Adrift: The Complete Novel (13 page)

“Looks like this is your lucky day, Hollie.”

A look of confusion. Hollie had expected his executioner. “What are you talking about?”

“Well, there’s been a little…delay in getting the paperwork processed. That means that you’ll live to see another day. I thought I’d bring you the good news.”

“Why should I care?”

Laney shrugged. “Thought a Godly man like yourself might like to enjoy his last hours on earth. It’s a gift.”

Hollie laughed out loud. “You fucking hypocrite. Get out my sight. You mention God again and I might puke on your pretty little shoes.”

Pulling a chair over, Laney took a seat across from his captive. “Very well. I’m bored. How about we chat a bit?”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“Not even about Mr. Briggs, the Marine sniper?”

Hollie’s glared. “Don’t you dare.”

“What? Can’t we honor his memory? Such a hero and all? Seems only fitting…”

“You don’t deserve to talk about that boy. He was a good kid and you had him killed.”

Laney nodded thoughtfully, almost sadly. “That’s true. He might have been a mighty foe. I’m sure you were proud of his being nominated for the Medal of Honor?”

The look of confusion on Hollie’s face said it all.

“You didn’t know?” Laney’s devilish smile spreading. Hollie shook his head, the tears coming again. “That’s too bad. I wonder why he didn’t tell you. Why do you think that is?” Not a word from Hollie. “Maybe you weren’t as close as you let on. Did you know about his PTSD?”

The sobs started. Hollie coughed up more blood, moaning like a man who’d just lost his wife.

Laney went to put a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder, but thought better of it. He stood up. “Well, at least that should give you something to think about. Max Laney not only took your land, but killed your hero friend. How fitting.”

He turned and headed to the stairs, leaving Hollie to his searing grief. 

Chapter 28

After three hours of traipsing through soppy fields and obsidian woods, Chief Knox called the search off. They’d try again in the morning, possibly calling in the search dogs from the sheriff’s office.

Knox sat in his car, eyes closed, heat blasting, trying to warm his shivering body. Despite being summer, the hours of trudging in the rain had taken a toll on everyone, the out of shape Knox more than the rest. A knock on the window.

It was one of his officers. Knox reluctantly rolled down the window three inches. “What is it?”

“You want us back at the office?”

What Knox wanted was a hot meal and a shower. “Tell everyone to go home, get some shut eye, and meet up just after sunrise.”

“You got it, chief.”

Knox rolled the window up, once again relishing the hot air coming out of the vents. He waited for the rest of the cruisers to leave and placed a call to Max Laney, his fifth of the night.

“Did you find him?”

Knox exhaled, exhausted. “We didn’t. I’m sending the boys home and we’ll head back out in the daylight.” He waited for a reply, wondering what Laney was thinking.

“Thank you for trying. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.”

“I will, Mr. Laney. Have a good night.”

Knox threw the phone on the passenger seat and shifted the car into drive. A very hot shower was calling.

+++

Max Laney was as close to panicking as he’d been in years, maybe decades. His plans had flown with the disappearance of Henry Ellison.

Renley Watts watched the old man pace, wondering what his next move would be. He was ready to serve as needed, for a price. Why not make a rich deal even more lucrative? “How can I help, Mr. Laney?”

His employer looked up in surprise, having forgotten Watts standing in the corner. “I’m not sure there’s much we can do tonight. I’ve left a message with Ellison’s firm, they’ll get new paperwork out here in the morning with or without Henry.”

“So you need Herndon to stick around?”

“Of course, you idiot. We’ll have to re-sign everything. I can’t do that without him.” Laney slammed his palm on the granite countertop. “Dammit.”

+++

Hollie wallowed in misery, second-guessing his actions.
I should have let him leave
. The guilt weighed heavily on his sore shoulders. He wanted to die.

Forgive me, Lord
.

Chapter 29

Max Laney rose before sunrise. He’d become accustomed to functioning on little sleep, mostly with the help of repeated bladder calls during the night. What he would have paid for the body he’d once had.

Sipping an expresso, he looked up when Johnny walked in, hours before his normal wakeup.

“Morning, granddad.”

“You’re up early.”

Johnny grabbed a coffee mug. “Thought you might need some help. What can I do?”

Laney hadn’t expected Johnny’s sudden turn. The previous night Johnny had kept his mouth shut, doing his best to be useful. “Why don’t you get Hollie something to eat and drink. I don’t want him to pass out when the lawyer gets here.”

Johnny sipped his coffee. “Did they find Mr. Ellison?”

“No. Knox said they’re going back out this morning. I was thinking about heading out there later.”

“Want me to come with you? I can drive.”

Laney motioned his grandson closer, lowering his voice. “I want you to stay here and keep an eye on Watts.”

Johnny’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”

Laney shook his head. “He’s getting a little full of himself. Asking a lot of questions. I don’t trust him. He knows too much. Your only job is to watch him and make sure he’s not getting in the way.”

“Yes, sir.”

Maybe he could have Johnny kill the man. It wouldn’t hurt to get the ludicrous amount of cash back that he’d paid the mercenary. Max Laney smiled, the pieces coming together in his head.

+++

Police officers trickled into the office, all tired from the previous night’s search. They drank coffee and devoured donuts waiting for Chief Knox to arrive. He was usually a couple minutes late, but thirty minutes was pushing it. More than one person wondered aloud whether the chief was still asleep.

+++

Max Laney pulled his SUV off the road, looking down to where Henry Ellison’s Cadillac still sat, surrounded by yellow police tape. Knox and his men weren’t there yet. Laney waited, counting down the minutes, listening to the rain beating down.

+++

“You think I should call him?” asked one of the Defuniak Springs cops.

“I already did. No answer.”

“That’s not like the chief. I’m gonna drive over to his place. Maybe he forgot to charge his phone again.”

The others laughed. Chief Knox was not known for his tech savvy. He often asked his deputies to type a text for him in reply to a message from his on-again off-again girlfriends.

“Take your time. I’m in no rush to walk around in that rain again.”

More laughing as they continued to wait.

+++

He’d sat for close to an hour before calling Knox. The lawyer would be at the house in thirty minutes. Laney’s patience was paper thin as he listened to the ringing on the other end, Chief Knox’s voicemail message finally played. Ending the call, Laney dialed the police station.

“Defuniak Springs police.”

“This is Max Laney for Chief Knox.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Laney. The chief isn’t in yet.”

“He told me last night that there would be a search party out in the morning to look for Henry Ellison.”

“Yes, sir. We’ve been waiting for him. Just sent an officer to his house. I think he slept through his alarm.”

Laney counted to ten, breathing slowly, trying to stay calm. “Will you please have the chief call me when he gets in?”

“Yes, sir.”

Henry Ellison and now Darryl Knox. Both missing.

He dialed Watts.

“Watts here.”

“I need you to meet me…now.”

+++

Johnny looked in the mirror, moving his head from side to side. His wounds would heal. It was his pride that had taken a beating.

His grandfather had tried to groom him to take over the family business for years, but he’d always taken it for granted. After his father’s death, he’d moved into the position to inherit the family fortune.

The past week had shown Johnny that his future as head of the family was in jeopardy. He liked his life and didn’t want it to change. Things would be even better when he took over.

A knock on the bathroom door.

“I’m in here.”

“Hey, it’s Renley. Your granddad just called, I’m heading out to meet him.”

“Hold on.”

Johnny wiped a dribble of blood from his chin with a wad of toilet paper, chucking it into the trash when he was done. He opened the door.

“Where is he?”

“He’s where they found the lawyer’s car.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Renley rolled his eyes. Max Laney he could deal with. Johnny not so much. “Just keep an eye on Herndon, okay?”

“I’m not an idiot.”

“I didn’t say that, I…never mind.”

Johnny watched the man go. Maybe his grandfather would let him tear the pig apart soon. He had to get his pent up aggression out somehow.

+++

Watts pulled up next to Laney’s SUV fifteen minutes later. He hurried through the downpour and hopped in the passenger side door. “Where are the cops?”

“Looking for the chief.”

“What happened?”

Laney told him what he knew.

“You think they’re telling the truth?” asked Watts.

“Of course. What I can’t figure out is what happened to Knox.”

“Could he be shacked up with a girlfriend? I’ve heard he’s got a couple.”

“It’s possible. I want you to find him.”

“What about Herndon?”

“Johnny can take care of him until you get back.”

Watts wanted to protest, hoping to stay close to the action and the likelihood of making more money. He held his tongue. “Any ideas on where I should start?”

Laney frowned. “Isn’t that
your
job?”

Watts sighed with a nod. “I’ll get right on it.”

“And be quick about it! Something’s not right here.”

Watts couldn’t disagree.

Chapter 30

The police found Chief Knox’s squad car in a ditch now overflowing with water. Knox wasn’t in the car and there weren’t any signs of where he’d gone.

Just as they’d done the night before for Henry Ellison, the officers donned their rain gear and went searching for their boss.

+++

“In a ditch?” Max Laney stared out the window incredulously. What else could the storm throw at him?

“Yes, sir. They’re looking for him now. I just thought you’d like to know,” said the dispatcher.

“Okay. Thank you.”

Laney was late for his meeting. Johnny called to say the new attorney was waiting. He’d instructed his grandson to make sure Hollie looked presentable and not to lay a hand on him.

“I’ll take care of it, granddad.”

At least Johnny was one less thing he had to worry about. Maybe he would get his shit together. He hadn’t told Johnny, but he’d recently taken steps to have the entire family business pass on to a cousin in Ft. Walton Beach, a man ten-years Laney’s junior, but a savvy financial advisor. Only time would tell whether Johnny could regain his full favor.

Just as he went to pickup his phone, a shadow passed across his peripheral vision. Laney’s head snapped left. Nothing, but then again, he could barely see a thing through the driving rain. He slid his revolver out of his pocket, just in case.
Probably a bird
.

Wary, Laney shifted the SUV into reverse, making sure his four wheel drive was still engaged. As the vehicle rolled back, a clod of mud hit the windshield, making Laney jump. He pressed the brake, engaging the wipers, trying to see out, holding the revolver tight.

It was impossible to see more than a ten feet into the murk.
What the…
Another pile of mud hit the back window. Laney didn’t wait. Trusting the off road capabilities of the SUV, he stomped on the gas. Tires spun, trying to get a hold in the slick ground.
BOOM! BOOM!
Laney felt the front of the cross-over drop, followed by the low tire pressure warning lights pinging on.