Hailey's Truth (33 page)

Jackson shrugged. “Hell if I know. I’m assuming he came by to visit his sister.”

“That fucker doesn’t do anything without an angle.”

“He’s pretty slick.” Jackson cleared his throat. “There’s more.”

Austin waved his hand in a “go ahead” motion as he stared out at the bold pinks of the setting sun, his shoulders tensing by the second.

“Two more girls disappeared last night.”

His gaze snapped to Jackson’s. “
What
?”

“Two more girls. Seventeen. Locals. Same physical features as the others: long black hair, nice bodies. Pretty. Their brothers were murdered—carved up, decapitated.”

“Well, Jesus. Do they have any leads?”

“Not that I’m aware of. The police seem to be doing as little investigating as they did the first time around.”

“The Zulas own them—that’s why.”

“You’re probably right.”

“I know I’m right.”

Jackson shifted, then leaned back again. “There was also another shoot-out over by the place you got jumped.”

“It’s like the damn wild west around here.”

“Not far from it. I talked to Ethan an hour, hour-and-a-half ago. The Dean’s rumbling about closing down, sending everyone home. It’s not a half-bad idea if you ask me. I know the people here need help; everyone’s working for a good cause, but I’m concerned with our ratios. Six to one or twelve to two, puts us at risk. We could use another agent. I keep replaying the shooting at the school the other day. If we hadn’t been as close to the gym as we were, we would’ve had a serious problem.”

“I’ve thought of that myself. I’ll call Ethan, see what he wants to do.”

“Before you do, he sent us something. He’s been hacking. Said it was very interesting.”

“Let’s take a look.”

“I’m not finished raining on your parade.”

Austin slid him a glance. “Oh, goodie.”

“Donte showed up at our site today.”

Austin jammed his fingers in his pockets. “I was waiting for you to say that.”

“I don’t have the authority to ask him to leave, so I didn’t do much more than observe. Our hands are fairly tied here.”

“I know.”

“He was all over Hailey.”

Jaw clenched, he met Jackson’s stare.

“I know you and Hailey talked about her keeping her distance last week. It seemed like she tried, but Donte’s fucking persistent. He spent a good hour with her at our Humane Society stop, petting his fare share of puppies and kittens. Of course, he donated money, towels, and a five-year supply of dog and cat food while he was there.”

The familiar rumble of fury snuck up to devour him whole. “
Goddamn
, I’ve had about all I can take of him. I need to get Hailey away. I need to get her out of here before something happens. There’re bound to be more attempts on him. I don’t want her near him when they go down.”

“This whole situation sucks.” Jackson slapped a supportive hand on Austin’s shoulder. “Let’s take a peek at what Ethan sent us? We’ll go from there.”

Austin nodded.

They walked past most everyone laying around, snacking, watching a movie. Jen popped up from the floor and stepped up to Austin, smiling. “Bathrooms free. It’s your turn.”

“Ah, I’ll clean up in a few minutes.”

“Just so you guys know, the group has unanimously decided to have a smallish party in about twenty minutes—a couple beers, some cards, music, video games. We’ve earned one after today. I hope you’ll join us.” She smiled again, looking up from under her lashes.

“Yeah, probably.” Austin shrugged, uncomfortable, aware that Jen was hitting on him. “Jackson and I have something to do first.”

“Okay. See you in a bit.”

Mumbling his assent, he and Jackson continued down the hall, shut themselves in the second bedroom, and locked it.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” Jackson repeated in his best imitation of Jen as he batted his lashes and flounced his imaginary breasts.

Despite the turn in their day, Austin laughed. Jackson’s sense of humor was never far from the surface.

“You do realize she wants to tag your ass.” Jackson batted his lashes again and touched his tongue to his top lip.

Austin grinned. “Yeah, well, she’ll have to look somewhere else.”

Jackson sobered. “Things are pretty serious between you and Hailey.”

“As serious as they get. She’s moving in with me when we get back.”

Jackson’s brows shot up. “Really?”

“She’s what I want. Why wait?”

“Good for you, man. I’m happy for you, happy for both of you. Hailey’s a great lady—a sweetheart.”

Austin set his laptop on the bunk and sat down. “Let’s see what Ethan sent us.” Austin hit a few buttons and read the e-mail.
Wonder if you’ll find this as interesting as I do. Call me after you and Jackson have a chance to check it out.

Intrigued, Austin clicked on the attachment. He frowned, staring at the grainy surveillance footage from a bar, dated last night. He leaned closer as Jackson crouched down next to him.

“That looks like Hailey’s brother.” Jackson pointed.

“Sure does. And look there. That’s Mateo. I wonder why they’re at the same bar but sitting so far apart. Kind of hard to have a conversation when you’re on opposite sides of the room.”

“It’s almost as if they’re up to something.”

Austin clicked on the next attachment Ethan had sent. It was more surveillance video, dated weeks earlier. He pressed a few buttons, displaying both images side-by-side. “There they are again, drinking beer across the room from one another. Holy shit.” Austin pointed to the edge of the screen. “Isn’t that...” he zoomed in further. “Dear God, yes…the girls that disappeared a month ago.”

Two long-haired, long-legged young women danced to the music of the live band among the haze of cigarette smoke. After a while, the girls left the bar. Moments later, Mateo left, then Jeremy. “Those fucking bastards.”

Austin clicked back to the newest footage, watching all twenty minutes. They didn’t see the girls that vanished last night, but they did watch Mateo and Jeremy leave in the same pattern they had the night the first two teens went missing. “The victims must’ve stayed out of camera range.”

“Seems about right to me.”

Through the thin walls of the next room came the sound of Hailey’s laughter, mingling with her brother’s. Austin leaped to his feet. Enough was enough. They had a fucking kidnapper in the house. It was time to end this, time to give Hailey the wakeup call she needed.

Jackson stood. “What’re you doing?”

“I’m going to show this to Hailey.”

“Whoa, wait a minute, bro,” he put a restraining hand on Austin’s shoulder. “That’s not a good idea.”

“I’ve been keeping this from her. All of it. I thought she was safer in the dark, but now I’m not so sure. I’m starting to think she’s in more danger not knowing. Maybe she’ll be willing to stay away from them if she realizes how high the stakes are.”

“I don’t know, man. I think you’re jumping the gun. I’m thinking you should sit tight on this one.”

Was he being rash?

Hailey and Jeremy’s chuckles bounced into the room again. She wouldn’t be laughing if she knew her brother and Mateo were responsible for the kidnappings of four young women, and possibly the decapitation and mutilation of two men—probably more. She would be horrified.

“Hailey keeps asking for some sort of proof. I finally have something one hundred percent definitive. What if someone takes a shot at Donte the next time he comes around? What if they take her out instead?”

Austin shook his head; he couldn’t stand the thought. This was the right thing to do. It would be easier to ask for her silence than to keep her in the dark. Hailey couldn’t protect herself if she was flying blind.

“It’s your call, Austin. I’ll back you whichever way you want to play this, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

The jumpy bass of the stereo echoed down the hall, followed by playful hoots and laughter.

“Sounds like the party’s starting.” Jackson reached for the doorknob. “I think I’ll go play chaperone.”

“I’ll be down with Hailey in a bit—if she’s up to it. This is the right call.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Jackson stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

Austin turned, staring at his laptop before he exed out of the screen. He sat a moment, putting his face in his hands, dreading the conversation he and Hailey were about to have. But it had to be done. Donte was popping up far too often. The odds of Hailey ending up in a dangerous situation increased each time.

Sighing, Austin scrubbed his fingers against his jaw. How would he tell her? This was going to kill her. He would take it a step at a time. Be there for her. What else could he do?

With a big breath, he stood, opened the door, and stepped into the hall just as Jeremy shut the door to the third bedroom.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m a little turned around. I thought that was the bathroom.”

“Bathroom’s down the hall.”

“I’m heading out. I’ll wait ‘til I get back to the yacht.” Jeremy walked past him. Austin followed, watching until Jeremy made it to the small launch down the beach.

Hailey stared out her bedroom window as she pulled her hair through an elastic, fully intending to join her new friends for videogames and cards. The past five-and-a-half weeks had been grueling, each passing day more dangerous.

The rides to the group’s daily stops were tense as everyone waited, afraid of another shooting. Reports around the community kept them all one edge. Two more girls had vanished in the night. Two more bodies had been brutalized—like the ones left by the vans that first day.

While the team assisted the overworked staff at the Humane Society earlier, there had been another drive-by less than a mile away. The violence on the island was out of hand.

Jackson’s easy sense of humor vanished each morning as they left the apartment. He radiated with tension by the time they stepped into the house at night. The days were wearing on Austin, too. She saw the strain in his eyes, felt his rigid muscles when he held her close in bed.

In less than two months this would be over. They would all go home. She yearned to snuggle her girls, to see Sarah and Ethan, Morgan and Hunter, to move into her new apartment. A slow smile spread across her face. Every time she thought of living with Austin, of building a home with him... There weren’t words to describe her happiness. This was the real deal. Their relationship had taken her by surprise, had moved fast, but he loved her.

Hailey closed her eyes, savoring the gift, relishing her joy. Austin
loved
her, and she him. They were going to give it a go. For the first time in her life, she truly believed she could have—no—
would
have everything she’d ever wanted: the love and support of a good man, a home filled with happiness, children of her own.

Maybe she was getting a little ahead of herself, but she and Austin would get to where she planned eventually. Now that she had him, she wasn’t letting go.

Hailey put her brush down at the sound of her phone ringing. She frowned at the number. “Don’t know this one,” she muttered. Shrugging, she hit “talk.”

“Hello?”

“Hailey.”

“Donte?”

“Yes. I’m sorry to bother you on your own time, but I have a request.”

“Okay.” She pressed her lips into a thin line. She’d tried to keep her distance throughout the afternoon, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“I realize it’s against your organization’s rules, but I’m wondering if you might be able to make an exception and join me on my yacht for a small get-together Thursday. I have several important business members joining me, including my father. He is very fond of Jeremy. I would love for him to meet you, as I am quite fond of you.”

“Oh, Donte, that sounds like so much fun.”

“Good. Then it is all set.”

“Well, no, actually…” She turned from the window and stared into Austin’s cool gaze.
Oh, crap
. “Um, Donte, I’m afraid I have to go. Can I call you later?”

“Is everything all right?”

“Uh, yes. Definitely. I just have to go.”

“Call me back when you can.”

“Okay. Bye.” Her heart hopped erratically as she pressed “end” and set her cell on the bed, never taking her eyes from Austin’s. She tried a smile. “Hey. I was just coming out to join the fun.”

“Looks like you were on the phone to me.”

She closed her eyes. “I was. Donte called. He got my number somehow, probably from my brother. He invited me to some family party tomorrow night. I was about to tell him no.” She snagged her lip to stop her babbling, fiddled with her fingers as Austin continued to stare, scrutinizing, saying nothing. “Austin, he called me.”

“You didn’t have to answer.”

“I didn’t know it was him. The number came up ‘unknown’. I’m sorry you walked in on something that sounded like more than it was.”

He grunted.

“Darn it, what do you want me to do? If I had known it was Donte, I wouldn’t have answered.” She walked to the door, intending to push past him.

He grabbed her arm, turned her until she crashed into his chest. “I’m sorry.”

“I really didn’t know. I truly didn’t.”

He kissed her forehead. “I believe you. I’m sorry, Hailey.”

Nodding, she relaxed against him, realizing the tense moment had passed.

He played with her ponytail. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Of course.” She pushed the door to close it, then took Austin’s hand.

He gave her a tug and caught the door before it shut. “Actually, can we talk in my room? I have something I want to show you.”

“Oh really?” She wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. Her smile faded when Austin’s face stayed stony. Maybe he was still mad. “What’s wrong?”

“Just come with me. I want to talk.”

“Okay.” Stirrings of worry tied her stomach in knots. “You’re making me nervous.”