Holdin' On for a Hero (34 page)

“So, where are we going on our date?”

Greg laughed and took another drink. “Best place in town.”

“Oh? Where’s that?”

“Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Chance didn’t push it. The way Greg was drinking it would be a miracle if he was still coherent when they arrived at wherever it was they were going. She looked out the side window at the passing scenery and it dawned on her where they were headed. Remaining silent, she spent her time trying to come up with an idea of how to get the information she wanted from him and then escape.

The car turned onto the drive that led to the Holling estate. The driver didn’t stop at the house but bypassed it and continued on to a smaller house set at the rear of the landscaped lawn. It looked like a guesthouse.

The driver and the man in the passenger seat got out of the car as soon as they stopped. Greg opened his door and crawled out, holding on to the door for support as the driver opened Chance’s door and stepped back, leveling a gun at her as she got out.

“My, you must be used to getting stood up,” she directed her comment at Greg. “Or is it that you’re used to having women run out on you?”

He sneered and shoved her toward the house. Once inside he took her to one of the bedrooms. “In here.”

“Thanks but no thanks.”

He pushed her inside then followed. “I think you’ll be comfortable here.” He waved his hand around.

Chance looked around the room. There was no phone and she could see the silhouette of a man standing outside the one window in the room. “Why are you doing this?”

Greg didn’t answer her. He looked at the man who stood at the doorway. “Don’t let her leave this room. I have to make a call then I’ll be back.”

Chance watched him weave out of the room then looked at the man who stood in the doorway looking at her. Turning her back on him she crossed her arms and frowned at the guarded window. This was definitely not good.

* * * * *

Iris answered her cellular on the second ring. “Yes?”

“It’s me,” Greg slurred. “We’ve got her.”

“Excellent.” She smiled. “Don’t do anything yet. Just keep her there. I’ll be in touch.”

“Whatever you say, baby.”

“Oh! By the way, John Wolfe’s house seems to have burned to the ground.”

Greg laughed. “Yeah, what a shame.”

“So where would he go?”

There was a moment’s silence before he answered. “Probably Charley’s.”

“Charley?”

“Yeah, Crazy Charley. He’s some kind of medicine man or some shit like that.”

“Do you know where he lives?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Just give me directions.” She grabbed a pad and pen. “I’ll fill you in later.”

She scribbled down the directions then tossed the pad on the bed beside her purse. “Okay, lover, stay close by the phone. I’ll be in touch.”

She smiled to herself then placed another call. It rang four times before a man answered.

“Davenport residence, may I help you?”

“Maurice Davenport, please.”

“Mr. Davenport is not in at present, may I take a message?”

“No.” Iris hesitated. “Do you happen to know where I can reach him? This is his attorney in Atlanta, Ms. Waters. It’s very important.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Waters, but I cannot divulge that information. However, if you’d like—”

“I am sure that Maurice will be very displeased when he discovers that our negotiations with Turner Broadcasting have fallen through solely because you would not give me a number where I could reach him!” she snapped imperiously.

“Oh! Well…well, in that case, I suppose it would be all right. He left early this morning for Bryson. He can be reached at the estate of Mr. Winston Holling.”

“Thank you.” Iris hung up. She was surprised by that news.
Wonder what made him come up here
? she wondered then dismissed it. She would find out from Greg what was going on. Right now she had other matters that required her attention.

* * * * *

Wyatt was pacing the floor like a caged animal. Ever since Chance left he had been feeling more anxious and edgy. Not to mention the fact that if he allowed himself to be still, flashbacks of what had happened in the forest would compete with older memories, such as what happened in Iraq. The images of what had happened with Iris and Chance were so emotional he forced himself not to dwell on them.

That gave the memory of Iraq control of his mind. Time and again he would see DJ and Fish as they raped the woman. And each time rage would threaten to consume him. He didn’t understand why the memory of DJ and Fish kept coming to mind. Especially in light of all that was going on in the present. All he was sure of was that the memory seemed to fuel the rage that was bubbling just below the surface and the strain of keeping the rage at bay was beginning to wear him down.

“Damn!” He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes in an attempt to dispel the images, then looked out the window. Chance should have gotten back by now. “Where is she?” he asked for the fifth time in as many minutes.

“She’ll be back,” John replied. “Just settle down. She’s only been gone for—”

“Eighty-three minutes! She said she’d be back in no more than an hour!”

“Wyatt, just calm down.” John got up and stepped in his path. “And sit down! That pacing’s driving me crazy.”

“I can’t!” Wyatt walked around him and headed for the door. “I’m going to find her.”

“Sit down,” Tsa’li said from across the room.

Wyatt turned and looked at him and saw the hard mask that served as expression for Tsa’li’s lined face. Suppressing a curse, he took a seat.

* * * * *

Iris was only ten minutes away from where she had been told she could find Wyatt when she picked up her cell phone from the car seat. Her call was answered on the second ring.

“Hi, honey,” she said excitedly when Greg’s voice came on the line. “I need you to do something for me.”

“What?”

“I think I know the perfect way to get Wyatt’s attention. This is sure to get him headed your way. First of all, send some of your boys over to keep an eye out at Tsa—Charley’s,” she corrected herself. “I want to know the moment Wyatt leaves.”

“And second?”

“I want you to call me right back and we’re going to act out a little scenario for Wyatt’s benefit.”

“What kind of scenario?”

“One that’s going to send him into orbit,” she said with a smile then began to explain.

* * * * *

While Greg was on the phone, Chance was pacing the floor of the bedroom where she was under guard. She could not figure out what was going on but she had to before someone else got hurt. If she didn’t return to Tsa’li’s soon, Wyatt was bound to go looking for her, and when he found the truck abandoned at the motel he would know something was wrong.

She jerked around as Greg entered the room. He was holding a glass in one hand, and he appeared as if he would not be standing much longer if he continued to drink. Chance thought that maybe she could use his condition to her advantage. Forcing a smile to her face she sat down on the end of the bed. “So, what now? Or is this your idea of an exciting date?”

Greg sneered and walked over to stand in front of her. “Well, to be honest, your attire doesn’t exactly inspire me.”

She looked down at her clothes then shrugged. “I didn’t exactly have time to change. If you’d like I’ll go back to the hotel and get cleaned up and into something…more appropriate.”

“Oh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” He dismissed the suggestion and downed half his drink. Chance watched him suspiciously as he turned and walked to the door. “I have a call to make. Why don’t you put your pretty little head to coming up with some way we can entertain ourselves?”

She wanted to spit at him but instead she remained still and silent. She had to find a way to get out of there.

* * * * *

Wyatt was off the couch and out the door before the truck stopped in front of the house. Billy Hawkes jumped out and ran to the house at full tilt. “They’ve got her!”

Wyatt didn’t ask who Billy was talking about. He didn’t have to. John appeared at the door. “Come inside,” he said, taking Wyatt’s arm.

Wyatt allowed John to pull him inside but he didn’t sit down. “Tell us,” Tsa’li said as soon as Billy entered.

“I was just driving by and saw them! One of Holling’s men was shoving her in the back of a car and another was in the parking lot being mauled by this huge wolf. I followed the car and when I realized they were headed for the Holling estate I headed over here.”

Tsa’li nodded but didn’t comment. John looked over at Wyatt who was pulling on his coat. “Wyatt, call Tom. Let the law handle this. Kidnapping’s a felony. We’ve got him dead to right this time.”

“And just what do you think Tom can do? He’s got no authority in Bryson. You’ve been hammering me to get involved ever since I got here. Well, I’m involved so why the sudden change of heart?”

“I haven’t changed my—never mind, just call the police in Bryson.”

Wyatt’s laugh was devoid of humor. “Yeah, right. Like Holling doesn’t own every one of them. I’ve got to go after her, Dad.”

“No,” Tsa’li spoke up.

Wyatt turned to him with an expression like a thundercloud on his face. Tsa’li stood, seemingly unaffected by Wyatt’s anger. “It is not time.”

“Not the right time? Grandfather, there’s never been a more right time. I have to save her.”

“Sit down,” Tsa’li ordered.

“No, not this time.”

He and Tsa’li locked eyes. For several long moments there was a thick silence in the room as they stared at one another. Suddenly Wyatt whirled around. The sound of a car engine came from outside.  He ran to the door and flung it open. Almost as soon as he did, he turned around and slammed it shut again. John looked at him in surprise.

“Iris.” Wyatt’s voice was almost a growl.

“What’s she doing here?” John asked. “After what happened earlier I wouldn’t think she’d come within ten miles of you.”

“Yeah, go figure,” Wyatt grumbled.

A moment later a knock sounded at the door. John got up and went to the door when Wyatt remained unmoving. “What can I do for you, Miss Waters?”

“Actually it’s what I can do for you that brings me here,” she said in a rushed and anxious tone. “Can I come in?”

John stepped aside for her to enter.

“Get out!” Wyatt shouted as soon as she walked in.

“Wyatt, please,” she pleaded with him. “I just want to help.”

“Help? With what?”

She looked from him to John. “I was at my hotel, packing to leave and I got this call.. I recorded it and came straight over. I think all of you should hear it.”

John looked from her to Wyatt then back at her. “What kind of call?”

“From Greg Holling.”

Wyatt’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Why would Holling call you?”

“Apparently he found out that I’m your attorney,” she replied as she pulled a cassette from her purse. “Will you please listen to this? Please, Wyatt. I know that you’re angry with me and you have every right to be. What I did was wrong. I wanted you and I didn’t stop to think about the consequences of my actions. All I could see was how I felt about you and I let it overrule my good sense. I know that you don’t care about me and that it’s Chance you love. Just like I know that I’ve caused you both a lot of pain. I just want to make up for it. Please, I won’t ask any more of you. Just listen to the tape. It’s important.”

He hesitated for a moment then nodded. She took her phone from her purse. A moment later everyone could hear the voices.

“I’m sorry to make you wait,” Iris’ voice came first. “I had left the water on in the bathroom. What can I do for you Mr. Holling?”

“Let’s just say that I’m calling to do you a favor, Ms. Waters.”

“What kind of favor?”

“Let’s just say I’m going to save you from the same fate that awaits Ms. Porter.”

“Look, Mr. Holling, I really don’t have time for this so if you’ll excuse me—”

“You listen to me, you Indian fucking slut! If you want to keep your ass in one piece I’d advise you shut your fucking trap and open your ears. I know you’re working with those goddamn Indians, and so do a lot of other people—people who don’t like the idea of whites getting mixed up with animals. Like Ms. Porter. See, she made the mistake of taking sides with those savages. She even climbed in bed with one. Now, she’s gonna pay.”

“What are you talking about? Where’s Ms. Porter? What have you done to her?”

“Nothing—yet. But you can bet your ass I’m going to. In fact, I’m gonna take a lot of pleasure in it. When I get through fucking that bitch I’m gonna give her to my boys and when they’ve had their fun I’m gonna slit her fucking throat.”

“You do realize that as an officer of the court, I’m duty-bound to report this conversation to the authorities, don’t you?”

“You go right ahead, Ms. Lawyer Lady. See how far it gets you. See, I own the law around here, so it doesn’t mean shit what you do.”