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Jaris came over with Sugar. “Kaylyn?”
“Right here.”
He walked to her and pulled her into his arms. “I want to get you home as soon as possible.”
“I want that, too.”
“Once Jason finishes his briefing, we’ll go back to your house.”
* * * *
Jaris held Kaylyn tight. The news about Jacob and Josh had stunned all of them. She was trembling and he realized she felt responsible.
Jason came up onstage with Nicole. He gave a more detailed account of the disappearance of Jacob and Josh to those gathered around. Even though Jaris couldn’t see the security detail that the sheriff had put together for Dragon Week, he knew them to be quite capable.
“Jacob’s dad informed me that they had told him they would return by five,” the sheriff said. “No one had been worried when they didn’t show up, knowing they were determined to find Kaylyn’s missing dogs. But when the horses returned about ten minutes ago without them, that changed the whole equation.”
“Sheriff, I’m betting this has something to do with Lunceford,” Corey, one of Belle’s husbands and a US marshal, stated flatly.
Jaris reached into his coat pocket and touched the handle of his pistol. It was still a talisman that made him feel better in this kind of dire situation, with or without his sight.
“I agree, Marshal,” the sheriff said. “This is likely the move we’ve been expecting. We all want you to keep your wife safe, so you won’t be part of the search party. Since Belle is Kip’s main target, I also want Emmett, Cody, and Bryant to be excluded, too.”
Jaris was impressed with the sheriff’s tactical talents. Keeping Amber’s three husbands alongside of Belle’s two made a great deal of sense.
“We’re going to take Belle and Amber back to the ranch after this briefing, Jason,” Shane, Belle’s other husband and brother to Corey, said. He’d served several years in prison undercover for the CIA, keeping tabs on Lunceford. If anyone knew how the bastard operated, it was Shane.
“I want everyone else to form search parties for our two men.”
Easton Black, the leader of Shannon’s Elite, the local CIA team, spoke up. “Sheriff, given the seriousness of this situation, I’d like to suggest appointing members of my team as leads so that the search parties will have access to ROCs. You know how spotty cell service can be around here, especially in the mountains.”
“What’s a ROC?” one of the deputized citizens asked.
“A declassified communication device used by the Agency. Their technical name is Reconnaissance Oscillating Communication Seven Series, but we call them ROCs.”
“Great idea, Easton,” the sheriff said. “With their range, all the teams should be in constant communication. I’ll take a team to Nickel Ridge. Dylan will take another group to Turkey’s Pass. Sean and Matt grab a couple of deputies and head down to Narrow Belt. Nicole will be point on this, running the whole operation from my office.”
“Sheriff, I’m going, too.”
Jaris immediately recognized Hiro Phong’s voice. Being Jacob’s uncle and Josh’s dad, the man had reason to want to be part of the search party.
“Of course. You’ll be on Sean and Matt’s team, okay?”
“Yes.” The tight concern in Hiro’s voice was obvious.
“Sheriff, please find my nephew and son.” The tone of Melissa, Hiro’s wife, was full of a mother’s worry.
“We will, Mrs. Phong. I’m sending every man on this one.”
“Thank you.”
Every man? That meant there wouldn’t be men to spare to keep watch on Kaylyn’s house. Not good, even with him and Chance acting as her bodyguards.
The sheriff gave a few more instructions and then ended with “Okay everyone, let’s get going.”
Jaris pulled Kaylyn in close, feeling her trembles increase. “You okay, baby?”
“I’m just so worried about Jacob and Josh. I won’t be okay until they are back home safe.”
