“There’s no need for anyone to get hurt, Arnie,” Leesa said. “Let me grab a pen and some paper then tell me where you want me to go.”
Ginny pushed a pad of paper and a pen over to her. “Okay, go.” Leesa nodded, scanned the table, and began to write.
* * * *
Jason planned to stay close to Adam Kendall. Looking over at his best friend, he saw the same determination on Phillip’s face. Jason knew they weren’t, either of them, willing to let Adam out of their sight.
The last few minutes ran through Jason’s mind on a continual loop. When Leesa had finished writing out Bateman’s directions, Adam had taken a pic of her note with his cell phone and then given the paper back to her. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do this.”
“Bryce is an asshole, but he doesn’t deserve to die.” Then she patted her pocket, the pocket Jason had slipped that disc Marc had given him into. “I assume that’s a tracker. So, if y’all are going to track me and follow close behind, I’m sure.”
“You will be under observation the entire time.”
Jason had wanted to protest her going. But Leesa laid her hand on his cheek and met his gaze. “It’s going to be okay, love. I’ll need your keys, though.”
Jason gave them to her, along with a fast kiss. Phillip had planted one on her, too. Then he watched as she headed for the door, and it was all he could do at that moment to let her go.
Adam held his hand up, a sign to stop….and that was when he understood why Marc Jessop was nowhere in sight.
It felt like hitting rewind and then replay in his mind. While Leesa had been writing down her directions, Marc had shed his denim jacket, slipped a watch cap on his head, and walked away, toward the back exit.
“Marc’s following her.” Phillip said.
He met his best friend’s gaze. “I just figured that out, too.”
“Yes, and I’ve learned to pay more attention to that man’s instincts in the last little while,” Adam said. “He left his car around back, out of sight.” Then he grinned. “And so did I. Marc will track Leesa.”
Jake held up something that looked like a walkie-talkie. “And we’ll track Marc.”
Only a couple of minutes had passed since Leesa had walked out the door, though it felt like a lot more. Adam nodded. “Let’s go.”
He and Phillip ran after the sheriff and Jake then quickly got into the back seat. Adam had stepped on the gas before either of them had fastened their seatbelts.
Jake called out directions, and when Adam’s phone rang, the sheriff put it on speaker.
“I see Leesa’s car, and we’re separated by one other vehicle. I think that’s Bateman behind the wheel, following her.”
Jake’s phone rang. He put his on speaker, too. “Peter, tell me you’re on him,” Jake said.
“It’s a fucking parade.” The voice belonged to Peter Alvarez-Kendall. “But since Adam sent that note and we know where he’s headed, I’m going to peel off. I see Marc, and he’s on them. I alerted the rest of the team to let them know. There are already a couple of reinforcements in place.”
“Copy that.” Jake hung up the call.
“Reinforcements?” Jason looked at Phillip then met Adam’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
“I told you that others had Bateman under surveillance,” Adam said. “The man was more than a little pissed off at being slapped back by his boss after my phone call. But he didn’t appear to get suspicious and didn’t realize that he was also being investigated. According to Peter, the thinking now is that Bateman did more than just pretend to be a part of that drug business in Kabul.”
“Was he lying to us about Jordan being a part of that scheme, then?” Jason asked.
“No, he’d reported Bryce as being a part of it when he was over there. But Bryce Jordan was never caught at it, and now, of course, any testimony Bateman tries to give would be inadmissible.”
“Because he’s dirty?” Phillip asked.
“Because he’s dirty, and likely was back when he was in country.”
“So, you know where we’re going—where they’re going?” Jason asked. Knowing that there were federal agents in the picture made him feel marginally better. He wouldn’t feel completely at ease until this was over and they had Leesa safe between them again.
“Oh yeah, we know. It’s a barn that’s the only remaining remnant of an old farm that’s no longer in use.” Then Adam looked over at Jake. “You win. I just realized that we have to keep that fucking barn. It seems to be the one place where all the rat bastards who come to Lusty are drawn to.”
“It’s the only abandoned structure around.” Jake shrugged. “And we keep everything else in good repair, so it’s the only place that looks abandoned—and therefore useable to the rat bastards of the world.”
Jason had watched this comedy routine between these particular brothers Kendall earlier in the evening. It was their way of putting the real targets of their banter—in this case him and Phillip—at ease. They’d used the same tactic on Leesa once Adam and Marc had returned to the table.
“We’re okay,” Jason said. “We hate like hell that Leesa is out there, but we know she’s not alone.” He exhaled heavily. “We also know she’s not without skills. Fifteen years in the army taught her how to survive.”
“But you’ll only really be okay once this is over,” Adam said. “We understand that, believe me.”
“I remember what you said about Ginny facing her abuser, so we do believe you. Fair warning, though. If there’s an opportunity, I’m probably going to punch Bateman in the fucking face.”
“Of
