Catching Cara: Dark Horse, Inc: Book 2

by Amy J. Hawthorn

  “Got it.”

  “Next.” The next photo showed an SUV driving out of the open bay door of the garage. The words Potter County sprawled across the side.

  Joe spoke, his voice flat, utterly devoid of emotion. “That’s Dale Hawkins’ new county issued ride.”

  “We’ve already run another search, but add him to the list,” Rick said. The last picture appeared on screen, catching Boyd Campbell as he stepped into a gray truck. “And last, but not least, we have our confirmation. The snake is back.”

  “Joe.” Dale Hawkins nodded to an empty chair in front of his desk.

  He’d been waiting for this. He might not have known exactly when it would come, but he knew one way or another that he’d be singled out and warned off.

  “Sheriff.” He couldn’t help it. He didn’t take the seat he was directed to. He stood beside it and faced Dale.

  “I received a call from Mark Cline. He said you’ve been harassing his boy, Brayden.” The man wouldn’t meet his eyes. He sifted through paperwork on his desk, as if Joe were beneath his notice.

  He knew better. Dale Hawkins couldn’t meet his gaze because he was a lying sack of shit. Someone was watching the Clines. “I went out there once to talk to Brayden, and Mark gave me his permission. He’d said that they were eager to help.” He’d seen the conviction in Mark’s eyes.

  “Good. Then your job is done. There’s no need for you to go back out there and bother the Clines any more. They’re good people.”

  “They are.” That’s why they’d been willing to help. “I’d like to know where a couple of good kids in Riley Creek found heroin. Wouldn’t you?” He gambled and watched the Sheriff’s response carefully.

  “Leave it be, MacDonald. The judge will sort the kids out, and that will be the end of it. I suspect some drifter left it behind accidently. If you know what’s best, you’ll leave it at that.” Hawkins pushed his shoulders back and raised his head to finally met Joe eye to eye. “Are we clear?”

  “We are.” He probably should have tucked his tail and played the part but he couldn’t. He didn’t back down. With a disgusted sneer, he turned on his heel and left the office. Looking at his watch he saw that it was almost time to clock out. He had the sudden need to take his daughter out for dinner and ice cream. He messaged his mother to let her know he’d pick Kylie up. When the urge to include someone else in their dinner date hit, he didn’t resist. He picked up the phone and called Cara.

  Chapter Nine

  “Mom, I’m fine. Quit fussing over me.” She tried to usher her mother out of the laundry room. “I’ll get that. I’m perfectly capable of washing my own laundry.”

  Her mother flapped her hands at Cara, literally shooing her away. “Your knee is swelling again. Go watch TV or something. Go on.”

  She was glad that her mother suddenly felt better and had been cooperating with her physical therapy orders. The day after she’d hurt herself, her mother caught her limping. Since then, her mother had gone from patient to caretaker. If anything, Cara worried that she might do too much as she moved a load of Cara’s laundry from the washer to the dryer. She stood in the laundry room doorway watching her mother and debated on whether this latest fight was worth the headache.

  She also smelled a rat. But should she let it go or confront her mother?

  “I don’t know what possessed you to play softball with those boys. I don’t know how many times I’ve told you that you’d get hurt if you didn’t leave well enough alone. Look what happened. Your knee might scar! They might be a little on the short side, but your legs have always been one of your better features. Now you’ve gone and ruined one of them!”

  She turned her back on her mother hoping she would wind down in a few minutes. She’d hated lying to her mother, but judging by her current fit, she could only imagine what kind of tailspin her mother would fly into if she told her she gashed it on a rock when she’d tackled a teenager who’d been running through gunfire.

  Head spinning, pea soup spitting kids had nothing on her mother in a full-blown meltdown.

  She sat down on the couch and picked up her computer. The screen had barely flashed on before she heard her mother call out from the laundry room. “I still think you should go and at least get an x-ray or something. Did you put that ice pack back on?” Her voice grew stronger as she came through the kitchen, likely on her way to check on Cara. Again.

  She grabbed the cool ice pack and placed it on her knee just before her mother entered the room. “I don’t need x-rays. It’s feeling much better. I promise.” And it did.

  Her mother stood before her with her hands on her hips, staring down at the leg Cara had propped up on the coffee table and a pillow. “Is it still cold? It doesn’t look cold. Give it here. I’ll change it out.” Before Cara could move, she’d snatched it off her leg and stormed back to the kitchen for a fresh pack. When she didn’t come straight back but instead went into the bathroom next, Cara dropped her head to the back of the couch. She knew what was coming.

  Sure enough a minute later her mother reappeared. “Here put this on first.” Her mother held vitamin E oil in one hand and the fresh ice pack in the other.

  Without a word, she took them both, applied them and then tried to focus on her computer.

  Her mother had returned to her prior position, staring down at her with a frown, and she asked, “What are you doing?”

  “I’m looking for nursing jobs in Borneo.” She stared at her email until her eyes hurt, but nothing registered. She didn’t know how much longer she could tolerate her mother fussing over her.

  “Hmph.” Her mother finally turned around and went back to her room. Cara figured, if she was lucky, she might have twenty minutes before she returned. She slid the icepack off and hoped the icy numbness had time to wear off before she had to put it back. At this rate, her knee could end up with frostbite.

  She’d been giving her mother a hard time when she’d mentioned the job search, but since she didn’t have anything better to do, she started a more realistic one. She wasn’t finished with her program yet, but it never hurt to keep an eye on the market. Her hometown might be a little too close to her mother, but then she wondered.

  What about Potter County? She’d be closer to home and her mother without actually being too close. With a larger hospital, there might also be more opportunities. She’d be closer to Dark Horse, if she wanted to work with them more often.

  Her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and smiled.

  And I’d be closer to Joe. It was far too early to take their relationship into her career considerations, but still.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey. How are you?” She loved the sound of his deep voice.

  “A little stir crazy, but good. What’s up?”

  “Kylie and I are going out for dinner and dessert. We wondered if you’d like to go with us?”

  “Yes. When?” Her words came out rushed and maybe even a little desperate. She didn’t care. She could think of no better reason to get out of the house and away from her mother than a dinner out.

  His laughter came over the phone.

  “Okay. Good. I didn’t expect that kind of response, but we’ll take it. We can pick you up in about thirty minutes. There’s no need to dress up. I just picked her up from my parents and neither one of us has changed.”

  “That sounds perfect. And I didn’t mean to scare you off by sounding so desperate. I’ve been cooped up with Momma for three days, and she’s driving me batty. I need out. Please?”

  “We’ll be there in thirty.”

  “Thanks,” she whispered into the phone.

  Twenty-eight minutes later, his truck pulled up in front of the house while her mother peeked out the window. “Is she in there? I can’t see her.”

  “Mom. Would you stop? They’ll see you.” She grabbed her purse and counted to ten.

  After one more good peek, her mother dropped the curtain and stepped back. “You said she was cute. I want to
meet her. Are you sure you shouldn’t have put on a little makeup? Maybe a nicer top with your shorts?” She wrung her hands together.

  “We’re taking Kylie. I’d look foolish dressed up when they’re in jeans and shorts.” They both turned and looked to the door when they heard heavy footsteps on the porch. “Mom. Please behave, okay?”

  “Okay.” The hand wringing continued.

  Cara softened. “Do you want me to bring you something back?”

  “No. I’m fine. I just want you to have a good time.”

  A light, barely audible knock sounded at the door and her mother reached for it then stopped herself. She stepped back and looked to Cara.

  “Go ahead, Mom. You can open the door. I just don’t want you drawing up a marriage license or adoption papers, okay?”

  Then something so out of the ordinary happened, it stole Cara’s speech. Her mother laughed. Cara couldn’t remember the last time she’d heard her laughter. Then she opened the door and revealed Kylie with her hand poised, ready to knock again.

  “Hi. Is this Cara’s house?” Kylie, with her hair in a single messy braid over her shoulder, looked up to her mom and smiled.

  “It is. I’m Betty, Cara’s mom. You must be Kylie. It’s nice to meet you.” Her mother beamed at Kylie in a full on, sun breaking through rainy skies, smile.

  “Yes. Nice to meet you too. We’re here to take Cara to dinner. Can she go with us?” Kylie seemed to take extra care with her words, making sure to pronounce each one correctly.

  “Absolutely. You guys have a good time.” Her mother nodded and reached out a hand as if to straighten the little girl’s hair, but she pulled it back before making actual contact.

  “Okay.”

  Cara stepped forward and smiled at Kylie. “Hi, sweetheart. It’s good to see you again.”

  “Hi! Let’s go eat!” She jumped up, as if she couldn’t contain her energy any longer.

  Joe nodded his head to her mother in farewell, and took Kylie’s hand in his. When he took hers in his other her chest filled with warm and fuzzies.

  “Is pizza and a movie okay? Kylie’s been desperate to see the new cartoon movie.”

  “Please, Cara? It’s supposed to be so funny. There’s this one part where the bear does this thing with the dog and everybody laughs. It’s your date though, so Dad said we should ask if it’s okay with you.” She looked up to Cara with huge, bright eyes that gave any puppy a run for its money.

  “That sounds perfect.” And it did. She let Joe help her up into the truck. He patted her thigh and shut the door.

  As she buckled the seatbelt, the hair at her nape stood, and chills raced down her spine.

  He watched the cop help Cara into his truck and then lift his daughter into her car seat. The perfect little family. Completely clueless that he watched them, they wore smiles as if it was the greatest day ever.

  Cara. The little bitch tease. It is all her fault. All of it. He’d almost gotten free of this shithole corner of Kentucky when Sutton had pulled him back in. It figured that two of the biggest threats to his plan hooked up.

  Running his fingers over the scars her fingernails had left on his forearm, he remembered the feel of her throat convulsing within his hands. He could still clearly see the panic flashing in her eyes when she realized she couldn’t fight him off.

  He’d ripped her shirt and watched her chest heave as she struggled to breathe. He’d only needed one more minute to finish the job. He would have preferred to draw her terror out, to make her experience what she’d made him feel. She deserved it and more, after all she’d done to him.

  He’d just wanted was a little companionship, but Cara made a fool of him.

  When he tried to take what she waved at him, she played the victim. Then she’d cried out and those assholes had shown and interrupted.

  He’d been the bad guy.

  The instant Holloway pulled him off her, he’d known his days in their unit were over. Those six had stuck together like some sort of merry band of do-gooders. When Cara started wheezing for air and coughing, Holloway looked her direction, worried. The brief distraction was all he needed. He broke Holloway’s hold and vanished into the congested, dark heart of Sharana. He’d made his way to a contact of his in the Afghan National Police. For a price, they’d hidden him until he’d found a way to get out of the country.

  It had taken him four months and a deal with the devil, but eventually he’d gotten out of one hell and into another. He’d needed confidentiality, a new identity and a way out of the country. Through one of his uncle’s contacts, he’d gotten all of it, but in addition to money, he owed Marcus Sutton a favor.

  Marcus Sutton was the type of guy no one wanted to owe.

  He’d known his time in Kentucky was limited, but he’d needed the money from his uncle. He’d known better. He should have left Bailey hanging when’d he’d felt the itch to move on. But he hadn’t. He’d been greedy, and now he had to deal with the stupid sheriff, another idiot who thought his shit didn’t stink and that, because he wore a badge, he stood above the law and the land.

  Boyd wasn’t sure that any amount of money he might make from their current operation was worth the risk to his neck. He’d rather be poor than behind bars.

  The blue truck rumbled to life and drove away; it’s occupants clueless that they were being watched.

  He’d nearly finished off them off once before. He could do it again. He’d given a group of Chechen jihadis the details of a scheduled escort run. He’d put the Dark Horse crew right into their hands. It should have been like taking candy from a baby.

  But somehow they’d screwed it up. Instead of taking the Dark Horse crew down, they’d ended up looking like heroes. He watched from the shadows as they’d driven right into an ambush. They’d been against enough firepower to arm a small country and Dark Horse still come out alive and shinning like fucking heroes.

  He’d have to take care of the situation himself. It was the only way to be sure a plan worked. He would take care of things in Riley Creek, right under Sheriff Hawkins’ watch. That would give him one more failsafe.

  And if he took out Dark Horse’s diva? Well, then, the others would be crippled by their grief. That included the do-gooder deputy. It would buy him enough time to finish the job for Sutton and get the hell out of Dodge.

  Chapter Ten

  “I just want to look in the little girl’s department. Give me two minutes, that’s all I need.” Betty Gregory pointed as she walked off, leaving Cara in her dust.

  “Mom. We are not buying Kylie any clothes. I don’t think Joe would appreciate us butting into his life that way. We don’t even know what size she wears.” Cara knew the effort was wasted before her mother even opened her mouth to reply.

  “She’s a little bit of a thing. I’d say she still wears a five or six. It doesn’t matter. I’m only going to look at the sales. I’m sure she’ll need clothes for school. I’ll just be a moment. You never know when you’ll find a bargain.” A woman on a mission, her mother headed straight for the dress rack.

  “Mom. No.” She caught up to her miraculously healed mother and put her hand over hers as she reached for a dress. “I know you mean well, but I don’t think Kylie likes frilly clothes and, though I adore her, I don’t want to do anything that might scare Joe off.” She shamelessly used the only thing she could think of that might make her mother listen. “He’s a little gun-shy, especially concerning Kylie. If we show up with a new wardrobe, he might think I’m going too fast. You have to be patient.” Though in reality, she would never use such a play on Joe or any man, she used it now on her mother.

  Her mother pursed her lips and tilted her head as she looked at the dresses. “I suppose you’re right. Maybe we need to get you a new dress, something for a nice date out. Let’s go look.” They’d come to, of all places, Riley Creek to get the new gym shoes her mother decided she needed for physical therapy. Never mind that there were more stores closer to home.

  “Mom.
I have everything I need. And Joe likes what I wear just fine. I promise.” Memories of him stripping her clothes off the last time they’d been together played through her mind. “He’s a good guy, but he has simple tastes. Besides, I don’t want you on your feet much longer. I know your hip is doing much better, but I’m not sure going from zero to sixty is such a good idea. It’s time for a break.”

  This time she got a frown in response. “Fine. If you insist.” Her mother trailed a finger over a length of lavender ribbon trim. “When are you seeing him again?”

  She took the shoebox tucked under mother’s left arm and herded her toward the payment counter. “I don’t know yet. We didn’t set up our next date.”

  “Well, you should have. You never said how the other evening went. Good, I hope?” Her mother asked it as if making sure Cara had been on her best behavior.

  “I had fun. It wasn’t a typical date. We just saw a family movie and had dinner and ice cream.” It was an altogether different type of experience than her first date with Joe, but she’d enjoyed it equally. She hadn’t laughed that much in ages. The evening had been more about Kylie than them and she found that came with a different type of satisfaction.

  At the evening’s end, he’d dropped her off at her front door. He hadn’t kissed her, but as he trailed his fingers down her cheek in a tender farewell, she’d seen his desire to do just that. He’d wanted to as much as she’d hungered for a taste.

  So, no. They didn’t have a date scheduled, but she didn’t think it’d be long before they saw each other again. And she looked forward to it.

  She set the shoebox on the counter and smiled at the saleswoman, a very familiar, slightly older looking lady with deep brown eyes. The rat she’d smelled earlier suddenly stank to high heaven. She greeted them with a warm smile. “Did you find everything okay?”