“That’s a lot of money,” Mal said.
Richards nodded. “Yes, it is. But if it were you, and you knew you could get much, much more, wouldn’t you?”
“I would,” Mal said.
“Which supports my theory that these guys are amateurs and thugs,” Frank said.
Richards nodded. “I agree completely. Often in cases like this, we follow the money to a company going bankrupt or something similar. I’ll have to dig deeper, of course, but you and your distillery are in good shape.”
They all looked toward the door when Phillipe came back, followed by Margo and Detective Charlise.
“I think I was helpful,” Phillipe said. It was easy to see he felt guilty that he couldn’t have prevented this somehow.
Margo laid one hand on his shoulder. “You’ve been extremely helpful, and now you should really see a doctor.”
“Yes, he should.” Mal stood up. “I’m not taking no for an answer this time.” He picked up the landline and called Billy’s cell. “Would you take Phillipe to my doctor’s office?”
By the time Billy arrived, Mal had arranged for his physician to meet Phillipe at the nearest hospital. “Don’t worry, the bill is covered. And do what the man tells you to do. Come back here and stay in my house until this is over. The man with the note knows you, and it’ll be safer that way,” Mal told Phillipe, then walked him to the door. He turned to the others. “Billy will make sure Phillipe doesn’t have any trouble.”
Detective Santini laughed. “I wouldn’t want to tangle with him in a dark alley.”
Mal nodded. “Good life choice.”
“Once I got Phillipe to calm down a little bit, he was able to give us a decent description of the man with the note. He also gave us very specific locations. We should have security camera feeds from the stores in the immediate area in a few minutes,” Charlise said. He picked up a laptop bag he’d brought and pulled out a computer. “Where can I set up? Is the connection secure?”
“Over here.” Audrey motioned to a conference table. “There are ports under the table. Our cyber security might rival yours. Corporate espionage and stealing mash-mix recipes is a big threat.”
Charlise smirked and nodded. He spent a few minutes hooking his laptop up and getting it started. Sitting back in the chair, he asked Audrey, “Password?”
Mal crossed to the conference table. “You can use mine.” He leaned over and entered it. “It changes every week and gives you access to everything.”
“Good,” Charlise said. “Thanks.” After another minute he was turning the laptop so everyone could see the image. “Anyone recognize these men?”
“I’ve… maybe,” Mal said slowly.
“Nashville,” Frank announced. “Remember the guy I chased off? That’s him. I’m absolutely sure of it.”
“Before we went to tape The Tonight Show, we were in Nashville making a commercial. Colt, Frank, and I walked out of a building, and Colt was approached by a man who grabbed his arm and claimed to know him,” Mal explained.
“And did he?” Margo asked.
Mal pulled in a breath and blew it out. “Colt told me he thought the man seemed familiar but couldn’t place him. He did remember hearing the man’s voice, but again couldn’t figure out from where. Colt was pretty shaken by the whole thing. Actually, I think his trip to Gatlinburg was the first time he left this property without Frank or one of the other bodyguards. He was staying there for a few days doing some photography work.” Mal decided there was no need to air their personal issues. Those facts would simply divert the police from finding Colt, or so he thought.
“You believed him?” Richards asked.
“Yes. He was telling the truth.” Mal looked around at them.
“And why weren’t you with Colt when he went to Gatlinburg?” Charlise asked Frank.
Frank met Charlise’s gaze steadily. “I’m an employee, and Colt isn’t a prisoner. He’s not required to have a bodyguard, and honestly, it isn’t always necessary. This is his home. A few days in town doesn’t warrant extra protection.”
“Or so we all thought,” Audrey added.
“How’d they know where Colt would be in the first place?” Mal said. Everyone else in the room stopped and stared at him. “What? It’s a reasonable question.”
They all answered him with “Social media, Twitter, Facebook.”
“Mal, unlike you, Colt’s photo is on your company website. Not to mention the fact he was on a nationally broadcast television show with who knows how many viewers,” Margo said.
“Part of Colt’s job is social media promotions. The magazine spread was a big deal. I know for a fact he tweeted about it a few times,” Audrey said.
“I don’t think it’d be a huge stretch for someone to follow those accounts to figure out where Mr. Hale might be,” Charlise added. “Particularly since your company’s accounts are public.”
“Let’s see what we can find out on these guys,” Margo said.
“On it.” Santini picked up another bag and extracted a second laptop, setting up next to Charlise. “You take that one and Colt, and I’ll do this one.” She pointed to the images on Charlise’s screen.
“I have a complete dossier on Colt.” Audrey picked up a folder and held it out. “He’s an employee, as are we all, except Mal, so I included all of us in the list and employment records.”
“Why aren’t you out looking for Colt?” Mal snapped.
Margo took the folders and sat at the table. “Mal, the fact is, until we learn something about the men who are responsible, we have nowhere to start looking. Unless you have some idea where they are?” When Mal shook his head and dropped into a chair, she smiled softly. “Right now we wait for them to make contact with a drop point. Until then, the best use of our time is to learn as much as we can about everyone involved. That way we’ll be ready, and hopefully there’ll be no surprises.”
Audrey’s phone chirped. She pulled it from her jacket pocket. “I’m sorry.” Holding it in one hand, she swiped at it, Mal presumed, to silence it. Instead she stood and stared at it. Turning it around for all to see, she asked, “Does this qualify as a surprise?”
THE car Colt was in was traveling too fast and taking corners too sharply. Or at least with a bag over his head, it felt that way to Colt. The rocking of the vehicle was making his stomach turn. The fact that he’d been hit several times probably contributed to the feeling as well.
He had no idea what direction they were going, and after what seemed like forever, the smooth road became bumpy. Finally the car stopped and the engine cut off. He heard the door open. Then someone grabbed his feet and yanked him around. The same person grabbed his shirt collar and hauled him out of the car before tearing off the sack. Once he was on his feet, a savage punch to his gut doubled him over and made him vomit. One of his captors loosened the rope from around his neck and removed the hobbles from his ankles.
“Aww fuck, that’s gross,” Sully said.
Colt turned his head and spit at him.
Sully grabbed Colt by his hair and jerked his head back. Shoving his face close to Colt’s, he sneered. “Here’s the deal. You do what we say, or I’ll beat that pretty face of yours to a pulp, and then your fancy gig is over.” He gave Colt a shake. “Got it?”
Colt shuddered, hating himself for showing fear, and nodded. “Yeah.” He spit out more bile and staggered back a few steps so he could lean against the side of the car. Every bit of him ached. Sully had a handgun shoved into his waistband Colt had no doubt he’d use, and as if he weren’t challenged enough, Colt had no clue where he was, other than in some woods. Which in this part of Tennessee wasn’t unusual.
“We should dump this car after setting up the exchange,” the second guy said. Colt knew that voice, but the hair and face were wrong.
But Colt had looked completely different before Phillipe cut his hair, and it suddenly hit him. Theo. He’d shaved his head and had a tattoo on his face now, and he looked as if he’d gained
a little weight. Theo came forward and gave Colt a shove. “Move.”
Colt tripped, caught himself before his face hit the dirt, and grumbled, “Don’t touch me.”
Sully walked in front, which was preferable since he had the gun. So far Colt hadn’t seen a sign of Theo having a weapon. Theo gripped Colt’s arm as they followed Sully through the woods. Another five minutes of walking, and Colt was beginning to think he recognized the area after all.
Wishful thinking.
They turned down a wide path, and Colt was sure he’d been here before—not that long ago.
I’ve been here with Mal. Wishful thinking. That’s all it was. Colt had never been here. Not with Mal, not alone, not with anyone.
Mal will make sure someone looks for me.
Then why did this path and these woods look so familiar?
Because you’re grasping at straws. Trying to be somewhere you know and feel safe.
They rounded another bend in the path, and Colt had to bite his lower lip to keep from whooping for joy.
Not wishful thinking!
Sully and Theo, ever the morons, had brought Colt to the hunting shack on Mal’s property. Colt really had recognized the area.
Sully shoved the door open and stepped aside so Theo could drag Colt through.
“Son of a bitch,” Theo griped. “Where’d my still go?”
Colt choked down the words he almost blurted. They both stared at him, and he coughed, then spit on the floor. Assholes almost blew yourselves up. Too bad you didn’t.
“What’s your problem?” Sully sneered and kicked the back of Colt’s knees, dropping him to the floor.
“I’m queasy, and this place stinks. It’s full of mold and bugs,” Colt whimpered.
Sully took his gun out and crouched in front of Colt. He rested his elbows on his knees, the gun held loosely between his legs. “Now you’re going to tell us what sort of gig you have, and then you’ll cut us in. I saw you on TV saying you’re the spokesman for Kensington’s.”
Colt watched how Sully waved the gun in circles as he talked. “I work for them. It’s a job. Mr. Kensington doesn’t have time to go out and schmooze the public, so I do it. I get a paycheck. One of the stubs is in my wallet.”
“Either way they’ll pay big to have him back,” Theo said.
Colt’s phone alarm chimed.
“What the hell is that?” Sully snapped.
“Man, quit waving that gun around,” Colt blurted out. “Part of my job is to put promotional messages on Twitter. I set the alarm so I don’t forget.” He twisted to the side. “Untie my hands, and I’ll show you.”
“You think we’re stupid?” Theo backhanded Colt, knocking him over. “Where’s the phone?”
Colt winced and whispered, “Back pocket.”
Theo reached between Colt’s legs, grabbed his crotch, and flipped Colt on his stomach, giving his balls a hard squeeze as he did so. Colt tried not to wince, but he couldn’t help it. Theo dug in Colt’s pockets and took out his wallet and phone. Colt rolled to his side and struggled to sit up. He bit his lip to stop any noise from escaping his mouth and watched as Theo took the cash from Colt’s wallet, then threw it in a corner.
Theo winked and smirked. “Still too good to enjoy my hands on you.”
“Gimme.” Sully waved his fingers at the phone. Theo tossed it to him. Sully poked at the phone a few times before demanding, “What’s the passcode?”
Colt sighed. “It’s got a fingerprint thing. Untie me, and I’ll help you use that phone to contact Mr. Kensington. He’s going to want me back, but he’s no dummy. You’ll have to give him proof I’m alive. If I make my regular announcements on Twitter, they’ll know I’m okay.”
Colt may not have been very good at physical confrontation, and he was next to useless in a fight, but what he could do was convince people to see things his way if he had to. Fortunately he hadn’t had to use his gift for an actual con in some time. He liked his life here in Tennessee with Mal. He wasn’t going to let these shitheads drive him away or prevent him from fixing things between him and Mal.
“Go ahead and untie him,” Sully said with a contemptuous twist of his lips. “He can’t fight his way out of a paper bag.” Theo produced a switchblade and cut the ropes binding Colt’s wrists.
Colt brought his arms in front and rubbed his wrists and fingers for a second, then held out his hand. Sully laid the phone in his palm.
Colt unlocked the phone and activated the Twitter app. He typed a message while Sully hung over his shoulder.
“What is that? There’s nothing in there about booze,” Sully growled.
“It’s a contest. Whoever guesses the answer gets a free case. People log in every day for the next clues and to get discounts if they’re not winners,” Colt said. “If I keep sending messages, they’ll know I’m okay. After you get your payout, you tell them where I am, and they’ll come for me. By then you’ll be long gone.”
“How do we know he’s telling the truth?” Theo asked.
Colt made a face. “You said it yourself. I can’t fight my way out of a paper bag. I want to get out of this alive. Why would I screw with you?” He held out his fist. “Deal?”
Sully grinned and rubbed one hand over Colt’s hair, then bumped his fist against Colt’s. “Deal.”
“Hell yeah.” Theo punched their fists with his.
Colt couldn’t believe he’d gotten them to buy that lame idea. They were probably lying about telling Mal where Colt was after they got the ransom. Maybe they were even planning to come back and kill him before they made a run for it. But none of that would matter as long as Mal got his message and figured out the clues.
Chapter Thirteen
“WHAT the hell is this supposed to mean?” Margo took Audrey’s phone and stared at it.
Mal stood with them, his own phone in hand, reading what had just appeared on his Twitter feed.
“We’ve identified the two men on the security videos, and I have downloaded their arrest records,” Richards said. “Edgar Sullivan—Sully—and Theodore Weil. A string of petty thefts, fencing stolen goods, in and out of correctional institutions, but nothing as serious as kidnapping. Colton Hale—Colt—a few pandering charges and very little jail time. All three men came from the Toledo, Ohio, area.”
“We knew about Colt’s record,” Mal said. “He told me, and Audrey’s background check corroborated what he said. He may have had it rough for the last ten years, but he’s not a criminal. He’s good person.”
And I love him and want him back.
Audrey picked up the folder she’d offered and said, “It really is all in here.”
Margo stepped forward and took the folder, leafing through it while they talked. “Let’s presume this Sullivan and Weil know Colt from Toledo. Then just as I, and a lot of other people did, they see him in commercials, magazine ads, and on The Tonight Show. They think he’s worth money now. Maybe they think he has more of a position of power at Kensington’s than he does. They make the trip here and wait for a good time to grab him.”
“And there’s no chance he is in on this?” Santini asked. “You said this is the first time he’s left the property without protection.”
Mal stuck his free hand in his pocket to keep from slugging her. “No. Colt is not part of his own kidnapping. I’m very sure,” he ground out. “And as you’ve pointed out, the thugs who snatched him don’t seem to know much about my financials. Colt wouldn’t know exact numbers, but he knows how much he makes. He has a good idea how much whiskey is produced, and he knows enough to figure things out.”
“And if he were involved, they likely would’ve had some plan for a regular payout,” Charlise added.
Mal tried to keep from screaming at them to do something. “Maybe we should concentrate on what he posted on Twitter.”
“Who has access to this account?” Santini asked.
“I do. Mal, of course, and Colt,” Audrey told them. “And our social media person. It’s mainly
used by Colt. I don’t think I’ve ever put up a message.”
“Neither have I. Not with this account,” Mal added.
“Do you have another account?” Charlise asked.
“No. I did when my mother was sick. It was hers, really, and I helped her use it. I don’t even remember the login,” Mal said. “Or know if it’s still there.”
The tweet Colt had posted read Having one of those days like when Zoe had to rescue Mal and Wash. Keep thinking they can’t take the sky from me. #kensingtonswildcolt
“Does this tweet make sense to anyone?” Santini asked. She looked at Mal. “Interesting that he mentioned you.”
“No, he didn’t,” Richards said. “That’s a reference to Firefly, a TV show that was canceled a few years back. It still has a strong fan following and a number of novelizations. One of the characters was Mal, short for Malcolm.” When the others gave him a surprised look, he shrugged. “I’m a sci-fi fan.”
“My mother was a fan, and Colt has read all the graphic novels she had. We watched the DVDs,” Mal explained. “Kensington’s Wild Colt is a new line of moonshine we’re working on together.”
“There was an episode where Mal and Wash were taken captive and another character, Zoe, had to pick between them which one to rescue,” Richards added.
“Is he trying to say there’s someone else being held with him?” Margo asked.
“You know, maybe we’re taking this too literally. What if he’s trying to say he’s being held hostage and give us a clue to where he is?” Charlise suggested.
“Okay, let’s break this down. What does this particular episode have in common with this situation?” Margo asked.
“The two characters, Mal and Wash, are captured. Wash’s wife, Zoe, works on raising the money to pay their ransom,” Richards explained.
“The whole thing is set off because Wash is jealous of the friendship between Zoe and Mal, who’d been in a war together,” Mal added.
Whiskey and Moonshine Page 17
