Jodi Thomas - Twisted Creek

Luke didn’t like to talk about the murders. Maybe because he knew Mary Lynn and knew what talk had done to her. If he’d been her, he would have run so far away he’d never hear the story again. But she’d stayed, hiding because of the sins of her parents. Preferring loneliness to questions.

Nathan shook his head. “I think someone said that the only name on the deed to all the church property was the dead preacher’s, so his daughter inherited all church holdings.”

“We’re coming into range.” Luke didn’t have to say more. They both knew from now on they’d be moving silently, using light only when absolutely necessary. A night wind camouflaged their steps, blowing dried leaves around and stirring the water against the uneven shoreline.

After half an hour of crisscrossing through the trees and around abandoned cabins and campsites, Luke spotted what looked like the black SUV he’d seen at the cabin fire. Nathan moved left. Luke took the right side. Neither made a sound as they circled the vehicle.

The side door stood open. Luke held his gun ready and flicked on his flashlight. The one he’d called Sneezy jumped with the light, but before he could say a word, Luke closed the distance and clamped his hand down hard on his mouth.

“If you don’t make a sound,” Luke whispered against Sneezy’s ear, “you just might be alive at dawn.”

Sneezy’s eyes bugged out. He nodded in panic.

Nathan moved close, sliding his knife back into his boot. He didn’t have to say anything, they both knew that whoever remained out here wouldn’t be going anywhere. The hissing sound of tires going flat blended with the rustle of dried leaves. It wasn’t procedure, but with drugs on the seat and the rest of the dealers missing, it seemed a necessary precaution.

Nathan cuffed Sneezy and patted him down while Luke tried to get him to talk. It was hopeless. Judging from the state he was in it was no wonder his friends had left him in the vehicle. His mind was so messed up he couldn’t even remember his own name, much less what he was doing out here in the dark. He had enough drugs on him to put him away for a long while.

They gagged him and carried him to the porch of one of the cabins about a hundred yards away.

Luke leaned to within an inch of Sneezy’s face. “Stay here and stay quiet or the bears will find you. We’ll come back.”

The little man rocked his head back and forth as if to say he didn’t care one way or the other.

“If he was in the backseat then there are two more.” Nathan tied Sneezy to the porch rail.

“Or three,” Luke whispered.

They backtracked to the SUV. No sign of anyone about.

Luke pointed toward where the trees thinned near the road.

Again Nathan moved left and he crossed right. Luke was still deep in the trees, moving as soundlessly as possible, when he spotted the big guy he’d named Tanker, who’d slept on the beach the night the fire started.

Tanker obviously stood guard as before, his weapon crossed over his arm at the elbow, his feet planted wide apart.

Luke knelt down and studied the shadows. After a while, he spotted Skidder pacing about ten feet from the road. If possible, he looked even thinner than before. His hands and arms were moving as if he were doing sign language at warp speed.

“Be still,” Tanker ordered. “Ain’t nothin’ going to happen tonight. We’ll make the sale then get the hell out of here.”

“I don’t like it.” Skidder kept pacing. “The buy’s too big for us to handle.”

Tanker lifted an automatic. “That’s why I’m here. To make sure nothing goes wrong and you don’t start eating into the profits.”

A car bumped its way across the dam and Skidder jumped back into the trees. Tanker stood perfectly still. The old Jeep passed without slowing or blinking any lights.

Luke followed the headlight’s beam along the tree line and spotted Nathan standing far too close to the edge of the trees. Then in the blink of lights, the rookie made a second mistake-he moved.

Tanker must have thought he saw something because he yelled, “Get back! Someone’s out here.”

He raised his weapon and in rapid succession fired off three shots following where the car lights had passed. Luke dove out from behind the big man, trying to stop the shots.

Luke hit him solid in the back, but didn’t take the giant down.

Tanker swore and whirled on Luke. He got in one good punch with the butt of his automatic before Luke sent the mountain of a man to ground with a swinging blow that almost toppled them both.

Tanker, hurt and angry, scrambled for his gun.

Luke dropped his knee into the man’s back and pushed the barrel of his Glock against Tanker’s head. “Move and you’re dead.”

Tanker stilled.

Luke knew he was in great danger. Skidder was somewhere in the shadows and if he was armed Luke would be an easy target. Chances were good the frightened little man would run, but Luke didn’t like betting his life on it.

Luke slapped handcuffs on Tanker, then removed every weapon. The big guy wore an arsenal. As Luke worked, he listened for any movement around him. All he’d have was a second if the click of a gun sounded near.

As soon as he had the prisoner in check, Luke flipped on his flashlight and scanned the area. There was no longer any need for darkness. Skidder knew he was there. The only question was: Where was the jittery little man?

Luke pointed the light to the trees where Nathan had been.

Nothing.

“Nathan?”

No answer.

Using a plastic tie to bind Tanker’s feet, Luke thought of dragging the man back to the porch, but he wasn’t sure he could pull Tanker that far. At least bound, if the thug went anywhere he’d have to do so hopping.

“Stay put,” Luke ordered. “I’ll shoot if you so much as raise your head off the ground. I’ll be within sight of you.”

Tanker swore, but he didn’t move.

Luke crossed to the spot where he’d seen Nathan standing and tripped over him.

Flipping on his light, he saw the younger agent lying on his back, almost as if he were asleep. Only sleeping men don’t have blood dripping out of them.

Luke knelt and moved his hands over Nathan’s chest, smearing warm, sticky blood as he checked for wounds.

One bullet had caught Nathan high on his left arm. By the time Luke tied a handkerchief around it, blood had completely stained the white cotton red.

Nathan had taken another hit on the vest dead center of his chest. He’d be bruised, but the vest saved his life.

The third bullet had clipped his neck, brushing along the skin just deep enough to cause bleeding.

Groaning, Nathan opened his eyes and tried to sit up. “I’m all right,” he lied as he touched his bandaged shoulder.

“I got the shooter.” Luke helped him to his feet. “He’s tied up.”

“And the third guy out by the road?”

“He disappeared.”

“Go after him. I can make it back to the SUV.” As Nathan said the words, his knees buckled and he was out cold. Luke grabbed him before he tumbled to the ground.

“Nathan?” he tried.

The young agent didn’t move, but his breathing came in a steady rate and his heart pounded a solid beat.

Luke lifted him over one shoulder. “I’ll get Skidder later. Right now, I’m getting you help.”

He plowed a wide path through the trees to where they’d left the canoe. The fastest way out would be across the water, then he’d get Allie to drive Nathan to the hospital and he’d go back after Skidder.

For a moment, he thought he’d gone to the wrong place. The canoe was missing.

Luke backtracked along the beach, breathing heavy with the load he carried. No canoe. He left it in the same spot every time he crossed to this site and he made sure it was well out of the water.