aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire) (21 page)

Read aHunter4Life (aHunter4Hire) Online

Authors: Cynthia Clement

“How
can you live with yourself?” Selena’s voice caught in her throat. “You’re a
monster.”

“I’m
the middleman. I broker the deals, that’s all. It’s strictly business. What
happens after I exchange them isn’t my concern.” David rolled his eyes at her
and turned back to Partlan. He crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve told you
what I know, so you can leave now.”

“That’s
not possible.”

Partlan
glanced at Catal and he in turn looked at her. Catal took her arm and pulled
her close. “It’s best we leave.”

Selena
looked at David and saw confusion in his eyes. “You could leave him for the
police.”

“We
already did that with the Gordon brothers. This man has done damage to many
children. He has no honor.”

Selena
bit her lip. “You can’t just kill him.”

“Yes.
We can.”
Catal’s
voice was firm.

Selena
let him lead her to the door. She knew that Catal was right. The man was a
monster and his connections would probably ensure that he never saw jail time.
In a few weeks, he’d be back in business and more children would be kidnapped.
She couldn’t live with herself if another child was harmed.

She
turned back to look at David Hendry. The man’s eyes narrowed at her glance and then
he reached toward
Partlan’s
gun. Partlan stopped his
hand with his own. Both of them had hold of the pistol, pulling back and forth
between then.
Partlan’s
face was impassive.

Partlan
was bigger and stronger.

Hendry’s
hand was bent back and the pistol was aimed at his chest. Hendry grimaced as he
struggled to deflect the weapon away from him. The gun jerked. The silent shot
seemed more deafening than a normal blast. Hendry’s eyes widened and he looked
down. He’d been shot in the heart. A stain of bright red blood was seeping
through the pink cotton of his shirt. The acrid smell of spent gunpowder filled
the air.

Partlan
was unhurt.

He
pulled the pistol out of Hendry’s hand and let him slump to the floor.

“It
would have been better to have the names of the people he gave the boys to.”
Partlan shook his head.

“His
computers and papers may lead us to them.”
Malac’s
voice was hopeful. “Should we search for the whereabouts of other missing
children?”

“The
police will take care of it. They have the resources to track down his network
and arrest them.” Partlan stepped away from the body. “Search the house. The
boys may still be here.”

Malac
and
Ranon
left the room.

“Why
haven’t the neighbors ever called the police?” Selena went to the front door
and looked out the decorative circular window at eye height. “Surely they’ve
heard and seen things coming from this house?”

“My
guess is the place has been soundproofed.”

Catal
went to the wall and knocked on it. A dull thud was his answer. He pulled back
the curtains. The windows had large dark cushions protecting them. From the
street, it would look as if they were drapes.

“The
man had a lot to hide.” Partlan looked around the room. “Who knows how many
children he brought in and out of this house, or how long he kept them here. He
could not risk his neighbors finding out about his activities.”

Selena
fought back her nausea. David Hendry had been twisted. To buy and sell children
was horrible. Worse, he had been living in a normal neighborhood and looked
like an average person. Who would have guessed the horribly diseased person he
really was. Her mind shied away from the atrocities that the man might have
committed, and the fact that his house had hid them all.

Malac
called from the next room. “I have logged onto his computer, but there is only
private photos and games on it. There is not even business correspondence.”

“It
will be hidden amongst pictures or other files.” Catal left Selena and went to
Malac.

Selena
stood in the center of the room and forced her gaze away from David Hendry’s
body. Soon they would have what they needed and could leave this horrible
place. She crossed her arms and rubbed them. A shiver of cold raced up her
spine.

Ranon
entered the room from the basement area. “I have searched the house. There is
no one else here.”

“Good.”
Partlan put his gun away in his waistband.

“There
were a number of locked rooms in the basement. I went through them all.”

“That
must have been where they kept the children before he arranged for them to be
transported.” Selena’s voice was a whisper.

She
looked toward David Hendry’s body. It was just as well he was dead. A monster
like him didn’t deserve to live. She fought back nausea when she considered all
of the lives he’d ruined. Death was too easy for him. She straightened her
shoulders. There was no reason to dwell on this. She needed to focus and find
strength so that
Tarrin
and Gates could be found.

“I’ve
found something.”
Catal’s
voice rose from the other
room. “It’s not much, but it seems to be a snippet of an email.”

“Who
is it to?” Partlan started out of the room.

“There
is only one word. Diamond.”

Selena
went to stand beside Catal. He reached an arm around her waist and brought her
closer. A sense of hope and love filled her. She leaned against him. Every
muscle in her body relaxed as a warm heat suffused her.

“The
truck must have the word Diamond in it.” Partlan leaned down to look at the
monitor. “Search the internet for trucking companies with that name.”

Catal’s
fingers flew over the keyboard. “There is a Diamond Freezer Haulage listed for
California. It’s a start. We’ll ask at the truck stop.”

Partlan
nodded. “We are wasting time here. Bring the laptop. We will check it out more
fully on the road.”

Malac
packed up the computer and started out of the house. Catal led her past the
living room and out the rear door. The night was cool, and except for the
occasional car horn, it was quiet. The shrubbery around the house hid their
presence. They left the neighborhood without passing another vehicle.

The
drive to the truck stop took about thirty minutes. The whole time she sat
beside Catal and let him hold her close. His body warmth slowly penetrated the
chill that surrounded her. Soon they would have a lead to the boys. She focused
on that thought.

When
they reached the Castaic truck stop, they pulled into a large parking area.
They slowed the van down and went up and down the long lines of parked trucks.
She fought the urge to scream in frustration when they had finished perusing
all of the transports. None of them had the word Diamond on it. Her hands
clenched tight in her lap. Catal placed his over hers and a wave of peace
descended on her. Her tension eased.

Hope
filled her.

She
looked up into his eyes and was mesmerized by the calm strength she saw there.
He would never let her down. He would always be there for her. With a sigh she
buried her face into his chest, letting the stroking of his hand on her back
soothe her fears.

The
boys would be found alive.

Firbin
stopped the van with a screech of the brakes. “I recognize that trucker. His
name is George. We met him when I was traveling with
Ardal
after we crashed on this planet. We were being pursued by a biker gang called
the FD Warriors.”

“Will
he help?”

“He
helped us with the bikers.”
Firbin
opened his door.
“I am certain he will again.”

Firbin
jumped out of the van. Partlan and
Breanon
followed.
They were gone several minutes, which seemed more like hours. Selena stayed
where she was, letting
Catal’s
calm flow through her.

“We
will have the boys soon.”

“I
know.” Selena looked up into
Catal’s
eyes. “
Tarrin
is still alive. I know it.”

“I
haven’t been able to contact him.”
Catal’s
voice was
pained. “He may not be able to connect, but we will find him.”

“I
trust you.” Selena stretched up and kissed him. “I know now that you have never
failed me.”

Catal’s
gazed at her with an intensity that burned through to her soul. “I would die
before I let any harm come to you or
Tarrin
.”

The
opening of the front door broke the spell. The others jumped into the vehicle.

“The
truck went north. It had the words Diamond Freezer Haulage on its side.”
Firbin
shifted the van into gear and was back on the
highway within seconds. “It only left about fifteen minutes ago. I should have
no trouble catching it.”

Selena
heaved a sigh.

Soon
she would have
Tarrin
in her arms.

The
van swayed and bounced as
Firbin
sped down the
highway. Catal kept her close. She could feel the pounding of his heart against
her ear. It was steady and sure. Almost an hour passed before Catal shifted in
the seat. The van was slowing down.

“There
it is.”
Firbin
put the brakes on.

He
swung the vehicle into a rest area and pulled up beside a semi with the words
Diamond Freezer Haulage. The area was dark. The only illumination was from the
truck’s headlights. Selena eased away from Catal, who was checking the magazine
of his pistol. All the men were arming themselves for a battle. A shiver went
through her. What if one of the boys was shot by mistake.

“We
wouldn’t do that.”
Catal’s
low voice brushed past her
ear. “We will secure them first.”

“Promise?”

“Always.”
Catal pulled her close and let his lips brush against hers.

“I
just want our son back alive.”

“As
do I.” Catal squeezed her tight before releasing her and moving toward the
van’s rear door. “You stay here with
Firbin
.”

He
opened the door and jumped down with the rest of the men. She rubbed her arms
with her hands to keep the chill of fear at bay. She felt useless, but it was
safer for her to stay here. Catal and the others didn’t need her interference.
Heaving a sigh, she leaned her head against the metal side of the van and
waited. Soon
Tarrin
would be in her arms.

She
was filled with contentment until the loud retort of a gun ripped through the
air and her heart.

 

Chapter
16

 

Darkness
surrounded and protected Catal.

The
scent of diesel, from the running truck, filled his nostrils as he eased his
way around the rear of the transport and moved to the cab. A man was visible
within the circle of the semi’s headlights. His back was toward him and he was
walking in the direction of the restrooms. There was only one other vehicle in
the parking lot and it was leaving. It would be easier to ambush the truck
driver before he got to the building.

Partlan
motioned for him to follow their quarry.

Catal
gripped his gun.

Edging
away from the side of the transport, he eased his breathing. All of his focus
was on the driver. His son was somewhere inside the truck, but he had to be
certain. His concentration and determination increased with each step he took.
He needed information from the driver. That man held the key to his son’s
freedom and he intended to get it.

The
man he followed was short and wide. He walked with a limp and his body looked as
if it were permanently bent at the shoulders. The running engine of the truck
masked
Catal’s
footsteps. He slipped up beside the
driver and nodded. The man’s eyes widened in surprise. Before he could react,
Catal grabbed him around the neck and covered his mouth with his hand. He
dragged him off the paved path and into the bushes behind the building.

Ranon
and Malac joined them.

“Where
are they?”
Catal’s
voice was a growl as he eased his
hand away from the man’s mouth.

“Look
man, I don’t carry money with me.” The driver’s voice shook.

“We
want the boys.” Catal pushed his captive against the side of the building and
shoved his gun under his jaw. “We know you made arrangements to pick them up in
Castaic. Are they in your cab, or the trailer?”

“I
didn’t pick up anything in Castaic.” The man’s hand shook as he lifted his
keys. “You can check the truck out, but all I’m carrying is frozen food.”

Catal
took the keys and threw them at
Ranon
.

Soon
the boys would be free.

He
pushed back a sense of elation. He still had to deal with the driver. He turned
to Malac and signalled him to hold the man while he went to follow
Ranon
. He wanted to be present when his son was found.
Ranon
moved to exchange places with Catal.

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