Page 65 of Shelter for Shay
“I’m pretty sure it’s a slam dunk for a conviction. The evidence is way too compelling. But one never knows. However, my guess is that when Edmonds learned that Moose was on his way and that Shay slipped Todd that note, who turned it over to Andy, he figured he was fucked when it came to that jury.”
“So, why kidnap her?” Becca asked. “Why even bother to tell her he’s her father? Why does it matter?”
“It’s about control,” Moose said coldly. “He wants Shay silenced and I believe it’s for more than being on the jury. I think this goes deeper.”
“My old FBI agent instincts are kicking in.” Jacob nodded. “The letter. The mistrial. The kidnapping. Margaret and the LLC. It’s all connected.”
“Yeah,” Sloan said from near the door, “but the only thing we care about right now is where the hell they took her.”
Becca looked up, voice low and shaky. “The cabin. The one Margaret used to go to. The one she said belonged to an old family friend. Shay’s mom used to go there. She never took anyone. Never explained. Just said it was where she could ‘clear her head.’ But she only ever went when things got… heavy with one of her students. Shay and I used to beg her to let us go, especially when we got older, but she said her friends were private people and it was a favor they extended her sparingly.”
Moose pivoted. “Could she have met Edmonds there?”
Becca hesitated. “I would have no idea. It’s not like she went there often. Maybe five or six times over the years.”
Kawan leaned into the conversation, all six foot three of him like a shadow on the wall. “Secluded cabin, no neighbors, private access? A place that means something. That matters to both him and Margaret. That’s where he’d take her.”
Thor pulled out his phone. “Coordinates?”
Becca nodded and rattled off the address.
Jupiter’s tablet pinged. “Got the satellite image. It’s remote. Not actually on the lake. One road in, but a big hill. Dense tree cover. No visible power grid. Could be off the books completely.”
“Sounds like a black site,” Lief said. “Or a graveyard.”
“No one’s dying today,” Moose said, his voice iron. “Jupiter, pull regional comms. Look for shortwave or encrypted signals. Sloan, get eyes on back channels—see if any chatter went dark after the grab. Kawan, check traffic cams, route patterns, anything that might’ve picked up the SUV. Thor, get my gear from the truck.”
Everyone moved.
Andy crossed to Moose. “We’ll back you. Quietly. I’ll file a report saying the suspects fled north. Buy you time.”
“Thanks, man. That means a lot.” Moose met his gaze. “You believe she’s Edmonds’ daughter?”
Andy hesitated, then nodded. “I also believe that doesn’t change a damn thing.”
Moose turned to Jacob. “I’m going to give you the number of a girl I know. She’s scary when it comes to what she can do behind a screen. Her name’s Ry. Call her. Tell her to trace that anonymous packet. I want proof that it came from Edmonds. We nail him from both ends.”
“What kind of trouble will I get in by using her?” Jacob arched a brow.
“I’m sure you can find a way to make it legal.”
“I might have to jump through a hoop or two, but I’m sure between the bullshit State was just fed and what my office was given, I bet I can get someone to sign off on this.” Jacob nodded.
Moose looked around one last time—at the broken furniture, the blood on Todd’s shirt, the hollow pain in Becca’s eyes. He exhaled once. “Let’s move.”
They didn’t need words. Just a nod from Moose, and the rest followed without hesitation.
Six men stormed back out the front door—operators, SEALs, brothers.
And Moose, dead center, already burning with the knowledge that somewhere in the woods, the woman he loved was being held by the man who’d owned her past.
But not her future.
Not anymore.
17
SHAY – SATURDAY | THE CABIN
