Search Me(63)

Just as I started inching towards the cave entrance, Maddox popped out with his bag and our supplies. When he saw me, he cocked his eyebrows. “Don’t you ever listen to me?”

I threw up my hands. “You didn’t come back. I thought West might be holding a gun to you or something.”

“And if he was, were you going to bust in and rescue me?” he asked, his voice laced with humor.

I swept my hand to my hip. “Yes, smarty pants, I was. The truck with the guns is right over there. I could easily have gone and gotten one.”

“Good thinking with guns. I think I’ll use one now to give us a little insurance policy.”

I followed him over to the truck where he got out the pistol. “What are—” I started before he turned and aimed at West’s car. Two quick pops took out the front and rear tires on the left side. He glanced back at me and grinned as air whooshed out of the deflating tires and the car sunk into the grass.

I laughed. “Good thinking. He sure is going to be ticked when he sees those!”

“Yeah, and I think we need to be long gone before he has a chance to,” Maddox said, climbing up into the truck. “How are we doing on time?”

I leaned in the cab and grabbed my phone from the floorboard where Maddox had thrown it. “Ten minutes to spare.”

“I guess we better call and check in with Jensen. See what the puppet-master’s next order is.”

“But what about our next move?”

“You mean the plan to get your dad and us out with the gold?”

“That one.”

Maddox grimaced as he rubbed the stubble on his face. “Yeah…I’m still coming up blank at the moment on that one.”

Glancing over my shoulder, I eyed West’s sunken car and an idea popped into my head. I hurried over to the car as Maddox hissed, “Lane, get back here. You can bet he’s heard those pistol shots and is on his way here right now.”

I ignored him and tried the passenger side door. West must’ve been in a real hurry to get to us because he hadn’t bothered to lock his doors. There on the seat was the key to our plan.

West’s cell phone.

Snatching it up, I hightailed it back to the truck and hopped inside. “Okay, drive.”

Maddox threw the truck into reverse. “You took his phone?”

“We need a way to get help without Jensen knowing it, and if we stopped anywhere, he’d totally be suspect.” I waved West’s phone at him. “This is our ticket.”

Maddox stared at me in disbelief before a slow smile stretched across his face.

“Damn, I see where you’re going with this.”

I returned his smile. “Glad you’re on board.”

“So what’s the first step?”

“You call Jensen back and see where he wants us to meet him.”

Maddox nodded. Once again, Jensen answered quickly. “Yeah, we got the gold. Where do you want to meet us?”

Jensen must’ve made some kind of demand because Maddox rolled his eyes. “Fine.” He then put the phone on speaker. “He wants to make sure you haven’t run for help or something. So say hello.”

“Oh, um, I’m still here. I haven’t gone anywhere.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that Miss Montgomery. Your father is very glad to hear that. Aren’t you?”

A muffled voice came from the background, and I lunged forward in my seat, grasping for the phone. “Daddy! Daddy, are you okay? Oh God, I love you so much, and we’re going to get you back!”

“What a touching sentiment. I do believe there are tears in my eyes along with Daddy’s,” Jensen mused.

While a strangled cry erupted from me, Maddox snarled. “Quit f**king with her mind. Tell us where to bring you the gold or shut up.”

“Patience, Mr. Diaz. You’ve come this far. No need to lose it all right here at the finish line.”

Maddox closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. If he could have reached through the phone and throttled Jensen, he would have. “Fine. I’m listening.”

“Based on your GPS location, I want you to backtrack the way you came in to the main road. Take a right. Then go ten miles, and you’ll come to an abandoned Shell Station. Come around to the back. We’ll be waiting.”

“Okay,” Maddox murmured.

“So far, you’ve been very good to avoid ridiculous theatrics. I hope you both will continue to think clearly. I’d hate for something bad to happen this late in the game.”

Grinding the tears from my eyes, I spat, “You just hold up your end of the bargain, Jensen, and we’ll hold up ours.”

“Oh, I do so like that unexpected fire about you, Miss Montgomery. I look forward to seeing you. Remember, no police and no last minute drama.” He then hung up.

I met Maddox’s gaze and shook my head. “I changed my mind. I’m totally willing to put a bullet between Jensen’s eyes!”

He chuckled. “That’s my girl.”

“What an unimaginable bastard!”

“Ah, there’s that likeable fire of yours,” he joked, mimicking Jensen.

“So not funny.” Using West’s phone, I then called 411information for the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Department number. Once connected with the dispatcher, I handed the phone to Maddox. With all his training, he was the more obvious choice for spokesman. “Yeah, I have very vital information about the Maudie Sinclair attempted murder. And I don’t want to waste any time with a deputy. I want a GBI field agent, and I want to talk to them now.”