Chapter 54
Chapter fifty-four
Cooper
“What’s going on?” Ryder climbs down out of his truck, a blank expression as usual.
I called him the second I found her phone, along with Jefferson who’s standing next to me and my father in the empty parking lot of the carnival.
“Dakota is missing,” I grit the words out with an ache I can’t shake. “She texted me to get Ari out of here, then when I went to find her, all I found was her phone in the dirt. She wouldn’t just leave. Especially without this.”
“Ok.” Jefferson, yanks on his pants. “Is there anywhere she would go?”
“I’m telling you she didn’t leave on her own.” I feel my dad lay a calming hand on my shoulder.
“Did we locate Billy?” He asks.
Jefferson shakes his head. “Not yet. It’s like when he left Cove County, he disappeared.”
“You try Joseph? He used to work with Billy,” Ryder inserts. “Those low lives are two peas in a pod.”
“Someone sent her these.” I hand the phone to Jefferson. “Can you trace it?”
He glances at the picture and curses. “Shit.”
Ryder mutters under his breath and my dad starts to pace.
“This is a clear threat.” I motion. “We need to find her. I know it’s Billy. He’s the only one with a reason to hurt her.”
“Let me get this back to Duncan. Otis isn’t in the office so I can push it. I know Billy worked for Rocky, I don’t want him to try to intervene.”
Otis Bernard is Rocky Bernard's brother. But just because he was the sheriff didn't mean he was on the right side of the badge.
“How fast?” I urge.
“I’ll head to the station now, you can follow me,” Jefferson says, before he pulls out his radio.
I glance at my father. “I’m not sitting around.”
“I know, but we need to let them do their….”
Ping.
Dakota’s phone pings, and Jefferson’s face pales when he sees the screen.
“What?” I bark.
“We have a problem.” He turns the screen to me.
I’m not prepared for the sight in front of me. I’m not prepared to see the love of my life, wrists bound, mouth gagged, lying on dingy green carpet. The text that reads below is what has me nearly buckling to the dirt.
Unknown: Two hours. Ridge Race Track. $500,000 cash. Bring the money or she pays. With blood. No cops.
“How the fuck does he expect us to come up with that kind of cash?” I scoff, before yanking open the door to my truck. “Like I would even give it to him if I had it.”
“Where are you going, Cooper?” My dad asks, his tone serious.
“To the trailer.” I slide into my seat. “I’d know that nasty carpet anywhere.”
“Shit,” Ryder mutters. “I’ll go with you.”
“Boys,” my dad scolds.
We lock eyes. He knows I’m going after my wife regardless of what he tells me.
“You two go.” He motions. “I’ll go with Jefferson. Work on the money.”
With his quick nod, we spin out, slinging dirt behind my truck as we head to the highway.
“What’s your plan?” Ryder asks.
“Kill that fucker and get my wife back.” I turn right, racing down main St.
A few heads turn as we zip past, but my eyes are focused on the sign about half a mile up the road. Mayson Ridge Mobile Home Park.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Coop. She may not even be there.”
My hands grip the wheel, my skin hot as we sail through the entrance to the park, gunning it to the fifth trailer on the right.
When I slide to a stop, we both jump out, our boots pounding on the overgrown lawn as we rush the trailer door. My hand finds the knob first, and I practically rip it off the hinges when I storm through.
“Kota!” I shout.
The living room is empty, along with the kitchen.
“Kota!” I call again as Ryder heads to the back.
Nothing. She’s gone.
My palm rubs against my chest; the ache back as I survey the room.
My eyes catch on something along the carpet. Crouching down, I squint, letting my fingers dust over the tint on the fibers.
Is that…...
Blood.
“Cooper. You need to see this,” Ryder says, his voice hoarse.
I’m still staring at my hand. At the blood coating my fingertips.
“Coop.”
I glance up before pushing to my feet.
“What is it?”
He turns, heading to the hallway, then stops at the bathroom door.
I mentally prepare myself, my lungs working double as I join him near the frame.
A sharp breath hits me. “Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Ryder pulls out his phone. “I’m calling Jefferson.”
Dean Vickerson’s body lies in the tub. A gunshot wound to his head.
Falling back against the wall, I try to process. To figure out what piece Dean is in the puzzle. But only one thing matters right now.
He hurt my wife. Again. And this time, he’s getting more than a prison sentence to pay for his sins.