Later, Malone thought. Later I’ll ask what she wants more than anything without the ‘almost’. “Cade has arranged for a U.S. Marshal to talk with you. He can help.” She hesitated. “But, Joss, if you want to call it off all you have to do is say so. This is your choice.” Her eyes stung. When had this young stowaway become such a vital part of her life?
Joss’ steps slowed until she turned to face Malone who stilled the horse she led with a silent command. “I’m not going to call it off. I can guess what was going to happen to me if I hadn’t gotten away. But, Malone, I would have died first. I promise you. I would have killed or died or maybe both. Some girls aren’t that strong. I think about those two younger girls and I want to cry for them. I don’t know where they are. If they even survived getting away. It makes me want to hurt someone.”
Malone caught her up and held her close. “I know, Joss. Me, too. But you’re what’s most important to me now. Don’t disappear on me. No matter what. Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Joss’ voice was steady and Malone drew a deep breath of relief. “Let’s get this done, then.”
They made quick work of unsaddling and brushing Frisco and making sure everyone had hay and a clean bucket of fresh water.
Cade and Ryder stepped from the shadows as she and Joss approached their trailer. When Malone would have made introductions, Cade shook his head and gestured toward the trailer door. Malone made quick work of unlocking it. Her fingers were trembling slightly and she hoped Joss didn’t notice. That would do nothing to reassure the girl that all would be well.
Once inside, Malone felt chilled. Ryder accepted her offer to make coffee. Cade simply watched with a steady gaze as she readied the coffee pot.
She was glad when Ryder took the initiative, holding out his hand to Joss, waiting quietly until she shook hands with him.
“You’re the U.S. Marshal.”
“My name is James. James Ryder. I’m here to listen to your story. I can’t fix what happened to you but maybe I can prevent it from happening to someone else. Even one someone else. That’s how I know I’ve made a difference.”
At his words, Joss seemed to relax. Malone hoped the reason was at least partly because her trust was that strong in Cade and Malone, herself.
Without rushing or wasting time, Ryder opened the subject of Joss’ abduction and escape.
“I want you to tell me everything you can remember, Joss, but I want you to start further back from when you woke up in that semi. I want you to start with the day you walked into your last foster home.”
Malone tensed but where once the girl would have dropped her chin to allow her hair to hide her features and her emotions, Joss lifted her chin. She started talking, telling her story in a low but strong voice. Malone hated hearing it again but, for Joss’ sake, she kept her expression neutral, glad to busy herself with the coffeepot even for a little while.
“So, you don’t recall your foster parents having visitors.”
Joss looked surprised but only for a moment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you think that. They did but always late, after I was in my room. At least he did. He had card games a couple of times a week. I know there was drinking and I could smell cigars and cigarettes, but I never saw anyone.”
“What about voices? Did you hear anyone.”
“I could hear that they were talking but not what they were saying. I’m sorry.”
“No apology needed.” Ryder’s expression turned grim. “Except to you.”
He deftly walked Joss through waking up in the false bottom of a trailer, of her escape, and her worries for the other girls, her hopes that Ryder could find them.
Ryder accepted a second cup of coffee from Malone. She offered one to Cade but he shook his head. Instead, he tugged her down to sit beside him on the sleeper sofa Joss used. “She’s doing fine.”
“I know,” she whispered, “but I’m not.”
Cade pulled her in close and she sighed as she allowed him that liberty. “Keena looks good,” she murmured.
“Yes, she does but not as good as you.” Cade said easily. He seemed to understand that Malone needed to tune out the sound of the conversation going on beside them. She needed to not think about what so easily could have been the fate of a young girl who’d come to mean so much to her. “And she still talks too fast and too damn much.”
Malone laughed softly against his chest and felt more than heard his hum of pleasure at the sound. Malone liked the unexpected feeling that had her breath catching her in her throat. The timing sucked but timing usually did.
“The good thing I got from all that chatter was that we aren’t likely to lose our contract for use of the facility, despite two deaths in two days.”
“You were afraid of that?”
“Everything about that deal has scared me. It was a risk moving from a place we’ve done business with for years, with a team who knows how to set up – not just for a rodeo – but for something as big as this. I had no idea what to expect in spite of all the assurances. But it’s been good for the association and Keena says it’s been good for the city. Apparently, she dogged out the local PD over their failure to keep everyone associated with us safe. This modernization means a lot to her.”
His admission surprised her. It also reassured her as nothing else could have. He was no longer the autocratic, always right, young adult he’d been. He wasn’t afraid to let her see his insecurities. That was real strength in a man.
A change in Ryder’s tone pulled Malone back into the moment. “I need you to tell me about the truck, the trailer. Describe it to me as best you can.”
Joss hesitated. “I’ll try … but it was dark and my head wasn’t clear. And I was so scared. It wasn’t like a horse trailer.”
“Maybe a stock trailer? I’ve seen some here at the back of the arena.”
“Not quite like those. It was a big truck kind of trailer. It was a long way down when I jumped onto the guy with the gun. But the sides were slatted, not solid. I’ve seen them on the highways, hauling little calves or crates of chickens. I haven’t seen any here.”
“Any kind of logo or name on the cab of the truck?”
“I didn’t look. I just got up off the ground and ran.” She sounded disappointed in herself.
“You did exactly what you needed to do. You saved yourself. To have hesitated, even one split second to look around, could have cost you your life. Joss, I’ll be honest. Chances are I’ll never hear anything about the girls who were with you. I’ll also tell you that could as easily be a good thing as a bad thing.”
Ryder got to his feet and Malone studied Joss anxiously before giving a sigh of relief. The girl looked less tense than at any point since the day she and a stowaway had faced each other down.
CADE DIDN’T WANT to leave Malone but he had no real reason to linger. It was late and she and Joss looked exhausted.
He touched her cheek in a silent message and exited the trailer with Ryder. They walked a short distance and paused to talk quietly. “Did that help?” Cade knew it had been traumatic for Joss to share her story with a stranger. He didn’t want it to have been in vain.
“Everything helps. I just don’t always know how at the time,” Ryder admitted. “I gather slivers of information however I can get them and put them together when I can. I’ll find these bastards. I can promise you that much.”
“And the foster parents?”
Ryder’s smile was somehow grim while genuine. “Now see, that’s the best part. I get to nail those bastards for sure. And, with any luck, they’ll spill their guts to lighten their sentences.”
“I don’t want their sentence lighter.” Cade’s hands were clenched into fists and he knew what he wanted was a chance to pound the couple, both of them, into the ground.
“I’ll do my dead level best to make sure it isn’t – even if they come out feeling like it is at the time. And this could lead back to a real bust, something a hell of a lot bigger than this
one couple. If it does, you getting Joss to talk to me could mean a lot of people in jail right along with them.”
Cade shook his head. “I won’t take any credit. Joss wanted to talk to you, didn’t want other foster kids put in that home. She’s one brave girl.”
“She’ll have to be brave again when she tells her story to the judge but I’ll push for that to happen soon. She’s a minor and a victim. I suspect we can get her testimony in a closed session so she never has to see the bastards who sold her again.”
As Ryder walked away, Cade snapped his fingers to bring Townsend to heel. A streak of black nearly bowled the Aussie over but the dog gave only a slight yip of surprise and Cade recognized Trouble. He was almost anticipating the swipe of a sheathed paw against his leg and the head-butting that warned he was expected to follow. And to be fast about it.
With Townsend at his side, he shadowed the cat closely, praying he wasn’t destined to find another murder victim. They moved in silence through the neat rows of now darkened trailers. The grounds were so quiet around them he could hear the click of Townsend’s toenails on the pavement. There wasn’t a sound from the black cat.
In less than ten minutes, the cat looked at him from the rail of a truck bed. Cade stepped closer. A security light cast enough glow for Cade to make note of a tire jack, a worn pair of boots and a spur. He stared, trying to make sense of what he saw, denying it even as he recognized the plain leather strap and the tracery of black inlay.
With a heavy heart, he turned to look at the trailer, forced himself to move, to knock on the trailer door. After a moment, he heard a stumbling inside and then Luke peered out at him sleepily and a bit anxiously.
“Mr. Cade? Is something wrong?”
“I need to speak to your dad.”
Luke looked even more anxious. “He’s not in here. I came in while he was talking with Dawson White. Is everything okay?”
“Probably. Just something on my mind. Tell him I came by.”
“Sure. Should I call him?”
“No.” Cade had to force himself not to respond with alarm at the suggestion. “It’s not urgent. We can talk in the morning. Get some rest.”
By the look on the boy’s face, Cade didn’t think that was likely to happen. He hoped the kid stayed inside and safe until Cade figured out what was going on. As much as he disliked the sight of that spur in Frank’s truck, recognizing it as a match to the one he’d given Ryder, he disliked the thought of Frank in conversation with Dawson White even less. Things were about to get ugly.
His most urgent thought was to get back to Malone and Joss. There were now too many ugly connections. Joss’ abduction. Ryder’s investigation. The deaths of two men. No way was all of this coincidental. And somehow, Frank Roberts, a man he’d always considered a good role-model for kids learning to rope and ride, was caught up in all of it. Perhaps more than caught up, he might be front and center.
IT SEEMED to Malone she had barely locked the door behind Cade and the marshal when she was opening it again to Tyge’s voice and the pounding of his fist on her door.
“What the hell, Tyge!” She had a moment’s thought that she didn’t need to be cursing in front of Joss who sat on the edge of the sleeper couch, watching warily.
“You’ve got to get out of here, Malone. You and the girl! You’re both in danger.”
Joss stood abruptly and Malone glanced her way, seeing the fear in her eyes, the scattering of light freckles, suddenly emphasized by a face leached of color.
Malone’s gaze swept the fading bruises on Tyge’s face. “What’s happened now?”
“There’s no time for explanations. I’ve got to get you someplace safe.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not leaving, Tyge. I’ve got a gun and I’ll fight, but I won’t leave.”
“Shit, Malone.” Tyge grasped her arm and for a moment, she thought he might pull her from the trailer, then she heard a sickening thud and Tyge was falling forward into her arms. She stared in shock at his back, at the hole in his shirt, the blood that welled instantly.
In that instant, she froze, realizing her danger. Framed in the open doorway with Tyge heavy in her arms, she was exposed to whoever held the gun. She looked up, gazed without understanding into the eyes of Frank Roberts. She thought he said ‘I’m sorry’ before he lifted the gun again but the words were lost to Joss’ scream and a shot fired wildly as Frank fell beneath Cade’s weight.
CADE SUSPECTED THAT, for the rest of his life, he would never forget that heart-wrenching second of fear between seeing that gun aimed at Malone and finding the wits to launch himself at a man he would never have suspected of committing any crime, much less murder.
Even now, leaned against the trailer with Malone cradled against his chest, his arms wrapped around her as they waited for the ambulance and Ryder to arrive, he couldn’t slow the hard thuds of his heart beat.
Lying just inside the trailer door, Tyge was alert and cursing with pain. Cade suspected the bullet had hit a rib but, thank God, not his heart. The slow welling of blood wasn’t the gush of heart or artery. As little fondness as Cade had for the cowboy, he didn’t wish him dead and he sure as hell didn’t need another body on the grounds.
Frank sat with hands tied with hay string, staring at the gun in Cade’s hand. Every now and then he glanced at Townsend who growled each time the man moved even though he wasn’t trying to get away.
Joss stood close and quiet, holding Malone’s hand.
WHEN RYDER SHOWED UP, he looked from the gun in Cade’s hand to Frank. “He might’ve made you shoot him.”
“He might have,” Cade said quietly and Ryder nodded. Cade added, “I didn’t call Hendrix.”
“Out of his league. He’ll be mad as hell, but I’ll take care of it. This one belongs to the feds.” He paused. “I guess the cat helped you nail him.”
Cade sighed. “I’m afraid so, and, no, I can’t explain any better than that.”
Ryder shook his head in amusement. “Any others to go along with him?”
“You’ll want to look hard at Dawson White.”
“I can help with that.” It was the first time Frank had spoken since Cade had planted him on the pavement. One side of his face looked like he’d been dragged across asphalt. Cade took great pleasure in that but it was far less than he wanted to do to the man.
Cade felt Malone shift and reluctantly let her go. She walked over to Frank and looked down at him. “Why?” He heard the bewilderment in her voice. “You tried to kill Tyge. Then you aimed the gun at me and you were going to pull the trigger. And Joss next? Why?”
Frank shook his head and looked away. Joss crossed to her and looked down at Frank without expression before she turned her back on him and hugged Malone.
Cade wanted more than anything to stay with Malone but, now that she was safe, there was something else he had to do. And he dreaded it. “Someone has to tell Luke what’s happened.”
He’d spoken softly, but Frank heard him. “Cade. You take care of my boy. He doesn’t know any of this. He’s going to need someone.”
“I guess you should have thought of him sooner.”
Cade made the walk to the trailer where he knew Luke wasn’t asleep. He knocked on the door and, once inside, told Frank’s son what had just happened.
“I don’t know the whole of it, Luke, but I know he was involved in some ugly stuff.”
Tears leaked from Luke’s eyes. “My dad’s not a bad man. If he did bad things it’s because of money. He thinks I don’t know but we still get bill after bill from when mama was sick. There wasn’t insurance and the year after she died the drought hit us hard. We lost crops and calves and couldn’t pay that year’s mortgage on the farm. We caught up some last year…” His voice trailed off and Cade suspected he realized the ‘catching up’ had come at someone else’s expense.
“I’m sorry, son.” As much as he would have liked to agree with Luke that his dad wasn’t a bad person, he couldn’t say
the reassuring words. “I’ve called your uncle. He’s on his way to get you and take care of things here.” Cade hadn’t a clue if the man would try to post bond for Luke’s dad. He didn’t even know if a judge would set bail, considering the crimes committed. He doubted it. But that was for someone else to learn and share with Luke. Cade wouldn’t speculate.
What Cade could do was comfort a frightened and grieving young man, and he pulled Luke against his chest and let him cry.
TWO MORNINGS LATER, Ryder made one more trip to the rodeo grounds, striding into Cade’s office with an air of satisfaction. Cade laid aside the bills he was approving for payment and got to his feet.
As the men shook hands, he said, “The first time you came in here you were a man on a mission. Now you look like a man with mission accomplished.”
“Not entirely,” Ryder admitted, “but a satisfying part of it.” At Cade’s gesture, he took a chair opposite the desk. “The foster parents are nailed. Because of Joss, we got there just in time to stop a fifteen-year-old kid – boy this time – from being loaded on a truck to hell.”
Cade was glad for that, gladder than he could say, but his thoughts went immediately to Joss. “So, she won’t have to testify, right? You’ve got all you need?”
“All we need and more, but – the thing is – the boy wants to talk to Joss. He doesn’t know her name, but he knows her story. That she had courage and character to come forward. And because she did, we were there and ready. And this kid, and who the hell knows how many others, are safe now.”
“Joss will be happy at the outcome. Whether or not she’ll talk with the boy is her choice and I don’t know how she’ll feel.” Cade was adamant on that. It was Joss’ decision.
“Fair enough. But I’ve got them on standby waiting for a call back. I need to know. I need you to ask.”
Cade pulled up Malone’s number, experienced the now-familiar rush of emotion in the moments it took her to answer. “Good morning, again.” They’d shared coffee outside her trailer door, watched the sun rise together. Coffee and memories and possibilities. Joss had figured into that conversation. “Can you bring Joss to my office? No, nothing’s wrong. Ryder’s here with news. Good news.”
Turning for Trouble: Book 7 of Cat Detective Familiar Legacy mystery series Page 19