“From what I can tell, they took the service roads. They never showed on the cameras.”
“Fucking, Wade. He probably scoped out all of the possible exits to the town. God, I’m a fool,” Cliff admonished himself.
“No, you’re not. I ran the background check for you, remember?” Preston pointed out. “He was clear, only a speeding ticket on his record. Now that I know it is her half brother, I can see the resemblance. Surprised none of us saw it before.”
Dylan’s phone began to ping with incoming messages and he relayed to the group that most of the men downstairs were heading to Cliff’s cabin to help put out the fire.
The sound of a knock on the apartment door had the men spinning on their feet and leaving the secret room, guns pulled ready to fire. All except Cliff who lost his at the lake. Cliff took a look at the small monitor by the door. Something about the man was familiar and as the stranger looked around Cliff pressed the button to open the apartment door.
The man’s eyes widened in surprise as he turned to find Preston, Dylan, and Ryker standing with weapons drawn, but then his bright green eyes settled on Cliff.
“Hey. . . ugh. . . I thought that maybe I could help.”
“You’re the new bar owner.”
“I am. I heard about what’s happening while I was walking home and thought that maybe I could help somehow.”
Cliff narrowed his eyes at the stranger, but then realized the man without any friends in town was offering to help him get his woman back.
Holding out his hand, Cliff greeted the man. “Thanks. I’ll take anything I can get. I’m Cliff. What’s your plan?”
Returning his shake, the stranger replied, “Landon. And do you have access to a CB radio?”
Preston nodded and flew out of the apartment toward the police station a block away.
Cliff explained to Landon what they were looking at and the four men kept their eyes trained on the tracking system, watching as the car began to approach the service road’s entrance to the main highway.
“You a spy?” Landon asked, breaking the silence.
Cliff shook his head, though truthfully, it was probably the closest designation for his job that he could fathom. “You going to tell us anything about yourself?”
“Not today.”
“What made you come out of hiding today?”
“I’ve spent enough time in a shell, figured it was as good a time as any.”
True enough. Cliff could understand, he was the same way at one time.
Two minutes later, Preston rushed back into the room, sweat lining his brow, but he was barely out of breath as he handed over the CB radio and all of its parts.
Landon worked at setting it up as he explained that they’ll try channel nineteen first since it was the most common.
“Tell me again what the plan is?” Preston asked wearily.
“We’re going to ask for some assistance. Believe me, when those truckers hear that there is a kidnapping, they’re going to shut down that highway faster than you can say freeze.”
Flipping a switch, a low humming sound filled the room.
Landon brought the mic to his mouth.
“This is Irish Whiskey asking for help.”
At first, there was no response, then the room filled with a dozen or so confirmations.
“We’ve got a kidnapping at your backdoor on 40. Need a convoy and stop.”
Rogers and ten-fours answered in response.