by Angi Morgan
“Then we should get started on the plan to get Lauren back before he has to head home,” she said, stronger.
“You’re right. We need a plan.”
“How do you figure to accomplish a rescue?” Brian asked. “She’ll be watched 24/7. No matter where they go.”
“And if you do accomplish your goal, I haven’t proved Alicia didn’t plan everything,” Dev added.
Their options were limited. They couldn’t just waltz up to the door and demand Alicia’s daughter. Or could they?
“Exactly. That’s why we’re going to kidnap her during the auction today.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Once they’d worked most of the details out and the fine-tuning had come into play, Alicia had fallen into an emotional, exhausted sleep. She vaguely remembered John saying goodbye and maybe kissing her cheek.
With Brian’s alibi established, the police couldn’t connect him to Tory’s shooting. So John planned to attend the auction using his brother’s ID and be in position to orchestrate Lauren’s kidnapping. Alicia had slept from dawn to about nine o’clock in the morning. Right until Dev had started his rental and driven off to purchase the rest of the gear they’d need.
A glance at her watch as she stretched awake for a second time told her it was nearly eleven. “I’m seriously hungry. Anything still in those saddlebags?”
“That’s because you didn’t eat before you fell asleep. Dev’s almost back. Hope you like burgers for breakfast.” Brian sat in the chair, looking so much like John it reminded her of when they’d all first met.
They were less gangly, had grown into handsome men and were good, helpful friends. As much as they tried to be different, they still had identical expressions and mannerisms.
“Anything will be much appreciated. Did he find the electronics he needed?”
“Yeah. That’s a fairly big smile on your face, Miss Adams. Been a while since I’ve seen it where it belongs.”
“You flirt. Am I smiling?” She laughed. “I’m happy this is almost over.”
She was glad at the thought that Lauren would soon be back in her arms, protected, safe. The future after her rescue was still uncertain, but the most important thing was to get her daughter away from the murderers who had kidnapped her.
“Not all over. We still have to pull off a kidnapping and keep you guys out of sight until one of Dev’s navy buds can track this money connection to Patrick. He passed it off to someone with a bigger computer.”
“You don’t sound too positive.”
“Come on, Alicia. You think this chaotic plan of John’s will work? Think he can act like a humble ranch hand again?” Brian pushed up from the chair, stretching and twisting as though he’d been stationary too long.
“To be honest, I can’t not believe John and Dev know what they’re doing. They rescue people in much more dangerous situations. Dev’s not just some navy buddy, Brian. He’s amazing with a computer.”
Brian smiled once again. He might talk about her smiling, but he’d done more than his share since his fight with his brother. “And it hurt the guy to give in and call for help. Dev was in true pain. I guess you’ve had a bit more time to believe in John than I have. For twelve years I thought he was irresponsible—”
“And blamed him like the town blamed you.”
“Uh,” he began, and stopped himself. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Is that why you’re so doom and gloom this morning?”
“I keep thinking of all the time I wasted.” He rubbed his jaw. “The beatings I endured, the shunning of everyone except you and Mabel.”
“Surely there’s been a couple of others?”
“No one close. Hell, girl, I’ve never been on a serious date.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I can’t expose anyone to the treatment I live with just running to the grocery for a gallon of milk for Dad. And you know I can’t move. I can’t work more than three or four days in a row. Dad will work himself to death.”
Alicia finger combed her hair and watched Brian shift uncomfortably on his feet. His confession must have been very difficult to make.
Instead of pacing around the barn like a caged lion, an action she’d seen often enough since his arrival, Brian stayed put. His eyes pleaded with her to understand. He was probably sharing thoughts he’d never told anyone. He was right. Who would he have explained to?
J.W. ate, worked, ate and went to bed. He had been a great friend to her father and Roy, but he wasn’t from a generation of talkers. And unfortunately, Brian took after him more with every year that aged them all. John had been the one who always talked to her as they’d grown up. He, too, it seemed, had closed himself off. In two days, he hadn’t said a word about his life over the past twelve years.
“I’m so sorry, Brian.” She tried to imagine how lonely he’d been all these years. “But I think if you let someone fall in love with you, then they’d never doubt you were innocent.”
“Is that why you’ve always believed in John?”
“What do you mean?”
“You believed that he didn’t start the fire and wasn’t there. You stood by him because you’ve always loved him.” He stated it as matter-of-fact instead of really wanting to know the answer to a question. Just a little rise and fall of a firm shoulder. Acceptance that it was the way things had always been.
“I never believed you set the fire, either. Even after you confessed.” She looked at him, wondering how the conversation had taken a turn to this place. “You know I love your whole family.”
“Sweetheart, you do not love me and Dad like you do him.” Brian laughed, completely at ease and relaxed. “And from the astonished look on your face, I think you’re realizing that it’s time to stop kidding yourself that you do.”
“You’re wrong. I don’t. I can’t. I loved Dwayne. I wouldn’t have married him if I were still in love with Johnny. I’m just— Really, I can’t possibly do that to Dwayne.”
“Do what? Fall in love again?”
“Make people doubt our marriage. Or that I settled for him. Or that I was after his money. I couldn’t.” She dropped her head in her palms.
How could the world turn upside down in an instant yet again? She’d been so relieved that this ordeal would soon be over. So happy at the thought of seeing Lauren again and knowing she was safe. She’d actually been smiling, laughing. And now it was impossible.
No matter how much she cared about Johnny, she couldn’t possibly be in love with him. It wasn’t fair to Dwayne’s memory. She felt a pat on her shoulder, then Brian’s hand squeezed tight.
“No one will think you settled for either man. And there’s not a single person in town who ever thought you married for money. I knew Dwayne. I was his best friend from the first peewee football team we were on. He’d be very happy for you both. I’m certain of that. You and Johnny are going to be good together.”
One last squeeze and Brian walked outside, leaving her on her own.
Did she really love her high school sweetheart? Had she stopped only for the time she’d been with Dwayne? It might be true. Brian might be right about that, but he was certainly wrong about being good together.
John was a navy SEAL, for crying out loud. All he’d ever talked about in high school was joining the navy. He was a career man. He’d be leaving Aubrey and returning to his exciting world instead of living her day-to-day drama. After the dust settled from Shauna and Patrick’s kidnapping, her world would be how to get a grape-jelly stain out of her favorite blouse. She’d patiently explained to him in the field that she’d never be with anyone again. So after all that straight talk, how could she change her story?
How could she possibly make him believe she loved him? And on top of all that...she hadn’t known it until his brother had hit her over the head?
WEARING WESTERN BOOTS was a change that John welcomed. He would enjoy breaking in a new pair. If he had a reason to buy a pair again. Since Alicia had told him she’d never marry again—and he’d heard that underlying message of especially him—there wasn’t much of a reason to think about moving back. He didn’t have a reason to find a place to store boots in the barracks.
Brian hadn’t been exaggerating about the number of people who avoided talking to him in town. There had been several women who were approaching and then had a sudden desire to stare into the hardware store window. The town truly had decided his brother’s punishment.
And yet he was still here. Taking care of what was left of the ranch. Most definitely taking care of their dad. Always the responsible brother.
Brian had been right about the police officers, too. They weren’t very good at tailing him. He gave them the slip long enough to meet Dev and receive the earbud and microphone. How and where his friend obtained his toys was beyond him. He was just grateful that he knew someone with that much talent.
He had to sit at the café lunch counter for a good ten minutes sipping coffee he didn’t want or need before the cops showed up again. He needed them at the auction. Since Dev still hadn’t located the money, if Patrick said or did anything, it was important to have reliable witnesses.
He was beginning to rethink the reliable about the time they pulled behind his granddad’s truck to find him at the auction. Walking in a crowd of people who had shunned his brother brought back memories of the streets in Afghanistan. A foreigner in disguise on a rescue mission, praying no one knew his real identity.
Keep your cool, man. You’ll get to tell these people off one day. Just not today.
“Everyone in place?” he asked just before he wouldn’t be able to answer again without someone thinking it odd that he was talking to himself.
“Yes,” Alicia answered hesitantly.
“Out of sight at the corral.” Brian was in place for the distraction.
“Good to go, LT.”
The line to register moved quickly and it was soon his turn. He filled out the information and returned the paper to the young woman. She smiled, clearly unaware of the treatment his brother normally received.
“What are you doing here, Sloane?” A man walked up to the registration desk. Dressed in a suit, obviously in charge. He knew Brian and each word showed his distaste at wasting his time on him.
“I thought it was an open auction.” He couldn’t wait to see this pompous ass eat his words.
“You’re required to have a line of credit or cash to get inside. I already denied you that line of credit and I know no one else gave it to you. Unless you brought—”
John pulled the stack of bills from a bank envelope. “There’s ten thousand. That enough to see if I want any of the Adamses’ stock?”
“Where did you get that kind of money? You’re broke.”
“You don’t really expect an answer, do you? Now, where’s my bid number?” He put the cash away, looking around to see astonished faces everywhere. He could see the condemnation.
“I want this man thoroughly searched and if he has a weapon, hold him for the police.”
John stepped to the side of the table and lifted his arms, forcing a smile to stretch from ear to ear, faking his ease at being frisked. He’d left his weapons behind for just this reason.
“They all believe I sell drugs,” Brian said disgustedly, then laughed in his ear. “Now you just confirmed their suspicions and there will be worse rumors about why I haven’t saved the ranch with the money before now.”
“Don’t distract him, man,” Dev broke in. “Stay silent until you need to let us all know something.”
Luckily Dev had intervened. John had been about to answer Brian himself. Go off on a rant right as he walked into the arena. His brother was the only person who could get a rise out him at this stage of an operation. He hadn’t really been functioning at full SEAL capacity since he’d arrived in Texas.
Maybe he was losing his edge. Time to suck it up and focus. He knew he’d lost his heart for his chosen career months ago. He’d address his doubts after he secured Lauren. Walking from stall to stall of the animals for sale, he felt sick in his gut that Roy’s life’s work was about to disperse to parts unknown. These horses were Lauren’s future. It was Alicia’s decision to sell or keep them.
Avoiding a conversation with those around him wasn’t hard. The locals kept their distance, and for the faces that tried to make eye contact, his angry expression should have put off a vibe that he wasn’t too open for small talk. He didn’t have to act interested in the stock—he genuinely was.
These were fine animals, good quarter-horse breeders his dad’s ranch would be excited to own. He could hear the astonishment of the potential buyers as they chatted to each other. Some of the mares should never have gone to a public auction. They would go cheap because many of the bigger farms weren’t represented. His fingers curled into fists. He had to grab the top rail of the corral to force his body to relax.
“Well, well, well. You never know what vermin will dare crawl out when there’s food available.”
“Hello, Shauna. It’s been a while. Sorry to hear about everything your family’s been going through.”
“Right. Like I believe that.” She parked herself in front of him, trapping him between a support beam and the stall of Roy’s prize mare.
At least John had a view of the arena and could see Patrick chatting up the buyers.
“Making nice-nice with the enemy while I crawl through muck,” Brian’s voice was loud in John’s ear.
“Come on, Brian. John’s playing a part,” Alicia said.
Just hearing her voice threw him out of step. “I’m, um, sorry, I didn’t catch that.”
“I said, we know your secret. We both know it’s John who’s helping Alicia.” Shauna pretended to straighten his collar, lowering her voice so only he—and the rest of those on comm—could hear her. “I could have told the police, but Patrick convinced me to hold off. We don’t know what you’re trying to prove by attending the auction, but it’s best if you turn around and leave.”
John grabbed her wrists and pushed her away from him. Her little pout of hurt did nothing to him. He dealt with women acting like her in just about every bar he’d ever entered.
“If you believe that, Shauna, then call the cops over right now. I was eating pie at the diner last night when you claim I was in McKinney. The police have confirmed John is on a mission. He couldn’t get home when Dad had his stroke and sure as hell doesn’t care about any of our problems.”
He made eye contact with Weber—still no sign of Lauren.
“Any possibility of me saying hello to Lauren today? You hiding her somewhere?”
“You’re a horrible liar. Do you know that, John?” She tried to touch his head and he quickly pulled back. “Patrick and I think you’re John.”
“The auction’s going to start soon and I’ve only seen half of the mares. I should be moving along.” He tried to step around her. She moved into his path.
“Now, we both know you’re really here to try to get our little angel.” She laid on the Southern twang and put a finger over her heart while she glanced upward. “You can try to take her from us, but as you can see, she’s being guarded very well today.”
Shauna pointed to the security guards and then to...
Gargantuan.
He stood in the general direction Weber had been a few minutes before. Lauren was evidently holding his hand, but he couldn’t see her through the crowd. The giant towered over everyone and it was easy to keep him in his peripheral vision. He seemed to be headed, along with most of the other attendees, to the midsection of risers in front of the center arena.
“You won’t take her
from me. I promise you that.”
“Were you saying something, Shauna? Dang, I didn’t hear a word of it. Guess I got lost thinking how well that mare will look with my stock. Pardon me.” He’d heard every senseless word. With all the huffing and puffing she was doing, it was fairly obvious that not caring what she had to say sent her into a tizzy.
He looked over her shoulder, past most of the crowd and saw Patrick’s hand slap the wall. He was the one listening. That was why Shauna was all over him. They were hoping he’d give something away.
Again he tried to move around her, but she grabbed his arm.
“You can pretend not to care all you want, but that guard doesn’t earn a penny if Lauren leaves his side. I believe you’ve already discovered just how good of a fighter he is.” She touched the side of his jaw where a darkening bruise had formed.
“That? I got whacked by a tree branch, tracking down a coyote that’s been stalking my stock. One thing you should know—I protect what’s mine.” He placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping her in one spot as he passed.
Three voices burst loudly into his ear. He was afraid he winced in pain or, worse yet, it had been so loud that others near him would have heard. Everyone went about their business as usual. Shauna stomped back to Weber at the entrance, pushing people out of the way, then smiling sweetly as she said thank-you.
Whatever Alicia and Dev said was lost under Brian’s distinctive, “What the heck was that all about?”
“She’s wired,” Dev suggested after they quieted. “Gotta be. No way they’d keep the info that you were here to themselves.”
“Would have been easy for the cops to find out. My prints are on file and if you left any at that shindig last night—”
“Not a chance.”
“Then they’re either shooting in the dark or working with the cops,” Brian surmised. “Why the hell would she be playing footsie in the corner with you?”
“Can you see Lauren?”
“She’s sitting next to the bodyguard. Same guy as at the house.” He barely moved his lips to give his team the info.