In the parking lot, I stop and turn. “You two stay put. I got this.”
Once I slip on my coat, I stretch out my cramped legs, then amble on in. As I put a cola, some beer nuts, and a few bags of chips on the counter, a bored teenage girl looks up from her phone behind the cash register. “That it?”
“Yup.” Pretending to place a call, I put it to my ear and as she bags, I frown down. “Hey, I was supposed to meet up with a couple of my friends on the mountain, but they’re not picking up. I wonder if you can tell me if you’ve seen them?”
My finger swipes to the two we think took my employee but when I show her, she shakes her head back and forth. “Sorry, haven’t seen them. Let me ask my dad.”
Walking to a back door, she shouts out, “Hey pops. Some guy wants to ask you a question.”
Covered in biker and prison tats, a broad, six-foot-two Caucasian enters the store, wipes grease from his hands, and eyes me suspiciously. “How can I help you?”
Now, a lesser man might’ve turned tail and run but this is where being a world-renowned rambler and former U.S. Navy SEAL comes in handy.
With a broad smile, I ignore his murderous stare, and begin. “Well, this is the thing. Chet is a friend of my pal, Montclair. Now, I can’t stand either one, but they’re smitten. All I want is some alone-time with my gal, but I can’t get me some until I remove my unwanted guest.”
The man licks his lips, eyes my wife in the car outside, and cups his junk. “You want to share?”
Hell, my fists are begging to punch his crooked nose, but I need his cooperation. “Mebbe. But first, we need to get rid of the third wheel on account of he might not be so agreeable.”
The man sucks in his drool and rubs his shaved head. “There was a black F-150 came through yesterday… had two guys and a woman.”
I shove Lanita’s picture under his nose. “Was that her?”
“Uh huh. Real pretty. I remember she didn’t look so happy.”
Shrugging, I pocket my phone. “Chet ain’t the easiest guy to get along with.”
“Well, they didn’t say anything to me, but I heard them talking. They may’ve found a summer rental nearby. This time of year, they’re real cheap.”
“Thank you, kindly.” I wink at him. “You’ll be hearing from me.”
After I fill up the tank, we head down the road a piece, and I spit out the window. Fuck him and his vile suggestions.
Sam taps my leg. “You alright?
Head back in the game, I nod. “Yeah, I’m fine. Can you have Jason research if anyone rented a summer place close by in the last couple days?”
“On it.” A few moments later, she programs an address into our GPS. “This is the only one.”
When I turn onto Old Bay Road, I slow to a crawl. “We’re looking for a dark Ford pickup.”
Squinting in the bright light, we search the cabins on either side of the road. My money is on the seaside properties to our left.
“There it is.” She points at the vehicle described by the ex-con. It sits a few feet away, parked beside a sixties cape, covered in green asbestos siding.
Before I jump out of the car, I glance in the rearview mirror.Fuck me.Four SUVs are barreling in our direction and their blackened windows send a chill down my back.
“We got company. Everyone out. Dash, to the boat. Sam, you take the rear door, I got the front.”
As they race toward the back, I run up the steps, try the door handle, and it clicks open.
Gun out, safety off, I turn, and what do you know. Landy’s sitting right in front of me. I tug off the black hood and pull the gag from her mouth. “How many and where?”
“One in the kitchen. The other’s outside. Hurry.” Behind her back she lifts her bound wrists.
“You hurt?” Inspecting the raw skin on her wrists, I grab my boot knife, and cut the plastic tie wraps.
“No, just my pride.” Free, she stands and crouches behind me.
