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Aaron nodded. “They understood.”
“Okay.” Tucker walked back into the office and looked at the clock.
9:23 p.m. (10:23 p.m.). It would take about an hour and a half to hike up to the Colony settlement. Once Beau and his friends arrived here and realized what had happened, they would be on their tail fast. It didn’t leave much time.
He thought about Laura. How he had wished he could kill the kid who took her life. But he knew what she would say:
“What good would it do? It won’t bring me back. How does more death help?”
Tucker picked up his gun and stuck it in his holster. Then he grabbed his thick, black duffel and a spare one for Aaron. The boy looked up at him.
Tucker took his key and opened the door to the cell.
“Let’s go.”
—
They left on foot and cut around the back of Main Street. Not many people were out and about. The wind was bitter and snow was flurrying down. The weather was good camouflage. No one saw faces in the cold. Just hunchbacks with their hoods up.
Town soon fell behind them. They kept to the side of the road. The tall spruce of the forest and the peaks of the Denali Mountains loomed on their left. Further on, Tucker knew there was a rough path that ran through the forest and then joined the old rail tracks up to the Colony settlement.
Aaron suddenly grabbed his arm. Tucker turned.
“What?”
The boy’s eyes were wide. “Something’s coming.”
And now Tucker heard it: the low whine of engines. He looked up. Headlights rounded the corner and blinded him. He raised a hand. Beside him, he felt the boy wince. Two trucks crawled down the road toward them and pulled up, side by side, blocking their way. Shit. The lights flared and then dimmed. Four figures climbed out.
Josh Barnes, Cooper Flint, Tom Jenner…and Beau Grainger.
Tucker felt the betrayal like a sucker punch. Jess had set him up.
He stared at the men. Their faces were grim, and they all carried weapons: shotguns, crossbows and UV guns. Josh Barnes held a large axe.
Tucker focused on Beau. He tried to keep his voice calm. “What are you doing here?”
“Maybe you should tell us what you’re doing,” Beau said. “Because it looks like you’re trying to abscond with a killer.”
Tucker pushed Aaron slightly behind him. “I got a warning some folks might attack the police department. It’s my duty to protect the suspect.”
“I thought your duty was to protect the people of Deadhart?”
“The two aren’t mutually exclusive.”
“Yeah they are,” Josh growled.
“I’m just taking him somewhere safe.”
“You’re not taking him anywhere,” Beau said, raising his crossbow. “Drop your weapon, Tucker.”
“I’m the chief of this town.”
“No. Right now you’re a criminal, aiding and abetting a murderer. Drop your gun. Slowly.”
Tucker felt the anger burn, but he was outnumbered and out-armed. Slowly, he took out his weapon and threw it to the ground. Josh picked it up. He handed it to Beau.
Tucker shook his head. “I’m not going to let you hurt him.”
