He made a noise that sounded all wrong. “Bob made them go to some house in Winton. Said he’d pay them cash for a job.”
“What house? What job?”
Kayden stood and turned, frowning as he read my face. He took a step closer.
“I don’t know. Bruce never tells me nothing. Just said he had a job to do, and they’d be back before dawn.” His voice cracked. “They’re not back.”
“What was the job, Lyle?”
He released a deep exhale. “They had to get Frank Branson. Bring him in.”
My jaw dropped as I looked at Kayden. I closed the distance between us and held a finger to my lips to shush him, then I switched the phone to speaker.
“Did you say Bob sent Bruce and Wayne to get Frank Branson?” I asked.
“Yeah. That’s what Bruce said. Bob told him where to go and what to do.”
“And your brothers haven’t been seen since last night?”
“No.” The fear in his voice was raw and unguarded. I’d never heard a Henderson sound like that. They were the kind of family where showing fear got you punched in the nose. “Something’s wrong, Sapphire. I can feel it.”
Kayden turned the stone still in his hand, but his eyes were fixed on me.
“Do you have an address for this house?” I asked Lyle.
“No. Just that it was somewhere in Winton. That’s all Bruce said.”
“What time did they leave?”
“After dinner. Around seven, maybe seven thirty.”
“How did they get there?” Both Bruce and Wayne’s trucks had been written off.
“They took my truck.”
“And where are you right now?”
“In Winton. I took Dad’s truck, and I’ve been driving around looking for them for the last two hours.” His voice broke slightly on the last word.
Kayden pegged the stone into the creek.
“Lyle, pull over. Don’t keep driving around. Go to McDonalds and get some food. And stay there.”
His breathing was ragged on the other end.
“Lyle, listen to me carefully. If Bruce or Wayne call you, you ring me straight away. You understand?”
“Yeah. Okay.”
“And don’t talk to Bob. Don’t talk to anyone at the station. Just sit tight and wait for my call.”
Kayden dragged his hand over his jaw.
“Where are you?” Lyle asked.
“Out of town. But I’m coming.” I looked at Kayden, pleading with my eyes. He nodded and moved toward the bank, ready to climb.
“You’ll find them, Sapphire. Won’t you?” His tone was edged with panic.
