Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since Sam had contacted Hank..
He had received a package two days ago and he was stunned when he saw the gun.
KEEP THIS WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. was on the note.
He had hidden the gun in the back of his jeans and the butt of the gun dug into his lower back.
Walking toward the bunkhouse, Hank opened the screen door when a soft buzzing sound caused him to reach back and he removed the cellphone from his jeans pocket. He looked at the text screen when his heart jumped in his chest at the phone number and he pushed button.
Hello, Hank.
Hank's hands were shaking as he sighed and he typed on the keyboard.
Hello.
It's time.
"Shit," Hank said.
I can't do this.
Then I guess I'm calling Lou.
No. I can't because they're not here.
What do you mean they're not there?!
They're not here.
Where are they?
Hank looked up at the sky as he closed his eyes then opened them and he looked at the screen before typing on the keyboard.
They are at a friend's birthday party.
Do you know where the party is?
Hank closed his eyes again as he tried to calm down and he opened his eyes.
Yeah.
Where are they?
Sighing, Hank typing in the information and he pushed the button.
Go get them.
What am I supposed to tell them?
Tell them something happened to Lisa.
"You son of a bitch," Hank growled.
That's not going to work.
Why not?
Lisa and Darcy are with them.
Then find a way to get them to go with you.
What if I can't?
Then you better hope you get a nice cellmate.
Hank looked at the small smiley face on the screen and he felt like he was going to be sick.
Fine.
Good boy. Oh! Just to be on the safe side. I'm going to being sending some help.
What sort of help?
Just some friends.
Hank felt the bile building in his stomach as he sighed then he typed on the keyboard.
Where do you want me to take them?
Hank waited when the cellphone made a soft binging sound and he looked at the information.
See you soon.
Hank looked at the text screen when he deleted the conversation then he walked inside the bunkhouse. He headed for his bedroom when he walked to the desk and sat down. He removed a piece of paper from the middle desk drawer then he picked up a pen and tapped the pen on the desk.
"Fuck it," he said as he started writing on the piece of paper and he felt the anger building in his chest.
Houston
Gina Hills watched the children playing, talking or eating while she placed the birthday cake for her son, Evan, on the table. Some of the parents were talking as they watched the children and Lisa walked to the table, smiling at Gina.
"Need any help?" Lisa asked.
"Nope," Gina said with a shake of her head then she frowned. "Are you ok, Honey?"
"It's…"
Sighing, Lisa crossed her arms under her breasts and Gina waited for her to say something.
"Is it Sam? Chandler told Evan that Sam was in town," Gina said.
"Yeah. He was," Lisa said.
"Shit. I thought you had a restraining order."
"I do. He doesn't care."
"He should be locked up."
"Yeah," Lisa said and Gina sighed.
"At least he's gone."
"For now," Lisa said as she looked over at Mark, Nichole, Peter and Chandler playing with some of the other kids
"Mind if I ask you something?" Grace said and she looked at her.
"Sure."
"Who's that really cute guy I saw you with at Walker's Grain and Feed the other day?"
"Oh," Lisa said as she smiled. "That's Annie's brother, Connor."
"Damn. He's hot."
"Yeah. He is."
"Now that's someone you should be dating."
"I dunno."
"Why? Is there something wrong with him?"
"No. Just think it's too soon."
"It's been three years."
"I know."
"He's got it bad for you."
Lisa frowned when Hank walked closer and they looked at him.
"Hey, Hank," Gina said.
Lisa noticed he looked a little nervous as Hank nodded then he looked at Lisa.
"We need to talk," Hank said.
"Go ahead," Lisa said.
"No. In private."
Gina and Lisa glanced at each other and Lisa nodded.
Hank placed his right hand on Lisa's lower back as they walked away and the urge to run moved through Lisa.
"Just keep walking," Hank said with a small growl.
"Hank, what's going on?" Lisa asked.
"Can't tell you."
They stopped walking as they stood near a tree and Hank looked over at Mark, Nichole, Peter and Chandler helping Darcy place some paper plates on the table.
"Call them," Hank said as he nodded to the kids and Darcy and she frowned.
"Why?" Lisa asked then was startled after he removed the gun from the back of his jeans and he pointed the gun at her stomach.
"Call them."
"You do know I have had some defense training, right? I could knock that gun right out of your hand before you even fire and have you on your ass in seconds."
"I know that. But you won't do anything."
He nodded his head as she slowly turned her head, saw two large men standing under the trees near Chandler, Nichole, Darcy, Mark and Peter and one of the men moved his jean jacket back. She could just see the butt of the gun sticking out of the top of his jeans and she swallowed the bile bubbling in her throat.
"Now, for the last time, call them," Hank said.
"Guys. Darcy. Come here," Lisa called out and the boys, Nichole and Darcy looked at her.
"Why?" Chandler asked.
Connor had taught him, Peter and Mark how to read body language as he titled his head to one side and he blinked his eyes.
"Why is Hank here?" Peter asked.
"Dunno," Chandler said.
"What should we do?" Mark asked.
"We need to…," Darcy said as she picked up Nichole and Nichole was softly crying.
"Go to her," startled them when they turned and Darcy saw the butt of the gun sticking out of the jeans of the man standing next to the tree.
"Let's go," Darcy said.
Peter, Mark and Chandler followed her as they headed for Lisa and Hank and Hank saw the anger and rage in Darcy's eyes.
"Move," Hank said.
They walked in front of Hank as they headed for the parking lot and Gina saw the pleading look on Mark's face when he turned his head to look at her. She watched them get into a white van when Hank got into the white van and she reached into her purse for her cellphone. She dialed 9-11 as she watched the white van headed out of the park and she blinked the tears out of her eyes.
the Golden Cactus Ranch
The horses headed down the path while Diego arched the black cowboy hat and he looked over at Connor and Murphy. He knew they were still angry about Eunice's visit and he had the ranch hands search the grounds after she had left for FBI agents.
"Guys," Diego said and they turned on the saddles to look at him. "Wanna go to the Wild Bull after dinner?"
"No," Murphy said as he turned to face forward.
"No thanks," Connor said as he turned to face forward.
"You can't hide forever," Diego said.
"We did fer eight years."
"You mean while you were out raising sheep?"
"Aye," Murphy said with a nod.
"Must have been boring as hell."
"It was…."
"It was borin'," Connor said.
"Then why put yourselves through it again?" Diego asked.
They rode in silence while Murphy glanced at Connor and they had a silent conversation.
"It's not that we're scared or some shit. We jus' wanna enjoy th'time we have left doin' summat we enjoy doin," Connor explained.
"An' bein' with people we care about," Murphy said.
Diego nodded as they headed down the path when he saw the white truck quickly heading down the path then the white truck came to a stop. The driver's side door opened when Annie got out of the white truck and she looked upset.
"What's up?" Diego asked while she walked toward them.
"We have a problem," Annie said as she stopped in front of them.
"What happened?" Connor asked.
"I just got a call from Gina Hills. She said Hank showed up at the park where she was having her son's birthday party and he had to talk to Lisa. She wasn't sure, but Lisa didn't look happy. The next thing she knew, Lisa called for Chandler, Peter, Darcy, Nichole and Mark and all of them left with Hank," Annie said.
"They what?!" Connor asked with wide eyes.
"They left with Hank."
"Did she say anything else?" Diego asked while they got off the horses.
"She called Lou."
"That's good," Murphy said.
"Did she see which way Hank went after they left th'park?" Connor asked and Murphy felt the rage, concern and worry coming from his twin.
"No. But she did see some men following them," Annie said.
"Fuck. I knew it! I knew Bloom would rat us out!" Murphy said with a growl. Connor knew Murphy wanted hit something as he placed his hands on his twin's shoulders and they locked eyes.
"Calm yerself," Connor said.
"No!"
"She wouldn't…."
"How th'hell aren't you upset about this?!"
"I am. Believe me," Connor said with a fierce look on his face.
"Mind filling us in on what you're talking about?" Anne asked.
"We're talkin' about Agent Bloom."
"Wait. You think she had something to do with this?" Diego asked.
"She was Smecker's protégé! She practically idolized th'guy!" Murphy said with a growl and Connor lightly squeezed Murphy's shoulders.
"Calm down," Connor said and they locked eyes.
"She said…," Diego said then paused from the stern look on Murphy's face.
"You think she contacted the FBI and they took Lisa, Darcy and the kids to call you out?" Annie asked.
"Aye. That's exactly what we're thinkin'," Connor said as he glared at Diego.
"Hey! Don't blame me! The Eunice I knew would never do something like this! Not when kids are involved!" Diego said with his hands up.
"You're th'one who contacted her!" Murphy said.
"We needed to know what was going on with Sam!"
"You coulda called someone else!"
"An' why did she bring th'information here?! Why didn't she send it t'you!?" Connor asked.
"Are you saying you think I had something to do with this?!"
"Yes!" they said at the same time.
"She had no idea you were here! If Nichole….!"
"No! Don't you fuckin' dare blame her!" Murphy said as his chest heaved with anger and Connor had to hold on tighter to his brother's shoulders and dug in his feet to prevent Murphy from heading toward Diego.
"Stop!" Annie shouted. She was shaking and had her arms wrapped around her stomach. Connor and Murphy walked to her as they held her and Diego ducked his head. They stood in silence as Connor hushed her and Murphy gently rocked her.
"Fuck," Diego said with a shake of his head.
"Don't you get it? This is what they want. They want you two to get so angry that you'll storm off without so much as a plan and get yourselves either caught or killed," Annie said as she looked at Connor's chest.
"I'm too angry t'even think of a plan right now," Connor grumbled.
"The first thing we need to do is go talk with Gina," Diego said.
Sighing, Connor nodded and they headed for the white truck. They got into the back of the white truck as Diego closed the back of the white truck, got in the white truck, started the engine and he put the white truck in gear. The white truck went down the path as he growled and he flexed his fingers in and out. The white truck suddenly headed for the path which led to bunkhouse when Diego parked the white truck in front of the bunkhouse then he got out of the white truck.
"Where are you goin'?" Connor asked.
"I need to check out something," Diego said while Annie, Connor and Murphy got out of the white truck. They headed for the screen door as Diego opened the screen door and they went inside. "Stay here.":
Connor, Annie and Murphy watched him head down the hallway as Diego went into Hank's room and he scanned the room with his eyes. He saw something sitting on the desk as he walked to the desk, used the clean handkerchief he had taken out of the pocket of his jeans to pick up the piece of paper with his name written on it and he left the room.
"Found something," Diego sad, walking to the kitchen and he placed the piece of paper in a plastic storage bag.
Walking back in the room while he closed the plastic storage bag, Diego pointed to the screen door and Annie opened the screen door. The screen door closed behind them after they left the room and they headed for the white truck. Annie saw the anger on his face as Diego placed the plastic storage bag on the dashboard, started the engine, put the white truck in gear and he looked at Connor and Murphy's reflections in the rearview mirror. Connor looked furious. Murphy looked like he wanted to punch something.
Houston
Gina watched while Annie, Diego, Connor and Murphy walked closer and she saw the fury in Connor and Murphy's eyes.
"Where's Lou?" Diego asked.
"He's over there. Talking with some of the parents," Gina said and Diego walked away. She noticed the worry on Annie's face as Gina sighed and she lowered her head. "I'm so sorry. I should have done something."
"Yeah. You should have," Connor snapped with his surfer accent and Annie lightly nudged him.
Lou and Diego walked to them as Lou removed his sheriff hat and he looked at Connor, Annie and Murphy.
"Hello," Lou said.
"What did you find out?" Connor asked with a small growl.
"From what Gina and the other parents told us? Hank showed up and was just walking around. Chatting with 'em. Watching the kids. Eating and having a few beers. Then he walked to Gina and Lisa," Lou said as he checked the notes he had written on the notepad in his right hand.
"I knew something was up. He looked so… Weird," Gina said.
"Weird?" Annie asked.
"He seemed nervous. And he kept looking around. Like he was looking for someone."
"Some of the parents noticed these two guys standing near the trees over there," Lou said as he pointed to the trees. "One of the parents went looking for park security. When they showed up, Lisa, Darcy, Hank and the kids were gone."
"Christ," Connor grumbled.
"Lord's name," Murphy whispered as he dropped his accent.
"Did anyone see where they went?" Annie asked.
"One of the parents saw Hank place Lisa, Darcy and the kids in a white van," Lou said.
"Did they write down the license plate number?" Diego said.
"Yeah," Lou said with a nod.
"What about th'other guys?! Anyone see where they went?!" Connor demanded and Lou frowned.
"What happened to your accent?"
"Th'hell with my fuckin' accent! Where did those assholes go?!"
"One of the parents saw them get into a red van. There was no license plate. We have no idea where they went."
Murphy felt anger, fear and frustration coming from his twin as he placed his hands on Connor's shoulders and they locked eyes. Lou wondered what they were doing when Connor nodded his head and Murphy let go of Connor's shoulders.
"Do you have any idea why Hank would take them?" Lou asked as he looked at Diego.
"Yeah. I do," Diego said. Diego had placed the plastic storage bag with the piece of paper in the pocket of his jeans as he removed the plastic storage bag and he showed them the piece of paper.
"What is this?"
"Looks like he left a note," Diego said, handing him the plastic storage bag.
"Where did you find it?"
"In Hank's room."
"You took evidence from a potential crime scene!?"
"It had my name on it."
"That doesn't matter! This is evidence!"
"I know that."
"Then you should've known not to take it! Shit! Some lawman you are!"
Connor glanced at Annie as she saw the confused looks on his and Murphy's faces and she pointed toward the trees. They walked to the trees when she turned and looked back at Lou then looked at her brothers.
"Lou knows Diego used to be a Texas Ranger," Annie explained.
"Does he know Diego used t'be FBI, too?" Connor asked.
"No."
"Why didn't Diego tell us about th'note?" Murphy asked.
"I think he wanted Lou to see it first."
Murphy growled while he looked down and he saw something in the tall grass. He bent down as he picked up Nichole's teddy bear and he held the teddy bear to his chest after standing up.
"I am gonna kill that bastard," he whispered.
"You're gonna have t'wait in line. I get first dibs," Connor whispered and Annie glanced from one brother to the other.
"Come on," she said and they walked back to Lou and Diego. Lou watched them stop near Diego and Lou looked at the plastic storage bag.
"Mind if I read this?" Lou asked while pointing to the piece of paper.
"Go ahead," Diego said with a nod and he handed Lou the plastic storage bag. Lou removed the piece of paper from the plastic storage bag then he unfolded the piece of paper. He read what Hank had written and he frowned.
"Did any of you know about him dealing drugs?" Lou asked.
"Nope," Connor said.
"Nope," Murphy said and Lou noticed he was speaking with his accent.
"Nope," Annie said with a shake of her head.
"I think Lisa knew," Diego said.
"Why did she hire him if she knew he had an arrest record for drug dealing?" Lou asked.
"Come off it, Lou. You know Hank and Lisa have been friends since they were kids. She wanted to give him a second chance," Diego said.
"Yeah. I know. Just can't believe Sam forced him into this. Just how much power does that asshole have?"
"A lot," Diego said with a sigh.
"How do you know?"
"He knows shit," Connor said while looking at Diego.
"Mind telling me?" Lou asked as he looked at Diego.
"I could, but the proof is back at the ranch," Diego said.
"Does Hank say where he was supposed to take Lisa, Darcy and the boys?" Annie asked.
"Yeah," Lou said, handing the piece of paper to Diego.
Diego looked at what Hank had written while the anger built inside his chest and he crushed the piece of paper in his right hand.
Sam Warren's compound
The white van came to a stop as Hank looked at the gate and the chain link fence and he held tightly onto the steering wheel. He had blindfolded Lisa, Darcy, Nichole, Chandler, Peter and Mark after he placed them in the back of the white van and he whispered to Lisa that he would shoot her, Darcy and the kids if she tried anything. He could still hear Nichole's sobs after he had closed the back doors of the white van and Hank flexed his fingers.
"Damn you, Sam," he whispered. He watched the man with a rifle strapped to his back walk closer and Hank sighed.
The man had a thin build, stringy blonde hair and blue eyes. The white tank top clung to his chest and stomach from sweat and there was a hole in the right knee of his jeans. He had on black work boots and a knife was in the holder hanging from his belt.
"Any trouble?" the man asked as he looked at the white van.
"No," Hank said as he looked at the fence. "Is he here?"
"Nope."
"He told me he would be."
"He said he had somethin' to do."
"Where does he want me to put them?"
"Go down th'main road an' hang a left. It's th'fourth buildin' on th'right."
Nodding, Hank watched the man walk off then open the gate and Hank put the white van in gear then steered the white van by the gate. The white van bumped and rocked over the holes in the road when Hank saw the building the man was talking about and he parked the white van. Turning off the engine, he got out of the white van when he walked to the back of the white van and he unlocked the doors. He opened the doors as he looked at Lisa, Darcy, Nichole, Chandler, Mark and Peter and he sighed.
"Don't move," Hank said as he got in the back of the white van and he walked to Lisa. He leaned closer to her left ear and she flinched as he breathed in her ear. "You try anything and all of you are dead."
"Where are we?" Lisa asked as he removed the blindfold and she glared at him. He didn't answer as he moved to Darcy and he looked at Nichole sitting next to her.
"You are so dead," Darcy said as he leaned closer and he breathed in her left ear.
"You're dead if you try anything," he whispered and she growled. He removed the blindfold as Darcy looked at him with anger in her eyes and he moved toward Nichole.
"Don't you dare touch her!"
"I gotta take the blindfold off her," he said as he removed the blindfold off of Nichole and he never saw such hatred in a child's eyes.
"Mister Murphy's gonna hurt you," Nichole said.
"He doesn't know where you are."
"Doesn't matter. He and Mister Connor can find anyone," Peter said.
"Yeah. They're gonna kick your ass," Chandler said.
"And make you eat shit," Mark said and Hank gave them a confused look.
"What the hell are you talking about!? Those two idiots…," Hank whispered.
"Are someone you shouldn't fuck with," Lisa said and he glanced at her. He removed the blindfolds from Peter, Chandler and Mark's eyes then he looked at the doors.
"Move," Hank said. Darcy stood as she picked up Nichole and Mark stood next to Darcy.
Growling, Lisa nudged Chandler and Peter's legs and they stood up. Hank helped them out of the back of the white van when he led them to the red brick building with white brick trim and gray shingles on the roof and Lisa noticed the building was two stories. Hank led them to the screen door and he opened the screen door.
"Don't even think it," he said after he turned to see Lisa trying to reach for the gun and he opened the front door. "Move."
He stood back as they walked by him and Lisa glanced around the room with her eyes. She saw the two windows to her right, the wooden table and the three chairs around the table, the rack with rifles and guns on the wall to her left and two windows on either side of the rack with the guns and rifles, the boxes of ammunition for the guns and rifles on the bookcase near the door at the back of the room and the overhead lights made a soft humming sound. Hank closed the screen door when he pointed to the door at the back of the room and they walked to the door. He unlocked the door as he stood back and they walked in the room.
"You are a dead man," Lisa whispered as she walked by him and Hank swallowed the lump in his throat. He closed the door then locked the door and he headed for the screen door. He opened the screen door when he walked to the white van and he slammed the back doors shut.
In the red brick building, Lisa looked at Darcy sitting on the bed with Nichole on her lap and Nichole was crying.
"I want Papa," Nichole whimpered.
"Don't worry," Mark said as he knelt down on his haunches and she looked at him. "Papa's coming."
"Who is she talking about?" Darcy asked.
"Mister Murphy," he said as he stood up.
Darcy looked at Nichole as she thought about Murphy and memories of him with Mark and Nichole moved across her mind. She rocked Nichole as she stroked Nichole's hair and Nichole placed her right thumb in her mouth.
"Mark's right. Papa and Mister Connor are coming," Darcy reassured Nichole and Lisa looked toward the window. She thought about the guns and rifles in the next room as she sighed and Lisa lowered her head.
"They're going to get themselves killed," she thought and a cold chill moved through her.