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“Sorry, you’re right. You don’t need my promises. I don’t want to see them get hurt any more than you do. I just need my truck fixed and then Bruce and I will be history.”
His thick, dark brows inch up slowly.
“It’s not that simple, darlin’. Faulk says your cell’s been ringing off the hook.”
Oh, crap.
My heart sinks clear to my toes.
I remember I’d left it in the kitchen when the girls came home.
“The rescue?” I ask, knowing and dreading the answer.
He nods sternly. “From at least five different numbers, some with area codes out of state. Faulk installed blocks so nothing can ping your location remotely. Hopefully they haven’t already done it. Whatever you do, don’t turn your GPS back on. They might have all kinds of tricks to track it, or pull that info out of the wireless company if they’ve got an in with the law. He also suggests ignoring all texts. Depending on their carriers, they might know if you’ve ever read the messages.”
“I haven’t. Never opened a single message since I left Minot,” I promise, right before my gut goes into a falling spiral.
Guilt, shame, and remorse twist in my belly like something clawing its way out.
With Faulk busy in the kitchen, that’s one more innocent person I’ve dragged into this crap.
My steps feel like lead as we walk to the house.
Faulk is still there studying his computer screen when we enter the kitchen.
“Update: we’ve got ourselves a location we need to check out,” he says, looking up. “Everything’s encrypted, but there’re a few coordinates and time stamps coming up pretty often from what I’m seeing in the history. I was able to pull a few pics and examine the details. It ain’t too far from here, right near the Montana border. From Google Maps, it’s in the middle of state land, with nothing around for miles. Trouble is, I can’t zoom in too well. This place is out in the sticks and the public satellites only make a pass of those places every few years. I’ll have to drive out there to get a good look on the ground.”
“No,” Grady snaps. “You’re doing enough with this computer shit. I’ll drive out there, Faulk.”
“No, you won’t,” I cut in. “I’ll go myself.”
“In what?” he asks.
Dammit, he’s right. My face falls.
I hate this. Hate how helpless I feel.
Maybe it’s time I should give up and call Dad for advice. He’s somewhere in Africa and not always easy to reach, but I know I could get in touch with him if I need to.
He’s the only person I can totally trust besides these men to call in help. I don’t want to, though, because I know how disappointed he’ll be by what I’ve gotten into.
There’s a part of me that believes my father will understand.
Another part of me fears he’ll be furious.
I just want to make him proud of me.
That’s all I’ve ever hoped for, and this fiasco isn’t helping me accomplish that.
I’m half zoned out, too in my head, listening to Grady and Faulk tossing details back and forth like two generals strategizing a war plan.
I catch snatches of conversation about the town, the shit that keeps happening here. That’s what they call it, even if they don’t elaborate.
“I’m telling you, man, I’m not gonna be the guy to bring another flaming bag of crap to our doorstep,” Grady growls. “I’m not getting any of my friends hurt, especially you. I think having a whole tribe of goats to bail our asses out was a one-time deal.”
Goats? Huh?
Faulk bursts out laughing before his tone turns serious. “Yeah, well, whoever’s doing the driving out to that place...they’d better be mighty careful. There’s no telling what’s hanging out there, or who. Anybody playing scout needs to look like they belong in those parts, not snooping around, you feel me?”
“I know. I’ll take precautions. Maybe break out my gear and the big gun, if I need to,” Grady continues, leaning toward his friend, speaking in this low whisper I think is meant not to worry me.
It does.
All in all, their somewhat heated exchange makes me feel like crap on a cracker.
“Guys? Surely there’s a vehicle I can rent,” I pipe up when I can’t take it anymore. “What if I get one that makes me look like a vacationer? A clueless hiker checking out the area, or something...”
“Hm. I like the subterfuge idea. We’ll bring my four-wheeler along for the ride and make it look like we’re just out exploring,” Grady says before he turns to Faulk again.
I walk to the door while the two big men talk and slip outside.
Bruce should be waking up any time now. While walking to the barn, I scan the pasture, looking for plumes of dust. When I see the girls are still far enough away, I quickly run across the property and enter the barn.
