Cutter's Law

by Judith Rochelle

  She couldn't shut out the way he'd come after her at the ranch, or the intensity of their lovemaking in the old line shack. Morgan was right. What they had was something special. If she wanted to keep it, she'd better quit acting like a spoiled brat.

  The clock read six thirty. In the morning. But Morgan was an early riser, probably getting ready to go to work. If she called him now...

  Before she could lose her nerve, she dug her cell phone out of her purse and punched his number.

  "Yes?” Oh oh. He sounded anything but friendly.

  "Uh, Morgan, it's me. Allison."

  "I know."

  Okay. I dug myself into this hole. I can climb out of it.

  "I, uh, called to apologize to you. About yesterday."

  "Fine. Apology excepted."

  He sure wasn't making this easy.

  "I know I was wrong. I was hoping maybe we could have a cup of coffee before you go to the station."

  Silence. Also not good.

  "I'm a little busy right now. I'll get back to you later."

  "Morgan? Hello?"

  But he was gone. Allison's stomach clenched, and her heart stuttered. Had she made the mistake of her life? She knew what a number Amber had done on Morgan. Had her attitude yesterday made him turn his back on her?

  No. She wouldn't let that happen. She'd go to her meeting at the bank, then try again. Storm the station, if she had to.

  Forcing back the tears that threatened, she headed for the shower. At least she had plenty of time to make herself presentable for Marc Hanson. Trying to dress for business as well as the environment, which was far different than San Antonio, she finally decided on linen slacks, a silk tee shirt and a cotton blazer.

  White Tail chic, she thought, checking herself out in the mirror.

  Taking a deep breath, she picked up her purse, dug out her car keys and told Myra she'd be back later.

  Marc Hanson was standing in the lobby, talking to someone, when she entered the bank, but he broke off his conversation and came over to greet her.

  "I'm glad you decided to come.” He flashed a warm grin. “I was afraid you might think this a step down from what you've been doing."

  "Not at all. Everyone in the state knows about Cattleman's Bank. Besides, if things work out, I'm hoping to make this my home, so how could I think it less than what I had?"

  "Well, good. Come on in and let's talk about what I want and what you're looking for."

  Half an hour later, she walked out of the bank, slightly dazed. The job was hers if she wanted it. He'd wait two weeks for her to make up her mind, before advertising for it. She was preoccupied enough that she didn't notice the car that pulled out of the parking lot when she did and trailed her down the street.

  "Community Relations Director for the entire county,” she told Donna.

  The D&D was in the lull between breakfast and lunch, so Donna took a break to sit with her. “Oh, Allison, that's great. Just great.” She cocked her head. “Have you told Morgan yet?"

  "No.” Allison shook her head. “I took your advice and tried to call him this morning, but he was very abrupt. Said he was tied up and he'd have to get back to me. He didn't even give me a chance to make my speech."

  "You know he's got a lot going on right now, between Amber, the dead body and everything else. Maybe something broke open this morning.” She squeezed Allison's hand. “I know he's in love with you. It's written all over his face, and for Morgan, that's something. Usually you can't tell what he's thinking or feeling at all."

  "Maybe.” She ran her finger around the rim of her coffee mug. “I'm halfway mad and halfway ready to burst into tears. Oh, Donna, we've just got to figure a way out of this."

  "Hey, Allison?” Derek was standing by the glass front door, looking down the street.

  She looked over at him. “Yes?"

  "Did you notice that black sedan when you parked down the street? It's right behind your car."

  "No, I didn't.” She craned her neck to look through the window. “Why?"

  "Oh, maybe nothing, but it's just sitting there. No one got out. Those guys at The Pig's Eye last night gave me a funny feeling.” He shrugged. “Maybe I'm just spooked for no reason, but be careful when you leave, okay?"

  "Sure.” She slid out of the booth. “As a matter of fact, I'm on my way now. I think I'll go to the police station and see if I can corner Morgan for five minutes."

  "Good idea.” Donna hugged her. “Call us and let us know how it goes."

  "I will. And thanks for everything."

  As she walked down the sidewalk, she dug in her purse for her keys, forgetting already what Derek had said about the black car. As she passed it, a man opened the front passenger door, reached out to put his arm around her and pressed something hard against her side.

  "Don't move, senorita. And not a sound. Please? I would not like to hurt you."

  Allison tried to turn her head back toward the D&D, and despite the warning, opened her mouth to scream. A hand pressed a cloth saturated with a strange liquid against her face, and before she could pull away, she tumbled into darkness.

  * * * *

  "Derek?"

  Donna Young was standing at the door of the D&D, watching Allison walk away.

  "Yeah?” Derek was busy checking the soda taps behind the counter.

  "I don't think I like the looks of that car, either. It's been sitting there for too long with people inside of it."

  "I'll call Jace Murdock and get him to send the closest patrol car to check it out. Keep an eye on Allison until she gets past them.” He wiped his hands on a towel and went to stand by his wife, dialing the number of the police station as he walked.

  "Oh my God.” Donna pushed open the door.

  "What?” Derek followed her, still holding the phone.

  "Look! They've got Allison."

  They both started to run, but the door to the car slammed shut and the vehicle burned rubber pulling away from the curb.

  "I got the license number,” Donna told him, pulling her order pad from her pocket and writing it down. “Get Morgan."

  "Yeah, Jace?” Derek pressed the phone to his ear. “Where's the chief? Well, tell him to get his ass down here. Someone just kidnapped his girlfriend."

  * * * *

  At that moment Morgan was sitting across the kitchen table from Amber, fighting a growing murderous rage. The fact that he'd actually married this woman and taken her to bed—the same bed where he'd made love to Allison—sickened him beyond belief. The glamorous blonde from the city was nothing more than a two bit grifter. Well, maybe more than two bits, but no less cheap and disgusting.

  "Was that your little girlfriend?” Amber watched him clip the cell phone back onto his belt.

  "Don't you say one word about her.” Morgan had his teeth clenched so tightly his jaw ached. Why did Allison have to call right now? Right in the middle of getting the last of the truth from Amber? He didn't want to talk to her when he was angry at so many things and his mind was so unsettled, but he mentally kicked himself for being so abrupt. His life was falling apart around him and he didn't seem to be able to stop it.

  "You think we're finally done here?” Amber fiddled with her coffee cup.

  They were working their way through their third pot of coffee, having spent most of the night in a protracted interrogation. Morgan dug and pried until he had every scrap of information Amber had to give up, and none of it was pretty. From the age of eighteen, Amber Holland had been on the streets pulling one scam after another. Ten years ago she and Jared Wilcox hooked up and Amber, smart as a whip, had devised the real estate scam. They would option property for sixty days, find a mark to invest for fifty percent of the profit, take the money, drop the option and disappear.

  They had stuck to Texas, the state being big enough to give them a wide operating area. It was also territory they both knew well, so they could speak with authority to the suckers they conned. How Amber had ever worked the con on Emilio Escalante
without knowing who he was still mystified Morgan, but he couldn't get an answer from her that satisfied him.

  He didn't know how he would ever get past what a fool he'd been, falling for her the way he did, then spending all those miserable months when she walked out on him. He'd nearly ruined Paige and Ryan's relationship because of his twisted outlook on marriage, and now he was in danger of losing Allison because of this.

  "You're damn lucky I don't throw you out in the street,” he told her.

  Amber looked far from the glamorous image she usually presented. Her makeup was gone, leaving a hard, shopworn look. Circles rimmed her eyes, accentuating the lines around them, and fatigue lined her face. And in her eyes was the fear she couldn't quite banish that this time the shark was hunting her and would have her for lunch.

  "I don't know what to say to you.” She finished the liquid in her cup, although Morgan knew it was already cold and bitter. “You're not what I thought you were, you know."

  "Oh? Coming from you that might be a compliment, since I'm sure you thought I was a dumb hick pushover."

  Amber pushed her hair back and tucked it behind her ears. “I never took the time to get to know you. I'm not proud now of admitting I married you to have a safe place to lay low. I knew you wouldn't take me in without that piece of paper, you being such an old-fashioned guy and all."

  "Cutter's Law.” He twisted his lips in disgust.

  "What?"

  "Nothing important.” Except to me. And to Allison. He had to stash Amber someplace where she couldn't bolt, then call Allison back. He was afraid she was calling to rag on him about Amber again, but her voice had sounded different—soft at first, then hurt. Damn this mess anyway.

  "I figured I could talk you into hiding me out again and not push for answers.” She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her arms as if she were cold. “But you're a lot better lawman than I thought. I guess I didn't know you at all."

  "No. You didn't. If you need help I'll do what I can within the limit of the law, but I don't compromise my principles for anyone. Ever."

  She sighed. “I know, I know.” The fear flashed bright in her eyes for a moment. “But Morgan, you wouldn't just toss me out there, would you? I know you hate me, but for God's sake. You saw what these people did to Jared."

  "The first thing you're going to do is get dressed. Then we're going down to the station where I'll make you comfortable in one of our finest cells.” He grimaced. “I should have done that in the first place."

  Amber's eyes widened? “You're going to put me in jail? You're kidding, right?"

  "Not one bit.” He stood up and pulled her with him. “Not one bit. That's where all crooks belong, anyway. Come on."

  "Are you going to dress me, Morgan?” Unbelievably her voice had a hint of teasing in it.

  "Yes, damn it, but not because I enjoy the view. I'm not letting you out of my sight until you're under lock and key. Then we'll see about getting Escalante off your back."

  As he was towing her upstairs, his cell phone rang. “Cutter.” As he listened to Donna Young, he felt the blood drain from his face and for a brief moment he was afraid he'd faint. “Stay right there. Give the license number to Jace and have him trace it. I have a stop to make at the station and then I'll be right there."

  He shoved the phone in his pocket, tightening his grip on Amber.

  "Ow! You're hurting me, Morgan."

  "You're lucky I don't break your damn neck.” He frog-marched her up the stairs and into the guest room where he'd left her suitcase. “Dress. Now.” He leaned in the doorway, his face like granite.

  "W-What's going on?” He saw the fear flash in her eyes again.

  "I'll tell you what's going on. Some Hispanic thugs just snatched Allison off the street. Wanna bet they're Escalante's men?"

  "B-But why would they want her? What's she got to do with this?"

  "I'm guessing they know she's connected to me, and they've already figured out you're here. They'll probably try to use her to force my hand."

  "Oh, God, you won't give me to them, will you?"

  He curled his fists at his side, struggling for control. “If I had an ounce of sense I would. First I have to find out what's really going on. So get your clothes on and let's get out of here."

  When they got outside to his SUV and he pulled out his handcuffs, Amber yanked her hands away from him.

  "Now, that's where I draw the line. Come on, Morgan."

  He was so frightened for Allison he nearly slugged Amber just to shut her up. “Not your choice.” He grabbed her hands with fingers that gripped like steel, put the cuffs on her and pushed her into the truck. “Don't say another word, you hear me? Not one word."

  He broke speed records getting to the police station, calling Marcy along the way to pass the word on his situation. He'd been in some dangerous situations when he was a deputy sheriff, his life threatened many times, but he's never known the kind of fear that gripped him now. Allison! He'd brought this on her, no two ways about it. If he hadn't been dumb enough to fall for Amber's line to begin with, she wouldn't be here now and none of this would be happening.

  They won't harm her until they tell me what they want.

  He repeated that over and over as he skidded around turns and raced through streets.

  They have to keep her alive until they talk to someone.

  When he pulled into the parking lot behind the police station, he slammed the gearshift into park and dragged Amber out of her seat, hustling her inside the building. Two patrolmen were waiting for him, slightly anxious but ready to follow orders for their chief.

  Morgan handed Amber to the nearest one. “Put her in one of the cells and don't take the handcuffs off until she's safely tucked away.” He looked at the other officer. “You go with him. I don't trust her."

  "Yes, sir,” they chorused, nodding their heads and practically snapping to attention.

  "Damn you, Morgan,” Amber raged.

  Morgan gripped her upper arm. “Listen to me, Amber. You keep a civil tongue in your head and do whatever these officers tell you to. Otherwise I'll take off the cuffs and throw you out in the street, where Escalante's men can find you with no trouble at all."

  He watched her skin turn pale and her mouth tighten. “You'd better get this thing wrapped up real quick."

  He stared at her with eyes blazing with anger. “Let me tell you something. You'd better pray that nothing happens to Allison Moore, or what Escalante would do to you is a walk in the park compared to what you'll get from me.” He motioned to his two officers. “Take her away."

  Marcy Walker was watching him with a worried look on her face. “Jace called in and told me everything, Chief.” She handed him a slip of paper. “Here's the info on the license plate. I put out an APB on it, and called the county sheriff, too. He's got it on the Hot Watch list so his deputies will be trolling for it. Is there anything else I can do?"

  Morgan grabbed the paper from her as he ran toward the door. “Yeah, Marcy. You can pray."

  Donna, Derek and Jace were still standing outside the D&D when he skidded in to the curb. The sign on the restaurant door had been turned to read “closed."

  "Okay, let's have it. Everything. Every detail, no matter how small."

  Derek explained about the men in the bar the night before, and noticing the car just sitting at the curb this morning. Donna gave him everything she could remember about Allison being snatched.

  "It happened so fast.” She blinked back the threat of tears. “She was just walking to her car, digging in her purse for her keys. I was watching her because Derek made me nervous about the black car. And Morgan, I swear, it happened in seconds. One man popped out of the car, put something over her face before she could even struggle and off they went with her."

  "Damn it!” Morgan banged his fist against the concrete wall, oblivious to the pain it caused.

  "She was going to see you.” Donna spoke softly.

  "Me? What for?"

 
"She was really upset last night about handling this whole thing all wrong. You asked her to trust you and she realized if she loves you, trust should be automatic. She was sorry she gave you a hard time in a complicated situation, and she wanted you to know whenever you got the thing with Amber straightened out, she'd be waiting at the ranch for you."

  Morgan closed his eyes. His heart felt as if a cold stone had been dropped into it and the familiar sick feeling rolled over him. All he could remember was how abrupt he'd been when she called. The fact that he was in the middle of trying to get a better handle on the Amber situation was no excuse. He'd just cut her off without hearing what she had to say. Now, because he was not only stupid but stubborn, she was in great danger.

  All my fault. Damn Amber. Damn me for the idiot I am.

  He turned to Jace. “Here's what we got on that license plate. The car belongs to some company in San Antonio called E Z Credit. I'm betting it's one of Escalante's fronts. I'm calling Marcy to have her prod the sheriff a little."

  But as he reached for his cell phone, it rang in his hand. “Cutter."

  "Chief, it's Marcy.” Her voice sounded strange. “I'm patching a call through to you."

  "Chief Morgan?” The voice had a soft Spanish accent.

  Morgan's gut clenched. “Yes. Who's this?"

  "This is the man who has something very valuable to you. I think we need to talk some business, no?"

  * * * *

  Allison opened her eyes, then slammed them shut again. Her head throbbed and she felt a wave of nausea creeping over her. She tried again, this time more slowly. The pain wasn't quite as bad, and by sheer force of will she fought back the feeling of sickness.

  She had no idea where she was, except it looked like a motel room. She frowned. What would she be doing at a motel? She was staying at the ranch.

  Her body felt weird, almost disconnected from her. When she tried to push herself up from the bed, two things happened: dizziness swamped her and she realized her hands were tied tightly together in front of her.

  Now her eyes popped wide open. The first thing they spotted was two Hispanic men sitting in chairs next to the bed, looking enough alike to be brothers. She forced herself to stay upright.