Page 48

“Good idea. If we tell them she’s the mother of a missing child, they’ll take over the case immediately, and the sheriff won’t be able to stop them. We won’t be involved at all,” I say.

I check to make sure the anonymizing software Matrix installed in my phone is working before making the call. The agent who answers tries to pry more information out of me, but I only give him the basics. That should be enough to get them out here.

I call Matrix and catch him up. “Can you monitor the area to make sure they show up?”

“I can’t get cameras there fast enough, but I can hack the local cell tower and listen to calls.”

“Great. We’re getting out of here before they catch us. We’ll meet up at the clubhouse.”

“See you soon.”

I end the call and turn to find a huge hawk on Talon’s shoulder.

“He helped,” Talon explains.

“Thank you.” I don’t know if the bird actually understands me, but he dips his head before flying off. Julia gives me a quizzical look but doesn’t say anything.

“Want us to find a place to hide until the feds get here?” Reaper asks.

“No. We don’t want to be anywhere near this place when her body’s found. Let’s ride to the clubhouse and see what happens.” Before I get back on my bike, I turn to Julia. “You okay?”

“If it’s really her, I’m worried about Max. What are we going to do?” she asks.

“I don’t know yet, but we’ll figure it out. Trust me.”

“I do.” Her luminous green eyes meet mine, and my heart pounds furiously. She trusts me. No one has ever said that to me before. It’s implied with the guys in the club, but no one else has ever had that much faith in me. I hope to God she’s not wrong. I meant what I said, but now I need to follow through and make good on that promise. I’d protect that boy with my life, and I might have to if the sheriff comes after us again. We won’t know until the FBI takes over the case. If I could handle it myself, I would. But this woman needs justice, and the best way to give it to her is to make sure everyone knows she was murdered by the sheriff.

Chapter 14: Julia

We’re at the clubhouse when a breaking news alert scrolls across the television. I can’t look away as a reporter on the twenty-four-hour news channel gushes about Bonnie’s murder. The fact that the reporter is almost gleeful disgusts me, but I ignore my simmering rage and focus on the facts. Not only did the FBI find Bonnie Curtis’ body, but they have conclusive evidence she was murdered. A gunshot wound to the back of her head made that abundantly clear. Now, the feds are looking for Max, too. We haven’t decided what to do with him yet. Scar wants to get him into the underground system as soon as possible, but I’m still not sure that’s the best option. For now, he’s staying at Nina’s place, where he’ll be safe.

The newscaster excitedly announces that the FBI will make a statement on live TV. I scoot forward until I’m on the edge of the couch. Scar’s sitting beside me. He rubs my back in slow circles to ease the tension in my body.

A man with gray hair walks up to a stand covered in microphones from various news stations. “I’m Special Agent William Taft. Yesterday afternoon, the FBI received an anonymous tip that led us to the body of Bonnie Curtis.”

I glance at Scar. He was right to leave Max with Nina. Talon took Max horseback riding to distract him, but we can’t keep him in the dark much longer. We haven’t figured out how to tell him his mother is dead. It’s going to break his little heart, so until we decide what to do with him, we’re going to keep that information a secret.

“Ms. Curtis was murdered,” Agent Taft continues. “A preliminary autopsy indicates she was shot with a nine-millimeter handgun. Her son Max has been missing for several days. He was last seen in the company of Julia Brant, a nurse at his elementary school.”

“They’re still looking for you,” Scar says as if I need another reminder. I’m probably not going to have a job when this is all over, but I can’t even begin to think about that right now. We have too many other problems to worry about.

“We have been speaking with her ex-husband, Sheriff Lyle Curtis. He has been cooperating fully with the investigation,” Agent Taft says.

“There’s a surprise,” Scar says.

“No, it makes sense. He wants to appear to be worried, so they won’t suspect him,” I respond.

“He must think the feds are idiots.”

“I won’t be taking any questions, but Sheriff Curtis would like to make a statement,” Agent Taft says.

The cameras pan to the side as Sheriff Curtis moves to stand in front of the microphones. Bags hang under his eyes. His beard is scruffier than usual. He looks like hell but projects an aura of stoic desperation. He’s an excellent actor, portraying the grieving ex to perfection.

“My wife—ex-wife, I mean—was supposed to be attending a conference in Paris. For some unknown reason, she never left town. Some terrible person walked her into the woods and shot her execution style. There’s a monster out there who needs to be caught.” He pauses for dramatic effect. “This animal also has my son. I know who he is. I know who’s behind this.”

The reporters go nuts screaming questions at him. It’s total chaos until the sheriff holds up a hand to quiet everyone down. A slight smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth as if he’s trying to stop grinning but can’t help it. He’s eating up all the attention and loving every second of it. It’s so obvious that I can’t understand how the FBI agents standing next to him don’t see it.

“There’s an outlaw motorcycle gang in this county. I’ve tried to stop them from running drugs and weapons, but they’re devious and sneaky. I have reason to believe they’re involved in human trafficking, but I haven’t been able to get enough evidence to put them behind bars forever.”