The Silence (Columbia River #2)(79)

“He seems fixated on her,” Veronica said slowly. She eyed Ava. “And you.”

Shit.

“Is she all right?”

“The bleeding slowed down. She’s in a lot of pain. It can’t be good for the baby.”

“She’s pregnant?” muttered the sergeant.

“Is he worried about her medical condition at all?” Ava asked.

“Very worried,” said Veronica.

“Why won’t he let us help her, then?” There really is a baby. She kept her thoughts calm. This information didn’t change the current situation.

But a baby does give me something to pressure him with.

“I think he believes he can handle it. He’s going to try to get her in the minivan,” Veronica added.

“She’ll slow him down. That doesn’t make sense.”

“As if this guy is thinking logically,” the sergeant pointed out.

“Ava!” Mercy jogged up. “What a mess.”

Ava quickly gave her an update and then lifted the bullhorn. “Reuben. Thank you for letting Veronica out,” Ava said. “Would you let Jayne out now? We have concerns about the baby.”

No answer.

“Will you be able to get Jayne medical care?” she asked him. “Let us help her, and then I’ll see what can be done for you.”

“I know you had me followed after our meetings,” Reuben yelled. “Why should I trust you?”

“I’m sorry you felt that way,” said Ava, “but I didn’t. When a meeting ended, it was over. I went back to work, and no one else was there to follow you.”

“You cops are all talk. You say you’ll help and then you don’t.”

“I’ll see that Jayne gets help,” Ava told him. “She’s my sister.”

“She’s told me how you’ve ignored her and pushed her away over the years.”

Ava bit her tongue. He’s trying to get a reaction out of me. “Right now I’ll do anything to help her and my niece or nephew. Let me see her at least.”

I’m going to be an aunt.

It didn’t feel real.

“I’ll let her go, but you have to come get her. She can’t walk on her own,” Reuben hollered. “And it has to be you, Ava. No one else.”

“No,” said the sergeant. “Absolutely not.”

“Why me?” Ava asked Reuben.

“Because that’s the deal. Leave your gun behind.”

Is it a trap?

She didn’t think he would hurt her. He’d portrayed her in a good light while raining anger on all other law enforcement in his notes. He hadn’t purposefully injured Jayne, and according to Veronica was very concerned about her twin’s condition.

But she’d been wrong before.

She went with her gut.

“Okay. I’ll come get her.”

Ava set down the bullhorn and handed her weapon to Mercy.

“Are you crazy?” Mercy whispered. “He’s going to kill you.”

“I don’t think so,” said Ava. “His sister says he’s worried about Jayne. I think that extends to me.”

Or is it vice versa?

“Wait,” said the sergeant.

Ava ignored him and worked her way around the police cars. The house seemed miles away.

I can do this.





31

Mason flinched as Reuben demanded Ava come get Jayne.

She knows better than that. Nice try.

He crouched under a kitchen window in the backyard. It was a sort of mini greenhouse that extended outside beyond the home’s wall. It was stocked with herbs on glass shelves and provided good cover from above. None of the windows on the back of the house were useful for viewing the situation inside, but several were open, and he could hear most of the conversations.

Reuben had asked about his nieces, and Veronica had lied, saying that they were at a friend’s home. His reply had been, “Good. They shouldn’t see this.”

Mason estimated Veronica had been reunited with her girls by now.

Reuben was stressed. He had yelled at his sister before letting her go and constantly complained about the police presence outside. Over and over he’d said he needed to leave the state, and he paced nonstop in the kitchen. He sounded exactly like the antigovernment websites. He believed the cops outside were there to dominate and control a working man like him. The only good thing Mason heard was that he was troubled by Jayne’s injuries. Veronica had pleaded with him to let Jayne get medical help, but he kept repeating that he could handle it.

His tone didn’t sound so certain.

Reuben was falling apart. If the police could just wait him out, Mason thought it could end without violence.

Through the bullhorn, Ava announced she’d come get Jayne.

Shock filled him. Is she crazy?

He checked his phone. He had missed texts and calls from Ava. His sound was off because he’d worried someone inside would hear. He replied to her texts, telling her he was at the back of the house and could hear Reuben talking and to not come get Jayne.

He waited. She didn’t respond.

No. No. No.

Inside, Reuben told Jayne that Ava was in for a surprise if she tried to trick him. Jayne didn’t reply. She’d been quiet for several minutes, making Mason wonder if she had lost too much blood.