Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Krista rubbed his back. “It’s okay, you didn’t know, Chad.”
“Krista is right,” I said as I sat down on the coffee table in front of my brother. “There was no possible way you could have known about Mallory.”
Chad lifted his head and looked like he was about to be sick.
“We need to call Randy,” Billy stated. “I’m starting to think it was Jonathon who cut that gas line on the helicopter this morning because he knew we were getting too close to him. I’m not sure how he managed to avoid the cameras.”
I nodded. “He was also the one looking up the property owners.”
Standing, I walked into the kitchen and got my phone. I hit Randy’s number and waited.
“Liam.”
“Randy, we know who it is.”
“What? How?”
“First, is Jonathon with you?” I asked.
“No. I haven’t been able to get a hold of him since he called me back to Lewistown on another case. He said it was urgent.”
“You have no idea where he is?”
“No, why?”
I shook my head. I wasn’t sure how to come out and say what I needed to say. “Randy, Jonathon has been lying to us.”
He let out a disbelieving laugh. “What do you mean, he’s been lying to us?”
“Just that! He lied about being with Chad in Chicago, I mean, he was with Chad, but Chad said he was gone for hours at a time. And the guy who kidnapped Mallory and drove her to Montana, Chad’s met him before, and he said his name is David York. He and Jonathon served together in the military and knew one another. They’re friends, Randy. And Jonathon told me the guy who rented the car was Donald Henly, I think he lied so he wouldn’t use his real name.”
There was silence for the longest time before Randy finally said, “I need to find out where he is.”
“Has anyone heard from him?”
Randy cleared his throat. “No, no one has heard from him. But don’t worry, I’ll find him.”
“Randy, what if he was the one who cut the gas line this morning?”
He cursed under his breath. “I need to go, Liam. I have to tell the chief all of this so we can get guys looking for Jonathon. Just make sure you keep Mallory safe.”
My stomach lurched. “Shit, I hadn’t even thought about that part yet. Don’t worry, she’ll be safe. I won’t let him anywhere near her.”
“And we still have the second player to deal with, this David guy. We don’t know where he is either. I’ll call you if I have any updates.”
“Randy, we need to find where they were keeping Mallory. If they had other women there, he could be trying to move them.”
“I know, with this new development, I’ll be able to get the clearance to start using the drone, and I’m well aware he was the one looking into property owners.”
I heard him rustling through papers. “I’m at his desk right now and I don’t see anything about the property owners. Jim! I need you to do something for me. Listen, Liam, I need to go. I’ll call you if I find anything.”
“Okay. Good luck.”
Randy made a grunting sound and hung up. I was sure it was hard for him to hear that it was his friend and co-worker who was most likely the person who organized this whole thing.
Walking back into the living room, I looked at Billy, then my brother. “Jonathon is missing. Do you have any idea where he could be? Does he own land that you’re aware of?”
“Land?” Chad asked, confused. “Not that I know of. He grew up in town, and his parents still live in the house Jonathon was raised in.”
“He could have bought some property and not told anyone he was using it for nefarious reasons,” Billy stated.
I glanced out the window. “It’s going to be getting dark soon. Chad, do you want to stay here tonight?”
Chad looked at Krista. “What do you want to do?”
She chewed on her lip. “I think staying here with a group of people might be better.”
“Do you think he’ll come for Mallory?” Chad asked.
I rubbed at the ache in my neck. “I don’t honestly know. If he thinks he’s been found out or could be, my best guess is he’s going to run. I’m not sure he’d risk coming here for Mallory.”
Chad nodded. “Then we’ll stay.”
“I’m going to let Bubba, Larson, Jimmy, and Howdy know what’s going on. We’re going to need everyone to keep an eye out for anything unusual.”
My phone rang and I jumped, causing everyone else in the room to jump as well.
“It’s just Larson,” I said as I answered the phone.
“Liam, we’ve got another mare foaling and something is wrong. I called the vet and he’s on his way, but I think you need to get to the barn.”
“Right, I’m on my way.”