Grabbing the receiver off its cradle, Synn spoke, “This is Romeo.”
“Synn, bring Craig and come to my office,” Steve’s voice ordered.
The short hairs on Synn’s neck stood on end. His instincts were screaming that the puzzle pieces were about to all come together.
Standing, he left his office and walked up behind Craig and put a hand on his shoulder. Beautiful light brown eyes looked up at him.
“What’s up?” Craig asked.
Synn would love to answer that he needed Craig to come with him into the storage closet to help him with something. But Craig had made it clear the closet was off limits during on-duty hours. And Steve was expecting them.
“Steve wants us in his office,” Synn replied.
“Oh, okay,” Craig said and closed out the program he’d been in and stood. Together they went to see what their boss wanted.
Five minutes later, Synn had his head thrown back and was staring at the ceiling. Next to him Craig sat rigid in his chair one leg bobbing in agitation.
“Where did they find him?” Craig’s voice sounded strained to the point of breaking.
“In a Dumpster behind Pine County’s Courthouse,” Steve answered, his face a mask of sick frustration.
Synn dragged his eyes from the ceiling and looked at his boss. “Whoever this is, they’re taunting you and Dean.”
Steve leaned back in his chair, touched his fingertips together. “Why do you say that?”
“The first victim was found in Granite County. The second was found in Pine County. Now a Granite County Deputy was found in the dumpster behind Pine County’s Courthouse, which has the sheriff’s department attached to it. This is a personal vendetta against the two counties, probably you and Dean, too.”
“Did Sheriff Titan say if they know Troy was kidnapped or what they did to him?” Craig asked.
“They only said his body was in the same shape as the other victims. I’m going over there to the morgue later,” Steve answered.
“Have them check J&L’s Bar. That’s where the other victims were last seen. If I’m right we’ll need to pull the cameras,” Synn advised.
“Dean already had his investigators on it. The toxicology results should be back by tomorrow. Dean has put a rush on them. I want you two in my office for a meeting at ten tomorrow morning. Dean and Creed will be here, and we’re going to go over everything. Between the five of us, we should be able to come up with something.”
Synn stood up, ready to go back to his office and go over the reports again. Nodding at Steve, he turned to leave, putting a hand on Craig’s back to guide him out the door.
The man under his hand was shaking. Frowning, Synn looked at Craig’s pale face and bloodshot eyes.
“Go into my office,” Synn said.
Without a word Craig walked across the bullpen and into Synn’s office. There he stood in the middle of the room looking small and lost. Synn turned him around and enfolded him in his arms.
“Talk to me,” he said against Craig’s hair.
“Before Troy got mad at me we were friends. When I was shot he saved my life,” Craig whispered against Synn’s shoulder. “Why would anyone do something so horrific to him?”
“Nobody understands why sick minds do horrible things to people. I’m sorry you’re hurting.”
Craig looked up at him and gave Synn a trembling smile. “Thank you for taking a minute to comfort me.”
Synn dropped a light kiss on his lip. “I’ll always be there for you when you need me,” he promised.
* * * *
Synn’s fingers flew over the keys of his laptop. He now connected a name to a face. Luis Gerardo spent ten years in an Illinois maximum prison for rape, murder, and intimidation of a witness during his trial on the murder charges. Luis was no leader, but he was excellent at carrying out orders.
His records showed that during his last five years in prison, his cellmate was none other than Leonel Heartland. Luis was released from prison sooner, but somehow they hooked up again after Leonel got out.
“There it is,” Dean said, pointing to the list of credit card charges filling the monitor Synn brought up. “Over the last five months, he’s bought gas at a station outside of Sundance. That’s a small town on the Mississippi.”
“Look at that,” Creed chimed in. “over the same period he bought gas up in Superior City. That’s just miles from Canada.”
“I’m thinking Heartland’s contacts are bringing the guns from Alaska through Canada to Superior City, where Luis is picking them up,” Steve said.
“What’s he doing in by Sundance?” Creed asked.
Synn’s fingers froze, hovering over the keys. The puzzle pieces just aligned themselves. “Heartland’s using the Mississippi River to ship the guns and drugs so they can be distributed all over the country. Once they hit Saint Louis, they can be shipped by truck or train anywhere. If they keep them on the river, once they hit the gulf, the sky is the limit.”
“Shouldn’t Craig be here by now?” Steve asked. “I want him in on this.”
“He should be here.” Synn picked up his phone. Lola was sneezing this morning and Craig had taken her in to the vet. He had received a text from Craig about twenty minutes ago saying he was on his way. “I’ll see where he is.”
The multi-line phone on Steve’s desk buzzed. Steve hit the speaker button. “Yes, Jane,” he answered.
Jane’s panicked voice came over the speaker. “Sheriff, a woman is in the bullpen screaming that a bunch of men with guns pulled into the parking lot and threw two deputies into a van and took off.”
Steve’s finger stabbed a button on the phone. “Does anyone know who the deputies are?”
“The lady said both deputies were blond. The shorter one wore black glasses and the other’s hair reached his shoulders.”
Synn’s chair crashed to the floor when he sprang to his feet. “That’s Craig and Spencer Ryland,” he shouted.
Synn ran out of Steve’s office and into the bullpen. Dean, Creed, and Steve were right behind him. A distraught woman sat at one of the deputy’s desk. She had short red hair and was wearing a green and gold T-shirt and jeans. When Synn reached the desk the woman was saying, “Those guys didn’t have a chance. The van stopped next to them, the side door opened and these two big men grabbed them and threw them into the van.”
“Can you describe any of the men?” Synn asked.
The shaking woman dabbed a tissue at the corner of her eyes. “They were big and all dressed in black. They had hoodies on with the hoods pulled over their heads.” The lady sat up straight. “I saw a bald man in the passenger seat. He looked at me. I’ve never seen anyone so scary-looking as that man was. He had tattoos all over his head and his cheek had a big red scar on it.”
“Did you see the driver?” Steve asked.
“Just his face. It was full of pockmarks,” she answered.
Synn’s blood turned to ice. He looked at Steve. “Heartland’s got Craig.”
“Get on your computer and figure out where he is by using Luis’s purchases. There has to be a pattern,” Steve ordered.
Synn ran to Steve’s office. Once he sat down in front of his computer, his breathing was even and his hands steady. The deadly mercenary had taken over. Synn was hunting.
They had already connected Luis Gerardo to Leonel Heartland. Realization slammed into Synn’s brain. The first time he had seen Gerardo was when he was following Craig at the J&L’s Bar. Another fact had Synn sitting up straight. All of the victims were blonds and so was Craig.
Synn’s finger flew over the computer keys. Soon in front of him were the pictures of the three victims provided by their families. On a second monitor, he pulled up the video feed of J&L’s Bar the night the first victim was last seen.
Five minutes later the bald tattooed head of Heartland could be seen talking to victim one. The victim looked away and Heartland clearly put something in his drink. Minutes late Heartland was leading the victim to
a table in a darken corner.
Fast forwarding through, Synn watched Heartland talking to Gerardo and later Gerardo was following Craig out of the bar. Heartland waited for Gerardo to leave and then holding the victim tightly under his arm, he half-carried the staggering man out of the bar.
That’s all Synn needed to put the rest of the puzzle together.
“Son of a bitch,” Steve said behind Synn.
“It’s all Heartland,” Dean said.
“We need an address,” Steve said.
Synn was already bringing up Gerardo’s banking account statements. If luck was with him, Gerardo was taking care of Heartland’s living expenses, too.
“Bingo,” Synn cried. “I have two electric bills from the same apartment building.”
“Let’s go,” Steve ordered.
* * * *
One minute Craig was talking to Spencer about his love of photography, and the next he was lying face down, hands zip-tied behind his back, on the floor of a full-size van. Currently a knee in the small of his back kept him from moving.
What creeped him out the most, was that no one in the van spoke a word. Other than the humming of the tires against the asphalt, and the rumble of the vehicle’s engine, Craig couldn’t pick out any other discriminatory sounds.
Craig couldn’t be sure how much time passed before the van jerked to a stop. The door near his head opened and the pressure on his back eased.
Rough hands lifted him and the air exploded out of his lungs when his stomach connected with one of his captor’s shoulders. Craig was carried through a basement parking garage into a service elevator. Spencer was also draped over a man’s shoulder next to him.
The elevator door’s opened with a whoosh and Craig was taken down a hall. From his position he could only see the luxurious cream carpet flying past. There was a series of clicks and Craig was carried through a doorway.
“Lock them in the empty spare bedroom for now, Luis,” a deep voice said.
Craig was dropped onto the thick carpeted floor. Spencer landed with a grunt next to him. The next moment, Craig heard a door shut and lock.
Spencer turned his head, facing Craig. His thick black glasses were cocked at a weird angle, threatening to fall off. “What’s going on? Why did they take us?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Craig answered.
From the other room there was shouting and what sounded like a body hitting the wall. Things became eerily quiet after that.
“This isn’t good, Craig. We’ve got to figure out a way to get out of here,” Spencer said.
“I don’t know how, they took my utility belt, and my hands and feet are zip-tied together.” Craig answered.
“They took my belt, too, but they only zip-tied my hands,” Spencer told him.
“Can you stand up and see what floor we’re on?” Craig asked.
It took a few minutes, before Spencer struggled to his feet and stood at the window. “We’ve got to be at least on the fifth floor. That’s too far to jump. And there isn’t anything in this room to use as a weapon. Heck, there isn’t even a bed in this room.”
By the time the door to the bedroom opened some time later, Craig and Spencer were sitting on the far side of the room, leaning against the wall waiting for whatever was going to happen.
A large dangerous bald man walked into the room, dressed in a white tank top and jeans. A deep purple-red scar marred one cheek. The tattoos covering his head, shoulders and arms told Craig this man had been in a maximum security prison. But Craig already knew that, because he recognized Leonel Heartland from the picture in Steve’s confidential file.
“What’s going on, Heartland?” Craig asked.
“So you do know me,” Leonel said.
Craig tipped his head, not admitting anything else. The man was built like a bodybuilder from years spent in prison gyms. From his file, Craig knew he was merciless and unbalanced.
Craig struggled until he rose awkwardly to his feet when Heartland walked toward him.
“I knew you wouldn’t cower like a mouse. The others were no substitute for you, although their screams were delicious.” Heartland stopped in front of Craig. With a flick of his wrist he produced an open switchblade. In his other hand he held old-fashioned straight razor.
Heartland pressed the razor against Craig’s neck until Craig was flat against the wall. One move and Craig was a dead man. From the corner of his eye he saw Heartland raise his arm. There was a tug on his shirt and Craig felt a burning down the middle of his chest followed by cool air. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of his face and Craig was having trouble keeping his breathing steady.
“I wondered after reading that article in the paper about you getting shot, what your chest would look like,” Heartland said. “I like the scars. They’re beautiful.”
The cold tip of the knife traced the edge of the scar. Then the cold disappeared and Craig felt his pants being cut to threads. The razor at his throat pressed a little deeper and he felt warm blood drip down his skin.
Heartlands cold silver eyes looked at him. “I wouldn’t move if I were you. The cut is just a scratch, but with a little more pressure I can cut easily down to the bone.” A hand roughly grabbed Craig’s bare cock and balls.
“No,” Craig shouted.
“You son of a bitch,” Spencer yelled. He managed to get to his feet and rushed at them.
The razor grazed across Craig’s throat when Heartland turned toward Spencer. Craig crashed to the floor. In horror he watched Heartland drop the razor and grab Spencer, turning him until Spencer’s back was against Heartland’s chest. Heartland held him securely with one beefy arm and brought the other hand holding the switchblade up and pressed it against the bottom of Spencer’s eye.
“By the time I’m done with you, you won’t need those glasses anymore.” Heartland’s laugh was pure evil. A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the room.
“Don’t,” Spencer cried moments later. “Please don’t.”
The door to the bedroom crashed open. Synn’s beautiful form flew into the room. Heartland shoved Spencer at Synn. Steve was next to Synn and grabbed Spencer, while Synn went after Heartland.
Heartland picked up the razor. Now he had the razor in one hand and knife in the other. Craig lay there helpless on the floor and watched his lover preform a graceful almost magical dance using his baton from his belt to ward off Heartland's weapons.
Craig had known Synn was a dangerous man, but the expertise he used against Heartland was phenomenal. Heartland didn’t stand a chance. Before long, Heartland was face-first on the ground wearing Synn’s handcuffs.
There was shouting as everyone who had stood frozen during the fight now sprang into action. Dean pressed a cloth against Craig’s neck, and someone, he thought Creed cut the zip tie around his wrists.
“It’s okay, Craig,” Dean said. “I’m going to try to sit you up. Don’t worry, I’ll keep pressure on your neck.”
Craig wasn’t worried. He eyes were on the love of his life who was rushing toward him. Behind Synn, two deputies were taking Heartland out of the room.
Synn knelt down next to Craig and gentle hands lifted him upright, while Dean kept pressure on his neck.
“I’ve got you, baby,” Synn said.
Craig gave him a weak smile. “I know.”
From the other room shouts erupted and gunshots rang out. Synn’s body came down on Craig’s.
* * * *
Craig stood in the warm sunshine, facing his lover, their arms crossed in front of their bodies and hands entwined together. The house with the porch running along the front on one acre was officially theirs now. They bought it the day after the owner’s son arrived into town. The beautiful backyard, with its huge oak trees was decorated to the hilt by Sheriff Steve’s partner, Haley, and his cousin, Pete, for his and Synn’s wedding.
Around them were family and friends. Synn’s two brothers had managed to make it all the way from Alaska. One had driven down Synn’s
1972 Chevy truck while the other followed. That was when Craig had learned about Synn’s cabin in Alaska. Synn had promised to take Craig up there on their next vacation and show him around.
The two brothers had caused quite a stir when they hit town, as they were almost as handsome as Synn. Not one person from Craig’s side had chosen to attend and they still couldn’t find Cooper. It hurt, but Craig had Synn now.
Every member of the Granite County Sheriff’s department who wasn’t on duty was there. Together with their wives and partners, they were Craig’s true family.
Heartland had been killed when he attacked the two officers taking him out of the apartment. Luis was arrested and sang his guts out. Synn had been right. The guns were transported across Alaska and through Canada. Heartland then put them and the drugs he manufactured and brought up from Chicago onto the boats as they suspected.
Who would suspect illegal activities from a couple of teenagers cruising around in Dad’s boat or the older couple taking a scenic ride? When in truth they were actually carrying guns and drugs in the false bottoms of large coolers or in secret compartments down the river to meet with contacts. These contacts looked like fellow vacationers. No one paid much attention to a cooler set down in the sand during a barbeque by one couple, and later picked up by the new couple when the get-together was over.
Dean and Steve had called the feds in and the sweep of arrests around the country had made the world news.
Over all things had quieted down in Granite County. Spencer was still recovering. Heartland had taken one eye, but he still had the other. Unfortunately the poor man was still working on the mental anguish.
Steve stepped up next to them and faced the crowd, the papers Synn had given him clutched in his hands. A podium with a bowl of water had been set up within easy reach.
Steve cleared his throat. “Synn and Craig would like to thank everyone for coming to witness their marriage. Let’s begin.” Steve looked at Synn and Craig, and smiled. “This ceremony is about starting a new chapter in a marriage with a clean slate and being vulnerable together to increase your closeness.”
Adjusting to the Situation [Granite County 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Page 9