Out of the Storm (Buckhorn, Montana #1) - B.J. Daniels Page 0,72

the likely suspect in her disappearance.

And if her body was ever found? He’d make sure it never did happen. But if it did turn up, it would still appear that Jon Harper was the killer. By then, the mob would have taken care of him. The man would finally, truly, be dead. Case closed.

Collin realized there was one fly in the ointment. The younger daughter. Once he’d taken care of Kate, he’d have to order his associate to take care of Danielle. He couldn’t afford to leave any loose ends.

He started to relax a little as he finished his beer and got himself another one from the refrigerator. He’d thought of everything. Once he’d taken care of business, he’d place an anonymous call and get the word out in Oklahoma City as to where they could find Justin Brown. That’s if Nels hadn’t already.

Collin smiled to himself, feeling a little better. Kate had complicated things, but in the end, it was all going to turn out fine. Better than fine. Tomorrow, they would pick up the wedding dress and then the rental SUV would be taken to the shop to make a few minor alterations on it.

Once everything was loaded, he and Kate would cross the border back into the good ol’ USA. Somewhere before he reached Billings, he’d take care of Kate and her daughter. Once in Billings, he’d take the SUV to another shop who would take care of it. No one would be the wiser. He’d fly home, the majority of his cut stashed away in a foreign bank making him even more money. He’d leave out just enough to gamble with. He wouldn’t touch the rest, no matter what. Unless he was on a winning streak.

* * *

JON’S PHONE VIBRATED. He stepped back into the trees seeing that the call was from Bessie. About Earl Ray? At this hour? It wouldn’t be good news. He hesitated, knowing it would be risky to take the call. He looked toward the house and took a step when it started vibrating again.

He picked up, keeping his voice down. “Is it Earl Ray?”

“I know it’s in the middle of the night, but he insisted I call you. You know how he is.”

He did and found himself smiling at the reassurance in Bessie’s voice that his friend was fine. “He’s okay?”

“Won’t be able to eat a lot of what I bake, but the doctor said he should recover.” He could hear Earl Ray in the background telling her to quit gabbing and give Jon the message. When Bessie started to argue, Earl Ray demanded the phone. “You are supposed to be resting,” Bessie said but gave up the cell.

Earl Ray’s voice still sounded weak but nonetheless resolute. “He had a man on the youngest one. Don’t worry, we have him, and both of Kate’s daughters are safe now.”

“What if Matthews calls him?”

“I doubt he’ll have the need, but if he does, we have it handled,” Earl Ray assured him.

“Thank you,” Jon said. “You have no idea what this means to me.”

“Yeah, I think I do.”

“Glad you’re okay. I was worried.”

“Now all you have to worry about is Katie. And yourself.” Earl Ray disconnected, but not before Jon heard Bessie in the background telling him to give her the phone or she was going to call the nurse and get him sedated.

Jon pocketed his cell, relieved. Earl Ray was all right. Bessie was at the hospital with him. It was one less thing he had to worry about. As he started toward the house, he realized that Earl Ray had called Kate Katie. Jon had thought that the man hadn’t noticed his slip of the tongue earlier today. He smiled to himself. Earl Ray noticed everything.

He could see Collin still in the kitchen, apparently drinking. He moved quickly, covering the expanse of open, snow-covered terrain to come up to the corner of the house. He stood in the dark shadows and waited to make sure he hadn’t been seen. The neighbors must not have a dog—at least not one they left outside at night. The girls were safe, but Katie was far from it, unless he could get her out of there.

Now what? He would have loved to take care of Collin. The fact that he was up, drinking by himself, told Jon that the man was alone in the house with Kate. Where were his friends? Maybe they hadn’t connected yet. Or maybe this wasn’t a drug deal at all. Maybe