CHAPTER NINETEEN

 

 

We drove on in a chilling silence past the last exit to the eastern suburbs, into the darkness. I listened to my heart pounding and watched the mile markers pass by. Then the driver slowed, exited onto a frontage road, and followed this for a minute or two before turning down a dark dirt lane. The headlights illuminated a long stretch of road straight ahead, with no lights from houses or any other building visible. We traveled on the deserted road and after a mile or so, the vehicle stopped.

“Won’t you join me outside?” Dobson said as he opened his door. Jones got out and held the door for me. “This way, Mr. Ferguson.” Dobson walked down a slight incline at the edge of the road and waved me over. I had a sneaky suspicion that these guys weren’t who they said they were, but I didn’t have much choice except to go along.

I was flushed with fear even though it was frigidly cold. I stood rooted to my spot until Jones pushed me from behind. “Come on,” he said. I stepped carefully, not sure of my footing as I followed Dobson. I tried to glance at the license plate on the SUV, but I couldn’t make out the numbers on the dark plate. Besides, with Hercules prodding me on, I didn’t have much time. I got to the bottom of the incline where Dobson stood waiting. He put his arm around my shoulders in a friendly gesture.

“Let’s be reasonable about this,” he said, like we were best friends chatting.

I didn’t say a word. We started walking into a field, the uneven ground frozen under our feet.

“It’s time for the games to end, Mr. Ferguson.” We kept walking, the icy dirt crunching loudly under our feet. “Let the government handle this.”

“And if I don’t?”

Dobson stopped and faced me. His features were ghostly in the moonlight. He did not appear happy. “Things will get messy for you.”

“Like what?”

“It doesn’t take much to ruin a person, personally, financially, morally. I can make any of that happen. How would you like it if that trust fund of yours was suddenly eliminated?”

“I can handle it. I wouldn’t be happy, but I’d work it out.” I hoped he didn’t hear the shaking in my voice. I crossed my arms against the cold, burying my hands in my armpits. “Money isn’t everything.”

Dobson moved in for the kill. “Maybe so, but what if I take down your family? Your friends? I can make things very complicated for Cal.” His eyes narrowed. “He runs quite a little operation from his house in the foothills, doesn’t he? I wonder just how much of it is legal. Maybe we should check into that.”

A different kind of coldness swept over me. I couldn’t let anything happen to my parents, nor could I let Cal get into trouble at my expense. “You’re right to protect him.” Dobson's smile chilled me more than the frigid air. “And you can. Just by leaving this investigation alone.”

“You wouldn’t,” I said.

“Don’t try me, Mr. Ferguson.” He rocked back on his heels, signaling the end of our discussion. “Do I have your assurance that you leave this alone?”

I couldn’t think of any alternatives. “Yes,” I finally said.

“Stay away from Amanda Ghering. Do not see her. Do not communicate with her in any way.”

“What if she calls me? I can’t stop her from doing that.”

“Let her know that you are no longer available to her. Understand?”

I nodded.

“Good.” He seemed pleased with himself, clapping his hands together. “It is cold out here, isn’t it? Too bad you rushed out without a coat.” He turned and started back for the car. I took a few steps after him. Dobson turned around and held up his hand.

I stopped. “What now?”

“Our meeting is over, Mr. Ferguson.”

“Okay, take me home.” I pointed to the SUV. Dobson shoved his hands in his coat pockets, and even in the dark I could see him clutching the gun that was in the left pocket. He contemplated me in a nonchalant manner. My knees buckled under me and I almost fell down.

“What are you going to do?” I finally asked.

Dobson shrugged. “Stay away from this investigation. Stay away from Amanda Ghering. Stay away from anything that has to do with this organization. Do I make myself clear?”

“I said I would,” I managed to say.

“Excellent choice.” He turned his back to me again. “I will leave you to your own resources now,” he called over his shoulder.

“You’re going to leave me here?” I yelled after him. “If you’re really the FBI, you wouldn’t do that!”

He reached the SUV and in the moonlight I could see him say something to Jones, and then they both laughed.

“Hey!” I raised my voice even louder. Sensation came back into my legs and I began trotting toward the car. “You just threaten me and that’s it?” I shouted, jabbing my finger into the air. “I have rights. I pay taxes.” The men opened their car doors. “It’s freezing out here!”

“I can do whatever I want,” Dobson called out to me. “Let this be my warning to you.”

“This doesn’t happen in the movies!”

Dobson held a hand up. “This isn’t a movie, Mr. Ferguson. Good night.” The two men got into the car, slammed their doors, and the SUV pulled a quick U-turn, dipping down into a slope on the side of the road. The wheels spun for a second before catching traction, and the SUV roared off, spraying dirt behind it. I ran after it, swearing as many four-letter words as I could think of in the cold, but by the time I got to the road all I saw were two tiny red lights disappearing in the distance. And the left one was broken.