If I Should Die_ A Novel of Suspense - Allison Brennan [110]
“Ricky, promise me you’ll find a place to hole up or get to the Lock & Barrel,” the FBI agent said.
“All right.”
“Keep your phone on you.”
“I will.” He hung up and stopped his car in front of the boarded-up building.
Adam was off the ATV before Ricky got out of the car.
“Tim!” Adam called, heading toward the mine entrance.
The door to the boarded-up building opened, startling both of them. Ricky reached for his gun, then recognized Jon Callahan.
“Jon!”
Adam turned around. “Where’s my brother?”
“Gary Clarke shot him in the leg, but he’s okay. Ricky, give Adam your car keys. Adam, take Tim to your house. Stay there; it might be the only place you’re safe. Ricky, I need your help.”
Ricky walked toward Jon. He didn’t know what Jon had planned, but his mother had trusted him. Ricky needed to as well.
“No!” Tim shouted from inside.
“What’s going on?” Adam said running toward the building. When he passed Jon, Jon grabbed him and pushed him to the ground. A gun appeared in his hand and Jon ordered Ricky, “Take his gun.”
“What are you doing?” Adam asked. Ricky wasn’t sure if the question was addressed to him or Jon. “Dammit, Jon! Are you part of this?”
He shook his head. “I’m part of the solution.”
Ricky searched Adam and pulled his gun from his waistband. “I’m sorry.”
“Did you plan this?”
“No, but he won’t hurt anyone.”
Jon grunted out a bitter laugh. “Not anyone who doesn’t deserve it,” he said. “Adam, Bobbie had your father killed. I have no choice anymore. She has to be stopped.”
Adam slowly rose from the ground. “Sean told us he suspected my dad was killed because he’d contacted the authorities about some pot farms.”
“It wasn’t the marijuana; it’s so much bigger,” Jon said. “I turned my back on the pot because the town was surviving. What harm could growing a little weed do? It was better than the meth labs. But Joe figured out something else was going on. I agreed to help him find out what, but by then it was too late. Bobbie learned that Joe planned on turning over photographs he’d taken of her meeting with a gunrunner, a really nasty guy who’s on the Most Wanted list. It’s all coming to a head at dawn.”
“Bobbie has Sean,” Ricky said.
“I’m sorry.” Jon turned toward the building.
Adam grabbed him by the arm and spun him around. Jon pulled back, held up his gun. “Don’t do that again. I don’t want to shoot you, but a bullet in the leg will slow you down.”
“Didn’t you hear Ricky? Bobbie Swain took Sean. He’s in danger. You can’t let her hurt him.”
“I’m not letting her do anything,” Jon said. “Until this week, she thought I was still in her pocket, that I was another one of her loyal lap dogs. I haven’t been there for a long time. Just waiting for the right opportunity.” He shook his head and stepped into the building. “I waited too long. She killed Joe, she killed Victoria, and I’m not letting her live through the night. But first, I have to make her suffer.”
“Listen to yourself, Jon!” Tim spoke up from his spot on the lone metal chair in the building, which was really nothing more than a large, crumbling shack. His leg was bandaged, but he was pale and his eyes were bright with pain. Adam knelt by his side and checked the dressing.
“I know what I’m doing,” Jon said.
“Who’s Victoria?” Ricky asked.
“The woman I was going to marry.” Jon motioned to the last three boxes in the room. “Ricky, that’s the end of it. Grab them, one at a time, and take them to my truck.”
“Don’t help him,” Tim said.
Jon ignored the comment. “Ricky, I need you to help set the trap. It’s the only way I can make it work under the circumstances. It’s my leverage to get my aunt and uncle to safety, and Sean if I can. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you are safe. I owe it to your mother. I owe it to Jimmy.”
“Jimmy?”
“I couldn’t protect him, but I never wanted him to die.”
Ricky asked, “Why did Bobbie kill him?”
“She didn’t want him dead,” Jon said. “She was furious that Victoria’s body