by Karen Young
“Stay here and keep quiet,” Tyson ordered. “You got your sister out, but you still belong to me, you little bastard. There’s someone out there, but he isn’t doing you any good.”
And that was when Nick realized Monk had a rifle.
Cam was within sight of the hunting lodge when he found the Jeep parked in a dense growth of scrubby bushes. And if he’d had any doubt that it was Tyson’s, he suddenly caught sight of him prowling around the grounds of the lodge. Cam quickly retreated and waited a full fifteen minutes to give him time to get back inside. Then, as he decided it was safe to move in, he heard voices. First Tyson’s, then Nick’s. He felt a deep rush of relief and breathed heartfelt thanks. Nick was okay, but there was still Kendy to worry about. Then, all he had to do was get them out. No way to know if Tyson had a weapon, but seeing the kind of lifestyle he chose, it was more than likely. Jason’s assessment that Tyson, under stress, was dangerous, add desperate to that, and there was no telling what he might do.
The fact that Jason carried a firearm in his car troubled Cam. He knew it wasn’t unusual in Texas for boys to begin hunting as a sport at a very young age, but having the shotgun as handy as a cell phone was something else. Cam couldn’t help but think it had more to do with the abuse he’d had to endure from Tyson than hunting as a hobby. But at this particular moment, Cam was damn glad to have it.
He began to work his way to the front of the cabin, moving cautiously. It might be best to simply retreat and wait for Pete or the unit he’d sent, but knowing what Tyson was capable of now and that he had Nick as a captive—if he hadn’t already assaulted the boy—Cam didn’t want to give him added opportunity to harm Nick.
It was while he stood planning his next move that he heard the crunch of a footstep behind him, but before he had made half a turn, he felt the sudden, sharp prod of a gun barrel in his back.
“Lay your weapon on the ground,” Tyson growled from behind him. “And do it easy.”
Cam hesitated, and Tyson rammed the steel up against his right kidney viciously. “Do it now. Thanks to you, Ford, I don’t have a damn thing to lose by killing you here and now, but I bet you wouldn’t want to leave Nicky in my hands afterward, would you?”
“Where’s Kendall?”
“In the woods making the bears a tasty treat.”
Cam felt a rush of rage. Not having any more use for her, had he murdered Kendall? But at another vicious prod to his kidney, he bent at the knees and lay the shotgun just out of Tyson’s reach. To pick it up, he’d have to take a long, sideways step. “Is Nick okay?”
“Why don’t we go inside to see for ourselves? Hands up.”
Cam obediently raised his hands while scanning the woods and straining for a sound that Pete’s unit was nearing. But all he heard were night sounds and the far-off wail of a train.
Tyson nudged him into a walk. “It was stupid to come out here alone, Ford. I figured you for being smarter than that.”
“I’m not alone. Singletary’s got a unit parked on the road waiting for backup.”
Tyson laughed. “I don’t think so. The chief wouldn’t have let a civilian venture up here alone while his boys waited safe in their cars. And if there was anybody else with you, I’d have flushed him out. So, looks like me and you and Nicky can have us a party.” They were at the steps now. “Actually, it’ll be Nicky and me having the party and you’ll get to watch.”
“Coach!” It was Jason’s voice. “Drop that rifle.”
Tyson froze. He didn’t turn, but froze with the rifle in his hands. “Who’s that? Jason? What the hell are you doing out here, you little shit?”
Oh, Jesus, Cam thought.
“You should have picked up the shotgun when you made Cam lay it down, Coach. Big mistake. If I did something stupid like that, you’d have me running a hundred laps.”
“Are you drunk, Jason?”
“I’m not too drunk to miss, you son of a bitch. Cam, move so you don’t get hurt.”
“He moves,” Tyson hissed, pointing the rifle threateningly, “and I’ll blow his spine apart.”
Cam kept his hands raised but turned his head to see Jason. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret, Jason. Singletary is on the way. This is police business.”
“Yeah, Jace,” Tyson said in a placating tone, “you hear that? Calm down now and let’s talk this over.”
“Talking’s good, Coach,” Jason said. “Let’s start with Jack Ford.”
“That’s ancient history, Jace,” Tyson said. “Water under the bridge, boy.”
“Not to Mr. Ford there and not to all of us who know what you did.”
“What I did was give him a choice spot on the team,” Tyson said with impatience. “He got into drugs and came to a bad end. And you know what, Jason, you better watch it with the booze. You could wind up like Jack.”
“Only if you figure out a way to rig it like a suicide,” Jason said bitterly. “That’s what happened and now the world knows it, Monk. You told Ziggy and Jay to do it and they did. They put something in his drink that knocked him out and then they hung him. And as soon as this is done, I’m going after them, too.” He wiped his eyes on his sleeve, making the shotgun waver a little. But he quickly realigned it. “You have messed up enough people, Monk, and I’m gonna see you dead now, tonight.”
“I love you, Jace,” Monk said plaintively. “You know that.”
“Jason, give me the gun.”
The quiet words stopped Cam’s heart. Rachel. Why the hell hadn’t she stayed in the car?
“Kill him, Jace. Pull the trigger and kill him.”
It was Ward. His voice bitter, egging him on. Cam looked up at the sky, praying Pete’s men would soon arrive.
“Who’s that?” Monk said, almost smiling now. “Ward, baby, is that you?”
“Don’t you move, you bastard!” Jason said. “I mean it.”
“Jason.” Rachel again. “Please don’t do this. Don’t give him the satisfaction of destroying your life. That’s what killing him will mean. Your life for his. He isn’t worth it.”
“You don’t know what he’s done, Ms. Forrester.” Jason’s voice shook. “You don’t know how he hurts people and messes with their heads. He’s garbage, he doesn’t deserve to live. The world will be a better place if he’s dead.”
Good, Rachel, keep him talking, Cam thought, straining to hear the sound of a police siren. A few more minutes might be too late.
Rachel wasn’t close enough to touch Jason. She moved a small step toward him, not wanting to push him too far, too fast. She could feel the emotion that gripped him and her heart ached for him. He was a sensitive, caring boy and he was struggling with hatred of a man devoid of both traits.
“Jason, think of your mother. Your sister.” She took another small step closer. “They need you. They love you.”
Now tears were streaming down his face. “They wouldn’t if they knew what I’ve done,” he said.
“You aren’t the guilty one here, Jason. Please, let me have the gun. If you do, Coach Monk will get the punishment he deserves.”
Tentatively, she touched his elbow and felt the tension thrumming in him like an electric charge. And then Tyson was laughing, a low, sneering sound. “Can’t do it, can you, Jace? Don’t have the balls, eh, Jace?”
And suddenly Jason opened his mouth and wailed out his rage in a long, agonizing howl. It echoed through the trees and high into the night sky. It was despair and misery and woe. Shaken, Rachel reached out with a trembling hand to take the gun, but he suddenly swung it wide to the side and she cried out, “No-o-o…”
Boom! The shotgun blast struck the wall just to the right of Tyson, who dived in terror off the steps, stumbling and scrabbling to get away. Cam, realizing Jason had not intended the blast to hit anyone, leaped off the porch and jerked the gun out of the boy’s hands. In the shock of the blast, Tyson had dropped his rifle, but he now raced to pick it up again. As he reached down for it, Cam spoke.
“Don’t…do…it
. Don’t make me kill you,” Cam said, sighting Tyson down the double barrel. “I didn’t want this boy to be the one to give you what you deserve, but I swear to God, I won’t hesitate. Move a muscle before Pete’s men get here and you can kiss this world goodbye.”
And at that moment, faintly in the distance, he heard police sirens.
Thirty
Cam trained the shotgun on Tyson who was down on his knees, and waited for police reinforcements, now just seconds away. As headlights flashed through the trees, Rachel kept an arm around Jason’s shoulders. Fine tremors coursed through him, the aftermath of his emotional outburst, she guessed. But he was calm, staring dead-eyed at Monk. Maybe he’d exorcised a demon with that soul-wrenching cry, she thought as the police unit pulled up and stopped. Ward stood quietly beside her, too, showing no more emotion than Jason.
One look at the situation and the two cops were out with weapons drawn. One of them moved cautiously to Cam’s side while the other covered him. “Okay, Mr. Ford,” the older of the two said. “We’ve got him. Just step back easy-like and lay your weapon on the ground.”
Cam did as told, without haste, his gaze never leaving Tyson’s face. Rachel waited with impatience as one cop patted him down and handcuffed him before looking him in the eye. “Where are my children?” she demanded.
“Here I am, Mommy.” Kendall darted out from the corner of the cabin and hurled herself into Rachel’s arms. With a choked cry, Rachel caught her up tight, weak with relief that her baby was safe. For a minute, she simply held the little girl, breathing in the sweet smell of her and the feel of her small bones. Now, if only Nick—
“Nick’s in the cabin all tied up,” Kendy said. “We need to go get him.”
But Cam was already inside fumbling with the belt that bound Nick to the bed. “What kept you?” Nick asked, shaking both his hands to restore circulation.
Cam stared at him long enough to assure himself that he was okay, then with a muffled oath, he pulled him into his arms and hugged him fiercely and long. Nick, laughing a little shakily, hugged him back and then had to blink back tears. “Don’t tell anybody,” he said with his face in Cam’s shirt, “but I have been one scared dude.”
Cam turned him loose and couldn’t resist ruffling his hair, then grabbing him around the neck in their famous choke hold. “It’ll be our secret. But at least you didn’t have to dodge a shotgun blast.”
“I heard everything and for a while there I was holding my breath. I mean, when Jason was gonna shoot him, I thought, don’t do it, dude, even if it is the fastest way to solve Rose Hill’s coaching problem. And then Mom was doing her talking-him-out-of-it thing.” He shook his head, smiling with admiration. “She was one cool lady out there, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah.”
“Nick.” Rachel, with Kendall beside her, stood at the door, drinking in the sight of her near-grown son, beautiful and safe. “Are you okay?”
He spread out both hands, letting her see for herself. “Except for a destroyed jersey, I’m good.” He saw her eyes fill and knew tears were next. She rushed over and threw her arms around him, hugging him the way he hadn’t been hugged since he was maybe six years old. And it felt fine.
“Did he hurt you, Nick?” Cam asked.
“Nah, he had a plan, but Moe and Curly screwed it up.”
“Yeah, they passed us on the way in here—traveling fast.”
Kendall stood looking up at them. “They’re Ziggy and Jay,” she said, making a face. “That’s their names.” Then she touched her camera, tucked in a fanny pouch around her waist. “I took their picture and they didn’t even know. They say bad words and they’re not very smart.”
Cam ruffled her hair. “I think you’re right, sweetheart.”
“They talked about Jack,” Kendy said ingenuously.
Cam looked at her. “Did they? Do you recall what they said?”
She nodded confidently. “They were afraid they’d get in trouble with the cops because of what happened to Jack.”
“I bet that was Jay talking,” Nick said, “right, Kendy?” When she nodded, he added, “He’s the stupid one. He dropped Jack’s name when they were trying to convince me to keep quiet. I wouldn’t want to wind up like Jack Ford, he said.”
Rachel, seeing the bleak look on Cam’s face, touched his arm in mute sympathy. He’d been right in stubbornly insisting that his son hadn’t taken his own life, but it was hardly comforting to know he’d been murdered instead.
Hearing more commotion outside, she saw more flashing blue lights as two more police units arrived. Pete Singletary got out of one. Ted was his passenger.
“Your dad is outside with the chief,” she told Nick. “You should go out and see him. He’ll want to know you’re okay.” She touched Kendy’s hair. “You, too, sweetie.”
“Dad’s here? No kidding?” Nick moved to the door.
“Of course, Nick. He came to the station house as soon as he found out what had happened.”
“That’s cool. Two family moments in one day. Maybe his midlife crisis is winding down.”
With Cam by her side, Rachel watched Ted sweep Kendy up in a big hug, then after a moment, he put out a hand to Nick—a bit hesitantly—then gave him a hug and a slap on the back. It was light years’ different from the heartfelt emotion shared by Nick and Cam a few minutes before. And in spite of the fact that Ted had caused so much emotional pain to her children—and herself—Rachel found herself feeling sorry for him.
Cam was thinking the same thing. But he wasn’t sorry enough for Forrester to step aside and let him have Rachel and her children back if it was within his power. Ted had a lot of work in front of him to repair just some of the damage he’d done to his family. It would take some time, and Cam hoped, for the sake of both kids, that Forrester was man enough to do it. But Rachel belonged to him now.
Pete caught his eye then and went up the steps of the porch. “I’ll want a formal statement, of course, but what the hell went on here?”
“Jason saved the day, simple as that. Tyson got the drop on me as I was trying to get the lay of the land. There was no way he could let me leave alive. Fortunately, he didn’t pick up the shotgun after making me put it down, assuming, I guess, that I was alone.” He gave a wry smile. “Actually, I thought I was alone. I’d told Rachel and the boys to stay in the car, but lucky for me, the minute I was out of sight, they decided to be my backup.”
Pete gave Rachel a look with one raised eyebrow, but said nothing.
“Which was a good thing,” Cam continued, pulling Rachel close with an arm around her waist, “because Jason had Monk in his sights, Pete. He was ready to kill him. He was itching to pull that trigger.”
“Not really,” Rachel said. “He’s just a confused, anguished boy. I don’t believe he would have done it.”
“We’ll never know that,” Cam said, “because Rachel managed to talk him down.”
“I understand he did fire the weapon,” Pete said, adding dryly, “A whole corner of the cabin is destroyed.”
“Jason deliberately aimed it high,” Rachel said. “He’s been hunting since he was eight years old. If he’d wanted to kill Tyson, he wouldn’t have missed.”
“How could he with a double-barrel twelve-gauge?” Pete said. Then searching her face, he said, “How’re you holding up, Rachel?”
“I’m fine…now,” she said, her gaze on her children, who were still talking with their dad. “But that reminds me that I need to call my mother. She’s almost sick with anxiety and a completely false burden of guilt because Kendy was taken on her watch.” Touching Cam’s arm, she stepped out onto the porch to make the call from her cell phone.
“It was close there for a minute, Pete,” Cam said as Rachel made her call. “We were lucky. If Jason hadn’t led us to this cabin, Nick might be on his way to Mexico with Tyson or worse. And I don’t want to think what he planned to do with Kendall. We underestimated him. His obsession with boys is the driving force in his life. He was willi
ng to risk everything rather than to give it up. He’s already killed once.”
“I think you’re right,” Pete said. “And as soon as we pick up Ziegler and Dunne we’ll learn a lot more about how Jack died.”
“Jason will be a big help there.” Cam’s gaze was still on Rachel. “When he had him in his sights, he accused Tyson of setting up the plan to get rid of Jack and sending Ziegler and Dunne to do it. I think we’ll find he had football scholarships lined up for them. He probably planted visions of pro careers in their minds. And if that was what it took, they were willing.”
“You think he told Jason what he did?” Pete was shaking his head. “How risky is that? And stupid.”
“Maybe he didn’t tell him outright, but he sure made no effort to hide his methods or what he did from Jason. I think he felt confident of absolute loyalty from Jason. He knew how much a career in sports meant to him and he played to that.”
Pete grunted and looked over at Jason and Ward, both sitting on the steps now. “Looks like he’ll survive to play,” he said, “since he didn’t pull that trigger. But when I spoke to him a few minutes ago, he was a little too calm. I’ve seen seasoned cops get like that, and then, when you least expect it, they just completely unravel.”
“I’m going to see that he gets treatment,” Cam said. “Ward, too. Without a doubt, Jason saved my life tonight and Ward led me to him. I hate that Jason was put through such a scene. If you could have heard that howl…” Cam shuddered, recalling it. “He’s got some problems, drinking and possibly drugs now. But with the right kind of therapy and his career in sports to focus on, he can be saved.”
“Hopefully, you’re right. And Rachel can be helpful in pointing him in the right direction.” He moved toward the steps. “I need to wrap it here tonight, Cam. Tomorrow morning sometime, you and Rachel need to come in and make a statement.”