Page 104 of S.O.S. Billboard

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jakes hedged, his gaze darting from one man to another until they rested on Del. “You. Are you in charge of these…men? I’ll have your asses in a sling for this.”

Del maintained a calm that Billboard certainly wasn’t feeling.

“I think you’re the one whose ass is on the line here,” Del told him, almost conversationally. “Stealing from your town’s coffers…” Del clicked his tongue with a regretful, tut-tut. “Very bad. But add kidnapping to those charges, and… That ups your legal troubles, exponentially, I’d say.”

Jakes’ eyes darted to the safe that was familiar to all of them.

“Right,” Del added, his voice turning so cold it could have frosted all the broken glass scattered on the floor. “We know you took O’Shea when you stole the safe. So you might as well come clean.”

“How…how did you find me?” Jakes asked, not answering Del’s question, as sweat beaded up on his forehead.

Sarge composedly walked over to the safe, spinning the dial several times until the door opened. He extracted a small, black box.

Jakes spluttered. “What’s that?”

“A tracker,” Del told him. “The paperswerein there previously, but they’re now in the hands of the FBI.”

Jakes fell back into his chair, a horrified look on his face. “No…” he rasped.

“Yes,” Billboard answered. He’d had enough of the nice chit-chat. “Now tell us where O’Shea is, and I won’t beat the shit out of you.”

Jakes straightened up, trying to regain the upper hand…which wasn’t going to happen.

“I have no idea where that odious woman is, and if I did, why would I tell you?”

The man was saved from Billboard’s immediate wrath when there was banging on the door. “Boss? You in there? We finally got the bitch to talk.” The intruder laughed. “It wasn’t easy, but we have the combination.”

Jakes’ eyes went wide. “I… I have no idea what he’s talking about.”

Del extracted his gun and pointed it straight at Jakes’ head. “How many men are here with you?” he asked softly.

“Two,” Jakes sniveled.

Del nodded. “Answer him, then. Tell him he did good, then unlock the door.” He held his weapon steady.

“That’s…good news,” Jakes called out, his voice shaky but not so much that someone not looking for it would notice.

“Wiley, Perk,” Del clipped quietly. “Head out the other door and see if you can find the second man, then locate O’Shea.”

“On it,” Wiley replied. He had the door unlocked in a blink, with both men slipping out silently.

The knocking came again. “Boss? You gonna let me in?”

Del gestured with his gun, and Jakes moved toward the door.

“I’m coming. I’m coming,” he managed.

He threw the bolt and swung the door wide, then pushed his man away, scrambling forward in an effort to escape.

“Billboard?” Del sighed and motioned for Billboard to give chase.

“Gladly,” he growled.

Billboard took off, and within ten yards he had Jakes collared, hauling him back to the office. Brent had taken careof the goon who’d come knocking. The guy was out cold on the floor, his hands zip-tied behind his back.

Wiley and Perk turned the corner.

Empty handed.

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