Page 16

Chapter 16

Tobias

I flipped the lights in my truck as I raced back to the station. Law wouldn't be so persistent to get me a message unless something had happened.

Holly was waiting at the front desk, her expression confirming my suspicions. "I called him when I figured you were close. He's on line one."

I closed my door and took my seat. "Law. What've you got?"

"Bad news, brother." His voice was tight, focused. "We got a hit on Michael."

My breath caught. "Where?"

"Gas station in Reddington. About eight hours from you."

"When?"

"About an hour ago. Got a seventy-eight percent facial recognition match. Mouse tracked the vehicle heading," Law paused, and I could hear him take a breath. "When he left, it looked like he's heading in your direction."

The confirmation of my worst fear sent ice through my veins. "You're sure it's him?"

"As sure as we can be without physical confirmation. The car disappeared into the mountain passes about thirty minutes ago. We lost satellite tracking in the area, but we have it positioned on the other side. We figure he's still a day out from you."

"Fuck." I closed my eyes, processing. Michael coming back here. The break-ins, Sophia's murder. Were they connected, and how?

"I agree. But we can take him. We know what we're up against, and this time I'll hand deliver that prick to prison myself. Fucking feds ruining my record."

"Yeah." I forced myself to focus. "What's your ETA?"

"Ha, I knew you would know we were coming. We're mobilizing now, but we've got equipment to transport. Figure twenty-four hours, minimum, because Mouse and Keyboard are my responsibility. They're coming with, which means I need federal permission to cross state lines with them, and we have to fly private. That takes a little time to get a plane here."

My mind was already racing through contingency plans. "Send everything you have on the sighting. I need to brief my team."

"Already done. Mouse sent the files to your secure email." A beat of silence. "Watch your back, Tobias. If Michael is coming, it's safe to say he's pissed and has nothing to lose. We'll be there as soon as we can."

After hanging up, I stared at the wall for a full minute, trying to gather my thoughts. The picture of Joan on my desk seemed to watch me, her smile frozen in time. What would she think of me now? Sheriff of a town under siege, with a psychopath from my past potentially on his way to finish what he started. And me with no idea how to stop any of it. My day had just gone from bad to horrid.

"Holly," I called. She opened my door. "Everyone in the downstairs meeting room. Now. You too."

"Well, shit. That doesn't sound good." She stepped back out without reclosing the door.

While waiting, I pulled up the files from Mouse. The gas station footage was grainy but unmistakable—Michael, thinner than before but with the same cold eyes, paying cash for gas and energy drinks. A man I hadn't seen before stood next to him. The timestamp confirmed Law's report. The vehicle tracking showed a meandering route through back roads, avoiding major highways.

But why would Michael be so out in the open like that? Not try to conceal his identity? He wasn't even wearing a hat. That didn't sound like the behavior of a man who had lived a secret second life. Michael was smart; he had to know the Feds had resources and tools to locate people. Unless he wanted to be seen. Wanted it known he was heading back to Whispering Pines.

Thank God Cameron and Melanie were in hiding, outside of US soil. That was the best place for them and her mom and aunt. Still, I'd better let the Whitakers know.

Fuck, I hated everything about this! I headed to the meeting room. I'd given bad news to my team before, but never when we'd had so much pressure on us already.

"Close the door," I told Mark, the last to enter. "What I'm about to share doesn't leave this room." Everyone's face went stoic.

I turned my monitor so they could see the footage, then froze the picture when Michael's face was clearest. "Anyone recognize this man?"

"Damn it." "That's not." "Oh, hell."

The deputies uttered comments at the same time. Then the room fell silent as the realization of why we were together began to set in. Brooklyn was the first to speak. "You think he's behind the break-ins? And Sophia's murder?"

"I don't know. But the timing is suspicious, and we all know these aren't ordinary crimes." I rubbed my forehead. "There's a reason why we're talking about Michael. As you're aware, Law called. His team has been using satellites to find Michael, tracking his money and watching for a hit. Well, an hour ago they got one and were able to hack into the gas station security system. This," I pointed to the screen, "this is what they saw. Michael is heading our way."

"Aww, fuck," Holly uttered.

Everyone sat in silence, so I continued, "We're not facing this ass alone. Law and his team are coming to assist, but they won't be here for at least a day, maybe two."

"How far away is Michael?" Sang asked.

"About a day."

"So he could change direction and go somewhere else?" Holly asked in a hopeful voice.

"Could, but I'm not taking that chance."

"Great," John muttered. "Just what we need."

"We can handle this," I made my voice sound hopeful and supportive, the exact opposite of how I was feeling. "Our first focus is the break-ins. We're going to let Law keep track of Michael while keeping us informed."

Brooklyn crossed her arms. "This time when they catch him, I'm taking that bastard up on his offer before shooting him. That way I can retire early." Her attempt at humor fell flat, the tension too thick for levity. A part of me wasn't even sure she was trying to use humor.

"Listen, I know you're all exhausted," I acknowledged. "But our commitment is to this town. If Michael shows up here, Law or not, we'll take him down ourselves. Until then, we keep working on catching the four."

"What do you need from us, boss?" Mark asked. He was the youngest on the team, but he was always our practical one.

"Law's team is going to keep an eye on Michael's properties. We'll double our patrols, especially around businesses that haven't been hit yet. Check in with our security system contacts. After the pharmacy problem, I want a list of who's installing them, who might have access to that information. I need to make the Whitaker family aware of what's going on, in case Michael's coming back to settle scores..."

The implications hung in the air. We all remembered what Michael did to Melanie, to Cameron's family.

"Do we need to set up protection for Melanie?" Holly asked.

"No, they're taken care of." Other than Charlie and Evelyn, I was probably the only other person in town who knew Melanie and Cameron were tucked away in an Italian villa with amazing security features, something one of Charlie's buddies had for in-case situations. "They're fine."

After they left, I sat alone in my office, the weight of responsibility crushing down. Law's team wouldn't arrive until the day after tomorrow at the earliest. My mind told me Michael wasn't going to announce his arrival with fireworks and a parade, that he'd lay low for a while, planning whatever he was planning. Shit, maybe he wouldn't stay here after all, maybe he'd pass through.

The thought of that actually made me chuckle. I picked up the phone to make a call that I was dreading because obviously my day hadn't been bad enough.

"Hey, Evelyn, you home? I'm heading over. I need to speak to you and Charlie."

Standing, I made my way out of my office when my phone buzzed with a text from Holly.

Went home, there's a sandwich for you in the refrigerator. EAT IT!

I should. I knew I should. But I turned and headed to the outside door instead, intent on getting this meeting over as soon as possible.

As soon as my fist was about to knock on the door, Evelyn opened it. The worry lines seemed to have multiplied from the last time I'd seen her.

"Tobias," she stepped to the side, allowing me to pass. "I made coffee unless you'd like something stronger."

"I wish, but not till the uniform comes off."

"I hope it's not that kind of a call," a smiling Charlie appeared from the hall. "Come in, come in. Let's sit in the kitchen."

I filled them in on what Law's team found and that, by all guesses, it looked like Michael was heading our way. Both Charlie and Evelyn sat quietly holding hands, looking at the red print tablecloth.

"If Mouse and Keyboard say that's what's going on, then that's what's happening. Those ladies are nothing short of brilliant." Evelyn nodded at me as she spoke.

"Evelyn's really taken a shine to those two." Charlie said, squeezing his wife's hand. "I'm sorry I didn't get to meet them."

"Well, you'll be able to rectify that. They're coming with Law. He said he's responsible for them, so they have to come with."

Evelyn smiled. "I'll have to reach out."

We sat looking at our coffees, sharing the occasional glances. I took a bite of the chocolate chip cookie Evelyn had placed on my saucer. It was good, the first thing I'd had all day. Charlie finally broke the silence.

"Do you think he's actually coming here, Tobias?"

Meeting his eyes, I had to be honest with these people that Michael had terrorized without their knowing. For God's sake, bombs had been planted in their house. "Yes, I wish I could say I don't know or I don't think so, but I really think I would be lying."

"I was afraid you were going to say that." Evelyn took in a deep breath then blew it out. "Is it safe to think he's coming here looking for revenge?"

I thought for a moment. "That I don't know, but I think it's a strong possibility. He's not the most caring of individuals, and Whispering Pines is where he lost his operation. I can definitely see him being pissed and wanting to make people pay."

"If he was as smart as he says he is, he would have taken his millions and disappeared," Evelyn said in a defiant manner.

"That's not Michael. His ego would never let him," Charlie contradicted her. "I'd bet dollars to donuts he's laid awake at night plotting his retaliation. How dare someone defy him, ruin his operation, and try to take him to jail. Nooo, nope, in his head, no one takes down the almighty emperor Michael. No one. Especially not two women."

"I think Charlie's right," I said, knowing full well from my interactions with Michael that his ego knew no bounds.

"Question is," Charlie spoke again, "what do we do with this information? We've got two families with a lot of ammunition Michael could use against us."

Evelyn's hand went to her mouth. "I didn't think about that." She turned her head to me. "What do we do?"

"I would say get out of town. But that would take three doctors away from the hospital. I'm not sure that's doable."

"The kids are adults. They need to decide what's best for their families on their own," Charlie said, putting his hand up to stop Evelyn from interrupting. "I think we better have a family meeting. Let's call everyone over. We'll order pizza and talk."

Evelyn sighed, then nodded her head. "Fine, but if they stay, we stay."

"Agreed. Tobias, want to join us?"

"No, this is a family matter. For what it's worth, I think you're handling the situation the right way. Thank you for the offer, but I need to head home." I stood, placing my empty coffee cup in the sink.

"Honey, why don't you contact the kids? I'll walk Tobias out." Charlie stood and fell in step with me as Evelyn nodded, picking up her phone.

"Thanks for the coffee," I nonchalantly waved to Evelyn as I left. Charlie continued to follow me outside to my vehicle door. Turning to face him, I looked around the quiet, affluent, well-established neighborhood.

"Tobias, if we stay, I'm going to need some help protecting my family. My boys don't have the experiences I have; they don't have the knowledge." He looked right then left. "I've got military friends with access to items. Depending on the discussion tonight, I wanted you to know I'll be reaching out to them."

I nodded, figuring something like this was why he'd followed me. "I understand. I could advise you to let us take care of it, but knowing who it is and what he's capable of, just let me know what you end up with so my officers don't get hurt."

"Deal." Charlie shook my hand then headed back inside.

On my way home, I stopped at the liquor store. If there was ever a day I could use a drink, today was it.