by Barbara Gee
Elliot tried not to panic. Maybe it was something as simple as a delayed flight, or Craig’s phone battery dying. As long as the man checked in before he carried out the deed, they’d be okay.
Of course, it would still be tricky. If someone knew about Callie Green, the kidnapping was going to come out. That was survivable, though. Elliot had set up things long ago to put the blame for that on Tabby. Easy enough, since she wasn’t alive to defend herself. But a murder would be impossible to spin. Elliot needed to stop Craig and get him far away from that god-forsaken town in North Dakota.
He also needed Craig to help him figure out what came next. That’s what the man did best—he plotted and planned, and everything always worked out. Elliot was the money man, and Craig was the schemer. It was a power-partnership that had worked incredibly well for over twenty years.
Until now. Now some unknown PI had dared to show up with questions, throwing things out of balance just when they were about to realize their long-held dream. It was totally unexpected after all this time, and Elliot had never felt such a mixture of fear and fury.
In the back of his mind, he was afraid Craig wasn’t answering the phone because he’d been expecting Elliot to go soft again and change his mind about offing his little sister. Craig was determined to get it done this time, and his way of refusing the new orders might be to never get them in the first place. He could kill Callie, then claim his phone had died when Elliot called him out on it. Simple as that.
But Craig didn’t know about the PI who’d come to town. He didn’t know that killing Callie Green wouldn’t save their dreams, it would kill them completely. Twenty plus years of effort down the drain….jail cells instead of yachts.
No. No no NO. That was not how this was going to end. Not after everything they’d accomplished. Elliot Tate would not go to prison.
He dialed the number again, his hands shaking and his head pounding.
It rang and rang.
CHAPTER 29
The afternoon following the picnic, Vince was at the ice rink helping Boone unpack a shipment of hockey sticks when his phone rang. The number showed up as the admin building, so he figured it was either Maddy Simon or Libby Anderson, the two women who so capably ran the place.
“Hey, this is Vince,” he answered, holding up the flap of a box with his free hand so Boone could reach in.
He barely had time to recognize Maddy’s voice before the urgency in it registered, and he heard her say Gary Denton was there and needed to see him immediately. Vince’s whole body froze at her words. There was no scenario he could come up with where an urgent visit from Gary could be a good thing.
“I’ll be right there,” he said, hanging up and meeting Boone’s puzzled look. “I have to go.”
“You okay?” Boone asked. “You need any help?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll call you.”
Vince sprinted the short distance to the admin building, entering through a back door and racing through the hall to the reception area. Gary was there, pacing, with Maddy nearby looking worried.
“Vince, there you are,” the attorney said, looking relieved.
Vince felt his gut clench with dread. “What are you doing here, Gary? Is something wrong?”
“Very wrong,” the man said, confirming Vince’s fears. “I need to fill you in on what’s just happened and I don’t have time to sugar-coat it. I got a call from Kirk twenty minutes ago.”
“Your PI?”
“Yes. He’s made a lot of progress in putting the pieces together. Yesterday, he finally got a copy of the police file on Callie’s case. It’s not good news, Vince. Remember the other day I told you Callie has a half-brother? Elliot Tate?”
“Of course. I remember everything you told me.”
“Right. I’ll spare you all the details for the sake of time, but the case file gives us a connection between Elliott and Tabitha Green. She was Callie’s nanny, and also Elliot’s secret lover.”
Before Vince could figure out what that meant, Gary went on. “Elliot was the one on the boat when Callie supposedly drowned. The article you read said she was out sailing with family, but it was only Elliot. The police file made that clear.”
Now Vince got it. “So, Callie’s brother faked his little sister’s death, and paid his lover, Tabby, to take her away?”
“That’s what it looks like.”
“So why are you here?” Vince asked, knowing Gary wouldn’t have rushed to the ranch just to tell him that.
Gary’s brows drew tightly together. “Kirk took everything he’s found so far directly to the chief of police. The chief told Kirk that Elliott is well-known to the department, due to a history of charges, all of which he’s gotten out of due to his deep pockets and slimy lawyers. The chief said it’s also well-known that Elliott has a right-hand-man to secure his business interests, a guy he’s been friends with since childhood. His name is Craig O’Riley, and he does all the stuff Elliott doesn’t dare dirty his hands with. They even suspect he’s been behind several so-called accidental deaths of people he couldn’t get to tow the line. They haven’t been able to prove it, but the circumstantial evidence is there.”
“Okay, so we know Callie’s brother is a bad dude,” Vince said impatiently, “but that doesn’t tell me why you came over here in such a hurry.”
Gary’s expression grew more pained. “After his meeting with Kirk, the chief put a tail on Elliot. And Kirk just found out Elliot drove his buddy, O’Riley, to the airport early this morning.” Gary sighed heavily and shook his head. “His destination was Grand Forks, Vince.”
Vince stared at the man as cold, hideous fear seeped into his veins. “So, Elliot’s hit-man is coming here? Why?” he asked, even though he was afraid he already knew.
Gary’s eyes were bleak. “Taking everything we know into consideration, our best guess is he’s here to make sure Callie doesn’t become a problem for his boss.”
“But why now?” Vince ground out. “It’s been twenty-one years!”
“Kirk doesn’t know the answer to that. It’s possible Elliot has someone on the inside at the police station who alerted him that someone asked about his little sister. Or the timing could just be coincidence, and it’s something else that has Elliot spooked. Either way, O’Riley coming here seems like an ominous thing. We need to fill Callie in now, just in case.”
Vince grabbed his phone and hit the button for her, holding it to his ear and listening to the rings. “Any idea how soon he might get here?” he asked tersely.
“He rented a black Escalade at the airport twenty minutes after his plane landed. That was three hours ago. That’s all we know.”
Vince’s jaw clenched. “So he’s already here.”
Gary nodded tensely. “There’s a good chance.”
Adrenaline flooded Vince’s system. They didn’t have time to speculate about O’Riley’s reasons for coming. They had to assume he meant Callie harm—and hope they were wrong.
“She’s not answering. Do we need to call the sheriff’s office?” he asked urgently.
“I called on my way here. I asked to have deputies sent to the Double Nickel as soon as possible, and for them to be on the lookout for a black Escalade. I said I’d come in and explain everything later. I know the sheriff personally, and he’ll do it on my say-so for now.”
Vince dialed again and paced a few steps away, willing Callie to answer.
“I already tried the ranch phone and didn’t get an answer,” Gary said. “I didn’t have her cell number. You don’t have any idea where she might be?”
“She had a friend coming over to the ranch for lunch, and they were planning to go for a ride afterward.” Vince got her voicemail again and this time he left a terse message to call him back right away.
“Okay, well at least we know she’s on the ranch,” Gary said. “I’m sure she’s fine, but we definitely need to find her. Fast.”
“And how am I supposed to do that?” Vince ground out, feeling pani
cked and helpless, and hating it. “She could be anywhere on that ranch. I can’t search a couple thousand acres.”
Maddy had been standing there quietly, but now she stepped up and laid her hand on Vince’s arm. “Vince, I don’t know what all’s going on and I know you don’t have time to tell me. I’m just thinking…..Tuck and Ryan have a whole fleet of security drones here, and Tuck is at home today working with Tanner on some kind of project. Would it help if they picked up a couple drones and took them out to the Double Nickel? It might be the fastest way to find her.”
It was a great idea and Vince felt a rush of hope. “That’d be fantastic, Maddy. Ask them to meet me there as soon as they possibly can.”
“I’ll call right now.”
“And I’ll head over to talk to the sheriff and fill him in,” Gary said. “Give me your number quick, Vince, so we can keep in touch.”
Vince was already moving. He called his number over his shoulder before he got to the door, then burst through it and ran to his truck, which was parked in back of the rink. He jumped in just as Boone came out a door nearby, raising his hands palms up and giving him a “what’s up” look.
Vince started the truck and jammed it into drive, screeching to a halt beside Boone and leaning over to open the door.
“Get in. I’ll tell you on the way.”
Boone didn’t hesitate. He leapt up into the seat and closed the door as Vince took off.
Vince cut to the chase. “It’s Callie. She could be in danger from her brother.”
There was a moment of shocked silence. “Callie doesn’t have a brother,” Boone finally said.
“She does, she just doesn’t know it. A half-brother. He lives in New Orleans.”
“Better keep talking, buddy,” Boone said, snapping his seat belt, “because I’m mighty confused right now.”
Vince figured he could make the normally ten minute drive in six, and woe to anyone who got in his way. After he cleared the gates of the Full Heart Ranch, he stomped on the gas, gratified when the big truck jumped to sixty miles per hour within seconds. In another few seconds, he was at ninety. Thankfully the road before him was empty and straight.
He glanced at Boone, who was waiting not so patiently for an explanation.
“It’s a long story, but I’ll summarize it for you. About a year ago, Jeremiah found a journal that had belonged to his daughter, Tabby. When he read it, he found out Callie’s not his biological granddaughter. Tabby wasn’t her mother.”
Boone digested that, then let out a low whistle. “Wow. Wasn’t expecting that. Does Callie know?”
“No. Jeremiah didn’t want her to be told until after he was gone.” Vince quickly told Boone about the Tates, and Elliot staging his little sister’s death.
Boone was dumbfounded. “So the brother paid Tabby to take Callie away, and let his father think his baby girl was dead?” He winced and shook his head. “That’s cold, man. It also hits a little too close to home for me.”
“Exactly. He ripped Callie away from her family, and what was rightfully hers. Different circumstances and motives, but still a lot like what happened to you.” Vince slowed the truck to make a left onto another road. “Jeremiah only knew Callie wasn’t Tabby’s daughter, and that her parents think she’s dead. He’s the one who hired Gary to start digging, but he died before he could be told anything.”
“And Gary is sure the little girl is Callie?”
“His PI went to New Orleans and looked for reports of a three year old girl disappearing at the time Tabby showed up here with Callie. He found the story, and he found pictures. I saw one of them. It’s definitely Callie.”
“I guess my next question is….why are we driving ninety miles per hour toward the Double Nickel?”
Vince gritted his teeth and forced himself to loosen the death-grip he had on the steering wheel. “Kirk, the PI, met with the chief of police down there and told him his theory about Elliot faking Callie’s death. The chief put a tail on Elliot, and Gary just found out he drove a friend of his to the airport this morning. Name’s O’Riley, and rumor has it he’s done some real messy work for Elliot in the past.” Vince glanced at Boone again. “O’Riley flew to Grand Forks.”
“You’re kidding me,” Boone muttered disbelievingly. “He’s coming here?”
“He landed about three hours ago and rented a car. He’s most likely already here.” Vince’s hands clenched on the wheel again, as tight as before. Worry weighed on him hard, bordering on panic. Please God, please keep her safe, he breathed silently.
“It has to be because of Callie, but why come now?” Boone wondered. “After all this time?”
Vince shook his head. “All we know is this guy’s been taking care of Elliot’s problems since they were kids, and now he’s in North Dakota. I think it’s safe to assume he’s not here for a friendly hello.” He blew out an impatient breath and pressed a little harder on the accelerator. “I need to warn Callie, but she’s out riding with Brit, and she’s not answering her phone.”
Boone was silent for the last mile. “I don’t even know what to say, Vince, other than it would’ve been a lot better for everyone if Jeremiah hadn’t found that journal.”
“Tell me about it,” Vince said grimly. He slowed and whipped the wheel, sliding around the turn into the lane of the Double Nickel. Finally. He accelerated to the house, pulling up at the kitchen, right behind Brittany’s little red car. He got out of the truck and ran to the kitchen door, hoping against hope Callie was back from her ride and safe inside with her phone accidentally turned off.
The door was unlocked and he pushed through it, calling her name, with Boone right on his heels. She didn’t answer, but they had to rule out the possibility that O’Riley had already been there and caused the girls harm.
“I’ll look upstairs, you take down here,” Vince said, his stomach clenched with dread.
The two men searched every room, but there was no sign of either of the girls.
“Now what?” Boone asked.
“Both of their cars are here, so they’ve gotta be in the barn or out riding. Let’s go.”
They jumped back in the truck and drove to the barn, parking by right by the Gator, which Callie had probably driven from the house. Vince jogged down the far aisle, to Leo’s stall, the one right beside Edison.
Edison was there, but Leo wasn’t. Vince stabbed his fingers through his hair. “They’re on the horses. We can take the Gator and try to guess which way they headed, but if we guess wrong, we’ll be that much further away from them.” He bent over, hands on his knees, trying to think logically. Trying to keep the fear from taking over. He breathed in deep and let it out slow.
“Maddy was going to ask Tuck to bring some drones over—maybe it would be best to wait for them.”
“Drones. That’s good thinking.” Boone clapped a hand onto Vince’s shoulder. “Don’t panic, man,” he said softly. “She’s probably out having a good time with Brittany and has no idea there’s anything to worry about.”
Vince opened his mouth to reply, then closed it when he heard a door slide open. He spun around and ran to the riding ring in back of the barn, hoping with everything in him that he was seconds away from seeing Callie’s beautiful face coming through the back door.
Instead it was Sam and Lance who entered, stopping short when they saw Vince running across the ring toward them.
“Hey, Vince. What’s up?” Lance asked warily.
Vince slowed to a walk, his disappointment as strong as his hope had been. He didn’t mince words. “We need to find Callie. Have you guys seen her?”
Lance started to answer, then got distracted when Boone joined them. “Oh, hey, you’re Boone Kendall, right? I’m a big fan.”
“Callie,” Vince repeated, louder. “Have you seen her?”
Lance squinted over at Sam. “Yeah, we saw her and Brittany ride out of here—when was that, about an hour ago?”
“Yeah, I’d say that’s about right,” Sam confi
rmed.
“Any idea where they were heading?” Boone asked. “We really need to find her, guys. She could be in danger.”
The two men lost their easy smiles.
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked. “How can Callie be in danger?”
“I don’t have time to explain, just trust me on this,” Vince replied. “Now where were they headed?”
“They usually ride the eastern boundary, out along Thompson Road. That’s the direction they were going when I saw them,” Sam said.
Lance took a half step forward, frowning in concern. “Vince, what kind of danger are you talking about?”
“Someone might be after her.”
“Someone who’s driving a big black SUV?”
Vince’s eyes narrowed and he felt momentarily lightheaded. O’Riley was here. “Yeah, Lance,” he said gruffly. “Did you see it?”
“Yeah, I saw it go by a few times a couple hours ago. Looked like an Escalade. It didn’t stop, just drove by slow. Then I saw it again when Brittany came in. It stopped out at the lane and she was talking to whoever was in it. I figured it was one of her guys and she was playing hard to get.”
“Did you see the guy?” Vince asked urgently.
Lance shook his head. “Not up close. But, I’m afraid I saw the SUV one more time.” He swallowed and met Vince’s intense gaze. “Out on Thompson Road.”
Vince closed his eyes briefly, his fists clenching. It was all he could do not to sink to his knees. “Thompson Road,” he repeated quietly. “Where the girls were headed?”
“Yeah.” Sam interjected. “The eastern boundary of the ranch goes right along that road for a few miles. It’s a dirt road, and there’s hardly ever any traffic on it.”