She sniffled. It felt like a lifetime ago.
‘What does it look like?’
Kyle twisted his neck to try and see what she was doing, but Nina placed her hand on his cheek and pushed back.
‘Stop moving. If you can’t keep still, I can’t do this.’
He sighed, an impatient exhalation of air that held undertones of a curse, but kept still while she worked, emitting only a grunt when she peeled back the rest of the stained fabric.
‘Sorry.’
Nina sat back on her heels, the bloodied material in one hand, her other hand on the Kyle’s shoulder. She stared at the wound.
Although the bleeding had now stopped, the motion of pushing the motorcycle across the barn had forced open any skin that had attempted to heal. It was obvious that he’d have to get medical attention or risk getting an infection.
‘How bad is it?’
‘Um, it’s…’
‘Don’t bullshit me. I can feel it, remember?’
‘Okay,’ said Nina. ‘You can’t ride the bike. You have to stay pillion.’
His head twitched slightly, and he looked at her out the corner of his eye. ‘We can’t risk you having another asthma attack.’
Nina lowered her hand from his shoulder as he turned to face her. She swallowed. ‘I-I’ll be fine,’ she said. ‘I’m usually okay for a few hours after an attack. We can patch up your shoulder again using the lining from that other old jacket you were wearing. It’s the best I can do.’
She gazed around the barn. ‘I can’t see anything cleaner we could use.’ Her eyes fell back to Kyle.
He hadn’t moved. Instead, he was watching her intently, a kink at the corner of his mouth.
‘What?’ Nina stared back. ‘What did I say?’
He raised himself into a kneeling position. ‘Nothing. You scared the shit out of me earlier.’
‘What, my asthma attack? Sorry – I forgot my inhaler.’
‘Stop apologising.’
His eyes bored into hers, and for the first time, she noticed how green flecks appeared in his blue irises, lending his usual cold demeanour a flash of concern.
‘Right,’ she said, standing. ‘Stay there. Don’t move. I’ll get that jacket.’
When she returned, she concentrated on cleaning his arm, keeping the conversation business-like. ‘You haven’t told me what’s going on,’ she said, ‘Such as, why is the FBI in Mistake Creek?’
‘We got a tip-off that Ross’s neighbours might be dealing drugs in large quantities,’ he said, and pulled his t-shirt back on, careful to lift it over the makeshift bandage.
‘Why is Ross involved?’
‘He was the one who told us.’
‘Oh.’
Nina moved towards an old moth-eaten armchair that had been dumped in one corner and perched on the arm.
‘What made you think they’re drug dealers?’
Kyle stood, then leaned against the wall and peered between the cracks in the wood.
‘Ross told us the property had been sold three years ago to a guy from the city. He didn’t go out of his way to make friends in the area and seemed to keep to himself,’ he said. ‘Then, about a year ago, Ross noticed some strange activities – trucks arriving late in the night, crops being stripped from around the house with no replacement sowing activities, that sort of thing.’
Nina choked out a laugh. ‘You’re kidding, right? Ross told me all Hudson grew there was cattle feed and pistachios. The only thing people get irate about round here is when their neighbours outbid them on water irrigation rights. Are you sure this isn’t what this is all about? Retaliation?’
Kyle shook his head. ‘As soon as he arrived three years ago, he harvested the old crops then replanted the whole lot with castor oil plants. But it’s what’s going on in the outbuildings that had Ross concerned. He was convinced that their neighbour was using the property as a drug laboratory.’
‘And was he?’
Kyle shrugged and moved away from the door. ‘Sort of. I went in three months ago undercover. It took me three months before that to build up their trust. When Ross contacted us, we’d had Hudson on the radar about possible drug offences for a while, but it wasn’t until the first of us went in undercover that we found out how big his operation really was.’
Nina crossed the floor. ‘You bastard. You should’ve told me this earlier – we could have done something before Phil got killed!’ Anger surged through her. ‘Why the hell didn’t you stop them before it went this far?’
‘We were meant to, don’t you get it? That’s why we were there.’
‘What went wrong?’
‘They sprung it on us this morning. We spent most of today loading the truck with the goods,’ he said. ‘I was supposed to stop it – I was there, next to the driver, ready to go with him.’ He paused, and Nina saw pure fury cross his face.
‘What happened?’
Kyle flexed his arm, testing his injured shoulder. ‘I realised something had gone wrong when I got into the cab with the driver,’ he said. ‘It was just a feeling – you do this long enough, you learn to trust your instincts. I realised I had one last chance to try to stop them, so I tried to overpower the driver. I thought if I could steal the truck, I could ruin Hudson’s plans. I didn’t expect the driver to have a knife.’
Nina stared at him, open-mouthed. ‘What did you do?’
‘I managed to turn, just in time. He caught me off-guard,’ he said, looking at his hands. ‘I should’ve expected something like that, but I was just so wrapped up in thinking through how I was going to get the truck away from the farm and somewhere safe.’
Nina noted the tinge of regret in his voice and stepped closer. ‘You’re lucky to be alive,’ she said. ‘He could’ve killed you – look what he did to your partner.’
Kyle nodded. ‘John saw what happened and stole a car so we could get away from Hudson’s place. We decided to split up. John was going to try to get to the town and raise the alarm there. I figured I could follow the ridge line as cover and get to Ross’s farm, but they came after me in two pick-up trucks.’
‘Where’s the truck now?’
‘It’s heading for the city.’
‘What?’
‘You see? I need to get somewhere I can use this satellite phone, Nina. Fast. I have to warn the office that truck is heading towards them before it reaches its destination and the shipment is split up and distributed. I’m the only one who knows.’
Nina wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, and put her hands on her hips.
‘I can help you,’ she said. ‘I’ll drive the motorbike, and I’ll get you to a phone.’
Kyle opened his mouth to reply, but she held a hand up, silencing him.
‘In return, as soon as you make that call, we go back to the truck stop and find Ross.’
He frowned and then nodded. ‘Okay. Deal.’
He held out his hand.
Nina shook it, then loosened her grip, pulled the old jacket around her shoulders, and strode towards the motorbike.
‘Right. Let’s go.’
23
Nina swore under her breath as the heavy machine slid across the track from under her for what seemed the hundredth time since they’d left the safety of the barn.
Although she’d agreed with Kyle that they would head towards the suspect’s property, questions were still running through her mind as she pulled hard on the handlebars to correct the motorbike’s balance.
She bit her lip and became more conscious of Kyle’s weight behind her, his chest pressing against her spine.
He’d moved his head away from hers after the bike had hit the first pothole, sending her skull jerking backwards and making contact with his jaw.
He’d cursed, loudly, before adjusting his position.
She pushed the left handlebar away from her and steered the bike safely through the large puddle that covered the width of the track.
Kyle’s body moved against her, and he shouted in
her ear over the noise of the engine.
‘Can’t you go any faster?’
‘No!’ she yelled. ‘Not unless you want to end up in a ditch underneath this thing!’
He fell silent, letting her concentrate on the narrow track that disappeared ahead of them into the night.
Nina had been tempted to open the throttle, to hurry towards their destination when they’d first left the barn, but within seconds realised it wasn’t possible.
The surface of the track was deteriorating by the minute, the water run-off from the ridge above tearing away stones and gravel as it passed.
She swerved to avoid another falling branch, straightened the bike, and eased it round a bend.
‘Change of plan,’ shouted Kyle. ‘Head for Ross’s property instead.’
‘Why?’
‘It’s closer. We can borrow a vehicle from there. It’ll be faster than this.’
She nodded.
His suggestion was timely. Although she reckoned they’d only been travelling for twenty minutes, her arms were already sore, the muscles in her shoulder sockets painful.
‘Stop before we reach the entrance.’
‘Okay.’
Another flash of lightning illuminated the landscape, and seeing the outline of the signpost depicting the start of the Flanagan property, Nina swung the bike over to the left.
The wheels bucked as she rode it across a small fallen branch and other debris before braking and switching off the engine.
She waited until Kyle had dismounted, then swung her leg over the seat. Her legs buckled as her feet touched the ground.
Kyle’s arm wrapped around her waist, his injured shoulder knocking against her as he reached out his other hand to help her steady the bike.
‘You’re exhausted,’ he said.
‘I’ll be fine. What do we do with this?’
‘We’ll pull it into the trees here,’ he said. ‘Out of sight. We might need it again.’
They pushed the motorbike between two large trees, pulled branches over its metalwork, and looped their helmets over the handlebars.
Kyle stood on the road, inspected the hiding place, then nodded, satisfied.
‘What’s your plan?’ Nina asked, slicking her wet hair out of her eyes. ‘Why stop here?’
‘The original owners of that bike didn’t end up at your truck stop by accident. They were looking for me. My cover got blown. Now they’ll be looking for the bike, and I don’t want to put Ross’s family in danger.’ He peered over his shoulder at the rough track that led away up the hill towards the Flanagan property. ‘I want to phone my superiors before I go any further. I need to warn them about that truck heading their way.’
‘And then?’
‘Then I get them to send reinforcements so I can meet them at a rendezvous point.’ He squinted up at the sky through the rain. ‘The lightning storm’s passing. They should be able to get a helicopter here in this.’
Nina sniffed and tried to disguise the shiver that rocked her body. ‘OK, well, let’s go.’
‘Wait.’
He held out his arm to stop her. ‘You need to understand how dangerous this is. Stay behind me at all times, and do what I tell you. We don’t know where Sean and Dani are. No running off, okay?’
‘I understand.’
‘Can you run, or will that set off your asthma?’
‘I’ll be fine. I can run a bit.’
‘Good. Come on.’
He began to jog towards the property, leading the way along the muddy track and then over the iron cattle-grid that formed a boundary between the public road and the property.
Nina followed behind him, grateful for the exercise as warmth began to return to her numb limbs. The track leading to the property was undulating and slippery, and her boots seemed heavier with each step as she tried to keep up with the FBI agent. Twice she nearly lost her footing.
The second time, Kyle heard her gasp and shot out his hand to steady her. After that, he slowed to a fast walk.
‘No sense breaking our necks before we get there,’ he explained.
As they drew near the crest of the hill, he pulled her to the side of the track and pushed her into a crouching position before moving forward.
The highest part of the track allowed them a panoramic view of the property that lay cradled in the small valley created between the hill and the ridge that rose above it in the darkness.
Lights blazed from the property and the surrounding outbuildings, illuminating the expansive yard and the vehicles scattered around it.
‘Shit.’
‘What?’
‘We’re too late.’
‘What do you mean?’ Nina fought down the panic rising in her chest. ‘What’s going on?’
Kyle squeezed her hand. ‘I was afraid this might have happened,’ he said. ‘I think Ross’s father and brother have been taken hostage.’
‘Why?’
Kyle moved his hand across her face at her anguished cry. ‘Keep your voice down!’ he snapped.
Nina took a step back at the sharpness of his voice. She watched his shoulders heave as he fought to calm down before he lowered his hand. She spoke before he had a chance to try and apologise.
‘What makes you think they’ve been taken?’
‘When was the last time you knew of a farmer leaving all his lights on at night?’
Nina let her gaze wander over the property below. Kyle was right. Electricity was expensive. Maybe Ross’s father would leave a house light on, above the front door, in case of a late-night visitor, but all the lights on the outbuildings as well?
Never.
‘What do we do?’ She asked when he didn’t respond.
Kyle was watching her, almost assessing her.
‘What?’
A rueful smile creased his mouth. ‘Right now, most people I’ve known would have turned tail and run in the other direction.’
‘They’re like family to me, Kyle.’ She put her hands on her hips. ‘So, what do we do now?’
He sighed and returned his gaze to the farmstead below. Nina watched as his eyes flickered and realised he was planning something, discarding ideas, and then settling on a way forward. She bit her lip and waited, too anxious to interrupt.
‘Okay,’ he said finally. ‘We’re going to get ourselves into position behind that white four-wheel drive parked over on the left. You can stay there while I recce the area, see if I can find out what’s been going on here.’
Without waiting for her response, he took her hand and began to lead her down the slope towards the farmstead.
As they drew closer, he dropped into a crouch.
Nina copied him, her heart hammering. She breathed slowly and concentrated on what he wanted her to do, fighting down the fear that rose inside her.
He peered over his shoulder at her and signalled towards their target with his hands. On his count of three, they ran from their hiding place and dropped into position behind the four-wheel drive vehicle.
‘Okay?’ he whispered.
‘Yes.’
‘Stay here. I’m going to find a vehicle for us.’
Nina opened her mouth to protest, but Kyle had already crawled to the end of the four-wheel drive.
She exhaled, waited until he had disappeared, and then slid along until she could peer around the fender.
She watched as Kyle kept his body low and moved across the muddy ground until he reached another vehicle, an ancient sedan that had been in Ross’s family since Nina was a teenager.
He crept along the side of the car, out of sight from the farmhouse, and then disappeared from view.
After realising he wasn’t going to return straight away, Nina crept back to her original position and squatted on her heels. The rain had eased from torrential to a steady drizzle, and she rubbed her arms to try and stop the shivering that was threatening to engulf her body.
She jumped at a noise behind her, ready to scream, before Kyle dropped into a crouch next t
o her, a frown creasing his forehead.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Most of the tyres have been slashed or shot out,’ he murmured. ‘And the front door is wide open.’ His gaze met hers. ‘I’m sorry, Nina. It doesn’t look good.’
24
‘What are we going to do now?’
The thought that Jeff and Tim might be trussed up and held hostage in their own home turned Nina’s despair to anger.
She clutched Kyle’s arm. ‘We have to do something.’
‘We can’t,’ he said. ‘Not yet.’
‘Why?’
His jaw clenched. ‘Because at the moment, no-one knows where we are,’ he explained. ‘We need to use that to our advantage.’ He pulled the satellite phone from his pocket and held it up. ‘Shit. Nothing.’
He stretched until he could peer through the windows of the vehicle. ‘Maybe Ross’s father has a working phone I can use,’ he said, crouching back down. ‘Hopefully it hasn’t been found.’
‘What are you going to do?’
Kyle pulled back his sleeve and checked his watch. ‘I’m going to get into the house. See what’s happening. And, with any luck, make that phone call.’
He reached into his waistband, extracted the gun, and checked the magazine. He punched it back into the weapon with the heel of his hand, then reached out and placed a hand on Nina’s shoulder.
‘Whatever you do, stay here out of sight,’ he said. ‘Do you understand?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll come back, okay?’
‘What if something happens to you?’
His mouth twitched. ‘Trust me. I’ve done this before.’
He gave her shoulder a squeeze, then, without another word, crawled to the end of the vehicle.
Nina followed, waited until he ran towards the next vehicle, using it to mask his approach to the house, then slid into a squat and peered above the hood to monitor his progress.
As he moved across the slippery terrain towards his target, she shivered. His movements were so lithe, so precise, that she wondered what it would be like to have him in pursuit, rather than helping her.
She shook the thought from her mind and hunkered down against the side of the vehicle to wait.
Two FBI thrillers: Before Nightfall and Mistake Creek Page 33
