Page 75 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

I nodded, feeling my stomach sicken even worse. “Max says she was gone by the time he arrived. Palo left her when he went with Weston, thinking Max and Ed would make it there in time.”

“I didn’t go,” Ed said, returning. “Max wanted me to stay here to make sure no one broke into the house while we were gone.”

The memory of Ed rising from the chair processed and I nodded, remembering the off feeling I’d experienced upon seeing it.

“I’ll make some calls and talk to the officers on scene.” Dennis was already pulling out his phone and heading for the door. Heaving pulled my attention to the man lying on my floor. Max and Ed walked over, placing the chair down and awaiting instruction.

“Cut him loose and tie him in,” I ordered.

The man met my eyes while fear drew in his features. “I don’t know anything, I swear.”

“Wrong. Your other knee says that’s a lie.” I took the hammer and rope as Ed cut his legs free and both men lifted his fighting body to the chair. “This is going to go very fast. I don’t have time to waste. The mother of my child is gone and I think you know where she might be. Until you start giving me names, I’m going to break your insides to pieces. Starting right there,” I said, pointing to the bend of his good leg. “You came after the wrong man, Mister…?”

I waited as his eyes scanned between all of us nervously.

“Charleston,” he said shakily. “Cody Charleston.”

Nothing. I’d never heard of him.

Ed took the rope, cutting it in two while I repeatedly tightened my grip on the hammer. He handed the other half to Max who began wrapping it around his cuffed wrists while Ed secured his feet to the legs of the chair.

“Cody Charleston,” I repeated. “Who sent you after me, Cody?”

“You don’t understand,” he rushed out. “I—”

My hand thrust out, shoving Ed out of the way as I brought the hard end down on his other knee with everything I had. His mouth opened to scream, but nothing came out as he turned pale and rigid. The mere two seconds it took in reality, dragged out in my adrenalized slow state of mind. A scream broke through and he once again heaved, managing to say conscious, even though his eyes rolled back.

“I think it is you who doesn’t understand, Mr. Charleston. I want answers and I will get them. Who sent you to try to kill me?”

A small shake of his head had my hand rearing back again.

“No! I don’t know. It was a phone call. I don’t—”

Whack!

My body lowered as I dipped down, connecting with his shin. Again, he screamed, nodding off for a few seconds before his eyes heavily came back open.

“I don’t believe you,” I said, standing straight. “No one tries to kill another person because someone on the phone asked them to.”

Vomit poured down the man’s chest and I shook my head as I glanced at my watch.

“This might possibly be the longest nine minutes of your life, Cody. Although, at the rate I’m going, I’m guessing I’ll have your insides turned into mush within five. Start talking.”

The door opened and Dennis came through, pausing as he took in the scene.

“Did anyone see Kit?” I tried to read the sheriff’s face as he walked over, but he wasn’t looking at me. His attention was on Max.

Suspicion. Anger. The expressions flickered over his face, easily readable. Slowly, I turned, watching the older man shift nervously under our gazes.

“Max?” I took a step toward him and he immediately put distance between us with his slow retreat. Ed’s head tilted and he widened the distance, cutting the old man off from going any further.

“Valdez says he saw the girl get in the truck with you,” the sheriff stated. “Where is she?”

My heart dropped into my stomach while I moved in.

“It’s not like it sounds.”

“Ten seconds,” I said, never breaking my gaze.

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