Atticus remained on the highway, noticing that it changed names.The area felt more rural than before, with more houses, more land.The homes appeared older, situated in small neighborhoods made up of two or three streets.When they neared a large church, Archer instructed him to slow down.
“You’re gonna turn left right up here,” he said.“It’s not a major intersection, so give me a sec.”
Atticus slowed as much as he could without impeding traffic.
“Okay.Here.”
Following the direction of Archer’s pointing finger, he put on his blinker and moved to the center turn lane, waiting for a pause in traffic before turning left onto a narrow asphalt road.It was barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass at the same time, so he figured it was a good thing no one was coming toward him.
When they reached an intersection with a 7-Eleven, Archer directed him to keep going straight, so he did.The farther they drove, the worse the road became.It was washed out on both sides, and what was left had potholes and large dips that made for a rough ride.There were houses, some mobile homes, and a couple of fields full of old junk cars.
Trusting that Archer would tell him where to go, Atticus continued to drive, moving as quickly as he dared.
“This road ends up here, you’re gonna turn left.”
Sure enough, the road ended—kinda—at a giant tree, but there were no stop signs, no street signs, just a yellow arrow pointing to the left.
Atticus went left, following the narrow road lined with mesquite trees and powerlines.
“Is that a river?”he asked, looking past Archer at the flow of water running parallel to the street they were on.
“Yep.Pedernales.And from what I can tell, they’re right up here.”
“Are they stopped?”
“Doesn’t look like it.The dot keeps moving.Faster than if they were on foot, but slower than you.”
Atticus slowed, continuing straight until he saw Brantley’s truck and a black Cadillac Escalade.
“That’s them,” he told Archer so he could put his phone away.
As though they’d been waiting for Atticus to catch up, the two vehicles went a little farther and then pulled over to the right.
Looked as though they’d made it.
Brantley stopped behind Travis’s SUV at thesame time he noticed Atticus’s truck pulling up behind him.
“Looks like he’s openin’ the gate,” Reese said as they watched Kieran push open a rusted metal bar that blocked the narrow gravel path.
“Call Atticus.I have no idea what we’re walkin’ into, but I want him and Archer to be ready.”
“You don’t think this is a trap, do you?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
Brantley focused on the vehicle in front of him while Reese relayed what little details they had to Atticus and Archer.
“Yeah,” Reese said.“Kieran claims he’s got Kylie.I assume she’s here.We don’t know what’s up ahead, though, so keep your eyes open.”
Brantley pulled forward when Travis did.They bumped along the driveway that wound deeper into the dry grass and spindly mesquite trees.
He had no idea what he expected to find, but it certainly wasn’t a quaint little blue house with hardwood siding and a massive stone patio that appeared to circle the house.Based on the entry, he’d figured the house would be falling in on itself.
Definitely not the case.
“It backs to the river,” Reese noted when they slowed to a stop.
Before he could put the truck inPark, Travis and Gage were out of the SUV.
