At the Crossroads (Buckhorn, Montana #3)(66)

He was lying, and yet Culhane wanted to believe it with all his heart. He heard something in the background. “Are you having an office Christmas party?”

“One of the dispatchers brought her baby in,” Garwood said. “If you’re asking if I’m taking this seriously, I am. Once you get the call from Alexis, let’s get this over with.”

Culhane couldn’t agree more. He disconnected and prayed he’d hear her voice again. Soon.

ALEXIS HEARD ONE of them coming through the pines. Had to be Deputy Terry Cline, she thought. He’d always been like a bull in a china shop, knocking things over in the office, banging into desks, spilling his coffee.

It was no surprise that she heard him coming. He came crashing out of the pines headed in her direction. She peered around the rocks, saw him stumble over some downed limbs, twigs snapping under his big feet. All of it announcing him long before he reached the outcropping.

“Come just a little closer,” she said under her breath as she watched him remove his Stetson to stop and wipe sweat from his forehead. She saw him glance back. Following his gaze, she saw nothing. The deputies must have split up, just as she’d hoped.

Not seeing his partner, Cline moved to the rock cropping and sat down just below her.

Alexis knew she would get only one chance. She didn’t have much time, and if she made a sound, he would hear and stand up, and her chance would be lost. Worse, he would see her above him. Once he yelled and let Furu know that he’d found her...

She lifted the rock. For just a moment, she hesitated. If her arc was accurate, the blow to the head might kill him. Or she might miss entirely. In which case he could turn and shoot her. She didn’t want to kill him but reminded herself that these two had kidnapped her, and who knew what they planned to do with her. Letting her go didn’t seem to be an option. She suspected Garwood was using her to lure in Culhane. Once that happened, she had no doubt that it was to end with both of them dead.

Rising slightly she hefted the rock. Her foot scraped on the loose rocks under her feet. Cline heard and rose, turning to look behind him.

The rock caught him in the side of the head. The blow made a horrible sound like hitting a pumpkin with a hatchet. But he didn’t react. In fact, he remained standing, though dazed. She saw him fumbling for his gun, but she was too shocked to move.

Just as she found her feet and was about to take off, he crumpled to the ground.

Alexis stood staring down at what she’d done before shaking herself out of the shock of it and clambering from the outcrop. Furu was still out there. She had to get Cline’s gun.

Earlier, she’d seen him carrying it. But as she hurried to his body, she couldn’t see it. Was it possible he’d fallen on it?

The last thing she wanted to do was touch his body. She bent down next to him and tried to lift his dead weight. She was about to try again when she heard the crunch of loose rocks behind her. Before she could react, she was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground. The deputy loomed over her, the weapon in his hand pointed between her eyes. She saw his gaze shift to Cline but quickly came back to her with a shake of his head. Reaching down, he grabbed her arm and jerked her up and onto her feet.

“Let’s go,” he said. “Your boyfriend is waiting for your call.”

“Wait,” she cried. “Aren’t you even going to check for a pulse?”

Furu hesitated. “He’s breathing. I can see the rise and fall of his chest.” As if knowing what she was going to say next, he beat her to it. “I’ll call for an ambulance once we get out of here.”

CULHANE JUMPED AT the sound of his phone. He’d just hung up from talking to the FBI. He’d been so sure that Garwood was bluffing and that the real reason he couldn’t talk to Alexis was that she was dead.

It was Garwood. He held his breath, debating what he would do if this was another lame excuse for why he couldn’t talk to her. He accepted the call but said nothing until he heard her voice.

“Culhane?”

His heart soared. He felt tears burn his eyes, and his knees went weak with relief. “Alexis.” All of his fears, his worries, his love came out in that one word. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

He heard the phone being snatched away. “Now it is up to you if she stays fine,” Deputy Furu said and disconnected.

For a few moments, he stood holding the phone, still hearing the sound of her voice and feeling both relief and fear. She was alive. But for how long?

He looked down at the phone in his hand for a moment before calling the FBI back. Garwood would be calling soon with the meeting place for the exchange. He would double-cross them. There was no way the sheriff was going to make the trade and let them go. He needed the necklace. Culhane needed Alexis. Which meant he was going to need backup.

Garwood sounded irritated when he called, as if he’d been trying the number and hadn’t been able to get through. Which was probably the case.

“Do you know where those old silos are outside of Three Forks near the headwater of the Missouri?” Garwood asked. He did. “We’ll meet there in thirty minutes. Bring the necklace. Come alone. We’ll make the exchange and be done with this foolishness, although I didn’t see anything in the newspaper this morning about you dropping your lawsuit.”

“It was on the radio this morning. Won’t be out in the paper until tomorrow or the next day.” Culhane disconnected. After today, there would be no need for the lawsuit.