Bear with Me (Bear Mountain Patrol Series Book 1) (7 page)

Chapter 8

Tag took another sip of steaming black coffee as he watched Brody’s travel agency from his car across the street. Slivers of sunlight streamed through the early morning mist. Brody arrived 10 minutes ago, but hadn’t turned over the open sign on the door. The darkening sky confirmed the weather report of a morning storm. Temperatures plummeted. A few brave souls out and about pulled their jackets close as they moved briskly along the street.

The dashboard clock read 8:40am. Tapping his fingertips on the steering wheel, Tag glanced at his cell hoping to hear from Tyra or Lorenzo.

Last night Ryan regained consciousness but couldn’t recall anything. When he realized he was in the hospital and couldn’t search for Camilla, he broke down in tears then started gasping for air. The nurse came in and ushered them out for upsetting her patient. Tyra begged to be allowed to remain with her fiancé; her performance softened the heart of the nurse who granted her request.

Tag had waited in the hall and dealt with an aggravated Grizzle. The beast wanted to hunt down Ryan’s attacker. Each delay made Grizzle harder to handle. An hour later, Tag went in to see a much calmer Ryan.

“Will you find her for me?” Ryan asked in a low, somber tone. Fire blazed in his swollen eyes and Tag knew if he said no, Ryan would find a way to leave the hospital. Seeing such painful determination, Tag could only think how he’d feel if one of his sisters were missing and he couldn’t look for them. His throat squeezed so tight he could barely speak past the pain. Ryan had stepped into the gap from the death of Camilla’s father just as Tag would.

“Yes. I will,” Tag promised. With that commitment, finding Camilla Lopez became his mission. Grizzle grunted his agreement.

A tear rolled down Ryan’s cheek and he blinked a few times. He couldn’t use his arms so Tag moved closer, grabbed a tissue and wiped them away. “Thank you,” Ryan whispered.

Tag cleared his throat. “No problem. I’ll head to Loveland in a bit, watch the place and see what’s going on.”

After leaving the hospital, Tag returned home, shifted and released Grizzle in the mountains. Hour after hour Grizzle hunted for Ryan’s attacker until just before dawn, exhausting them both. Tag slept for two hours before heading to Loveland. Now he waited for an update on Ryan from Tyra and more news on this Brody character from Lorenzo.

Another hour passed. Very little activity happened on the street, shops opened but there wasn’t much foot traffic. His stomach growled. The massive breakfast he’d eaten at the buffet this morning wouldn’t hold him much longer. Just as he decided to go find food, a late model BMW pulled up in front of the agency.

Out of habit, Tag wrote down the license plate even though he’d remember. A tall, medium-built male stepped out the car and looked around. Tag rolled down his window and inhaled as the tailored man’s gaze locked on Tag for a brief second. Dark wavy hair, pin-striped custom suit, white shirt, red print tie, high-polished loafers and expensive cologne. Tag catalogued the man in a brief, thorough stare down.  After one last look around, the man straightened his jacket and walked inside.

His cell vibrated.
Lorenzo
. “Talk to me,” he said looking in the rearview mirror and watching the street.

“Brody’s got a personal offshore account and he does a lot of travel work for the city manager, Rex Green. Also there are random deposits for various amounts that don’t make sense.”

“So? The guy’s a travel agent, people pay him at different times.”

“Right, so why does he make deposits once every two weeks? Plus I couldn’t find any tours that his company has booked from the Loveland office in a year. That job with the baker may have been his first and last legitimate job.”

“Legitimate? What makes you say that?” Tag wanted to believe Brody snatched Camilla and had her stashed in one of the backrooms across the street. And all he had to do was walk in and save her. If the polished man made a fuss, Tag could release Grizzle, let him have some fun. But that happened in movies, not real life. He needed facts to track her and prayed it wouldn’t be too late.

“Paper trail. This guy has these agencies and isn’t doing business with the public. If he has one client, then why all the offices? Is he using the buildings for something else? Plus he makes deposits like he’s on commission or something. Never the same amount but always every two weeks.”

“Sounds like a pattern. Check out this license plate. This guy is inside with him now.” He rattled off the numbers.

“Got it,” Lorenzo said. “How’s Ryan? Any news?”

“Not yet. They messed him up man, gotta tell you. It’s going to take him a while to recover.” Tag hated leaving Ryan unprotected but he couldn’t be in two places at once. A beep sounded indicating he had another call.

“One second, I need to talk to Tyra,” he told Lorenzo.

“I’ll call back with information on the plate.”

“Tyra?”

“Yes. Sorry it took me so long to call but he had a rough night and I just woke up,” she said in a ragged whisper.

Thunder rumbled in the distance. Clouds darkened. The wind picked up debris causing papers and cans to dance in the street. He waved aside her concern. “No problem, how’s he this morning?”

She released a long sigh. “Still the same. Worried. Mad. Ornery. We’re waiting for the doctor but the nurse thinks he’ll be in here a few more days.”

Tag wasn’t surprised. Neither was he surprised when a car pulled up behind him and two men remained in their car, watching.

“Keep me updated and tell Ryan I’ll call later with an update.” He disconnected and watched as the male left Brody’s agency, climbed into his BMW then drove away. A man fitting Brody’s description walked outside the agency and went across the street to the post office without locking the door. Had someone come to work through the back? Tag had checked the rear when he arrived and didn’t see another exit which is why he sat out front. But he may have missed something or Brody was extremely trusting.

Either way, Tag needed food especially since he got very little rest yesterday. It never paid to deny Grizzle the essentials. He stepped out of his Land Rover and pressed the remote to lock the door before walking to the café a few doors down. He took a seat at the window and watched his car.

Not long after, Brody stepped inside the café. He walked to the counter and said brusquely, “Got my lunch?”

“Hold your horses, I’m coming,” the older woman behind the counter told him.

Tag didn’t turn but did inhale and picked up Brody’s scent. It matched the scent from Camilla’s phone but there was no scent of Camilla.

“What can I get for you?” another waitress asked standing next to his table.

Tag ordered and watched the sidewalk. More and more people strolled about despite the pending rain. No one entered the travel agency or stopped to look at the bright, posters hinting at the perfect vacation. Brody left holding a bag beneath his arm and strode across the street with a quick glance toward the car behind Tag’s.

After he finished eating, Tag paid his tab and followed Brody to the travel agency. A few people nodded and gave him a double glance. Being a big man most of his adult life, Tag was accustomed to the staring and paid them little attention.

A bell dinged when he entered. The place reeked of garlic, butter and strawberries. A toilet flushed in the back area. The overhead light offered little illumination against the gray skies but enough to see numerous spider webs in the corners and on the posters. A track of spot lights rested on vibrant posters of sun-filled beaches, exotic locations and smiles of people as fake as this business. The front of the agency lay empty. Tag slipped a device in the brochure holder near the office phone and moved to take a closer look at a sunny destination.

“Can I help you?” Brody asked patting his mouth while offering a smile. The door to the inner office closed softly behind him.

Tag turned, his gaze slid quickly over Brody Jensen then returned to his face. Six feet, medium-build, dark hair, longer in the front and back, slightly crooked nose, chipped front tooth. If Brody continued eating meatloaf, potatoes and gravy with biscuits for lunch and sitting at a desk, more buttons on his shirt would soon be missing.

“Yes, I’m here to find out where you took Camilla Lopez,” Tag said in a solemn tone.

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed outside. Brody turned toward the window, and then back at Tag.

Brody frowned. “Who?”

Tag detected no subterfuge but his nose never lied. This man touched Ryan’s cousin recently. “Camilla. You helped her from the park the other day, she was feeling sick and called her roommate but she was gone by the time they arrived. There’s a tape showing you putting her in your car. Where did you take her?” He rattled off the question with the same precision and intensity as he would empty a clip from his pistol.

The acrid stench of fear rose fast and swift. Beads of sweat popped on Brody’s brow. “No… I think you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” He took a step backward.

Tag crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “The only mistake was when you took her, where is she?” he asked, hardening his voice.

“Look, I don’t know what you think you know but I don’t know any Camilla…”

“That’s the first true thing you’ve said since I walked in here. You don’t know her but you took her somewhere. Why? More importantly, where?”

Brody’s mouth opened and closed. He looked to the side, froze and released a breath. Straightening, he met Tag’s gaze. “I don’t know Camilla and I didn’t take anyone from the park. I don’t even live there. You need to leave my place of business before I call the police.”

“Where? I didn’t mention a place,” Tag asked.

Jensen’s eyes widened, he snapped his mouth shut into a mulish expression.

Tag nodded and walked out.

The two men had moved from their car and now stood on the sidewalk across the street in front of the post office. Tag pulled up his collar to protect against the rising wind, stopped a couple and asked them the time.

“It’s 2:10,” the older man said.

“Have you ever used this travel agency?” he asked tipping his head back toward the building.

The woman looked in the window then back at Tag. “No, can’t say I have. Don’t know much about him either, keeps to himself.”

Tag looked behind him and met Brody’s gaze. “Those posters look really good, though.”

She shrugged. “Too farfetched for my taste.” She huddled closer to the man and the two walked off.

“Have a good day,” Tag said and walked toward his vehicle.

Looking odd, the two men remained on the sidewalk watching him while everyone else ran for shelter against the impending storm. Tag pulled out his scanning device from his pocket and walked around his Rover. Someone had placed a small tracking mechanism behind his license plate. He removed it, tossed it in front of a moving vehicle and smiled at the soft crunching sound. Moving quickly he unlocked his car and slid inside.

Thunder clapped, much closer this time. As he started his vehicle rain fell in blinding sheets, pounding against the windshield. The two men scattered, running to the travel agency and slipping inside.

Tag drove off to find a hotel; he’d be staying the night now that he made contact with Jensen. If he had to guess, he’d say the man who arrived in the BMW ran the operation. Jensen didn’t think on his feet fast enough to lead a slavery ring. So why had Jensen been involved in the first place? If Tag had more information, he would’ve leaned harder on Jensen. The high level of stress and fear emanating from the man meant he would probably talk.

Regardless of what Brody said, he removed Camilla from the park for a reason. Rather than beat the information out of the man as Grizzle preferred, Tag would wait to listen in on the earphone and avoid jail.

Hopefully, Brody would make a call or say something that would give Tag more information about Camilla’s whereabouts. Otherwise, he would need to shake the tree to see what nuggets of information he could wring out of Brody.

Grizzle grunted, liking that idea.

Chapter 9

“What do you mean he asked for Camilla? I thought you were careful,” Rex snapped holding the phone tight in his grip. Days like today he questioned the value of family, even those through marriage and divorce.

“I’ve done this a hundred times, I know what to do. The dart hit her neck, dissolved and worked fast to knock her out, just like always. I don’t know where this guy came from or where he’s getting his information but I did my job,” Brody said, his voice rising at the end.

Hell, why did he bother with this crybaby? Because his dad cheated on his mom and Brody was the result. Shit.

“Calm down,” Rex said, lowering his voice so that Brody didn’t go into full panic mode. “I’ll take care of this.”
Like I always do
. “Go home, have a drink, relax. Soon I’ll know more about this guy and take it from there. Who knows, maybe I can offer him a job. If he’s got you this scared from a short conversation, he may be someone I can use.” Rex couldn’t resist the jab.

“I’m not scared,” Brody snapped. “Concerned.  I’m just concerned that’s all. Have you shipped her out yet?”

This is what happens when you allow someone to get too close. Brody was never to ask questions about his business. They agreed on that at the beginning. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sorry… I’m going home. Is someone on watch tonight? In case… well in case he shows up at the house?”

Rex rubbed his forehead. The men on his payroll watched his human merchandise, not his whiny half-brother. “Most definitely, someone will be nearby. Get some rest.”

“Thanks, I thought I needed to tell you right away. I didn’t mean to … you know.”

“Yeah, I know,” Rex said in a quiet voice. “Later.” He disconnected and stared out the window of his office and wondered when this day had gone so horribly wrong. Maybe it was the early meeting with his business associates and trying to iron out problems with finding the right person for a client. Or the news that one of the women arrived in less than pristine condition and the client wanted a partial refund. He ran his hand through his hair. And now this. The last thing he needed was anyone snooping around. This guy sounded like a pro and he doubted his guys would get the drop on him like they normally did.

“Camilla Lopez,” he murmured. The mulatto was perfect for one of his clients.

Unfortunately, his top client had a rush order the same day he grabbed Camilla and since they both lived in the same country, he couldn’t deliver for Boaz without delivering for Sanchez. Normally, he shipped his merchandise out within 24 hours to kill the trail but this time the additional order caused a delay. Each day he held her endangered his business, something he couldn’t allow.

It wasn’t as if he couldn’t find another mixed kid, one without some giant searching the streets for her. Off the top of his head, two came to mind. He had seen them in a club last week. Rex sat down to think.

Leaning back in his chair, he gazed at all the commendations lining his wall for community service. As a public official he had an image to uphold. Placing his feet on the desk, he eyed his black shoes and decided they needed to be buffed and shined. Tapping his finger on his desk, multiple solutions to his current problem ran through his mind. With Brody on ice, that left him with one other person to grab the girl for Sanchez, a tall, busty, natural redhead with blue eyes. Damn, it was taking longer than he could afford to fill
that
order.

Short on men he could trust to deal with the man searching for Camilla, Rex decided the best solution would be to kill the giant. Put out a contract on the man. But who could get here fast enough to handle the job within 24 hours? He placed a few calls and received voicemails. Shit. The most reliable contracts were on jobs and with his high-profile position, he had to be careful of blackmail.

Maybe it’d be easier to kill the girl and fix it so no one ever found her again. She’d been drugged most of the time, he could have something slipped into her IV. That seemed the best solution.

Except for Brody. If this guy put the right amount of pressure on his half-brother, he
would
talk and tie Rex to her disappearance. Should he kill Brody as well? The idea had merit, especially right now. But his father would know and follow through on his threat to leave everything to his other bastard siblings and turn him in to the cops.
Family
. Some days they were more trouble than their worth.

What to do? Rex stared at the phone a few moments and made another call.