Especially now. She’d finally found the courage to make a break for freedom and somehow Alex had managed to snatch her back in his evil claws.
Reed cursed again. He had to figure out a way to get back into that mansion and free her. From what he’d seen, Alex had a veritable army. Reed couldn’t just go charging in there and think he could get Kaitlyn out. He’d get shot, maybe even killed. And then where would Kaitlyn be?
He’d given her his word he would help her. Now he admitted to himself that there was more involved than just his word. He wanted to help her because he cared.
He’d been home a little over half an hour—pacing—when he heard the sound of car tires on the gravel drive. He jumped up, peered out the window and groaned.
Of course. For the first time in over a week, George Putchinski had decided to pay him a call.
While biting back yet another curse and the urge to put his fist through the wall, Reed sensed he might just have found a way in. Since George worked for Alex, he might be able to give Reed some insight on how Kaitlyn had been captured. If Reed played him right.
Though dealing with that idiot was the last thing he wanted or needed right now, Reed had no choice. Just like he hadn’t really had before. Except this time, he’d mention Alex’s name and see what kind of reaction he got.
He had the door open before the other man had even had a chance to knock. In fact, George had just gotten out of his squad car. With his mirrored sunglasses and his smug smile, he could have played a cop in an ’80s television drama. He sauntered up the sidewalk toward Reed.
“Waiting for me?” he asked. “Then you must be guilty.”
“Really?” Reed kept his tone mild. “Would you like to come in, George?”
Since this was a first, Reed knew George would be surprised. If he was, he didn’t show it. Of course, he also didn’t remove his sunglasses.
“Sure.” George stomped inside. Once Reed closed the door, the other man had to take off his shades in order to look around.
After one quick glance, George faced Reed and crossed his arms. “Place looks nice,” he said, his tone grudging.
“Thanks. Now can you tell me the reason for this visit?”
Eyes narrowed, George eyed Reed as if he’d spoken a foreign language. “What?”
“Why are you here, George? What crime that I didn’t commit are you going to ask me about now?”
For once, the sheriff’s deputy appeared at a loss for words. Of course, Reed had never invited him inside before, so maybe that had thrown him off a little.
Before George could answer, Reed pressed his advantage. “Did Alex send you?”
“Alex?” George gaped at him, not able to conceal his shock.
Reed smiled.
“You should know I saw Alex this morning. I’ve been doing a little work for him.”
George’s thick brows knit into a frown. “You have?”
“Yep.” Reed grinned. “I was helping him find his woman. Was being the operative word.”
Evidently, George wasn’t as slow as Reed had guessed. “That’s nice.”
“Yeah, but some other hotshot beat me to it.” Reed colored his tone with admiration. “Must have been sharp, that guy, whoever he was. Wish I was him. I bet he’s getting all the money that was promised to me.”
“Money?” George cocked his head and Reed knew he had him. “What kind of money?”
“Fifty grand,” Reed lied. “Alex promised to give me fifty grand if I found Kaitlyn for him.”
George swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple moving. “Why would someone like him pay someone like you anything?”
Carefully casual, Reed shrugged. “Because men like him always reward people who do things for him. You should know that.” He bet Alex had never paid ole George a dime.
A flush had begun to creep up George’s thick neck, past his double chin, heating his face. “I got to go,” he managed, looking as if he had just swallowed something unpalatable. Turning, he fumbled for the doorknob.
Once he was outside, Reed watched as he climbed into his squad car and peeled off. The instant George’s taillights flashed as he rounded the curve in the drive, Reed sprinted for his truck. Keys in the ignition, Start, start, start damn it.
And he was off. Hot in pursuit of George Putchinski. He figured the other man would be too damn preoccupied to even notice he was being followed.
* * *
Time passed. Kaitlyn dozed and startled awake at the sound of car tires on gravel. George returning? Or Alex, coming to get the woman he regarded as his property?
A moment later, heavy footsteps entered the trailer. “You all right in there?” a voice called. George. Relieved, she answered in the affirmative.
“Good. I’ll feed you in a little bit. Right now, I got a few things to do.”
His cell phone rang and he answered that. Since the walls were thin, Kaitlyn could hear every word.
“Thank you for calling me back. Yes, you heard my message right. Like I told you before, I have Kaitlyn Nuhn.”
Silence while he evidently listened to the other person—whom she suspected might be Alex—speak.
“Yes, I know I said I’d bring her to you. But I’ve changed my mind. For sure I’ll take you to her.” George cleared his throat. “For a price. I understand you pay other people a significant amount of money to bring you things. Earlier, we never discussed money. Now I want to be paid.”
Kaitlyn could imagine how well that went over with Alex. She was surprised she couldn’t hear him shouting on the other end of the phone line.
“Seventy-five thousand,” George said, his voice stubborn. “More than you pay anyone else because I actually can deliver the goods.”
Silence again. Then George spoke, his voice hard and flat and final. “You have twenty-four hours to think about it. You can call me again at this number when you decide.”
Kaitlyn marveled at what was both foolhardy and daring. Alex would squash him like an insect. Surely George knew this since he’d been doing business with Alex for years.
A moment later, George unlocked her door. His olive skin looked flushed, and his brown eyes gleamed. “You hungry?”
Slowly, she nodded. She wanted to be careful not to do anything to set him off.
“This way,” he told her, pointing toward the front of the trailer. “I’ll make us some tacos or something.”
Walking, she kept her hands where he could see them and tried to case the rest of the trailer without him noticing.
When they reached the small kitchen, he pointed to a chair. “Sit.”
The table and the front door were maybe twenty feet apart. She calculated her chances if she were to make a run for it. Not good. For now, she’d watch and wait. But she knew one thing for sure. No way in hell was she going back to Alex. She’d get away or she’d die trying. Because if she let George deliver her to Alex, she was as good as dead anyway.
Though she knew she shouldn’t ask any questions or do anything to make George fix his attention on her, she had to ask. “Um, George? Does Alex know where you live?”
He swiveled so fast she thought he might backhand her. Instead, he gave her a hard look and a nod. “He does.”
Her heart sank. That bit of information meant she had to get out of there sooner rather than later.
“But this isn’t my place,” he continued. “And Alex has no idea about it. I stay here sometimes when my friend Barry is out of town. No one knows about this trailer house. And the phone I have is a disposable phone, so I can’t be tracked.”
Surprised, Kaitlyn nodded. Never in a million years would she have guessed George had it in him. Still, he’d managed to survive doing business with Alex all these years. Not too many people were able to do that.
Flattery couldn’t hurt. She ventured a tentative smile. “I never knew you were so smart, George.”
But instead of pleasure, his complexion flushed with anger. “Don’t waste your time trying to butter me up. I care more
about the money.” Turning, he fished a video camera out of a bag, and then retrieved a tripod from the closet.
“I’m going to set this up and record us having dinner,” he said. “It’s more efficient than a cell phone video, and untraceable. I’ll send that to Alex. That way he’ll know I really do have you and that you’re still alive. For now, at least.”
That announcement made, George got busy cooking their dinner.
* * *
Aware he first needed to catch up with George’s car and then fall back so he wouldn’t be noticed, Reed accelerated. If George had gone to Alex’s—or anywhere in the direction of town for that matter—he would have had to pick up the main highway.
Still, Reed didn’t see a sign of the patrol car. Had he gone the wrong way, turning left when he should have turned right? Had he possibly guessed wrong when figuring where George would go?
Flashing lights appeared in his rearview mirror. Damn. He glanced at his speedometer, noticing he was going at least twenty over the limit.
A siren let out a whoop-whoop. They wanted him to pull over. Seriously? It couldn’t be George, could it? The sheriff’s deputy had been too upset when he’d left to be worrying about using radar to trap speeders. Reed supposed it could be one of the other deputies, but in all the years he’d lived here, no one ever patrolled this area of the highway.
For one brief foolish second, he debated trying to run, but knew his elderly truck wouldn’t be up to the task.
So he pulled over.
The man approaching his window addressed him by name. “Reed Westbrook?”
Trying not to grind his teeth impatiently, Reed nodded. The man handed him his badge without speaking. FBI. Special Agent Blake Kent.
As Reed tried to digest this, he noticed another man approaching on the passenger side. “Is this an ambush?” he asked, only partly joking.
“We just want to have a word with you.”
And then shoot him and dump his body on the side of the road. Right.
“Do you work for Alex Ramirez?” he asked, figuring he might as well be blunt.
“No.” The other man didn’t even crack a smile. “But he’s who we want to discuss with you. We think you can help us in our investigation of him.” He indicated his dark, government-issue, sedan, dashboard light still flashing. “Do you have a moment so we can talk?”
Knowing George had likely gotten too far ahead to be followed, Reed finally nodded. If the feds were investigating Alex, that would only be to his and Kaitlyn’s advantage.
But first, he needed to make them understand that she was in danger. He got out of his truck and got in their car. Speaking succinctly, he told them everything that had transpired, beginning with Kaitlyn showing up at his house and ending with her disappearance.
“And Alex claims he has her back again,” he concluded. “If that’s true, her life is in grave danger.”
“Let me make a call.” The younger of the two agents, got out of the car and stood outside, talking into his cell phone. After a moment, he pocketed the phone and got back in.
“We’ve just about got enough for a search warrant.”
Immediately, Reed nodded. “What else do you need?” he asked quietly. “That man not only has held Kaitlyn a virtual prisoner, but he murdered my brother. Not to mention he set me up to go to prison for a crime I never committed.”
From the way the two feds exchanged a glance, Reed knew they’d heard that particular line before from ex-cons. He didn’t care. In his case it was true.
“Thank you for your cooperation.” The agents got out again, holding the door open for him. “We’ll be in touch.”
Reed couldn’t believe they were going to try and brush him off. “Are you going out there?”
“Out where?”
“We don’t have time for games.” Not bothering to hide his impatience, he ripped the words out. “Alex Ramirez’s mansion. Are you going out there?”
“Eventually. The bureau is assembling a team right now.”
“I’m going with you.” Reed gave them a look to let them know this was nonnegotiable.
“That’s not really up to us,” one of the agents began.
Reed shook his head, heading back to his truck. “I’ll meet you there,” he said, ignoring the other man’s protests.
Once inside, he turned the key in the ignition, put the shifter in Drive and headed toward Alex’s estate.
* * *
It didn’t take long until the smell of seasoned ground beef filled the room, making Kaitlyn’s stomach growl. George filled a couple of corn tortillas and carried them over. He also grabbed a bag of precut salad and another of shredded cheddar cheese from the fridge and unceremoniously dropped that on the table, too.
“I forgot to get tomatoes,” he said, turning back toward the stove to make his own plate. She watched as he dished up his own meat from the cast-iron skillet.
Cast iron. Heavy enough to knock a man out. Could she do it? It really didn’t matter. This time, she’d have to find the strength. She was done being some man’s prisoner. Finished hiding in the shadows. She’d get out of here herself and then she was through trusting anyone to help her. She’d go straight to the authorities and take down Alex Ramirez herself.
She ate all of her tacos, aware she was going to need her strength. Once she was done, she tried to calm her racing heart. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her empty plate and pushed herself up from her chair.
George jumped up, too. “Where do you think you’re going?”
Deliberately keeping her voice soft and her shoulders rounded, she showed him her plate and gestured toward the stove. “I was just going to get seconds. I can make you another plate first if you’d like.”
He considered. She held her breath, well aware that men who liked to bully loved having women wait on them hand and foot like a kind of personal slave.
The second George’s thick lips curled into a smile, she knew she had him. Perfect. “Sure,” he said. “I’ll take three more.”
Dipping her chin, she grabbed his plate and carried it with hers to the stove. Her heart pounded and she prayed he didn’t notice her hands trembling. She made his tacos first. Once they were made, she carried his plate to the table and placed it in front of him before returning to ostensibly make her own.
Instead, she grabbed a dish towel and, wrapping it around the handle, picked up the cast-iron skillet and quietly crept to stand behind George’s back. Taking a deep breath, she swung. Hard. Spewing ground beef all over.
The skillet connected with the back of George’s head with an awful thud. He went facedown on the table instantly.
Chapter 13
For a heartbeat, Kaitlyn stood frozen, still clutching the hot skillet. Then, when she realized George was out cold, she dropped her makeshift weapon and backed away, horrified.
Was he dead? She fumbled for his pulse, needing to make sure she hadn’t killed him. She hadn’t. He was still alive.
Still, she felt sick. Worried. She pushed the feeling away, her pulse pounding as she latched on to the rush of adrenaline. She’d done it. Opened up a chance to escape. Now she needed to get out of here.
Wiping her hands on the dish towel, she rushed to the door and yanked it open. George’s police cruiser was parked outside and she realized she was going to need the keys.
Swallowing back nausea, she reached into his pants pocket. Luckily, her fingers connected with his car keys immediately. She tugged them free and hurried back outside.
Aware that stealing a law enforcement vehicle was a crime, she started it anyway. George’s actions while wearing his uniform definitely negated everything else.
Now, where to go? Briefly, she considered going to Reed. Even the thought made her chest ache. But no, the time had come to stand on her own two feet. She needed Bentley, though she had no way to know if her pup had been found. She could only pray he had.
As she continued to drive, she wished she knew which law enforcement agenc
ies she could trust. She passed the Anniversary city limits, heading northwest, toward Dallas.
Driving a stolen sheriff’s department vehicle, she felt like an actress in a movie. This didn’t feel real. The fact that she’d been driven by desperation to act so irrationally shocked her.
Again she thought of Reed. Did he even know she was missing? And what about Zoe, and Brock? They must all be worried. But she had no phone and no way to contact them, so she continued on. Good thing the fuel gauge showed the tank was full.
Halfway there, she pulled over to the side of the road. What the heck was she doing? This had to end. By now Reed and Zoe and Brock had to know she was missing. She’d go back to town, find them and fill them in on what was happening. And warn Reed. Her only consolation was that at least Alex had no idea where she was or even that George no longer had her.
She’d need to ditch the cop car. As soon as she hit the city limits, she pulled in an alley behind a convenience store and parked. Wiping the keys off with her sleeve, she left them in the ignition. Let someone else steal the car. George could deal with trying to explain that.
On foot, aware she had no disguise, she kept her head up and her gaze straight ahead. No one paid any attention to her, and she guessed since her disappearance hadn’t been featured in the news lately, she’d kind of faded from people’s minds.
Finally, she reached the feed store that Brock and Zoe owned. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door and went inside.
The place was empty. Which wasn’t so odd, this close to quitting time. If she remembered right, there should be an office in the back. She figured she’d find Brock or Zoe there.
To her surprise that, too, appeared empty. Surely they wouldn’t have left their store open and unmanned, would they?
Unless something catastrophic had occurred. Like Kaitlyn’s sudden disappearance.
Moving into the office, she picked up the phone and dialed Zoe’s number. Zoe answered on the third ring.
“Kaitlyn! Where are you?”
Taking a deep breath, Kaitlyn answered. “I’m in your empty and unlocked feed store, watching over the place until one of you can get down here and lock it up.” That said, she closed her eyes, waiting to hear Zoe’s response.
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