12. Please Plea
Please Plea
Elena
My wormy lawyer shifts in his seat making the fabric of his suit brush my arm in an irritating tickle.
“So what you’re saying, Ms. Evans, is that this man—” The District Attorney glances down at his notes. “—’Mad Man’, called you out of the blue? I find that odd.” One of his bushy gray brows raises as he fixes me with a stare.
Wade’s mustache twitches watching me.
It’s interesting to see that he shaved, highlighting the copper-colored whiskers framing his mouth.
Makes him look like one of those guys on Tombstone. Mom loved that movie.
I kinda get it now.
“That’s correct. I had filed a request for custody for my sister. It was denied, and that guy called shortly afterwards to tell me he made sure she went where he had access.” A shiver works through me remembering his chilling voice.
“Hmm.” The older man jots down a note in his folder. “So he possibly either works with CPS, or is close to someone who does. We’re going to need all of her information to—”
“No! He’ll hurt her! That wasn’t the deal.” My words tumble out in a rush.
Wade leans forward, threading his fingers on the table. “That’s right, Pete. We have to hold tight on dozing right in. We don’t want to tip this guy off. But I have a few leads that might get us closer.” He gives me a small nod before settling back into his chair.
I slip a grateful smile his way.
Having him in my corner is unexpected, but helpful.
“My question is why did he choose you? You were in Texas, not exactly next door.” The D.A. shakes his head thoughtfully.
“I think because he mentioned he knew my dad. He said he knew I must have a dark side like my father. At first I didn’t believe him, but then he sent me that picture…” I trail off. The memory makes my stomach roll.
“This one?” He slides a grainy printout towards me.
I can recognize it even upside down. “Yep. It’s been a few years since I saw her, but there’s her birthmark.” I jab at the port-wine spot on the back of her exposed elbow jutting out of the covers. “I don’t know anyone else who has one like that. Not easy to fake.”
I wish I could have seen her face, but she’s partially buried in the blankets.
“Tell me more about how he would contact you, and what he said.” He switches gears, pulling the photo away. “The number he called from is a burner phone. I need to know more.”
Rubbing the heels of my hands into my eyes doesn’t make my brain work any better. “In the beginning, he told me that the ranch had taken something important from him—”
“Taylor Dairy?” Wade jumps in.
“No,” I snap at him. I’ve already told him this, why is he questioning me about it? “The Black Gulch. I asked once why I was sent to the other place, and Mad Man said it was because they had to ‘cool off’ from the main place, but that this other farm was affiliated and had to pay, too.”
“Did he say what they did?” The D.A. jumps in.
“Nope. But he was mad about them anyway. Kept calling the gal who ran it a ‘bitch’. Acted like he knew her maybe?” I shake my head at my own doubts, focusing on a scratch in the metal table to trace with my nail.
“I’ll talk to them. Libby’s cooled down a little and might be able to add more information.” Wade crosses his muscular arms and tilts his chin up far enough that he watches me down his nose.
“Yea, make sure to tell her again that I’m sorry,” I grumble. “I didn’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Going over what you’ve already stated, he would call with a task, and leave the items at a different location each time? What did he say would happen if you refused?” The District Attorney glances up, then back to his papers.
I feel like I’m on repeat.
We’ve been here for hours already.
“Yes. The vials were in a baggie behind a rock on the side of the road. The feed sacks were left stacked outside of this burnt down house a few miles from here.” My throat is starting to get dry.
“I was told to just rip the tops off and dump them in a field. I had no idea they had metal shit in them.” I can’t strain that part harder.
“He told me it would make their milk dry up. I swear.”
I want them all to know I didn’t kill those cows on purpose.
“It’s why we’re here,” Wade says quietly. “To find the truth. What did he tell you about the explosive?”
A hollow ache fills my chest. “That was the first time he really acted like I was supposed to hurt someone. His exact words were ‘take someone they love like they took one from me’. Did the people that own that ranch kill someone? I didn’t want to, I don’t think I’d be able to live with myself if I did. ”
Fuck, I feel like I’m going to puke.
“I spent days watching to make sure when would be the best time when no one was around. Do you know they work a lot at a dairy? I had no clue.” It surprised me that the middle of the afternoon was the slowest time.
Wade’s caramel eyes narrow. “They didn’t kill anyone.”
“You can see my client did the best she could under the circumstances.” My lawyer squirms back to life next to me.
I fight the grin that threatens to tug at my lips when I see the D.A. throw him a glare. Seems like I’m not the only one who finds him mildly annoying.
Letting out a long exhale, the older man flips the folder in front of him closed.
“I’ll go over this more, but we should be able to begin the terms of your probation in a few days.
” His manicured finger points directly between my eyes.
“You’re going to continue to cooperate, and we’ll find this son of a bitch.
If he’s aiming to kill, it isn’t going to be long before he tries again.
” He pushes out of his chair, then turns to the sheriff.
Who’s still watching me.
I glower at Wade.
But he smirks back.
“Let’s track down the connections to Black Gulch. There has to be something there pushing whoever this is.” The District Attorney straightens his tie, then starts to amble out the door.
“Wait up, Pete.” Lynn, my practically mute lawyer, hops up and grabs his briefcase to follow out into the hall.
There’s a click of a latch, then it’s just Sheriff Rowland and I.
The electric buzz of the halogen lights above us is the only noise.
“What?” I finally give in.
His hat brim dips low, covering his upper face. “Do you remember the names of the men your father was friends with? What they looked like?”
I bury my nose into my elbow on the table, squeezing my eyes shut.
This feels like an important connection.
Somehow, I have to try to picture them.
“There were a few. My dad got in a fight with one, his girlfriend was with him. She had light colored hair and was really nice. She braided mine while they were arguing.”
Echoes of their yells don’t form into words. Just the noises persist.
“Oh, some brothers showed up. They were like, teenagers? But they looked a lot alike. Both had dark hair. One made fun of me and pushed me down.” I raise my head, biting my lip.
“Mom got so mad, she kicked him out. They came over a lot, but Dad would take them to the garage. They weren’t allowed back inside. ”
Wade’s mouth turns up into a wry smile. “That sounds like your mom.”
“Yea, well, I wish she had kept some of that fire after we left Montana.” I twist my thumbs, fixating on my broken nail. “Our family in Texas made her out to be the bad guy to the point I think she stopped wanting to try.”
I know that’s what happened. She just gave up.
“Wait, there’s one I know. His name was Chris. He used to come over a lot, but then told my dad he was gonna stop because he met a girl.” I can almost picture him, sprawled on the couch with a beer in his hand.
He used to stare at me uncomfortably.
Wade’s jaw tightens. “That’s good. Keep trying, and I’m sure the other names will appear.
” He pushes up, then twirls his finger for me to stand.
“You’re going back to holding for a few more days until the deal is final.
” He snaps the cuffs over my wrists, but holds onto the hinge in the middle, tugging me just hard enough I have to take a step closer.
“But keep in mind, any funny business once you’re my responsibility, you’ll be back here in a flash. ”
His aftershave surrounds me as I look up at him.
I let my lashes flutter. “Don’t worry, I’ll be a good girl, daddy.”
His growl resonates and his lips drop into a frown as he pulls away.
Yet he can’t hide the hunger that flashes through his gaze before he turns.
The way they were all talking, whoever the man is that took my sister, he has to be close.
And I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I can get away to find her.