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“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” Swede said.
Hank picked up the narrative. “He has a strong motivation to do whatever it takes to save his family’s home. No man wants his wife and three little kids kicked out into the street.”
“That’s not enough information to go after the man,” Breely argued.
“No, but a twenty-thousand-dollar deposit to his checking account is a red flag. Enough to make the police question his whereabouts the night you were attacked,” Hank said.
Breely pinched the bridge of her nose. “I remember Cody being a nice, respectful young man. Kidnapping a woman doesn’t sound like something the Cody I knew would do. His only fault back then was getting involved with me. It got him kicked off the ranch.”
Breely leaned forward. “Please, don’t get the police involved…yet. If he’s not the one, you’re only making his crappy situation worse. Can’t you send one of your guys out to question him? Hell, if you get me his phone number, I’ll call him. He might not want to talk to me, but it’s worth a try. My gut is telling me you’re barking up the wrong tree. Do you have anything on any of the others on the list?”
“What about the Dillon guy who stole the money?” Moe asked.
“We’ve been looking into him, as well,” Swede said. “His latest address is a mobile home park in Kalispell. We sent one of our guys up there to learn more. He got there yesterday and asked around. One of Dillon’s friends said he recently purchased a bright yellow Corvette with a souped-up muffler. As the friend said, It’s bitchin’. The same friend said Dillon had been hanging out with a guy from a local biker gang. They’ve been seen riding around together in the yellow Corvette—until a week ago.”
Moe’s gut twisted. This Dillon guy sounded like a winner.
Swede continued, “Dillon doesn’t have much of a bank account. We don’t see any sizable deposits, nor do we see any big withdrawals for a down payment on a car. We pulled his credit report. He doesn’t have any current liens on a car or house. He declared bankruptcy six years ago. If he’s driving a new Corvette, either he paid cash or he stole it.”
Breely looked up at Hank and Swede. “Did your guy in Kalispell find Dillon?”
They shook their heads.
“No one has seen his yellow Corvette for over a week,” Hank said. “No one saw it in Bozeman the night of your attack. The detective said the white van was found at an abandoned house on the outskirts of Bozeman. Someone could’ve hidden a flashy car there, used the van for the kidnapping then come back to his getaway car.”
“It’s been a week since the attack,” Breely said. “If he was going to make a second attempt, wouldn’t he have done it by now?”
Kyla waved a hand. “When could he?”
“Exactly. You’ve been surrounded by us, and you have a full-time bodyguard,” Stone said. “That has to be putting a cramp in his plan.”
“Has your father received any more death threats?” Kyla asked.
Breely shook her head. “No.”
“I’ve been following the election campaign in Venezuela. Salazar is claiming DeVita is corrupt and that he’s funneling drug money through the orphanages and community clinics the Brantt Philanthropy Foundation built to serve the people.”
Breely nodded. “I’d heard. My people are launching a campaign to correct Salazar’s claims. They hope to reverse the damage Salazar’s slur campaign has caused.”
Kyla crossed her arms over her chest and gave Breely a devilish smile. “Despite spewing misinformation, DeVita is still ahead in the polls. He’s projected to win.”
“Which means Salazar has to be getting desperate,” Hank said from the screen.
“Does Dillon and the kidnapping attempt have a connection to the Venezuelan election?” Breely shook her head. “I don’t understand the point. I can see Dillon kidnapping me to extort money from my father. What does it have to do with anything else?”
“We checked with the detective in charge of the kidnapping investigation in Bozeman,” Swede’s lips twisted. “They don’t have more information than they did a week ago.”
“We need to find Dillon,” Breely said.
“Before he finds Breely,” Moe said.
“If he and his motorcycle gang sidekick are the kidnappers, they might have the answers we’re looking for.” Hank lifted his chin. “Be on the lookout for Dillon and or a bright yellow Corvette.”
“We could use a current photo of him,” Moe said.
“You know, I might have one.” Breely pulled out her cell phone and scrolled through hundreds of photos. She slowed and eased through until she found what she was looking for. “Here.” She handed her phone to Kyla.
Moe leaned over Kyla’s shoulder.
