Chapter Twenty-Two
Brantley focused on the road and thenavigation instructions as they turned off the main highway onto another.There were no flyovers or exits on this stretch of road, simply stop lights in the middle of busy intersections.
When he’d first looked at the map, he’d expected another long, mind-numbing drive.Thankfully, their destination was closer than he anticipated, clocking in at a little over an hour from Coyote Ridge.Having made the trek from Dallas the day before, it felt significantly shorter.But it was still long enough for his anxiety to build, and the restlessness to settle in.
According to Reese, there was a pattern with the movements of the players they had identified up to this point, and it all seemed to be centralized in this location.As for whether they could nail down anyone, that was to be seen.Becs and Evan hadn’t had any luck when they’d spent a good part of their Sunday in Dripping Springs flashing Allison’s picture to the shop owners and customers.But Brantley was willing to do whatever he needed in order to get Kylie back and nail the bastards who’d disrupted the lives of so many people with their greed.If that meant knocking on every door in every small town, by God, he would damn well try.
Fuckers.
Oh, yeah.He was more than pissed, and thinking about how Martin Calloway had single-handedly fucked up a good family only exacerbated his rage.Kylie was the glue that held that family together, and Calloway had taken her away.For what?It still seemed ludicrous that he would think faking her death would draw her mother out of hiding or that Meredith Prescott’s testimony would even hold up in court.It made no fucking sense.
“What’s on your mind?”Reese asked.
“I don’t get it.I just don’t understand how Calloway can hinge everything on one woman’s testimony.Especially a woman whose morals are as corrupt as his.Wouldn’t a defense attorney shred anything she had to say?”
However, it did make sense that he would use Kylie if he was looking for payback for Juliet’s death.That theory wasn’t as far-fetched, although he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it since Calloway had put his kid up for adoption when she was born.
“I think he’s past that now.”
His gaze darted to Reese briefly.“What?”
“I was up most of the night doin’ research.I came across Censorious’s manifesto.”
“Oh, fantastic.Can’t wait to hear it.”
Reese clicked something on his phone, then began to read, “Our mission is clear: to eliminate crime and create a safer society for all.We are committed to protecting those who cannot stand up for themselves and stepping in when the government fails.United, we strive for justice—building a world where evil is eliminated, no matter what it takes.”
Shaking his head, Brantley sighed.“Sounds like the musings of a madman.”
“You’re not far off.That was just the beginning.It goes on to explain how they intend to eliminate those they feel are a threat to society.They’ve got a list of offenders.”
“By name?”
Reese nodded.“But they don’t just target those they determine to be criminals.They’ve got specifics by race, gender, religion, and sexual orientation.”
“Seriously?”
“Oh, yeah.They’re racist, sexist, homophobic… It’s ugly.”
Great.Censorious was made up of a group of assholes who put targets on the backs of those who weren’t like them.Just what this world fucking needed, another hate group hellbent on proving they were superior.
Fuckers.
“I want this bastard,” Brantley said under his breath.He didn’t give a fuck if Max Adorite and Martin Calloway challenged one another to a duel in the middle of downtown Dallas.That was their prerogative.But he did care that Censorious was targeting innocent people.
“You’re not the only one,” Reese said, his tone harsher than Brantley’d ever heard it.
Taking a deep breath, Brantley glanced at the navigation.Their turn was coming up.
“Becs and Evan showed Allison’s picture at a few businesses in Dripping Springs,” Brantley told Reese.“I think they had the right idea.Just the wrong photo for this town.”
“You want to show Calloway’s photo.”
“Yeah.The team keeps comin’ up with this as a central location.I can’t imagine Calloway hasn’t been here.And because he would, I doubt he’s kept a low profile.That would draw attention.”
“Not if he’s hidin’.”
“Trust me.These people pay attention.Small towns keep an eye out for each other.If one person noticed him tryin’ to keep from bein’ seen, they would tell someone.Then it would become a thing.He would have to blend in—or try to—to stay off their radar.”
