Now he has them both.
Five minutes. That’s how long I allow myself to pace the yard and get my shit together while Arlow relays everything to Landon inside on my phone. When I return, Arlow shows me a navigator open on the screen. “Landon tracked both Lisa’s…um…Isla’s number and Xavier’s. This is where Isla is, not too far from my house.”
I click the map and study the satellite version. There isn’t much to see but forest, and a dark building. “It looks like anold barn.” The dot that represents Isla’s phone stays on top of the structure.
“This is Xavier’s.” I’m looking at a road that runs back to that area. The dot from Xavier’s phone makes its way toward the barn.
“That’s where he’s keeping them. We have to go. Get his phone,” I tell Arlow, nodding toward Joshua. “I don’t need him calling either of them.” Joshua takes a step back and thrusts the phone out toward him.
I glare at him. “I know more about you than you can even imagine. Do not call the cops or tell anyone about this. If you do, I’ll be back to fulfill Xavier’s request. Do you understand?”
He holds up his hands. “I don’t want anything to do with any of it, man. I just want to get my kids out of here.”
Arlow pauses to talk to Joshua after I’ve gone out the front door. “What did you say to him?” I ask, as he hops into my truck.
“I told him not to fuck around, and I’d make sure he got his phone back and tell him when he’s safe again. The guy isn’t going to do anything. He’s terrified.”
“Let’s fucking hope so.” I don’t like it. If the ISH guys were still here, I’d have more help and I’d leave someone to watch this guy until it’s all over.
As we tear down the highway, I can’t get my thoughts straight. Alive. My Isla is alive. This is my recurrent nightmare brought to life. Isla and Silver’s fate in my hands.
Landon calls and I put it on speaker. “Lee, I’ve beenfollowing their backtrail on their phones to see where they’ve been. There’s something you need to know.”
God, what else can be dropped on me tonight? “Go on. We’re on our way to them now.”
“Xavier wasn’t at Lacey’s apartment, only Isla was. He was at a house in Paducah and just left a little while ago. Isla was at Lacey’s for about ten minutes and then headed for the forest. Only Isla’s phone shows at that barn for a good two hours. Xavier hasn’t been there.”
My brain won’t wrap around what he’s trying to tell me until Arlow speaks up. “Isla took Silver and held her there until Xavier could meet them.”
“I don’t see any other explanation,” Landon says. “You two be fucking careful.”
“We will,” Arlow promises then looks at me after I hang up. “Joshua said Isla came back to hit on him after Xavier got a tattoo. That she had the freedom to sneak around with him.”
No, no this isn’t Isla’s fault. “What the fuck are you trying to say?”
“I don’t know. Just that it doesn’t add up. She could’ve gotten away. You said Xavier is a pimp that likely bought her, and maybe Matthew was working with him, but if he’s in that line of business, why wouldn’t they just kill Joshua? He was a sitting duck. Why this elaborate plan of reaching out to you, of all people? His wife’s other husband.”
He’s right that none of it makes sense, but the only answers wait in a dilapidated barn. “I don’t know. It’s probably Stockholm Syndrome or some shit. She’s traumatizedafter all these years. It doesn’t matter. We’re going to kill this motherfucker and bring them home.”
We turn onto the road that leads back to the barn, and I kill my headlights. A full moon shines overhead, casting everything in a bluish light. Silver’s truck comes into view, pulled off the road, and I stop behind it. Arlow and I approach with our guns out to look inside but it’s empty.
A dirt road barely larger than a path veers off toward our destination and we follow it quietly. Another truck sits a few yards away, and a body lies slumped behind it on the ground. My heart’s in my throat. I feel a little relief at the sight of blond hair. Silver’s is dark and Isla has been dying hers brown, judging by the picture Joshua showed us.
She’s lying on her side, her back to us, and when I roll her over, Arlow curses. Trinity’s sightless eyes are rolled up as if they’re trying to look at the small round hole in between them. Blood mats her hair and soaks the ground.
“Come on,” I urge Arlow, keeping my voice low. The truck is empty, and the barn looms in front of us. “Okay, go around the rear and see if there’s another way in. I’ll take the front. I don’t want to go in guns blazing and get them both killed.”
Arlow nods, leaving me with a warning. “Don’t get yourself killed either.”
CHAPTER 27
SILVER
The cool nightair helps rouse me, not to mention being thrown around like a crash test dummy. My body still feels weak, but by the time I’m bound to a chair, I’m wide awake. I’m also alone, though I can hear voices coming from outside. The scent of dry rot, hay, and mildew hangs so thick in the air I can taste it as I try to stay calm and take in my surroundings.
I’m in a barn that looks like it could tumble down with a strong wind. The walls still stand but over half of the roof is gone, and moonlight pours through. It illuminates me like a spotlight, fading outward around the chair I’m tied to. A couple of electric lanterns provide a little more light, but it doesn’t reach far, and shadows swallow the rest.
Where the hell have they taken me? And why? My mind races through possibilities while I try my best to free my wrists and ankles, but it’s no use. Ropes wrap tightly aroundmy stomach and under my breasts as well. The chair they’ve used is heavy wood, and without being able to plant my feet on the floor I can’t budge it.
