Page 61 of Flashback

“Then you better come get him. I could use the money.”

“I’m on my way.”

He might not be Dixie, but Scout was her dog, and she wanted him back at her side.

“Can’t this go any faster?” Dakota tried to keep the grumble out of his voice. He checked his phone again while they took a short water break from cutting down fuel to help funnel the fire toward the river. Still no reception.

Kane glanced over at him. “Impatient, are we?”

With this feeling in his gut? More like he felt like something had gone very, very wrong. His phone chimed.

He moved uphill and checked again. Finally! A voicemail from Allie.

Hey, if you get this, will you call me back? I need to talk to you. But Ray called. He found Scout out at the campground. I’m not crazy about seeing him out there alone, but I can’t wait. I know I don’t have the right to ask anything of you, but could you meet me out there?

Dakota checked the time of the call. Over an hour ago.

“Shoot.”

“What’s wrong?” Kane asked.

“Allie went to meet up with Ray. By herself.”

“Why would she do that?” Hammer asked.

“He says he found Scout out at the campground.” Dakota called her. Maybe she’d waited and he could convince her to hold off until he could go with her. “Hey, Allie.”

“Listen up, hotshot.”

Dakota’s blood ran cold at the unmistakable voice. “Ray.” He didn’t bother masking his own fury. “What are you doing with Allie’s phone? Where is she?”

“So, you do care what happens to the girl. Good.”

Ray was out of jail, and he had Allie.God, don’t let this be what I think it is.

Dakota shushed everyone up and put the call on speaker.

“Listen up,” Ray said. “If you want to see her alive, you’ll come alone to the campground. And before you get any bright ideas, you should know I’ve got friends. One is keeping an eye on the boys. I know they’re with Jen’s sister. If I see you come with anyone else, they know what to do with them, and no one will find their bodies. If you call the cops, I happen to have a friend there too. I’ll know. And Jen will lose them both.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because you talk too much. Especially to that sheriff. Earl isn’t someone you want to cross, so if you wanna keep thosebrats and your girl safe, then you best get here real fast. And come alone.”

The call ended before Dakota could demand more information. A feral growl ripped out of his throat. “He has Allie.”

“Why is he doing this?” Houston asked.

Dakota wanted to drive a fist through something. “He’s gotta have something going on with Earl Blackwell, some kind of deal that would tangle him up in the murder case.”

“You can’t go out there alone. He’s probably bluffing about watching the boys.” Orion wasn’t joking around for once.

“Would you be willing to take that chance?” Dakota stared him down.

Bottom line, Ray wanted out—of Ember and everything else—and he was using Allie as bait.

Kane’s jaw clenched. “Fine. You can use my truck. And we’re putting a tracker of some sort on you. Ham and I can secure and safeguard the boys in town while you get Allie.”

“Thanks.” The word wasn’t sufficient, but it was all he could squeeze out.

---