Page 92 of Closer Than You Know

“Wind chimes. Solomon said the sound was driving him mad, so I’m assuming that means a lot of loud wind chimes. Not just some little rinky-dink cheap ones that tinkle.”

Bent nodded, the distant expression on his face telling her that he was mentally playing back memories of the sights and sounds around the county.

She had done the same. But she’d only been back home for seven months. There was a lot she hadn’t seen yet. Twenty-one years was a long time to be gone. She’d forgotten far more than she remembered ... except Bent. Her face flushed. Not the time. Damn it.

“The Carter goat farm,” he said, still obviously in deep consideration.

“I don’t know the name.” Hope stirred because he recognized the location.

“Over on Coldwater Creek Road,” he said as he pulled out his cell phone. “Old man Carter—Deke Carter. His farm is high on a hill off Coldwater Creek. He and his wife started raising goats years ago when cattle got to be too much for them.”

Vera put her hand on his when he would have made a call. “How old are we talking?”

“I’d say mid- to late eighties. Mrs. Carter passed last year, so it’s just him. I got the call when his wife died. When I arrived, the ambulance was already there. And I remember there were wind chimes on the wraparound porch, all around the house. Carter said his wife had loved them.”

Adrenaline charged through Vera. “Then that’s the place.” At least as long as the bastard in that prison hadn’t lied to her.

“We need to get a team moving,” Bent said.

She held on to his hand—again delaying any call. “If he figures out I’m bringing the cavalry, he’ll kill Eve.”

Bent’s head was already moving side to side before she finished talking. “You are not going in alone.”

“No.” She released his hand, held up both hers in awaitgesture. “We assemble a group of trusted deputies and have them cover any potential avenues of escape around the farm.”

“The property is thickly wooded along one side of the hill it sits on.” His forehead furrowed deeply. “The other side is open pastureland sloping downward. I can have the team surround the base of the hill. Staying clear of the open areas.”

“With that missing deputy,” she said, realizing the potential misstep, “I’m thinking now that if we go radio silent, he’ll know something is up. He has to believe your search is ongoing and we have no new tips.”

“I’m aware of how this is done, Vee,” he said, his expression hard. “I have certain members staying on the open channel and tossing out questions and comments from time to time. My only question is how doyoufactor into the plan?”

Well, he’d certainly told her. Furthermore, he wouldn’t like this part, but that was too bad. “I’ll go in. Just drive my SUV up to the house as he’s requested. You can be close behind in the tree line. It’s the only way we can hope for Eve’s survival. The man has nothing to lose, Bent. What’s one more dead body?”

“Two,” he fired back at her, “if he gets you in there.”

She took a breath, forced back her emotions. “Like you, I know how to do this, Bent. I’m good at it. Let me go in and make him think he’s getting what he came for.” She gave a knowing gesture. “If anyone is going to die today, it’ll be him.”

Five, then ten seconds ticked off. “I’m not saying it’s a good plan,” he finally admitted. “But it could work.”

Relief flooded her. “Thank you.”

He didn’t look fully convinced, but he hadn’t said no.

“I’ll have deputies covering the most likely egress routes,” he told her. “But I’m going all the way up the wooded side. Once I’m in place, you can drive up alone.”

Vera wasn’t so sure having him that close was a good idea, but it could work if they were careful. “Can you be certain Mr. Carter doesn’t have any sort of alarm or those field cams for watching his animals?”

A lot of folks around the area had them. It was the best way to catch poachers and to determine what sort of predators were snatching from a herd. The cameras could be bought just about anywhere.

“No,” he admitted, worry creasing his brow again. “But I don’t recall seeing a keypad for an alarm system near the front door. I didn’t see a computer or laptop. Nothing like that. The man didn’t even have a cell phone. He still used a landline.”

That news gave her hope. If he didn’t use a cell phone or any other electronic device like an iPad or laptop, he likely didn’t have field cameras. “What about dogs? Do you remember seeing any dogs?”

A nod this time. “He has dogs. Great Pyrenees. Two that I recall, but they’ll be in the pastures on the other side of the hill with the goats.”

Damn. Risky at the very least. “If a deputy gets too close, the dogs will be his alarm.”

His expression turned to stone. “If—and I do meanif—we’re going to do this your way, you will let me handle the logistics outside the house.”

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