Chapter 29
It took more than a week for Allyson to get answers about her house, and it wasn’t good news. The fire was arson, and to make matters worse, they found a body inside the structure. Crash knew it was playing on her because they didn’t know who the person was. From what Aaron found out, they used the body to start the fire.
Crash was feeling much better, and except for the slight twinge, if he moved too fast, he was mostly back to himself. Axel was healing but having a rough time keeping away from the bottle. He hadn’t had a drink, but Crash could see he was struggling.
Allyson was finally going to the clinic to get things ready to start the following Monday. She had meetings with Sean and Ian and later someone from the hospital. He was glad to see that Leah would join Allyson as her nurse at the clinic.
He had finished changing Mila’s diaper when his phone rang. He picked up the baby as he glanced at the screen. It was from the clinic, and he figured Allyson was calling.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Crash answered.
“Hello, babycakes.” Ian chuckled.
“Sorry, I thought you were Ally,” Crash laughed.
“Didn’t mean to disappoint you,” Ian replied.
“No problem. What can I do for you?” Crash bounced the baby on his hip.
“Allyson said she left the number of the rep from the pharmaceutical supply company on a notepad there. I’d need to speak with him too,” Ian said.
“Sure, let me check.”
Crash glanced around the living room and kitchen and saw the small notepad on the counter. Trying to juggle Mila and the phone, he picked up the notepad.
“I think this is it. Julian Burgess?” Crash read the name.
“That’s him,” Ian replied.
Crash told him the number and dropped the notepad back on the counter. He was about to ask for Allyson, but Mila knocked the phone out of his hand, and before he could catch it, it dropped into the sink filled with the dishes he’d put in there to soak.
“Fuck,” Crash yelled.
Mila jumped in his arms and stared up at him as if he’d slapped her. Her eyes filled with tears, and within seconds, she let out a loud wail. Caleb came running from the bedroom where he was playing and looked up at Crash, trying to soothe the crying baby.
“It’s okay, buddy. She just got a bit of a scare.” Crash assured the little boy.
“You yelled,” Caleb said.
“I know, buddy. I’m sorry, but I dropped my phone in the water. I didn’t mean to scare you or Mila.”
The baby cuddled into his shoulder as she calmed to a soft sob. Crash felt horrible, but now he had no way to call anyone if he needed them. He swayed back and forth with Mila as Caleb sat on the floor and went back to playing with his car.
When Mila finally settled down, she fell asleep, and he placed her in her portable crib. He stepped out on the porch to see if anyone was around to call Keith about the phone. Not that he needed it for work cause he’d been placed on leave until this was all over.
Of course, the place looked abandoned, and he blew out a frustrated breath. He made his way back into the bunkhouse and sat down on the couch. Someone would drop by if they couldn’t get hold of him.
Over an hour later, he did everything to dry out his phone, but it wasn’t working, which pissed him off. Allyson told him she’d be home around supper time, and she probably hadn’t had a chance to eat all day. A little after four, he tossed the phone on the counter and pulled out the stew that Keith’s grandmother dropped off the day before.
The woman almost died a week earlier, but she was back, making sure everyone got fed. Alice reopened the diner, and everything there was back to normal. He stood next to the stove, stirring the thick stew, when his eyes fell on the notepad.
“Julian Burgess? Why does that name sound familiar?” Crash muttered to himself.
A flash of Witt shouting at Emir caused Crash to drop the spoon on the counter and pick up the notepad again.
“Julian, what the hell are you doing?” Witt asked Emir.
“Julian?” Crash was confused.
“Yes, another of my names. Julian is my hard-working pharmaceutical salesman. He is calm and tries to be a good friend. He even took out that woman you care about so much,” Emir smirked. “She’s a little too, shall we say, seasoned for my taste, but I knew you spent a lot of time with her. I thought maybe she would lead me to Aya, but she knows nothing.”
“Fuck,” Crash turned off the stove and ran to the front door.
He blew out a breath when he saw Keith heading toward the bunkhouse. He didn’t look happy, and Crash hoped he wasn’t right about this guy.
“Why is your fucking phone off?” Keith snapped.
“Rusty, you need to send someone to the clinic. I think Emir is heading there.” Crash tried to keep his voice low.
Caleb was inside, and the last thing he wanted to do was scare the child again. Crash was surprised that the little boy was adjusting so well, especially with all the changes over the last several weeks.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Keith pulled out his phone.
“I dropped my phone in the sink when I was talking to Ian.” Crash explained. “Get someone over there.”
Crash glanced over his shoulder at Caleb. The little boy stared at him, and Crash forced a little smile. He wasn’t sure if the kid was fooled, but he went back to playing with his toys.
“What’s the guy’s name?” Keith asked him.
“Julian Burgess, but when Emir had us, Witt called him by that name. I didn’t put it together until now.” Crash wanted to run and jump in his car, but he couldn’t leave the kids.
When Keith finished the call, he looked up at Crash.
“Go on. I’ll get Trunk and Hulk to meet you at the gate. They’re in the gym.” Keith stepped inside the bunkhouse.
“What?” Crash stared at his boss.
“I know you want to go get this guy. I shouldn’t be letting you go, but if it were me, nothing would stop me.” Keith pulled his weapon from inside his jacket. “Don’t let this prick get away.”
Crash didn’t hesitate as he ran down the steps; his ribs objected, but he didn’t care. He needed to get to Allyson and make sure the feeling in the pit of his stomach was wrong. Something told him it wasn’t.
As promised, Hulk and Trunk were waiting by the gate, and they jumped in his car when he pulled up next to them. The gate opened, and Crash practically put the vehicle on two wheels as he sped around the corner toward the clinic.
“Call Ian and see if he answers,” Crash told Trunk.
“Do you want me to try Allyson?” Hulk asked.
Crash nodded because he couldn’t get the words out. He hated speeding through the small town, but he needed to get to her.
“Ian said he left the clinic an hour ago. The guy didn’t show up by the time he left.” Trunk pulled out his gun from the back of his pants.
“Allyson isn’t answering.” Hulk met his eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Fuck,” Crash shouted as he pounded the steering wheel with his fist.
“She may be caught up with something.” Trunk pointed to the parking lot outside the clinic. “Isn’t that her car?”
Crash saw the small SUV parked next to the entrance, but it was the vehicle next to hers that had the hair on the back of his neck standing up on end.
“Who’s car is that?” Crash asked.
“I think that’s Leah’s car.” Trunk leaned between the seats.
“It is. See the sticker on her car. That’s the one the fire department gave out to the kids. Her dad is the chief.” Hulk pointed to the back of the car.
Crash blew out a breath when he saw Aaron and two other police cruisers pull into the parking lot ahead of him. They may have been worrying for nothing, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
He didn’t even bother to turn off the car as he jumped out and ran toward the clinic. Aaron stopped him from running inside. He motioned for one of the other officers to go around the back of the building, and he headed into the front with the rest.
“Stay behind us,” Aaron ordered Crash.
They stepped into the empty reception area and quietly moved together toward the hallway leading to the exam rooms. Aaron pulled open the door when Leah stepped out of one of the offices and shrieked when she saw them.
“Holy shit balls. What are you guys doing?” She pressed her hand against her chest.
“Where’s Allyson?” Crash whispered.
“In her office with Julian.” Leah pointed to the room down the hall.
“Are you sure?” Aaron asked.
“Yeah, I’ve been in the file room, but I would’ve heard them come back up the hallway. What’s going on?” Leah looked concerned.
“Take her outside,” Aaron ordered one of his officers.
They continued down the corridor toward the closed office door. The name still said Dr. Sean O’Connor, but this would eventually be her office when he retired. Aaron knocked on the door. Nobody answered.
“Allyson, it’s A.J.. Are you there?” Aaron glanced back at Crash.
Aaron slowly turned the knob and pushed open the door. The room was empty, but papers covered the floor, and one of Allyson’s shoes lay in the middle of the office.
“He’s got her.” Crash shook with rage.
Aaron pushed him out the door and guided him out of the building. Leah was next to her car, her hands clasped in front of her.
“Where’s Allyson?” Leah ran toward them.
“He took her out the back.” An officer ran toward them.
“How do you know?” Crash asked.
The officer held up her stethoscope. Crash’s head began to spin, and he bent over with his hands on his knees. He was finding it hard to catch his breath when he thought about what this guy was capable of and what he could do to Allyson.
“He may call your phone.” Aaron crouched in front of Crash.
“Well, that’s fucking lovely because my phone is crap. I dropped it in the sink.”
“I’m on it,” Trunk said as he put his phone to his ear.
Keith would get his phone replaced, but would it be before Emir called him, or would this guy call at all? Was he after Allyson the whole time?
“I’m sorry, Crash. I was in the file room. I didn’t…” Leah covered her mouth. “I should’ve…”
“He wouldn’t hesitate to take you too,” Crash pulled the woman in a hug.
“He’s been coming to the hospital for months. He seemed so nice.” Leah sobbed.
Of course, he did. The man was a master of manipulation and could fool anyone. What had he brought into her life? If anything happened to her, he’d never get over it.
“Keith has a phone being sent here as we speak,” Trunk told him.
“With my number?” Crash asked.
“Yes, Sandy has multiple phones put aside for us. I don’t know what she does, but she sets them up pretty fast,” Trunk explained.
“Where the fuck did he take her?” Crash muttered to himself.
“We’ll find her.” Aaron sounded confident, but would they find her in time?