Chapter Fourteen
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Shortly after Brody and Annie arrived home she fell victim to another wave of fatigue. As she stretched out on the bed, Bella jumped up and laid next to her.
“You’re such a sweet girl,” Annie mumbled, and letting out a heavy yawn, she closed her eyes and drifted off.
“Sleep well, you two,” Brody murmured.
Leaving the bedroom, he stopped in the kitchen for a last swallow of coffee before heading out to continue his preparations for the clinic, and was marching across to the barn when his phone rang. Seeing the sheriff’s name on the screen he quickly accepted the call.
“Hi, sheriff, I’m guessin’ you have news,” he said anxiously.
“Yep, and it’s good. I just finished speaking with Geoffrey Palmer and I’m pleased to report he’s leaving.”
“Already? I thought he’d stick around a while.”
“I did too, but he called and went on and on about how he could sue Annie if she decided to take off for a break without telling anyone, and if she showed up I was to tell her so. He sounded more angry than concerned about her welfare.”
“Figures. He’s such a jerk. He’s just worried about how many dollars he’s losin’ because she’s not cuttin’ a new record or performin’ some place. But are you sure he’s gone?”
“I just got through talkin’ to Becky at the hotel. He paid his bill and said he was headin’ out to the airfield. I’ll call over there in a little bit and see if his plane took off. But I’m pretty sure he’s outta here.”
“This is great news. I’ll tell Annie as soon as she wakes up. The poor girl is wiped out.”
“I’ll just bet she is. Now she can relax and take it easy. But she does need to let the world know she’s alive and well. There are a whole lotta resources bein’ used lookin’ for her, not to mention the public.”
“How do we handle that?”
“I’ll give it some thought, but with Geoff Palmer gone it’s probably safe to tell her folks. Just make sure they keep it under wraps for the moment.”
“I will, I’ll get in touch with them now. Thanks, sheriff.”
“You’re welcome, Brody.”
Reaching the barn, he settled on a bale of hay and placed the call. When her mother answered he started to outline the story, but her father hastily picked up the second phone in their bedroom so he could listen as well.
“I knew it, I just knew it,” he exclaimed with a crack in his voice. “I kept sayin’, she’s a smart girl and she’s okay.”
“I’m truly sorry we couldn’t tell you sooner,” Brody said earnestly. “I think she was worried about your safety. When Geoff Palmer showed up here it wasn’t with a smile.”
“That’s okay, we understand,” her mother replied with a sniffle. “All that matters is our little girl is safe. When will you be here?”
“She’s sleepin’ right now, but when she wakes up I’ll let you know.”
“Wonderful, but you must come for dinner,” her father said earnestly. “We want you both back at our table, and she’s in for a surprise. Her brother’s comin’ home. He’ll be here any time now.”
“He was worried sick and wanted to be here if any news came in,” her mother added. “But we’ll call him right away. He’ll be over the moon.”
“Tell Andrew hello from me, and Annie will call the minute she wakes up.”
“You’d better warn her. When she walks through our door we’ll be squeezin’ the life out of her.”
* * *
Standing in his cabin on the elevated banks of Moonshine Lake Geoff was pleasantly surprised. The quaint log cottage bordered on luxurious. The floor to ceiling windows in the lounge offered a spectacular view of the lake and mountains beyond, and a flagstone hearth surrounded a large fireplace. The couch and armchairs were leather, and the bedroom was a generous size with a well-appointed marble bathroom.
And nobody knew he was there!
He’d hunkered down in the back seat while John had driven his car into the campground. Gabe had checked in, and as far as anyone knew, John was staying in the more expensive cabin, while Gabe was in the other,
“Thank God! This is a far cry from that crappy hotel,” Geoff grunted, meandering over to gaze down at the glassy lake. “I just might come back here to enjoy myself one of these days. Right now I have to focus on bringing my naughty runaway to heel.”
Gabe and John were settling into their cabin just a short walk away, and he strode to the liquor cabinet to pour himself some whiskey while he waited for them. Taking a gulp, he nodded his approval, then moved to the door and was about to step out onto the porch when he saw them walking up the path.
“This is so much better than the hotel,” Gabe exclaimed. “It’s a shame we didn’t know about it before.”
“You have a firm grasp of the obvious,” Geoff retorted as they walked inside. “Here’s the plan. I noticed a wooded area behind the paddocks at Brody King’s ranch. It’s the perfect place to watch his house. You’ll be able to see anyone who comes up the drive, including Annie when she arrives.”
“Uh, Mr. Palmer, I had a thought,” Gabe began tentatively.
“What’s that?”
“Let’s say she does end up there.”
“She will. She’s a country girl at heart,” Geoff growled. “She’ll want to come home to her boyfriend and family. It’s where she feels safe.”
“Uh, right, sure, of course,” Gabe continued. “But, uh, that boyfriend of hers, he looked like he’s the type to shoot first and ask questions later. I guess what I’m asking is, how will we get her out of there when she does show up?”
“Let me worry about that. You just keep your eyes peeled. You’ll start at eight in the morning and finish around ten at night. That’s only seven hours for each of you, and make sure you’re in a spot that has cell service so you can call and text. Tell the management you’ll be taking extended hikes and you’ll need sandwiches and thermoses. That will stop you from starving. The question is, how do you get into those woods without being seen?”
“I noticed a neighboring property to the east of Brody King’s ranch,” John began thoughtfully, “but the west side there was just empty land leading up to the forest. I don’t recall any fencing.”
“There’s your answer. Good. Go there now and scope it out.”
“What about her parents house? Shouldn’t we be watching there too?”
“I want to focus on that ranch. There’s only him to deal with. I don’t want the hassle of an hysterical mother hen.”
“Ah, right,” Gabe muttered. “That could get dicey.”
“Exactly. Fortunately this camp ground has internet so I can work from here and take care of things in Nashville. I’m finally getting somewhere,” he said with a satisfied sigh. “Annie will soon be back under my wing where she belongs.”