Rafe cut the headlights and pulled over behind a stand of trees not far from the line shack. They’d need to go the rest of the way on foot because they didn’t dare pull closer. The sound of the engine might clue the kidnapper to their arrival. Even though they’d gotten the call on where to find Tina, Dane’s account of another car showing up complicated things.
“We walk from here.”
“I’m going to text Dane, find out what’s happening.” Chance whipped out his phone, pressing the keypad while he spoke. His heart was in his throat, fearful Tina might be hurt. He didn’t dare contemplate any option other than she was still alive.
Dane answered almost immediately.
“Bro, Dane said he caught a couple of guys sneaking up on the shack. One of them had already taken out the driver, left him tied up in the back seat of the town car.”
When his text alert sounded, Chance looked down and read the message out loud.
“Took out the two guys. Tied up in trees behind shack. I’ll cover the back. Be careful.”
Walking around to the back of the car, Rafe opened the trunk and pulled out a Kevlar vest and handed it to Chance, who shrugged it on. Pulling on his own, Rafe then pulled two shotguns out, handing one to Chance before closing the trunk with a quiet click.
“I’m having serious doubts of letting you come with me. You need to keep your head, no matter what’s going on inside.”
“Stop wasting time. I’m not going to rush in, guns blazing. Have you ever known me to lose my cool?”
Rafe’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, and Chance realized he’d left himself wide open with that crack.
“Sorry, bro. I’d answer your question, but we don’t have enough time.”
“Jerk.” Chance turned his back and started walking, doing his best to avoid the mud puddles, not needing to lose time digging out a stuck shoe. The earlier downpour had tapered off to a soft drizzle, the sky still dark with heavy clouds. Thunder rumbled in the distance, giving the woods an ominous feeling.
Rafe shouldered past him, putting a finger to his lips in a shushing motion. What did his idiot brother think he was going to do, race through the trees like a moose in heat? He’d never do anything to put Tina’s life in danger.
Within minutes, he was soaked to the skin, but within eyesight of the line shack. One thing had been bothering him, ever since they’d gotten the phone call. Why would the kidnapper bring Tina back onto Boudreau land? It didn’t make sense. But then, nothing had made sense about this whole mess from the beginning.
“Bro, when’s the last time you came out this way? I haven’t visited this line shack in years.”
“Me, either,” Rafe answered. Some of the hands might have been out this way, but unless Dane’s been here, it probably sits abandoned.”
“But with a chance somebody might drop by, why do you think the kidnapper brought Tina back here? Practically right under our noses. Is he taunting us, trying to rub it in our faces that he snatched her right in the middle of town?”
“Doesn’t matter, we’ll get the answer to that when we arrest him. Now, quiet.”
Chance rolled his eyes, then followed his brother, moving closer to the line shack. Knowing Dane had their six, covering the back of the line shack made it easier, because nobody could sneak up on them from that direction.
As soon as they approached the edge of the tree line, the black town car stood out in front of the shack. It meant that the driver was still incapacitated in the back, and nobody had attempted to leave before they’d arrived.
“How do you want to do this?”
“I’m going to try and get across the open space, and get close to the window, see if I can get a glimpse inside. You stay here.”
“Seriously?” Chance shot his brother a death stare. “I’m not sitting on the sidelines while Tina’s in that cabin in danger. You don’t like it, you can stay here.”
Without another word, Chance took off at a low sprint, staying low, and running straight for the line shack. He could hear Rafe running behind him, his footsteps slapping against the wet dirt and grass and leaves. The rain fell heavier, not the deluge from earlier, but enough to chill his skin.
When he reached the shack, he placed his back against the wooden slats, looking around. Dane said he took care of two guys, but were there more hidden? He scanned every inch he could see, but there was no movement, no hint anybody other than he and Rafe were outside.
Rafe’s back landed against the wood by Chance’s side, and he jerked his head toward the right.
“Stay here, see if you can hear anything. I’m going to sneak around the back, come up on the other side. Do not, under any circumstances, go inside. Hear me? I’m not kidding. No matter what you hear or see, stay put. Don’t make me arrest you when this is all over.”
“Go.”
Rafe gave him another glare and slipped around the side. After what seemed like an eternity, his brother eased around the corner, his back against the wall on the other side, like a bookend to his own position.
“Anything?” Rafe mouthed the word.
Chance shook his head. Rafe eased closer to the window beside the door. The line shack wasn’t new and definitely wasn’t in the greatest shape, the boards weathered and gray, the caulking around the windows cracked and falling out in chunks.
Chance could hear voices inside. Sounded like two females and one male, but he couldn’t make out what they said. He watched Rafe begin picking at the caulking around the window closest to him, and immediately started on the one closest to him. If they could hear what was going on, it might give them a fighting chance to shut things down without any bloodshed.
“You must really hate her.” Definitely a male voice, but who was he talking to?
“You have no idea. She broke my son’s heart. Jared adores the ground she walks on, thinks she some fairytale princess. He treated her with kid gloves, and she walked away without a backward glance.”
Chance looked at Rafe, who raised his brows. Was that Liliana Webster? It had to be since she was talking about her son, Jared.
“Are you insane?” Chance gave a shuddering breath when he heard Tina’s voice. Though he couldn’t see her, she sounded okay. Angry but okay.
“You think Jared treated me like a princess? I don’t think princesses get slapped in the face. I haven’t heard of any princesses who’ve had the bones in their arm cracked by having it slammed against the wall. I don’t know a single princess who had all their dreams of being a surgeon cut short because their husband deliberately slammed their hand in a car door. I will never have the full use of my hand again, never be able to do the intricate work of operating on anybody ever again. That’s not the acts of a saintly prince. Jared was an abuser, and I saved my life by leaving him.”
Chance’s head fell toward his chest, realizing the pain and the heartbreak Tina had endured during her marriage to Jared Webster. How strong she must’ve been to not only make it through, but to survive and thrive. She was amazing.
“Liar!” Liliana’s screech would’ve been heard, even without the missing chinks in the caulk. Guess Tina must’ve hit a nerve.
“Ladies, ladies. Calm down.”
He hated they were working blind, without a clear line of sight into the shack. The windows were single-paned, older than dirt, and were covered with what was probably years of grease and grime. Visibility was obstructed, and they still wouldn’t have been able to see much, because of the oilcloth covering most of the panes.
“What do you want to do?”
“We wait.”
Chance didn’t like Rafe’s answer.
“Mrs. Webster, I’m afraid I’m going to have to decline your proposal. While I fulfilled our previous contract, I find the terms of your new job unacceptable.” The male voice sounded calm, businesslike, and eerily familiar. Chance had heard that formalized style of speech before, but where? When?
“Do you want more money, is that it? Fine, one million dollars.”
“One million? Liliana, why is it so important for me to die? I haven’t done anything to you or Jared. I moved away and stayed away. I can’t help that Jared won’t accept our divorce.”
“You stupid cow,” Liliana’s voice sneered. Chance wanted to storm the door just for the insult alone, his insides icy with fear at Tina’s statement. Liliana wanted her dead. Not simply kidnapped and out of the way. She wanted Tina’s life over. He’d show the murderous old crow.
Rafe slammed a hand against his chest, blocking the door. Chance hadn’t even realized he’d moved, his hand inches from the doorknob.
“Wait!” Though he didn’t say the word aloud, Rafe’s message came through loud and clear. It took every ounce of Chance’s willpower to keep from kicking the door open and slamming inside, taking out the miserable, worthless woman who dared threaten Tina.
“I told my son he was making a mistake marrying you. He could have married anyone, and he chose a useless piece of trailer trash who couldn’t even finish school.”
Tina’s laugh was sarcastic and bitter. “You’re right, I didn’t finish. I never got my degree because your son wanted me to help him. He was on the brink of flunking out of med school. I helped him pass his tests. I helped him build his practice. I might not have your money and cachet, but I was loyal to Jared. Right up to the point where he decided I made a good punching bag.”
“If my son ever touched you, I’m sure you deserved it.” Liliana’s voice rose with every word. “Mr. Jones, is your refusal your final decision? Because I have someone waiting outside who will be more than happy to do the job.”
“Mrs. Webster,” the calm male voice spoke, his suddenly icy tone sending a chill down Chance’s spine, “you don’t have enough money for me to kill Ms. Nelson. And I think you’ll find your driver is otherwise occupied at the moment.”
“What? That’s impossible.”
“Woman, you’ve overestimated your power. I think you’ll find your bank accounts inaccessible. Not only do you not have the million dollars to pay me, but you also haven’t got a single dime to your name. All your accounts have been frozen, along with your husband’s business accounts, as well as your son’s.”
Chance looked at Rafe, who stared back. What in the world was the guy talking about? Who was he? Was he bluffing, trying to throw Liliana Webster off her game?
“Rafe, you out there?” Mr. Jones’ voice sounded loud and clear.
“I’m here.”
“You hear everything?”
“We heard enough. I’m coming in.”
Rafe flung the shack’s door open, and it banged against the wall. Chance stood behind him, his gaze going straight to Tina. She stood behind and to the left of a tall, dark-haired stranger, his stance protective. None of this mess made any sense.
Behind Tina, he spotted Dane standing outside the window, which was cracked open just enough for the barrel of a shotgun to peek beneath. Trust his brother to have his own handle on the situation. Liliana Webster wouldn’t have made it anywhere near Tina.
“Rafe, you need to place Liliana Webster under arrest for solicitation to commit murder for hire. Her driver, too.”
“Under whose authority?” Rafe shot back.
Mr. Jones slowly reached into the rear pocket of his jeans and pulled out a folded leather case and showed it to Rafe. One look at the ID and Rafe started chuckling. Taking it in one hand, he passed it to Chance.
Chance looked at the ID, then at the man it belonged to. He knew his mouth hung open, but he couldn’t have been more surprised if a sinkhole opened beneath his feet and sucked him under.
“Are you joking?”
“Afternoon, Chance. Good to see you, too.” Mr. Jones took his ID back and slid it into his pocket. “Who’d you have covering the back?”
“Dane.”
“Ah, good choice. Rafe, we should head to the sheriff’s office and get all the official paperwork handled.” Mr. Jones reached into a backpack on the floor and pulled out a set of zip ties. Tina snickered when he handed them to Rafe.
Without a word, Rafe slipped the zip ties on Liliana Webster’s wrists while she struggled to break free. Chance knew there wasn’t a chance Rafe would let her get away. Not after he’d heard the same thing Chance had, her offering a million dollars for Tina’s death.
“Let’s go, Mrs. Webster.” As Rafe began marching Liliana outside, Chance heard him begin reading her the Miranda rights. He’d make sure she got them repeated when they got to the station, because he absolutely would not let her skate on a technicality.
Leaning his gun against the wall, he opened his arms and Tina rushed forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. He squeezed her tight, adrenaline soaring through him now that the danger was over. Tina’s body trembled, and he needed to get her home.
Where she’d never be in danger again.