Juliet peered up at the clock on the screen. She had set a timer to count down based on what Marcus had told her. When it reached the sixty-minute mark, she intended to send a text that would set everything in motion. By the end of today, she would be home free, and her plan to end Travis Walker once and for all would be a success.
“Not long now,” she muttered at the screen.
Not long at all.
Chapter Fifteen
“What the fuck!” Brantley exclaimed, watching Baz’struck disappear down the street.
“Somethin’ wrong?”
Turning his attention back to the man on the other end of the phone, Brantley answered his brother the only way he knew how. He lied. “Nothin’ that wasn’t already wrong. I’d appreciate if you could get over here. We’ve got a crime scene to process.”
“What do you mean a crime scene?”
“I don’t have time to explain, Trey. Get your ass over to JJ’s.”
“At least tell me she’s all right,” Trey demanded.
“Yes. Shit. Sorry. She’s fine.” Not to mention, gone. “Can you put a rush on it?”
“Give me fifteen.”
“Better make it five or the sheriff’s likely to get here first,” Brantley told his brother before disconnecting the call.
He immediately dialed Baz’s number. No surprise, the guy didn’t answer.
Reese strolled out from the side of the house. “I didn’t see any unusual tracks back there, but— What’s wrong?”
“Baz just hauled ass outta here,” he said on a huff. “With JJ.”
Reese peered down the street, as though that might give him insight, maybe? “Did you try callin’ him?”
Rather than answer, Brantley gave him thedo you think I’m an idiot?stare.
“And did he answer?” Reese drawled, clearly irritated by the look.
“No. You talk to the sheriff?”
“I did. He’s on his way. I told him to bring only his most trusted deputy for now. We don’t need this to leak before we know what we’re dealin’ with.”
“Good call.” Brantley only wished he did know what they were dealing with.
There were simply too many avenues to pursue and not nearly enough evidence. Especially considering Dante was the governor’s son, which made him high-profile. His first thought was that this was a kidnap and ransom. It was the most logical conclusion.
On the other hand, the scene inside JJ’s was a bit dramatic for that. What was with all the blood? And why tear up JJ’s place? It felt personal to him and most K and Rs weren’t.
He glanced around the yard, the driveway. “Why’d Dante come here?” he mused aloud. “Why’d he involve JJ? If he was comin’ to her for help, I have to assume someone followed him here. Which means, by callin’ her, he led them right to her door.”
“Good point. Maybe he didn’t know they were on to him, and he thought she’d be able to help.”
“Yeah. Maybe. But surely he knew he was in danger. JJ said he was panicked. Why the fuck would he involve her?”
That was what pissed Brantley off the most. Fucking Dante. He could’ve reached out to Brantley for help. The fool did not need to drag JJ into this.
Then again, Dante never was the brightest bulb. He tended to leap before he thought, and this time was obviously no different.
“Come on. Let’s go inside and have a look around before the sheriff gets here.” He pulled another pair of gloves out of one of his many pockets, passed them to Reese.
