Dan was now going to call in the FBI to start investigating, because white supremacists were considered domestic terrorists.
Cari . . . his heart and mind focused on her. He wanted to know what happened, how it happened. How was she doing? Of late, he’d seen her confidence blooming and it made him happy. He knew she had gone into town by herself this morning, a test, to see how she did. It had been Cari’s idea, not his. He’d endorsed it, of course.
He pushed his fingers through his short, dark hair, aggravation flowing through him. With Dirk in the area? This had to pulverize Cari in so many ways, especially emotionally and psychologically. When someone witnessed a murder, as Cari had, one never forgot it. Ever. The shock of it was soul ripping as far as he was concerned. And for someone like Cari, being a witness to Dirk’s murdering his girlfriend had devasted her in every possible way. Which told him Dirk was a sociopath and it wouldn’t bother him at all to murder someone else. But for Cari? It had rocked and ripped her world apart. The fact Bannock had promised, in court, to find and kill her? That was enough to total any human being, because he meant every word he’d screamed at her.
When his cell beeped, he picked it up, pressing Cari’s phone number. It rang and no one answered. Was she sleeping? Had her battery died? He didn’t know, so he called the sheriff ’s office. The dispatcher, Sue Ramford, answered.
“Hey, Sue, this is Chase. Is Cari there?”
“Hi, Chase. Cari’s asleep in the women’s locker room right now. Pepper just came out to let me know.”
“Is she all right?”
“Cari looked really drawn, pale, and she was exhausted. Pepper took her to the women’s locker room and Cari fell asleep immediately.”
“Is Pepper still around?”
“Sure. You want to speak to her?”
“Yes, thanks,” Chase said.
“Pepper here. Hi, Chase.”
“Hey, what can you tell me about what’s going on? Is Cari all right?”
“She’s in shock, Chase, which is to be expected, but I think getting to sleep will help her a lot. You’d be proud of her. She said that you had been teaching her some black ops stuff and she used all of it this morning when Bannock unexpectedly entered the restaurant. She even got a good photo of him and Hauptman, who is the white supremacist we think is heading up that gang up in the mountains north of our town. We had helo trouble and it’s grounded, so Dan is in our unmarked SUV and tailing them. He’s hanging way back, about half to three-quarters of a mile because it’s across flat land, no hills or other landmass to discourage them from seeing him.”
“What’s Dan going to do?”
“Our office has already alerted the FBI, and an agent has just been assigned to it. That individual will be flying into our airport later this evening. Dan has asked one of us to pick him up when he lands.”
“That’s good news. We need the FBI’s logistics and help on this.”
“Better believe it.”
“How’s Dan doing?”
“He’s twenty-five miles out and still on the main highway, nearing the end of the valley where the mountains are located.”
“Too bad about the helo.”
“Isn’t it, though? They’re repairing it as I speak.”
“We need a Pred.”
She laughed heartily. “That’s what I said, but I don’t think the feds or military are gonna trust us with one.”
“I’ve got miles to go before I get on the main highway, Pepper. If Cari wakes up before I get there, let her know I’m coming in?”
“You bet I will.”
June 15
Cari suddenly woke up. Where was she? Her heart was pounding, a nightmare, a dark man stalking her with the intent to kill her, rattling her and shaking her awake in terror. A small light was on the wall, and she slowly realized as she pushed strands of hair away from her face, where she was.
Making a frustrated sound, she got up, her boots nearby. Hearing nothing, she pulled them on and laced them up, standing, looking around the silent, large room that had four beds in it. Grateful that Pepper allowed her to use the room, she wiped her eyes. There was a clock with radium dials above the door. It was 3:00 p.m. ! She’d slept a lot!
Instantly, her heart focused on Chase. Where was he? Did he know what had happened? Trying to settle her emotions down, moving into that peaceful place she always went to when