Dead and Gone by Jack Patterson (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📕

stay upright on his knees. Once he noticed the deputy, Burns flung his arm behind him. “They went that way, not ten seconds ago.” Then he collapsed face first to the ground.

Cal rushed over to him and turned him over on his back. “Who did this?”

Burns shook his head. “I don’t know. They just kept hitting me.”

“Had you ever seen them before?”

Burns shook his head again.

Cal scanned the area. “Okay, I’m gonna get you some water and medical help.”

He found a medical station a hundred yards away and dragged one of the personnel with him toward Burns.

While Burns received attention, Cal told him an abbreviated version of what happened with Holmes and Beaumont. As Cal finished relaying the events, he looked up and saw four deputies walking behind a pair of handcuffed men in dark suits. As Hewes walked up to Cal, he tipped his cap. “Thanks for the heads up.” He reached inside one of the men’s pockets and fished out his phone. “Unlock it for me,” Hewes said.

Hewes scrolled through the phone until he handed it to Cal. “Does that number look familiar?”

Cal nodded. “That number belongs to Ned Davis.”

“Great. That’ll give us a good starting point for this investigation.” He took the phone back and passed the detainee off to another deputy. “So, Mr.—”

“Burns.”

“Mr. Burns, can you tell me what happened?”

Burns adjusted the icepack on his cheekbone. “Where to begin?”

CHAPTER 56

JESSICA TANNER SMOOTHED her hair out and opened the door to the RV. She swallowed hard and stared down at the two men outside. They scanned the near-desolate campgrounds and ascended the steps.

“Mrs. Tanner,” the first man said as he tipped his black bowler hat. The second man followed him inside without saying a word.

She sat down.

“I’m Bill,” the man said. “Gary here is gonna take a look around, if you don’t mind.”

Sweat beaded up on her face as she shook her head. “I don’t mind at all.”

Gary stumbled around and opened every door he could find, including the cabinets.

“I see the news convinced you,” Jessica said.

Bill laughed. “I wasn’t sure what to believe.”

Gary nodded at him and gave him the okay sign. Bill then held out his hand, palm up. “Where’s your cell phone, Mrs. Tanner?”

“Right here,” she said, reaching for it on the table.

He snapped his fingers. “Give it here.” He threw it down on the ground and stomped on it a few times.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Just makin’ sure you don’t call the cops after we leave.” He rubbed her head and then sat down. “No hard feelings.” He adjusted his suit coat. “So, let’s get down to business.”

“Before we do, I want to know how Carson got tied up with you.”

Bill laughed. “No big deal. He was just lookin’ to expand his meager winnings by betting on some games here and there. He got a little behind. He told us he was going to pay us once the season was over. I’m a patient guy, but I knew I’d get nothin’ if I didn’t act now.” He paused for a moment. “And Mrs. Tanner, I want you to know I’m sorry for your loss. I actually liked your husband.”

A tear trickled down Jessica’s face. “You have a funny way of showing it—threatening his widow.”

Bill waved his hand dismissively. “Ah, I don’t threaten. I promise to do something and take action. Threats are empty.” Then he threw his head back and laughed again. “You don’t climb to the top of this world making empty threats; you climb it with action.”

She wiped the tear away. “That’s funny. I was always taught you rise to the top with a combination of hard work, integrity and good fortune.”

“Work is the only thing that matters in your little trifecta. We all make our own fortunes, good or bad. So far, mine has been pretty good.” He took a deep breath and put his hands on his knees. “So, shall we get down to business or what?”

“Fine,” Jessica muttered.

“Do you have the money I asked for?”

“And what exactly is this for again?”

“Look, lady, I don’t need to spell this out for you. I already told you what it was for.” Then he stood up and glared at her. “Are you wearing a wire?”

Gary lunged at Jessica and ripped at her shirt. She tried to withdraw, but it was too late. Two buttons on her blouse popped loose, exposing not much more than an inch of black wire snaking around her bra. But it was visible—and that was enough for Bill.

Bill grabbed her hair and shoved her toward the door. “Let’s get outta here now.”

As they descended the steps of the RV, an FBI SWAT team surrounded them.

“Drop your weapons,” one of the agents shouted.

Bill ignored the command. Instead, he shuffled along the edge of the RV with his gun pressed firmly into Jessica’s head.

“Nobody has to get hurt,” Bill said. “Especially the little lady here. Don’t you think she’s been through enough this past week.”

“Just let her go,” the lead agent yelled.

“Or what? You won’t arrest me?” Bill cackled. “Pardon me if I don’t trust you.”

***

CAL STARED AT HIS PHONE that now seemed to vibrate constantly with alerts that new messages had arrived. He scrolled through them and smiled. It had been a while since he’d broken a story this big and it felt good, a feeling he imagined was about as high as winning a championship for the athletes he covered.

With just fifteen minutes until the green flag dropped, Cal found himself as the tram’s lone passenger. Every serious race fan—which would be everyone on site—was already seated inside the raceway. Cal paused for a moment to make small talk with the tram driver. Then he returned to scrolling through the messages.

But when the tram slowed down unexpectedly, Cal looked up to see the driver staring into RV city with his mouth agape. Cal turned to see two men slinking away from an FBI SWAT team, all with weapons