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“Really?” She tucked her towel around her body. Coming up behind him, she stood on her tiptoes and peered over his shoulder. “What’s it say?”
Find the drugs, stop the kidnappings. Begin at the beginning.
“What?” She dropped to her heels. “Who sent that? What does it mean?”
He pulled out a chair and sat on the edge, tapping his phone against his chin. “Let’s think about it for a minute. The Lords of Chaos were selling drugs back then. Even Gary Binder was involved at a low level and he was eliminated.”
“And that drug trade had something to do with the kidnappings.”
“The Lords had to be getting the drugs from somewhere because they weren’t producers, and they had to be getting the money to buy the drugs from somewhere.”
“Other criminal activities?” She massaged her temples. “How do the kidnappings fit in?”
Jim snapped his fingers. “Or the Lords paid in trade.”
“What does that mean?”
“The Lords were doing something for the drug providers in exchange for product.”
“Like what? Fixing their bikes?”
“Like kidnapping.”
Scarlett clutched the towel around her waist. “Do you think the Lords of Chaos kidnapped those kids in exchange for the drugs?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“A-and who supplied the drugs?”
“Think about it.”
“My uncle.”
“Bingo.” Jim pressed the tip of his index finger in the middle of her forehead.
“But that would mean he ordered the kidnappings. Why? Why would Uncle Danny want to kidnap three children?”
“I don’t know, but the conversation you heard in the stairwell last night indicates that he wants to do it again.”
“Oh, no.” She shook her head, the wet ends of her hair flicking droplets of water here and there. “This town can’t go through something like that again. When Wyatt Carson kidnapped those kids, it just about tore Timberline apart at the seams.”
“So, back to the text.” He drummed his fingers on the credenza. “It sounds like there are some drugs missing.”
“Once those drugs are found, they can be payoff for another round of kidnappings, but what’s the purpose of the kidnappings? Where are those three—Kayla, Stevie and Heather?”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, but I’m thinking it had to be some child-trafficking ring.”
“My uncle?” She twisted the corner of her towel between two fingers. “I know he’s not a good guy, but that?”
“What else? If some sicko was just murdering kids, he’d do it himself. Why go through some elaborate scheme of using drugs to compensate a bunch of bikers to kidnap the children?”
“And why those bikers?” Shivering, she crossed her arms.
Jim tucked her towel around her body. “Go get dressed and dry your hair. You’re getting chilled.”
“This conversation isn’t helping.” She turned and scurried back to the bathroom. “And I’m going with you to see Dax.”
An hour later, after checking out via the TV, they slipped out of the hotel.
Scarlett watched the hotel entrance in her rearview mirror as she drove out of the parking lot. “If that was Danny in the stairwell, he can’t know for sure that I was the one listening to him. I’m so glad you didn’t call out my name.”
“Me, too, but you need to watch your back.”
“We both do.” She tugged on the sleeve of his flannel shirt. “Do you think anyone’s going to notice we’re wearing the same clothes as yesterday?”
“I don’t think it matters unless you want to go home and change.”
“That’s okay. I at least had a shower.”
“I remember.” He brushed one knuckle down her thigh.
“Jim, about last night...” She bit her bottom lip.
He squeezed her leg above her knee. “A night to remember.”
Her nose tingled and she nodded. “I’ll never forget it.”
And maybe that’s all she’d ever have of Jim Kennedy—the memories. Would they be enough?
* * *
SCARLETT PULLED INTO the parking lot of the main hospital, which was around the corner from the emergency entrance. Jim checked in at the reception desk on the ICU floor, and the nurse gave him Dax’s room number and the go-ahead to visit him.
