to join you? I will. I hate to think of you waiting all on your own,” Ray said.
Millie wanted to be selfish and say yes. But this conference was important for him.
“No, I’ll be fine. You go to your meetings. Do your thing and I’ll keep you updated if there’s any news.”
Ray groaned. “I hate this. I’m sick about Rachel. And I’m so sad for you. We have to have faith they’ll find her.”
Tears finally rolled as her voice began to shake.
“They have to. They just have to.”
“I know, baby. I know. Listen... I’ve got to go. I love you. I’ll check in with you after I get to Seattle, okay?”
Millie sighed. “Yes, yes, I love you, too. Be safe, sweetheart.”
“And you drive safe tomorrow. Don’t get distracted by worrying and get yourself hurt,” Ray said.
“I won’t. I promise. I’ll feel better just knowing I’m heading her way. Talk to you later. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Ray said and disconnected.
Millie laid the phone down, then looked up at the cuckoo clock on the kitchen wall, ticking away precious time. She tried not to think of what horrors Rachel might be enduring, willing herself not to even think that Rachel might already be dead.
* * *
Unaware of the ensuing drama regarding Rachel Dean’s disappearance, Charlie worked late into the night, running background checks on Barrett Taylor, and on all of the people he could find names for who were connected to The Righteous organization. From what he could tell, a preacher named Jeremiah Raver was at the head of it.
Taylor was just the hit man—an ex-con who’d done time in Florida, and in Alabama, although his current place of residence was listed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He’d been arrested for armed robbery, breaking and entering, possession of stolen property, car theft and drug possession. This murder attempt was new, or at least something he’d never been caught doing before.
Charlie guessed Wyrick probably had all of this and more, and had dirt on the entire organization, but she had a tendency to keep her troubles to herself, and he wanted to know what she was facing now—not after it all fell in on top of her again.
He finally went to bed, satisfied with what he’d learned, and wisely did not bring it up again at breakfast the next morning.
By the time he and Wyrick left for work, he was better informed about the whole organization and how they worked, but Taylor mentioned there were others coming for her, too, and he didn’t know what they looked like. He couldn’t do anything about that, but he wanted to make sure Barrett Taylor didn’t bond out of jail. So he called in a favor from a friend in the Dallas PD. The phone rang twice, and then the call picked up on the third ring.
“Lieutenant Wagner.”
“Tony, this is Charlie Dodge.”
“Hey, Charlie. Good to hear from you... I think. What’s going on? Everything okay with Wyrick? I was told there was an attempted break-in at your office yesterday evening, and she was involved.”
“That’s why I’m calling, and yes, she’s okay. No thanks to me because I was in court waiting to testify,” Charlie said. “The man who attacked Wyrick is a convicted felon named Barrett Taylor. He has an ugly little rap sheet, and broke a couple of laws for himself just driving across state lines to come after her. When she opened the door to go home for the evening, he was in the hall waiting for her. He kicked it in, punched her and knocked her down, and was reaching for his gun when she Tasered him. Even after she had him cuffed he kept threatening her, telling her there were others coming after her, too, and I need to make sure he is charged with everything you can make stick to him. He belongs to a cult called the Church of The Righteous, and it appears they’re out to get her. I’m not letting that happen again.”
“I appreciate your concern. I’ll make sure no balls are dropped when he’s formally charged.”
“Thanks, Tony. I really appreciate it,” Charlie said and disconnected.
He glanced up in the rearview mirror, but Wyrick was nowhere in sight. He’d lost track of her while he was talking, but they were headed to the same place, and he would bet money she’d beat him there.
By the time he got to the office, Wyrick was already in work mode.
“No bear claws. You have apple fritters, and a butt