by K. C. Crowne
“Chance, I know you want to find El. But Kyle’s not stupid. Whatever he told you, you can’t believe him. There’s a really, really good chance you’re walking into a trap.”
“That doesn’t matter – don’t give a damn about walking into a trap. I’ll walk through hell itself if that’s what I need to do.”
“Please, Chance. I can’t let anything happen to you.”
“I’ll be fine. Just stay put and tell the cops everything. I’ll be back soon.”
“Just be safe. And bring our girl home.”
“I will.”
The line went dead.
Our girl. Hell, she wasn’t wrong about that.
“Chance!” Gerald called out to me from the side of Silas’s truck. “What’s the word?”
“It’s time to move.”
Chapter 24
SAMANTHA
I was seated on the couch in the study, a half-circle of policemen standing in front of me. They all wore the same serious expression, all business to the last.
“Kyle Wexler,” the man in the center, a slender, forty-something man with close-cropped dark hair and a thin, boney face, said. He’d introduced himself as Detective Ed Williams. He spoke with a thick Texan drawl that made his voice sound like it was covered in oil. “You have any idea what he’s been gettin’ up to? What kind of man he is?”
I felt totally overwhelmed by what was happening, and I wasn’t by myself – Wyatt was seated next to me, his presence a major source of calm.
“You had to know something,” one of the cops said. “No way a woman lives with a man for that long and is totally in the dark about him.”
Williams raised his hand, keeping his eyes on me. “Girl’s been through enough already. Go easy on her.”
I couldn’t tell if this was some kind of good-cop-bad-cop thing, but I didn’t care. I wanted answers. “I know what kind of man he is,” I said. “He’s a piece of shit.”
A few chuckles sounded from the cops.
“You’re not wrong.” Williams took a seat in the high-backed chair across from me. “But there’s more to it than that.”
“Stop dancing around it and tell me. I need to know.”
He nodded. “Did you know the extent of his criminal operations?”
“Criminal operations?” I repeated scowling. “I mean, I know he got in some trouble when he was younger. He was in the foster system – had a hard life. Not like that’s an excuse, but that’s what he told me.”
“And did he tell you about anything else?”
I shook my head. “No. He worked at an auto body shop. He liked to get drunk with his friends – too drunk – but as far as anything else, no.”
“Then, assuming you’re telling the truth, he did a damn good job of keeping his life a secret.”
Frustrated with the circular conversation, my voice was harder when I asked, “What life? What are you talking about?”
Detective Williams opened the briefcase he’d brought in with him and fished out a few pieces of paper. He put one on the coffee table between us – a picture of the auto body shop where Kyle worked.
“That’s it,” I said, tapping the picture. “That’s his shop.”
“Right. But there’s more to that joint than auto body work. I checked with Portland PD before comin’ over here. Turns out, they just raided this place.”
“Raided? For what?”
“Drug running.” He paused when I gasped. “Basement of this joint was a meth lab, one spearheaded by your boy Kyle.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My head was spinning. How could I not have known the type of man I’d been living with? My outrage over it was for another time, though.
“None of that matters right now,” I said, slicing my hand through the air. “What does is that he has El.”
“It matters,” Williams said, “because we’ve got good reason to believe he was able to track you through associates he has here in Texas.”
“Josh,” I wondered aloud. Williams nodded. “The man with him.”
“A man like Kyle has far-reaching capabilities. And we need to find this Chance fella, stop him before he tries some vigilante justice.” Williams shook his head. “I swear, these cowboy-types always wantin’ to take the law into their own hands.”
“I don’t get it,” Wyatt spoke for the first time. “You want to…what, sit around and strategize while he’s got a little girl hostage?”
“I know you’re eager as all get-out to jump into the fray, but we’re the professionals here. You did the right thing by gettin’ us involved. Now, let us do our job. We’re gonna keep you here under watch, make sure he doesn’t try to come onto the ranch property. But for now the best thing you can do is sit tight.”
“No,” I said, desperation tinging my voice. “I…can’t just sit around while he’s got her. I need to— “
Detective Williams raised his palms. “I get it – I really do. It’s hard to work through the planning phase of this sorta thing when you got a situation like this. But it’s essential. Doesn’t feel like it, but it is. Trust me, this isn’t my first rodeo.”
Wyatt and I shared a glance, both of us clearly thinking the same thing.
“Now,” Williams continued. “I see you’ve got some fancy security equipment around the ranch.”
“Chance and our cousin just installed it today,” Wyatt told him. “Don’t know if it had a chance to do any good.”
“We’ll be the judge of that. Our resident computer whiz is gonna tap into the feed, see if there’s anything to find. And the rest of us are gonna take a look around the property, see if there’s any clue as to where this creep got off to with little El.”
“I want to help,” I said. “I want to do something.”
“Same here,” Wyatt added.
“Like I said, the best thing y’all can do is stay put, be around if we need you. I know that’s not what you were hopin’ for, but you gotta trust me on this. We’re the professionals, so let us do our work.” He turned to the rest of the men. “We’ll set up here in the study. Come see me, and I’ll give you your assignments.”
He addressed us again. “Y’all need to give us our space. This ranch is a big chunk of land, so I’ll call you personally if we need your help. But for the time bein’—” He nodded toward the door.
“But—”
“Come on now – like I said, let us do our job.”
The urge to protest raised up in me. But Wyatt put his hand on my shoulder, shaking his head. “Let’s do what the detective says,” he told me. “Give the boys their space.”
I sighed before getting up, glaring at the man as we left the study.
“Come with me,” Wyatt murmured.
“Why?”
“Just trust me.” He led me to a spare bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind him. He turned to me and exploded quietly. “Load of bullshit,” he said, anger in his voice. “Tellin’ us to sit around with our thumbs up our asses while one of our own needs help.”
Relief hit me. Wyatt was on my side all the way, just like the rest of the Walker clan. “Gerald was right,” I said. “About the cops taking too long to do anything.”
“They’ve got to follow protocol and make sure all the proper forms are filled out and that sort of nonsense. By the time they’re actually able to get their asses in gear and find El…I don’t even want to think about it.”
“We have to do something,” I insisted. Before he could reply, my phone chimed in my pocket. I yanked it out as quickly as I could and checked the screen.
“That Chance?” Wyatt asked. I shook my head, and the expression on Wyatt’s face let me know he understood the answer.
“Kyle,” I said. “What do you want?”
“Now baby, that’s a hell of a way to talk to the man you love.”
“You’re insane if you think I love you. Especially after what you’ve done.”
“Maybe you’re having a little trouble seeing it now, but onc
e this is all over, you’ll remember how you feel.”
“Is that why you called me? To remind me of how totally delusional you are?”
Wyatt caught my attention and made a “take it down a notch” gesture. He was right – I needed to keep a cool head.
“Careful with your next words. And maybe keep in mind that I’ve got little Ellie here.”
I took a deep breath to steady myself. “What do you want?”
“First, I want make sure you’re not getting any funny ideas about involving the police.”
“No, Kyle – this is between you and me. No police.”
“Good. Maybe I’ll send my guy to check on the ranch, make sure you’re as good as your word. Because if I do find out you’ve got the cops on the case…it might not work out so well for the little girl.”
My gut tightened in fear, rage rushed through my body. I clenched my teeth and asked, “What else?”
“I want to see you,” he stated simply.
“Good. Because I want to see you, too.”
I could almost hear his sly, wolfish smile through the phone and tried not to gag. “Now that’s what I want to hear. I’m going to text you my address. Get over here as soon as you can. And I’m sure it goes without saying but come alone. You bring one of those overgrown Walker boys anywhere near here and…well, you can use your imagination.”
“I’m coming now. Don’t do anything until I’m there.”
“You keep your end of the bargain, and I’ll keep mine. See you soon, sunshine.”
I hung up and shoved my phone back into my pocket.
“What’d he say?”
“He wants to see me. And we can’t let him know the cops are helping.”
Wyatt nodded. “Alright. We’ll get the truck and go out the back way.”
I shook my head. “He said to come alone. And if I don’t, he might hurt El.”
Anger flashed on Wyatt’s face for a brief moment before the calm returned. It was a trait all of the Walkers shared – a protective instinct tempered by emotional control.
“Come with me.”
Cops were everywhere on the ranch, and we stepped outside onto the front porch just in time to see another pair of police cars arrive. There had to be a couple dozen officers on the grounds, most around the perimeter. A pair of them were at the entrance, their jobs likely to make sure no one came or went without their knowing. It would be hard to leave.
“You’ve got a plan?” I asked.
He nodded. “Here’s what we’ll do. My cabin is furthest from the house and in the direction of the back gate that asshole took her through. We’ll tell them we’re headed to my cabin for a few minutes and will be right back.” He glanced at the door when voices walked by, but no one interrupted us. “I’ll park my truck out front so they won’t know you’re gone.”
“What am I going to drive?”
He smiled. “God’s on our side, Sam. Silas met me at my place this mornin’ and left his truck parked in back. We were unloadin’ some firewood.”
“Sounds perfect,” I announced. “The back road takes me straight into town?”
He gave me quick directions, which were relatively simple, and asked, “Got it?”
“Yep!” I sucked in a steadying breath. “Let’s go.”
We returned to the main room and found Williams barking orders to everyone. Wyatt captured his attention. “Hey, man, we need to head over to my cabin for a bit.”
Williams eyed us for a moment, but a deputy called his name. He waved us away and turned his attention elsewhere.
I chuckled as we hustled out the backdoor. “That was easier than I thought.”
“He’s busy, probably thinks we’ll be out of his way if we’re at my cabin.”
We climbed into the cab of his truck and headed to his cabin. As we attempted to drive out of the main parking area, an officer stopped us.
“Where y’all headed?”
“Detective Williams said we could go to my cabin,” Wyatt explained, pointing in the general direction. “It’s over that way.”
The man looked over his shoulder but obviously the cabin was too far away to be seen. He looked at us again, and I sniffled and wiped my eyes as if crying. A cliché trick, sure, but it worked.
“Go on, then.”
Wyatt and I exchanged a quick grin before he drove forward, following the dirt road to his cabin. He parked close to the door, and we walked in. It was a lot like Chance’s, with feminine touches added by his wife. Wyatt led me straight to the backdoor and opened it, heading for the big truck parked in back. He pulled the door open and grinned.
“Keys are in it,” he announced. “And luckily, this truck ain’t a manual shift. You should be good.”
“Thanks, Wyatt. For everything.”
He nodded and gave me a quick, reassuring hug. “Be strong, Sam. But somethin’ tells me that won’t be a problem for you.”
He helped me into the tall truck and reminded me of the directions. “None of the cops should be at the back gate yet. But you’d better hurry.”
“Thanks again.” I turned the key, the engine roared to life, scaring me a little. I hoped no one heard it.
I sped off, the growl of the engine sounding like a jet, but I had to go. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw nothing, so I assumed I was home free. By the time I reached the main road, my nerves had calmed, and I was ready for anything. Even Kyle.
Alright, El. I’m coming.
Chapter 25
CHANCE
We pulled up to the entrance of the abandoned trailer park. I stopped the truck at the gate, my eyes scanning the scene.
“There,” Gerald said, pointing ahead. His fingertip was aimed at a small trailer on the far side of the property. It was more a mobile home than a trailer, the lights around it illuminated. Although not a dump, it certainly was no place for my little girl.
“That’s got to be him,” I murmured.
“And he wants to see you alone.” I nodded, feeling Gerald’s eyes on me. “You know it’s gonna be a trap, right? He’s got some shithead friend lying in wait. Might even take a shot at you before you get an opportunity to do a damn thing.”
“Right. But it’s the only chance we’ve got.”
“I’ll hang back, but I’ll be close,” Gerald assured me. “One of the things you learn in my line of work is how to be around without bein’ seen.”
In the rearview mirror, a pair of trucks pulled up – more of my brothers.
“I’ll talk to them,” Gerald said. “Let them know what’s up.”
“Thanks, Gerald.”
“You got it, cuz. Now, go get your little girl back.”
With one more deep, steeling breath, I hopped out of the truck. The gravel crunched under my boots. The air was sticky-hot. As I made my way to the entrance, I glanced over my shoulder to see Gerald talking to Silas and Travis. I couldn’t hear what he said, but he was surely talking them down from rushing in alongside me.
They didn’t follow. I was on my own.
The hairs on the back of my neck tingled as I made my way through the park. It reminded me of my days in the Marines, walking into abandoned villages in search of insurgents. I felt the same rush of adrenaline.
The place was a ghost town, one of the forgotten developments that had been started and abandoned after the last economic crash. The oil boom would have the place bustling again before too long, but for now, it was empty, the perfect place for a man like Kyle to hang out.
As I approached the trailer, the front door opened. I clenched my hands into tight fists as it did, ready to rush at Kyle and take him down with a pummeling of my knuckles on his face.
To my surprise, Ellie was holding the door open, looking around. I quickened my pace, my heart racing at the sight of my little girl.
“Daddy!” Ellie rose, her face lighting up as she watched me approach. Before she could take off into a run, another figure stepped out of the entrance.
It wasn’t Kyle �
� this man was tall and built, his head shaved and a snake tattoo curling up the side of his neck. I could tell by his posture, the way he carried himself, that he was ex-military too. He reached down and put his hand El’s shoulder, my girl freezing when he did.
I wanted to yell, to tell him to take his fucking hands off my daughter. But at the same time, I didn’t want to scare Ellie. She couldn’t know what kind of danger she was in.
The man raised his palm, gesturing for me to stop where I was.
“Let me see her,” I said, my voice stern and commanding.
“You’re seein’ her right now.” The man’s accent was Texan – he was likely one of Kyle’s contacts in the state.
“I wanna see her up close, make sure she’s fine.”
“I’m okay, Daddy,” Ellie said, her voice small and frightened.
“Kyle wants me to play ball,” I growled, “then he’s gonna have to play ball here, too.”
The man crossed his arms over his barrel chest, shifting his weight from one boot to the other as he thought it over. “Go say hi to your dad, kid.”
El burst from the porch, running to me as fast as her little legs would pump. I dropped to my knees, throwing my arms around her as soon as she was close.
“Daddy!” she cried. “Where were you?”
“I’m right here, baby. I’m right here.”
I wanted to take her, to run out of there as fast as I could. But over her shoulder, I could see Kyle’s man. He pulled the bottom of his shirt up slightly, enough to reveal the black shape of a pistol. The message was clear.
“Where’s Sam?” she asked as I let her go.
“She’s at the ranch. You’ll see her soon.”
“Sooner than you think.”
I looked up again to see Kyle step out, a sneering smile on his face.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, confused.
“Just trust me. It’s all part of the plan. Now, you two want to come inside?”
“Whatever you want, we talk about it out here.”
“You’re not in a position to make demands, cowboy,” Kyle sneered. “Now, there’s all sorts of things I could do right now, and I bet you’ve got a good enough imagination to guess what they might be. You don’t want to ruin Ellie’s day, do you?”