Page 43 of Snowbound Threat

His phone started to buzz in the cupholder where he’d dropped it.

Could be Pops.

He slid his thumb over the screen and glanced at it long enough to see the speaker button. “Rourke.”

“It’s me.” Noah’s voice moved over him in a way that made Caleb react physically.

Instinctively, he felt better. He also realized just how much he’d missed seeing his brother on a regular basis.

“What’s going on?”

Caleb inhaled a sharp breath, keeping his attention on the road. “Pops called me. One of Kessler’s men is at the house. He’s got Tessa.”

“The neighbor girl?”

“You can be my best man. When I get everything squared away. But that means I need to save her, which means I need to get there before he does something I’m going to make him regret.”

“That’s…a lot. But congratulations, I guess.” Noah paused. “I’ve got info for you about that bank account.”

“Good, I’ve got a couple of minutes before I’m there and I could use a distraction.” Trees whizzed past on both sides of the two lane road. Caleb hit the gas and overtook a compact that had pulled to the side since he was running lights and sirens. “What did you find out?”

“Actually it’s an account number I needed. We’ve been trying to put together information about a group that’s operating within the government, and they have assets in the CIA. They’re trying to subvert justice, and control US policy.”

“How does that account connect? Is Senator Chathers part of what you know?”

“Is he connected toyou?”

Caleb said, “Somehow. I thought I was going after Nathan Kessler.” Right now he barely even cared about that. All he cared about was getting to Pops and Tessa in time.

Before the worst happened.

He continued, “Kessler is connected to Chathers somehow. I haven’t even started to dig into what it all means. The most that I know is that account number was on the back of a photo of Kessler, and the envelope was sent to the preacher for safekeeping. Or so he could give it to me. I never found out which it was. But bro…” Caleb had trouble even saying it. “Mom and Dad are the ones who sent it.”

He had to believe he’d been meant to find it. Or his parents were safeguarding information but keeping it out of the hands of the person who needed it the most.

“Dude.” Noah paused. “Mom and Dad aren’t dead.”

“Youknow?”

“I was trying to find actual evidence so I could tell you and I’d have proof,” Noah said. “All I’ve heard is hearsay, about how they had to go into hiding.”

“What on earth?” Everything in Caleb wanted to have a tantrum like a toddler with no impulse control. But he couldn’t rage against the unfairness of it or getting burned and left for dead would have destroyed him.

“I know.” Noah’s tone softened. “I should’ve told you. I’m sorry I didn’t, or you wouldn’t have been blindsided like this.”

“I need to get to Tessa.” He couldn’t think about the rest right now. “If they didn’t even care to tell us they were alive, or promise that they’d come back one day, why should I care about them. Sending one envelope that may or may not have been for me doesn’t make up for them abandoning us.”

“We were kids. We wouldn’t have understood.”

Caleb pressed his lips together. He shut off the lights and sirens.

“That was you? I figured you had the sheriff on your tail.”

“I’m trying to get to Tessa and Pops before a dirty FBI agent I know kills them.” He was yelling by the end of it. Taking out his powerlessness and his frustration on his brother.

“I’d be there, you know I would. I’m in Istanbul.”

“This will be over before you could catch a plane, but…you should come home.” He needed his brother for this. “Don’t know why I didn’t ask before, but I’m asking now. I need your help,No.” The shortened version of his brother’s name slipped from his lips so naturally. Like the years fell away in one moment.