The men peer over the edge, and then look at each other. Bradford nods, and a flicker of satisfaction floods Turner’s expression. They head for the truck, and I lean back in the middle of the backseat.
Cal meet my eyes through the windshield, eyes flat, and in that instant I realize I am watching a man who could erase anyone and still sleep at night.
And Ilikeit.
The hound hops into the seat beside me, as Turner and Calvin slide back into the truck. They’re both quiet, as Calvincarefully pulls onto the road again. I glance out toward where the truck went.
“It went in the river?” My voice comes out like a squeak.
“Yeah,” Turner answers. “Straight shot, right through the ice. Done deal.”
“I’ll have Maren report him in a couple of days.”
Turner hesitates, his head turning to Cal. “They’ll know.”
“Nah,” his eyes are dead tired. “He was disposable, and wasn’t the greatest, given that he was hooking up with one of the persons of interest’s ex-wife. That’s messy. They won’t want to fuck with that.”
“Valid,” Turner leans back against the truck seat. “Shit has been wild lately.”
“It’s not always like this,” Cal glances up at the rearview and meets my eyes. “It’s all almost over.”
I swallow hard. “What now?”
“Now, we go find your fucking brother.” He reaches into the console and grabs a pack of cigarettes. He lights it, and then cracks the window.
“You smoke?” I don’t hide my surprise.
He shrugs. “We all have bad habits sometimes. You’re not the only one who came from a shitty upbringing. It’s not my first time to fake an accident, Jen. I had a worthless father, too.”
I watch him draw, exhale, and squint at the red dot in the dark, as I mull it all over. Part of me wants to argue about the fact we killed someone just doing their job, but after the last twenty-four hours… I’m not arguing with any of these psychos.
And I don’t get a chance either, as Cal’s phone erupts in a jarring ring, coming through the Bluetooth speaker in the cab. I can’t see the number on the screen, but I don’t miss the look that the two men up front exchange.
Cal answers, holding up a finger to all of us. “Hello?”
“Bradford,” my brother’s voice comes over the line, my heart shattering all over again. “I… I need help.”
“Where are you?” His voice stays eerily calm. “We’ll come to you.”
“I’m just at the bunkhouse. I… I made a fucking wreck of things earlier today.” His voice has this strange quiver in it. “And I’m in trouble.”
“With who?” Bradford smashes the gas, tearing toward the farm.
“I don’t fucking know. But they’re coming for me.”
“Stay put. We’ll be there in five.”
Cade hangs up the phone, and Turner lets out a breath.
“He’s going to make this easy.”
My brow furrows, but the panic is already rising in my chest as the words come out. “What do you mean? How is he going to make what easy?”
“Well, because?—”
“This is Jenna Kellan,” Cal cuts him off. “Cade’s older sister. She’s been looking for him since he went AWOL last year.”
Turner’s eyes go wide. “I thought you were the professor?”
