Chapter 9
“We need a family meeting,” Storm said.
“About what?” West wasn’t in the best mood. They’d gathered around the breakfast table all bleary eyed and irritable.
Mack, Zane, King, and West had made it downstairs so far. Nox had been occupied last night and might be sleeping in. Annie hadn’t made an appearance yet. Was she avoiding him?
“Nox.” Storm placed his green smoothie bowl on the table.
West grimaced. How can he even swallow the stuff? It looks like mold or pond scum.
No, it looked like someone had pushed the greedy poltergeist from Ghostbusters into the blender and took him for a spin.
Just then, Storm took a mouthful of the green gunk.
His stomach turned.
“Chief? Family meetin’?” King reminded. “Let’s do one of those.”
He smiled at the term. Back in their SEAL days, he’d called those when somebody needed an old fashioned “Come to Jesus” talk or when he wanted to compliment them on a job well done. As far as he was concerned, these people were part of his family now. And while Katie came first, they were a close second.
“Yeah, we’ll have a talk, and I know what you’re upset about.”
They all exchanged weary looks.
West had spent most of the night listening to the woman in Nox’s room come again and again. And again. What did he do to her? Slip her some ecstasy? She’d screeched and yowled like a cat in heat. While he was annoyed, a small part of West was also fascinated. He didn’t know Nox very well, but if he worked as well as he fucked, they’d have no problems.
Just then, Annie padded into the room on bare feet, and she also looked sleepy. West wondered if she’d tossed and turned like he had. Several times he’d gotten up and had to stop himself from walking down the hall to her bedroom. Especially after he heard those sounds.
“Did the caterwaulin’ keep you up last night, Rook?” Zane asked.
Bomber dozed on his lap, sleeping peacefully. Zane was a damn good trainer, and he kept his dog with him as much as possible. The pooch slept in the bed next to him, ate with him, played with him outside. He wanted absolute loyalty and obedience from the animal.
“Yes, I need some earplugs.” She sighed, pushing a hand through her sleep tousled hair. She was still drowsy and half-aware.
And then Nox swaggered down the stairs with a pretty brunette. If West wasn’t mistaken, there were rope marks on her wrists, but the sweet, satisfied smile on her lips told him it was consensual.
Great. I’m sleeping next door to a kinky prick. This should work out great.
West loved being in charge, but he wasn’t into whips and chains or whatever the fuck Nox did. For all West knew he had a cat of nine tails stuffed under his bed.
And when the girl turned, they all got a free show. Nox had wandered downstairs buck naked and completely unashamed.
Sweet Jesus. How does he even fasten his pants?
The man had a Python between his legs, and if West wasn’t mistaken, the head had a ring through it. West winced, even thinking about piercing his junk hurt.
Mack choked on her coffee, sputtering and coughing. Annie’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head and she was wide awake now. West stifled the urge to cover them with his hand. King, Storm, and Zane openly stared, as though spellbound.
At the door, Nox tugged Screamy into his arms, tilted her head back with one hand and then stuck his tongue down her throat. She melted into him with a soft sigh. And the two of them played tonsil hockey for an uncomfortably long time.
West couldn’t help but shoot a glance at Annie who’d touched a fingertip to her lips, as though picturing being kissed.
His fists clenched. Was she fantasizing about smooching Nox? He’d put the man through a wall.
Biting her lip, she turned his way, and her lips parted.
Naw, she wants to go West. He grinned. Hold on Rook, it’s only a matter of time.
It was all he could do not to jump out of his chair, throw her over his shoulder, and carry her upstairs to his bedroom. He was so confused when it came to Annie, he didn’t know which way was up. His head told him to leave her alone, but his cock had other ideas.
And what about your heart? Yeah, that’s too deep a thought for this time of day.
“For fuck’s sake, put your dick away,” King said as soon as Screamy sailed out the door and hopped into her Prius. Her tires screeched as she pulled out of the driveway.
“Why? Jealous?” He placed his hands on his hips, as though to show it off.
“Please, mine’s twice as big. The problem is, we eat in here.” Zane scowled. “No naked dicks in the common areas.” He glanced around the room, seeking confirmation. “Are we cool with the new rule?”
Mack lifted her cup in salute. “I second that motion.”
Annie nodded in agreement.
“All in favor?” West asked.
Everybody raised their hands, except for Nox.
“I still say y’all are jealous.”
“For the record, mine’s bigger than all y’all’s.” King stood, as though they’d somehow forgotten how tall he was. Or how large. West had seen things in the group showers he couldn’t un-see.
The coffee soured in his stomach, making it ache. Between the dick show and the green slime Storm wolfed down, he was going to toss his cookies.
“Yeah? You’re full of it.” Nox crossed his arms over his chest.
“Too. Much. Testosterone.” Mack punctuated her sentence with coughs.
Annie smothered a giggle with her hand.
King brought his hands to the waistband of his jeans. “Unless you want some shock and awe, I suggest y’all avert your eyes.” He nodded to Annie and Mack who’d gone wide-eyed.
“Hey! We just passed the dick rule!” Zane said. “Keep it in your pants.”
Shock and awe? What the actual fuck? West would be damned if he sat back while Annie was exposed to another prick that didn’t belong to him.
“Keep your pants on.” West stood up, playing referee. He tossed a dishtowel to Nox. “And you, cover up. I’ve seen enough cock this mornin’.” West sighed as soon as he said the words. Didn’t that come out wrong?
Zane and Storm snickered while King sat down with a disgruntled mumble.
King shot a glance at Nox. “Okay, everybody’s too polite to ask, but I’m not. What the fuck were you doin’ to that woman?”
Nox swaggered across the room. “If you gotta ask, you ain’t doing it right.”
King’s brows shot up, and he turned to West, as though to say do something.
The chain of command sucks. “You gotta be quieter, Nox, especially when my daughter’s stayin’ over.” He scowled at the man. “I ain’t ready to have a birds and bees conversation with her yet.”
“Yeah,” Zane put in. “Fuck whomever you like, just do it discreetly.”
“Understood. I’ll gag the next one. Hmm, maybe an O ring?” Nox poured himself a cup of joe and straddled a chair after he flipped it around.
“And this bears repeatin’,” Zane said. “I don’t want any dick cheese on my food. Got it? No dick cheese.”
Annie and Mack snickered. And West made a mental note to wash both the kitchen towel and the chair.
Storm scratched his chin. “You’re awfully open about your tastes.”
“This is a post Fifty Shades world, folks, so you’d better get over it.” Nox placed his hands behind his head. “I ain’t got nothin’ to be ashamed about.”
***
An hour later, West took Annie and Mack with him to the jail. Zane, King, and Nox headed over to the fallout shelter to do some recon, while Storm worked on an unspecified “side project.”
West didn’t question him about it because it would only make West worry. Storm had a serious disregard for rules. While he never broke the law, he bent it out of shape to suit his own purposes.
And West didn’t like having a chaperone with them, but they needed Mack’s input. He wanted to have a follow up to their conversation last night. Actually, he just craved alone time with her. If nothing else, he’d love to flirt with Annie and get to know her better.
Annie didn’t say much on the ride over, but Mack filled the silence, speculating about John Doe and how he’d recruited the thieves.
West wondered if he should be concerned about her enthusiasm. Her face lit up when she spoke about Doe, as though he weren’t merely a target. Did she find him intriguing? As soon as he’d had the thought, he discarded it. Maybe she was just enjoying her job, and he was reading too much into it.
Before showing up at the jail, West gave Huck a phone call and cleared their visit. According to the sheriff, all three of the robbers had priors, but it was minor stuff like disorderly conduct.
The jail only had two cells, and all three robbers were crowded into one, and the other was empty. The thieves stood when they walked in the room.
“You’re the bastard who put us in here,” one of them said, pointing at West. He stood in front of the other two, and West figured he must be the ring leader. Superman, if I’m not mistaken. He gestured to the others, and they reluctantly sat back down.
“Actually,” West said, “Your piss poor plannin’ landed you behind bars. What’s your name, son?”
Both Annie and Mack frowned at his tactics, but West ignored them. He hadn’t gotten much sleep, had a terminal case of blue balls, and a burning desire to fill his bank account.
This piss ant wouldn’t stand in his way for long.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Ain’t your son. I’m a full-grown man.” He said this seriously, even though he was barely nineteen and covered in pimples.
“Then act like it. Tell me your fuckin’ name.”
“Peter Jacobs. And what’s yours?”
“Jackson West, Peter. Pleased to meet you. At the risk of being rude, I’ll get straight to the point. I’m in the middle of an operation, and I need some intel from you.”
“What kind of intelligence?” Peter asked, lifting his chin.
“Who put you up to it?” Mack asked, stepping forward.
He shrugged. “Who said we did anythin’?”
West gritted his teeth. “Hey, genius, we’re the ones who apprehended you. Besides, you were caught on security cameras, and eyewitness testimony puts you at the scene. There’s no point in denyin’ what you did.”
“Fine,” Peter snapped. “We decided to rob the bank. Nobody put us up to it.”
Mack shook her head. “It doesn’t make any sense. None of you have serious criminal records. And one day, you up and decided to rob a bank? Why would you start with such a big target? Why not knock over a convenience store or something?”
West doubted they’d planned anything. This had to be John Doe.
Peter puffed out his chest. “Go big or go home, right?”
“Come on, who’s the real mastermind?” Mack’s tone was even, coaxing. “We think it’s a robber known as John Doe.”
Annie had remained silent, throughout the exchange, observing everything. Everyone.
“Did you happen to see him? He’s a handsome man,” Annie said. “And he reminds me of a young Mark Harmon.
Mack smiled appreciatively. “Oh yeah, Harmon’s damn sexy.”
West rolled his eyes.
“I don’t know who you’re talkin’ about.” Clearly, he was lying, and West didn’t need Storm to tell him so.
“You might be interested to know that while you were risking your lives, creating a diversion for him, Doe walked away with a cool six figures.” Mack said this casually, as though it were an offhand remark. “He’s done this to other scapegoats before. You aren’t the first and won’t be the last.”
The other two stood and whispered to one another. West couldn’t hear what they said, but there had to be dissension in the ranks. They motioned Peter over, and he listened to them, before turning his attention to Annie and Mack.
“And he didn’t get caught?” Peter asked.
Annie shook her head. “He never does. Doe wears disguises, so it’s difficult for people to identify him. He purposely set you up. ”
“And what did you get for your trouble?” Mack frowned. “Not a red cent and up to twenty years in jail.” It would be a slam dunk case if they chose to go to trial.
West was fascinated. Annie and Mack played off one another, ping-ponging back and forth. It was almost as if they’d been working together for years, developing a rhythm, a rapport.
“We didn’t shoot nobody.” Peter cleared his throat. The robbers exchanged worried looks.
Gotcha. West went in for the kill.
“It doesn’t matter. You had a gun, and that’s all the judge cares about. They’ll throw the book at you.”
“However, if you tell us what happened, maybe we can help you out,” Mack said smoothly. “The man we’re looking for has gotten away with millions of dollars, and he’s a fugitive, which puts you in an excellent bargaining position with the district attorney. He’s a big fish and you’re minnows.”
“If you’re honest and helpful, it would go a long way into reducing your sentences,” Annie added.
The three boys glanced at one another, having a silent conversation and then nodded in agreement.
“What do you want to know?” Peter asked. “We’ll cooperate.”
Mack and Annie exchanged smiles and then spoke in unison. “Everything.”
***
“Doe found the dumbasses online.” Mack shook her head, still marveling at what they’d discovered. “And they went along with him for pity’s sake.” An hour later they’d finished interrogating the robbers, but they were no closer to finding John Doe.
West was driving them back to HQ. Storm said they might’ve found something useful in the bunker and he prayed it was another lead. They were running out of options.
“Who in their right mind agrees to do a bank job after talking to someone on Skype?” Annie massaged her temples, and he could feel the tension rippling off of her. West knew exactly how she felt.
They’d hit another dead end.
John Doe had found the would-be robbers on Craigslist, and when they’d spoken, he’d offered them bank schematics, timetables, and everything else they needed for the heist. It hadn’t occurred to them to ask why he wasn’t doing the operation himself, or why he wouldn’t be joining them. Instead, he’d asked for a modest 10% cut, and they hadn’t seen through his smokescreen.
“Apparently those three are idiots.” West shook his head.
Unfortunately, tracing Doe’s location would be difficult. The cops had already been through the criminal’s electronic devices, but they’d been corrupted by a virus. West had to hand it to John Doe, the man knew how to cover his own tracks.
“We were so freaking close!” Annie shifted in her seat.
“Stormy said he might’ve found something in the bunker.” West knew he had to cheer them up—morale was plummeting. “You were both outstandin’ today. We wouldn’t have gotten anywhere with the Three Stooges if you hadn’t worked together. You were both Gray Men.”
Frowning, they stared at him.
Most people assumed Navy SEALs were hot dogs, showing off and going after the glory, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Teamwork was important, as well as watching out for your brothers.
West made a left turn. “I keep forgettin’ you weren’t trained like SEALs, which is a compliment by the way. During BUD/S, they introduced us to the concept of the Gray Man, a guy who pitches in and helps others out, who’s more focused on the team than himself. And we all aspire to be the Gray Man.”
BUD/S or Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL training had been grueling, and West had made it through Hell Week by the force of his will alone. Hell Week had been appropriately named. He’d been tested emotionally and physically, pushed to his limits, and West found he not only survived but thrived under pressure.
“Thanks, Chief,” Mack said.
“Thank you, West,” Annie said.
She still refused to use the title, and he chuckled. Annie was such a stubborn little thing, and in a way, she reminded West of himself. Annie didn’t back down, never gave up. She was a woman of worth, one of a kind.
And West couldn’t stop thinking about her.
***
“What did you find out?”
When they returned to HQ, Storm was in the command center seated in front of a computer with three screens surrounding him. West had paid a pretty penny for all the necessary technology, and he’d gotten Stormy’s input on all of his purchases.
Storm shook his head. “Not much. A lot of canned goods, toilet paper, and that’s it. The place was cleaned out.”
“So John Doe and Turner are on the move.”
“It’s a safe bet, Chief.” He snatched a piece of paper from the counter. “However, I found a notepad with indentations.” The paper was full of pencil markings, a hasty scribble, covering the entire sheet.
“You traced what had been written on it?”
“Yup, it’s a low-tech solution, but it works. Usually. This time, I only got two words from it, which sound like nonsense to me. Twin Otter.” Storm turned to Annie. “Does it mean anything to you?”
She shook her head. “I’m not surprised though, when it comes to John Doe, everything is a mystery. The man doesn’t exist.”
“Think Turner wrote it instead?” Storm asked, and she shrugged.
“For all we knew, Ryder got high one night and wrote it down.” As clues went, it sucked. “Who knows? Maybe the bastards are fucking with us?” West would give his eyeteeth for a drone right about now.
“Wait a second. A Twin Otter is a type of airplane.” Mack sat beside Storm and typed on the keyboard, pulling up a picture of a small airplane on one of the screens.
“How’d you know?” West asked.
Mack swiveled to face him. “I got my pilot’s license a few years back, and I’ve flown one.”
“Do any of them have a pilot’s license?” Stormy asked.
“Turner and Ryder don’t, and I don’t have a clue about Doe, but it’s a good possibility.” Annie nodded to the computer. “Are there any private air fields around here?”
West had a hunch they’d be dealing with Doe, not Turner. Doe seemed methodical, systematic, and the type who’d come up with a nearly fool proof exit strategy.
Private airplanes weren’t subject to the same kind of scrutiny as commercial flights. Security at those is minimal. It’s like 9/11 never happened there. It would be easy for him to get in and out.
West nodded. “Yeah, there’s one just up the road.”
“I say we stake it out then.” Storm pulled up the airfield on the computer, so they could take a gander at it. “My guess is Doe will impersonate the owner.”
“And here’s the twenty five thousand dollar question.” That was the reward for Doe’s capture. “Does anybody at this particular airport have a Twin Otter plane?”
***
They sat on the airport, surveilling it, for three fucking days without a break.
West was going out of his mind, waiting for something to happen. This was worse than any mission he’d ever been on, in terms of boredom.
Annie had tacked up pictures of all Doe’s known disguises, so they had a clue what to look for. Doe was a chameleon—dyeing his hair different shades, and wearing colored contacts. Although, he “couldn’t disguise how handsome he is” according to Mack. From the footage they’d studied, he walked differently for each one, too. It’s almost as if he became other people.
No wonder they’d had such a hard time pinning him down.
West had them work in shifts, so they covered twenty four hours a day. The airport never closed, so they didn’t have much choice. He’d given himself all the shifts with Annie, except for one.
King had lifted a knowing brow but didn’t say a thing about the arrangements. He’d mixed and matched the rest of the staff into different combinations, figuring it would be a chance for them to get better acquainted.
He’d had one shift with Annie so far, but he’d choked. West had intended to tempt her into his bed once more, but she’d been distracted, agitated. He had a feeling she was worried they’d never grab the other two targets.
And he didn’t blame her one bit. They were getting nowhere fast.
He knew she wouldn’t forgive herself until she’d avenged Mike’s death. And she was planning on taking matters into her own two hands, he could feel it.
In the weeks after Tommy’s death, West had been volatile. If there’d been somebody to punish, West would’ve hunted the motherfucker down and strangled him. Yes, West understood her motivations, but he wouldn’t allow her to make another mistake, she just didn’t know it yet.
“I think he’s headed to Canada. From there, he could go anywhere in the world.”
West blinked.
He’d been so lost in thought, he hadn’t noticed Mack sitting beside him. She’d been quiet, contemplative. They were nearly through their twelve hour shift, and she hadn’t said much.
They were in his Jeep. She’d brought along a small cooler packed with fruit, veggies, and dip, along with a thermos of coffee. Mack had even shared her snacks with him. West thought he could get used to female coworkers.
“What makes you say so?”
“He’s smart. When law enforcement expects him to zig, he zags. Most criminals would head to Mexico.”
“Yeah, and I bet the Marshal Service has informed border patrol.”
She nodded. “But they have no idea what his real name is and even if they did, Doe excels at disguises. With the cash he got from his recent heist, he could afford excellent forgeries, too.”
“You’ve been crawling around in his head, haven’t you?” Mack had a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in criminal justice.
“Yeah, but I can’t figure out what he’s been doing with the money. Maybe he’s squirreling it away somewhere, or he’s using it to finance another enterprise.” She shook her head. “And even if I got the chance to question him, he wouldn’t break.”
He slanted a glance at her. “You almost sound as though you admire him.”
A hushed silence followed.
“I suppose I do, in a way. He’s clever, and you don’t find many intelligent criminals. Or at least the FBI doesn’t cross paths with them.”
“Because they’re too crafty to get caught?”
“Yup. I’ve seen my share of dunces.”
She’d never given him a straight answer as to why she’d left the Hostage Rescue Team. It was a prestigious unit in the FBI and, being female, she’d had to bust her ass to get there. Like the military, the feds were a bit of a boy’s club.
So why’d she leave such a choice assignment? But this was hardly the time for a career discussion, so West left it alone. Besides, the FBI’s loss was his gain.
All of a sudden, Mack picked up the binoculars and peered through them at a car in the distance. A man got out of it.
“Hey, check it out.” She handed them over so he could take a gander.
West studied the potential target. “It’s hard to say, but he’s the right height, weight, and appears to be the same age.” Although, some of Doe’s disguises were old men. People were solicitous and helpful to the elderly, so it made sense to impersonate one. “Call Annie and tell her to get here fast. She’s the only one who’s seen him in person, and I want her input.”
“On it.” Mack made a quick phone call and then hung up. “She’s headed over. In the meantime, let’s get a closer look.”
They hopped out of the vehicle and slowly meandered over, so they didn’t draw attention to themselves. The man in question had grabbed a suitcase from the trunk of his car and wheeled it into the airport. He didn’t seem to be in a hurry or anxious in any way.
Inside, they found him at the front desk, talking with a young blonde clerk at the counter. It was a tiny place, compared to a commercial airport. There was only one front desk, no baggage check area, no TSA agents.
A sign by the door highlighted their “signature concierge service.” For a fee, the airport staff pulled the plane from the hangar, fueled it, and got it ready for takeoff in only thirty minutes notice.
The man abruptly stopped speaking and turned around, to glance at West.
The man was tall, broad shouldered, and fit. His eyes were blue, and he had a black beard, obscuring his features. He also wore a ball cap pulled down low, which nearly covered his hair. He had a black leather jacket, jeans, loafers, and an expensive watch on one wrist. The potential target appeared to be a businessman or an entrepreneur, someone who could afford this luxury.
West smiled at him, casual and calm.
The man’s gaze lit on Mack standing next to him and his eyes widened before he looked her up and down. He did it once, twice, and then a third time. Obviously, he liked what he saw. And if West wasn’t mistaken, by the flush on Mack’s cheeks, she wasn’t immune to his charms. Although she stopped blushing and stared at the man. Hard.
And then she inhaled sharply.
West turned to Mack, a question in his eyes. Is this our tango?
She nodded.
That’s all West needed. “Excuse me, sir, may I have a word?”
John Doe immediately sprang into action. He vaulted behind the counter and grabbed the clerk. He must’ve had a gun in his pocket because it was pressed against the young woman’s temple. Her name tag read Lila.
Both West and Mack pulled their guns.
Lila’s eyes were wide with fear.
“It’s okay, Lila,” West said reassuringly. “You believe me, don’t you?”
She bit her lower lip and then nodded.
West reached for his ear, ready to activate the comms when John Doe raised the gun.
“Don’t even think about calling reinforcements.”
West lowered his hand. “Fine, we’ll play this your way.”
“Look, I just want to leave. I don’t see the need to hurt anyone unless you make me.” He backed toward the rear door, which lead out onto the tarmac. A plane waited in the distance. Presumably, it was ready to go.
“You’re gonna have to get through me.” Quickly, West pointed the Glock at the man’s head, but he ducked behind the woman. As soon as he had the shot, he’d take it.
West sized up his opponent. Doe had to be military. He moved fast, didn’t panic, and he knew how to handle himself. But which branch? And when did he start playing for the wrong team?
“What’s all this money for, John?” Mack asked, stepping forward.
“Expenses.” His eyes narrowed. “And who might you be?”
“I’m Mackenzie, but you can call me Mack.”
“No, I don’t think I will.” His lips curved.
“No?”
“You’re nothin’ like the truck. No, you’re all together somethin’ different.” His tone was admiring.
West felt like he was eavesdropping on an intimate conversation.
“I don’t believe you.”
Doe blinked. “About what?”
His hold on the woman loosened almost imperceptibly. John Doe was fixated on Mack. Then again, he’d been in jail, and he’d spent the last six months in a hole in the ground. West supposed a stiff breeze could set him off at this point.
Mack shook her head. “I don’t think the cash is for you.”
“How do you figure?”
“Look at your clothes.” She gestured to him. “I bet you have a hundred bucks in that outfit, tops.”
“I’m wearin’ a leather jacket and an expensive watch.”
“No, the watch is a knockoff, and the leather isn’t high-quality either.” She glanced at West to explain. “I know my fashion.”
Very astute. And he’d been stealing millions. So where did the money go?
Doe didn’t reply.
“Come on, talk to me.” Mack took a step closer, but Doe didn’t back off. Lila had shut her eyes and tilted her head to one shoulder, as though trying to bury her face. She was scared, but unharmed, for the moment.
“I’m not at liberty to say,” Doe said smoothly. “Just out of curiosity, how would you spend it?” He cocked his head to one side, waiting for her to answer him, with baited breath, as though it really mattered.
“A Hermès watch,” she said without hesitation. “A leather one, with a diamond encrusted face.”
Doe grinned. “And why’s that?”
“I saw one in Vogue and tore the page out. I promised myself I’d buy it if I ever won the lottery.”
“Not diamonds? Furs?” Doe asked.
She shook her head. “No, the watch would be practical, although luxurious.”
Doe hung on her every word. West got the strangest impression, as though the man had just made a mental note of her preferences. They didn’t know one another, but there was an undercurrent of attraction, a connection, which wouldn’t be denied.
“Enough about my fashion preferences,” Mack continued on, undaunted. “How have you been choosing targets? You’ve been robbing assholes, John, people who’ve taken advantage of others. It’s not like you’re stealing from little old ladies. Know what that means?”
“Why don’t you tell me?” His eyes were hooded, wary.
“It means you’ve got your own code, standards, so you’re probably not such a bad guy. Yes, you break the law, but you’ve got morals.”
West didn’t agree at all. Then again, his worldview was black and white, right and wrong. Doe stole from other people. Therefore he was a bad guy. See? Simple.
“You’re wrong.”
“No, I’m not. Although, I can’t figure out why you set the teenage robbers up.”
Doe was listening to her. The smart thing to do would be to run away, take his hostage and go, but he was lingering. West might be able to use it to his advantage.
If he’d just move his head to the left…
“They weren’t exactly choir boys. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll find that out.”
“See. You have a code. Why are you really doing this?”
He swallowed, opened his mouth to speak, and then slammed it shut. “I swear you’ll never hear from me again.”
“Just let the woman go, and deal with me.” Mack took another step forward.
“Are you offerin’ to take her place?” Once again, his appreciative gaze swept over her body. “That’s a swap, I’d be happy to make.”
Just then, the door swung open behind them, and Annie raced inside.
Automatically, West put himself between her and the shooter. Funny, he hadn’t protected Mack, but the thought of Annie being in danger bothered the hell out of him.
“Well, if it isn’t the marshal. Nice to see you again.” He smirked.
“Turn yourself in, Doe.”
“Never.” He sighed. “Let me tell you what’s gonna happen here. Lila and I are gonna walk out to the plane, and you’re going to stay here. If I see anyone on the tarmac, she dies. If you try to ground the plane by scramblin’ some fighter jets to tail me, she dies. If you leave me alone, I’ll drop her off, safe and sound.”
Lila gasped.
“You don’t have to worry, Lila, he’s never killed anyone before, and I don’t think he wants to harm you,” Mack said to comfort the hostage.
“She’s right, Lila, I don’t, unless these fools do something stupid.”
“There’s no need to hurt her.” Annie went around West, and he resisted the urge to grasp her elbow and pull her to safety. “To be perfectly honest, I only care about capturing Turner.”
Doe nodded. “We agree on that. He’s a danger, Marshal. You’d better get him, soon. He’s spiralin’.”
“What do you mean?” West asked.
West was adjusting to this new playing field. He was used to dealing with terrorists, tribal leaders, people with agendas and a purpose. Sure, they might take barbaric measures to reach their goals, but they didn’t kill for pleasure. Tracking a serial killer was a whole new ball of wax. He didn’t know how to anticipate what a crazy person would do.
“He hasn’t killed for so long, it’s like the bloodlust is pent up or somethin’.”
“You think he’s about to go on a spree?” Annie asked.
“Define a spree,” West said.
Doe ignored him. “Let’s put it this way, I slept with one eye open. I’m not his type, but I think he’s gonna go off the deep end.”
“Oh shit.” Annie shut her eyes.
“What the fuck is a spree?” West asked tightly, gripping his weapon.
Mack answered him. “Remember the Ted Bundy case?”
West nodded. The serial killer was infamous. He’d admitted to murdering thirty-six women, but most people thought the real total was in the hundreds.
“I’ve read the FBI records on him,” Mack said. “The bureau interviewed Bundy when it was trying to classify and understand serial killers. Anyway, one night he went into a frenzy, slaughtering several women in a sorority house. Prior to that, he’d only been snatching women one at a time.”
West didn’t like the sound of it. Liberty Hill was a small town, full of hard-working folks, and he couldn’t stand the thought of a predator in their midst.
“Do you know where he’s hiding?” Annie asked.
“No, but I can point you in the right direction. If you found me, I’m assumin’ you know about the fallout shelter?” Doe asked.
“Yes, we already searched it.” According to Storm, they hadn’t found anything else useful. West thought Turner must’ve scrubbed it down before he left.
“Look at the property around it. There are several acres to search.”
“And what are we looking for?” Annie asked, and her voice was barely a whisper.
West could hear the anguish and guilt in her tone, and he knew she blamed herself.
“Turner killed a woman the other night which is when we parted ways. You’ll find her body in a pond. He left it there when he was finished.” Doe grimaced. “She’s the first of many. Good luck, Marshal.” He turned to Mack. “It was a pleasure meetin’ you, Mackenzie. I wish it were under different circumstances.” With that, Doe headed outside with Lila in tow.
In a matter of minutes, he was airborne.
“Can’t we go after him?” Mack went to the window.
“No, goddammit.” West punched the wall. “I won’t risk Lila’s life, and we don’t have the cash to chase a globe-trotting suspect.”
There goes twenty-five thousand bucks.