Chapter 26
TWENTY-SIX
Jackson held still while the plastic surgeon stitched the gash on his cheek. The mud slide had carried him several feet before he was pushed to the side. It was a miracle he survived. Since arriving at the hospital, he’d gotten a full work-up. MRI scan, blood work, and a dose of IV antibiotics. Apparently, open wounds and mud didn’t go well together.
Jackson’s injuries were thankfully minor, but the entire process had taken hours. His cell phone was somewhere at the bottom of the valley in a heap of mud. Calling Piper was impossible. To make matters worse, the emergency room was packed. No one from the ranger team was allowed in Jackson’s curtained-off area. He prayed someone—like Derek or Grady—had the foresight to call and let Piper know he was all right. Otherwise, she’d be frantic.
“Almost done.” The doctor spread ointment and then added a bandage .
Jackson barely felt any of it. His cheek was numb from the local anesthetic. He listened as the doctor gave care instructions. The wound wouldn’t scar, not that Jackson cared much, and he’d need oral antibiotics for the next week. Then the nurse came in with his discharge papers.
With a sigh of relief, Jackson strolled out of the curtained area into the hall. His borrowed clothes—Daniel had given them to a nurse—were a touch too tight, the pants an inch too short, but at least they were clean. He was eager to call Piper. Cole was keeping an eye on her, and he knew his colleague would keep her safe, but Jackson would feel much better after hearing her voice.
He rounded the corner to the exit. Daniel and Lieutenant Rodriguez were coming from the opposite direction and nearly plowed into him. Jackson screeched to a stop, quickly registering the worry in their expressions. If a doctor or nurse had allowed them past the main doors to the emergency room, something was very wrong. His heart skittered. “What is it?”
“Piper was kidnapped from the hospital parking lot.” Lieutenant Rodriguez’s voice was blunt, but her expression held sympathy. “She was hit by a truck, and while injured, taken by a masked man.”
Jackson nearly bowled over at the news. He didn’t know which part was worse. “She was hit?” He swallowed hard. “What was she doing here?”
“Apparently, she learned you’d been injured. She dodged Cole’s attempt to stop her, jumped in her vehicle, and raced over. Piper had a police escort to the hospital but dismissed the deputy once she arrived in the parking lot. She probably figured with the cameras and so many people around, she was safe.”
She’d been coming for him. Jackson had known she would. Piper loved deeply, and whenever someone she cared about needed her, she raced right to their side. It was one of the many reasons he loved her.
“As she was crossing the lot, a truck pulled right out of a parking space,” Vikki continued. “Piper had no time to react.”
Daniel nodded in agreement with their boss. “The truck belongs to Wally and although the man was masked, we believe it’s Todd Hutchinson.”
Of course. Who else could it be?
Jackson gritted his teeth against the rising sense of panic. Had Todd taken her in an attempt to save his brother? Or was Piper in the hands of a killer? Both options were horrific, and his mind filled with frightening images. Jackson pushed them away. He needed to focus on the one thing that mattered: saving the love of his life. “I want to interview Wally. Where is he?”
“He’s conferring with counsel, but so far, we’ve been unable to convince his attorney to let him talk to us.” Lieutenant Rodriguez pegged him with a look. “His lawyer is Shawn. I know you have a personal relationship with him and that could work to our advantage. But do you think you can handle being in the same room with Wally and keep your cool?”
Jackson didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely. Piper’s life depends on it. ”
Vikki eyed him for another moment as if gauging his sincerity. He met her gaze straight on. After several beats, she nodded. “Take Daniel with you. I’m going to continue coordinating the search efforts. Let me know immediately if you learn anything that can help.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Jackson followed Daniel to the elevators. The doors swished closed, and for a moment, he was transported back to the talk he’d had with Piper right here in this very cabin. His words haunted him. “I told Piper about Company A. About how nearly everyone met their significant other under dangerous circumstances. That every one of those women nearly died. I explained the odds weren’t with us. Sometime, someone in Company A was going to be on the losing end of this equation and…” His voice grew thick. “I didn’t want it to be me.”
Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder in brotherly solidarity. “Have faith, man. None of us are giving up on finding Piper, and you shouldn’t either. Screw the odds. Piper is strong. She’s survived things that would break other people. If anyone can get through this, it’s her.”
Jackson sucked in a deep breath to settle his runaway emotions. “You’re right. I just…”
“Needed a moment. Yeah, I get it.” Daniel squeezed his shoulder and then released it. “What you and Piper have is special. It’s obvious to anyone who sees you two together. If my ex-wife and I had loved each other like that, we wouldn’t have gotten divorced.”
Daniel rarely spoke about his divorce. Jackson only knew it’d happened a long time ago. Whatever the cause, it’d scarred his colleague. Daniel never dated or expressed a romantic interest in anyone. It was as if that part of his life was over.
The elevator dinged, and the doors opened. Deputies were stationed outside Wally’s hospital room. Jackson greeted them with a flash of his badge. “Is his attorney still here?” Since he’d invoked his right to counsel, law enforcement couldn’t question Wally without his attorney present. A deputy confirmed Shawn was inside the hospital room. Jackson knocked and then entered.
Shock rippled through him as Shawn’s wife, Melanie, turned to face him. Wally was seated behind her, wearing a hospital gown. Both of his hands were cuffed to the bed, and a sneer formed on his lips at the sight of Jackson.
Jackson ignored him, focusing on Melanie. “Where’s Shawn?”
“He was called away for an urgent matter. You can deal with me. I’m a partner with Kingston Law Firm now.”
Shock was then followed quickly by suspicion. It burned bright and hot. Piper was kidnapped, and Shawn suddenly disappeared. This case had revolved around Elena and Shawn’s affair from the beginning. But then why would Shawn send them to the cabin?
Jackson’s stomach twisted as a horrible thought bubbled up in his mind. What if Wally was supposed to blow up the cabin with a bunch of law enforcement officers inside it? People would be injured. Even if Jackson wasn’t, Piper knew many of the members of the team. She’d come to the hospital to show support .
This whole elaborate setup was designed to separate her from Jackson and then lure her to the hospital.
And it had worked.
Melanie’s bright red mouth made a moue of dissatisfaction. “Our client has nothing to say to law enforcement.”
“That’s fine. He can just listen.” Jackson pegged Wally with a steely gaze. Todd was the ringleader. It was the only thing that made sense. Wally was a pawn used by his brother as a distraction. Jackson was taking a risk with the tactic running through his mind, but it felt right and fit with the evidence they knew, so he ran with it. “The situation has changed. Detective Piper Jensen has been kidnapped by your brother. Unlike your brother, you haven’t killed anyone yet. The minute Detective Jensen dies though, Wally, your situation gets infinitely worse.”
Wally locked his jaw, but underneath the sheet, his leg jittered. He was uncomfortable.
“Texas jurors don’t like killers. If you know where Todd has taken Detective Jensen and you conceal it from us, I can guarantee the state’s attorney will throw the book at you. There’s not a jury in the world that will take a look at your criminal history and believe you’re innocent of these crimes. Especially when we get your girlfriends on the stand. Remember Kylie? The mother of your child? The woman you beat badly enough she went to the hospital. Twice.”
Melanie’s cheeks heated. “Don’t threaten?—”
“Oh, it’s not a threat, ma’am. It’s a promise.” Jackson practically shook with rage, but he contained his anger, and kept his gaze locked on Wally. He softened his voice. “But there’s a way to make this all go away. We can’t prove, yet, that you blew up the cabin. We can’t prove you killed anyone. Maybe it’s a misunderstanding. If you help us find Detective Jensen, then it’s possible you won’t spend a night in jail.”
“That’s ridiculous.” Melanie sputtered. “Wally, don’t listen to him?—”
“I wanna talk.”
Jackson’s heart skipped a beat, and he stepped toward Wally. “Do you revoke your right to counsel?”
“No, he doesn’t,” Melanie snapped. “Wally, he’s trying to trick you.”
Wally sat forward, the cuffs on his wrists holding him back as he strained toward her. “Are you stupid? Do you think I’m going to prison over this! I told my brother this was a bad idea, and he didn’t listen to me. Now I’m the one who’s going to pay the price while he walks around a free man.”
“You have to revoke your right to counsel,” Jackson interjected. “Do you?”
“Yes.” Wally nodded. “I don’t want her in here. Get her out!”
Daniel grabbed Melanie’s elbow and steered her toward the door. “You heard the man. Let’s go.”
She protested loudly and continued doing so even as Daniel gently pushed her into the hall. He shut the door and locked it.
Wally panted like he’d run a marathon. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his heart rate monitor was flying. Jackson feared the younger man would have a heart attack before he could tell them anything.
“It’s okay. She’s gone.” Jackson hated the soothing tone he was forced to use, but keeping Wally on their side was essential. Every minute that ticked by with Piper in Todd’s grasp made her situation all that more precarious.
“I need protection.” Wally’s eyes were wide, as if he couldn’t quite believe he’d thrown his attorney out of the room. “I’ll tell you what I know, but I want protection. A new name, a new life far away from here.”
Fear oozed from his pores and his leg jittered harder underneath the bed. Sweat stains appeared on the hospital gown.
“Who do you want protection from?” Jackson asked. “Your brother?”
Wally laughed. It was low and guttural, and sounded like he’d smoke a thousand cigarettes. “Todd would never hurt me. We’re family. I protected him from our dad and Todd worships the ground I walk on.” His gaze met Jackson’s. “I need protection from someone bigger than Todd.” His attention shot to the door and then back to Jackson. “Get me a deal and I’ll talk. Tell you everything, including where Todd is taking Detective Jensen.”
“Tell us where she is now.”
“I’m not that dumb,” Wally sneered. “The minute I do that, you’ll throw me in jail. The detective is my ticket out of this mess. But the clock is ticking. Melanie won’t wait long. ”
Jackson’s blood ran ice cold. “You need protection from Shawn.”
Not a flicker of acknowledgment showed on Wally’s face. Jackson couldn’t tell if he was afraid of Shawn or not.
“Get me a deal,” Wally said. “Or Detective Jensen dies.”