Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
It was finally Allyson’s turn to speak. Her death grip on my hand loosened but I held fast.
“I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
She sniffed and nodded. “Okay.”
I let go of her hand and watched her take the microphone. Not that it was needed, everyone was standing close, listening carefully to every word the person speaking had to say with somber respect. Even though the atmosphere was subdued there was still laughter when someone mentioned something funny Beatrice had said or done. She was well-liked, and because of that it was going to cut deep when these people learned she was helping Mackenzie distribute drugs and it ultimately led to her death.
I took a quick glance around in search of Tucker, not seeing him but locking on Mackenzie. I followed her line of sight to the darkness beyond the courtyard. The sun had set over the western mountains, making it impossible to see the houses in the shadows. No one left lights on, and with the candles illuminating the area, I couldn’t see what she was looking at. I was taking another look around trying to locate Tucker when my phone vibrated in my front pocket.
Maybe that was him telling me he was headed to Tate’s. I pulled out my phone, silencing the vibration as I looked at the screen.
Not Tucker, Dylan.
I sent the call to voicemail and since my phone was in my hand, sent a text to Tucker asking him where he was. Before I could put my phone back in my pocket a text came through.
Dylan: Call me.
I looked at Allyson wiping the tears from her eyes as she continued to talk about her friend.
Me: Two minutes.
Where the hell was Tucker?
A new text immediately appeared.
Dylan: NOW!
A chill slithered down my spine. My gaze went back to where I last saw Tucker.
Not there.
I looked back at Allyson.
I promised her I’d be here waiting for her.
No Tucker.
Fuck .
I gently moved around people, doing my best not to disturb them while hoping Allyson understood why I wouldn’t be waiting for her when she was done. I made it to the outskirts of the crowd and hit Dylan’s contact.
He picked up after one ring.
“Do you have eyes on Tucker?”
That chill turned biting.
“No.”
“His cell and the car is pinging on the compound. His watch is moving east on Beech Creek Road.”
Without thinking, I sprinted toward Allyson’s house.
“Liza!” Dylan snapped.
Shit. Right . Dylan was waiting for me to say something.
“I’m on my way to Allyson’s to get the car.”
“You should?—”
“He’s not here,” I cut him off. “He wouldn’t leave the vigil without telling me.”
I abruptly stopped and blew out a frustrated breath.
“He has the keys to the car.”
I needed Allyson.
I turned and jogged back, nearly running head-first into her as she skidded to a stop.
“What’s wrong?”
“I need your car.”
“Is—”
“Ally. Right now, honey. I need your car.”
“Okay.”
Together we ran back to her house while I listened to Dylan barking orders to someone.
“Who are you talking to?”
“Greg. He’s an hour out but says he’ll be there in forty-five minutes.”
Thank God.
“Is Frank coming with him?”
“No.”
What the hell?
“No?”
“Frank says he’s not getting into a car without official word from Shannon.”
Fuck him. Fuck him. Fuck him .
I waited in the front yard while Allyson went into her house.
“Where is he now?” I asked.
“Still on Beech Creek approaching Van Hill Road.”
That was the route to get to town.
“Before you head out, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Tucker called in this morning and talked to Carter. He told Carter he had a bad feeling. Tucker having a bad feeling means I went over all the intel again. But I didn’t have all the information until I ran the faces from the neighbor’s feeds.”
Tucker had a bad feeling?
Why didn’t he tell me?
“And?”
“I believe Tate Archer is Jake Sutton, the brother of Anderson Tug Sutton, former president of Deuces MC. And Tug is the former president because Deuces MC no longer exists since Tucker took the club down and ninety percent of the members are now in jail for manufacturing and distribution along with more serious charges of unlawful imprisonment and human trafficking as it pertains to commercial sex work. I’m texting you a picture of Jake Sutton and three other men. I need you to show them to Allyson for verification.”
“Does it matter?—”
“Yeah, Liza, it matters. If Tate is Jake, he’s hit the vengeance lottery. If it’s not, and Jake is just one of Tate’s dealers, we have hope he doesn’t know Tucker’s close.”
Vengeance lottery.
I couldn’t think of what Jake would do to Tucker in the name of retribution for his brother without my stomach revolting.
“Here.” Allyson thrusted her keys at me.
My phone vibrated with the text from Dylan.
The jig was up. If someone was watching they were watching and it no longer mattered, so I pulled my phone away from my ear, put Dylan on speaker, and pulled up my texts.
“I need you to look at these pictures and tell me if you know any of these men.”
Allyson’s eyes widened but she nodded and bent her head to look at the screen.
“That’s Tate Archer,” she muttered.
“Blue shirt is Tate,” I told Dylan and swiped to the next image.
“Um. I’ve seen this guy. He delivered supplies to Tate when the new floors were going into the meditation room.”
“Guy with the Aerosmith shirt.” I swiped again to the last picture.
“Yeah, that’s… Ben or Brian or…no, Bryson. His dad owns a construction company. He actually did most of the work on the coffee shop. He also helped Tate build all the houses around the back curve of the road.”
Coffee shop.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Dylan started. “Greg’s on his way. We have a helo inbound to pick up Luke, Trey, and Carter. They’re gearing up now and will be ready to roll out when it lands. You’ll meet up with Greg at the Davy Crockett. The rest of the team will be twenty minutes behind?—”
“Meet up with Greg? In forty minutes?”
“While you’re waiting, have Allyson pack?—”
Fuck. That.
“I’m not waiting for Greg.”
“Liza—”
“I’m not waiting forty minutes to get to him, Dylan.”
“You are, Liza, that’s an order.” Lenox’s voice hit me like a slap. “Backup is on the way.”
I took a moment to work through the problem. People saw me run from the vigil. No doubt they saw Allyson. Mackenzie included. I couldn’t leave Allyson unprotected. She had to come with me. We’d worry about her stuff and our stuff and all the other stuff after I saved Tucker from Jake Sutton’s plan of vengeance.
“Were you correct? Is Tate Jake Sutton?”
“I’m not answering that, Liza. You need?—”
“You were right,” I muttered and jerked my head toward the car. “I’m sorry, Ally, but you have to come with me.”
In a twist I didn’t see coming, Allyson squared her shoulders and marched to the passenger side of her car while mumbling, “I hope you kick his ass.”
Oh, I was going to do more than kick someone’s ass.
“Liza—” Lenox tried again.
“All due respect, sir, I’m not following your orders or Dylan’s or anyone else’s who tries to stop me. Either you’re with me or against me. But if you’re against me, you should know I hold a mean fucking grudge. And if something happens to Tucker while we’re waiting for the men to show up, I’ll never forgive any of you.”
I slammed the car door and started the engine.
“This has nothing to do with you being a woman,” Lenox barked. “I’m not worried about you holding a grudge. I’m worried about Tucker getting back here and tearing through this office on the warpath because no one stopped his woman from putting herself in danger. Jake Sutton is out for?—”
“Stop. Don’t tell me what Jake Sutton’s after. Tell me where my man is so I can get to him before that piece of shit carves him up.”
I backed out of Ally’s driveway, put the car in drive, and shot forward, uncaring the tires sprayed rocks and more than likely drew unnecessary attention.
“Shit, she’s on the move,” Dylan announced.
“Are any of you assholes going to help me?” I shouted.
“Fuck.” Dylan’s dejected curse was followed up with, “He’s still on Van Hill Road just passed Timberfell Resort.”
“Timberfell Resort,” Allyson repeated. “That’s the place that rents sheds and has RV hookup for camping. Five minutes outside of town.”
“Here.” I held my phone out to Allyson. “Hold this, would you?”
“Sure.”
“And hold on.”
I took the corner leaving the compound to the main road at a high rate of speed and fishtailed. A memory of Tucker doing the same thing in his truck when he was racing to get to Chelsea hit me.
Always of service to others.
Always going out of his way to protect those he cared about.
Tucker.
Tim.
It didn’t matter what name he used—they were the same man. He’d said when he was Tim he lost his humanity and his honor. I didn’t believe that for a second, Tucker would sacrifice himself for the greater good. He’d do and say and be forced to see things he didn’t want to do, say, or see if it meant making communities safer. If it meant putting bad people behind bars so they couldn’t continue to spread their poison. He’d do it for the moms and dads worried their children would fall victim. For the brothers and sisters who were worried about a sibling. The teachers trying to keep their students away from drugs.
Selfless in his pursuit.
Every time it tore chunks out of me, ate away at my insides .
Tucker was a good and honorable man.
Tim was a hero.
When I was done, I was going home to you even if home was a phone call.
I took a deep breath.
One day you’re gonna say those words to me.
I should’ve told him I loved him.
“Do you know how to shoot?” I asked Ally.
“Um. Yeah. Kinda. My dad taught me and Jess gun safety when we were teenagers but I haven’t shot one in years.”
That would have to do.
“Reach under your seat.”
“Liza.”
I ignored Lenox’s growl.
Allyson leaned forward, keeping the phone in her left hand facing me, and reached under the seat with her right.
When she sat back I explained, “That’s a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield. The safety is the third lever back under the slide. Up is safe. Down is ready to shoot. You have ten rounds in the magazine. To chamber a round, you pull the slide back. The safety never comes off unless the barrel is pointed at your target and you need to use it.”
“Got it.”
“Where’s Tucker?” I asked.
“Still on Van Hill coming up on the elementary school.”
I quickly glanced at Allyson. “How far ahead of us are they?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Liza, you need to slow your speed,” Dylan told me. “And watch for deer.”
I looked at the speedometer and eased off the gas. I hated that Dylan was right but the last thing Tucker needed was for me to hit a deer and delay me getting to him.
“I just got a call back from Larry Halcomb from the DEA.” I heard Jason Walker say. “At the time of Anderson’s arrest Jake wasn’t involved in the investigation. The DEA knew he had a brother and a sister but neither were in the club. The sister lived nearby but Jake lived in Nevada at the time of the takedown. Halcomb said Jake was present at the trial but doesn’t remember if he was in the courtroom when Tucker testified. To be sure, Halcomb went over Tucker’s reports. There is no mention of Jake, and Tucker’s reports are detailed. Anderson is housed in the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. Halcomb’s working on pulling the visitation records now.”
I tightened my hands on the steering wheel. Who the hell cared if Jake visited his brother, he obviously knew who Tucker was. The details of how he knew him were irrelevant.
“Where’s Tucker?”
Instead of answering my question, Lenox went back to his earlier refrain, “You need to stand down and wait. We’re working blind until we know how many hostiles?—”
“Tucker wouldn’t stand down and wait for more intel. He wouldn’t leave me for a second longer than he had to. It doesn’t matter if there are two of them or five. I. Am. Not. Waiting. So save your breath and help me.”
“It looks like they’ve stopped.”
My heart started pounding harder.
“Where?”
“The coffee shop.”