Chapter Forty-Six
Rick
They’re coming, Rick.”
Finn’s grim tone reached over the line and squeezed Rick’s chest like a vice. He’d called Scott first, but his phone went straight to voicemail, and a few minutes later, their technical analyst’s name flashed across his screen.
“How bad is it?”
“Thirty-plus men. Someone snuck in and disabled every vehicle in the FBI field office lot. Scott called into Idaho Falls to get you some backup, but there’s a storm coming through that’s got them all grounded, and they won’t risk leaving until the weather clears.”
“So, what? I’m supposed to defend Kaylee and everyone else in this town against thirty psychos?”
“You’re not alone,” a voice muttered behind him, and he turned to find Paulette standing on the last step of the Grange building, her eyes glittering in the dim light.
“Even with every officer you have, we are still outnumbered and outgunned.”
Paulette snorted. “This is Idaho. I guarantee you those biker boys can’t handle the hellfire we’re bringing.”
Rick almost chuckled at that. “Very Clint Eastwood of you.”
“I was actually channeling Kurt Russel, but Clint works, too.”
“Hello, who are you talking to?” Finn called through the phone.
“One of the officers. We’re strategizing.”
“There’s more, Rick. They found Wyatt and Elasia’s bodies. I didn’t want to say anything until the medical examiner confirmed it, but in order to tie them to Ansel …”
“Kaylee has to testify,” Rick whispered.
“That was always the goal, right? Bring her back to put the bad guys away.”
“Yeah, it was.” Rick swallowed, realizing that everything he’d been fighting for during the last two years had fallen into his lap, but all he could think about was Kaylee. “How long before they’re here?”
“Hard to say, maybe four hours? Unless they hit the weather; they got a head start on everyone.”
“Thanks, Finn. When you talk to Scott, tell him to hurry.”
Rick hung up the phone and turned to Paulette.
“Bad news?” she asked.
“It’s not great. One of the most dangerous biker gangs in the country is on its way here, and the cavalry’s been detained. We’ve got a few hours, maybe, before all hell breaks loose.”
Paulette blew out a breath. “Damn, you don’t make anything easy, do you?”
Rick laughed, clapping her on the shoulder. “Where would the fun be in that?”
He led her inside, where the building was packed with people and pure chaos reigned.
Everyone was standing around, talking excitedly, while the mayor stood at the front with Jolene sitting next to him and the police chief standing behind him.
He called the meeting to order, hollering at everyone to be quiet.
Finally, everyone sat down, including Rick.
He sat between Kaylee and Josie, taking Kaylee’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Order, we need to come to order! It has been brought to my attention that a danger is looming and targeting one of our citizens. As a community, we must come together to take care of this issue.”
“What about the tourists at the inn?” someone in the back called out.
“Now, obviously, there are people we must protect, and if anyone does not want to be involved, they are more than welcome to step back. A curfew will be in effect, and everyone must stay in their homes unless they wish to participate. As for the tourists, they will stay at the inn. The goal is to have this settled quickly and contained with as few complications as possible. I’m going to call up Rick Diaz to discuss the particulars of what we’re up against.”
Rick squeezed Kaylee’s hand and stood, making his way to the mic.
He stared out into some familiar faces, but more of them were strangers to him, and he felt out of place.
Then Paulette started clapping, and the whole town joined in, whistling and cheering.
Rick took the mic with more confidence, and he said, “I know that none of you asked for this, and if I could take Kaylee and find somewhere to hole up, I would. But right now, I think there is safety in numbers.”
There was a rumbling in the crowd, but he kept going, hoping Jolene was right.
“I got a call tonight that upward of thirty men are headed our way. They are armed and dangerous, but I think if we work together as a town, we can take them down, protecting one another. I know I am just a visitor here, but this woman loves all of you.” Rick pointed to Kaylee, who blushed scarlet.
“She loves this town, and she would never want to put you in danger. In fact, she did her best to remove the danger from all of you by herself.” Rick stared her down for a minute because he still hadn’t quite forgiven her for that.
“Another resident stepped in and saved her. Miss Jolene, will you stand, please?” The older woman struggled to her feet, and Rick continued, “If this woman, who is spry and determined, can take on a man twice her size, I think we can stop a group of thugs from coming in here and hurting someone we all care about.”
“How are we gonna do that?” Benny asked.
“Me!” Kaylee stood, her chin lifted stubbornly. “I will draw them out.”
“Absolutely not. Sit back down,” Rick said, his tone a raw growl.
“What are you talking about?” she argued, moving out into the aisle and stalking toward him. “They want me. I’m the only bait you have.”
Rick leaned over the stage so they were nose to nose. “You are not going to put yourself out there like a hunk of meat.”
“I actually am, well, no, not like a hunk of meat, but I’m going to lure them away.”
Paulette put a hand on his shoulder. “She’s not wrong.”
Rick gritted his teeth, knowing she was right. “Fine.”
“Really?” Kaylee said, her mouth hanging open.
He ignored her as he continued addressing the room. “We’re gonna put everybody who’s under eighteen in a safe space.” There was a series of adolescent protests by a group of teens, including Noah and Quinton, but the women sitting next to them whispered angrily, and the teens stopped grumbling.
“There’s a basement under the inn that only people who work there know about,” Wilma Perkins offered. “The entrance is hidden.”
“Good.” Rick’s gaze swept the crowd, his gaze lingering on Kaylee as she returned to her seat. “Everybody else who’s not involved, stay in your homes. We’re gonna need about fifty or sixty men.”
Paulette cleared her throat, and Rick amended, “And women, ready to zip-tie and detain these dirtbags. I appreciate y’all coming out.”
The mayor took over the mic, and Rick went back to Kaylee, sat down, and took her hand. She tried to pull away, but he held fast.
“You’re not going to talk me out of this,” she said.
“I know I’m not, but I don’t have to like it.”