Cowboy In The Crossfire(50)

Every bruise made him want to shove his fist through the wall.

As he finished, a whine sounded from across the room. Blake lasered on the noise. Leo lay against the wall, licking at what was clearly a broken leg. "Ah, boy." He stood and walked over to the dog. "You tried to save him." Blake rubbed Leo's ears, gave the dog a comforting pat and stood. "You need a vet, and I need backup."

He took out the second cell phone, then paused. Every time he'd called Logan it had ended in disaster. Parris and his mom were missing. Deputy Smithson was in a coma. Ethan had been taken.

He had to wonder. Could Logan have a mole?

He tapped the phone against this jeans, then dialed a number.

"Come on, Mom," he muttered. "Pick up."

Amanda shifted to a sitting position. "No, don't involve her. It's too dangerous."

"Parris is with her. If they can get a message to Logan, they can tell him he's got a leak in his organization. He can take additional precautions."

"What if the problem is Logan?" Amanda said quietly. "He could lose his entire business and his ranch if he doesn't play with the police. Maybe he decided--"

"No way. You don't know what Logan's been through. He'd never put a woman and child at risk."

"You trust him that much?"

Blake turned to her, hunched in a position to protect her injured body. He didn't blame her for being skeptical, but he knew his friend's past. He knew the kind of man Logan was. "Without a doubt." He dialed his mother's number again. Straight to voice mail.

He drummed his fingers against the phone. He had no choice, but he could make the call count. He dialed Logan.

"Carmichael."

"Call this number from somewhere secure." Blake let his hand hover over the off button, listening for any telltale clicks to indicate they were being monitored.

"I am secure," Logan said.

"I can't be too careful."

"Gotcha."

The phone went silent.

Blake pocketed the phone. "I'm going to refill the ice. You're going to need it."

"You want to talk to Logan without me," Amanda said. "Some partner."

At the ringing phone, Amanda narrowed her gaze at him. Blake pressed the speakerphone button with a sigh. "Ethan's been kidnapped. They hurt Amanda."

Logan let out a string of curses. "Get out of there."

"We can't. They're calling back on the hotel phone with instructions. They want the evidence."

Logan paused. "Take me off speaker."

Blake met Amanda's gaze, then pressed the mute button. "Please," he said. "He needs to feel free to say anything."

She raised her gaze, the pain in her eyes enough to break his heart.

"He thinks Ethan is dead."

Blake could barely hear her words as she choked them out.

"I don't," he said. "They could have killed you both. They still want something." He raised the phone to his ear. "Speakerphone is off," he said into the mouthpiece as he clasped her hand in his, rubbing her palm, trying to give her comfort.

"They need the evidence for some reason."

"I know."

"The boy might already be dead."

"I don't think so," Blake muttered. "If I'm them, I want to know what he knows and who he told. Just in case. And I still think Ethan may have the key to the password."

Amanda let out a sob. Blake tucked her against his side, praying she wouldn't feel alone.

"I'm in the dark here, Logan. I need equipment, weapons. We can't just sit and wait until they decide to call."

Amanda clutched his arm. "I need to read those emails again. There's got to be a clue."

"And a computer and internet access."

"You got it," Logan said. "Anything else?"

"I tried calling Mom. She didn't answer."

"We haven't located her. Or Parris. But knowing that cagey old man, they're probably holed up someplace secure."

"Keep looking," Blake said. "I'm getting worried. I need to know they're safe. Any more from Zane?"

"No. I've never seen him so pissed off. Vince must have been really good."

"I never realized. I just thought he liked gadgets. Is there a way to get more than two more tries at that password?"

"Not according to Zane. If he fiddles with it, the thing will turn into unrecognizable bits and bytes."

"If Vince gave the password to Ethan..." Blake met Amanda's gaze and she shut her eyes in pain. He stroked her back. "We won't have the evidence until we find him."

"Let me send backup along with the supplies, Blake."

He rubbed the bridge of his nose where an ache began to throb. "Who do you trust more than anyone?"

"Rafe. He had my back in that mess three years ago. He doesn't quit. He never leaves anyone behind. I should know."

Blake recognized the loyalty. "Okay, send him to the Shady Rest Motel. Room 8."

"That place is a dump."

"There are only a few places that don't take credit cards. This is one of them."

Logan paused and called out to someone. "He can be there in an hour. He wears a patch. Injured his eye in Afghanistan. You can't miss him."