Carter's Treasure (28 page)

“Well sure, honey…just be sure you have one of the guys come along with you.”

“Really? Oh, thank you, thank you, George. I promise I won’t tear it up.”

“You sure you’re up to it?” he asked.

“No, I’m okay, really. I just need something, you know…normal…something to make it go away for a few minutes.”

His silence told her he understood.

“I’ll call Joey and have him get my bike ready and have James come with me,” Molly said.

“All right, Molly…just be careful.”

“Okay, George, and thank you.”

“Any time, sweetheart, love you.”

“I love you too.”

Molly walked out of the bedroom and went straight to Karen and hugged the woman as tight as she could. Karen’s floral perfume seemed an anchor of some sort, the scent never changing over the years, always the same, always there. Without words, she went to James’s waiting arms. The man might work at his design table most of the day, but his form never showed it. He was probably missing the gym just as much as she was. Molly had always loved the differences between the two. They were a perfect match and one didn’t go without the other. When she needed comforting, Karen carried a gentleness that calmed her heart, and James had the strength in his hold that always let her know everything would be fine.

She plopped herself onto one of the open kitchen chairs and waited for the questions. The sooner she got them out of the way, the sooner she could be sitting on her bike.

Karen’s eyebrow shot up, and with her finger pointed at Molly, she gestured up and down at Molly’s attire. “Um, sweetie…you are not going running. I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“Why do you look like you’re up to something?” James tilted his head, his probing eyes quite obviously trying to figure her plan out.

Over the years, she had seen that look more times than she could ever count. While Brody loved her dearly and he was an amazing man, he had been a mischievous kid. He never got into any major trouble of any kind, never had even a brush with the law, but the boy had given James and Karen a run for their money. Brody had always drug Molly laughing behind him, constantly leaving her on the receiving end of that very same expression.

Molly shook her head and giggled for the first time in almost a day. “You know, I thought you’d trust me better than that these days.”

“Oh, baby girl, Brody ruined you there,” James said as he laughed at the familiar line.

“And like I always told you…I was the good one.”

“Was being the operative word there, sweetheart. That boy tarnished that halo of yours. We could always see through him, and you, my dear, were crystal clear. Just like now, I can see the gears turning in your head. You’ve got the start of your gear on, and I’d lay my money on the table that you think you’re going riding.”

Molly wiggled her eyebrows at the shit eating grin on James face. “Well, that’s why they pay you the big bucks…you’re so damned smart. And guess what, you’re coming with me, wise ass.”

Before he could argue, Molly threw her hand up. “George already said I could. He’s waiting for me. Said to come up and see him in the tower when I got down there.”

“You think you’re cute huh, baby girl? Outsmart the old man?”

She tried to smile at James’s teasing. Instead, she shook her head. “No. I just need it. Please? Will you take me?” Her words didn’t hold the same humor they did only seconds ago. They verged close to a desperate plea.

“Oh, honey, yes, I’ll take you down there. Did you already call Joe and have him start getting your bike ready?”

Molly nodded.

Karen gave her a sympathetic nod. “I’ll stay here and wait for Carter and then send him down to the track if you’re not already back.”

“Thanks, Karen. I know he’d be completely panicked if we were all gone when he shows up.”

“Well, I think that boy is a good one, that’s for sure. And he’s so stinking cute too.” Karen’s eyes went as wide as her smile.

Molly knew she was trying to bring her spirits back up. It was working. She grinned at Karen. “He’s hot, that’s for sure,” Molly’s tone softened, “He’s so sweet, Karen…I just love him.”

“I’m glad, sweetheart. You deserve it.” Karen squeezed Molly’s hand before standing. “You want something to eat?”

“Maybe after I ride?”

“Promise?”

Molly stood up and slipped her arms around Karen’s waist. “Promise.”

“All right, baby girl.” James stood up. “Let me top off my coffee and I’ll meet you in the trailer. Don’t go down there without me.”

“Are you kidding me? Hell no.” Molly knew she was safe walking from the motorhome to the bike trailer, it was a matter of feet and she had cops watching their whole area, but there was no way in hell she’d venture any further than that.

She opened the trailer door and glanced over her shoulder. “See you in a few minutes.” She blew him a kiss like she did every other time she left the house.

Molly was halfway between Carter’s motorhome and her bike semi when she heard a girl laugh. She looked to the side and saw the neon green and purple haired girl walking in her direction.

“Damn girl. They’ve got you locked up tighter than Fort Knox.”

Molly looked at Dylan’s new romance and her lip curled up in a skittish smile. The girl’s overbearing personality was a little much for Molly on a good day, much less this weekend.

“Oh, hi. I’m sorry…it’s Maggie, right?”

“Marcie. But you were close. Where ya going? I’ll walk with you. Dylan’s off somewhere and I’m bored.” The girl cracked a huge smile that sent a chill down Molly’s spine.

“Um…actually I’m…um…getting ready to practice.”

“Oh, well. I’ll come.”

Molly’s heart began to beat a little faster. She just couldn’t shake the girl. “Um?” Molly shook her head and backed away.

“Let me rephrase that.” Marcie grabbed Molly around the waist with one arm, pressing the blade of a sharp knife to Molly’s side with the other. “How about you come with me? We need to have a little chat.”

The chills that had rolled down Molly’s spine spread out and seeped into her veins. “Where are the cops?” Molly mumbled in almost a panic.

“See them over there?” Marcie nodded almost nonchalantly toward the table the two cops were standing by. “They just found another letter.”

“You?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“Just keep walking we’re going to go somewhere we can talk. In private.”

“How’d you know I was even coming out?” Molly asked as the safety of the four trailers disappeared behind her.

“I’ve been waiting for the perfect time. I could hear your phone call from the bedroom. Those camper walls are thin, you know?”

“How did the cops not see you?” Even though Molly knew she should keep her mouth shut, the questions continued to tumble from her mouth.

“They only walk around the back every once in awhile. Now quit asking questions. You’re pissing me off.”

Marcie increased the pressure on the knife, the blade digging in just enough to puncture the skin. Molly couldn’t contain the high-pitched yelp.

“Even think about screaming and you’re dead. Just keep walking and smile at the people that we walk by,” Marcie said through gritted teeth near Molly’s ear. She just barely loosened her hold. The two might appear they were old friends, though she dug the knife just a little deeper. Molly cursed the cold weather outside. If it wasn’t the middle of winter, the crazy bitch wouldn’t have that god-awful baggy coat on. Then the knife in her side would be visible to someone.

“Where are we going?” Molly’s worst fear was leaving the building. If they did, then Carter would never find her.

“I told you to shut up.”

Marcie continued to walk the perimeter of the pits, avoiding the majority of the people, zigzagging through the open spaces of semis. Molly was trying to gauge how much time had passed since she’d walked out the door, four, maybe five minutes? Surely James had made it to the rig and figured out she wasn’t there. Molly knew without a doubt he’d expect the worst. That would mean he’d call out an all-out hunt. That glimmer of hope kept her breathing slow. Marcie’s direction turned one last time and Molly knew she was a goner. Marcie chuckled proudly at Molly’s sigh of defeat.

Dylan’s motorhome.

He always parked it by his team’s bike rig. After all that had gone on, he’d done his best to not say two words to Molly…or Carter for that matter. She knew Marcie was right. No one would ever come looking there. Marcie pushed her inside and climbed in behind her and locked the door. Molly felt the trickle of blood flowing down her narrow waist, but was too terrified to check how bad it was.

Carter saw James come running at him, Joey and Brody on his heels. Mike came from the opposite direction and George from another. His hands started shaking so bad he could barely get his gloves off.

His mechanic had asked him to take his bike for a couple of laps after the meeting so he could test something. He should’ve told his manager to give him a few minutes—he should have gone to check on her first. The fear gripping him right then was so tight, he couldn’t even get questions out. His throat went dry and choked shut, the rest of him paralyzed by fear.

Carter knew James had found the answer to his question on his face. “Shit! She’s not here!” James shouted when he took in Carter’s expression

“They have the building locked down and surrounded, she’s only been missing less than ten minutes. She couldn’t have gotten far,” Mike said to them, before turning to the police officer standing by his side.

Carter finally found his voice, the shaky words tumbling out, “Wha…what happened? Where’s Molly?”

He knew it had to be bad, the way they all converged on him at once. The next moments all passed by in slow motion. He didn’t know which direction to turn, who to listen to first. All he knew was suddenly he was walking and then running...to the one person he trusted the least. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jesse running his way with Eli, the three of them ready to kill the one guy that had given Molly trouble from day one.

He didn’t expect Dylan to come around the corner whistling. Carter’s fist struck his jaw before Dylan could even ask what for. Eli had Dylan’s arms behind his back, holding him for Carter’s next swing, when Mike’s wrapped his arms around his younger brother. The screaming and yelling barely registered as it echoed around Carter, but he only heard his own words that dripped with hate.

“Where is she?”

“Who?”

He fought Mike’s hold, but his brother was trained. “You asshole! Molly, where…is…she?”

“I don’t know.”

“Bullshit! She’s missing and you’re involved.”

Carter watched Dylan try to wiggle out of Eli’s hold. Eli wasn’t going to let that happen. Eli yanked Dylan back, his grip tightening on the smaller man’s arms.

“Sterling, I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I was just coming back from a meeting. I’ll take you to my rig and coach. You can see for your fucking self.”

Carter pulled from Mike’s hold and took off running ahead of Dylan with Jesse and Mike right on his heels. Eli drug Dylan along behind. James and Brody had caught up just as the group of men descended on the spot where Dylan had parked. Mike motioned for the engine on the running bike to be cut.

The tell-tale scream of Molly’s panic attack shook Carter to his core.

Mike turned and yelled at the cops that were joining in. “Cuff him.” He pointed at Dylan who was struggling in Eli’s arms.

“I didn’t do anything.” Dylan’s words fell on deaf ears.

Carter took off in a rage for the motorhome door. “Carter, wait.” Mike jerked him back by both shoulders. “You can’t go in there.”

Carter tried to shake him off. “Mike!”

“Stay here, let me do my job. We don’t know what’s inside.“

“I know what’s inside. Molly!” His voice was desperate.

A rage swept through him. His heart was on the other side of that stupid ass trailer door and he wanted nothing more than to kick the fucking thing in and take back what was his. She needed him. He couldn’t stand by and let someone hurt her. He just couldn’t. Carter could feel his stomach start to turn against him, bile rushing up his throat.

“Damn it, Carter. Listen to me. We don’t know what we’re dealing with. You go barreling in there—you could get her killed. Now…stay.”

Molly saw the anger in Marcie fanning higher and higher. Now that the knife wasn’t pricking her skin, she could breathe, though she could feel the panic building, threatening to constrict her throat. She held perfectly still, standing in the middle of Dylan’s coach. She knew she was going to have to keep it together if she was going to make it out of there alive. She made a mental note of the layout, the type of windows, which ones would be big enough to crawl out of, anything she could use a weapon—if she got the chance.

“You don’t remember me, do you?”

Marcie’s words startled Molly and she blinked without responding as she stared blankly back at the deranged girl in front of her.