“Joel?”
Odd. Can’t hear Joel talking.
Everything’s gone quiet. I try again, hope burrowing its way inside me. “Is Lincoln okay, Ghost?”
“Boxer?”
“Yeah. Air vent. Talk… into it,” I rasp. I have no saliva left in my mouth. It’s as dry as dust. “Linc?” That one word comes out on a beg. I need to know.
“He’s alive, Boxer. Just passed out on me again. Hold on a sec, buddy, just talking to Joel on the phone at the same time. He’s pretty anxious to hear you’ve both been found.” I can wait a few more minutes. “I’ve got them both, Joel. Just gotta bust Boxer out of his cell now. He’s gotta be in the next locked room,” I hear Ghost’s deep voice relaying to Joel. Call me back in a few minutes.” Everything goes silent for several beats too long.
“Getting you out next. You hurt badly?” Ghost’s deep voice is booming at me through the vent.
We. Had. Been. Found.
“I’ll live.” I try to chuckle, but I only end up dry-coughing.
“Boxer, mate, stay by the air vent. Gonna blow your door. You got me?”
“Yeah. How… did you find… us?”
“Short version, Joel’s in the hospital. He got a hold of me when he was able to, and being the genius hacker he is, he found a breadcrumb on your phone’s last location and Lincoln’s. They matched and here I am. Took a bit of figurin’ where you were exactly, because you are underground. Clever fucks have it camouflaged.”
“Grady… double-crossed us. He got… wasted.” I want to tell him a whole lot more, but I just don’t have it in me.
I hear a mile of cursing. “Save it for later, Boxer. Time to get you free, so stay clear.”
I can’t even give a fuck about the stench Ghost’s about to walk into. I’ve pissed and shitted in this cell. Nothing to be done for it.
Thank fuck we’ve been found. I can now get onto finding Whisper.
I’m so tired I don’t even brace for the KABOOM!
EDGE
We’re staked out a couple cars back from a street light across the road from The Pitbull. It’s definitely a dive bar. Perfect place to meet up and not be noticed if you’re a redneck; not so much if you are a suited up lawyer. Makes me wonder why he chose this place.
I know who we’re looking for because the smug fucker has his picture up on his website. We’ve been out front for forty-five minutes and haven’t seen him enter, and it’s just now ten o’clock. Time to take a walk inside.
I’d filled the car up with gas and bought a couple chargers for the phones once we hit Jackson, and then we picked up food at a drive-thru burger joint. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was for real food because all I’ve had for days is IV juice. I’ve swallowed more pills to ease the pain in my foot, but I’d get shot in the other foot if it meant bringing Whisper back alive for this old lady.
I’ve just swapped Whisper’s phone for hers, just in case Hazard tries to contact me while I’m in The Pitbull. She knows to send a two-digit code to her phone, and I will respond. I also want it in case her lost boys try to contact her, and I’m not around to manage the response.
“Miss Catherine, you are to stay put and lay low keeping the doors locked.” I give her my don’t-fuck-with-me-this-time stare from the front passenger seat and give her back the handgun. “It’s loaded.” She’s proven herself capable and knows how to use it. “No heroic stuff. If a bad guy is coming for you or your life is threatened, drive off, or make the bullet count. You got me?”
Her hand shoots out and grabs my wrist. “Be careful.” I look down at her crooked fingers for a beat and then get out of the car and make my way to the bar. Christ, I hope she listens for once. I can’t be worrying about her safety and whereabouts while I’m inside.
This fucking moonboot actually works for me with my look for the evening. We’d stopped off and I got myself decked out in some genuine redneck attire. I wanted to be Ellwood and didn’t know if this bastard had met me before and would recognize me, but from a distance, I might pass until I can get a better hold on the situation.
I haven’t shaved in days or had a proper shower. I was cleaned up under Doc Evelyn’s care, but that’s been it. I look like a man who needs a strong drink.
I pull the cap down low over my eyes as I enter the dimly lit bar. A couple dozen patrons are scattered about. I carefully scan the joint, but I can’t see the cocksucker anywhere.
Maybe he’s doing what I’m doing, blending in?
I make my way to the end of the U-shaped bar and take a seat, positioning myself so I can see anybody entering or leaving. I order a beer and take another closer look at the drinkers at the tables. Nobody resembles that fucker’s picture, and nobody is paying me any attention.
I spend twenty minutes waiting. By now, I figure he’s not coming. I signal to the old scruffy-looking bartender to get his attention, thinking the prick might have sniffed a rat and either dropped a package off for Homer or Ellwood earlier or ran out on their contract. I’m contemplating our next move when Miss Catherine’s phone rings.
I told her to fucking code me first.
And then I feel a gun low in my side as a big man slides onto the stool next to me, and the phone is snatched out of my hand.
“Where’s Miss Catherine?” a deep, smooth voice says against my ear.
Christ! Now the fucking Calvary’s decided to show up. Must have finally gotten around to tracking her phone.
I’m nudged in the side with the gun. “Take a walk. Nice and slow, Edge. Move!”
Knows my name. My guess, he has been speaking with Doc Evelyn.
I’m not holding the deck of cards, so I have to play along. “Hold your horses there, buddy. Sounds like we are playing for the same team. You can remove that gun and we can have an intelligent conversation.”
Formal introductions have gone by the wayside.
“Maybe so, but not going to happen. Doc Evelyn says Miss Catherine’s traveling with a man, and you got her phone. We tracked it to here and looks like I just made it in time to catch up to you. Got no time for shenanigans, because the lives of Whisper’s friends depend on me getting you outta here ASAP and locating Miss Catherine.”
I go to get up. “Don’t do anything stupid. Doc Evelyn’s given us your rundown. Know who you are and be respectin’ you are dangerous, and I also know you are ex-military and trained, and so am I….” He pauses for effect. “And just as dangerous.” Cue rolling my eyes. “Miss Catherine and Whisper are our top priorities. Where is the lady?” He works himself up to a deep growl.
“She’s safe outside in the car. I’ll take you to h—”
“Nope. Saw Doc Evelyn’s car, but nobody inside. Want to rethink that answer?” The gun gets pushed harder into me. “If you’ve laid one—” And cue the threats.
I slowly turn sideways to look at him. A mocha-skinned, big, pretty military type has now got the gun against my lower abdomen, and he’s not fucking around from the grim look on his face. I wouldn’t be fucking around either.
Why does it not surprise me she didn’t stay put? And then a more sinister thought hits me. Or did something happen to her?
“Edge! Ghost!” Our names come out in a hushed, anxious tone.
Thank fuck for that. A sense of relief washes over me. At least a bad guy hadn’t swiped her.
“She just doesn’t seem to get the concept of doing as she’s told,” I mutter, and see a hint of relief touch the big guy’s eyes, but they don’t leave me. He’s all business as she makes it over to us.
“You are well, Miss Catherine?” He doesn’t take his eyes off me, nor his finger off the trigger when she stops next to him.