“Good.” He spoke directly to Kat. “Kat, I don’t care how you do it but you go and find this girl and protect her. I’ll catch up with you at the end of my shift.” He turned his attention back to Alex. “We have to carry on as normal until we know your daughter is safe. Once we do, we can get the authorities involved.”
“But what do we tell the warden about the woman I was supposed to kill?”
“We tell him that she wasn’t where she was supposed to be. Quickly now, we need to pack up and get out of here.”
Moving quickly, Alex dismantled the rifle, packed it up and they made their way back down to the lot where Red was waiting for them.
“No problems?” he asked as they both climbed into the truck.
“The target wasn’t there,” Kyle said, his eyes meeting Alex’s in the mirror. “We waited but she didn’t show.”
Thirty-Three
Kyle was sweating despite the air conditioning in warden’s office. Red hadn’t said a word on the trip back and as soon as they’d arrived, he’d brought him and Alex up here. As long as Alex stuck to the story, they’d be okay. As soon as his shift was finished, he would get in touch with Kat and find out if she’d found the girl. Once they knew that she was safe, they could go public.
“So, she wasn’t there?” the warden said, standing up and coming out from behind his desk to stand in front of them.
“No.” Kyle shook his head. “We waited, but she didn’t show.”
The warden nodded. “Nothing that can be done about that, is there? No one’s fault. We’ll just have to try again.”
Kyle was surprised at how calm the warden seemed. He’d thought he’d be annoyed, at the very least.
“Would you be happy to do that, Alex?” He took a step closer to them and stood directly in front of Alex. “Would you be happy to try again?”
Kyle held his breath as Alex spoke. “Of course, Warden.”
The warden nodded to Red and Kyle watched as he went and stood behind Alex. “Except, that’s a lie isn’t it, Alex? The whole thing’s a lie isn’t it?”
The blow was so unexpected that Kyle didn’t see it coming. Red had taken out his extendable baton and smashed it into the back of Alex’s knees. Kyle heard the crunch of bone as Alex crumbled to the ground, crying out in pain. Reacting immediately, he lunged forward to stop the baton that was already raised to deliver the next blow.
Thirty-Four
“This is it.” Jamie looked up from the piece of paper in her hand where she’d hurriedly scrawled the address that they’d heard Alex give while on the roof with Kyle.
The house reflected in the windows of the car was a typically suburban two-story with a front and back yard. It was flanked on both sides by almost identical cookie cutter houses which stretched the whole length of the street with little to differentiate them. It was a street where you’d be happy for your kids to grow up and Kat imagined that on warm, sunny days the yards would be full of kids playing. It wasn’t a warm sunny day, though; it was the middle of the night and they were here to protect one of those kids.
“So how are we gonna do this?” Jamie asked the question that Kat had been asking herself all the way there.
“I’m not sure.” They’d gotten the bare bones from the audio from the roof but they had no idea what the set-up was here. He’d said she lived with her grandma but that’s all they knew. “I guess we go knock on the door and play it by ear.”
“Yeah, I can see how that’s going to go. ‘Hello, sorry to wake you in the middle of the night but your granddaughter is in danger and we’d like you to come with us.’ Yep, that’ll work.”
“Have you got any better ideas?” Kat snapped and then sighed. “Sorry. You’re right, but we don’t have any choice. If that doesn’t work, we’ll go to plan B.”
“What’s plan B?”
Kat opened her car door “I’ll let you know when I’ve thought of it.”
They had to ring the doorbell three times before they saw a light go on inside the house.
“Yes? What do you want?” a voice called through the door and Kat knew that they were being watched through the peephole.
“I’m sorry to wake you, but it’s about Alex. It’s urgent that we speak with you.”
“My son? What’s happened?” Kat felt bad for causing the fear that was clear in the woman’s voice.
“He’s okay, but we need to talk to you. He asked us to come. Can we talk inside?” Kat was hoping that the fact that they were women would ease her fears about opening her door to strangers. She was right. After a short pause, she heard the locks turn and the door opened. Kat realized that she’d been expecting a frail old lady and was surprised at the woman standing holding the door ajar. She was in her late fifties, possibly early sixties, but there was nothing frail about her. She stood about five feet eight inches and clearly looked after herself, judging from her strong, slim frame.
She stood back, allowing them in before indicating a door just to their immediate right. “In there.”
The house was immaculate and, while not plush, everything was clean and tidy and obviously well looked after. Taking a seat on one of the two couches next to Jamie, Kat watched as the woman closed the door quietly before turning to face them.
“Who are you? And what do you know about my son?”
Her eyes told Kat that she was worried, but the way she was holding herself with her back straight and her arms held folded across her middle told her that this was a woman that wouldn’t take any nonsense. Deciding that only honesty would do, Kat explained everything right from the time she’d first heard that Jake had escaped.
About half way through the story, the woman sat down on the opposite couch, nodding at Kat to continue. When she’d finished talking, the room was completely silent; the only noise the ticking of the clock that sat on the fireplace.
“That’s quite some story.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I don’t doubt it, young lady. It’s too unbelievable for you to have made it up. The question is, what now?”
Kat was relieved. She still hadn’t come up with a plan B. “We’d like you to come with us, to where we can keep you safe until all this is sorted out.”
The woman nodded. “Yes, I think that’s the best thing to do.” She stuck out her hand. “If I’m entrusting you with my granddaughter’s safety, I think its best we’re introduced. I’m Rose Jackson.”
Kat smiled. She liked this woman. Woken up in the middle of the night by strangers telling her that her family was in danger, she’d not batted an eye and had taken it in her stride. “I’m Kat Mckay,” she replied, taking the outstretched hand.
Thirty-Five
Kyle knew where he was as soon as he opened his eyes. He’d seen this room before, only that time he was able to leave. Having a quick look around, he satisfied himself that there was no one else in the room except Alex, who was laid on the concrete floor a short distance from where he was. Sitting up, a sharp stab of pain in his head made him catch his breath. Raising his hand, he touched the spot where the pain had come from, his fingers coming away sticky with drying blood. Quickly checking himself over, he was pleased that he didn’t seem to have any other injuries. Coming up to his hands and knees, he quickly crawled over to where Alex lay, unconscious. He’d taken a much worse beating than Kyle, and it was clear that they’d carried on after he’d been knocked unconscious. His leg was bent at an odd angle and was clearly broken, as was his nose. What worried Kyle the most, though, was the gaping wound in his scalp. The white of his skull was visible through the blood.
Leaning forward, Kyle put his ear close to his mouth. He could feel the warmth of his breath as Alex exhaled. At least he’s alive. Now I just need to keep him that way. Kyle stood up and walked the full length of the room, looking for something that would help them, but it was completely bare apart from a few chunks of brick that had fallen from the walls over time. Frustrated, he removed his shirt and made a makeshift pillow to rai
se Alex’s head, hoping that would slow the bleeding. Kneeling beside him, he gently lifted his head and placed the pillow underneath. The movement must have hurt him, as a low groan escaped his mouth.
“Alex? Alex, can you hear me?” He was rewarded by a flickering of eyelids before his eyes opened completely. “Don’t move. We’re locked in a room in the basement.”
Thirty-Six
Something was wrong. He should have been home by now. Kat looked out of the kitchen window for the hundredth time that hour, as if just wanting it to happen would suddenly make Kyle appear. His shift had ended three hours ago and he still wasn’t home. She’d tried to call his cell, knowing that he turned it on as soon as he got in the car, but it had just gone straight to voicemail.
“You should have let me call Finn last night, Kat.”
She was right. When they’d gotten home with Rose and Kayla Jackson last night, they’d immediately gotten them settled before checking on the audio feed from Kyle. Even when nothing was being said, the feed picked up surrounding noise, voices, but last night there had been nothing but static. Jamie had wanted to call in the police immediately but Kat had convinced her to wait, thinking it could possibly be just a fault with the equipment. Now, though, she wished she’d listened to her niece.
“You’re right, I should have.” She grabbed her cell. “I just hope it’s a decision I don’t live to regret.” She sighed impatiently as the call to Finn’s cell went straight to voicemail. Redialing, she tried his house phone and listened as it rang and no one picked up before finally calling the station. After a brief conversation with one of the deputies she terminated the call.
“Did I hear right? He’s away?”
Kat nodded. “Yep.” Now what? She’d never considered that he wouldn’t be there, and much as she hated to admit it to herself, she was hurt that he hadn’t told her he was going and said goodbye. Right now, though, it left her with a dilemma. This situation was too serious to put in the hands of the local deputies and, with Finn away, there was only one other person she could call. Callahan.
It was hard to believe that it had only been a few days since he’d asked her out on a date in the kitchen of Finn’s house. It seemed like such a long time ago. They’d left it that he would call her in a few days and set something up, but so far he hadn’t called. With everything that had been happening, she’d forgotten all about it until just now.
She didn’t have a choice. They needed help and without Finn around, there was no one else she could call.
***
They were all sitting around the dining room table when the doorbell rang two hours later. Steeling herself against what she knew was going to be a well-deserved tongue-lashing Kat left the others and went to open the front door.
“What’s going on, Kat?”
She’d barely had a chance to open the door before he strode in, barking the question at her. “I was in a very important meeting and I get a message from you telling me that I need to come and that it’s a matter of life or death.” He turned to face her as she closed the door. “This better be good.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know who else to call.” She didn’t know where it came from but faced with his anger, the strong front she was desperately trying to keep up in front of the others crumbled and her eyes filled with tears.
“Hey!” Callahan’s face softened as he took a step closer and wrapped her in hug. “It can’t be that bad, surely?”
The hug felt good and Kat wanted to stay there and just forget about everything that was happening for a little while, but she knew she couldn’t. Pulling herself away, she wiped the tears from her eyes. “It is. You’d better come with me. There’re some people you need to meet.”
Leading him into the dining room, she introduced him to everyone around the table until she got to Jake. This is it. He’s either going to help us or we’re all going to jail. Taking a deep breath, she introduced her nephew, watching him closely for his reaction.
If he was surprised, his face didn’t show it. He showed no reaction at all as far as Kat could see, apart from a slight tightening of his lips.
“Say something,” Kat said after a few seconds of silence.
Tearing his eyes away from Jake and focusing on her, Kat could see the anger in his eyes. “What are you playing at, Kat?” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ve got to call this in.” His fingers started dialing.
“No!” Reaching forward, Kat snatched the phone from his hand. “Please. Give me five minutes to explain and then, if you still want to, you can call it in.”
She held her breath as he looked around the table, his eyes briefly settling on Jake before turning his attention back to her. “Five minutes, Kat.”
She sat down at the table next to Jake and waited until he pulled out a chair and sat opposite her. For the second time in twenty-four hours, she recounted the events so far. This time, though, Callahan interrupted, frequently asking questions and seeking clarification from Jake on a few points.
“So this friend of yours, Kyle, is now missing?”
Kat nodded.
Callahan shook his head. “I can’t believe this. How could you be so stupid?”
His words stung. In hindsight, maybe their plan hadn’t been the best idea in the world but what choice had they had? “Would you have helped if we’d come to you at the beginning? Would you have kept Jake safe?”
Callahan stood up. “We’ll never know what would have happened, will we? But instead of doing things the right way, you hid a convicted felon and lied to the police, and that’s just for starters.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to call my boss.” He held up his hand as Kat tried to protest. “Don’t, Kat. I’m not putting my career on the line for this. Besides which, if anything has happened to Kyle I can’t deal with this on my own.” He reached out for his phone.
Reluctantly, Kat placed his phone into his outstretched hand and watched as he turned and left the room to make the call.
“You did your best, Kat, don’t feel bad,” Jake said. “The important thing now is finding Kyle. We were going to get the authorities involved anyway. It’s just happening sooner than we’d planned.”
Thirty-Seven
The evening had been the perfect end to the day. They’d set up a table and chairs near the edge of the water and had enjoyed steaks and salad, watching the sun set over the water, taking the heat of the day with it. James had regaled them with stories of the trouble he’d gotten into when he was growing up and Max had quizzed him about his job once he’d found out his was a police officer. He was a great kid, and watching them together it was clear that there was a lot of love between them. Maybe it was the beers or maybe it was the romantic setting, but whatever it was, by the time Finn left to make his way back to his own cabin, he was feeling maudlin.
The walk back was harder this time and a few times he tripped over tree roots that nearly sent him sprawling on the ground. Glad to have made it back without injury, Finn grabbed another beer from his own fridge and went and sat out on the deck. The warmth of the day still lingered in the air and he was in no mood for sleep.
Propping his feet up on the railing, he rested his head back on the chair and closed his eyes, enjoying the quiet. He smiled to himself as he thought of James and Max. He was a great kid and James was a lucky man. A few of his friends had young families and despite never having had children himself, he’d never felt that he was missing out. Tonight, though, watching them together, he’d felt bereft and it had taken him by surprise. Unbidden, his thoughts turned to his son. His son. The words felt strange, even though he was only thinking them. He would be twenty years old now, a grown man, and yet Finn couldn’t help but picture him as a boy Max’s age. Had he had a happy childhood? What kind of man was he? These were the questions that he’d been trying to avoid but had taken up residence in his brain and wouldn’t leave. He was not the kind of man who would have turned his back on his son, had h
e known about him, and now that he did know, he wasn’t sure that he could carry on with his life without answers to those questions. The smile had gone from his face by the time he drained his beer and headed indoors to bed.
***
His mood was still low when he woke the next morning and, despite the early morning sunshine glistening on the lake as he stood outside drinking his coffee, he felt that a dark cloud hung over his head. He’d struggled to sleep, tossing and turning all night before he’d eventually given up and had climbed out of bed before dawn. He didn’t know if it was the peace and quiet, or maybe the several cups of coffee that he’d already drunk that morning despite the early hour but he’d realized something. He’d thought that by coming to the cabin he was taking a break, a chance to clear his head, but in fact he’d been running away. Running away from the thoughts in his head that tugged on his consciousness every time he had an unguarded moment. Running away from what he knew he needed to do if he wanted peace. He had to find his son.
Thirty-Eight
Now that he’d made up his mind, he felt energized and itching to get started, but it wasn’t going to be easy. The obvious thing to do would be to speak to Kat, find out as much as he could that would help him in his search, but he dismissed that idea quickly. If she’d wanted to find her son she would have looked for him by now, he was sure, and as much as he knew he needed to do this, he didn’t want to force something on her that would undoubtedly be incredibly painful. He didn’t like the idea of doing this without her knowledge, but all he wanted to do was make sure he was okay. He had no intention of making contact with him, of telling him who he was, so why put her through it? Once he had his answers, he was sure that his mind would settle, that he would be more at peace and able to move on. Kat need never know.
The McKays Box Set - To Kill For, Blood Sport, Hard Time & Gang Land Page 33
