CULL HAD GOTTEN into the apartment—he’d kicked in the door, but he’d wasted no time. “Hello?” he called out. His weapon was drawn as he carefully stepped into the quiet living room. The smell of death hung in the air and his stomach dropped. What if he was too late? He’d never forgive himself.
The room was cast in a shadow and he slowly made his way toward the center of the room, all instincts on high alert. He stopped in his tracks when he saw the familiar loafers. One was laying on its side and the other was still on a foot. Swallowing hard, Cull stepped around the side of the couch and there he found Burke lying in a puddle of blood. The man was cold with no pulse.
Cull’s heart slammed into his stomach.
Peering down the hallway, the floor was covered in splintered wood and the door to the bathroom had been busted in. It was empty inside…the entire apartment was empty except for Burke’s body.
“Shit!” Cull clenched his teeth. Where was Sally?
Grabbing his phone, he dialed Detective Whitlock’s number and told him what he found.
“Stay there, partner. I’ll be there soon,” Whitlock said.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Sally Holloway is missing and I’m going to find her!”
A lawman learned to keep his emotions out of a case and stay clear headed, those were Cull’s thoughts as he stomped down the hallway toward Deke’s office. He found the place empty.
Slamming his fist against the top of the desk, he upset the pen holder and an empty cup that rolled to the floor. Bending over to pick the cup up, he saw something in the trashcan that caught his suspicions. He looked closer, realizing there were bloody bandages and an empty tube of wound care in the can. He remembered that his buddy had been limping. Had he been injured? Why didn’t Deke say something?
Narrowing his eyes, Cull grabbed a pen and used the tip to push the used bandages aside. Instinct warned him something wasn’t right, although he wasn’t sure what he was looking for. He found message receipts, a Little Debbie plastic wrap, and a wadded piece of paper at the very bottom. Spreading the sheet of paper on the desk, he smoothed the wrinkles out and tried wiping at the coffee stain. It was written in Deke’s sloppy handwriting. A flight itinerary, an international address, and an exchange rate for Dirham. His buddy was planning a trip? Out of the country? Again, why didn’t he say something?
Reaching for his phone in his back pocket, Cull made a few calls and got the information he needed. Morocco. Deke was planning a trip to Morocco tomorrow. This didn’t make any sense.
The bloody bandages. The limp. His buddy’s odd behavior.
Cull remembered what Deke had said, “I’d take this case myself for the money.”
Deke’s wife was a piano teacher. Yates was killed with piano wire.
Then it all clicked for Cull with the velocity of getting smacked in the face with a baseball bat. His buddy needed someone good at tracking—a tracker not within law enforcement. Fuck! Cull slammed his fist down onto the desk, this time not bothering to pick the cup up again. He rubbed his forehead in stress. He’d led Deke right to the girl’s apartment. It had been a complete coincidence that Sally showed up returning the purse and Deke thought it was Monica, struck her over the head, hoping she’d die in the fire. The cigarette butt Cull found by the apartment garage steps didn’t belong to a hand, but rather it was Deke’s.
He knew where Sally was all along. Cull had told him almost everything.
Deke was working for the widow?
Cull could barely breathe.
Deke had taken Sally. What did he have up his sleeve?
“Can I help you?”
Cull brought his chin up to look at the middle-aged woman standing in the doorway. “I’m looking for Deke. Do you know where he is?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t seen him in two days.”
“Have you spoken with him?”
She hesitated as if she wasn’t sure she should share any information. “He’s on vacation. He won’t be back for a couple of weeks.”
Cull knew the gauze in the trashcan was long enough strip to cover a wound…possibly a gunshot wound? So, he had been right when he thought he’d shot the gunman the night of the fire.
That was enough for him. Enough facts fell into place.
And he knew exactly where his friend would go.
He made record time to his truck and did a U-turn on the street, heading for the mountains. Reaching for his phone, he dialed a familiar number. It was answered on the second ring. “Phoenix, I need your help…yeah, I’ll meet you at the crossroads in two hours. I need to do something and hopefully I’ll have more information to tell you…” He clicked off, trying hard not to allow his emotions to outweigh his logic. He needed to keep his head on straight. Cull could easily fuck up here because he had something personal at stake. The woman he loved. He’d grown to love Sally and now her life was in danger. How could he have been so stupid and missed the clues? It all made sense now.
He pounded his fist against the steering wheel and growled. Why did he let her go with Burke in the first place? Where the hell were his honed instincts? He thought he just didn’t like Burke out of jealousy.
What would Deke do? A man who would sink this low was capable of many things. Killing anyone who could take him down. Cull had to believe that she was still alive.
His heart sank. If one hair was harmed on her head he’d search the world over to find the person who did it. Morocco certainly wouldn’t be far enough. His mind automatically filled with images of Burke dead, lying in a pool of his own blood from a gunshot wound to the head and one to the chest. There were no signs of struggle at the front door so that meant Burke willingly allowed Deke in. Had Sally hid in the bathroom? Had she been scared? Of course, she had been.
How could his friend, a man he’d known so long, sink so low? Was it for the money? Had he lost his mind when his ex-wife left him?
The drive seemed to take a lifetime and as he drove up the lane that took him to Deke’s fishing cabin, a place Cull had spent numerous vacations. His adrenaline skyrocketed. He was barely in park before he jumped out. Unsure of what Deke would do, Cull didn’t race right up to the door. His buddy—his old buddy—was smart and skilled. And a bomb expert. He worked in bomb disposal in the military and knew everything there was about explosives.
Cull stopped to look in Deke’s car and found more bloody gauze, this time they were abnormally soaked. He guessed that meant his wound wasn’t healing right. A disposable cell phone sat on the passenger seat along with a thick envelope. Cull felt the hood and it was still warm.
Pulling out his gun, he gripped it and made his way carefully up the two steps to the rickety porch and knocked on the door. “Deke, I need to speak to you.” He didn’t get a response, which didn’t surprise him. He slowly turned the knob and it opened. Cull peeked in, waiting for a bullet to whizz by his head, but it didn’t come.
“I’m in here,” Deke said from somewhere in the shadowed cabin.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust and then Cull saw the man sitting in a chair close to the unlit fireplace. It was cold inside the house and there was an eerie silence.
“I knew you’d come,” Deke said in a low voice.
“How’s the gunshot wound?” Cull stayed by the door, listening and scanning the interior of the cabin, looking for any signs of Sally.
With a shrug, Deke touched his thigh. “Hurts like a bitch. I guess my sewing skills leave a lot to be desired.”
“You could have gone to the hospital.” Taking a small step, Cull peered into the kitchenette, but it was empty.
“Yeah, and then they would have reported the gunshot wound and things would have gotten messy.”
“I think things are already messy, wouldn’t you say?” Keeping his gun aimed at Deke, Cull covered the short distance into the living room. He stopped and stood at a careful distance. Deke’s gun was sitting on the coffee table. “Push the table away from you,” he commanded.
“The gun isn’t loaded, my friend.”
“Don’t make me tell you again.” Cull didn’t want to shoot the man, because this time he’d shoot to kill.
With a tight chuckle, Deke kicked the table with his boot, overturning it and the contents scattered the floor, including the gun.
“Where is she, Deke?”
The man brought his gaze up to look at Cull. “She’s not here.”
“Now I’m sure you won’t take offense if I don’t quite believe you, will you?”
Deke’s hands rested on the arms of the chair and he wore a stoic, almost unnerving, expression. Cull’s gut was warning him that Deke was telling the truth that Sally wasn’t there, which made this situation even more unpredictable.
“We don’t have much time,” Deke said in a low, threatening tone.
There was the surprise Cull had been expecting. It took him a good five seconds to find it, but when he did, he felt his breath swoosh from his lungs. A bomb. The screen of red numbers was counting down. “Tell me that isn’t what I think it is.”
“You triggered it when you opened the door.”
“What the hell, Deke. Disable it. Don’t let things go down like this.”
The man’s laughter was raw and made the hair on Cull’s neck stand. “That won’t happen. It’s too late for that.”
Cull’s heart sunk to his boots. “Where is she, Deke? Tell me.”
Deke’s voice was toneless when he said, “Don’t you want to know why I did this, or have you already figured it out?”
“I’m guessing it was because of the money.” Cull’s eyes navigated toward the bomb.
“She was just some chick who used men, Cull. Yates was just a dumbass who allowed pussy to lead him. No one would miss either of them. And I needed the money.”
“You haven’t been the same since your ex left. You made some bad choices. Disable the bomb and let’s get you the help you need.” Cull didn’t have time to play counselor. Right now he had a bomb ten feet away and the love of his life was in danger.
“I know you’ll never understand. You’re a good man, always doing what’s right. I could have killed that woman, Sally, but it must have been my loyalty that kept me from it.”
“She’s alive?”
“Yes. I guess. I don’t know.” He sighed. “It’s ironic you know. I did everything by the book. Never stole a dime from drug money or sniffed a line of free coke. Then I found out I have a brain tumor. Can you believe it? The ex lives in a mansion and could care less. All the bad guys walking the streets, healthy as an ox and here I am. The money was my ticket to live the last of my days having fun. Hell, who gains a moral conscious at the final hour? I did.”
Cull gritted his teeth. “Who has her and where have they taken her?” The red numbers on the screen seemed to glare brighter.
“She’s probably dead by now.”
She wasn’t dead, Cull could feel it. He wouldn’t stop until he found her. “Time is ticking. Do the right thing and tell me where she is.”
Deke curled his lip and shook his head. “How the hell would I know? Do you think the widow shares her schedule with me? I just was supposed to jump through another hoop before I’m paid. Funny, really, especially when I have the evidence.”
“You’re supposed to kill me, aren’t you?” Cull didn’t even need to ask.
Sniffing and shrugging his shoulders, Deke said, “Of course. They were taking care of the girl, Sally, because I failed, and I’m supposed to take care of you.” His eyes met Cull’s. “Make it look like an accident they said so that’ll keep the rest of the Cade’s from suspecting anything.” His laughter echoed off the walls. “That shows their ignorance, right? How the hell would I make it look like an accident?”
Cull could practically hear the ticking of the bomb’s timer loud in his ears.
Deke continued, “A man would almost do anything for a hundred grand, except I can’t kill a man who saved my life. You saved me from a bullet, my friend? That day on that dark street when we pulled over those teens. I didn’t see that the passenger had a gun and you saved me by pushing me to the ground, almost getting the bullet yourself. Because of you I went home to my wife. Maybe it would have been best if had I died that night. I’ve become a monster.” His were blood shot. “By the way, I really did mean to put a bullet in the girl’s head when you carried her out of the fire. I just can’t control the shakes unless I’m on the medicine the doc gave me. Remember how good of a shot I once was?” He chuckled.
“This doesn’t have to go this way, Deke. Disable the bomb and let’s talk about this.” There was a minute left on the timer.
“And go to prison? I’d rather die. I had my getaway planned, but it’s just not meant to be. It’s up to you if you think it’s your time too because if you don’t get the hell out of here, we’re both going to be meeting our maker tonight.”
There was no time to waste. “Help me save her. It’s not too late for her. She’s innocent.”
“I have a present for you in my car. My last good deed.” Deke laid his head back and closed his eyes.
Cull had the longing to wrap his hands around Deke’s neck and choke the answer out of him, but he had to get away before it was too late. He backed toward the door. “May God have mercy on your soul.” Cull raced down the porch and to Deke’s car. He grabbed the phone, the envelope, and ran to his truck. His breath was heavy as he kicked the truck into gear, sending rocks up from the spinning tires. He stared through the rearview mirror, anticipating the bomb detonating. As if on cue, he reached the end of the lane as the cabin exploded with a deafening boom. Flames and debris shot outward from the place. A piece of flaming material floated through the air, landing beside the truck.
Cull gave a disappointed shake of his head.
Slamming his foot on the gas pedal, he got some distance between him and the fire before he pulled over to open the disposable phone. Cull could only hope he’d find something, even a number, but it was empty.
Clasping the phone in his fist, he wanted to break it into pieces but when the phone rang he felt a bit of encouragement. Could this be his lucky day?
Gathering his thoughts, he clicked ‘talk’. “Yeah?” He kept his voice low, hoping the caller didn’t suspect that he wasn’t Deke.
“Tinman. Is it done?” the gruff male voice asked.
“It’s done. I want my money.”
There was a long hesitation before a chuckle rasped the line. “Of course. Meet me at the old washing machine warehouse in Templeton in two hours.” Then the phone went dead.
“I’ll be there you bastard. You can count on it,” Cull growled and shifted the truck back into drive.
****
Standing up was like unbending metal. Sally winced at the pain in her body as she forced herself to hold her weight, realizing he’d done a number on her when she’d put up a struggle back at the apartment. He’d knocked her out and she awoke in a room with only a bed and a dingy blanket. There were no windows and she had no clue where she was, or how she got here. She didn’t even have a clue who did this to her. He was tall, very tall, and broad. His face was pockmarked and his nose flat from multiple breakings.
It was frigidly cold in the space and she could hear the wind whipping around the building and seeping through the cracks in the concrete blocks. Her mind strained on what she should do. Should she scream and hope someone would hear her? Or would the man come back and finish the job then? She held out hope that Cull knew she was missing by now because he was her only hope. Her mind shifted to Burke and where he was and if he was okay. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to him, although she knew now that their relationship had been over. Memories had flooded back, one after another, and she wasn’t even sure where she put them all.
She wobbled over to the door and pressed her ear against the steel, knowing her chances of hearing anything was null. She leaned against the solid support and closed her eyes. “Please find me, Cull.”
****
Jonesy unlocked the door and stepped inside of the musty smelling room. The woman was curled up on the bed and asleep. Now that the lawman was dead, they no longer needed her for leverage. He would be more than happy to take care of her right now so he could get the hell back home, but the boss lady asked that he not make a mess. He guessed that meant no blood, which meant no using his gun. With his large hands he could strangle her dead and there wouldn’t be any mess.
But no, boss lady wanted her to disappear without a trace, not like the other botched up jobs.
He crossed the concrete floor and shook her by the shoulder. It took him several attempts until she finally jumped up, her worried eyes got big and round. She hurried to the top of the bed and brought her knees up to her chest as if protecting herself.
“Get up,” he ordered, but she just stared. He reached over, fisted her hair and dragged her like a rag doll off the bed and onto the floor. She scrambled to her feet like a scared deer and he laughed. “Oh, little girl. You look so frightened.”
“Fuck you!” she spat.
He pulled her wrist hard. “Now be a good girl and let’s do this the easy way.”
Before he knew what was happening, she chomped down on his hand, drawing blood. He used his free hand and hit her sharply across the face. She fumbled backward and fell to the floor. “That’s not how this works, bitch. Don’t push me or I’ll show you what I like to do with misbehaving women.”
She was silent.
“So, let’s do this again. Behave yourself. You hear?” He shook his head in agitation. “I have a visitor coming and I’ve got plans for you. I hope you don’t mind small, dark places.”
He needed to get this over with so he could prepare to take care of the detective. The man actually thought he’d come to the warehouse for the money. He didn’t have a clue that he too would be buried in the ground after Jonesy got the evidence, of course.