Page 96

96

Heather ran upstairs, grabbed one of Norm’s spare weapons from his gun safe, a pair of extra clips, and her shoes. Dark clothes. When she made it back downstairs within three minutes, the Barratt brothers were yelling loudly. And taped up with the duct tape Summer kept in the kitchen drawer.

Heather had to hand it to Summer and Cashlyn—those two nieces worked fast when something needed to be done. “Nice job, girls. I have trained you all so well.”

Mac looked at her and let out a string of curses that she was surprised such a pretty prep school boy knew. "What in the hell do you think you’re doing?"

Heather turned away, and slipped her white T-shirt over her head then replaced it with the black long-sleeved one. Her jeans followed. Then her shoes. She just ignored them bellowing until she was dressed.

She turned to them as she zipped her darkest jeans.

"Powell is in serious trouble right now. She called a few minutes ago, trying to give Heather a message. We think it's a trap; the Grundenmans are trying to lure Heather out," Cara said honestly. She was sitting on Alex's stomach, holding him down while Crispin efficiently taped his rather large man feet.“We don’t want you guys getting in the way and getting hurt or anything. Heather is going to go rescue her. You’ll just mess things up if we let you loose, Alex. I am very sorry about this, but this is for your own good.”

"You can probably get off him now. He’s pretty well taped up," Heather told her. She looked at Alex and his brother. "Powell is definitely in trouble, and she's at your mother's. We suspect your mother and Gunnar are with her. Possibly your father, as well. If we call it in, we can't guarantee it will be good TSP who respond. I’m going to go check it out. See what’s going on before we raise a major alarm. Just to make sure we don’t make things worse.”

They bellowed, unsurprisingly. Struggled. Cara flopped to the floor. Heather held up a hand. "I know. I get it. Believe me I know exactly how you are feeling right now. But the last thing we need is the two of you getting in the way. Or rushing in there, getting yourself—or someone else— killed.”

Heather looked at the Coleson who could do what she needed now. “I need eyes over there. At that park. There are cameras. Both through the HOA and private residences. Can you handle that? Get me whatever you can?”

It was a lot she was asking of the teenager. She knew that. Not to mention…illegal. But, well, she’d just borrow money from Powell to pay the legal fees, if needed. After she got Powell back.

She looked out the window, confirming what she already suspected. It was dark out. Those cameras weren't going to do much good. Except...the park was well lit. And the Barratts lived right next door. It was all she was going to get. “Get me something."

"Hughes Heights uses older model Lucas Tech cameras and it’s an online monitoring system through Barratt-Handley’s servers for all their rich, ritzy clients. They really think it’s safe here. Stupid buttheads. No one is safe anywhere. I can get into the Lucas Tech main servers in six minutes. They don't take as long as Barratt-Handley’s servers. Those take about thirteen on average," Crispin told her seriously. "From there, I'll be able to get into the Hughes Heights system and narrow it down to address specific. I’ve done it lots of times before. If we’re lucky, Powell’s parents use the same system. I’d need maybe another ten minutes to get into a specific private address, though.”

"You hack Luc's servers? And the HOA?" Alex asked. "Why?"

"Why not?” Crispin answered. "I just do. What is he going to do about it, sue me? It's not like I have any money or anything. And I’m over eighteen so he can’t really sue my mom for my actions now. Would he really sue an Eastman girl? That would be publicity nightmares, right? For such a tech genius, his stuff is super-easy to hack. I got into his home security camera system before, but then I saw him and his wife getting naked in their kitchen and so got out of there fast. Another time I saw Paige taking her husband’s clothes off in Luc’s library. I did not stick around to see her getting naked too. I just didn’t. They need better systems. You should probably tell them that.”

The Barratts just gawked at Crispin at that one.

“First chance we get, we are going to talk about all the hacking, Crispin Maria. I can promise you that. I think we need to find you a new hobby. Now…just use your evil skills for good tonight, please,” Heather said. That girl…sometimes she floored Heather completely.

“I only ever hack Luc and his best buddy for-eva, Aunt Heather. Just to see if I can. Well, I know I can. I just try to see how fast I can do it now, when I get bored. Those buttheads deserve it.” Well, Heather didn’t disagree. But…illegal. “And I only chased Luc around with his robo-cleaner thing once. After the picnic where he upset Cara. He deserved it.”

Crispin had some impulse control issues, no denying that.

“We’ll discuss chasing Luc around with a robo-cleaner when I get a chance. Later. For now, get me eyes. Hope—I need backup. And if we call it in, we could be throwing oil onto this fire. Find me another way. Get me people here we can somewhat trust. Without using dispatch. Or…Major Crimes’ lines. Just in case.”

“I’ll call Zo. She can get me Murdoch. And probably Jake,” Hope said, pulling her phone out. “He may already be close.”

Jake and Murdoch were probably the best she could hope for under the circumstances. And Miguel was already on his way. “Good. Maris—you are in charge of Miggy’s kids, okay, sweetheart?”

“Okay.” Maris’s voice broke just a little bit. Heather understood. Technically they had kidnapped the Barratt brothers tonight. Right in front of the teenager. And Maris was shy and quiet and reserved, just like her mama. And afraid.

“Hope, send that beautiful man of yours to me when he gets here. I’m going to need him. Tell him…come armed for bear. He’ll know what I mean.”

“Be careful, Heather Holly. You really don’t know what you are facing out there now,” Bonnie said quietly, holding Ember close.

Heather didn’t let herself look at her baby girl right now. She just didn’t. She couldn’t afford to lose focus.

“I know. But no other choice. A Coleson doesn’t leave a sister behind. Ever. We voted Powell into the coven. She’s one of us now. I’m going to go get her and bring her back to the people who love her. No matter what.”

Blue eyes in beautiful male faces just looked at her. Neither Barratt brother said another word.