Page 45 of Knot Guilty

“Didn’t have to. He left a message with the sarge.”

“Sadie, I don’t think this is such a great idea. With the two of you having such a long-term association, the feds might see your sudden disappearance as suspect.”

They wouldn’t because I have the perfect cover. “If someone wants to follow me, they’ll be sorely disappointed. I’m going to visit my father. He has a quiet place where I like to go think.”

Knot silently digests what I didn’t say and drops the subject. “I still want you to check in. I don’t like any of this.”

“I don’t like it either, which is why I have to go.”

“Fine, but you’ll take the jet. I want you to drag his ass back here, and that’s the safest way. Be careful, Sadie.”

The call ends, and I reconsider Aaron’s note. It doesn’t appear that he knows what evidence prosecutors have, and I’d be shocked if Maxen has been able to find out this quickly. If I haven’t heard from him by then, I’ll check in with him before heading for Aaron’s hideout.

My next call is to my father. “Hey, Sport. I didn’t expect you to get back so soon.” At the sound of his voice, I’m suddenly overcome with emotion. My throat constricts, and the only sound to come out is a pitiful sob.

My dad’s voice becomes harried. “Sadie? Are you there?”

The trembling in my body is heard in my words. “Daddy, I need to come home for a few days.”

“I’ll come get you.” His response is instant and resolute.

“No. I’m already on my way. Can you pick me up at the Pigeon Forge Airport?”

“Just say when.”

“I’ll land in about two hours.”

“I’ll be there. You just hang tough, Darlin’.”

Two hours and ten minutes later, I step down from Knot’s sleek jet to the sight of the smoky mountains wearing a crown of mist and three Phelps men waiting on the tarmac. Tossing my bag over my shoulder, I take the steps slowly, and my father shocks all four of us by walking over and wrapping his arms around me.

Wes takes the bag from my hand, and the Phelps men whisk me away from the airport. They’re all in full-on protective mode, telling me I must look pretty shaken. Strange. Until now, I’d been running on adrenaline too much to notice.

Mike drives us to Dad’s house, where Brandon and Blake are waiting, holding bags from our favorite BBQ joint. I’m ushered inside, plonked in a chair, and given a beer while the boys set out dinner. These guys haven’t babied me like this since the day I started my period. And the next day, they were all running scared.

Everyone is soon seated, but no one touches the food. The only move anyone makes is for my father to lean his arms on the table. “Sadie, what’s happened?”

The words burn like acid coming up from my chest, ripping the wound open again. “Brock’s dead.”

Having met Brock the weekend my team came down to raft the Ocoee, my dad and brothers recognize the name. However, because of their shared interests, Mike is the one that got to know Brock. Mike had been a Helo mechanic in the Air Force and now does it for the private sector. Brock had been a Helo pilot.

“I’m sorry, Sport.”

Every man at the table looks wary, given they’ve never seen me like this despite having lost men before.

“What happened?” Mike asks.

“We were on a rescue mission where all eleven targets were lost. One of the combatants hid out in the cave where the ambush happened and surprised Brock. I couldn’t do anything but hold him while he died.”

I keep the rest of the story to myself, and thankfully, my family doesn’t ask any more questions. I know that not a one of them would believe Aaron guilty, but I don’t want anyone to know my real reason for being here. I can’t bring them into this mess.

Shortly after dinner, I excuse myself to shower, accepting rare hugs from my brothers.

Clean and dressed with my damp hair braided, I pad down the hallway to my old bedroom, which still looks like it did when I lived here. My mother’s quilt is draped over the queen bed, and soft green walls are filled with pictures of her and my brothers. Rounding out the room is a small dresser and desk displaying a Navy ship calendar from two years ago.

After dropping my bag on the dresser and tossing my boots in the closet, I flop down on the bed. I haven’t heard from Maxen, so I decide to check in.

“Gates,” he answers on the first ring.

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