Page 77 of Deadly Vendetta

Dana, stunned speechless, stared at the deputy, then Zach.

“You don’t know what’s going on here, Officer,” Zach growled.

“And you sure aren’t the guy I’d ask,” Robinson snapped. “Molly, be a good girl and go to your grandma. Now.”

She hesitated.

“Go on, Molly, it’s okay,” Zach said. “No one here is going to get hurt.”

She wavered, then stepped away, her gaze darting between the raised gun and Zach.

“We need assistance, Carl,” Dana said sharply, “not a gun held on the one man trying to help. Someone broke in here. He’s got Alex and Katie, and Ben is badly hurt.”

The deputy ignored her. “Against the wall, Forrester—arms and legs spread.” When Zach didn’t move, he cocked the hammer. “Now.”

“Didn’t you hear her?” Vivian snapped. “There isn’t time for this nonsense. The kids are in trouble!”

Carl quickly patted down Zach’s sides and the pockets of his jeans, then handcuffed his hands behind his back. “The promise stands. One mistake and you won’t be here to stand trial, got it?”

“My ID is back at the—”

“Yeah, right. I know what you are. Trouble. Now shut up.” Carl backed away, keeping one eye on Zach. “I called for backup before I came in. We’ll have this jerk out of here in a few minutes. How’s Ben doing?”

“He’s been shot. Lost a lot of blood.” Hot tears welled up in her eyes as Dana looked up from unbuttoning Ben’s shirt. “I’ve been trying to talk to him, but he hasn’t answered.”

Vivian glared at Carl. “I don’t know why you cuffed Zach—he wasn’t even here when this happened. You’re wasting time while two children are in danger!”

The sounds of distant sirens came through the open front door as Carl snorted. “Both of you have been led down the primrose path by this jerk a second time. Don’t you wonder why this guy is here? What kind of man he really is?”

Dana stared at Zach in numb disbelief, Carl’s words coming at her through a great vacuum. Why this, why now? What mattered was seeing Alex and Katie walk through the door right now and fall into her arms. Fear rolled through her in waves, until her knees felt ready to buckle. Please, Lord, keep them safe.

“Dana, Ben is moving!” Vivian cried. She cradled the old man’s head with one hand. “Ben, can you hear me?”

His eyes fluttered, then opened partway as he gave a wheezy gasp. His voice was nearly too weak to hear.

“K-Katie knew that guy,” he whispered. “When she saw him she screamed, then he slammed her against the wall. Told her to shut up.” He coughed, and his body spasmed as if in deep pain. Cold sweat beaded his forehead. “I tried...to stop him...”

The deputy hunkered down nearby. “What did he look like? Did you see his car? Any idea of where he was headed?”

“Wiry guy. Dark...” Ben’s eyes fluttered shut. After a long pause, he coughed again. “Alex...went after him.” His head lolled to one side.

Cold fear gripped Dana’s heart. “Oh, Ben.” She leaned over him to feel for a carotid pulse. Thready, but still beating. “Why doesn’t that ambulance get here? We’ve got to go after Alex!”

“Not you. Me,” Zach said. “I—”

The deputy rose, pivoted and, in one swift motion, swung his elbow into Zach’s midsection. He smiled with satisfaction as Zach doubled over, gasping for breath. “This friend of yours hasn’t changed over the years, Dana. He’s been a busy guy, from what I hear.”

“What are you talking about? He sells computer software, for heaven’s sake.”

“Really? The young gal I talked to at the company had never heard of him. And I also found out that he goes by more than one name.”

“You’re crazy!” she retorted.

“Am I? Ask him who Tony DiMarco is.”

Zach drew in a sharp breath.

“Ask him about his business, Dana. Then ask him where those kids are. Maybe he even set this whole thing up, planning to demand money for their return.”

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