From what I’d learned from Jay and Nicole, he’d delighted in hurting them, but he hadn’t shown any sexual predilection for them the way Brent and Carson had. He hadn’t paid Ellie any attention, so I thought she was safe now. Back with her parents, Ellie would be out of sight and mind, but I took it that he’d enjoy hurting the older girls if he thought it would hurt me. I’d have to prepare for that eventuality. My weapons had been seized as evidence, I hadn’t retrieved my cellphone from Jay and it too had been placed into an evidence bag. Luckily I had my wallet and a roll of dollars left over from the advance on expenses that Jameson Walker had given to me, so I wasn’t stuck. As soon as I got round to feeding my need for coffee and food, I’d hire a cab or rental to get me back to Holbrook. But before that, the first thing on my mind was ringing my friend, Rink.
I found a coffee shop and took a booth at the back where I could watch the door and everyone who entered. Not that I expected Samuel Logan to come charging in but I had a feeling Chambers and Witherspoon might keep an eye on me for the next few days. I wasn’t worried about Witherspoon: he was old school, and in his time he’d probably slapped the heads of many recalcitrant criminals, but Chambers was a different story. I could understand how his image of me might be clouded by what had happened to his brother, but I couldn’t allow him to get in my way.
After I’d downed one mug of coffee and ordered another, I went to a payphone at the end of the serving counter, inserted coins.
‘I was just planning on how I was gonna bust you outta prison,’ Rink said, after I told him where I was. ‘What the hell did they take you to Phoenix for?’
‘To keep me out of trouble, I guess.’
‘Like I haven’t been trying the same thing for years, and you know how successful I’ve been.’
‘You know me, Rink. I’m a trouble magnet.’
‘You can say that again. That text message I got? It kinda ruined a nice evening with Rene.’
‘What text message? Oh, never mind, I get you now.’ When I’d spoken to Jay earlier, she’d told me she couldn’t contact anyone on the cellphone during her flight from the desert, but had written a text and set it to retry. Somewhere along the way the signal must have been strong enough for the cell to send it.
‘Is Rene mad at me?’
‘Nah. She knows what you’re like. Plus, I forewarned her that you’d gone on a solo job and would likely need me to haul your ass out of the fire. I’ll get the first flight out, OK?’
‘Everything’s cool, Rink. There’s no need for you to come here.’
‘You sure? I could be there in no time.’
‘Everything’s fine now at this end. You concentrate on entertaining the good lady vet.’
‘Heard there was still one bad guy outstanding.’
‘Guy called Samuel Logan. Don’t worry about him. I shot the bastard twice. I expect the search parties to find him soon, dead from blood loss or the heat.’
‘I should come down then…’
‘No, Rink. You should stay there. I’ll be back soon.’
‘Why not immediately?’
‘Couple of loose ends to tie up first.’
‘You’re gonna go look for this punk, ain’t ya?’
‘Nah.’
‘Bullshit. I’m coming.’
‘No. It isn’t necessary. But you can do something for me.’
I asked him to Fed-Ex my spare weapons from Florida to Holbrook.
‘And you’re tellin’ me you ain’t planning on going after this punk?’
‘Who knows, Rink? Maybe he’ll come looking for me first.’
‘Jesus,’ he moaned. ‘I’d best get back to formulating a plan for a jail break.’
29
The following morning, Ellie Mansfield’s parents both hugged me. They had tears of gratitude on their cheeks, and alternated between weeping and laughing and then hugging me again. I felt a little uncomfortable, but persevered. Gratitude wasn’t something I expected or demanded, and it was thanks enough for me when Ellie waved goodbye from the back seat of their minivan. I waved back and watched as they drove away from the Great Western motel in Holbrook where I had returned from Phoenix the evening before.
I hoped the kid would get over the nightmare soon.
Thankfully the Logans hadn’t touched her the way they had Nicole, but she had been a witness to their depravity. Not only that but she was there when the bastards slaughtered the Corbin family: her best friends and their parents. I shook my head, thinking about the poor family I’d been too late to help. Out there at the ranch, and later in the cave, Ellie was suffering from shock and was withdrawn, but I’d just seen a spark of life back in her eyes. I thought she’d do OK if her parents showed her the same amount of love they just had to me.
It had made a difference to me: trading hugs for punches. Don’t know about hugs, I thought wryly. Aiming for pathos, instead I coughed out a laugh. But I knew how to handle punches.
Across the parking lot a pick-up truck was pulling in. Three guys were staring through the windscreen at me. What was that I just said?
After returning to the motel last night I’d telephoned Rink again, and I’d another call to make but had put it off. I’d showered, shaved, eaten and drunk more coffee. Then I’d hit the sack and slept soundly for almost eight hours. Now I felt a tad guilty that I hadn’t made the call. I owed it to Scott Blackstock. Not that it mattered, because he’d turned up in person, bringing his buddies, Burt and Robert, along for the ride. They parked up then clambered out of the truck, Scott hailing me like I hadn’t already noticed them.
Scott approached ahead of his friends, extending his hand. I took it and we shook.
‘I wanted to thank you for everything,’ he said.
‘There’s nothing to thank me for. I’m sorry I didn’t find Helena for you.’
He looked down, scuffed a toe on the ground. ‘It was always too late for Helena. I’m glad that you killed those fuckers though. You saved me the job.’
‘It hasn’t been proved that they took Helena yet,’ I cautioned him.
‘You ain’t heard?’ At my bemused look, he continued. ‘The cops called me this morning. Tests on Carson Logan’s pick-up found blood on the wing next to where the mirror used to be. DNA profiling ain’t in yet, but preliminary tests showed it was most likely Helena’s blood.’
‘They ran her over?’
‘Looks that way. But I don’t think she was dead. Other tests found traces of her hair and blood at their ranch. I think those bastards saw her walking to Indian Wells, sideswiped her with their truck and then took her back to their place. Jesus, man, part of me hopes that she did die when she was knocked down.’
I thought of what Nicole had suffered. ‘Yeah, maybe that would have been for the best.’
‘The cops tell me you found another hostage who’d been buried in the desert. They’re bringing in cadaver dogs and experts with ground-piercing radar to search the rest of the property. Maybe I’ll get to give my wife a decent burial after all.’
I didn’t think that Helena would be found on the Logan ranch. The fact that they’d suddenly gone out and snatched three new hostages told me that something had forced their hand. I now believed that after four months of incarceration, Helena had found a way to escape them and had unwisely headed off into the desert. Sadly she hadn’t made it home and had probably succumbed to the heat and dehydration. In my opinion the search radius should be extended. I spared Scott those thoughts.