Mandy came to a decision. She laid a hand on his shoulder. “For what? I haven’t seen anything illegal.”
Tears welled up in his eyes as he gripped her hand. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“I’m going to check out your story, but I want you to know that I’m praying for you and your wife.”
He nodded, unable to speak.
Mandy left and returned to her car. As she drove back to the office, her spirits sagged lower.
She was no closer to busting her unknown meth dealer or to finding Judy’s murderer. If she hadn’t broken the law by letting Mr. Dobbs go then she’d bent it severely. Garrett wasn’t speaking to her and she had no idea when she’d see Colin again.
Maybe Fred was right. Maybe she couldn’t do this job. Maybe she should resign.
While she was considering what she should do, her phone rang. Hoping it was Garrett, she quickly answered. It was the hospital’s ER physician.
“Sheriff, I’ve got two teenagers here suffering from severe overdoses of meth. Both kids are being helicoptered to the medical center in Wichita as we speak. At this point, it’s doubtful that the young woman will survive. Her boyfriend was in serious condition, but I think he’ll make it.”
“I’m on my way. Can he be interviewed?”
“The chopper has already taken off, but there’s something you need to know. The boy is Luke Holt.”
Mandy’s heart sank as she pulled into the station parking lot. Ken would be devastated when he got the news. “Thanks for letting me know. Have the families been notified?”
“Yes, both sets of parents are already on their way.”
“All right. I’ll have someone come by and take your statement.”
Mandy hung up and rushed into the office just as Donna was on her way out. Donna took a step back. “Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“Call in one of the part-time officers to cover for me and send Fred to the hospital to take the staff’s statements.”
“What’s going on?”
“Luke Holt and his girlfriend have been medevaced to Wichita with meth overdoses. I’m on my way to interview them. Maybe now someone will talk.”
When Mandy entered Luke Holt’s hospital room, the boy’s parents were seated beside his bed. His father rose and took a wide-legged aggressive stance in front of his son as he confronted Mandy. “Why haven’t you gotten these thugs and their drugs out of Timber Wells? They could have killed my boy. Why aren’t you doing your job?”
Luke’s mother grasped his arm. “Nils, please.”
Mandy understood his anger. He wanted to protect his son. Right now, he was feeling as if he’d failed.
Lord, I pray this broken family finds comfort in You.
“Mr. Holt, your son is the one person who can stop these people. I need to ask him a few questions.”
He folded his arms across his chest and stepped away to stare out the window. Mandy withdrew her notebook and walked up to the bed. IV pumps sat on both sides of the bed. Luke’s color was pale. He had an oxygen mask over his face and a heart monitor beeped softly above his head. “Luke, I need the name of the person who sold you the drugs.”
The boy turned his face away. “I won’t talk to the cops.”
“Your girlfriend may die. By protecting the person responsible, you become an accessory.”
Mrs. Holt leaned forward to stroke her son’s hair. “You need to do the right thing. Tell Sheriff Scott what she needs to know.”
“You don’t understand, Mom. They’ll hurt you or Dad or Ken. I can’t—” He pressed his lips together, but Mandy saw the quiver in his chin.
She closed her notebook. “Mr. and Mrs. Holt, may I speak to Luke alone?”
The parents exchanged worried looks, but nodded in agreement. When the door closed behind them, Mandy took a seat beside the bed.
“Luke, these people can only hurt others if you allow them to go unpunished. I won’t lie to you. I can’t be everywhere all the time. I can’t promise I can protect you and your family. What I can promise is that I’ll do my level best to see that the people responsible spend a very long time in jail. But I can’t do it without your help.”
He was quiet for so long that she almost gave up hope. But at last, he said, “J. J. gave me the stuff to sell for him. He said he had a local supplier who could get me all I could sell and more. It sounded so easy. The money they promised me was more than I ever dreamed of making. I’ve been high a few times. I didn’t get hooked. I didn’t know it would…kill anyone. I just wanted to have some fun.”
“Do you have any idea who J. J.’s supplier is?”
“Last Friday night, I was coming back from a party in Topeka. It must have been three in the morning. I pulled in for gas at Turner’s. I saw Spike and J. J. coming out of the salvage yard with a couple of boxes.”
J. J. worked for Aaron Turner. Doing business at three in the morning was suspicious, but it wasn’t a crime. She needed more than her dislike of the men to take before a judge. “Can you think of anything else that might tie the men together in this?”
“The next night, J. J. brought me my supply in the same kind of box. It was white with a blue globe on it.”
“Where is the box now?” It could hold drug traces, fingerprints or DNA that might crack her case.
“J. J. dumped the drugs into my car trunk and tossed the box back in his tow truck.”
“He was driving Turner’s tow truck?”
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t much, but was it enough for probable cause? Could she get a search warrant? If not, she’d have to set up surveillance on J. J. and the station, but that would take time. In the meanwhile, more kids were in danger.
“One other thing, Sheriff. J. J. was bragging that they’ve been cooking under your nose.”
“Thanks, Luke. You’ve done the right thing.”
“Please, don’t tell my brother I was dealing.”
“I won’t tell Ken, but he’s going to find out anyway. You need to be straight with him and with your folks.”
“They’re gonna hate me.”
“I very much doubt that. They love you. Give them a chance to show it.”
Rising, she opened the door and stepped into the hall where Mr. and Mrs. Holt were waiting.
Ken came rushing down the hall toward them. “I got here as soon as I could. How is he?”
Mandy said, “The doctors say he’s serious but stable. Luke has made some mistakes. He’s scared, but he’s done a very brave thing today. I thought you should know that.”
After leaving the family, Mandy checked on Luke’s girlfriend and learned her condition was improving. Thankful for that bit of news, Mandy left the building and headed for home. Once she was on the open highway, she pulled out her cell phone and called the office.
As soon as Donna answered, Mandy said, “I need a search warrant drawn up for the Turner salvage yard, the store and all their vehicles.”
“Turner’s? Why?”
“I have a witness who says their place is being used to move drugs.”
“Really? How soon do you need this? We’ve been busy today.”
“I’m two hours away. I want it ready by the time I get there. Is Fred or Benny in?”
“Um, they’re both out on calls right now.”
“Get hold of them and have them meet me at the office. I want to execute this warrant today.”
“Is this the break you were hoping for?”
“Luke Holt is willing to testify he bought meth from J. J. and that J. J. used Turner’s tow truck to deliver the stuff. Luke saw him picking up the drugs at the salvage yard.”
“Wow.”
“I’m going to give you all the information for the warrant request. I’m not letting these creeps get away this time.”
Garrett walked out of his barn into the hot noonday sun. He didn’t recognize the green van in the yard, but he did recognize the man standing beside it. Aaron Turner. What did he want?
&
nbsp; Garrett walked toward him. “Afternoon.”
Aaron smiled his slick I-know-I’m-better-than-you grin that had never sat right with Garrett. He didn’t smile in return. “What can I help you with?”
Aaron turned his head in all directions. “I’m looking to buy salvage. Scrap metal is what I need. I’ll take old tin, even old cars or trucks that don’t run. I pay top price for it.”
Garrett shook his head. “I don’t have anything like that.”
“No?” Aaron’s smile dimmed. “Do you know who might?”
“You can check with Ina Purdy down the road.”
“Great. You wouldn’t happen to have a phone number for her, would you?”
“Sure. Come up to the house and I’ll get it.”
Garrett walked ahead of the man, impatient at the delay in getting his work done. When he opened the door, the cold barrel of a gun pressed to his temple stopped him in midstep.
“Move into the kitchen, cowboy, but move real slow.” It was Mike Peters.
Fear sent Garrett’s heart racing. Had they hurt Colin? “Where’s my son?”
“Sleeping like a baby. For now.” The implied threat chilled Garrett more than the gun at his head.
“What do you want?”
“I want you to ask another stupid question, so I can blow a hole through you.”
Garrett clenched his jaws together and walked forward with his hands raised. In the kitchen, he stopped. Wiley crept out from under the table and whined. Mike sneered at him. “Get outta here, mutt, or you’ll get my boot again.”
Aaron squatted and held out his hand. “It’s just a dog. He’s kinda cute. Don’t he look like the pup we had when we was kids?”
Mike’s eyes never left Garrett. “I hated that cur. He bit my leg.”
“Yeah, yeah. Come here, boy,” Aaron coaxed, patting his thigh.
As much as Garrett wished Wiley would morph into an attack dog, it didn’t happen, but neither did he venture near Aaron. He stayed at Garrett’s side.
Aaron looked at Garrett. “What’s his name?”
“Wiley.”
“Like the coyote.” Aaron smiled. “I like that.”
Mike reached out and took Garrett’s cell phone from his shirt pocket. He handed it to Aaron. “Make the call, then get outside and hide the van.”
With a disgruntled glare at Mike, Aaron took the phone and left.
Mike gestured with the gun toward a chair in the center of the room. “Take a seat and don’t try anything stupid. Behave and your kid lives another day.”
Impotent rage threatened to choke Garrett. He struggled to stay calm. He might be able to rush the man and overpower him, but if he got himself killed, there wouldn’t be anyone to protect Colin.
“If you do anything to harm my son—” Garrett bit off the threat.
Mike walked behind Garrett and shoved him down into the chair. “Didn’t I make myself clear? You are the one who will get him hurt. Now, shut up and get comfortable. We’ve got a while to wait.”
Who or what were they waiting for?
Sudden blinding pain exploded through Garrett’s skull. He felt himself falling—then nothing.
FOURTEEN
Mandy saw the tow truck parked beside the filling station as she drove into Timber Wells. It was hard to resist the urge to stop and search it. Nothing she found would be admissible in court without a warrant or clear probable cause. She didn’t want this case thrown out on a technicality and she didn’t want to spook the perpetrators into destroying evidence by showing undue interest in the place.
She slowed down as she drove by, hoping to see an obvious reason to stop, but the place was quiet.
When she turned into the department parking lot at the rear of the courthouse, she frowned. Both squad cars were gone. Why weren’t Benny and Fred waiting for her?
She hurried into the building and saw Donna at the desk. “Where is everyone?”
“Fred just radioed in a bad car wreck east of town. Benny is on his way to help.”
“Fatalities?”
“I don’t know. Sheriff, there’s something else. I just took a call from Garrett Bowen. The man has flipped out. He’s threatening to kill himself and his son.”
Mandy stared at Donna in stunned disbelief. “You can’t be serious. Garrett would never hurt Colin.”
“All I know is what he told me.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t a prank? Someone claiming to be Garrett?”
“The call came from his cell-phone number. He really sounded desperate. I think he’s serious.”
“Who’s responding?”
“I haven’t given it to anyone. That’s what I’m telling you. It just came in.”
Mandy had to hear for herself that it was Garrett. “Play the tape back for me.”
“I can’t. The recorder has been malfunctioning since last shift. I told you we needed to replace it.”
Mandy grabbed her phone and punched in Garrett’s number. It rang a few times, then went to voice mail. Frustrated, she tried his home phone with the same results.
She snapped her phone shut. “Is my warrant ready?”
“Not yet. The judge was tied up in court.”
“I’m going to the Bowen ranch. Get hold of the pastor at our church and tell him to meet me at Garrett’s ranch as soon a possible.”
“Right away.”
Once she was back in the squad car, Mandy switched on her lights and siren and stepped on the gas. What had happened to drive Garrett to such despair?
Miss Compton’s stories about the breakdowns suffered by adult survivors of child abuse flooded Mandy’s mind. Many of them couldn’t deal with the shame and guilt, but Mandy believed Garrett was strong. He had Colin to live for. He had her love even if he didn’t know it. Was it enough?
Please, God, let it be enough.
The prayer echoed over and over in her mind until she reached the ranch. Braking to a sliding stop, she saw his truck parked beside the door. Suddenly, she realized her breath was coming in harsh, short gasps. She needed to be calm.
Garrett would need her to be calm.
Stepping out of the vehicle, she called his name and waited for an answer. None came. All she heard was the whistling of the wind past her ears and the hammering of her own heart.
Please, God, let him be okay.
She called again. “Garrett, it’s Mandy. Where are you?”
Walking toward the house, she heard Colin begin crying and she rushed forward. The front door was open. Through the screen, she saw Garrett lying on the floor. A gun lay beside his outstretched hand.
“Dear God, no!” Her knees buckled and she grabbed the wall for support. The roaring in her ears drowned Colin’s cries. Only her years of training kept her from crumpling to the floor.
Struggling to breathe, Mandy pulled open the screen door and rushed in.
A familiar voice behind her said, “Hold it right there, Sheriff. I don’t want to shoot you if I don’t have to.”
Garrett heard his name being called from a long way off. He opened his eyes, but the light shot blinding pain through his skull.
He tried, but couldn’t remember what he’d done to make his father so mad this time. Was his mother okay?
“Garrett, please wake up.”
It was Mandy’s voice pleading with him. She sounded so worried. He could hear Colin crying furiously. His son needed him. Garrett tried once more to open his eyes and succeeded in spite of the pain.
Mandy’s beautiful face swam into focus. Tears stained her cheeks. His head was pillowed on her lap. After one false start, he managed to croak, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m so sorry.”
“He’s awake, little brother,” a voice called out behind him.
Garrett’s memory returned in a flash and with it helpless rage.
“You’re brothers?” Mandy asked in surprise. She was sitting on his kitchen floor with her back against the cabinet, holding his throbbing head. Wiley was snuggled a
t her side and licking Garrett’s hand.
Aaron laughed. “Yeah, ain’t it a hoot?”
Garrett pushed the dog away and moved to sit up beside Mandy. The effort made him gag, but he fought down the nausea and forced himself to survey the room.
Aaron, leering at Mandy, rose from where he’d been straddling a chair. Mike paced back and forth outside on the front porch.
“Are you okay?” Mandy asked Garrett quietly.
“I’ve been better. What are you doing here?”
“I got a call that you were threatening suicide.”
“And you believed that?”
“You didn’t answer the phone. I had to come check. When I got here and saw you lying on the floor, I walked right into their trap.”
“What do they want?”
Aaron raised the gun he held. “I want you to stop talking.”
Mike quit pacing and shouted to Aaron, “Can’t you do something about that crying brat?”
“Like what?” Aaron snapped back. “We can’t get rid of him, you know that.”
They weren’t going to hurt Colin. Garrett sagged back against the counter. Thank you, God.
Looking at Mandy, he saw the same relief written on her face. He loved her so much. Why hadn’t he told her?
Lord, if You get Mandy and Colin out of here, it doesn’t matter what happens to me.
Calmly, Garrett said, “He’s hungry. There’s a bottle for him in the fridge.”
Aaron backed toward the refrigerator, his gun still trained on them. He opened the door and pulled out Colin’s bottle. Wiley, who’d been sitting quietly beside Garrett, padded over to sit in front of Aaron. “Sorry, pup, I got nothing for you.”
Sidestepping away, he held out the bottle toward Mike. “Give him this.”
Coming in through the door, Mike stopped short. “Are you crazy? You’re leaving your prints are all over the place.” Wiley scampered under the table at the harsh sound of his voice.
Pulling a red shop rag from his hip pocket, Mike wrapped it around the bottle and carried it into the other room.
“Giving it to him cold will make him sick,” Garrett said, praying the men would find compassion in their hearts for his son.
Speed Trap Page 17