Grave Peril

by Mary Alford

  One of the men grabbed him while a second searched his pockets, came up with the cell phone and tossed it to his boss.

  Shadow scrolled through the recent calls and spotted Jase’s number.

  “Who’s this?” he demanded. “Who did you call?”

  Gavin had to come up with a believable answer quickly.

  “I’ve contacted the FBI. They’re on their way here now.”

  Shadow’s confidence slipped a little. “The FBI. It will take them hours to get boots on the ground. By then we can be out of here with our product, and you’ll be dead.” He motioned to the man still holding Gavin, and he shoved him away.

  Shadow walked over to Paxton. “Where is the rest of my product, old man?” The anger on his face was easy to read.

  Still Paxton didn’t back down. “It’s gone. I destroyed it. I would have done the same with the stash in the mine if I hadn’t run out of time.”

  Shadow moved to inches from Paxton’s face. “You’re lying. You still have it somewhere, along with the evidence you’ve been sneaking around gathering.”

  That Shadow knew about Paxton’s covert actions came as a surprise.

  Shadow smiled. “You didn’t think I knew? You foolish man. I’ve had my men keep tabs on you through the years. While you were a potential threat to my empire, everyone in the county thought you were a kook. No one believed you. You were harmless until you decided to steal my heroin. Where’s the rest of the evidence? I know there’s more.”

  Paxton’s bravado faded a little. “I ain’t telling you nothing.”

  Shadow shook his head in distaste. “It’s in the mine somewhere. Get them back there. Find whatever he’s been stashing and then get rid of the problem these three pose. For good, this time.”

  The threat was clear. They were not walking out of the mine alive. Gavin knew he had to do something to buy time for the FBI to reach them before it was too late.

  Another deputy appeared behind them. “The mine’s unsteady. Another tunnel has collapsed.”

  This was not the news Shadow wanted to hear. “Then find another way in. We need the heroin before our buyer arrives, and we can’t afford to have incriminating evidence left behind for someone to find later on. Understood?”

  The deputy frowned at the order. “Yes, sir.” He motioned to another deputy. “You heard the man. Let’s get going.”

  Gavin and Jamie were forced from the woods at gunpoint while two men grabbed Paxton and hauled him out, as well.

  “Get the old man on one of the ATVs. The others can walk,” the deputy ordered.

  One of the deputies forced Paxton onto a nearby machine, got on behind him and headed back up to the mine.

  A gun barrel was shoved into Gavin’s back. “Move it. You two have wasted enough of our time.”

  Sheriff Lawson and Brock Shadow climbed on separate ATVs, as did another deputy, and followed Paxton up the mountain.

  The two remaining deputies forced Gavin and Jamie to keep moving.

  Gavin got as close to Jamie as he dared in an effort to protect her.

  “How much longer...?” She didn’t finish but he understood.

  “Soon, I hope.” He forced the words out. The guilt he felt at not believing her all these years gnawed at him. She’d needed him and he’d let her down. Jamie deserved someone better than him. He’d do everything in his power to get her safely out of this and then he prayed he’d be deserving of her forgiveness one day.

  SIXTEEN

  “No talking, you two.” One of the men behind them shoved his weapon hard against Gavin’s back, sending him stumbling forward. “Keep moving.”

  Jamie reached out to steady Gavin, who managed to catch himself before he hit the rocky ground.

  “Are you okay?” she whispered.

  “I said no more talking,” the man growled.

  Gavin nodded in answer, trying to reassure her.

  Jamie grabbed his hand once more. She didn’t know what the future held for them, but she was determined to make every second count. She’d hold Gavin’s hand as long as she was allowed.

  Up ahead, she noticed Sheriff Lawson, Shadow and the others had reached the collapsed tunnel where the three of them had escaped. They were staring at it. It would take days to dig through the rubble.

  Once Jamie and Gavin reached them, she could tell Shadow was quickly losing patience.

  “Don’t tell me there’s not another way in there. You’re a tunnel rat. You know how to get into that mine. Now tell me where the entrance is.”

  Paxton clamped his lips together and shook his head.

  “Perhaps you’ll tell me if she’s in enough pain?” Shadow motioned to one of the men behind Jamie. The deputy grabbed her and twisted her arm behind her back.

  Right away Gavin charged the man, but the deputy behind him jammed his weapon against Gavin’s injured side. He dropped to his knees in pain.

  “I can have him keep going if you’d like. Break a few of her bones—or you can talk and save your niece’s life.”

  The man holding Jamie’s arm yanked it hard and she screamed.

  “That’s enough!” Paxton yelled. “Stop hurting her. I’ll tell you where the third opening is.”

  Shadow smiled smugly. “That’s better.” He nodded to the man grasping Jamie’s arm, and he eased up a little.

  “Well, where is it?” Shadow demanded. “We don’t have all day.”

  Paxton’s gaze met Jamie’s. She could see how bad he felt.

  “It’s okay, Uncle Paxton. Just tell them what they need to know,” Jamie urged. She didn’t want Shadow to kill him.

  He slowly nodded. “It’s that way. I made the opening a little while back.” The direction he indicated had to be on the opposite side of the tunnel from Paxton’s hiding place.

  “Get him in there and find the stuff,” Shadow demanded in an irritated tone.

  The deputy who had ridden with Paxton hopped on the machine again and headed the ATV toward the spot Paxton had pointed out, followed by a second deputy.

  “Take them there, too,” Shadow told the two deputies guarding Jamie and Gavin. Then he and the sheriff got on their machines and went after her uncle.

  “You heard the boss. Get moving.” The deputy let Jamie go and shoved her forward.

  With Gavin sticking close to her side, they were forced up the rocky slope. Jamie could see Gavin was barely hanging on. They needed God’s help now more than ever, and so she prayed with all her remaining strength for deliverance.

  It felt as if it took forever to reach the place. Once she and Gavin had caught up with the ATVs, she noticed that Paxton had whittled an opening into the side of the mountain. He’d hidden it well, covering it with scrub brush.

  “Get him inside and get the evidence. Find out if he’s lying about the heroin. I don’t trust him.” Shadow gave the order. Two deputies grasped Paxton’s arms and dragged him inside.

  “What about these two?” Lawson asked. Jamie held her breath. Would they kill them right there?

  “Not yet, sheriff. Their time will come.”

  Jamie’s gaze clung to Gavin’s. Besides the former sheriff and Shadow, there were two armed deputies standing guard. She didn’t like their odds.

  Gavin shook his head. The concern in his eyes told her that he agreed. If they tried to overpower the men and failed, they’d be dead before they had the chance to think about it.

  As she stared at the gaping hole before them, Jamie couldn’t imagine a good outcome. It broke her heart to consider what might have been. She cared for Gavin and she didn’t want to lose him. Not like this. Father, please, we need Your help. Please, don’t let us die here when we’re so close to the truth.

  * * *

  The two deputies behind them began talking to each other. Gavin knew he had to try something to save their lives. Shad
ow and Lawson were watching the entrance. If they went down into that mine again, they’d probably end up with bullets in their heads.

  He looked down at Jamie and pointed discreetly at Shadow and Lawson. She swallowed hard before slowly nodding.

  Another quick glimpse at Shadow and Lawson proved their attention was still distracted.

  Gavin placed three fingers against his chest, slowly counting them off. With his heart in his throat, he charged to where Shadow stood. Jamie did the same. With Shadow caught off guard, Gavin managed to grab the man’s weapon and fire off a shot at one of the two deputy’s racing at them.

  Struck in the knee, he dropped to the ground, screaming in pain.

  Jamie grabbed Lawson’s weapon and aimed it at the remaining deputy.

  “Put the weapon down on the ground. Now,” Gavin ordered when the deputy standing made no move to obey.

  “Take it easy. I’ll do as you ask,” the deputy said. He slowly lowered his weapon.

  “I’ve got Lawson covered. Can you get their weapons?” Gavin asked and Jamie hurriedly gathered the two deputies’ weapons while Gavin stood watch.

  Sheriff Lawson’s glare proved he was furious. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with, Dalton.”

  “Keep quiet,” Gavin ordered, then addressed the standing deputy.

  “Help your buddy up and over to that ATV.” The man hesitated a second, then hauled the injured man over to the machine. “Now cuff him to the handlebars.” Once the deputy had finished, Gavin said to Jamie, “Take the key from the ATV, and then grab the second deputy’s cuffs and secure him to that tree over there.” Gavin pointed the weapon at the man. “Start moving.” The deputy tossed Gavin angry looks as he headed for the tree.

  “Wrap your hands around it,” Jamie ordered. The man seemed to realize what was happening because he didn’t move.

  “Do it now, or I start shooting,” Gavin said and the man finally obeyed.

  Jamie cuffed the man to the tree then searched him and the second deputy, taking their phones and the keys to the handcuffs. She went back over to where Gavin stood guarding the others.

  “Get going.” Gavin pointed his weapon at the entrance. Lawson and Shadow exchanged a look before obeying.

  As they slowly headed into the mine, Shadow and Lawson whispered between themselves, no doubt scheming how to get away.

  “That’s enough talking,” Gavin told them, and they shut up.

  Jamie followed close behind Gavin. “What’s the plan?” she whispered so that only he could hear.

  He had no idea, only that he was doing his best to buy them time. “Just trying to keep us alive until our help arrives.” He kept his voice as low as he could.

  As they drew close to the place where the evidence was stored, Gavin stopped while the men kept going. “We’ll have to get the other men subdued as quickly as possible. Follow my lead.”

  Jamie nodded, and they caught up with Shadow and Lawson. They were close to Paxton’s hiding place now. He could hear the men who had gone with Paxton talking.

  “He has file cabinets filled with this stuff. He must have been collecting it for years.” A file cabinet closed.

  “They’re out here!” Shadow yelled to alert the rest of his men.

  Gavin grabbed Shadow around the neck while Jamie kept her weapon against Lawson’s back. The second Gavin and Jamie entered the room, they were met with armed men drawing down on them.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Gavin told them and tightened his grip on Shadow. “Not if you want your boss to live.”

  The men hesitated, glancing at each other as if trying to decide what to do.

  “Shoot them both,” Shadow ordered.

  “Drop your weapons if you want him to live,” Gavin said in a steely tone, unlike what he felt inside. His heart pounded in his ears. They were outnumbered. He was praying the men would buy his bluff.

  “Don’t do it. Shoot them!” Shadow yelled.

  Gavin pushed the Glock against Shadow’s temple. “Tell them to lay down their arms now.”

  The man standing close to one of the file cabinets slowly lowered his weapon to the ground.

  “Kick the weapon this way and get your hands in the air,” Gavin told him.

  The man obeyed. The second man shoved his gun against Paxton’s side. “I’ll shoot him.”

  Paxton was barely hanging on after the exertion of walking back through the mine. Gavin could see the fear in the older man’s eyes.

  “No, you won’t. Drop the weapon or I’ll kill your boss.”

  The man stared at Shadow, uncertain what to do.

  “Do it now.” Gavin dug the gun into Shadow’s temple.

  The man lowered his weapon.

  “Now step away from him.” He pointed his weapon toward the other man. “Over there.”

  The man tossed Gavin an angry look, doing as he requested.

  Gavin released his hold on Shadow. “You and Lawson get over there, as well.”

  Shadow straightened his coat and walked over to his men.

  “What do you expect to do now, Dalton?” Shadow demanded, not showing any fear.

  “Now we wait for the FBI to show up and throw you and your pals in jail.”

  Shadow turned his anger on Paxton. “You old coot. You could have been rich beyond your wildest desire if you’d sold the mine when we came to you. None of this would be happening now if you’d stayed out of our way. And the old lady would still be alive.”

  “You killed Ava?” Paxton asked in disbelief.

  But Gavin barely registered the shock in Paxton’s voice. His legs threatened to give out beneath him. “You killed my grandmother?”

  Shadow showed no emotion at all. “I didn’t kill her, I simply went to visit her to try and talk some sense. Only she wouldn’t listen to reason. Instead, she got herself all worked up. She figured out I was the one who had her son killed and she started screaming at me and threatening to call her grandson. Then, she just collapsed.” Shadow shrugged as if it were nothing. “It was her own fault.”

  Gavin’s thoughts fractured. Shadow might not have killed Ava, but he was the cause of her heart attack. If he’d called for help, Ava might still be alive.

  “You murdered Ava because she wouldn’t sell to a crook like you who’s bent on destroying Darlan County,” Paxton said. “You let my brother take the blame for your dirty work.”

  Shadow smirked in disdain at Paxton’s anger, then looked behind him at his men. “What does he have on me?”

  “Everything,” one of the men answered. “He knows about the heroin. Your dealings with Lawson here.”

  Shadow turned back to Gavin. “Well, then, I’d say he doesn’t know everything yet.”

  Gavin tried to figure out what Shadow hadn’t told him. “We may not know everything, but we do know enough to put you away for a very long time.”

  Shadow laughed and looked at something just behind Gavin’s shoulder.

  Before Gavin had time to react, he heard Jamie’s shocked gasp. Then someone shoved her toward Paxton. He whirled around, only to have an object slam against the side of his head. He dropped to the ground, his vision blurred, as a set of boots walked past him and kicked his weapon out of reach.

  Someone stooped next to him. The last thing he was aware of was Dan Miller’s face grinning down at him.

  SEVENTEEN

  Jamie knelt next to Gavin with tears in her eyes and hope fading.

  “Get him inside. We have to gather all these files and leave here as soon as possible. I don’t want to take a chance of some of this incriminating information surviving the blast.” She barely registered Shadow’s order before someone hauled her to her feet and shoved her over to where Paxton sat.

  Still unconscious, Gavin was dragged close to them and dropped. Jamie immediately knelt next
to him, cradling his head in her lap.

  As she watched, the men gathered the information Uncle Paxton had stored there and headed out of the mine.

  Shadow stared down at her before delivering their fate. “Make sure the rest of the drugs aren’t here and then blow the mine. There’s not much time. Our clients will be expecting us to fulfill our end of the deal...otherwise it won’t be good for us.”

  Jamie had no idea what Shadow was talking about. “You’re not going to get away with this. The FBI knows we’re here. If we end up dead, they’ll come after you.”

  Miller came back with explosives in his hand. “This should do the trick.”

  She stared at the dynamite in horror as Miller placed it close to the entrance. Jamie knew she had to try to do everything she could to postpone the explosion.

  “Who are you working for, Shadow?”

  At her shot-in-the-dark guess, Shadow turned back and stared at her in shock.

  “What makes you think I’m working for anyone?” he demanded.

  “Because there’s no way you managed to get that much heroin on your own. You’re working with Ericson.”

  Shadow stared at her for a second longer, then chuckled. “You’re smart, girl, I’ll give you that. I am working for someone big. Jacob Ericson and you obviously know he’s the boss of the Southern Mafia. But that’s all about to end. You see, Ericson has served his purpose. He got me the connections to the heroin. Supplied the means of moving it through all the right counties, thanks to having a whole lot of law enforcement on his payroll. Now it’s my turn to be in charge.”

  Shadow watched as Miller continued to place the dynamite in several strategic locations.

  “Oh, and Paxton, you should know your friend Terry sold you out. He was working for me, keeping an eye on you. He was supposed to give me something useful to get rid of you once and for all, but he failed to deliver. He had to die.”

  Paxton lunged for Shadow. “That’s a lie. Terry wouldn’t do that to me.”