With my heart in my throat, I pushed out, “You need to tell me who you’re meetin’. Right now.”
“I don’t have to tell you nothin’, Neely Kate. Go.”
“Witt. Please.”
“Dammit, Neely Kate.” He studied me for a moment and said, “I’m meetin’ Barb Nelson. Now get out of here.”
My eyebrows shot up. That was the granddaughter of one of Granny’s archnemeses. They’d gotten into a scrap at bingo a year ago, something about a lucky dauber. But Barb was a few years older than us, and she didn’t seem like Witt’s usual flashy girlfriends. Barb was more suitable as the wife of a Sunday school teacher at the Henryetta Baptist Church. “Barb Nelson? Does Granny know? Do I need to remind you of the time Granny got kicked out of the bingo hall?”
He rolled his eyes. “I remember it well, which is why I need you to get out of here before Barb sees you and thinks she’s gettin’ ambushed. I already had a hard enough time gettin’ her to agree to have lunch with me.”
“Okay,” I grumbled. “Fine, but I want to be there when you tell Granny.”
“There’s nothing to tell.” He glanced at his phone, then back up at me. “What are you doin’ here? You never come out this way.”
I wasn’t aware that he’d been tracking my lunch habits. I considered telling him what was going on but decided the fewer people who knew at the moment, the better. “I decided to try something new.”
He glanced toward the door then back to me, leaning his forearm on the table. “I heard Kate Simmons escaped from the funny farm, and yet you’re prancin’ around like you’re going to a May Day parade. What are you doin’, Neely Kate?”
I wrinkled my brow. “Prancin’ around? What the Sam Hill are you talkin’ about?” I shook my head. “Never mind. Look.” I reached over the table and covered his hand with mine. “I know you’re worried, but Jed and Joe have it covered.”
“You need to go. You shouldn’t be here. Where’s Joe now?”
“In here somewhere. I’m safe.” Wait. Why hadn’t he asked about Jed?
“Well, I’ve got a bad feelin’. I’d feel better if you left.”
The worry in his eyes convinced me he was sincere, but I wasn’t ready to go yet. “Okay. I’ll find Joe and leave, but first I’ve got to go to the restroom.”
The corners of his mouth tugged down in disapproval, but he said, “Fine, but promise me that you’ll leave as soon as you’re done.”
“Love you too,” I said in a mocking tone just to antagonize him and slid out of the booth. As I stood, I caught a glimpse of Joe glaring at me from the end of the lunch counter by the door, his face partially buried in a menu. So that’s why I hadn’t seen him when I walked in. He was hiding behind the door. I headed toward the back, but I was still looking over my shoulder, so I didn’t see the man directly in front of me. I bumped into his chest, and he grabbed my arms to steady me.
“I’m sorry,” I said as I regained my footing.
“No problem,” was his gruff response, but his eyes didn’t look all that friendly. He looked to be in his late thirties. He was tall and his thick, beefy arms stretched the short sleeves of his dark T-shirt. His brown hair was cut fairly short, and he wore a short, dark beard.
Muffy released a low growl from inside my purse.
Keeping his gaze on me, the guy’s eyes widened in shock and his hold on my left arm tightened. He released my right arm and started to drag me to the back door.
“What do you think you’re doin’?” I asked, getting pissed.
“Shut up and do what I say.” He lifted his shirt with his left hand to show me the butt of a gun sticking out of the top of his jeans.
I was pretty sure I’d just figured out who Franken was meeting.
I shot a glance back to Joe, who was already out of his seat.
The man saw where I was looking, then grabbed a table with his free hand and tipped it over, sending food, plates, and drinks flying and blocking Joe’s path.
Witt jumped out of his booth and tried to get around the overturned table, but a waitress carrying three plates of food stumbled in the pandemodium. Her plates landed on Witt, covering him in gravy and spaghetti sauce.
The restaurant was in chaos now. My captor took advantage of the distraction and didn’t even try to hide that he was abducting me as he pulled me past the remaining tables toward the back door. I tried kicking him in the shin, but he was dragging me too quickly and his arms were so long my foot couldn’t reach him. Still in my purse, Muffy stuck her head out of the opening and released a low snarl.
My abductor shoved the back door open with his shoulder and dragged me outside, then reached for a fifty-five-gallon barrel a few feet from the door with his right hand and started wrestling it to block the now-closed door.
As I continued trying to pull free, I turned toward him, hoping to get a good kick at his shin, but his long outstretched arm held me far enough away I couldn’t reach.
Think, Neely Kate. Think.
Fisting my right hand, I twisted and tried to smash it into his arm, but his grip on my left bicep was tight enough to keep me from connecting. My fist slid down the side of his forearm.
He cursed, clearly frustrated with my squirming while trying to move the barrel. He gave me a hard shove to the ground, slamming my back into the building as I landed on my butt, momentarily stunned. My purse landed on the ground next to me.
Now that he had both hands free, he had no trouble positioning the barrel to block the door.
I came to my senses enough to realize I needed to dig out my pepper spray or try to get away. Muffy was still in my purse looking none the worse for wear, but my pepper spray had to be buried beneath her, and I didn’t have time to rummage around. Still on the ground, I started to scramble to the side, hoping to get out of his reach, but he noticed my movement. He was quick for a big guy. Leaning over, he grabbed my wrist and tried to haul me to my feet as I dug my heels into the gravel.
Muffy bared her teeth and released a loud growl, then sprang out of my purse. With a huge leap, she sank her teeth into his wrist and held on tight.
He shouted and swatted at her, trying to get her off him, but she dug in even more, releasing vicious sounds that scared even me. My kidnapper released his hold on me and lifted his arm as he tried to shake her loose.
Terrified for Muffy, I found a rotten piece of wood next to the building and used it to whack the guy in the shin.
He let out a yell and I barely escaped a vicious kick with my awkward backward crab walk, but he was concentrating more on Muffy, who was still hanging onto his now-bleeding wrist.
“Neely Kate!” Joe shouted as he rounded the corner out of breath, with his gun in his hand. His jaw dropped open when he saw Muffy, but he quickly recovered and pointed his gun at the man, shouting, “Stop! Sheriff’s department!”
Witt ran around the corner seconds later, his shirt covered in stains, but he didn’t stop, instead running straight toward me. Hooking his hands under my armpits, he dragged me further out of reach then up to my feet before pushing me behind him.
“Get this dog off me!” the man shouted, still trying to shake her free. Muffy’s feet dangled and I tried to get around Witt to save her.
“Neely Kate,” Witt snapped. “What the hell do you think you’re doin’?”
“Muffy!” I screamed. “Come!”
Muffy let go of his wrist, dropped to her feet, then bolted for me.
The man tried to make a run for it, but Witt took off after him as Joe shouted, “Freeze!”
If he was talking to Witt, my cousin ignored him, leaping for the suspect and tackling him to the ground.
I dipped to a squat and scooped Muffy up into my arms, holding her close with my shaky arms. “Witt!” I called out. “He has a gun!”
Joe ran over with his own gun still aimed at my kidnapper, but Witt had managed to get the guy face-first in the dirt and wrestled his arms around his back.
Whipping out his handcuffs, J
oe tossed them to Witt. “Would you do me the honor of cuffing this son of a bitch?”
The look on my cousin’s face was deadly. “With pleasure.”
Chapter 17
Witt hauled the guy up to sit on his butt. Then Joe squatted in front of him and tugged the guy’s gun out of his waistband and tossed it toward the cars parked behind the building.
“How do you know Neely Kate?” he asked, pointing his own gun in the man’s face.
The guy glared up at him. “You’re supposed to read me my rights.”
Joe looked him over with an even expression. “Who said you’re under arrest?”
The guy’s gaze shot up to me then back to Joe with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
“How do you know Neely Kate?” Joe repeated.
“Who says I know her?” the guy asked with a smart-ass grin.
“Give me five minutes with him,” Witt said. “I’ll get what we need.”
“That’s police brutality,” my kidnapper said in a smug tone.
“Except I’m not the police,” Witt said through gritted teeth.
“Witt,” Joe cautioned.
Witt looked like he wanted to punch someone, and it wasn’t Joe or me.
“I’m still not talkin’” the guy said. “I know my rights.”
“What’s your name?” Joe asked, his tone surprisingly calm.
The guy gave him a shit-eating grin.
Pushing out a sigh, Joe said, “Witt, pat him down and find his wallet.”
A menacing grin lifted the corner of Witt’s mouth, but he wasn’t overly rough as he felt the guy’s front and back pockets. Narrowing his eyes, Witt stood and turned to Joe. “No wallet. No phone. No keys. Nothing.”
The man’s grin spread.
Joe put his hands on his hips and studied the guy for several seconds, then shook his head and pulled out his phone.
“Who are you callin’?” I asked.
“The station. We need to haul him in and book him for attempted kidnapping and assault.” His gaze narrowed on my reddened arm. “To say nothing of the damage he caused in the diner.”
Holding Muffy with one hand, I grabbed his arm and tugged him backward a few steps before whispering, “You can’t arrest him, Joe. What if he knows?”
Joe’s face hardened. “He tried to kidnap you, Neely Kate. There’s no way in hell I’m lettin’ this guy go.”
My stomach churned, and I felt faint as panic swept through my head, but I knew he was right. I couldn’t let this guy go. What if he tried to hurt someone else?
My brother bent at his knees and looked into my eyes as he reached up and cupped my cheek. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Neely Kate.”
“You can’t promise that.” My voice shook. “No one can.”
“You have to trust me on this. Okay?”
My chin trembling, I nodded. “Okay.”
He stood upright and tugged me to his chest. “Thank you.”
Then he kissed the top of my head and placed his call.
Witt continued to glare at my would-be kidnapper, until Joe hung up. Then he said, “I’m taking Neely Kate home.”
“You can’t,” Joe said. “We need her statement.”
Witt shook his head in disgust, then turned his wrath on my brother. “How the hell did this happen?”
Joe didn’t answer, merely stood there with a guilty look in his eye.
“You were supposed to be watching her. Jed said you had it covered.”
“You talked to Jed?” I asked in surprise.
“Of course I talked to Jed!” he shouted. “You never bothered to call and let me know what was going on! I was here at Jed’s request waiting for the guy who was meetin’ Franken—or woulda met Franken if Franken… well.” Then he added in a defeated tone. “You should have called me, Neely Kate.”
“I…” I stammered. I pushed out a breath, then gave him an apologetic look. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
His anger returned. “That still doesn’t explain how she wandered in,” Witt said to my brother.
“Same reason as you.”
“I know that,” Witt said in disgust. “I’m talkin’ about leavin’ her out in the car alone. I saw her walk in and nearly lost my shit.”
Joe’s face reddened. “It wasn’t ideal, but I saw Brox Collard walk in and I didn’t want to lose him. Neely Kate stayed in the car with Muffy.”
“It’s not his fault, Witt,” I insisted. “I was adamant that we bring Muffy. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine.”
Witt didn’t look appeased, but he didn’t say anything either.
“Look, it is what it is,” Joe said with a defeated sigh. “There’s no goin’ back now.”
Witt glanced over his shoulder at my wannbe abductor, who was still sitting on the ground, watching us with an amused grin.
“What’s so funny, you son of a bitch?” Witt asked.
“You all have no idea what’s comin’.”
Joe took a couple of steps closer. “Then enlighten us.”
The guy laughed, and his gaze landed on me.
Witt moved in front of me, blocking the guy’s view of me. “What about her?”
“This is so much bigger than her, but she’s the key.”
“The key to what?” Joe asked, standing next to Witt and forming a wall between us.
His smug tone was back. “I’m not sayin’ another word.”
I could hear the faint sound of sirens, which meant we didn’t have much time. I set Muffy on the ground, then pushed through my cousin and my brother, stopping in front of the guy. I stared down at him in disgust. “Where were you plannin’ to take me?”
He winked. “Get these cuffs off me and I’ll show you.”
I tilted my head to the side, studying him for a second. “Joe, give me the handcuff key.”
“No fucking way,” he growled.
Witt said, “Give it to her.”
Joe swore under his breath, then said, “We’re not letting him go.”
“Don’t worry,” Witt said. “There’s no way in hell he’s gettin’ away,”
“We’re not shootin’ him either.”
I glanced over my shoulder and caught Joe’s eye. “Trust me.”
Joe pushed out another heavy sigh, then walked around the guy and uncuffed him. “If you think about boltin’, I’ll shoot you in the kneecap. You’ve been warned.”
The guy looked amused. “I thought you just said no one was shootin’ me.”
Joe narrowed his eyes with a glare as he stopped next to me. “Maybe I’m reservin’ that bit of fun for myself.”
I shot a glance toward Joe. “Now I need you to walk around the corner out of sight.”
“No. Way.”
“Joe,” I pleaded. “It’s safer for you this way.”
“I’m already in this deep,” he said, backing up several feet behind me. The sirens were growing louder. “I’m stayin’, but you better hurry.”
Nodding, I moved closer to the guy again, but still out of his reach. “Okay, I got you uncuffed. Now tell me where you were takin’ me.”
He grinned. “My offer to show you still stands.”
I crossed my arms, watching his body language so I’d be ready when he pounced, because I knew he would. I was counting on it. “See, this here’s what we call a compromise. I gave you something, now you give me somethin’.”
He licked his upper lip. “Oh, I wanna give you somethin’.”
Witt cursed behind me, but I held up a hand in warning.
I lifted an eyebrow. “Here’s what I think: You’re a lot of talk and you don’t know nothin’. You’re just some low-level pawn sent to get me, knowin’ you were expendable.”
His face reddened. “You don’t know shit.”
“And that’s where we’re alike,” I said. “Neither do you.”
His body tensed, and I knew he was close to springing into action.
“But that’s okay,” I said, dropping my arms to my
side as I walked to his left side. “A big tough guy like you… you’ll do well in prison.” I leaned forward slightly. “Of course, you’ll have to switch from screwin’ girls to men, but I suspect this big tough-guy act is you just compensatin’ from stayin’ in the closet so long.”
He released a low growl, then launched himself at me, but I was ready. I slammed the heel of my palm into his throat. He fell to his knees, clutching his neck and gagging.
I moved to his left side again, just out of arm’s reach. “I really hated doin’ that because now you’re gonna have a hard time tellin’ me what I want to know.”
His teary gaze lifted to mine. Hate had replaced his amusement.
“You claim you’re in the know, so prove it. How do you know about me?”
“I don’t know nothing,” he croaked.
I lifted my shoulders into a nonchalant shrug. “I get it. They told you not to talk. I bet you think they’re gonna send a lawyer, but you know what I think? You’re doomed either way. If you really don’t know anything, they’ll let you rot. You’re a liability otherwise. But if you do know something, they’ll have you killed, because you, my friend, are goin’ to prison. There’s no gettin’ out of it. You tried to snatch me in front of a whole room full of people.”
“Your secret will get out,” he said, recovering his voice. “Everyone will know.”
I nearly showed a reaction to that. What did he know about my secret? But I played it like I was clueless. “Now I know you’re bluffin’,” I said, walking back in front of him. “You just said you didn’t know anything.”
“Maybe I know something after all.”
“I’m callin’ malarkey,” I said. “I was right about you bein’ expendable. You have to be if you’re stupid enough to try to grab me in a restaurant full of people.”
He released another low growl.
Then I remembered he was supposed to meet Franken, not me. And Franken had been in town stalking me. What if this guy was supposed to meet Franken to get the information he’d gathered, then plan his kidnapping? One thing was certain, this guy knew who I was when he saw me. Maybe he was so shocked, he decided to snatch me right then and there, previous plans be damned.
I decided to take a chance. “Franken sold you out, you know.”
In High Cotton: Neely Kate Mystery #2 Page 17