Page 82 of Welker

“First thing, you’re going to check the root cellar. Make sure you have your ear-comm in so you can let me know if Margaret’s there and okay.” Moira smacked her head. She’d given Margaret instructions…

“Dammit. She might not come out, because I told her to wait for me.”

“That’s okay. We can deal with that,” Hayden assured her.

Moira had no doubts.

“If she’s safe,” Moira continued, “then I can concentrate on the two MC perps.”

“Got it. What else do you want us to do?”

“I don’t suppose either one of you has a sniper rifle on hand?” Moira asked.

Hayden gave a wicked laugh. “I might.”

“I knew I liked you,” Moira responded with a chuckle. “Okay. Once those MC assholes think they have me, I’ll make sure they take me out the front door to follow through with whatever it is they’ve decided is their end-game. There are only two of them, and I’ll be able to take care of one.”

“Which means?” Hayden asked.

Moira cleared things up. “I want you to incapacitate the taller of the two, while I concentrate on taking out the other guy.” Moira was confident of her hand-to-hand skills, as she’d have to be, because at that point the perps would most likely have her disarmed. The only thing she worried about, was a possible muscle reseparation when she got physical. Still, she’d have to risk it.

Hayden gave her hope. “I can do that. And while I get a bead on the tallest guy, I’ll have Boone poised, closer to the house. Once my guy is down, hubby will move in to help you.”

It sounded good, but…

“Nope. Don’t risk your husband, Hayden.” As much as Moira relished the back-up, she didn’t want to gamble with her new friends’ lives. “He’s not a cop.”

Hayden guffawed. “Nope. But he’s a bad-assed rancher, and believe me, he’s wrestled and roped enough steer that he’s not intimidated by a mere human.”

Moira actually laughed, picturing Boone taking out the MC pricks with a lasso. She’d have to trust Hayden’s judgement on this. “Okay. Tell him I won’t underestimate his abilities.”

Hayden relayed the message, then snorted. “He thanks you.”

“Right. Like he needs an ego boost.” Moira might be in love with Welker, but she wasn’t blind. Boone was one hell of an able-bodied male, and gorgeous to boot. That cowboy hat alone…

Moira coughed, cleared her mind, and got back to the business at hand. “How long before you’re on premise?”

“ETA, four minutes,” Hayden replied. “We’ll park around the bend right before Margaret’s house, then head through the woods toward her root cellar.”

Moira did some quick calculations. She was only a couple minutes behind them. “Let me know the second you leave your vehicle, and I’ll time my arrival at the house to coincide with when I assume you’ll reach Margaret.” She wanted to make sure the two MC goons were suitably engaged watching her pull up, so they wouldn’t be paying attention to anything in the back yard.

“Ten-four,” Hayden sent back. “And Moira. Be careful.”

“That’s the plan,” she replied.

They disconnected.

Moira drove until she spotted Hayden’s car pulled off to the side of the road. She turned in and idled behind it. Time seemed to tick slowly, but Moira was counting down the last few seconds to when she’d figured she should leave, when her phone rang.

Hayden.

Moira held her breath and picked up.

“We got to her quicker than expected, but Margaret’s safe,” Hayden assured her. “She won’t come out until she hears your voice, but I can tell she’s relieved. Now it’s up to you.”

That intel, delivered so quickly, would mitigate the need for an ear-piece. One less thing to worry about the bad-guys smashing.

“Okay. I’m headed in.” Moira pulled her truck out, and slowly approached the house. She could see the curtains in Margaret’s front hallway part, then quickly drop back into place.

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