Golden Trail (The 'Burg #3)(229)

“No one else in the car?” Layne asked.

“Nope,” Ryker answered.

Layne’s eyes slid through the group. “What else we got?”

“Not much, man,” Colt muttered, his eyes on Ryker, his body alert for Ryker to blow. “Lissa’s been calling Alexis’s friends. No one knows about any plans. This is a sneak attack.”

Layne’s phone rang, he pulled it out, saw the display said, “Dave Calling”, he flipped it open and put it to his ear.

“Dave, I’m in the middle of –”

“Somethin’s goin’ down,” Dave cut him off. “I’m on duty at your office, listenin’ to Rutledge. He just had a conversation with someone, tellin’ them it’s too hot, he was freaked, though he didn’t provide details. Whoever it was, they didn’t listen. Now I got silence and I’m watchin’ his car move. Looks like he may be headin’ out of the ‘burg.”

Devin had planted the bugs and then Layne had planted a tracking device on Rutledge’s car. Even though things had cooled down to the point they were ice cold, both were still monitored in the office twenty-four seven.

“Where?” Layne asked.

“He’s on Green and looks to me he’s on his way to 74,” Dave answered.

“Right, two hours ago, Alexis McGraw got in a car with Nicolette Towers,” Layne told him.

“Shit!” Dave hissed.

“Keep an eye on him,” Layne ordered. “Got some of the boys here, we’ll get someone on his ass.”

“Right, out,” Dave said and disconnected.

Layne flipped his phone shut and looked at Merry. “Was anyone sitting on Rutledge?”

“The investigation is ongoing but wrapping up since we don’t have enough. Just shitty police work so he’s not gonna get a good performance evaluation but it looks like he’s gonna be cleared. He didn’t bolt which looked good for him. Cap rescinded the unit on his tail,” Merry explained.

“You need to call it in, he’s headed to Indy, looks to hit 74. He needs to pick up a tail on his way. He just had a conversation with someone, tryin’ to convince them it’s too hot then he took off,” Layne told them and Sully had his phone out before Layne was done speaking.

Sully stepped away and Layne heard Jasper’s phone ringing behind him. He turned and swept his son with a glance to see Jasper was still hanging back, body partially turned away, eyes to the ground, focus intense.

Before he could ascertain what Jasper was doing, he sensed Ryker was on the move and he turned to see Ryker heading toward his bike.

“Ryker,” Layne called, moving behind him.

“I’m headed to I-74,” Ryker grunted.

“Ryker,” Layne put a hand on his big arm but Ryker shook it off and kept moving.

“Call me, you got info on where he’s goin’,” Ryker swung a leg over his bike, settling as he put his key to the ignition.

Layne’s hand shot out and he yanked the keys from his friend.

Ryker’s head turned to Layne and he had that scary look on his face.

“Not a bright idea, bro,” he growled.

“Not a bright idea to get on your bike, pissed and lookin’ to do damage. We can hope nothin’s happened yet. It does, it doesn’t, Alexis and Lissa are gonna need you right here, not have to find their time to visit you and talk to you through glass,” Layne returned.

“She has my girl,” Ryker growled.

“I know and it isn’t helpin’ matters, us spendin’ time havin’ this conversation. Get off your bike,” Layne ordered.

Ryker glared at him.

“Dad,” Jasper called, Layne took a chance and turned his back on scary, pissed off Ryker to see Jasper was jogging up to him.

“Tiffany’s not answering her phone,” Jasper told him when he got close.

Fuck!

“I got her number after the last thing and I’ve been callin’ her. Know someone who’s got some of her friends’ numbers and her home number and they called. She’s not at home, parents said she was goin’ to hang with some of her girls. None of her friends have heard from her and they didn’t have plans.”

“I’m on that,” Colt muttered, pulling out his phone.

“Dad,” Jasper called his attention.

“What, Bud?”

Jasper looked funny and Layne knew that look. He hadn’t seen it from Jas in years. It was hesitant, unsure, like Tripp looked when he had to say something he thought might sound stupid.

Jasper sucked it up and said softly, “Okay, Dad, stick with me, yeah?”

“I’m with you,” Layne spoke softly back as he felt Ryker getting off his bike and Tripp, Devin and Merry got close.

“I know we don’t have a lotta time but will you let me talk this out?” Jasper asked and Layne nodded.

“Okay,” Jasper whispered then took a big breath. “I’ve been thinkin’ about all this stuff and somethin’ never sat right with me ‘cause that Youth Group guy has been around for ages, like, months, right?”

“Right,” Layne agreed.

“So, I don’t know how they think or how they work but to work three girls, it doesn’t seem like it would be worth that investment, takin’ that long to do it,” Jasper went on and Layne’s eyes moved to Devin whose jaw was tight.