Page 26 of A Soldier's Pledge
“Oh, lots of people hated my Hugh, but they didn’t really know him. At least until his good for nothing brother showed up.”
Steele and Ethan exchanged looks. Now they were getting somewhere. “Who is his brother? We didn’t show a brother in his records.”
“They were separated when their mother put them up for adoption. Joe found Hugh a few years ago. I’m not sure how. That’s when everything went to hell in a handbasket. Joe was just bad news.”
“Do you know where Joe lives?”
“No, I’m sorry. He wouldn’t come around often because he knew I didn’t like him.” Damn, so much for progress. Looked like another dead end.
“That’s okay. I’m going to leave my card on the table here. If you think of anything, give us a call. We think he kidnapped Hugh’s boss, and we need to find her before she gets hurt too.”
“Oh no? Not Miss Taggart? What a lovely woman. Why would…oh never mind. He’s a bad egg. I know he was working at the lumber yard off Heritage, but I think they fired him a couple of months ago.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Johnson. And again, we’re very sorry for your loss.”
Ethan couldn’t get out of there fast enough. He had a destination now, and if his gut was right, he was about to rescue a damsel in distress.
Steele called the LT and told him where they were heading. Ethan knew the lumber yard and gauged it would take him about ten minutes, five if he really pushed it. He really pushed it. Steele mumbled the entire time about lunatics behind the wheel as he clung to the suicide handle for dear life. Ethan didn’t know what he was talking about, he was totally in control, even if he’d only barely missed the eighteen-wheeler on his last turn.
He wanted to arrive with his siren blaring, but he knew better. They had no idea how unstable Joe Johnson was or who else with him. He still believed it was a whole crew that worked the burglaries. He should find out soon enough if he was right.
Lights off as he turned into the parking lot, he practically coasted up to the front of the building. It looked locked up, but on the second floor, there was a dim light shining through one of the windows. Carefully getting out of the car, and pushing the door shut, he walked over to his lieutenant who was already there. How he’d arrived so fast, Ethan had no idea, but he didn’t care either. He was going in to save Anna with or without his boss’ approval.
“What do we know?”
“Not much. I ran Joseph Johnson and came up empty, but you said he was adopted, right?
“Yeah.”
“He probably has a different last name. The panel van used in the robberies is parked around back, and so is a car and the green pickup truck Anna saw. I’d say we have our man, or crew, however, it turns out.”
“I’m going in,” Ethan said as he turned toward the building.
“Whoa, hold up there, cowboy. You need a plan, and you’re not going in alone. You’ll have backup.”
“Fine. What’s the plan?”
“I have Simmons and Mercier heading around the back to cover the exit, you and Steele go in the front, and the rest of us will be on standby for whoever needs us. Use the radio only if you need assistance. We don’t want to let them know we’re out here.”
“Right.”
“Good luck, Ethan. Steele, don’t let him do anything stupid.”
“Yeah, right! Like I could stop him.”
As they approached the front, Steele pointed to the metal stairs on the outside of the building. It was a risk. They might creak, or come crashing down from their weight, but it definitely seemed like the best option to the second floor—and the quickest.
Ethan went first, carefully taking a step at a time. They seemed solid and, so far, no noise. As he climbed the stairs, he whispered, “Please God, let Anna be okay. I can’t live without her now that I’ve found her.”
A hand rested on his back, and he almost pulled his gun, before he realized Steele had caught up to him. Giving him the thumbs up, they continued climbing. Finally, they were on the second floor, the window was ajar, and he almost cheered. Voices. Anna’s, a man who had to be Joe, and another woman. Fuck, no.
Ethan peered around the side of the window, hoping they weren’t near enough to see him. He’d couldn’t believe it. As the kids said, “mind blown.” What the fuck was Jenny doing involved with this shit? She was practically just a kid.
Backing away, he whispered to Steele, “Two perps, Joe and Jenny. Anna’s tied to a chair, but I didn’t see anyone else. She looks a little banged up but okay.”
“Jenny the receptionist? No fuckin’ way. Are you sure?”
“I wish I wasn’t. So how do you want to do this?”
