A Twist of Betrayal (19 page)

He planned to leave his police issued weapon locked in his truck. If he had to shoot Deke, he planned to do it with something untraceable. He placed that
something
into his pack. Hell, maybe he
should
use his police issued .38. But would anyone believe him if he said he just happened to find Justine and her kidnapper a second time?

Doubtful, very doubtful.

Although he supposed he could say Deke called him and told him to come alone. No, he was a cop. He would be expected to report any calls. He knew the protocol. Besides it took only a simple check of his phone to show whether or not Deke called him.

What was he thinking?
If
he had to shoot Deke. The only way he was going to end this was for one of them to die, preferably Deke. That bastard was not going to smile at him, take the money, and let him and Justine walk away.

The only other thing he needed already waited at the cabin—his uncle’s cabin. He needed to go. Now.

Deke never called. Still, Dan knew he expected him. Where else would the bastard take Justine? It was time for Dan to make his move.

He just hoped he made it without making anyone else suspicious.

Who the hell was he kidding? There was no way to pull any of this off without making everyone suspicious. He should have been upfront from the get-go.

Well, it was too late for that now. He had to get to Justine. He packed the backpack and zipped it closed before he slung it over his shoulder.

He pulled open the front door planning to move to his truck, only to find Steve standing on the doorstep working out a way to pop the doorbell with a cup of coffee in each hand.

“How are you doing?” Steve asked.

“I’ve had better weeks,” Dan replied without hesitation. “Did you come to baby-sit me?”

“Actually, I came to show you the report of the evidence gathered so far from the get-away van and bring you coffee, but it looks like you’re going hunting. Maybe I
should
be baby-sitting you.” He held out one cup of coffee.

Dan had no choice but to take it.

“Care to tell me where you’re going?”

“No.”

“Why not? Sooner or later, everyone else at the station is going to figure out you recognized this guy. At least let us help you go after him.”

“What’s in the report?” Dan asked, avoiding the subject of his knowing Justine’s kidnapper. Steve Harlome was no dummy. His lack of reply confirmed he knew Dan recognized the kidnapper.

“Can I come in first? I’d rather not discuss this on your front porch. I’m surprised the press isn’t parked in your front yard as it is.”

Dan let him in. “It’s probably only a matter of time. Did you find something more important than my wife’s blood on the dash?”

“Considering I think you know where she might be or at least where to look, anything we found on the dash is probably obsolete.”

When Dan said nothing, Steve touched his arm. “Dan, you’re my best friend. Your wife is my best friend and my wife’s best friend. You know I’m just watching out for you.”

Dan met his gaze. “I know,” he muttered. He also knew he’d be doing the same if this had happened to one of his colleagues. But it had happened
him
. And he doubted Steve—or anyone else in the department—had a past like he did.

“So let me help you.”

“I can’t.”

Steve ignored the fact. “Is it someone from Chicago? Someone you arrested looking for vengeance?”

For a long moment, Dan said nothing. “He’s a skeleton from my closet and he’s definitely out for vengeance.”

“We all have skeletons in our closets.”

“Not like this one,” Dan replied quietly.

“Tell me his name,” Steve insisted.

Dan shook his head. “If I involve anyone else, he’ll hurt her, maybe not kill her, but hurt her to hurt me. Then if he gets away, he’ll hurt you or your family. I can’t take that chance.”

“How’d you know he’d be at the campground?”

“I didn’t. That was truly just dumb luck, or I wouldn’t have been there without my gun.”

It was Steve’s turn to nod in understanding. “What do you want me to do?”

“Just be ready. I may need your help.”

“I wish you’d let me help you now.”

“I know. But I need to see where I stand with him first.”

“I looked in his eyes, you know, as he dragged her away.”

Dan forced a drink of the coffee Steve had brought him. “And?”

“I hope he doesn’t get away.” Steve turned toward the door. “I’ll help you do whatever you need.”

“Including not telling the chief or anyone?” Dan had to ask.

“Including not telling anyone,” Steve promised.

“Steve?” Dan stopped him. “How do you feel about kids?” Dan felt as if the dam that held back his feelings had too many holes for him to plug and too much water was spurting through. If he wasn’t careful, he knew the dam would break and he’d have no control over his emotions. So he tried to let a few out to ease the pressure of them. Maybe just a little.

“How do I feel?” Steve echoed back. The question threw him, obviously confusing him. “I love them. You know both my kids. You’ve seen me with them,” he said. “Is that what you mean?”

“I mean aren’t you afraid you could get killed in the line of duty and leave them?” Dan asked, taking another swig of coffee, more to avoid looking at Steve than actually get a drink.

“Of course I am,” Steve replied. “There’s probably not a cop in the world who isn’t, but hasn’t this situation been enough to show us all that danger can be everywhere and sneak up on you at any time? It doesn’t matter if you’re a cop or a bus driver or a public defender.”

Dan stepped toward the kitchen then stopped as if he suddenly remembered the remodeling. The furniture was gone and was now in the living room. The kitchen felt so big, so empty. It was enough to make Dan whisper. “And we don’t have to be cops to find it or have it find us, do we?” Dan finished the thought for him.

“No, we don’t.”

“But why bring kids into it?” Dan couldn’t help but ask. “Why expose them to so much possible danger?”

“In high hopes that maybe something we or they do will make the world safer, better place for everyone to live.” Steve stared into his eyes from across the room.

And Dan didn’t doubt that Steve spoke the truth. “But if something happened to you, they’d be left alone to find their own way in the world,” he insisted.

Steve gave him a small grin. “No, they wouldn’t. They’d have Hannah, and they’d have grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends. They’d have you. Even their teachers play a vital role in what they’d become and how they’d live their lives. Besides, statistically speaking, I should be more worried about dying in a car accident or from heart disease than dying in the line of duty,” he paused.

Dan waited for him to continue.

“I suppose that’s the idea that makes life so meaningful. There’s also knowing whether I die when they’re small or I die when they’re grown with children of their own, a part of me is always with them and in them.”

Dan let his words sink in. Steve made it sound so complex and so simple at the same time. “I lost my parents when I was young. I know what it’s like to be without them.”

“Do you wish your parents had never had you or your brother?” Steve asked.

Dan had never thought of it that way. “Well, no.”

“Do you think if they had known they were going to die, they would have chosen to give up the moments of joy they had with the two of you, brief as they were?” Steve asked.

“No, I don’t,” Dan replied again, honestly.

Steve looked at him. “And if something were to happen to me, would you leave Hannah alone, or would you be there to help her and my kids?”

“Of course Justine and I would be there,” Dan replied without hesitation.

“Then why would you think it would be any different for you?”

Dan shook his head slightly. “I don’t know.”

“When our first child was born, and I saw the pain that Hannah went through to have him, I told her I didn’t want any more,” Steve explained. His words and his gaze kept Dan so glued to his spot. His coffee, forgotten.

“She asked me why,” Steve went on. “And I told her.” He paused at the memory. “She just looked down at our son, with tears in her eyes and laughed and she said the pure joy outweighs all the pain.” His gaze shifted and hardened as the memory passed away. “Why are you asking me all this?”

“Justine’s pregnant,” he said.

“Hannah and I kind of thought she might be,” Steve said.

“You did? How?”

“She got sick at the sight of meat. Hannah couldn’t even cook hamburgers when she was pregnant with Tess.”

Dan let out a harsh chuckle. “Well, then you noticed before I did. At first, I was angry.” He almost confessed here the knowledge that Justine was with another man. He fought down the pain of that and moved to something else. “I thought maybe she did this on purpose, sort of tricked me into it because I didn’t want any kids.”

It was Steve’s turn to chuckle. “Don’t beat yourself up about not knowing. I didn’t notice with either of my kids, and they were well planned. And about Justine tricking you, well she’s the most up front person I’ve ever known. I don’t think she’d do that. Besides what does it change?”

“Nothing. And I didn’t stay angry for more than a few seconds, but now I’m scared.”

Steve laughed out right. “Get used to it, buddy. Get used to it and climb in the boat with the rest of us wimpy, terrified fathers.”

They were quiet for a long time. Then, Steve turned to the door.

“Call me.”

“I will. Thanks for the coffee.”

His friend went out the front door.

Dan was left alone. He let Steve’s words sink in. And sink they did. If something did happen to him, Justine would never be alone. They had more family. They were blessed with many friends, and if anyone was determined and capable enough to raise a child alone—if she had to—it was Justine.

He watched Steve move down the walk, knowing full well his friend would probably follow him all day, and just like Rynolds taking Justine, there was nothing he could do to stop him.

Chapter 23

Deke was so startled by the new voice that Justine was able to slide away from him. She jumped to her feet and put some much needed space between her and him. She would have raced for the door in a heartbeat, but it was the previously unconscious officer on the floor who had spoken and taken her attention.

She couldn’t just run and leave him. She should. If she got away, she could help them both.

She raced toward the door.

Deke moved with the speed of lightning. She heard the shuffle of his movement, but she didn’t look back.

She could sense how close he was. He grabbed her by her pony tail and hauled her back with a hurtful pull of her hair. He had his gun in his hand.

“Did you really think you could get away?”

She didn’t answer. The truth was she certainly hoped she could.

“If you try anything else and you do manage to slither out of my grasp, I’ll kill him before you can get any help here for him. Understand?” He pointed his gun at the man on the floor.

“Yes.”

Deke shoved her away as if to test her and see if she’d try and run again. She didn’t. Instead, she knelt beside the restrained officer, looking at the wound on his head, looking into his eyes.

His eyes were green and he looked at her with clarity.

“How are you feeling?” Her insides still shook from her fight with Deke, but she managed to keep her words calm.

“Who are you?” he asked.

Justine told him who she was and quickly explained Deke had kidnapped her and tasered him when he was trying to get away. During her explanation, she couldn’t help but notice Deke once again sat down at the table, watching her. Perhaps his balls were still burning. She certainly hoped so, and did her best to completely ignore him.

“How do you feel?” she asked again.

“My head feels like someone’s beating on the inside with a sledge hammer. But the rest of me feels all right.”

“What’s your name?”

“Thomas Gray.”

“Do you know what day it is, Thomas Gray?” Justine asked, still assessing his condition.

“I have no idea.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

Thomas had to think for a long time. “I had scrambled eggs for breakfast. And I don’t quite understand this situation, but if you get the chance to run, take it. Don’t worry about me.”

Justine threw a glance to Deke. “He still needs a doctor.”

“He’s awake and talking. He’ll be fine.”

“He needs to be checked out. Head injuries can be really bad, and he’s been unconscious for a long time.”

Deke took a slow sip of water. He still held his gun as he shifted his gaze from Justine to Thomas Gray. “He’s not going anywhere, so quit asking.”

“He at least needs some ice on his head,” she insisted. She should have thought of it before, but she was too busy looking for a way to escape.

“Sorry. No refrigerator. No ice,” Deke said nonchalantly. “Besides, if I had any ice, I’d put it on my balls. If you try something like that again, I’ll give that pain right back to you, understand?”

“Yes.” Justine looked around. There wasn’t even a towel she could get wet. She remembered there was nothing in the bathroom, either. She’d had to air dry after washing her face.

Thomas met her gaze. “Why’d he take you? Ransom?”

“Not quite. He thinks my husband has money that belongs to him,” she explained quickly, still unable to believe Dan could rob a bank.

But Deke piped in. “Her sweet, upstanding citizen of a husband helped me rob the Commerce Bank of Aviston almost ten years ago, remember that?”

“Vaguely. The money was never recovered, no suspects ever brought in.” Thomas looked at Justine again.

“That’s because we got away with it, or I guess I should say my get-away driver got away with it. And well, now I’m using his pretty, little wife to get my cut. We’re just waiting for him.”

“He probably doesn’t know to come here,” Justine said.

“I wouldn’t bet on that,” Deke said.

“Why don’t we call him and make sure.”

Deke let out a huff of impatience. “Fine, why don’t we? After all, I’m just a bit tired of waiting. We’ll use your phone. Do you have him on speed dial?”