Cain glanced at Harper. “Possible, but Harper thinks otherwise.”
“I’m not saying he won’t,” Harper said. “But he might be more patient.”
“Go ahead,” Cassie said.
“Here’s how I see it,” Harper said. “Dalton had this grand plan. Take out Tommy and his family and send a message. That went off the rails, but he adapted. He grabbed Buck and robbed a pharmacy of everything needed to patch up his brother. Bold and clever on his part. The mission morphed, he adapted. I think he was comfortable up there in the hills. Off the radar completely. Not likely to be found since we had no clue which way to look. Made finding that cabin a true needle in a haystack. But then something else happened. He crossed paths with Scotty Duckworth. That changed everything. So, he called in reinforcements and planned to send Dennie and Buck off to Memphis.”
“I get all that,” Cassie said. “But what do you think he’ll do now?”
“Buy time. Try to eliminate witnesses one by one.”
Cassie didn’t seem convinced.
Harper continued, “It’s actually good military planning. Guerrilla warfare. When the enemy is too big, or better equipped, make it a hit and run war of attrition. Whittle the enemy and impose psychological pressure.”
“I agree with Harper,” Cain said. Cassie started to respond but he raised a hand and continued. “Yes, he might go full bore and come straight at us and we should prepare for that. But, we can’t keep Buck and Marla here forever. They’ll leave and be vulnerable. Dennie will leave the hospital. Probably come here. He and Jessie will probably hold the line and be bonded out.”
“Even though their attorney over here was eliminated?” Cassie said.
“They’ll find someone. People like Frank Campanella always do.”
“Someone good enough to arrange bail for two guys charged with multiple murders and a kidnapping?” Hack asked.
Cain shrugged. “Tommy Finley beat the rap.”
“Thanks to Judge Hauser.”
“Money talks,” Harper said.
“Okay,” Cassie said. “But the first order of business is to get everyone here ready to do battle. Just in case.”
They walked inside.
Liz stood. “I guess Jason didn’t come back with you?”
Cassie shook her head. “Wasn’t home.”
Buck came from the break room. “Where’s Marla?”
“Isn’t she with you?”
“She got a call and went out to take it.”
Liz nodded. “Right out there.” She looked through the front window. “Maybe ten minutes ago.”
Cain hadn’t seen her when they came in. An uneasy feeling rose in his gut. He pushed through the door; Harper followed. They exchanged a look. Cain circled left, Harper right. They looped the building. No Marla. When they finished the circumnavigation, Cassie, Hack, Buck, and Liz stood outside.
“She’s gone,” Harper said.
“Jason,” Cassie said. “The call must have been him.”
“She said it was a girlfriend who was worried about her,” Buck said.
“She doesn’t have any girlfriends,” Cassie said. “Not anymore. She burned all those a long time ago.”
“He offered her a fix,” Hack said.
“She was getting antsy,” Buck added. “All the signs were there.”
“The park,” Cassie said. “That’s the best bet.” She turned to Liz. “You and JT pull out all the weapons and lock this place down.”
“You think they might try to break in here?” Liz asked.
“Could be that Jason enticed Marla away as a diversion, knowing we’d go after her. Open the door here a bit.”
“Got it,” Liz said. “We’ll be ready.”
Cassie turned to Hack. “Let’s get over to the park.”
“Might I suggest a strategy?” Cain said.
“Will I like it?”
“Hopefully.”
“Okay,” Cassie said, “suggest away.”
“This smells like a set up, and not necessarily for us. Dalton got to Jason, Jason to Marla. He was instructed to lure her to the park. Like always. Middle of the night. Easy targets. Two witnesses eliminated.”
“Okay.” Cassie gave a half-nod. “I see that. Your plan?”
“You and Hack take the front door, so to speak. That’s where Dalton will expect trouble. Head over to the ER. You’ll have the park in sight and will know if anything happens.”
“If they’re waiting in the park, they might see us,” Hack said.
“Not necessarily a bad thing,” Harper said, “It might make them nervous and divide their attention.”
“Or spook them,” Cassie said.
“That also wouldn’t be bad,” Cain said. “Give us time to grab Marla and Jason and bring them in.”
“We have to assume they’ll be watching,” Harper said. “Assume they will see you. Better if you’re doing regular police work and not sneaking around. Go to the ER, go inside or maybe hang around the ambulance entrance. Casual, like cops do all the time. You’ll have a visual on the park and if Dalton and his crew do see you, they’ll think it’s simply business as usual.”
Hack chuckled. “Sort of hiding in plain sight.”
“Exactly.”
“Harper and I will flank the park,” Cain said. “Move in through the trees from the back side. See if we can get up close and personal.”
“What if they see you?” Cassie said. “Things could go badly.”
Harper smiled. “This isn’t our first spin around the block. We’ve gotten up next to people in very hostile places that had no natural cover.” She shrugged. “We grew up in the forest. This won’t be that difficult.”
Cassie seemed to consider that. She sighed and looked at Hack. “You got a better idea?”
“Nope.”
“Okay.” Cassie nodded. “Let’s get going.”
“I’ll go with you guys,” Buck said.
“No,” Cassie said. “You’ll stay here. You’re the main witness. The big prize. Dalton would want you to be there.”
Buck hesitated but nodded. “I hunted a lot as a kid and know my way around a gun, so I can help here.”
Cassie nodded. “Okay.” Then to Liz, “Get locked and loaded. We’re off.”
“Just a sec,” Harper said. She lifted the rear door of The Rig and zipped open a duffle. She rummaged inside, found a smaller bag, and opened it. She pulled out two earpieces. “Here.” She handed one to Cassie and the other to Hack.
“What are these?” Hack asked.
“It’ll keep us all in communication,” Harper said. “No buttons or
