Page 72 of High Velocity

He points at my jeans where I notice a stain forming on the inner part of my thigh. Wonderful.

As I turn to head to my cabin, I pull my phone from my pocket. I’d left it powered off, since there was no signal up there anyway, but I want to check if Stephanie left me a message. I noticed her rental gone when we drove up.

Running a few errands. Hope to be back before you get there.

That was sent at a little before two, it’s coming up on four now. I send her a quick message back as I walk up to the front door.

Just got back. Hopping in the shower. See you soon.

Inside I strip down, remove my limb, and check the damage. It’s not bad, just rubbed raw and oozing. I take the sleeve into the shower to give it a good rinse. I think I’ll make do with crutches tonight, give my leg a rest. I don’t plan on going out anyway, other than perhaps the main house to grab some grub. I’m sure Ma has something cooking, Jonas said he gave her a heads-up we’d be home soon.

I stuff my dirty clothes straight in the washer before taking a nice leisurely shower. I’d half expected Stephanie to come in at some point, but when I come out of the bathroom fifteen minutes later, she still hasn’t returned. I check my phone again, but she hasn’t responded to my last message. I immediately dial her number, but after several rings, I get bumped to her mailbox. I don’t bother leaving a message.

I try not to get worried as I get dressed, but I find myself fitting my prosthesis back on after all. I’ll just head over to the ranch and check in with Ma, maybe she talked to Stephanie and knows where she may have gone.

Jonas is by himself in the kitchen, his phone to his ear and thunder in his eyes when they lock on me.

“Fucking pick up, Alex,” he growls before slamming his fist down on the counter.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing good,” he grumbles, brushing past me and marching to his office.

I follow to find him standing beside the gun safe, pointing at two empty spaces.

“I noticed them missing when I went to put my rifle away. Now why the hell would your mother take two handguns from the safe? Hell, the only reason she knows how to use them is because I made her practice.”

He throws his arms up in frustration. “Her wheels are here, where the hell could she’ve gone off to?”

“Stephanie is gone too, but so is her rental,” I volunteer, a tight ball forming in the pit of my stomach. “She left me a message saying she was running errands. Ma may have gone with her.”

“Yeah? And what fucking errands require them to be armed?”

The phone he’s still holding in his hand pings with an incoming message.

“It’s your Ma.”

I look over his shoulder to read along.

Can’t talk now. Stephanie may be in trouble.

“What the fuck is going on?” Jonas bursts out.

“Where are they?” I bark, and his thumbs immediately type out a single word.

Where?

My heart is pounding in my ears as we wait for a response. When it finally comes, it turns my blood cold.

North of the river in Troy. Old trailer. There were shots, I’m hiding.

“Tell her to stay put,” I snap at Jonas, snatching a rifle and a handgun from the safe. “I think I know where they are.”

Twenty-Three

Stephanie

“I need you to stay here.”

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