Page 79 of Wolf Bound

Kira frowned. “It’s still on its way here.”

The siren grew louder, and they finally saw it off in the distance.

“Maybe Tanner isn’t coming for us. Maybe one of the deputies from Yuma Town is,” Fisher said, hopeful. It would really help to be in a more official vehicle with the sirens running.

The car approached and flashed its headlights.

“Woohoo!” Kira shouted, waving at the car.

Fisher laughed at her and loved that he was mating the she-wolf.

As soon as it stopped on the shoulder in front of them, they saw it was Deputy Sheriff Chase Buchanan.

“Need a lift?” Chase smiled at them. “Tanner is farther away from here so I came for you instead.”

They hurried to get in his car. “Thanks for coming for us. Where to next?” Fisher asked.

“We’re going to the bus stop in Colorado City. I’m not in uniform so I shouldn’t spook them, if we see them. The two of you will have to hold back because they know what you look like,” Chase said.

“Has Royce already gone through Aguilar?” Kira asked.

“No. We’re all going to separate bus stops along the route to cover them, just in case he gets off at any of them,” Chase said. “We know what both men look like. We pulled up Oscar’s driver’s license. And we’ll be watching for the little boy too.”

“He’s a redhead, wearing a blue shirt and has red freckles all over his face,” Kira said. “He was wearing khaki pants.”

Chase called it in to the other teams. “I’ve got Kira and Fisher. They’re in good shape.”

Demetria said over the Bluetooth, “We’re glad to hear it.” Her voice really relayed his relief. “We put Royce on the bus at Trinidad. We’re at Aguilar, waiting for it to arrive. The other team of jaguars picked up Reggie and have taken him to Houston.”

“Okay, we’re headed to the stop in Colorado City,” Chase said. “Is Walsenberg already covered?”

“Yes, Leyton, Jack, and Bridget are going there,” Demetria said. “We’ll let you know if we see Oscar and Royce join each other in Aguilar,” Demetria said.

“Roger that.” Then Chase asked Fisher and Kira, “So what happened to you guys?”

“We found the car Oscar had escaped in, only he was in the woods hiding, waiting for the unsuspecting to find it. It was like setting out a dog bone, and we took the bait,” Kira said. “I couldn’t believe he was taking me hostage again. Only this time without his friend’s help.”

“And me with her,” Fisher said. “I suspect he was just waiting to steal someone else’s vehicle because we all knew what his looked like. I don’t know how that will go over with my new boss.”

Chase laughed. “These things happen. All that matters is that you’re both fine. We just have to get the boy. Well, and capture the kidnappers.”

“We sure appreciate all your help from Yuma Town,” Fisher said, then thought how nice it would be to stay at the Buchanan’s lake resort. “Kira, we need to rent a cabin at Chase’s resort.”

“Oh, I so agree. That would be so much fun. Next year, in the summer? Perfect.”

“We’ll give you one of the best cabins.”

“That would be terrific,” Kira said.

Fisher loved that they had made friends with the cougars of Yuma Town.

Then Demetria called them back. “Royce didn’t get off the bus in Aguilar. Leyton and the others are waiting at Walsenberg in case he gets off there.”

“It will take us another thirty minutes to reach the third bus stop,” Chase said.

Then they went silent for another fifteen minutes.

“The bus stopped. We’re watching for any sign of Royce getting off or his cousin getting on at Walsenberg, but just some women got off and some couples got on. We see him sitting next to the window, the second seat to the last on the right-hand side. So it’s in your court, Chase. We’ve got another team headed to the stop in Colorado City, the final destination,” Leyton said on a conference call between Demetria, Chase, and him. “We’re headed up that way.”

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