Pay the Price (Harmony Grove Book 3) by Carol Post (which ebook reader txt) 📕

he wasn’t alone. Branch walked behind and to the side of him, and judging from the way Shane held his hands in the air, the chief’s weapon was drawn. Other than not being bound, he wasn’t in any better position to defend himself than she was.

“Look what I found outside snooping around.” He shoved Shane forward, keeping his gun trained on him.

Spike drew his and doubled the fire power. He nodded toward Hammy. “Tie him up and tape his mouth. And make sure he’s not armed. If he resists, I’ll shoot the girl.”

Branch shook his head and raked first Spike and then Hammy with his disapproving gaze. He’d mastered that expression of condescension designed to make everyone else feel small. It didn’t matter that both Hammy and Spike were a whole head taller than he was.

“See what a mess you boys have gotten yourselves into? Getting you out of this one might be impossible. Even for me.”

Spike turned on Hammy. “If you weren’t my little brother, you’d already be at the bottom of Lake Mae wearing custom-made concrete boots.”

“Me? You’re blaming this mess on me?” Hammy’s indignation spilled out in his words. He stared at his brother, his entire body radiating his hatred.

Jessica sat unmoving, watching them. Go ahead, throw a punch. If Hammy and Spike’s attention was focused on each other, Shane would have an opportunity to take down Branch.

She glanced at Shane. His eyes were alert, and there was tension in his stance, as if he was ready to spring at the first opportunity. The chubby, older, out-of-shape chief wouldn’t stand a chance. As soon as Shane made his move, she could…

She heaved a sigh. Tied to the chair, legs and arms restrained, she could do absolutely nothing.

A heavy silence stretched between the two brothers. Finally, Hammy directed Shane to put his hands behind his back and looped a rope around his wrists. Although he was following Spike’s instructions, he hadn’t released his anger. The quick, jerky movements as he tied and tightened the knots gave away exactly how he felt.

After pressing a piece of tape over Shane’s mouth, Hammy patted his sides and produced a pistol, which he handed to Branch. Then he stepped forward to face off with Spike. “If you hadn’t killed Priscilla, these two wouldn’t be here right now.”

“You didn’t leave me much choice. You shouldn’t have brought her here to begin with.”

“That wasn’t my fault. She was with me when you called. You said I needed to get right over here. I told her to stay in the car.”

“She obviously didn’t listen.” Spike moved a step closer to Hammy, gesturing as he spoke. “And then you were dumb enough to pay out money to keep her quiet. If she would have just been satisfied, she’d still be here, with you wrapped around her little finger, and I would have been none the wiser. But she had to get greedy and come to me. Well, I have a lot more effective ways of ensuring someone’s silence than paying out my hard-earned money.”

Branch stepped forward. “Okay, children, save your sibling bickering for when I don’t have to listen to it. That’s not what I came here for.”

Spike turned to Branch, his irritation with his brother seemingly gone in an instant. He walked over to the leather satchel. “This is what you came here for.”

Branch took the four wads of bills Spike handed him and stuffed them into both front pants pockets.

“What do we do with them?” Spike inclined his head toward his prisoners.

“I think you know the answer to that.”

Jess crumpled as a wave of despair washed over her. Until that moment she’d harbored some sliver of hope that they would somehow get out of there alive. God, please protect us. Please send help. I’m not ready to die tonight. The frantic pleas raced through her mind, circling around again and again.

She didn’t deserve God’s help, but Shane did. He’d done nothing but live for the God he served. He’d never turned away, even when God took his wife. He was a good man, devoting his life to protecting the innocent and bringing the not-so-innocent to justice. In fact, it was his determination to protect her that had brought him out tonight. If anyone deserved God’s help, it was Shane.

Before Spike could respond to Branch’s words, a loud knock reverberated through the building, coming from the direction of the front door. Hammy and Spike looked at each other with fear-filled eyes. Spike immediately hid his panic, stuffing it behind his usual cool demeanor. Hammy remained wide-eyed and tense, looking as if he was ready to bolt at any moment.

Branch didn’t even flinch. Whatever threat was just outside, he probably viewed himself as above it. “Go look out the window and see if you can tell who’s there.”

Hammy ran down the hall and returned a half-minute later. If anything, his panic was more pronounced. “It’s a squad car.”

“Harmony Grove?”

“Can’t tell. The car’s parked at an angle, straight toward the production area, so I couldn’t see the side.”

The banging sounded again, this time more insistent.

“Go,” Branch commanded with a sharp wave of his hand. “Tell them everything’s under control.”

“And if they don’t take my word for it and insist on coming in?”

“If it’s Alan or Tommy, I’ll take care of it.”

“And if it’s not?” Spike spoke this time. Some of Hammy’s fear seemed to have seeped into him.

“Then you’ll take care of it.”

Spike addressed Branch, his tone cold and lethal. “You’re just going to throw us to the wolves.”

“Hey, if I go to jail, who’s going to keep your sorry rears out of trouble?”

Spike studied Branch, then gave a slight nod. Hammy once again disappeared.

And Jessica continued to pray.

Chapter Seventeen

Shane watched Hammy disappear between the pallets on his way to the door, then cast Jess a wary look. He couldn’t see the door from his location, but one thing was certain. His agents couldn’t have arrived already. Polk County would even be hard-pressed to get there