Chace took the note that had his name printed on the outside in Malachi’s writing and opened it, Faye crowding him close and he could feel her tension.
It said in Malachi’s handwriting,
She’s here. It’s safe to do it now.
I’ll be at the shed.
Silas and Sondra pushed through, Silas announcing, “Our lil’ bugger took off. Can’t find him anywhere. I’ll go to the restroom –”
“Note, Silas,” Chace stated tersely, lifting up the note, Silas took it but Chace was looking around. He found Deck at the back, chatting up a blonde and he whistled. The second the sound pierced the air, Deck’s neck twisted and Chace got his eyes. Chace jerked up his chin. Deck did too, coming his way.
“What? I don’t get it. What’s safe?” Silas asked, heavy concern threading his tone.
“Everything all right?” Ty asked.
“Who is she?” Faye whispered and her tone, a tone he understood because he felt its cold crawling through his system, made Chace look down at her.
Before he could speak, he heard Deck say, “Yo. What?”
Chace looked at Deck and told him, “Something’s going down with Malachi. At the shed.”
“I’m on it,” Deck stated immediately, turning to move the other way.
“I’m going too,” Faye put in. Chace looked down at her and opened his mouth but she got there before him, squaring her shoulders. He knew by that and the worried look in her eye, he was f**ked. “I’m going too,” she repeated firmly.
“All right, baby,” he muttered.
“Mary Eglund is a serious pain in the ass,” Krys announced, making it to their huddle, Bubba following in her wake and Chace saw Tate, Lauren and Jonas also hitting their group.
“Something’s going down with the kid,” Ty told Tate.
“What kid?” Max asked from behind them, Nina, he and their kids had moved up the center aisle and were down the bench from them.
“We need to go, Chace,” Faye whispered, grabbing his hand and holding it tight. “We need to go, go, go.”
She was losing it.
“You need help?” Tate asked.
“Yes,” Chace answered, turning, positioning and taking Faye with him so they were facing all of them. “Malachi’s his name. Silas, pass the note around,” he ordered and continued when Silas did as he asked. “Faye and I are heading to Sioux Street, eastern dead end where it meets up with Cherokee. Deck’ll be there. We need men in that wood to fan out and look for him.”
“What’s this shed?” Max asked, looking up from the note Tate walked down to him.
“Ramshackle, ‘bout a twelve minute walk, if you do it sedate, going direct east with a hint north,” Chace answered.
“He wants you at the shed, why do you need men in those woods?” Ty asked.
“Because, there’s someone in those woods who could hurt him. They have before, they’ll do it again. He thinks it’s safe. I wanna make sure it is,” Chace responded, feeling Faye get more and more tense at his side.
“I’ll call Deke,” Tate muttered, turning toward Lauren.
“I’ll call Wood,” Ty stated, looking down at Lexie.
“I’ll call it into CPD,” Max said, pulling his phone out.
“I’m with you,” Silas declared then looked down at Sondra, yanking his keys out of his pocket. “You go home.”
“Silas,” she whispered.