Page 83 of Sheltered by the Lawman

“She was just some chick who used men, Cull. Yates was just a dumbass who allowed pussy to lead him. No one would miss either of them. And I needed the money.”

“You haven’t been the same since your ex left. You made some bad choices. Disable the bomb and let’s get you the help you need.” Cull didn’t have time to play counselor. Right now he had a bomb ten feet away and the love of his life was in danger.

“I know you’ll never understand. You’re a good man, always doing what’s right. I could have killed that woman, Sally, but it must have been my loyalty that kept me from it.”

“She’s alive?”

“Yes. I guess. I don’t know.” He sighed. “It’s ironic you know. I did everything by the book. Never stole a dime from drug money or sniffed a line of free coke. Then I found out I have a brain tumor. Can you believe it? The ex lives in a mansion and could care less. All the bad guys walking the streets, healthy as an ox and here I am. The money was my ticket to live the last of my days having fun. Hell, who gains a moral conscious at the final hour? I did.”

Cull gritted his teeth. “Who has her and where have they taken her?” The red numbers on the screen seemed to glare brighter.

“She’s probably dead by now.”

She wasn’t dead, Cull could feel it. He wouldn’t stop until he found her. “Time is ticking. Do the right thing and tell me where she is.”

Deke curled his lip and shook his head. “How the hell would I know? Do you think the widow shares her schedule with me? I just was supposed to jump through another hoop before I’m paid. Funny, really, especially when I have the evidence.”

“You’re supposed to kill me, aren’t you?” Cull didn’t even need to ask.

Sniffing and shrugging his shoulders, Deke said, “Of course. They were taking care of the girl, Sally, because I failed, and I’m supposed to take care of you.” His eyes met Cull’s. “Make it look like an accident they said so that’ll keep the rest of the Cade’s from suspecting anything.” His laughter echoed off the walls. “That shows their ignorance, right? How the hell would I make it look like an accident?”

Cull could practically hear the ticking of the bomb’s timer loud in his ears.

Deke continued, “A man would almost do anything for a hundred grand, except I can’t kill a man who saved my life. You saved me from a bullet, my friend? That day on that dark street when we pulled over those teens. I didn’t see that the passenger had a gun and you saved me by pushing me to the ground, almost getting the bullet yourself. Because of you I went home to my wife. Maybe it would have been best if had I died that night. I’ve become a monster.” His were blood shot. “By the way, I really did mean to put a bullet in the girl’s head when you carried her out of the fire. I just can’t control the shakes unless I’m on the medicine the doc gave me. Remember how good of a shot I once was?” He chuckled.

“This doesn’t have to go this way, Deke. Disable the bomb and let’s talk about this.” There was a minute left on the timer.

“And go to prison? I’d rather die. I had my getaway planned, but it’s just not meant to be. It’s up to you if you think it’s your time too because if you don’t get the hell out of here, we’re both going to be meeting our maker tonight.”

There was no time to waste. “Help me save her. It’s not too late for her. She’s innocent.”

“I have a present for you in my car. My last good deed.” Deke laid his head back and closed his eyes.

Cull had the longing to wrap his hands around Deke’s neck and choke the answer out of him, but he had to get away before it was too late. He backed toward the door. “May God have mercy on your soul.” Cull raced down the porch and to Deke’s car. He grabbed the phone, the envelope, and ran to his truck. His breath was heavy as he kicked the truck into gear, sending rocks up from the spinning tires. He stared through the rearview mirror, anticipating the bomb detonating. As if on cue, he reached the end of the lane as the cabin exploded with a deafening boom. Flames and debris shot outward from the place. A piece of flaming material floated through the air, landing beside the truck.

Cull gave a disappointed shake of his head.

Slamming his foot on the gas pedal, he got some distance between him and the fire before he pulled over to open the disposable phone. Cull could only hope he’d find something, even a number, but it was empty.

Clasping the phone in his fist, he wanted to break it into pieces but when the phone rang he felt a bit of encouragement. Could this be his lucky day?

Gathering his thoughts, he clicked ‘talk’. “Yeah?” He kept his voice low, hoping the caller didn’t suspect that he wasn’t Deke.

“Tinman. Is it done?” the gruff male voice asked.

“It’s done. I want my money.”

There was a long hesitation before a chuckle rasped the line. “Of course. Meet me at the old washing machine warehouse in Templeton in two hours.” Then the phone went dead.

“I’ll be there you bastard. You can count on it,” Cull growled and shifted the truck back into drive.

****

Standing up was like unbending metal. Sally winced at the pain in her body as she forced herself to hold her weight, realizing he’d done a number on her when she’d put up a struggle back at the apartment. He’d knocked her out and she awoke in a room with only a bed and a dingy blanket. There were no windows and she had no clue where she was, or how she got here. She didn’t even have a clue who did this to her. He was tall, very tall, and broad. His face was pockmarked and his nose flat from multiple breakings.

It was frigidly cold in the space and she could hear the wind whipping around the building and seeping through the cracks in the concrete blocks. Her mind strained on what she should do. Should she scream and hope someone would hear her? Or would the man come back and finish the job then? She held out hope that Cull knew she was missing by now because he was her only hope. Her mind shifted to Burke and where he was and if he was okay. She didn’t want anything bad to happen to him, although she knew now that their relationship had been over. Memories had flooded back, one after another, and she wasn’t even sure where she put them all.

She wobbled over to the door and pressed her ear against the steel, knowing her chances of hearing anything was null. She leaned against the solid support and closed her eyes. “Please find me, Cull.”

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