by Connie Queen
“It’s like they say.” Wheeler chuckled. “If I’d known grandkids were so much fun, I would’ve had them first.”
Kylie allowed Zoe to climb to her on the soft chair across from Marshal Wheeler, suddenly feeling like she had been called into the principal’s office. She hadn’t expected to see anyone from the US Marshals until Hal Alcott was in jail and she had reconnected with her family. Only then had she planned to contact the department to see what it would take to get her old job back. She figured that would be several weeks from now, but not today. Not that she didn’t appreciate Wheeler’s help, but she would’ve thought he could’ve simply called.
“Care to update me on what happened? What went wrong three years ago?”
Again, Kylie stared into his shining brown eyes, feeling like she was under scrutiny. Not that she blamed him. She supposed Wheeler would’ve taken a lot of heat for what was believed to be the death of one of his deputies, along with a family under protection. And then to learn his deputy was alive and faked her death had to irritate beyond reason. She decided to give him the short version, starting with what happened at the safe house that morning, and later how she’d seen Hal after the explosion as he looked over the scene. Then she explained the connection between him and Luke’s sister.
Wheeler nodded slowly, taking it in. Dottie set a steaming cup of coffee on the end table beside him. “Ah. Thank you, Mrs. Dryden.”
She smiled and then eyed the twins. No doubt Dottie hoped the kids wouldn’t spill the man’s drink on the carpet.
Sam hung out in the kitchen, splitting his attention between the kitchen window and their visitor.
“How’s the rest of the team?” Kylie had stayed abreast of some her ex-coworkers through social media, but many of them didn’t post publicly. For those who didn’t participate, sometimes Kylie still stayed informed by following their spouses.
“Good. Everyone misses you, Garner. The team hasn’t been the same without you. Justin, the deputy who took your place, has done a fine job but nothing as good as you.”
“Thank you.” Kylie had also looked up her replacement. A funny pit in her stomach developed. She had researched enough to realize Justin Pauley was the son of an old-time friend of Seth Wheeler. But she knew her boss, and he would never hire anyone on friendship alone. He was a fair leader, and a good law-enforcement officer. She wanted to ask the assistant director about the possibility of a mole being in the department, but she’d rather have someone at her side when that conversation took place. Someone like Luke.
Wheeler looked up and called out, “That was some good coffee, Mrs. Dryden. I didn’t mean to interrupt your day.”
“That’s quite all right.” Dottie came in and sat on the fire hearth. Sam stepped into the room and leaned against the wall. It didn’t escape Kylie’s attention he could still view the kitchen window from his vantage point.
Tina had seen her on television? The thought kept crossing her mind. Did her sister tell the rest of the family? Being that Tina put out the effort to get in contact with the US Marshals meant she probably tried to find Kylie herself. If her family thought she was alive, there was nothing holding Kylie back from calling them. As soon as Wheeler left, she’d contact them even if Luke hadn’t returned by then.
“What are the kids’ names?”
Dottie said, “Zoe and Braden.”
Wheeler called the twins. “If it’s all right with your grandmother, I have some candy.” He held out two suckers.
Zoe and Braden’s eyes lit up.
“I want one.” Braden leaped to the floor in front of Wheeler.
Her old boss ruffled the top of Braden’s head. “I always carry treats for kids now that I’m getting older.”
Dottie’s hesitant smile told Kylie the woman would rather the twins not have the sweets, but she gave in, anyway. “That’ll be fine.”
Braden snatched the blue one out of the man’s hand, ripped off the paper and threw it to the floor.
Zoe watched, but stayed where she was.
Wheeler held out the candy. “You want it? Come get it.”
The little girl looked to Dottie for reassurance. After her grandmother nodded, Zoe eased away from Kylie. She held out her hand for the sucker while still standing a couple of feet away.
Wheeler laughed. “Here you go.”
When Zoe stepped closer, Wheeler reached out and pulled the toddler to him and then grabbed Braden.
US Marshal Wheeler pointed to Sam and said in a deadly serious tone, “Now you can sit next to your wife. Melody, don’t make a move for your weapon or...else.” He tilted his head toward the twins. “And come sit by me.”
Kylie froze, trying to process what she was seeing. Slowly her heart seized, as realization slammed into her. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Never in her nightmares had she suspected her boss of betrayal.
* * *
Luke stared at the man he once believed a great leader of the community and watched as a sly smile crept up Alcott’s lips. Luke drew a deep breath. “You’re saying Melody Garner’s boss is the one who leaked the family’s location?”
“No. I’m saying he’s the one who planted the explosive. He takes a cut on every large crooked deal he can. Money laundering. Drug crimes. Racketeering. You name it. He only plays with big money. He wasn’t about to see me go down three years ago. But when an important job needs to be done right, the man does the hit himself. Wheeler made certain Deputy US Marshal Garner was the only law enforcer on the premises.”
The knot in Luke’s stomach grew stone hard as he tried to digest the information. “What about Megan?”
“I don’t even remember what your sister looked like, Dryden. Someone stole over a million dollars from me and someone had to die.” Alcott shrugged like it was a matter of circumstance. “It’s just the way the game’s played. Nothing personal.”
Red-hot heat rushed through Luke’s body as his pulse raced. His fists clenched. It took everything in his being not to pulverize the slimeball.
Kylie. At the thought, he sucked in a sharp breath. The twins and his parents. All alone and thinking the danger was far from them.
He spun. “O’Neill. I need to go.”
Sergeant Jamison said, “I’ve got this, Dryden.”
Luke didn’t hesitate and ran to his truck when O’Neill yelled, “I’m with you. Randolph can finish here.”
He didn’t argue but got in his truck and peeled out of the drive. He hit Kylie’s number. “Please answer.” Four rings and then it went to voice mail. He turned onto the highway and tried again. “Come on, Kylie. Where are you?”
When neither of his parents answered, fear really settled in. Hopefully they were all just busy playing outside with the kids or something and didn’t hear their phones, but he didn’t think so. A hard pit formed in his stomach the size of Texas as he broke every speed limit on the road.
A glance to his rearview mirror showed Jax not far behind him.
Doom settled on his shoulders as he realized he was still thirteen miles away.
Please, God, keep my family and Kylie safe. I should’ve never left them alone. I messed up. I’ll never doubt You again if You’ll just get me through this.
Let me get there in time.
SEVENTEEN
With the barrel of Wheeler’s .357 Magnum jabbed into her temple, Kylie forced herself to remain calm. She sat next to Wheeler, the twins in his lap. There had to be a way out of this. Sam’s gun sat on the top of the refrigerator. Hers was still in her holster. Wheeler kept a firm grip on Zoe and Braden, and she needed to get them away from him.
With his left hand, the marshal retrieved zip ties from his back pocket and tossed them at Luke’s mom. “Secure your husband to the chair.”
Dottie sent him a glare that would frighten most seasoned warriors and moved to do his bidding without a word
.
“Oh, wait. What was I thinking?” Wheeler talked politely almost to the point of sounding silly. “Mr. Dryden raise your shirttail and your pants leg. I hope you don’t have any weapons on you. Might be harmful to the little ones.”
Sam never said a word as he lifted his shirt to show he had no guns there and then removed a pistol from an ankle holster.
“Put it on the kitchen table and then move that dining chair over there and sit.” He indicated the other side of the room, across from the couch.
Kylie had thought his only weapon was in the kitchen. Smart man. Too bad he hadn’t been able to use it to subdue her old boss.
Kylie’s cell phone vibrated in her back pocket. Luke was the only one with her number.
Wheeler shook his head. “Don’t even think about answering that.”
“Let me down.” Braden held an empty sucker stick in his hand and squirmed against Wheeler’s hold.
“Easy, little fella.” Wheeler adjusted his grip.
“No!” Braden struggled against being held. “I want down.”
Zoe watched her brother and evidently didn’t like seeing him upset. She burst into tears.
Fearing Wheeler might hurt the toddlers, Kylie asked, “Do you have any more candy?”
“No.” The man looked back at Luke’s parents. “You may secure him to the chair now.”
Kylie believed Sam would kill Wheeler if given the chance. The sharp look, the working of his jaw. Veins bulging in his neck, Sam fumed as his wife tightened the thick plastic to his wrists.
And just like Kylie, Sam was helpless as long as Wheeler used the kids as his armor.
Zoe’s lip puckered as she tried to get away and run to Kylie, but Wheeler held her back. “Nuh-uh. Stay with me, little one.”
Braden frowned and shook his fists. “Let me go.”
The marshal laughed. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you?”
“Don’t hurt him, Marshal Wheeler.” Kylie purposely called him “Marshal,” hoping it would sink in what he was doing. She’d worked with this man for six years. Surely there was good down deep inside of the veteran lawman.
He smiled. “I’ll make sure the kids are safe as long as you three do as you’re asked.”
After Sam’s wrists were tied behind his back and secured to the chair, Wheeler used the gun to point at Dottie. “Melody, your turn. Tie her up.”
“Ky-ee,” Braden yelled.
“Oh, wait. Wait. Wait.” The marshal chuckled. “Your gun.” He indicated her ankle. “Remove it real slow and toss it into the fireplace.”
Her heart seized as she looked at the twins, fear and confusion etched across their little faces. She had to save them. She did as Wheeler asked and threw her Glock over the back of the couch into the hearth.
“Your cell, too.”
She did as she was told.
A satisfied smile crossed his dry lips. “I knew you’d be carrying. I taught you well, young lady. I’m sorry it had to come to this. You made a feisty deputy.”
She ignored the man and turned to the kids. “It’s okay, Braden. Kylie’s right here. Uncle Luke will be here in a minute.”
“Don’t count on it. He’s busy arresting Hal Alcott. The businessman won’t go quietly, and he has an awesome lawyer. Will be some time before the Texas Ranger is back.” The marshal shook his head. “I don’t like this, Garner. You know that. You’ve left me with no choice. You would’ve been better off to die in that explosion.”
“I tried to protect innocent people so they could testify. Sorry that inconvenienced you.” Keep him talking. Luke could be here anytime, no matter what Wheeler claimed. With all the weapons out of reach, Kylie couldn’t think of a way to overtake the marshal without risking the twins’ safety. And as laid-back as the man appeared, he was no rookie and she couldn’t count on him making a mistake.
Were Luke and Jax on their way? Please, Lord, let help arrive soon.
“Her chair goes there, at least three feet from Mr. Dryden’s.”
Kylie grabbed the zip ties and dragged a chair across the room. After Dottie took the seat, Kylie gently pulled her arms behind her back. The older woman furrowed her brow and her eyes grew large.
What? Kylie did a double take. Again, Dottie looked at her and quickly glanced at the ground. Then she repeated the sequence. She was trying to tell her something.
As she secured the woman to the back of the ladder-back chair, Kylie noticed something protruding under Dottie’s khaki pants. A gun?
Kylie didn’t pull the ties too tight, hoping Dottie might wriggle free, yet tight enough that Wheeler didn’t notice. “I see it,” she whispered close to her ear.
“Grandma,” Zoe cried and held out her arms. The precious thing rarely talked, and Kylie felt sick. The kids needed to get away from Wheeler so she could use the gun. Since he wouldn’t let them go, Kylie decided to use them as a distraction instead. She held out her hands. “Come here, Zoe.”
Wheeler shook his head. “No way. You know better, Melody.”
Zoe and Braden both screamed.
With Wheeler’s eyes on them, Kylie bent over and retrieved a Sig P232 out of Dottie’s holster and slid it in the back of her waistband. She wanted to use it against the marshal, but with the twins in his clutches, the danger was too great.
“Get yourself a chair and put it over there.” He pointed between Sam and Dottie.
She did as he asked, making sure her shirt covered the weapon.
Wheeler removed two more zip ties from his pocket.
“Bad man,” Braden yelled and wrestled out of Wheeler’s grip. Zoe watched her brother and joined in the chorus of screams.
Braden ran to Kylie, panicked and furious. “Hold me. Hold me.”
She wrapped her arms around the little guy. “It’s all right, Braden.”
Wheeler kept Zoe in his grasp. “A good deputy never puts a civilian at risk.”
Sam said, “You won’t get away with this. Our son will catch you.”
“I don’t have time to sit around and chat.” He shook Zoe, knocking her head back. “Hold still.”
Kylie’s fists clenched. “Stop!”
“Leave her alone,” Sam roared. He yanked on the ties that bound his hands.
Dottie pleaded. “Don’t hurt my baby.”
“Tell ’em to be quiet then.”
With a trembling voice, Luke’s mom said, “Children, use your inside voices.”
The marshal strode over to Kylie and kneeled behind her, setting Zoe between his legs. He yanked her arms behind her, causing pain to shoot up her shoulder, and secured her wrists with a zip tie. She had tried to keep her hands apart to create slack but didn’t know if it would be enough. Immediately after Wheeler stepped away, she went to work trying to get the gun out.
Her boss finally let Zoe go, then retrieved his jacket from under the coffee table and placed it on the dining table. After gathering Kylie’s gun from the fireplace and Sam’s from the table, he slid them into a pocket of the jacket. “Wouldn’t want the children to get hurt.”
The Sig slid into her hand, and then it slipped. She caught the pistol before it fell. Hard plastic cut into her skin, but she wrangled the gun until she gripped the handle in her palm. With her hands behind her, she’d have to aim high or the bullet would hit the floor.
“Might want to say your goodbyes.” Wheeler set an explosive in the center of the kitchen table, out of reach of the kids. Set a timer.
The numbers 2:00 glowed in red indicating they only had two minutes.
“Adios.” Wheeler waved. “Sorry, guys.”
“Take the kids,” Dottie yelled. “Get them out of the house.”
Still attached to the chair, Sam lunged to his feet and flew across the room. He crashed into Wheeler’s legs, sending the man sprawling into the kitchen counter, and t
he chair broke into pieces.
The twins screamed and clung to Dottie.
Kylie twisted around as Wheeler came to his feet and made for the door. She had a clear line of fire. Bending over as far as she could, she aimed high and pulled the trigger. Being in an awkward position, the recoil knocked her to the floor.
Pop. The shot echoed through the house.
The assistant director of the US Marshals crumpled to the floor clutching his hip. “You shot me!”
“Let’s get out of here.” Sam struggled to his feet, the zip tie dangling from his arm. He removed a knife from his pocket and ran to his wife.
The bomb now read 1:05.
Zoe and Braden. She had to save the kids. Kicking and jerking, she tried to free herself of the chair, but she couldn’t get loose.
“Kylie.” Luke filled the doorway. When his gaze lit on her, his face paled as he ran to her side. He slid a knife from his pocket.
“Get the kids out,” Kylie pleaded. “There’s a bomb!”
“Jax will get them.” He cut her ties and her arms fell free.
She looked up just as Jax got the kids and Luke’s parents out the front door. Luke pulled her to her feet. “Come on.”
The red numbers read 0:14.
She glimpsed Seth Wheeler propped against the sink, a gun in his hand. “Back door,” she shrieked and dashed for the exit.
Gunfire exploded.
She fell to the ground and crawled as her gaze sought out Luke. He was right behind her.
Boom! An explosion slammed her face into the ground. Burning heat encompassed her. And an eerie silence.
Debris fell around her.
No. Not again. This couldn’t be happening. Had the children gotten far enough away?
* * *
Black smoke billowed around him. Luke was lying in the back door. A loud ringing reverberated through his ears. Despite the excruciating pain, he forced himself to his feet. Kylie. Stumbling, he ran, trying to get his bearings. Amidst the smoke, he could see his parents’ house still standing. “Kylie?”