She shut the safe door and slung the bag over her shoulder. “Well, Sheriff, it’s been fun. See you later.”
Wayne grunted, but still refused to answer. He was already peering around his surroundings to see how he could get the twine undone.
“Not so fast, sister.”
Cody. Wayne knew he was mean and nasty. His arrival didn’t make this situation any better.
Cody sauntered into the room, his arms crossed, deliberately blocking the doorway. “What you are doing?” he asked.
“Nothing,” Jenna said.
“Who’s back there? Is that the sheriff?”
Jenna pulled her gun out of her holster and pointed it at Cody. “Just stay out of my way.”
Cody stepped into the room. “Well, well, itisthe sheriff. Nice, Jenna. Where did you find him? Or did you have him all the time?”
“Shut up, Cody. Let me go and the sheriff is all yours. You can take credit for finding him and bringing him here. Dad will love you for that.”
Wayne thought about speaking up, but instead he stayed quiet. He began looking around the room for a knife or something he could cut the baling twine with. Baling twine was strong, but with the right knife or sharp edge he might be able to saw through it. He moved his chair an inch, but Jenna heard him and swung around, pointing her gun at him.
“Stay where you are, Sheriff,” she said.
“I will, I will,” Wayne said, trying to reassure her.
Jenna turned back to Cody. “Just let me go, Cody. All I want to do is go back to college and finish my degree. I want some sort of a normal life.”
“I can’t let you do that,” he said, a smirk on his face. “I might have the sheriff, but when Dad finds money missing, he won’t be happy that I let you go.”
“You won’t let me have anything, will you? I couldn’t even have Doug.”
“What’re you talking about,” Cody asked. “That stupid fed?”
“Yeah, I was in love with that stupid fed, but you had to go and ruin that too.”
“Well, who knew?” Cody’s grin grew bigger. “Wait until Dad hears this.”
“I always suspected you were in love with Doug. I’m so disappointed in you, Jenna.”
Wayne recognized that voice—Carson. He pushed past Cody, who was still near the doorway, and strolled into the room. Wayne took note that Carson was armed with a couple handguns.
“Are you? So sorry to upset you. Now step aside and let me out of here. I’m leaving and if I have to shoot you, I will,” Jenna said.
“I can see that,” Carson said. “But let me tell you how this is going down. I love you, but I know what you’ve been doing. I know you’ve been stealing from me, you little bitch. I have no problem shooting you.”
Jenna stepped closer to her father. “Then do it already. Go ahead, pull the trigger. I don’t care anymore. But know that in a short time, this whole place is going to be gone.”
Chapter Forty-Four
Jenna stood face-to-face with her father. She wasn’t much shorter than her dad and didn’t seem intimidated at all. In fact, if Wayne didn’t know better, he would say Carson was the one who appeared to have a flicker of concern cross his face.
“Where do you think you will go and what do you mean this place will be gone?” Carson asked.
“Anywhere you can’t find me, and I’ve rigged up a little surprise for you. Turns out I’m pretty good with explosives too. I’m done making drugs and I’m walking out of here now. If you let me go, I’ll maybe consider not blowing up your hard work.”
Wayne saw Jenna put her finger on the trigger of the gun she held. He had no doubt that she would be willing to pull the trigger, but before she could do anything, Carson grabbed Jenna by the hair, and she screamed.
Carson snatched at Jenna’s weapon. She jumped back and pulled her pistol in closer to her, trying to keep her father from grabbing it. Cody lunged toward Jenna. The shot echoed throughout the small room, making Wayne’s ears ring.