Page 95 of Chasing Creed

“Jason, Scout and Sully are headed that way,” Creed said.

He wanted to tell her to take Hank and go back to the house. To be safe. But that was probably exactly why she left with Sara without telling him. She didn’t need his permission or guidance.

So instead, he asked, “You mind leading the way?”

When they arrived, Jason and Sully were already there. Jason had Scout on a tight leash, but the dog had finished his job and now, sat at Jason’s side.

The man Creed presumed to be Orlando sat leaning up against a shrub. His hands and feet were zip-tied. He watched all of them with an odd expression. The lines in his face seemed to telegraph pain then shift to amusement. Jason held a handgun at his side. Sully had a shotgun.

“Where’s Sara?” Brodie wanted to know.

“She’s not here,” Jason said.

Brodie marched to stand directly in front of Orlando. “Where’s Sara? Why isn’t she here?”

He shrugged as if this amused him.

Then she did something Creed had never expected. She kicked his leg, and the man howled in pain. That’s when Creed noticed the swollen ankle.

“Where is she?” Brodie demanded.

“My associate has her,” he said through gritted teeth. “She’ll be fine.” But his face said otherwise.

“Associate? Young fella, right?” Sully asked. “He’s the one who’s been spying on Brodie. Smoking those candy cigarettes.”

“You both came here to kill me and Sara.”

“No, that’s not true.” Orlando attempted to scoot and slide away from her. The slight movement looked painful. “This is all a terrible misunderstanding. I didn’t even know Sara was here.”

Orlando leaned his torso to see around Brodie so he could address the men as if hoping they would be more reasonable. His eyes landed on Creed. “I would never hurt her. Tomas is another story. He thinks he has a score to settle.”

Creed pulled out his vibrating phone. A text from Hannah. To the others, he said, “Sheriff Norwich will be at the house in ten minutes.”

“County sheriff?” Orlando said, relieved. “Yes, that would be good. I’m sure he’ll understand that all of this was just a misunderstanding.”

“I’m sure she won’t,” Creed told him. “You might have been able to buy Deputy Perry, but believe me, you won’t be able to do that with Frances Norwich.”

“I don’t know any Deputy Perry.”

“Guys! We need to find Sara.” Brodie shouted.

Creed had never heard her shout before. She paced like a wild animal in front of Orlando. Her head swiveled, eyes darted and searched between the trees. Hank kept up alongside her, his big head tilted and watching her for direction.

The storm was moving on, but layers of heavy clouds still clogged the sky. Rumbles of thunder could be heard now in the distance.

Suddenly, Brodie spun around to Jason. “Can Scout find her? We need to find Sara. They did something to her.”

“I didn’t hurt Sara.” This time Orlando sounded impatient, almost defiant. “I’d never hurt her.”

Creed stepped forward, prepared to put a wedge between the two of them if necessary.

“She was on your list. You were going to kill both her and me.”

“I told you, I’d never kill Sara.”

“I don’t believe you. You’re lying.”

“No, you’re wrong. I would not hurt her. She’s my daughter.”