“I’ve found what you’ve been looking for. Daniel Henson and five of his men were setting up a new meth operation in New Mexico, at a place called the Pine Tree Ranch. It’s thirteen miles west of Chamaya. Skye will text you the details. I’ve got Henson, but the rest of his men have scattered. Good chance they’ll come after him. I’m hauling ass to the sheriff’s office in Pagosa Springs.”
“I’m on it,” Cross said, his tone sharper now. “I’ll have agents meet you there. I can’t believe you managed to get yourself involved with Henson again.”
“Believe it. Rolland Beekman is one of Henson’s goons. Looks like he killed a woman named Stella Walker near the town of Angel Fire.”
“Jesus.”
“I’ve got to go. Be best if you didn’t waste any time.” Edge hung up the phone and checked his mirror. No sign of the men. He didn’t let up on the gas.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
IT WAS QUIET IN THE PICKUP, JUST THE DARKNESS AND THE CURVESahead, lit by the wide white beams of the headlights.
Daniel’s voice, a low whine, drifted over the back seat. “You don’t understand what you’ve done. The man I work for . . . he’s a very powerful figure. If you take me in, he’ll think I’m going to talk. He’ll find a way to kill me.”
“That’s your problem,” Edge said.
Henson shifted his attention to Skye, whose pistol still pressed against his balls. “Please. I’m begging you. Let me go, and I’ll give you all the money I have. There’s at least a couple million in my account in Grand Cayman.”
“If you turn state’s evidence,” Skye said, “the police will keep you safe.”
“He’s got cops on his payroll. Once I’m in the system, he can get to me wherever I am.”
“What’s your boss’s name?” Edge asked, tossing out a line just to see if Henson would bite.
“I can’t tell you that.”
Edge turned the mirror a little to look at him. “You want to disappear? Tell me your boss’s name, and I’ll pull the truck over and let you out. You can keep your money and take your chances.”
“You can’t just let him go!” Lila looked ready to attack Daniel herself—or him.
Henson ignored her. “Why do you want his name?”
“That’s my business,” Edge said. “Do we have a deal?”
Daniel made no reply.
Five miles out of Pagosa Springs, Edge spotted a dirt road and pulled off the highway, drove around the first bend out of sight. He killed the engine, popped his seat belt, and turned to Henson.
“Your freedom for a name.”
Daniel swallowed. His face glistened with sweat.
“We’re only a few miles from town. You want to make a run for it, give me a name.”
Henson smoothed a hand over his mashed-down, bed-head hair. He blew out a shaky breath. “Ivan Petrov. His name is Ivan Petrov.”
Edge remembered what Zoe had told him. “He in Vegas?”
Daniel nodded. “That’s him. Now let me out of here.”
Edge grinned. “April Fools.”
Skye laughed. Lila gave a teary chuckle of relief.
Daniel twisted and kicked his feet against the front seat in outrage. “We had a deal! Let me out of here!”
Skye pressed the gun deeper into his crotch. “Take it easy, Daniel. There’s nothing I’d like to do more than pull this trigger.”
