Wilde Thing

by Jannine Gallant

  Uneasiness ate at him. The whole situation just felt…off. Worry over why Hannah didn’t answer her cell kept him on edge during the drive to Radford’s home, making it easier to ignore the throbbing pain in his head. He’d popped three ibuprofen to take the edge off and called it good, despite the fact Estrada had highly recommended a trip to the ER to get checked out. When they pulled up outside the closed gate, the officer reached out to press the intercom button then held up his badge.

  “May I help you, officer?” Radford’s voice came through the speaker mounted below a camera.

  Tripp tapped on his window, and Estrada lowered it. “Hey, Russell. I had a problem earlier, but I’m finally here to pick up Hannah.”

  There was a short pause before the man spoke again. “She left already. I let your pickup in through the gates about forty-five minutes ago.”

  Tripp drew in a sharp breath. “Shit. The man who hit me must have her.”

  Estrada glanced over his shoulder to eye him through the mesh barrier. “Don’t panic. There could be another explanation.”

  “I don’t know what the hell else it would be.” He slammed his hand down on the seat and tried to think. “Russell, can we come in to watch the footage from your surveillance tape? At the very least, we should be able to identify the man who stole my truck.”

  “Of course.” Radford’s voice held a note of uncertainty. “I’m not sure what it’ll show, though. As soon as I saw your pickup, I hit the button to unlock the gates without waiting to take a look at the driver.”

  When the gates swung open, Estrada drove through. A minute later, he parked in front of the house, stepped out of the squad car and opened the rear door for Tripp. They were halfway up the walk when the front door swung inward.

  Radford leaned on one crutch and waved a hand. “Come on inside. I sure hope Hannah is okay. I’m afraid I don’t understand what happened.”

  “Russell Radford, meet Officer Anthony Estrada.” Tripp let out a breath. “Someone knocked me out earlier and stole my truck.”

  “My God! You’re kidding.”

  After the two men shook hands, Tripp followed the basketball star when he turned and headed down the hallway. The rubber ends of his crutches squeaked on the marble tiles. Entering a small office, he maneuvered around the desk to a wall filled with electronics.

  “I should be able to pinpoint the time your truck arrived pretty easily. Give me a second.”

  Fear gnawed at Tripp. He clenched his teeth to keep from yelling while Radford fiddled with the controls. Had taking his truck simply been a means of achieving access to Hannah? He’d be willing to bet the footage would reveal Kyle Murphy as the man responsible.

  “Here we go.” Radford stepped back to give Tripp and Estrada a better view. “I was afraid of that. The guy never rolled down the driver’s side window.”

  “Shit. You can’t make out his features the way the light reflects off the windshield.” Breathing became an effort. Tripp closed his eyes for a second to regain control. “Goddamn bastard.”

  “What about other cameras on the property?” Estrada pointed toward the window where a partial view of the yard was visible. “Maybe you caught him from a different angle.”

  “Good idea.” Radford went back to work at the controls. “This one will show the area in front of the house to the right of the garage. There’s your truck pulling up.”

  Estrada frowned. “The way he’s turned, we have a side view.”

  “And you can’t see through the smoked glass windows.” Tripp rubbed the back of his neck as his head pounded. “How long did he wait for Hannah?”

  “Maybe five minutes.” Radford tapped a few buttons to change the time on the footage.

  Tripp sucked in a breath as Hannah walked into view. She pulled open the door and tossed in her bag then reared back. Hands grabbed her and hauled her into the cab. When the man leaned forward to smack her across the face—

  “Freeze it right there.” Estrada glanced over at Tripp. “Do you recognize him?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He stared at Murphy and clenched his fists at his sides. “His name is Kyle Murphy. When I find the bastard, I’m gonna kill him.”

  The cop gave him a sharp look. “You aren’t going to kill anyone.”

  “Want to bet?” Anger hazed his vision, but he forced himself to watch when Radford started the video again.

  After the asshole dragged Hannah into the cab and slammed the door, the pickup shot down the driveway and out of sight. A view from the gate camera showed his truck turning left onto the street.

  When the screen went dark, Estrada stepped to the door. “I need to call this in. Since this is now an abduction case, they’ll assign it to one of the detectives on duty.”

  Radford laid a hand on Tripp’s shoulder. Worried blue eyes met his. “What can I do to help?”

  His head throbbed, and all he wanted to do was punch something. He pushed shaking hands into his pockets. “I can’t think. Shit, where would he have taken her?”

  “How did that guy find her here?”

  Tripp dropped onto the desk chair and forced his brain into gear. “I’m not sure. The sheriff in Tahoe knew we were coming down to Granite Bay, but we didn’t tell anyone else…” He slammed his hand down on the desk. “Yes, I did. I talked to Hannah’s mother this morning.” He jumped to his feet. “Are you freaking kidding me?” He pulled out his phone and scrolled through recent calls then tapped on Sheriff Barnes’s personal number.

  The man answered on the second ring. “Barnes here.”

  “This is Tripp Wilde. Did you speak to Hannah’s mother yet?”

  “I’ve repeatedly tried to call the woman, but she still isn’t answering.” He let out a huff of breath. “I had the local cops in Palm Springs swing by her home, but she wasn’t there.”

  “Kyle Murphy grabbed Hannah about an hour ago.” Tripp’s voice cracked. “I don’t know where the bastard took her.”

  “Have you spoken to the authorities down there yet?” The sheriff’s voice was sharp. “I’ll contact them with the information I have on the man.”

  “Yeah, the cops here are aware she’s missing. One of them watched the video feed of her abduction with me. Shit, I don’t know what to do.”

  “Let them handle it. They’ll put an APB out on the vehicle with a description and a license number if they have it.”

  “They do since the asshole drove off with her in my truck. If Vivian knows who Murphy was working with, we need that information now.”

  “Chances are it wasn’t Frank Cronk. He missed work to go to the hospital because his ex-wife was in a car accident. From what we’ve learned, he’s had no contact with Kyle Murphy recently.”

  Tripp closed his eyes and pressed his fingers to his temples. “So you don’t have any solid suspects?”

  “Not until I speak to Vivian Brewster. I’ll talk to the authorities in Palm Springs again and have them track her down.” His voice was grim. “We’ll find Hannah, Tripp.”

  “What’s her mother’s number? Maybe she’ll answer her phone if I call her.”

  The sheriff reeled off her cell number, and Tripp typed it into his phone. “Thanks.”

  “Call me back if you learn anything. I want to stay in the loop since Murphy may be headed up here with Hannah. What’s your plate number? I’ll have my deputies keep an eye out for your truck.”

  Tripp told him then disconnected. He glanced up when Estrada stepped into the room.

  “A detective will be here shortly to view the video feed and get a statement from you. They already have an APB out on your truck, but so far no one has spotted it.”

  Tripp nodded. “I spoke to Sheriff Barnes in Tahoe. Hannah’s abduction ties to a murder investigation up there. Your man in charge needs to coordinate with him.”

  “I’m sure he will.”

  Tripp glanced between the two men. “I have to call Hannah’s mother.”

 
“We’ll leave you to it.” The officer turned away.

  “If you need anything…” Radford gave Tripp a sympathetic glance.

  He ran a hand through his hair and winced when he touched the lump the asshole had left on his scalp. “I don’t have any transportation. Even if Murphy ditches my truck and the cops find it, I’m sure they’ll impound it to search for evidence or fingerprints or whatever the hell it is they do. If you can give me a ride to a rental agency after I talk to the detective, I’d be grateful.”

  Russell shot him a quick smile. “I can do better than that. You can borrow one of my cars.”

  Tripp let out a relieved sigh. “If you don’t mind, that would be great.”

  “Not a problem. I’ll go get the keys while you make that phone call.” Picking up his crutches, he left the room.

  Alone, Tripp walked over to the window and dialed Vivian’s number. When the phone went to voice mail, he clenched the cell tight in his hand. “This is Tripp Wilde. Pick up your damn phone, Vivian. That asshole, Kyle Murphy, kidnapped Hannah. I want to know who he’s working for. If you care anything about your daughter, call me back.”

  He slapped the phone against his leg before shoving it into his pocket. Rubbing his throbbing head, he leaned against the window frame and prayed Hannah was safe. She was strong and smart and could handle herself. She’d say the right things to keep that bastard from hurting her until the cops found her. Surely her mother would call back soon or a patrol car would spot his truck on the road. Something positive had to happen, and soon, or he would lose his freaking mind.

  * * * *

  Hannah backed up as Luther moved toward her, the short silver muzzle of a handgun pointed straight at her chest. Her heart pounded so hard, she thought she might pass out.

  “You’re going to kill me in cold blood, the way you did Monica? At least with her, you were smart enough not to leave any evidence. When the police find my body, won’t they be able to match the bullet they dig out of me to your gun?”

  “Only if they suspect me in the first place, and why would they?” He moved steadily closer, but a frown drew his brows together.

  “Because my mother recognized Kyle Murphy’s name. My guess is the two of you have a connection she knows about.” Her athletic shoes splashed into the water as she backed another step. “Mom might not win any Mother of the Year awards, but she isn’t going to keep her mouth shut if I turn up dead.”

  “How do you think I knew where to find you? Vivian tipped me off when she called me after talking to your idiot boyfriend. She demanded to know if I had something to do with Monica’s death. Of course I assured her I hadn’t talked to Kyle in years. Still, that would make her an accessory to your murder, so I’m pretty sure I can convince her to keep quiet to save her own skin.” His eyes flashed. “If not, I’ll get rid of her, too.”

  Hannah froze. “My mother told you where to find me?”

  “Not intentionally. She said you were working out of town where my old high school buddy couldn’t get near you, and you weren’t alone. I assumed Wilde was still with you. What she didn’t know is back in Colorado, Kyle overheard you talking to someone about your next client being one of the Kings’ players. How hard do you think it was to find out which one?”

  Relief slid through her. Her mother hadn’t betrayed her. “Mom didn’t say anything that would make her an accessory. You’re a lying idiot.”

  He snorted. “Of course not, but she was talking a mile a minute. Believe me, she’ll be convinced she spoke out of turn after we have a little heart-to-heart.”

  Hannah took another step backward, and the water lapped at her ankles. A shiver shook her. “You’re evil.”

  “I look out for myself.” A chuckle scraped across her nerves. “I made a couple of phone calls to Realtors with short-term rental listings in the area, pretending I had a delivery for Tripp Wilde, and some stupid girl gave me the address for the condo.” His broad smile sent a chill through her. “The rest, as they say, is history.”

  Hannah backed again, the water swirling knee deep. “The police will arrest you. Tripp won’t stop until you’re behind bars…unless he kills you first. If you’re lucky, you’ll rot in jail where child molesters get a special welcome.”

  His face darkened. “I never molested you. You loved me the way I loved you. Your bitch of a mother tore us apart.”

  “I was ten. You’re a sick freak.” Turning, she dived into the water. The shock stole her breath as the current dragged her downriver. She floundered in the water, struggling to stay afloat. Better to die in the river than by Luther’s hand.

  A gunshot echoed. Hannah flinched, but there was no searing pain. The pervert had missed. Bouncing off a rock, she came up for air and dragged in a lungful of oxygen as the swift current carried her away. Lethargy stole her strength as her body temperature dropped in the frigid water. Her will to fight for another breath decreased with each passing second. When she smashed against a log, she summoned the energy to grasp hold and clung, teeth chattering so hard her jaw ached. Lifting her face, she choked and gasped as her body swept beneath the downed tree.

  Fight, Hannah. You’re strong. You can save yourself.

  Tripp’s voice echoed in her brain. Whimpering, she kicked hard, fighting to lift her chest higher. With a mighty heave, she wrapped one leg around the tree and rolled on top of it. Spent, her body shook as she held tight. After a long minute, she turned to look upriver and blinked the water dripping from her hair out of her eyes. Luther was nowhere in sight, just an endless stretch of forest.

  She had to move, had to get away from the river before he came looking for her. Blood dripped from her forearm where she’d scraped it on a branch. Her shoulder ached like mad, probably from crashing into rocks. Taking a deep breath, she scooted forward along the log, inch by slow inch until the rocky bottom became visible beneath her. Dropping into the hip-deep water, she clung to the dead tree and slipped and slid across the rocks, making her way to shore. When her foot skidded on moss, she dropped to her hands and knees on the river’s edge. Trembling, she forced back tears of pain and fear and anger. She didn’t have time to cry.

  She had to think. Luther might have a gun, but her weapon was her brain. She could outsmart the bastard. With a shake of her head, she glanced down. Blood was smeared across a rock. Cupping her hands, she scooped up water to rinse it off then washed her arm and clamped a hand over the cut. No point in advertising where she left the river. Trying not to leave a trail of water spots, she avoided dripping on dry rocks and climbed up onto the fallen tree then walked its length into the woods. Jumping off, she turned upriver in the direction of the old mining camp. Her best bet was to reach the dirt track and follow it out to the main road. If Luther gave up looking for her and left in the Hummer, she’d hear it coming and have enough time to hide.

  Hannah stumbled forward, pushing her way through the brush and trees. A whimper slipped out when a branch lashed across her face. Taking a deep breath, she pressed onward. Several long minutes later she stopped. The sound of the river had faded, and she wasn’t certain she was still going in the right direction. Twilight had settled over the forest, and with the last of the dying sun, the temperature dropped further. Teeth rattling together, chilled to the bone, she took one step and then another. If she didn’t keep moving, she’d freeze for sure. If she got lost…well, better that than running into Luther.

  She wouldn’t let the bastard hurt her. Not this time.

  Chapter 27

  Tripp turned out of the driveway and hit the gas. The Ferrari accelerated from zero to sixty in under ten seconds. A Ferrari. Russell Radford had loaned him a Ferrari. Too bad he had no idea where the hell he was going. He’d get there in no time at all if he did. But since Vivian still chose to ignore his calls, he didn’t have a clue where Kyle Murphy had taken Hannah. Vivian hadn’t contacted the police, either. Nor had there been any sighting of his truck.

  He slammed his hand down o
n the steering wheel, and the car swerved left. Thankfully, there was no oncoming traffic. Letting out a breath, he slowed to just above the speed limit and headed in the direction of the rental condo. He’d go feed Winnie and let her out and hope to hell they caught some kind of break soon. Hannah had been with that creep for an hour and a half now, and just thinking about what might be happening to her was enough to make him crazy. They could be nearly back to Tahoe, if that was where Murphy was taking her. The idea made sense since Tahoe City was his home turf. Tripp was tempted to head up the mountain on nothing more than a hunch.

  When his phone rang, he downshifted into the condo’s parking lot and jerked to a stop before answering. “Vivian?”

  “Afraid not. Barnes here.” The sheriff’s gruff voice deflated his hopes. “I do have some news, however.”

  Tripp tensed, and his hand tightened over the keys in the ignition. “Did the cops find Hannah?”

  “No, but they did locate your pickup.”

  “About damn time. Is Murphy talking?”

  The sheriff let out a snort. “Not yet. He’d ditched the truck out by the old arena where the Kings used to play. They haven’t found any sign of Hannah or the man who abducted her.”

  Tripp blew out a breath. “Why would he leave the truck there?”

  “It’s close to both I-5 and I-80, and in that huge lot, your vehicle might not have been noticed for a while. Lucky for us a patrolman rousted a group of teens drinking in the vicinity and spotted the pickup. The police are checking with cab companies to see if any of their drivers picked up a fare in the area.”

  “The Sacramento airport isn’t too far from the arena.”

  Barnes cleared his throat. “You’re sharp. That thought occurred to the detective in charge, and they have security at the airport looking for him now.”

  “He must have dropped Hannah off somewhere before leaving my truck in such a public spot. No way would he try to put her in a cab.”

  “I agree. My best guess is she’s currently with his accomplice. I’ll keep you posted if there are any new developments.”