Page 63 of Deputies Under Fire
If the killer had used Ike to lure them to their deaths, then why put the IEDs in plain sight? Was it because the explosive devices were meant to be a distraction? If so, they were working. Hard to completely focus when the whole area might blow up.
“Ike?” Eden repeated.
This time, Ike struggled to get one of his eyes open. He was clearly dazed but alive. Not for long, though, if they didn’t do something fast.
ETA on the bomb squad?he texted Livvy.
Fifteen minutes, she replied.
That time would no doubt crawl by, while Ike sat there, bleeding.
“Ike, who did this to you?” Eden asked.
His father turned to look at Eden, but Rory wasn’t sure he was actually seeing her. There was blood in his left eye, and his face was a mask of pain with the one good eye barely open to a slit.
“Who did this?” she repeated.
Ike shook his head. “Someone hit me over the head when I got in my truck.” Like his face, his voice was a tangle of pain as well. “I didn’t see who.” Blinking hard, he glanced around. “Where am I? How did I get here?”
Rory cursed. So Ike wasn’t going to be able to tell them much, but the area around him offered a few clues. There were no drag marks, which meant the killer had carried Ike—which would eliminate Diedre because of her size. And while Helen was strong, he doubted even she could carry Ike.
That left Frank.
He could do the carrying, but that didn’t mean he was the killer. Ike could have been bludgeoned and then drugged just enough to make him incapable of fighting back, but still able towalk. If so, the killer could have led him straight to this spot, tied him up and maybe given him another hit on the head or some drugs.
Which meant he couldn’t rule out any of their suspects.
Heck, he couldn’t even rule out Ike, who could have perhaps staged all of this. But that didn’t feel right. There were easier ways for Ike to get to Eden and him.
Unless they weren’t the targets.
Maybe he and Eden were the lures for someone else. For someone whom Ike wanted dead.
“Helen,” Ike muttered.
And that sure as hell got Rory’s attention. “What about her?” Rory demanded.
“Uh, she was here. Wasn’t she?” Ike looked at him as if he might know the answer. Rory didn’t.
“Where did you see her?” Eden asked.
Ike ran his tongue over his bottom lip and grimaced. “Here,” he said but then shook his head. “Just up the trail.”
Rory glanced in that direction, but he didn’t see anyone. No surprise there. The narrow trail was jammed on both sides by trees and thick underbrush. Added to that, it curved around just about ten yards ahead. It was impossible to see who or what could be on the other side.
“Did Helen do this to you?” Eden asked.
Again, Ike shook his head. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’m hurt. I need to get to the hospital.”
“The ambulance will be here soon,” Eden said. “How badly are you hurt? Is it just your head or do you have other injuries?”
Ike seemed to consider that a moment. “I’m not sure. Can’t think straight, and everything’s a blur.”
So if he wasn’t lying or faking, Ike either had a serious concussion or he’d indeed been drugged. It could be both, andhe could even have brain damage. Again, that was true if this wasn’t all some ploy.
But Rory was positive that the blood was the real deal.
And it was continuing to seep down the side of Ike’s head.
