Page 95 of Deacon

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

DEACON

There’s only one person more useful than Jack Russell in a pinch, and that’s Jensen Childress. He can tell me everything about everyone. I swear, he’s got everyone locked down, owing him favors. He knows all their friends, their families, where they eat, who they talk to. His business is technically a construction company, but I know it’s a lot more than that.

Not many people know he lives not too far from Ryder Ranch. I pull up his driveway to the sweeping ranch house at the end and put the truck in park. The screen door is shut, but the other door is open. Chicken lays on his side on the porch. When I get out and move up from the front barn to the steps of the two story house, he lifts his head and barks.

“It’s alright,” I call.

He heaves himself up and stares at me as I approach. Footsteps ring out from inside, and the screen door opens. Jensen appears in a white undershirt, work pants, and boots. He’s got a beer hanging in his fingers.

“Not a great time,” he says.

“I need help,” I say.

He sighs, running a hand over his face. “Alright, what do you need?”

“I’m getting Freya back.”

Jensen’s face stays the same. “She lost or something?”

“No, she’s at Aiden’s house,” I say. “I’m thinking I might acquire her from there.”

“Like kidnap her or something?”

I nod. Jensen sighs, jerking his head inside. I follow him, Chicken at my heels. The kitchen is pretty clean, although there’s some kind of project going on in the hallway. Two by fours are stacked on the floor, and sawdust crunches under my feet. Jensen kicks out a chair and leans against the counter, crossing his arms.

“What can I do you for? I don’t know how I’m any help,” he says.

“You know the Hatfields.”

“I’m a fair weather friend to everybody.”

“Do you talk to Aiden much?” I say, sinking down and stretching my legs out.

“Here and there.”

“Does he leave town a lot?”

Jensen shifts his weight, giving me a look. “Did she run off on you?”

I nod. “She’s worried about her brother.”

“The addict one?”

That lifts my head. “How do you know he’s an addict?”

Jensen shrugs. “It’s pretty clear he’s got something going on. I heard he was in an accident. Could be for pain from it.”

I’m quiet, remembering how upset she was before she disappeared. I checked the phone her text messages were sent to and there was nothing. Bittern must have called her. I wonder if she heard desperation in his voice.

She didn’t stand a chance.

“I want to know what Aiden’s doing,” I say. “I need a chance to get Freya out in the open, away from her house, so I can just go in there and get her.”

Jensen’s brows lift briefly. “That’s your plan? Just…grab her?”

“It’s a good plan,” I say.

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