“Go, go!” Jack urged as he led the way out.

  The sawmill erupted into chaos. The newcomers banged on the blocked door and shouted for them to open up.

  Jack burst out into the night, the cool air hitting his face like a splash of water. Behind them, the sawmill was a cacophony of noise and confusion.

  “This way!” Ben pointed toward the dense woods nearby.

  The trio ran. The night air filled with the sounds of their ragged gasps. The commotion from their pursuers faded as they disappeared into the trees. The darkness swallowing them up.

  For now, they were safe. But the conspiracy they had unearthed was far from over.

  9

  The smell of beer and burgers sent Jack’s stomach into a tailspin as he entered Lacy’s bar with Ben and Reese behind him. He looked around the dimly lit room for any sign of Carl Hennessey or Mark Cundiff. The low hum of conversation filled the room. The Leak Geeks and a few other regulars sat at the bar and scattered tables, but there was no sign of their targets.

  “See anything?” Ben asked, his voice low.

  Jack shook his head. “No, but let’s not hang around at the door too long. We don’t want to draw attention.”

  Reese nodded. “Let’s find a quiet spot where we can talk.” She pointed at an empty table against the wall. “Over there.”

  They made their way to a table off to the side, partially hidden from the main area by a wooden partition. It offered a clear view of the entrance. They settled in, each taking a moment to scan the room one last time.

  “Looks like we’re in the clear for now.” Jack signaled a waitress he hadn’t seen before.

  As they waited, the tension at the table eased. The waitress arrived. They ordered three beers and three bison burgers.

  “We need to go over everything we found at the sawmill,” Ben said once the waitress had left. “Piece together the connections and figure out our next move.”

  Jack pulled out the documents they had gathered, spreading them across the table. Reese leaned in. Her eyes flitted back and forth as she scanned the blueprints and maps while Ben kept an eye on their surroundings.

  “These blueprints show significant land development plans.” Jack pointed to the various red Xs marked on the map.

  “It matches the locations Brenda was concerned about,” Reese said. “She mentioned some of these to me. She believed Hennessey and his partners were planning something big, something illegal.”

  “Like this was a front?” Jack asked.

  “Of sorts,” Reese said. “She said they were laundering money, but it didn’t stop there. At least one of these developments would house something illegal. Sorry, I can’t give more detail than that. She wouldn’t elaborate when I pushed.”

  “So was it a feeling? Or do you think she had more evidence?” Jack asked.

  “She was abducted over it,” Reese said. “I’m guessing she had more than a feeling.”

  Ben traced a finger along the lines connecting the various locations. “Look at this. It’s a network. These spots aren’t random. They’re strategically placed.”

  Jack leaned back, his mind racing. “Brenda must have found evidence of their plans and was trying to stop them. That’s why they took her.”

  Reese’s eyes filled with tears. “We need to find her before it’s too late.”

  Ben glanced around the bar again. “We should keep our voices down. This place has ears.”

  They continued to review the documents for a few more minutes, piecing together the conspiracy. The maps and blueprints revealed a coordinated effort to take over significant portions of land. A few of the documents indicated they were using underhanded methods and corrupt officials to push through their plans.

  But for what? And why? That’s what Jack needed to know.

  The waitress returned with their drinks and food. The distraction was welcome. They took a moment to eat and drink, but their minds were still focused on the task at hand.

  Reese broke the silence. “What’s our next move?”

  “We need more evidence,” Jack said. “Something concrete that we can take to the authorities. This is good, but we need to know what they’re doing that’s illegal. And we need to find out where Brenda is being held.”

  Ben nodded. “We need to be careful. If Carl Hennessey gets wind of what we’re doing, he’ll come after us with everything he’s got.”

  “I’m not afraid of Hennessey,” Jack said.

  “You might want to exercise some caution, Jack,” Ben said. “I got a feel for who you are, but you don’t know everything about this guy.”

  “Maybe we can find someone here who knows something,” Reese suggested. “Lacy might have heard something.”

  Jack nodded. “It’s worth a shot. Let’s finish up here and then talk to her.”

  Ben wiped his hands on his napkin and retrieved his cell phone. He stood up and dropped a fifty on the table. “I’m going to follow up on this message I just got. There’s a guy I know who might have more information on Hennessey’s operations. I’ll regroup with you later.”

  Jack nodded. “Stay safe. We’ll keep digging here.”

  Ben leaned in. “Watch your backs. And keep your voices down. Like I said, this place has ears.” With that, he slipped out of the bar, leaving Jack and Reese alone at the table.

  Reese watched him go, then turned to Jack, her eyes searching his. She bit her bottom lip, took another sip of her beer. “It’s been a long time, Jack.”

  The weight of their shared past hung heavy between them.

  “It has,” he said. “Too long.”

  “When you found me in Texas, I thought that was it. You and me, together. It was all I wanted since just after we first met. Can you believe how long ago that was?”

  “Over a decade. Texas was, what, four years now?” He looked over her shoulder and signaled for the waitress. “Did they send you here right after?”

  “No. Omaha for two years.”

  “Nebraska?”

  “You got it.”

  “Terrible.”

  Reese laughed. Her smile lingered. “Can’t believe you’re here.”

  “Wish it was under better circumstances.”

  The tension between them eased as they talked. Jack found himself opening up to her, recounting the events that had happened after he was taken from her in Texas. “After they grabbed me, I was moved around a lot,” he began. “Ended up in Europe for a while. Some old case that had resurfaced. Then I assumed the identity of a hitman to survive. Had two organizations after me. Total mess.”

  “That sounds dangerous.”

  “You seem shocked.” He laughed, but the moment faded quickly. “I was constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering if today was the day they’d finally catch up to me.”

  Reese leaned forward, her gaze intense. “What kind of missions did they have you on?”

  Jack sighed, running a hand through his hair. “All kinds. Assassinations, intel gathering, sabotage. They didn’t care how dangerous it was, as long as it served their interests.”

  “And you just did it?” Reese asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

  “I didn’t have much of a choice,” Jack said. “It was either that or get killed myself. I had to play along until I could find a way out. And I mean, a way out of it all.”

  Reese reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. “I’m so sorry, Jack. I had no idea what you were going through.”

  “It’s in the past now.” Jack squeezed her hand. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  “You’re pregnant.” She smiled wide, but Jack didn’t return the gesture. Reese pulled away from his grasp and leaned back in her chair. “What is it?”

  “Your brother.”

  Reese glanced around. “I spoke with him a few months ago. I know I shouldn’t but⁠—”

  “Reese, I don’t know how to say this, so I’m just going to do it. He died. In L.A., helping me.”

  “What?” Tears spilled over her eyelids, streaming down her cheeks. “This isn’t real.”

  “It is, and I’m sorry. I wish there was something I could’ve done. But he and I, you know, we lived a dangerous life.”

  “He said he was done with that.”

  Jack shook his head. “He was working still. Got a job to take out my main support guy, Brandon. Didn’t do it and instead got caught up in something pretty big. He did a huge service to us all. Paid the ultimate price, but it wasn’t for nothing, sweetie. I promise you that.”

  Reese remained quiet for several minutes, her gaze aimed downward, her hands folded on the table. Every line in her face seemed new to Jack. It had been a few years, sure, but those years had worn her down. She was still the beautiful woman he’d met a decade before, but there was something else about her now. The years had made her more attractive. An air of confidence surrounded her, even when she was most doubtful.

  “You ok?” he asked.

  She glanced up, a forced smile on her face. “No, but I will be.”

  All he could do was nod. He’d lost so many over the years. It was always ok. In the end.

  They ordered another round of drinks, eschewing beer for bourbon. The painful memories evaporated, and before he knew it, Reese had grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his chair. They danced to an old Garth Brooks song. Then another. And another.

  When Reese finally spoke, her breath was hot against his neck and sent shivers down his spine.

  “Can we go back to your room?”

  He wanted to tell her no. That she needed to deal with the news in a healthy way. But the fact remained that he loved this woman. And he had been pulled away from her twice already. The chances of it happening a third time were great, so if he had the opportunity, it would be best to take it.

  His arm fell, tracing hers along the way, until their fingers intertwined. She looked up at him, eyes wide, tears lingering. He leaned in and kissed her, slow at first, tender. His hand released and his arm wrapped around her lower back, pulling her in closer. They left the bar and made the short walk to the Lewiston Inn, where they found his room and spent the night getting reacquainted.

  10

  The ringing phone roused Jack from the best sleep he’d had in two years. Reese’s arm was heavy, crossing his chest, her fingers wrapped just under his back. She smelled amazing, something akin to pears and herbs. In those fleeting moments between sleep and wakefulness, driven by the ringing phone, he recalled those moments in Texas where he felt they could have disappeared together and lived a life just the two of them.

  Of course, nothing was ever that easy.

  And that’s why the phone rang now.

  Jack reached for his phone, groggy and disoriented. “Hello?”

  “Jack, it’s Ben. We need to meet. Now.” His voice was urgent, cutting through the fog in Jack’s mind.

  Jack sat up, careful not to wake Reese just yet. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ve uncovered something about Hennessey’s operations. It’s big, Jack. And I’ve arranged a meeting with an informant who can give us more details.”

  Jack felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. Ben’s tone left no room for doubt. “Where and when do we meet?”

  “There’s a secluded spot just outside town. I’ll text you the coordinates. Be there in thirty.”

  Jack hung up, the urgency of the call pulling him into wakefulness. He turned to Reese, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Reese, wake up.”

  She stirred, blinking up at him with sleepy eyes. “What is it?”

  “We need to meet Ben. He’s onto something, and it’s urgent.”

  Reese rubbed her eyes, smiled. “Can it wait?”

  “As much as I wish it could, this sounds important.”

  Reese sat up, the remnants of sleep vanishing from her expression. “All right, let’s go.”

  A few minutes later, they were in the Jeep, on their way out of town. The drive took ten minutes. When they reached the location, Ben was waiting for them. He looked as though he had found a burial site with a dozen missing bodies. They leapt from the Jeep and met him halfway.

  “What’s the news?” Jack asked.

  Ben wasted no time, launching into his briefing. “I found a possible location where Brenda might be held. It’s an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. But that’s not all. The information I got reveals deeper corruption involving high-level officials. Hennessey’s got connections we didn’t even know about.”

  Jack’s mind raced as he processed the information. He had a knack for sniffing out a setup, and this sure as hell smelled like one. “Who’s the informant? Can we trust this is good information?”

  “An insider who used to work for Hennessey. They’ve agreed to meet us at the warehouse, but we have to move fast. If Hennessey gets wind of this, we’re all dead.”

  Reese looked between Jack and Ben, her expression fierce. “Then let’s not waste any more time.”

  Ben nodded. “I’ve already scoped out the area. Security is tight, but if we’re careful, we can get in and out without raising too much suspicion.”

  Jack took a deep breath, the gravity of the moment settling over him. “All right. Let’s do this.”

  The morning sun crested over the tree line as they approached the warehouse and cast long shadows across the landscape. The air was thick with tension.

  Jack, Ben, and Reese kept a low profile to avoid detection. The early morning light offered limited cover, but they made use of every shadow and obstacle. Jack’s senses were on high alert, scanning for any signs of security.

  “There,” Ben whispered, pointing to a side entrance partially obscured by crates. “We can slip in through there.”

  They observed the area from a distance, noting the security measures and potential entry points. A few guards patrolled the perimeter, their movements methodical.

  Jack motioned for them to wait. “We go in once the guards move to the other side.”

  The trio moved swiftly and silently, slipping through the side entrance and into the dimly lit interior of the warehouse. They split up, each taking a different section to cover more ground. The warehouse was a maze of old machinery and stacked crates, making it easy to stay hidden but also to get lost.

  Jack felt his heart pound in his chest as he navigated the space. He checked room after room, each one empty, but he didn’t give up hope. They had to find Brenda and put this thing to rest.

  “Jack, over here,” Reese’s voice crackled softly in his earpiece. He followed her directions, finding her in a small office at the back of the warehouse.

  Reese stood beside a filing cabinet, documents spread out on the desk. “Look at this,” she said, handing him a map. “It’s another location. An old well on the outskirts of town. What would they be looking for there?”

  Jack examined the map. “I haven’t the foggiest idea. I mean, I’m not even sure what the hell these people want. What would an old well have to do with anything?”

  Reese shrugged. “Another data point, I suppose.”

  “Let’s keep looking around.”

  They continued searching the office, finding more documents and maps that suggested the well was a crucial location in Hennessey’s operations. The evidence was mounting, but Brenda was still out there, possibly in grave danger.

  As they were about to leave, a figure emerged from the shadows—a middle-aged man with a nervous expression. He raised his hands in a gesture of peace. “Please, don’t hurt me. I’ve been waiting for you. Ben, we’ve talked before.”

  “Who’s this?” Jack said.

  “He’s my guy,” Ben said.

  “Talk,” Jack said.

  The informant nodded. “There’s a lot at play here. Hennessey has powerful connections.”

  “Why should we trust you?” Jack asked.

  The informant took a deep breath. “Because I work for him. I’ve seen what he’s capable of. And I want out. I want to help bring him down.”

  “How do you propose you’ll do that?” Jack said.

  “You want answers,” the guy said. “I have them.”

  “What kind of answers do you have?”

  The informant’s gaze darted around the room, his nervousness palpable. “I can tell you about Hennessey’s operations, his connections, and where Brenda might be. But we need to move quickly. If Hennessey finds out I’m talking to you, we’re all dead.”

  Jack exchanged a glance with Ben and Reese. “Fine. Start talking. What do you know about Brenda?”

  The informant nodded, taking a deep breath. “Brenda was taken because she found evidence that could expose Hennessey and his partners. They’ve been using various fronts for illegal activities. You know, laundering money and bribing officials to get their way.”

  Reese stepped forward. Her eyes burned with an intensity Jack had never seen. “Do you know where Brenda is now?”

  The informant shook his head. “Not exactly. But I have a lead on where they might have moved her recently. There’s an abandoned farmhouse about ten miles from here. It’s remote, out of the way, and it’s a place they’ve used before to hide people and things they don’t want found.”

  Jack lingered on that last bit for a moment. Things they don’t want found. What the hell else has gone on around Lewiston?

  “Sound like that’s where we’re headed next,” Jack said. “This place could be heavily guarded. We can’t afford any mistakes.”

  They left the warehouse, the morning sun now fully over the trees, casting a harsh light on the path ahead.

  As they drove to the farmhouse, the tension in the Jeep was palpable. Jack kept his eyes on the road while his mind raced through potential scenarios and contingencies.

  Reese sat beside him, her hand resting on his arm. Something about her touch relaxed him and make him feel as though everything would work out.

  “We’ll find her, Reese. We have to.”

  She nodded.

  The muscles in his jaw worked triple time as he thought about a woman he’d never met, but now was fully vested in her recovery. “We will.”