The Zoo Crew (Zoo Crew series Book 1)

by Dustin Stevens

  Drake pushed the truck across town. Continued to glance in his rearview mirror. Nothing unusual.

  He took the long route back towards campus. Pushed through several residential neighborhoods. Watched the mirrors.

  Nothing jumped out at all. Just the normal meandering interlopers of midday traffic.

  "I think we're clear," he said.

  "Good," Ava said. "Drop me off at my place so I can grab a few things. I'll meet you in the office later this afternoon and we can start drafting the court filing."

  Drake grunted, nodded. Directed the truck back towards Ava's. "You still want to push forward on that?"

  "We can go ahead and file," she said. "Doesn't mean we can't withdraw it if we decide to later."

  Drake considered the option. "True. It will take a couple of weeks before we’re scheduled to appear anyway."

  "If not longer."

  They slid to a stop in front of Ava's place. She climbed out, paused like there was something she wanted to add. Shook her head and closed the door.

  Offered a small wave as he drove off.

  Drake considered running home to check on Suzy Q. Remembered Ajax was there, decided to go straight to the law school instead.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Sheriff Spore watched Drake Bell walk out of The Hawthorne, get into his truck and drive away. He wasn't quite as thick through the shoulders and chest as he used to be, but there was no denying it.

  It was the same young man he'd spent many Saturday afternoons watching over the years.

  He had no idea who the young woman was with him. Noticed she was attractive. Very well dressed.

  Classy.

  Sheriff Spore ran a hand over his hair. Shook his head.

  He hated giving them over to Notch, but there wasn't really a choice. He knew somewhere inside was Beth, probably the other girl too.

  There was no way in hell he was giving either one of them over to that sick bastard. At least Bell might have a fighting chance.

  Nausea passed through him as he picked up the phone from the passenger seat. The first time he'd tried to call Notch, he'd lost the nerve. Hung up before the first ring.

  This time, he had no other option.

  Notch snapped it up mid-way through the first ring. "What have you got for me?"

  "The owner of the truck is a guy from Tennessee named Drake Bell. He is on East Broadway headed back towards downtown."

  Notch grunted. "Student?"

  "Law school," Sheriff Spore corrected. "Used to play ball for the Griz. Stays out of the spotlight, but that still makes him something of a low-level celebrity in this town."

  Notch paused, breathed heavily. "Meaning?"

  "Meaning this isn't like the girls. People will notice if something happens to him."

  Notch snorted. "Thanks for the tip."

  Sheriff Spore said nothing. In front of him, two people emerged from the hotel. The young man also looked somewhat familiar.

  A young woman in her final days of pregnancy.

  Sheriff Spore felt his stomach drop again. She was without a doubt the girl they were looking for.

  "Any sign of the girl?" Notch asked.

  Sheriff watched the pair climb into a beat up truck and drive away.

  "No," he lied. "We spotted Bell and a young lady having lunch at the Montana Club. No sign of anybody else."

  Notch signed off without a word.

  Sheriff Spore did the same. Dropped his cruiser into drive and exited the parking lot after the truck.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The law school parking lot was much thinner than it had been that morning. The bulk of undergraduate classes meet on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday. A vast majority of those are scheduled on the hour during the morning.

  It was just two o'clock in the afternoon, but the lot was over half empty.

  Drake found a spot in the second row and pulled in facing the only entryway. He watched for almost ten full minutes, but couldn't see anybody tailing him.

  Still, he couldn't quite shake the feeling he was being followed.

  His cell-phone sat face down on the dash and he grabbed it, called Kade. It rang almost a half dozen times before Beth's voice answered.

  She sounded out of breath.

  "Hey," she said.

  "Hey, where are you?" Drake asked. "Everything alright?"

  "We are about ten miles outside of Missoula in Frenchtown. Heading north towards the rez."

  Drake checked his watch. They'd only left the hotel a few minutes before. They must be flying to already be in Frenchtown.

  "Everything alright?" he asked.

  "The Sheriff has been on us since we left," Beth said. Small crack in her voice.

  Drake felt the pulse start to pound in his temples. Forced his breathing to slow down. Processed what she'd just told him. He told her to let him know when they got somewhere for the night and signed off the call.

  He swung out of the truck, grabbed his bag and went inside. Nodded a few hellos to people as he passed through. Ignored a handful of sideways glances.

  The clinic office was empty when he arrived.

  On his desk was a note from Wyatt that told him his absence that morning was commented on by their professor. A second note from Greg telling him when he was scheduled to man the clinic office downtown.

  With a sigh he dropped down onto his chair and called his laptop to life. Quickly checked his email. On a lark, checked the GoGriz message boards to make sure nothing new had come in.

  To his relief, nothing had. At this point, anything new would have come from the other side.

  He attempted a few minutes of reading for the next day, but just as fast gave it up. He fished a dry erase marker from his desk and went to the white board on the wall.

  Scribbled "Civil Claims" across the top of the board.

  Beneath it he made a small bullet point and wrote out Contract. Underneath that he made several ticks marks.

  Breach. Unconscionable terms. Unequal bargaining power.

  Left a little space for any additional angles that came up later.

  Dropped down and wrote Negligence. Beneath that he wrote Doctor, Lawyer, Child Services agent.

  Went down a little further still. Spelled out Administrative. Judge. Child Services agent. Sheriff.

  Drake backed away and folded his arms across his chest. Walked forward again and wrote DAMAGES in all block letters. Put a question mark after it and resumed his pose in front of the door.

  He knew that Beth had said she only wanted to get what was owed her. To get back to even and start over somewhere else.

  At the same time, she was now in a truck with Kade driving north onto the reservation. Hiding away from the very law that was sworn to protect her.

  She was for damn sure owed more than just the pittance they had promised her.

  Drake was so deep in thought, he didn't hear the sound of high heels on tile. Barely even noticed when Ava rounded the corner and stood in the doorway staring at him.

  Not until she walked in and took up a post beside him did her presence register. Even then, neither one spoke as she matched his pose, staring at the board.

  "I was thinking we could add child custody dispute to the list," Ava said. If she thought one way or another about the ideas he had already posted, she said nothing.

  "Mhmm," Drake mumbled and drew an arrow to the side. Inserted it between Negligence and Administrative. "Thoughts on damages?"

  Ava shook her head. "Not yet. I was debating that on the way over here too."

  Drake nodded, flicked his gaze to the clock on the wall above the board. "You know, right now we only need a complaint. We split these up, we can get that banged out in no time. Have it over to the courthouse this afternoon."

  Ava's eyes bulged. She still kept them aimed at the white board. "You want to get this to the county clerk today?"

  "Why not?" Drake said. "The sooner it's filed, the sooner it's on the docket."

>   Ava bit her lip. Considered the idea. "I guess. We can worry about drafting the actual briefs thereafter."

  "And have you seen the size of that poor girl's stomach? She doesn't have much longer before she gives birth. Clock is ticking."

  "Agreed.”

  "I'll take the opening, contracts, negligence?" Drake asked.

  "That'll work," Ava agreed. "Any idea how what I should ask for in damages?"

  Drake grimaced. "Any idea who I should name as the defendants?"

  Ava smirked. "Touché."

  Without another word, they both returned to their desks to begin drafting.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Mayor Sloan fishtailed into the driveway of the compound. Threw gravel into the tall grass on either side. Never once slowed down as the tires spun over the loose ground.

  Sneaking away on a Monday afternoon was no easy task. It had taken a feigned migraine to ditch her four-thirty appointment.

  The combination of a migraine and menstrual cramps for her assistant to retract his offer to work from her home office.

  Once away, she cut a direct path through town towards the Valley. Turned off her work cell-phone. Gripped the other one in her hand.

  No matter how many times she checked the damn thing, not one word was coming through to her.

  She had spent her life in public service. The last fifteen years in the higher rungs of city government. She was used to having information at her disposal the moment she wanted it.

  Radio silence was enough to give her an actual migraine.

  The SUV had not stopped moving when she jammed the gear shift into park and switched the ignition off. She left the keys where they were. Her purse rested on the passenger seat.

  She wouldn't be here long.

  Two additional cars sat out in front of the house as she strode across the condensed front lawn. Sheriff Spore's cruiser was self-explanatory.

  The other she assumed belonged to Notch.

  The front door was half open as she ascended the three stairs and pushed her way in. Stomped into the living room to find the two men and her sister already deep in conversation.

  Make that deep in argument.

  "What the hell do you mean you let her go?!" Yelena yelled at Sheriff Spore. Waved her hands about.

  Across from her, the Sheriff was on his feet. His hands were shoved into his back pockets. Facial muscles twitched beneath his moustache. "I already told you, I can't go on the reservation like that. I don't have jurisdiction."

  "Then why the hell didn't you send Notch after them?" Yelena snapped.

  "You said he wanted the truck. I gave him the truck!" Sheriff Spore replied. He wasn't screaming at her, but he wasn't far from it.

  "You know damn well we want the girl! The only reason we want the truck is because he met with the girl."

  Mayor Sloan walked on into the room. All three turned to acknowledge her, some of the steam evaporating.

  Sheriff Spore rocked back on his heels. Pushed out a heavy breath. "It was just through pure dumb luck that I even saw the girl. I stuck around in the parking lot a few minutes after the truck left so I wouldn't tip them off. Happened to spot them sneaking out the side door."

  "Them?" Mayor Sloan asked. Walked over and stood beside her sister.

  "The girl and another young man," Sheriff Spore. "Also a former Griz. I assume he's friends with Bell."

  All three fell silent.

  Behind them, Notch lowered himself onto the sofa. Propped a boot onto the corner of the coffee table.

  "I'm sorry, are we boring you?" Yelena asked.

  From the couch, Notch smirked. No attempt to hide how amusing he found everything taking place.

  "I never said a word," Notch said.

  "No, but you never have to," Mayor Sloan said.

  And she meant it.

  The bastard had a way of interacting that always set her skin to crawling. She and Yelena were paying the bills and calling the shots, but she never quite knew who was really in charge.

  At least not where Notch was concerned.

  Notch draped a wrist over his knee. Twisted his hand at the wrist. "Law Dog over here should have called me the second he saw her. He might have jurisdictional issues, but I sure as hell don't. This whole damn thing would be over by now."

  Yelena sighed. "But since he didn't?"

  "But since he didn't, I went ahead and did my job. Tailed the truck."

  "And you found him?" Mayor Sloan asked.

  Notch offered the same stained-tooth smile that made people cringe with unease. "Even better. I found out where his girlfriend lives."

  Sheriff Spore's eyes slid closed. Stayed that way for several long seconds.

  Mayor Sloan had no such hesitation.

  "Find her. If she was with him, she knows where Beth is. If she doesn't, make her bring Bell to us."

  The smile remained affixed to Notch's face. After several seconds, he raised a dirty finger to his brow. Offered a mock salute. "Yes ma'am."

  He stood and left without another word.

  Sheriff Spore remained in place and stared at the sisters. Both looked uncertain until the moment they heard Notch’s truck start and descend the driveway.

  Then they became self-righteous.

  The second they did, Sheriff Spore shook his head and walked outside. Less than a minute later, he drove away as well.

  Alone in the living room, they took up seats facing each other and settled into them. Mayor Sloan studied her sister, a near carbon copy of herself.

  Hoped she didn't look as tired or haggard.

  Knew that she probably did.

  "Did I miss anything else important?" Mayor Sloan asked.

  Yelena shook her head. Remained silent.

  "When is she due again?" Mayor Sloan asked.

  "Two weeks from tomorrow."

  Mayor Sloan had no children of her own. Would never have children of her own. But she had been through this process enough to know a woman was most vulnerable during her last few weeks of pregnancy.

  "We have to find her before she goes into labor."

  Yelena said. "To hell with labor. The second we find her, we cut it out of her and toss the rest to Notch."

  Mayor Sloan nodded her head. She'd been thinking the same thing for the last twenty hours. Was a little ashamed that such thoughts didn't seem to bother her.

  Why would they though? A complete lack of humanity was what got them involved in this business to begin with.

  Maria and Yelena Gulov were born to Russian immigrants almost a half century before in Seattle. Maria had been brought into the world less than two weeks after making the voyage from Saint Petersburg. Yelena just a couple of years later.

  Just after Yelena was born, their mother took ill. Died before she reached three months old.

  Young and alone, their father put the girls up for adoption two weeks later. He'd never wanted children or a permanent home. Wanted to travel the world, live the gypsy life he'd been brought up in.

  The girls were his wife's idea. Once she was gone, any attachment he felt to them was gone as well.

  For the next eighteen years, the girls bounced between foster homes and orphanages all over the Northwest.

  Some were stable. Some were abusive.

  None lasted long.

  Both developed a thick distrust for people. A complete absence of compassion in any form.

  In college at Washington State, Maria met a man from Missoula named Jeremiah Sloan. He came from old Montana mining money and harbored deep secrets.

  Chief among them, his affinity for the same sex.

  His family suspected as much and perceived it to be a major fault. Something they could not condone. Conditioned his inheritance on marriage to a woman.

  A relationship of convenience was born.

  Jeremiah used the arrangement to access the family's wealth and continue his dalliances into art, theater, dance.

  The pre-nup she was forced to sign didn't offer Maria muc
h wealth, but it offered something even more important. The family name. Something she used to launch a thus-far sparkling political career.

  Some people in the state were already talking State Senator or Lieutenant Governor within the next few years.

  Looming in the background the entire time was Yelena.

  Backed by her sister's support and the Sloan name, Yelena was able to accomplish most anything she wanted. Unburdened by her sister's spot in front of the cameras, she quickly developed a reputation for ruthlessness.

  After a lifetime of seeing themselves shuttled through the adoption system and the money they garnered at every stop, the sisters put the plan in motion.

  Between Maria's post and Yelena's cunning, things came together fast.

  The copious amounts of wanton greed that permeated the town hadn't hurt much either.

  "Things seem to be falling apart," Mayor Sloan said.

  Yelena shook her head. "One bad apple. Nothing more."

  Mayor Sloan raised an eyebrow. Said nothing.

  Yelena extended a hand towards the bunkhouse outside. "Take a walk through there. Most of those girls are happy to be here. This is the nicest place they've ever lived. They'll take what we offer and be glad to get it."

  Mayor Sloan grunted in response. Her sister did have a point. They'd been going strong for over two years now with almost no problems.

  "So we make an example of her and go on about our business," Yelena said. "By the time we're done, we'll have enough to either retire or get you to the Governor's Mansion."

  Mayor Sloan snorted. Allowed the right side of her mouth to turn up in a half smile. "If we're going to do that, we're going to need to keep moving full speed ahead."

  Yelena nodded in agreement.

  "And if we're going to do that, we're going to need to do more than make an example of her. We're going to need to make an example out of everybody she's working with."

  Yelena's eyes scanned the far wall as if searching for an answer. "You're right. We have to show these girls we can get them and anybody else we want to."

  "Hmm," Mayor Sloan said. Nodded her head. Already the frustration she felt upon arrival was retreating.

  Notch was going after the guy in the truck. They knew Beth was close by. It was only a matter of time before things fell back into place.