The Enemy's Son (19 page)

“Jerry was trapped. That’s when Alexander presented the idea of kidnapping you. What could Jerry do?” Nick asked.

“Wait.” Cora suddenly wasn’t so sure. “At that point, he could have explained what happened and told Keith where his money was.”

“And look guilty as sin.” Adam knew Keith and the rest of the family. “Keith would’ve shot him on the spot.”

“I think we’re on the right track finally,” Nick said. “And now we know why Keith wants to get a hold of Cora.”

Half an hour later, they crowded into Herald’s car again, heading back into Eugene. Adam drove this time. Herald’s gray hair stuck up everywhere as he gulped coffee. Cora felt a twinge of guilt that he was involved. It looked like it took a toll on him. Nick noticed too. He squeezed Herald’s shoulder. “Thanks for helping us. And I’m sorry I got you involved.”

Herald turned in the seat and she caught a gleam in his eyes. “You’d do the same for me, Nick. But, you know, I’m glad I’m helping you stand up to Keith and the rest of them. It feels good.”

Adam whooped in agreement. “You can say that again.”

It was amazing that Nick and Adam were both good people despite the family they came from. Thank goodness they had each other growing up.   

“I’ve been wondering,” Nick whispered to her, “just how did you get off that mountain?”

Her eyes lowered. Nick’s hand cupped her face so she’d look at him.

“Please don’t worry about it, I was just curious.”

After a minute’s thought, Cora decided to tell him. “I jumped in that river and floated my way down to a road.”

A crease formed between Nick’s eyebrows. “Didn’t that take a while?”

She nodded as that day filled her mind. “Then I found a ride back to Eugene and went to Jerry’s house.”

“And found the CD.” Nick filled in for her, but then he caught something in her expression, maybe hurt. He brushed her hair back from her face. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“It’s not that.” She paused. “Not really . . . My mother’s seashell collection was broken all over the floor.”

“I’m sorry, babe. That’s rough.”

 Nick would understand what it was like to lose a link to his mother. They fell silent while she lay on his chest with her arm around him.

In the front seat, Adam was in the midst of an explanation to Herald about the CD that Cora had found at her father’s house. They’d gotten ready and jumped in the car so quickly that they hadn’t explained everything to him.

Herald glanced back and realized Nick and Cora were listening too. “So we find his car, we’ll find the CD?”

“I’m bet he’s ditched that car by now.” Cora thought aloud. “But since he didn’t put any personal items in the glove compartment, I don’t think he’ll look in there. Maybe it was a rental.” Maybe, she hoped, the CD was still in the glove compartment or in a lost and found somewhere.

“Our only hope is he didn’t see the CD.”

“Say we get it, then what?” Adam asked. “We need all of us on the same page.”

“We’ll see what’s on it,” Herald said and turned to Adam. “Then you and I can copy it and go to the police if we find useful evidence. I’ll call the detective in charge of the case and see what new information has surfaced. Who knows, maybe they found the gun. Maybe they found some other evidence at the crime scene that vindicates Cora. After all, she’s a lot shorter than Keith . . . and Jerry’s blood was all over her. That doesn’t happen if you’re across the room.”

“Great plan,” Adam said, “if we can find that car.”

Why had she left it there? At the time, it seemed the best way to keep it safe. Now it seemed like the best way to lose it or hand it over to Alexander.

“Right. First things first.” Nick turned to Cora. “Do you remember the make of the car?”

She searched her mind, annoyed that she didn’t take note of every detail. Admittedly, she was focused on a more important goal that day: rescuing her father.

“Oh, yeah. It was expensive. Sporty, silver paint, and something new.”

Nick glanced at Adam and said, “Sounds like Keith’s BMW, doesn’t it?”

“Alexander did borrow it a lot.”

Cora laid her face down in her hands, rubbing her eyes. Maybe they thought it was an easy break to know where the CD was, but Keith’s garage was one of the worst possible places to break into right now.

“How will we get it back?” she asked them while Herald asked, “What are we up against?”

“Guards, an alarm system, surveillance.”

Cora felt her lungs tighten. They were nearing town and she feared they would be on another crazy mission. They could just run, but that would leave Jerry. She couldn’t pull him out of the hospital. “Look how it turned out before.”

 “We don’t have to sneak into the garage. That might be impossible.” Nick, still working through the details in his head, didn’t finish and Herald turned around to hear. “Okay . . . Adam watches the house and calls me when any of the vehicles leave, and we follow it. I can hide in the trunk. Once they return, I’ll be in the garage and can search through the other cars.”

“How will you get back out?” Cora exclaimed. “And what if they find you?” They’d kill him.

“I’d have to wait till someone takes the car back out again. I can’t think of another way.”

Herald remained silent in the driver’s seat. Adam glanced back in the mirror but he wasn’t arguing either. She didn’t want to risk his life. When she met his gaze, and saw his determination, she knew he needed this. He wanted to bring them down. She needed to clear her father.

Adam pulled over in town so he could get out and make his way to watch the Holloway property. Herald jumped in the driver seat in case Nick needed to hide. They drove the other way, discussing the plan. Actually, Nick was planning and she was trying to think of another way. Adam called within the hour.  

Nick listened for a minute and told them, “It’s our lucky day! Two vehicles left, including the BMW. We can intersect them on 34
^th
.”  

Herald turned around and sped off.

“How many cars does one man need?” Cora asked. “Wait, forget that. We’re just lucky he decided to take the BMW out.” Relief washed over her that Nick didn’t need to be endangering himself with his plan. He’d just have to endanger himself trying to break into the car without getting spotted.

A few minutes later, they spotted the white Avalanche and BMW and followed them at a safe distance, with both Nick and Cora crouched down on the floor in back seat.

“I think they’re pulling over up ahead. Good, a parking deck,” Herald announced.

He turned and parked on the other side of the level, watching his rear view mirror as several men from each vehicle got out and left together.

“Wonder what they’re up to.” Nick lifted himself to peer through the back window.

“I’d like to know, too, but let’s just find that CD and run.”

“I like that idea,” Cora agreed. “I’ve put all of you in enough danger already.”

Nick squeezed her shoulder. “You didn’t, Cora.”

She met his gaze, understanding. He had a look of steel determination in his eyes.  

Herald made a sweep past the vehicles, making sure no one stayed behind to watch them, and then parked several spaces down.

“Do you still have a key?” she asked him. It just then occurred to her maybe he could let himself in instead of breaking into the car.

“Thanks to Adam.” Nick slipped out his door and crept toward Keith’s vehicles.

“Oh, no!” Cora grabbed Herald’s shoulder and pointed through the back window. “I think that’s Terrance, and he’s headed our way.”

Herald used the mirror to watch behind them. “I can’t see Nick. I don’t know if he sees what’s going on.”

“My view’s blocked, too.” She wanted to sit up or open a door to see, but that would endanger Nick. The CD didn’t seem worth this risk now. “What is he doing? Does he see Nick?”

“No. Just be ready in case something happens,” Herald said, but she wasn’t sure what she could do. “He’s leaving...and smoking. He must have forgotten his cigarettes.”

She breathed again.

“Where’s Nick?” she asked, daring to look. Herald turned his head, and then the door handle clicked.

The door swung open and Nick slid into the car. “Go!”

At the urgency in Nick’s voice, Herald hit the gas too hard and squealed the tires. He slowed down, clearing this throat while glancing in the rear view mirror. Cora wondered if they should have involved him in this. It was a little late to change that now.

“I see Terrance coming back with someone else.” Herald eased off the gas as Nick and Cora both hit the floor. “A couple men are running to the BMW. Did they spot you, Nick?”

“They might have noticed someone behind the car, but I grabbed the bag and relocked the car before they were anywhere near.”

“Did you get it?” she asked, hugging him when he nodded. Nick held the bag out for them both to see. Cora removed the CD and found “Back up” written on it in her father’s handwriting.

“Shoot! Get down.” Herald’s whisper stopped them before she could look at the key or note. “Someone’s smoking by the exit. Could be one of them.”

Nick yanked Cora on him and pulled the blanket over them. They lay absolutely still. Cora could only hope the blanket was completely hiding them. She couldn’t breathe in the sudden heat, but she toughed it out for a long minute.

She was so thankful they were together.

“We’re clear, but stay down.” Herald instructed. “I’m not sure if that man was with Keith or not, but there’s no point in taking chances.”

Nick pulled the blanket away from their faces, keeping an arm around Cora. When he stretched up for a soft kiss, the night before flashed through her mind. His small smile and suddenly hazy eyes made him look like he was thinking about it too. “We did it!” he whispered.

“Okay, we’re clear,” Herald said.

They pulled themselves into the seat and quickly scanned the cars around them. Nick stretched out his long legs and called Adam, setting set up a meeting place at a busy intersection. When they arrived, Adam jumped in the front passenger seat.  

“We got it,” Cora said. She took the note out and handed it to Adam. “Take a look at this.”

“I know this handwriting. Aunt Angela wrote this.” Adam looked up at Nick, and Cora saw the confusion on both their faces.

“Angela?” Cora repeated and found the other piece of paper she’d put into the bag. “This has a yes by her name.”

“What?” Nick scanned the list of Holloway family members. “What does this mean?”

“I’m thinking the list is people who are involved in the drug operation or have knowledge of it. And that other note, well,” Cora paused, “Who’s tall and dark?”

After a short, shocked silence, Adam said, “Alexander? Angela and Alexander?”

“Wow.” Nick shook his head. “But at least we’re finally getting some answers.”

“You could say that,” Herald agreed, “This really ties some things together.”

Cora shuddered, thinking of how she spent time with Alexander. It had all been a twisted game. Nick was right – Alexander had been setting Jerry up to get to her. The strange part was that he never touched her when he had the chance. He could have forced her. Instead he planned to have her witness Jerry’s murder to win her over somehow. He used everyone around him.