Christmas Justice (Carder Texas Connections #7)(43)

She might never forgive him, but what was he supposed to think? Who else could possibly have planted a chip in him after the explosion but James?

Laurel and Molly huddled together, looking less than comfortable, but they couldn’t risk going to a motel or even going through stoplights in some of the larger towns. People didn’t realize how many cameras watched them. Big Brother really did have an eye on them all the time. Especially when whoever was after him had known his location until a few hours ago. The longer they could stay off the radar, the bigger the search pattern the enemies would require.

And the greater chance of a surprise...if Ivy had found something more than Garrett had discovered when he was doing his digging.

He inched open the door and eased out of the front seat. Laurel had been defiant in defending James. Garrett didn’t blame her.

If he hadn’t seen Ivy’s notes and the telltale design of that chip, he wouldn’t have suspected James either. But Laurel was smart and made good points.

Fiona had always had James’s back. She’d orchestrated difficult ops with knifelike precision, even those deemed impossible. She almost always found a way for the agents to succeed. She would know all the players. Maybe she was the person James had pulled in when he’d told Garrett he was getting close.

Laurel was right. They needed an insider. No matter the risk. He let his gaze rest on her, her eyes shadowed while she tried to sleep. Laurel McCallister was one fierce mama bear when riled. He found that quality strangely attractive. She would need it.

But before he called Fiona, he had to put his backup plan into action. Once he called her, his phone would be tracked.

He dialed a number.

“Adams.”

“Daniel. It’s Garrett. I definitely need your help.”

“Thank God you called. What the hell is going on in Trouble?” Daniel barked like a drill sergeant. “I received a call from your deputy a few minutes ago. I guess he kept my number from our last little adventure. Evidently he’s been taken hostage. Along with Hondo and his sister. The men who took them said he’d better find the sheriff. They left an ultimatum.”

“What kind?”

“Come to Trouble. Bring the woman and the girl, but no weapons.” Daniel paused. “You have an hour left, Garrett, or they start killing people.”

A loud curse exploded from Garrett. “It’ll take a majority of that time just to get there.”

“Then I’d start driving as soon as you can. I’ll meet you there.”

Garrett looked through the car’s window at Laurel and Molly. Innocent, caught up in a deadly game because of James. Now made worse because of Garrett. That scared the hell out of him. He looked at his watch. He needed a few minutes out of their earshot.

“Daniel, do your friends from CTC have contacts in the intelligence community?”

“Oh, yeah.”

Garrett cleared his throat. “I need help cleaning up a crime scene. There are two guys at the bottom of Guadalupe Gorge.”

“You’ve been busy.”

“There’s something else.” Garrett paused. “You need to know if you’re going to help me. My real name is Derek Bradley.”

Daniel didn’t say a word, but Garrett could tell from the silence Daniel had heard his name before. “I didn’t do what’s been said about me. I’m no traitor, but I understand if you decide to back out.”

“You don’t have to convince me. I’ve seen you in action. A traitor would have turned his back on me and my wife. A traitor would be living on his own island in the Caribbean, not marking time as a sheriff in a place barely passing for a populated town in West Texas.”

A baby’s cry sounded in the background. Garrett heard the soft voice of Adams’s wife, Raven, speaking to the twins, and then a door closed softly.

“Daniel, think long and hard about Raven and those kids before you commit.”

“I am. They’d be dead without you. Besides, I believe you. I’ve seen what men in power can do to protect themselves.” He paused. “I can help you, so shut up and tell me what I need to do.”

Garrett let out a long, slow breath and made sure Laurel and Molly were still asleep in the SUV. He walked a few more steps away. “First off, I need protection for two witnesses with a target on their backs. I won’t lie, Daniel. It’s dangerous.”

“Why aren’t you going back to your organization? There must be someone there you can trust. Someone whose loyalties you’re certain of.”

“Maybe one person, but the truth is, I can’t tell anymore. The man who saved my life could be keeping me alive as a decoy or a weapon.” Garrett hadn’t said anything to Laurel, but her father had been the best Garrett had ever seen at deception. A month ago, Garrett would have done anything for James. If his mentor had told him that he’d found evidence of who had killed Garrett’s family, he would have exacted justice. Swift and uncompromised justice.

“I don’t want anyone at the organization involved,” Garrett said, scuffing his boot on the dirt. “I need an independent group that has the contacts to keep Laurel and Molly safe if something happens to me.”

“You’ve got it,” Daniel said. “When and where do we meet?”

“No other questions?” Garrett asked.