Stealing Dallas (Search & Seek Book 2)

by Amanda Mackey

  I’d never done something so impulsive in my life. All for the man sitting beside me in a wooden booth in a town I probably never would have visited in my lifetime.

  As we sat and sipped our coffees, Jagger’s phone rang. It was the first time I’d heard it go off since his release. I wondered who would be calling him.

  He checked the screen and then swiped to answer it. “Hello?”

  Silence ensued, but his fist on the table squeezed tightly and his teeth ground together. Immediately he was on high alert. “Who is this?” His eyes morphed to coal pits, fury radiating off him. “Listen, bitch, I don’t take orders from you. I swear to God, if you hurt him in any way, I’ll hunt you down and cut off your hands, do you hear me?” By this stage he was almost shouting into the phone. I turned to see the barista at the counter watching with concern.

  Reaching over the table, I touched his closed fist and wrapped my hand around it, hoping it would help settle him. His eyes found mine and I don’t think I’d ever seen them clouded by such rage. He was about to lose his shit. Pressing the off switch, he threw his cell on the table and pulled his hand out of mine, rubbing his head furiously.

  “Fuck!”

  “What is it?”

  He was breathing in through his nose and solidly out through his mouth as if it might stop him from punching something. “I’m not sure who that was. It was female. She told me to back the hell off and stop searching for my brother or he was going to be hurt. Shit. Shit.” He growled low in his throat. “I don’t know if it was Mrs. Radcliffe or someone else.”

  This was not good. I couldn’t imagine the woman I’d spoken to when I’d gone to check on Dallas making a threatening phone call, but then I didn’t really know her at all. I never would have thought she would kidnap him and go on the run, either.

  Standing, I moved over to Jagger, motioning with my hands for him to move over. Sliding into the booth, I took his hand and clasped my fingers through it.

  “We need to let the police know. If Dallas is in danger, they need to step up their game.”

  “Jesus, Rose. He’s all I’ve got. If she hurts him, I will do something I’ll regret.”

  “I know. The question I’m raising is, how did the person on the phone know we were searching? Have they seen us? If so, that could mean that Dallas is still in Great Falls, which is a good thing. We’re close.”

  “It also means they’re watching us. If it was Lena that called, she’ll pack up and leave. Move to another location.” Banging his fist on the table, he caused his coffee to spill over, and cussed some more. “What the fuck do we do now? I’m not leaving, Rose. Not until I have Dallas in the car and safe.”

  “Let’s go down to the station and tell them. Do you think without a caller ID, they’ll be able to trace the number?” I was clutching at straws but I had to say something positive.

  “Trace it? To where? It was more than likely a cell phone.”

  “Can’t they trace cell phones these days?” He merely grunted at my question. “At least let me call them. Then we can figure out what to do.”

  “I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to stalk that house after dark and break the damn door down if I have to.”

  “You can’t go all Rambo and kick someone’s door in. It might turn out to be a random person who has nothing to do with any of this.”

  He huffed and puffed while I keyed in the local police’s number.

  I didn’t get to speak to the same officer, so I left a message to be passed on about Jagger’s phone call. I wasn’t confident the information would get relayed, but I had to hope.

  Finishing our coffees, Jagger stood. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “I need to make a purchase.”

  Okay. A purchase that I was paying for. Even though I didn’t mind helping, I knew my bank balance was going to take a severe hit after our week-long cross-country trip.

  I let him lead me down the street and into a camping store. My mind was curious but I decided to wait and see what he was searching for.

  We wandered around the aisles aimlessly until Jagger stopped. He picked up a Swiss army knife. My stomach plummeted as I imagined his reasoning behind the perusal of it as I watched him pull out each tool.

  “Should I ask?” I quietly questioned, not really wanting the answer.

  “No. You shouldn’t, Rose. You should just stand there and look pretty without saying a word.”

  I didn’t like where this was going.

  He picked up a couple of others, before going back to his original choice and turned to me. “I promise I’ll pay you back with interest. This is the only other thing I need.”

  “Look, if I’m paying for it, I need to know what you want with a pocket knife. Considering the phone call you received, and the fact that not even five minutes later you’re purchasing a knife, you damn well better tell me what’s going through that head of yours.” My voice was low and quiet so as not to raise suspicion.

  “Shh. Don’t sweat it. It’s not what you think. It’s got all kinds of handy tools on it I thought we might be able to use at some stage. The main one being a bottle opener and corkscrew.” Pulling them both out, he pushed them in front of me. “You like wine, and after the phone call I’ve just had, I thought we could use a bottle.”

  “You know, you could have just searched for a bottle opener.”

  “Like I said. There’s everything on here a guy could ever need.”

  “That’s what scares me,” I mumbled.

  Getting out my credit card, I took the knife from him and made my way to the cashier, who smiled at me. Jagger ambled outside.

  “Best knife we have. Good choice.”

  “Umm.” I didn’t know anything about my purchase. “Uh huh.”

  The skinny, pimply teen looked the camping type and probably had every conceivable item known to man that opened and shut, so I didn’t talk to him, but merely paid and left. Jagger leaned against the wall of the building outside.

  Handing it to him, I said, “Whatever you need it for had better be legal.”

  His face remained stoic as he put it in his jacket pocket and followed me to the car in silence. I was beginning to get a feeling that something bad was brewing.

  Chapter Eight

  Jagger

  I didn’t like keeping Rose in the dark, but this time I felt it was necessary. She would get all righteous on me and try to stop me, but there was no way I was letting her do that.

  It was time to take matters into my own hands. Waiting for the police to act was driving me crazy. I wasn’t the most patient of people, but when it came to my brother being in danger, I lost all fortitude.

  Stepping inside the motel room, I acted casually. “So, what do you want to eat? We probably should have thought of that while we were out having coffee. It’s coming up to eight o’clock. You want me to grab something with the bottle of wine?”

  She eyed me warily. “How about we order in?”

  Shrugging, I removed my jacket and draped it over the arm of the chair. “Depends what it is.” I needed to get back to the farmhouse while there was an ounce of daylight left.

  There were a few brochures scattered in the kitchenette, so I walked over and sifted through them, hoping there was none for takeout food.

  Rose put her purse down on the small table, my eyes noting the car keys she placed on top.

  Filtering through the tourist leaflets advertising local activities, I found a pizza flyer, but shunned it. As much as I had said I could live on pizza, it wasn’t as appealing after our binge on the road. “Nothing here. I noticed a Chinese restaurant up the road. I could go grab us some cashew chicken or mu shu pork?”

  Stalking toward her, knowing she was partial to my advances, I watched her suck in a breath at my approach. Her pupils widened as I fisted a clump of her hair, dragging her head back, her eyes fixed on mine. “And then I can have you for dessert.”

  A groan left her but I caught it
with my lips. She easily surrendered, melting into me and opening her sweet mouth, giving me a taste of what I craved. I had her right where I wanted her. Pliant and agreeable. Her breasts felt glorious against my chest, even separated by clothing. Her nipples sprouted as I deepened my assault on her mouth, my tongue delving aggressively.

  Her hands seized my arms possessively. I wanted nothing more than to lift her onto the counter and ram myself into her but it would have to wait. I had something to take care of.

  Wrenching myself away from her, I encircled her wrists. “We’ll continue this after food. How about that Chinese?”

  She smiled. “Wow. You have more restraint than me. Sure. Let me get you some money. Cashew chicken mu shu pork sounds good. Oh, and red wine. I prefer it to white.”

  And just like that I had fifty bucks in my hand along with her car keys. Planting a kiss on her lips, I said, “Thanks, sweetheart. I’ll be back soon.”

  Picking up my jacket, I put it on and headed out with one purpose in mind.

  The sun had all but set. I probably had half an hour maximum until complete darkness. If the occupants of the farmhouse were back, I’d be fucked. I needed whatever daylight was left to help me see inside without turning any lights on and drawing attention to the place.

  Easing onto Fields Road, I drove on autopilot. I wouldn’t need a whole lot of time, and could be back at the Chinese restaurant in good time. If Rose questioned why I’d taken so long, I’d tell her it had been busy and I’d had to wait.

  A few more cars were parked out on the street with people home for the night. I didn’t have any trouble finding the place again though. The large grassy frontage of land was a giveaway. Many of the other houses were set closer to the street.

  Turning the car around and parking a couple of houses down, I felt in my jacket pocket for the knife and exited. The icy breeze caught my neck, making me pull the collar of my jacket higher. I scanned the streets for anyone that may be following me but I knew I was in the clear as no one had been behind me when I’d turned onto Fields Road.

  The lights were off at the farmhouse, so I pushed through the gate and stole across the grass and around the back. Light was fading fast, so I needed to make it quick. I was on high alert for the sound of a vehicle pulling up.

  The wooden door at the top of the ramp was old, but nothing a Swiss army knife couldn’t conquer. Inserting the tip of one of the tools into the lock, I jimmied for a long moment before it surrendered and clicked. Shoving open the door, I scanned inside, waiting and listening. The dim light held silence. A long creak of the rusted hinges had me take pause, opening the door just enough to fit through. The air was musty and damp, a leaky faucet sounding out beside me in the laundry tub. A few items of clothing sat in a basket on top of the washing machine, which signified someone had indeed been here recently and planned on returning.

  Stealthily tip-toeing into an expansive living area, I searched everywhere for a clue that Dallas might be holed up in the place. From what I could see, it was tidy save for a couple of magazines scattered on the couch and a plate and glass on the bench in the old dilapidated kitchen, leading off the large living room.

  A hallway off to the right beckoned me. Bedrooms had to be down there somewhere.

  I took a step, one of the floorboards creaking under my weight. Stopping mid-stride and holding my breath, I pivoted toward a large curtained window facing the front of the house, my heart sprinting when the faint sound of an engine sounded outside and lights filtered through the heavy fabric. Fuck! Someone was coming home. I needed to get the hell out but I also needed clarification. Tearing into the hallway, I pushed a door open to find a large brass bed in one, I quickly scrutinized the room for something my brother might own. It was obviously an adult’s room because a ladies’ nightgown was neatly folded on the pillow.

  The large gate at the entrance to the driveway rattled as it was opened and a thin bead of sweat formed on my brow.

  Moving to the next room, I stopped short. A single bed sat in the middle of the room against a side wall. Shoes and clothes were scattered around. I raced in, the sound of an engine nearing the house. I didn’t know what I was looking for exactly, but I would know it when I found it. Opening the closet, I rummaged through clothes, a scent washing over me. Something…familiar? Grasping the sleeve of a shirt, I pulled it off the hanger, thrusting it to my nose and inhaling. I knew that smell. For a second I was back in time in our old house, throwing some of Dallas’ things into the wash, the same odor briefly igniting my senses.

  The sound of a car door shutting had me scrunching up the shirt and making for the door. In another few minutes, they’d be inside. There was nothing else I could nab. I was out of time. Leaving the same way I’d entered, I turned the lock on the door and shut it as quietly as I could, pausing at the corner of the house and peeking around.

  I only caught a brown shoe disappearing into the front door before it shut and all was quiet again, leaving me with the stolen shirt and a large expanse of lawn to escape across without being caught. Luckily the sun had vanished, leaving everything dark enough to blend into.

  A light switched on inside the house but the curtains were still drawn, so I took a risk and ran as fast as I could out in the open to the smaller gate, relief washing over me as I disappeared out of sight, not slowing until I reached Rose’s car and literally fell inside.

  Jesus. That was close. Still, I had what I was looking for. I was almost certain it was one of Dallas’ shirts. Lifting it to my nose again, I searched my mind for another memory linking me to the scent, but all I came up with was a weak sense of familiarity.

  In my heart, I knew Dallas was inside that house right now with that bitch woman. Tonight I was coming back with or without Rose and paying Mrs. Lena Radcliffe a visit.

  Right now, I needed to get to the Chinese restaurant and grab dinner. I also needed to calm the fuck down. If I got out and barreled in there right now, I’d definitely do something to land me back in prison and that wouldn’t do Dallas any good whatsoever.

  Thankfully, the restaurant wasn’t busy when I arrived. It allowed me to make up the time I’d lost on my detour without having Rose worry about me too much. I wasn’t sure if I’d mention my break and enter to her yet. I needed to see how the rest of the evening would play out.

  While I waited on the order, I breathed through my nose and closed my eyes against my burning wrath. My dead cellmate Cut came into my thoughts and in that moment I wished I could talk to him and ask his advice. I could hear him cussing and telling me to bust in there and blow the woman away. He’d been brutal but honest. At times he’d even kept me sane and grounded when no one else could. He’d never taken shit off anyone and had always told it as it was. I needed that now. No beating around the bush. Tell me what I had to do to get my brother back. Without ending up back in the slammer.

  Then again, this was real life. There were no guards he could bribe or drugs he could sell to make all this go away. I missed the asshole like crazy but knew he was in a better place.

  “Cashew chicken, mu shu pork?” the Chinese woman called out.

  Forcing my memories aside, I paid her before grabbing the two cartons and walking out in search of a bottle of wine.

  ***

  When I opened the motel door and walked in, Rose had her laptop set up on the bed and was typing into it. She looked up. “What took so long?”

  “Busy night,” I mumbled, shutting and locking the door, then taking the bags to the small table adjacent to the kitchenette. “Do you want plates or are you happy to eat out of the carton?”

  “The carton’s fine.”

  She got up and joined me.

  “What are you looking at?” I asked, motioning to her computer with a nod of my head.

  “Oh. Just doing a search to see if I could find the name Radcliffe in the local white pages. I don’t expect to find Lena, but family maybe? Someone that owns the farmhouse? I know it’s a long shot, but every angle is wor
th checking out. Plus, I was bored waiting for you and wanted to keep busy.”

  She blushed, her cheeks tinting a couple of shades darker. I laughed. “I guess if you were male, you’d have a case of blue balls right about now, huh?” Didn’t she realize I could see her erect nipples through her shirt?

  “No!” She opened the top of her carton, using the complimentary wooden chopsticks and pinched some food between them. While chewing, she said, “It was good you went out. It gave me a chance to catch my breath and focus.”

  I knew how I affected her. “There’s only one problem with that. I’m back now, sweetheart.” Giving her my best, ‘I’m fucking sexy’ smile, I watched her eyes move to my mouth, her throat working hard to swallow the lump of chicken she’d been chewing. She coughed.

  “Need a drink?” I chuckled, getting up and opening a cupboard for two glasses.

  “Funny, aren’t you?” she huffed, giving me the stink eye and snatching the glass out of my outstretched hand. My lips quivered in an attempt to stifle my amusement. Opening the bottle of wine, I poured us both a glass.

  Planting myself down on the couch, I made short work of my dinner, relishing in the flavors. I still had Dallas’ folded up shirt tucked into the waistband of my jeans with my jacket covering it. I’d need to mix it in with my clothes so Rose wouldn’t question me.

  “Did you find any Radcliffes in Great Falls?” I asked.

  “Huh?”

  “Radcliffes. You were searching on your computer.” Did I affect her that badly?

  “Oh. There was only one I could find on the other side of town. No one associated with the house on Fields Road.”

  “If it’s a relative’s house, it could be under a different name.”

  She nodded, holding my stare for a minute. “You still planning on driving out there tonight?”

  Shifting in my seat, I swallowed the last of my meal. “Yep. Just gonna knock on the door and see who answers it. No harm, no foul.”

  Standing, I took my empty carton and threw it in the small trash bin in the corner of the room, then I walked into the bedroom, throwing over my shoulder, “Just going to grab a quick shower while you finish up, then we can head out.”