“I’m just rattled. You’re still my baby and always will be. I can’t help myself. Please be careful and call me to check in everyday!”
“Yes, I promise. I love you, Mom.” Allie choked up slightly. She wished she were a child again, being held in her mother’s arms, safe and innocent of the dangers of the world.
“I love you too, Sweetie,” Sarah said maternally.
They ended the conversation, and Allie called Casey and then the Johnstons to let them know what was going on and to make sure the barn was covered in her absence. Laura implored Allie to take care of herself and not give the barn a thought. They had it covered and soon enough she would be back in the saddle again.
“I promise to give Mel extra treats, and I’ll give him a hug from you,” Laura vowed.
Still feeling weepy, Allie thanked her friend and agreed to keep in touch. After hanging up the phone, she got up from her chair and lay face down on the bed. She buried her head in her pillow to muffle her sobs, then let the dam break loose and cried her eyes out.
She fell asleep that way, and when she awoke it was dark outside. She was disoriented for several seconds before it registered where she was. “OK,” she said to herself, “I’m upstairs in Zane’s guest room. I wonder how long I slept?” Glancing at her watch, she saw that it was past 7:30. Kit Kat was nowhere to be found. Allie got up rinsed her face then went to find her cat and Zane.
She followed her nose to the kitchen, where Zane was busy chopping and dicing, with soft music coming from his sound system. He had a fire going in the fireplace. The table was set for two, with tapered candles lit and everything. Kat was at Zane’s feet, staring up at him adoringly.
“Traitor!” Allie said to Kat, who just blinked at her.
“I assume you had a nice nap?” Zane inquired.
“Yes,” Allie said, subdued.
Zane could see, from her puffy eyes and troubled expression, that she had been crying.
“Babe, I talked to Darcy while you were napping. She thinks she has a lead on who was behind the break-in at Will’s and the dead possum at your place. It’s a guy named Bret Duvall. Duvall has been working with Christian Silva for the last several years, on Will’s payroll no less. Duvall is involved in drug trafficking, but Narcotics Enforcement hasn’t been able to catch him. He and Christian Silva go way back. They have been in frequent contact while Christian has been incarcerated,” He explained.
“Darcy also did her own canvasing of the Havers’ neighborhood, and one neighbor saw the family leave for a short time. When they returned, instead of getting out of their car, they immediately backed out and quickly sped away. That was early in the morning on Thanksgiving.” He explained further, “Now she is attempting to track down their whereabouts.”
“I’ve tried to reach Will and left several more messages imploring him to call, so I’m hoping to hear from him. He can’t skip bail! We can put him and his family in protective custody until this trial is over,” he said in exasperation. “Hell, he and his family can stay here for that matter, if I can just convince him to return!”
“I just hope Darcy can find them first,” Allie said quietly.
Zane replied, “You and me both. The sooner the better. Right now, I would be happy with just a return phone call.”