Page 37 of Unexpected Danger (Mountain Justice #2)

Brodie exited Renee Corker’s driveway, turned on the air conditioner, and rolled up his window. He started down the dirt road to the highway when his cell rang. Detective Rivas’s direct line appeared on the screen. He pulled to the side of the road and parked to take the call, hoping for good news.

“Sheriff Brenneman.”

“Brenneman, this is Rivas.”

“Did we catch him?”

“Unfortunately, no. He wasn’t in his apartment.

” Brodie knew it was too good to be true that they would have caught Haack.

His stomach clenched. Every day Dustin Haack was on the loose was one day longer that Londyn’s life was in jeopardy.

There is no telling what a guy who would run someone off the road and try to strangle her was capable of.

Rivas continued. “We pounded on the door, and when there was no answer, we visited with the neighbor, also the reporting party. We were able to look at her cameras and check out the footage from when the truck arrived.”

“Let me guess, he took off on foot?”

Brodie could hear Rivas shuffling some papers.

“No, if only it were that easy. If he had taken off on foot, we would probably have found him by now. Instead, the cameras indicated a black-haired woman emerging from Haack’s truck, unlocking the door of his apartment, and stepping inside.”

“A woman?”

“Yep.”

“Are you guys sure you have the right truck?”

“We ran the plates. It was registered to Haack.” Rivas’s voice came off somewhat defensive, and Brodie regretted that he sounded like he hadn’t believed the seasoned detective knew what he was doing.

“Sorry about that, sir. I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful. I just…this guy’s been so elusive, you can’t even imagine. Every time he commits a crime, he disappears into thin air.”

“No worries. I get it.” Rivas cleared his throat.

“Our guys knocked on the door, but there was no answer. We weren’t sure if the woman who’d entered was ignoring us or if she didn’t hear us.

I parked across the street in my unmarked car, and within the hour, she exited the apartment with an armful of items and carried them to the truck.

Her name is Dorena Mohr, and she’s a nurse from Pronghorn Falls. Does the name ring a bell?”

“It does. She works at the hospital. A colleague previously interviewed her regarding this case.” Brodie recalled Officer Robinson’s report indicating Ms. Mohr was less than forthcoming with answers about Haack’s attack on Londyn in the hospital.

In a second interview, Ms. Mohr denied giving any information to Haack about Londyn’s follow-up appointment at the clinic.

A denial Brodie fervently believed was a lie.

“We brought her in for questioning,” Rivas continued, “and Mohr mentioned she hadn’t heard us when we knocked on the door.”

“What was she doing in Rowland in Haack’s truck?”

“We obtained a search warrant for the apartment, but found no one else. We weren’t surprised, since only Ms. Mohr entered the home, as shown on the neighbor's camera. But get this—and I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you—Haack is a lunatic.

He’s tacked up numerous photos of Ms. Siegler on a bulletin board inside what appeared to be his room. ”

Brodie clenched his fists. Dustin Haack was clearly obsessed with Londyn. What would he do if he ever caught her? “How would he get pictures of her? Were they ones he’d taken?”

“Some appeared to be, yes. Several were taken through the window in her apartment, I assume unbeknownst to her. There was one with three people—Ms. Siegler, Haack, and another woman of about their age. After some digging, we determined her to be a coworker named Jasmine Frewing. While finding this was interesting, suffice it to say, we failed to locate Haack. Dorena Mohr verified that he’s still in Pronghorn Falls. ”

Brodie’s heart pounded loudly in his ears.

Did Haack intend to fool people into thinking he traveled to Rowland?

Brodie closed the door of his truck, put his phone on hands-free free and started the engine.

“Did Mohr give any details about why she drove Haack’s truck and why she was in his apartment carrying things out?

” Brodie put the truck in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot.

The sooner he arrived at the ranch to make sure Londyn was all right, the better.

He’d deal with the potential horse thief later.

“She did. Quite an interesting story. Seems Haack has a sick grandmother that he needs to see, and since he’s in Pronghorn Falls on work and unable to take time off, he asked if Mohr would drive down and get a few things for him so he could fly out of Pronghorn Falls to Washington state in a couple of days, where his grandmother supposedly lives. ”

Did Haack even have a grandmother in Washington State? “Haack works in Rowland, not Pronghorn Falls.”

“According to Mohr, he was working in Pronghorn Falls.”

Brodie could almost see Rivas shrug. “Haack sends Mohr down here in his truck to gather the things.”

This was beginning to sound like a ploy. “This woman just believes him and drives all that way to do a favor for him?”

“When asked about her relationship to Haack, Mohr said they recently started dating after Haack had a traumatic breakup with his former girlfriend.”

Haack had a former girlfriend? That was news to Brodie. He’d have to ask Londyn for details.

Rivas continued. “According to Mohr, the former girlfriend broke Haack’s heart, and he was struggling with some depression after the breakup.

Mohr, herself, recently went through a difficult divorce, so she said when they found each other, it was just meant to be.

She mentioned, and I quote, ‘Dustin is sweet, charming, thoughtful, and my dream guy’.

It was about the only time she spoke in a tone that was anything but annoyed and exasperated.

The woman doesn’t know the meaning of respect. ”

“I doubt Dustin Haack is anyone’s dream guy. More like a nightmare. If he’s so sweet, why would he have all those photos of Londyn Siegler tacked up on his bulletin board? Didn’t Ms. Mohr find that bizarre at the very least?”

“One would think. He’s obviously someone able to deceive those who are na?ve, as I believe Ms. Mohr is.”

“True. We may be able to find out more information from her. Hopefully, between both of our agencies, we will be able to track this guy down. My question is why would any woman want to date him when he’s wanted by the police?”

Rivas was silent for a moment. “Not sure other than maybe she didn’t realize he’s wanted.”

“It’s been in the newspaper, the local TV station, and on online news outlets. She would have to live in a cave not to know.”

“As we are both aware, there are several reasons women are drawn to criminals. One being maybe she believes he’s innocent of any wrongdoing. Two, of course, is the rebound from her divorce, although I’m far from a psychologist.”

Brodie knew they could discuss the topic for hours and fail to understand why women like Ms. Mohr would desire anything to do with a man who was wanted by local law enforcement.

“Apparently, Haack gave Ms. Mohr food and gas money. He said she could stay at his place overnight and then return to Pronghorn Falls with the list of items he asked her to gather.”

Brodie turned onto Main Street. The latest scenario brought about more questions than it answered. “All right, thank you. I appreciate the update.”

“We’ll still be on the lookout for him here just in case he returns,” said Rivas. “No doubt about it, the guy is cagey and has thought out this most recent ruse.”

Brodie made a mental note to contact the small airport and apprise them of the APB.

Airport personnel would need to keep watch if a man matching Dustin’s description attempted to fly out of Pronghorn Falls.

Although he strongly believed the grandmother in Washington State thing was nothing more than a scheme.

“Thanks for all your help, Rivas. Here’s hoping our agencies can nab this guy.”

He’d barely hung up when Mom’s number and image flashed across the screen.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Brodie, Londyn left a note that she went for a walk. That was several hours ago, and I can’t find her.”

“What?”

“She said she’d be walking on the dirt road past Roarke and Mila’s house toward the state land. Neither Roarke, Deputy Huang, nor I have seen her.

His panic lurched him into overdrive. What had Londyn been thinking?

“All right, Mom, I’m on my way. Tell Roarke and Huang to keep looking. You stay at the house until she returns.”

He contacted dispatch, flipped on his blinker, and glanced in his rearview mirror. And that’s when he saw her.

Brodie leaped from the truck. “Londyn!” He scrambled toward her, his boots slipping on the loose gravel. He met her halfway and lifted her into his arms, and set her in the truck. “Wait here and lock the door.”

He sprinted to the house, weapon drawn. “Police! Come out now.”

An engine’s roar and squealing tires drew his attention to the sedan.

Haack careened toward him, and Brodie slid out of the road and into the weeds adjacent to the driveway just as the car raced past him.

Brodie stumbled to his feet, service revolver at the ready when he had a clear shot.

The sedan weaseled its way through on the left side of the truck and down the road to the highway.

Londyn unlocked the door, and Brodie slid into the truck. He contacted dispatch as he began his pursuit. He tossed a glance at Londyn. Her appearance horrified him. Her eyes were swollen, bloodshot, and watery. Her hair was matted to her forehead. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

“Thank you for seeing me.”

He almost hadn’t. Had almost driven to the ranch to find her. If he’d continued on that course…

No. He wouldn’t consider that outcome for Londyn. She was safe now, and he intended to keep her that way.

The truck careened to one side over a pothole he hit a little too hard. “Hold on.”

Haack swerved around a corner on the country road ahead of them. Brodie gritted his teeth and gripped the steering wheel while informing dispatch of his location and the need for backup.

A school bus stopped ahead, its lights flashing. Brodie hit the brakes as Haack flew past the bus extension arm. The thought of a kid getting mowed over sickened him, and his blood froze in his veins. He stopped behind the bus, grateful that the first student had just now exited.

When the bus continued driving, Brodie safely passed it, noting the bus number. He’d need the footage from the onboard camera.

He surveilled the road ahead. There was no sign of Haack.

A driveway ahead prompted him to stop. He cut the engine. “Londyn?”

Tears fell silently down her cheeks. He unlatched his seatbelt and moved closer. He wanted to hold her. To reassure her. To never let any harm come to her again. “What happened at Corker’s house?” He feared the answer.

“They kidnapped me when I was on a walk. I-I had my gun, but it was knocked from my hand, and they tied me up and held me there.” Her lip trembled.

He climbed out of the driver’s side and walked to her door, opening it.

She fell into his arms. He ran a gentle hand over her hair and rested his chin on her head.

What if he hadn’t been there? The smell of animal urine emanated from her, and clumps of dog hair covered her shirt and pants.

He observed some blood on her dirty bare feet. “You’re safe now,” he whispered.

Londyn clung to him. He closed his eyes and thanked the Lord for keeping her safe until he could reach her. “Did he harm you in any—” He choked on the words, fearing what Haack may have done.

She shook her head, and Brodie released a tight breath. A spine-shuddering sob escaped her, and he gathered her closer. Her pain tore at him, and he yearned to erase all she’d been through in the recent and distant past.

How long had he wanted to hold her again? To feel her in his arms? But not this way. Not because someone wanted to harm her.

Londyn withdrew, and he instinctively gently framed her face with his hands. “I’m going to take you to the clinic.”

“I just want to go to the ranch.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Please.”

“Can we at least call Mila and have her check over you?”

Londyn nodded. He should step back. Get back in the truck and drive her to the ranch, but something kept him there, his hands resting on her upper arms, and his eyes searching hers before she again collapsed against him.

He would comfort her for as long as she needed.