Shit!So typically Travis, taking off like a one-man demolition crew. Confident and bold, but never reckless. If there was a right man for the job, it was Travis. MacGyver reached for his cell phone and dialed number two in his favorites list. Hopefully, his friend remembered to put his phone on silent.
“You okay, Bro?” When Travis answered, it sounded as though he was shouting over a backdrop of other noises.
Between the sounds erupting from his phone and the din the chopper created, MacGyver’s head might just explode. “I’ll live. Where are you? What’s all that racket?”
Travis laughed. “I’m following your woman, and let me just say I wouldn’t want to be those poor bastards if she ever gets her hands free.” He laughed again, followed by more clattering sounds and then he swore. “North of the golf course, a van picked up Kellie and three of those gorillas. The others looked like they were waiting around for something. Instructions, maybe. Palazzi probably still wants to get his hands on Charlie, because, without some leverage, he’s gonna have a hell of a time getting Kellie to give up anything.”
MacGyver glanced at Charlie. He seemed more alert, paying attention to MacGyver’s end of the conversation. Anxiety and concern lined his face.
“I…uh…borrowed a sweet little Dodge Charger from one of the golfers at the course, but this road we’re on definitely wasn’t made for horse power and performance tires. Hey, do you suppose our insurance covers this?”
MacGyver sighed. Obviously, Travis was on an adrenaline high. “Are you headed toward Coeur d’Alene? Send me the coordinates from your GPS. If we can figure out where they’re going, Blake can get ahead of them and drop me off. With a little luck, we might be able to squeeze them between us.” They had a chance, though a slim one, of getting Kellie back before Palazzi got ahold of her.
A ping told him he’d received Travis’s text containing his GPS coordinates. MacGyver strode toward Blake, only half listening as Travis talked in his ear.
“It makes sense that Palazzi is still in the area. He wouldn’t leave when his target’s here. By now, he knows his men have her, so he’s waiting, probably somewhere isolated.”
MacGyver winced, all too aware why the prick would need a secluded spot. A muscle flexed in his jaw as he fought to compartmentalize the emotions bombarding him. “Don’t forget—he wants Charlie. That’s no doubt what the rest of his men are waiting for. Palazzi might try to broker a trade, knowing damn good and well he isn’t about to give us Kellie.”
“Damn straight. Talk to Charlie. Make sure he understands the futility of that scenario in case Palazzi contacts him. Hell, Kellie will kill both of us if we lose Charlie too.”
MacGyver tapped Blake on the arm and pointed to his ears. Blake slipped the headphones off. “Damn, MacGyver. I thought you were down for the count. Glad to see you’ve rejoined us.”
“Hang on, Travis.” MacGyver called up the text and stuck it in front of Blake. “Can you get us here without tipping off the dirtballs in the van Travis is following?”
Blake’s countenance brightened. “Hell yeah. Now we’re talking.” He banked left and increased airspeed.
MacGyver gave Blake a thumbs-up before he turned toward Charlie.
“Damned if this road doesn’t look like it’s heading uphill, away from the lake. You don’t suppose—” Travis’s voice rose. “Would he take Kellie back to Charlie’s cabin? It’s secluded enough.”
“He might. Especially if he wanted to make it easy for Charlie to find them. It’s worth a try. Stay on them, Travis. I’ll have Blake get close enough to surveil the cabin—see if there’s anyone around. Get in touch if anything changes.”
“Ten-four. Good to have you back, buddy.” Travis ended the call.
MacGyver returned to Blake and explained what he wanted to do. Then he approached Charlie, motioning for Jeremy to join them.
As soon as MacGyver sat beside Charlie, Chip crawled in his lap and licked his face. MacGyver scratched the dog’s ears.Yeah, I’m worried about her too, boy.
“He likes you, Son.” Charlie’s sad smile battered away at MacGyver’s guilt. “You must be all right. He doesn’t save just anyone’s life.”
MacGyver frowned. What was Charlie talking about?
“Chip jumped out of the cargo bay and wrestled a knife from the guy who sacked you.” Charlie’s voice broke, and he turned away, obviously unwilling to fall apart in front of MacGyver and the marshal.
MacGyver could relate.
“Yeah, that was after Kellie put three slugs in the dirtbag. When the dog got him far enough away from you, her fourth shot shut him down permanently. She never hesitated. It was a sight to see, and I’m fairly sure the rest of them saw who killed him.” Jeremy shook his head, and his unspoken meaning was obvious.
The men who’d taken Kellie knew she’d killed one of their own, and now she was at their mercy. They were free to exact any punishment they chose. No wonder Charlie was half dazed. Worry would do that to a father.
“Kellie and I got you onboard, and I thought she was in too…but she turned back to grab the dog and throw him inside. The first rocket blast knocked her down, and things went to hell from there. By the time we got straightened out, Kellie was being used as a shield and we were looking at the rocket end of a loaded Bazooka.
How the hell was MacGyver supposed to deal withthat? She’d still be safe in the chopper if she hadn’t sacrificed everything to save his ass. His last words to her had been curt and impatient.What if—no, don’t go there. Shit!This was his fault. He should have been taking care of her—not the other way around. Black rage boiled up inside him until hate gave him purpose.If they hurt her, I’ll track them down—every last one of them.
He struggled to put his fury back in its proper compartment before he spoke. “We’ll find her, Charlie. We think they’re taking her to the cabin, and we’re headed there right now. Blake will drop me as close as he can.” MacGyver rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to dull the pain throbbing in his temple.
Charlie nodded. “Bring her back, Son.” His eyes held a desperate plea.