I looked around the table, relief rushing through me that they wouldn’t have to close the town. But another worry was already taking its place. “For how long?”
I didn’t like the thought of hiding. It felt too much like running.
“Until they’re gone or we’ve captured them.”
I slumped in my chair. “They won’t believe I’ve left. If they don’t find a new trail that leads them away, they’ll be back, over and over again until they find me.”
“If they come back, we’ll be ready,” Greel said grimly. “By then, Dungar should’ve heard from other law enforcement. We could enact whatever plan they propose, assuming we agree it’ll work.”
“What if they figure out where I am?” I asked. “That’ll put all of you in danger.”
“They won’t,” Hail said. “And even if they do, they’ll-they’ll g-g-get more than they bargained for.”
I was reminded of him strapping on his sword with smooth confidence. These orcs might look like gentle cowboys, but they hid steel underneath their kindness.
“Besides,” Greel said. “Whoever’s on duty won’t be alone. We’ll have backup plans, communication schedules, ways to get reinforcements quickly if needed.”
“And it gives us time to set up the trap.” Dungar’s expression shifted into what I was beginning to recognize as his sheriff mode. “Let’s look at this from a variety of angles. When she disappears, they’ll search, of course. We could use that against them.”
“How?” I asked.
“We can watch them, see how they behave. Then when the rest of the team is here and we have a plan, you can come back to town, pretend you think they’re gone, and we’ll spring the trap. Do you have any images of them?”
“Will’s face is plastered on all the social media pages. He’s slick, but he loves to attend New York shows.” I scrolled intomy phone and passed it around, everyone studying the various pictures of Will and the guys who worked with him.
Dungar studied my phone the longest before handing it back. “Good. Now we know who to look for.” He scanned the group, his gaze finally landing on me. “You’ll drive from town to a prearranged meeting spot that’s well hidden. There, we’ll take your car and hide it. While they continue trying to track where you went next, we’ll sneak you back into town.”
“No way,” Hail growled. “We’re not put-put-putting her in danger.”
“You’re putting yourselves in danger,” I pointed out. “This is ultimately my battle.”
“Ours,” he said.
“Alright,ours. That still gives me some ownership. I don’t want to hide, not for long, that is. For a little bit, while you guys do some analysis to see how they move and buy time until the outside law enforcement is involved, but not longer than that.”
It was time to make a stand.
“If the key is making them think you’re still in town…” Becken frowned, thinking, before his face cleared. “Gracie? You look the most like Allie.”
“Absolutely not,” Tark growled.
“Who else then?” Gracie asked, oddly enough, giving me a wink. “I think you could pass as Hail, Tark, and if you stay by my side at all times, I’ll be safe. Unless you’re suggesting you won’t be able to protect little ole me.”
Now she reallywaswinking my way.
Tark snarled. “I could be Hail. You could be Allie. Except we’re not putting you in danger.”
“If you need bait, it’s going to be me,” I said. “You’re already risking so much for me. They may not believe she’s me and if you try too hard, they’ll suspect you’re setting up a trap.”
“She has a point,” Becken said.
More than a point. “Hail can protect me. You have a place to take my car?”
Dungar nodded.
“If you think they left some men behind, I’ll hide, but once Dungar and the outside law enforcement has a plan, one I’m sure uses me as bait, I assume I’ll be striding around town like I don’t suspect a thing.”
“With full pro-protection,” Hail said.
