Bending, he used a butter knife to pry the boards up and there he found what Clark had promised. A ledger and an envelope full of documents.
Bear didn’t waste any time.
He hauled ass back to his truck and jumped into the driver’s side, slamming his foot on the gas pedal. The back shimmied, spewing mud all over, as he headed back toward Fin’s Creek.
His throat was tight and his head ached as he kept looking at his phone. Waiting for service. It wasn’t until he was closer to the interstate that he finally saw that he had service.
He called Aasia’s phone and she didn’t answer. He left a voice message…
“Call me. It’s important. It’s an emergency.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
“Don’t move.”
The old farmhouse was eerily quiet.
Aasia grabbed Phoebe’s hand, feeling the trembling. “It’ll be okay,” Aasia whispered. She wished she believed her own words. When she and Phoebe came home, they had no idea someone was lurking inside, waiting. Aasia had always disliked Bentley’s campaign manager, Fitsgerald. Now she knew why he made her skin crawl.
She took a step-in front of Phoebe.
“You never did listen. I said don’t move.” His tone was sharp and low.
The pistol in his hand looked steady, like he’d done this before.
“Why are you here? What do you want?” Aasia asked, although she could already guess.
Fitsgerald didn’t answer.
Her heart pounded so hard she could hear it in her ears. Her entire body ached. She tried to fight the panic, but it consumed her. Not as much for herself but for her sister.
Thunder boomed above the farmhouse, making her jump.
“Please let my sister go. I’ll do whatever you ask,” Aasia pleaded.
“Shut up and listen.”
The man’s face appeared cold and harsh. He’d been in the rain because his clothes were dripping wet. Mud covered his boots. His eyes were restless as they flicked from Aasia to Phoebe as if he hadn’t any idea there would be two sisters.
Aasia took a deep breath.
Pedora was at church.
Aasia hadn’t been in contact with Bear in days.
And Phoebe had been ignoring messages from Grimes.
They were screwed.
Don’t panic. Don’t scream. Be smart.
“Tell me what you want.” Oddly, Aasia managed to sound in control.
His gaze snapped to her. “I ask the questions.”
She heard Phoebe’s whimper.
When she was a kid Aasia always took care of her. But this wasn’t a scraped knee or a breakup with a boy. They were being held at gunpoint.
