty horses. They’re a challenge. Why do you think he used to bring in those wild mustangs? I can promise you this mare is no match for those mustangs we used to break. I don’t care if this horse has kicked several cowboys’ asses, she’s no match for me and Frank.”
“You don’t think this is unusual?”
“No,” Julie replied.
“Did he tell you that he gave you a gift horse destined to kill you?”
“Of course not,” Julie retorted. “Duke, you have to understand how Frank and I are when it comes to horses. He’s always bought more horse than either of us could handle, and then we’ve dealt with them. I don’t ask him if the horse has a few loose screws, I just accept that if Frank bought a horse at all, the damn thing has the potential to be dangerous.”
Duke shook his head rapidly. “Then how do you explain the fact that someone tampered with the brakes on your car?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. But I can tell you this right now. Frank didn’t cut the wires. He couldn’t hurt me, Duke. You know that.”
Duke scratched his head. “We’ve gotta find Hank. After Hank gets home, he can worry about Frank and Sam.”
“I’m not worried about Frank,” she insisted. “He’s been my rock since I was a little girl. He’s been my caretaker and truest friend. He’d die first trying to save me before he would let someone hurt me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you.”
“I am, and I’m deeply saddened by this conversation. Truth is, Frank would protect you at any cost, too. I’m sorry you aren’t as loyal.”
Chapter Eleven
“You got the fifty thousand!” Hank yelled through the metal bars. “What else do you want?”
A tall figure emerged from the dark hallway. Two men followed behind him. “Who are you?”
“Agent Duane Dickerson,” the man said, taking a seat at a small wooden table right outside the cell.
“Am I in jail?”
“County,” Dickerson replied. “You’re in solitary confinement.”
“For what?” Hank asked, wondering if he were in Columbia, Tennessee, or Bogota, Colombia, after that remark. Since when did Columbia have solitary confinement in their small facility?
“We’re keeping you here until we have a chance to see what’s going to happen out at your place.”
“What do you mean by that?” Hank asked, gripping the bars, staring at the man who offered his name and title, but didn’t flash a badge or show credentials.
“I don’t have time to explain.”
“You can’t hold a man against his will,” Hank told him, noting the man didn’t act like he was in any particular hurry. He crossed his arms, leaned back and studied him like he planned to sum him up for a bit.
“I’m asking for your cooperation.”
“I’d be more cooperative if you guys weren’t holding me behind bars for no apparent reason!”
“You haven’t listened to a word I’ve said.”
“Am I under arrest?”
“No.”
“Then let me go!” Hank demanded.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because you’re a target someone wants dead. Your brother doesn’t have a price on his head, and I’m not sure why. Someone wants you and the girl dead. Until we know who, we’re protecting you, and assuming your brother will protect your woman.”
“Julie?”
“Yes.”
Hank gulped. “You’re using her for bait, aren’t you?”
Dickerson pulled out his cell phone and started texting. He frowned at the facing on his phone as he typed out a long message.
“Answer me! You’re using her to set a trap, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” the agent replied without looking up. “And you’re gonna sit right here until she helps us hook a criminal responsible for killing a few race car drivers.”
“I don’t know of any drivers dying suspicious deaths.”
A man standing behind Dickerson slapped a folder over his shoulder. Dickerson took a few steps, pulled free a stack of pictures, and handed the contents to Hank. When Hank flipped through the glossy images, he nearly choked on the bile rising in his throat.
“One suspicious death on the circuit is speculative. In our field, we can draw all sorts of conclusions. However, four deaths in one night raises brows when the victims all share one common thread.”
“They’re race car drivers,” Hank said softly, acknowledging a friend’s face when he flipped to the fourth photograph. He swallowed hard and slowly lifted his gaze to meet the federal agent’s eyes. “I need to be with Julie.”
“I can’t let you mess this up, Hank. We think the only reason Julie hasn’t been killed yet is because you and your brother took her in.”
“I can protect her.”
“You’ll die guarding her! Is that what you want?”
“I want to be at home with my family right now!” he yelled, realizing his outburst might raise suspicions. To the world, Julie wasn’t legally his family. He’d never laid legal claims to the woman he loved. He’d never promised to love her in front of an audience. He’d never proposed, yet he felt as if she’d always been his. Maybe when this was all over, he’d do the right thing and ask her to become his wife.
Agent Dickerson watched him, his eyes narrowing and then widening as he looked on, focusing on the path Hank paced as he walked the length of the cell. Finally he said, “Hank, people with money and power can buy plenty of strings to pull. These drivers and team owners can always find someone to do their dirty work. You should know how this works. Julie’s own father lost his life to foul play.”
Hank arched a brow.
“That’s off the record. I thought you knew.”
Hank didn’t pump. He’d heard the rumors about Julie’s father. He wasn’t interested in the past. Besides, Julie’s dad was crooked, according to what he’d heard. He pissed off the wrong people and paid the price with his life. Julie couldn’t kill a fly, much less harm a snake. The world of racing, like most careers with big paychecks at stake, saw its share of reptiles waiting to strike.
So what if folks didn’t like her. She was tough. She’d made a few enemies, but she wasn’t like her father, and no one had reason enough to kill her.
“I need to go home and protect the ones I love. If you were in my shoes, maybe you’d understand.”
“We’ve got undercover agents in place on your team. They’re there to do a job, and they’ll be able to do it if we don’t have to worry about your renegade tactics.”
Hank snarled, thinking this whole thing was a planned ambush. If the cops wanted to ensure cooperation, they picked up the wrong brother. Rather than inform them of the fact, he said, “If you think Duke will help you, think again. He’ll protect Julie with his life, and if you get him killed while I’m sitting here in this cell, you’ll answer to me and my attorneys.”
Agent Dickerson said, “We know Duke has a few loose screws when it comes to Julie. The three of you have some
history. I know all about that.
“Duke may very well cause us a few problems, too, but as far as we can tell, you’re the only Hinman in danger. If we’re trying to protect you while you’re doing your best to save Julie, we have too many targets to watch. I’m sorry, Hank. Really, I am. Once we figure out who to charge with these suspicious murders, we’ll let you go.”
“If I go home to two funerals, there will be hell to pay.”
Agent Dickerson took a deep breath. “We’ll try our best not to detain you longer than necessary.”
“You’ve already held me longer than I meant to stay.”
* * * *
Duke hung up the phone. “I spoke to Agent Duane Dickerson. He assured me. Hank is fine.”
“And you believe him, right?”
“He said he’s being held for questioning, and once they’re satisfied with the interrogation, they’ll let him go.”
“What did he do?” Julie asked, feeling like Duke knew the truth but refused to tell her.
“I don’t know, Julie, but so help me I’m gonna kill him when he gets home. I hate it when he worries you like this.”
“Worries me?” She laughed at that. “I’m not a bit concerned now.”
“You’re not?” he asked, stalking her.
“Nope,” she replied, swiping his hand away when he tried to loop his arm around her and bring her against him. “You called the police station from your phone. There’s not any great mystery to solve here, Duke. What happened is pretty self-explanatory. Hank got in trouble, most likely because he was willing to pay for information. If I had to guess, he’s being charged with extortion.”
“What kind of penalty will he receive for that?”
“I don’t know,” she replied thoughtfully. “He could spend some jail time if that’s the charge. If that’s what happened, the judge will set a court date and he’ll be tried. If he’s convicted, then he may have to face his punishment like everyone else.”
“I’ll call back and ask,” Duke said, pulling out his phone again.
Julie put her hand over his wrist. “No, you won’t.”
Acres, Natalie - Bang the Blower [Country Roads 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8