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“We know his name. We can find him. He can only hide for so long before we will. Then we’ll know what’s going on and where the connections are.”

Ali’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it free of her jeans pocket. Lacy had sent her a text.

Where is Eric?

Ali quickly replied, telling her that Eric had been taken by Big E’s brother. Lacy quickly replied.

We’ve found the connection, but it doesn’t matter. There are three cars here full of young men with guns. We’ve kept Terrell hidden, but the other two seemed to know this was going to happen and were ready to go with them.

Ali swallowed the bile in her throat and the overwhelming rush of fear that laid on her. She told Officer Blake what the text said. “It wasn’t just a threat. I thought the rest of his friends were in jail. I thought Clayton was trying to distract us, not telling the truth.”

Officer Blake was losing his fight with consciousness, but he opened his eyes. “Couldn’t hold them indefinitely.”

Ambulance sirens wailed in the distance. Soon Ali could hand over the officer’s care to someone who knew what they were doing. But then what? No one knew where Clayton had taken Eric or what he would do with him once he didn’t need Eric as a shield anymore. Would someone find him on the side of the road? She was far from home with only Eric’s truck and no keys. Stranded.

If only she’d pushed forward and helped him instead of standing there. Why did she always let people bully her? Two people rushed in pushing a gurney, and Ali backed away from the officer to give them room. One of the EMTs shouted questions at her, and she responded, but her focus was elsewhere.

Where were the officers who were supposed to come? Were they helping Wayside or were they still hours away, driving here? Piper’s Ridge was two hours away. If they weren’t nearby, they would be no help at all. Ali tugged her new hat low on her forehead and ducked back along the way Clayton had gone since no one was paying her any attention.

The door was still open where Clayton had taken Eric, and no one waited in the parking lot. There were trailers and trucks, but everyone was busy with the auction inside. Most had no idea anything was going on just a few feet away.

She pressed against the back of the building and slid along, looking down the rows of vehicles for any movement. It had been too long. Eric had to be gone, but she couldn’t give up. She might be the only hope of finding him.

When she reached the end of the building, she crept around the corner and found Herb standing there smoking a cigarette with another man. He narrowed his eyes at her and strode her way. “Fancy meeting you back here.”

Her stomach protested, telling her to run instead of talking to this man. “I was looking for someone. They wandered out the back door, but I can’t find them anywhere.”

He nodded slowly, and the reek of cigarette smoke clung to him like a haze. “Looking for someone, eh? Your father or the man who was with you earlier?” His eyes gleamed, and he gave a half smirk like he was much smarter than she was.

She hated the feeling of oppression pouring off of him. She wanted to scream for the police and have this all be over, but the police weren’t there. She was all that stood between finding Eric and letting him die. “The man who was with me.”

“I guess he should’ve known better than to wander into a private area. This back here is where we conduct business, and that isn’t a welcome place for just anyone. Understand?”

She slowly nodded, letting him think she was simple and had no idea what was going on around her. “Yes.” She swallowed.

“Now, I think I know right where your man is hiding. Why don’t you come along with me.” He gripped her arm in a fierce hold. “And if you scream, you’ll never see him or your father again.”

She turned her body so he couldn’t see her reach into her jeans pocket and pull out her canister of lipstick. It retailed for over eighty dollars, and if anyone found it, they would know it didn’t belong there. She dropped it in the hay and prayed Herb didn’t see it later. Ali bit her lip to keep from screaming as Herb led her toward a large stock trailer that looked like it could carry horses or cattle. She wasn’t sure if there was a difference. He opened the back door and led her inside.

With a tug, he opened a door to a very small sleeping area in the front of the trailer and shoved her inside. Eric wasn’t there, and she turned to scream as he locked her in. He laughed on the other side. “If you scream in here, I’ll come out and gas you. You can either be awake when you see Eric again, or not. Your choice.” He laughed as he walked away.

* * *

Eric tooka moment to be thankful that Clayton had dropped his knife. At least he only had to worry about one weapon now. The one firmly pressed into his kidney. For as many people as he’d seen milling about before the auction, the area behind the arena was barren. There was no one he could look to for help.

His phone buzzed in his back pocket loud enough for Clayton to hear. He released Eric’s arm to grab the phone while pressing the barrel of the gun harder into his back. He tossed the phone under a nearby car and kept them moving toward the edge of the gravel parking area.

A black sedan waited under a tree, secluded from the other vehicles. The plates were from California, meaning this was the car Clayton had brought with them, or at least one of them.

“What’s the connection?” Eric stalled. “How’d you know Herb?”

“Nice try.” Clayton shoved him toward the car. “Open the door and get inside.”

He didn’t have much choice in the matter. If Clayton shot him at this range, he wouldn’t live long enough to finish his breath. He opened the door and climbed inside the stifling vehicle. They couldn’t trace him using the location of his phone now. No one but Ali knew who he was with nor where they would be going. He tried to give his worry to God, but this was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

Clayton got into the car and turned the ignition. “If you try anything, I’ll leave you in a secluded ditch with a shot to your gut. That way you’ll know I meant business for hours before you die. Alone.”

Alone hadn’t bothered him before, but now he had a life to look forward to. He wouldn’t just sit back and take what was coming or he’d end up dead anyway. At some point, a moment of weakness would appear, and then he’d strike. He just needed to live long enough to see it.