Page 90 of Rescued Faith

Guess that would make sense that he would take Governor Noble’s calls. Bryce explained where the Nobles were being held. “Can you read Penny, Jude, and the others in, so they know what’s going on?”

“I’ll take care of it. And…good work, Crawford.”

“Thanks. I’ll call the police and?—”

“Don’t bother. I’ll get it set up. If you can, why don’t you try to get eyes on the place while you wait for the police to show up. Don’t be a hero or anything, but if you can get visual confirmation that would help. Then stand by for support.”

“Sure.” Bryce hung up with Woods and turned to his partner. “Time to go find Governor Noble’s wife and son. They want us to scope it out and be there for additional support.”

“Maybe we should use the bike trail you mentioned. They’ll see us coming if we approach from the road.”

“Good point.”

Bryce and Zack shrugged out of their reflective turnout gear and grabbed their black jackets from the back of the truck instead. They followed Gloria’s directions through the fields to find the narrow bike trail. With the sun setting, the colder air settled down over the grass, causing a misty haze. Soon the top of a barn poked above the hill ahead.

They came to an outbuilding on the far edge of the field. A cluster of trees hid them as they watched the open area in front of them. The big barn stood to the right, a smaller shed and a corn crib beside it. The house sat on the other side of the driveway from the barn. It was an old farmhouse style like Gloria and Martín’s, but it wasn’t nearly as neat and tidy.

Cows bellowed from the barn structure. Piles of junk and old vehicles were scattered around the property as well as more sheds and a detached garage. Plenty of places to hide. But not a soul in sight.

There were no lights in the windows of the house, but a white van with a floral logo sat in front of the house under the big pole lighting up the barnyard. No one milled around. They’d have to move in closer to find the wife and kid.

“I’ll head this way and check out the garage and shed over there by the house,” Bryce whispered. “Why don’t you see if you can find anything in the barn and on that side. Hopefully by the time we’re back the cops will be here.”

Zack nodded and slipped away. Bryce moved from a junk pile of old tires to the shadows of a pickup truck. From there, he scurried to the corner of the garage. He pressed an ear against the side door. Nothing.

He tried the knob. It turned easily in his hand. He slipped in. The smell of motor oil and grass clippings hit him. There wasa car covered with a tarp in the middle of the space. Enough light shone in through a high window to show the wall opposite him held shelves full of tools and sporting equipment. No people though. Bryce went back outside.

A noise like footsteps sounded.

“Zack?” Bryce kept his voice low.

After a moment of nothing but lowing cows, Bryce moved toward the house. At the sound of rocks scuffling, he spun around again and came face-to-face with the barrel end of a shotgun.

“What are you doing on my property?” The man holding the gun stood in the shadows, but he was tall and brawny and smelled like he spent his days mucking out the barn.

Before Bryce could answer, the back of his head exploded with pain and everything went black.

TWENTY-NINE

No dice. Penny hadn’t found Sosa and was starting to believe she hadn’t really seen him. She stood outside the banquet hall and looked both ways in the hotel hallway. Caterers, guests, and a family with twin toddlers moved throughout. No sign of the man in the hat.

Jason Woods walked toward her from the lobby.

She jogged up to him. “Hey, did you see a man in a black Stetson in that direction? It’s Sosa.”

Jason shook his head. “I saw a guy in a black hat a second ago, but it’s not Sosa.”

“You’re sure?”

“He kinda looked like Sosa, but it’s not him. How well did you see him?”

“I saw his profile. It was only for a second but?—”

Jason gave her a patronizing smile. “Maybe you’re becoming a little too vigilant.”

Woods tried to take her by the arm, but she pulled away from him. “I can walk fine on my own.”

He lifted his hands in surrender and backed off. “Only trying to be a gentleman. But remember, we hired you to do a job.”

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