Closing The Gap (Dangerous Pasts, #1) (24 page)

“Holy shit!  What’s this mother fucker’s description?”  Roberts’ voice held a mixture of incredulousness and rage.

“Dustin assumes he’ll be wearing a disguise.  He’s six feet tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes.  He has an overweight build for someone of that height.  Ryan, he’s psychotic.  Don’t try to be a hero, please.  I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.  Most importantly, Lake wouldn’t either.  After what she’s been through over the past few years, I don’t think she’d come out of that unscathed.  It might very well be her undoing.  Now isn’t the best time to tell you this but I’m madly in love with her and want to marry her.”

“I already knew that last part, moron.  Anyone with eyes could see it.  I promise I won’t do anything crazy.  However, if that fuck wad comes at us, I will remove his knee caps from his body, then his cowardly balls.  What kind of dick licker goes after animals and women?”  Ryan could shoot a bull’s eye from thirty feet.  Josh had seen it since they’d often taken target practice together.  “Does Chuck have a hand gun at his house?”

“He does, but I’d prefer not to involve my dad.  He’s no spring chicken but will still want to come over and help in spite of his better judgment.  He loves Lake like his own daughter.  Check with Chad or Juan.  Dustin’s notified the local police of his arrival but he won’t be sure of the logistics until he lands.  There’s always red tape involved when you’re dealing with the FBI.  Scottsdale won’t send officers to the farm unless a crime has been committed or Buck comes on the premises and since no one has actually seen him, they won’t waste resources.  If you see anything suspicious, call 9-1-1 right away.”

“Will do.  Josh, don’t worry.  Lake is safe in my hands.  I won’t let anything happen to her.  I’ve come to love her too, you know.”

After he hung up, Josh barked at the cab driver to step on it. He would not miss this next plane.  Feeling helpless and out of control, he ran his hands through his hair.  The person he loved with all his heart needed him and he couldn’t be there to protect her.

L
ake sat on the couch in her living room like a zombie, cloaked in stillness as though death had arrived to claim her.  It could not be possible.  Buck had escaped.  Buck had murdered Rodney and tried to murder Lily.  Buck was coming for her. 

Ryan sat at the front window with a loaded hand gun obtained from Chuck despite Josh’s orders.  He sat in perfect stillness like some kind of vigilante.  Lake didn’t even want to consider what would happen when Buck showed up at the farm.  If Ryan ended up dead or in prison, she’d never forgive herself.  He’d explained that Josh and his FBI friend, Dustin Johnson, were on the way to Scottsdale to help but the words hadn’t registered.  If a thousand armed law enforcement surrounded her, Lake still wouldn’t feel safe in this moment.  Buck always found a way to get to her.

Lake wished for solitary confinement, alone in the house.  She’d never be able to move on for second time from this horror if anyone she loved experienced harm over her poor decisions.  She’d brought Buck into their lives.  She deserved to be exposed, outside and alone, and face the firing squad.  Could she fix it?  Buck had been able to listen to reason sometimes.  The urge to make things right with him slid into her consciousness, a futile attempt to heal the deep hurt over their marriage.  Why, she didn’t know.  The need to repair the damage stayed rooted in her heart. Even if her friends and family protested, they were no match for the profound desire to return to the abuser for redemption.

This deep-seated compulsion made it very difficult for Lake to be objective and assess the situation. It clouded her vision, a rash action might jeopardize her safety in spite of everyone’s best efforts to protect her. The well-meaning voices from those who loved her seemed distant. It was as though they were speaking from miles away and they couldn’t break through into her consciousness.  Summer looked concerned but still had difficulty peeling her eyes away from Ryan.

“Hey, Terminator.  I’m pretty sure he isn’t going to storm the house.  If he does and he catches sight of you, I bet he’ll prepare to shit on the sidewalk.”

“I have my orders from Trash, gorgeous.  I’m not leaving this window.  Unless, it’s in a body bag.”

“Wow, the good looks and rock hard body must have driven the high school chicks wild back in drama club.  I’m impressed but you’re not going to be nominated for an Oscar any time soon.  If it gets any more theatrical in here, I’ll have to call in Steven Spielberg.  Try to dial it back a notch.”

Incredulous that Ryan didn’t have a ready comeback, Lake glanced his way.  The lack of witty repartee reflected his extreme concern and sharp focus.  This surely wasn’t the meeting she’d envisioned between the two of them.  Maria hovered with homemade lemonade and snacks but Lake hadn’t had any appetite since nausea had taken up residence in her gut.  Worried as well, Maria had sent Juan into the barn to help Chad secure the horses in their stalls.  The security alarms had been engaged and both men were on high alert.  They both refused to barricade themselves in the house.  Thank God she’d persuaded Lance to stay home.  Troubled that Summer still insisted on being present, Lake worried she was placing herself in harm’s way.  No matter how much Lake cajoled and argued, she wouldn’t budge so Lake had conceded.  Ultimately, she was grateful for and comforted by her sister’s capable presence.

Her phone lit up so Lake grabbed it, relieved to see Josh’s face on the screen.  She felt unworthy of him and the emotional events were starting to erode her confidence that she’d ever be capable of being the woman that he needed.  With every move that Buck made and every disturbing phone call and message from Josh, she retreated further back into her own mind for protection against the extreme pain, her constant dance partner always wrapped around her.  She wanted some privacy so she made her way to her office next to the living room and collapsed into her overstuffed desk chair where she could see out the picture window towards the barn.

“Hi babe, I’ve landed.  Is everything okay there?”

“So far, so good.  We haven’t seen or heard anything out of the ordinary.  Summer is here.  She wouldn’t take no for an answer when she found out Buck had escaped.  I’m scared for her safety.  She has a tendency to make rash decisions and act with bravado when she’s threatened.  That, and the fact that Ryan is sitting at the window with a loaded gun like Buck will know his name after he lays his vengeance down, has me on edge.  If he doesn’t shoot himself in the foot it will be a miracle.  Good times.”  Sighing into the phone, it became harder for Lake to hide her uncertain emotions for Josh’s sake but he didn’t need any further drama.  She sank deeper into her leather chair while she thanked the heavens she’d never told him how much she loved him.  If she had, it would just be that much harder when he’d had enough of her and said goodbye.

“Okay, just let Roberts do his thing.  It will keep him from doing something even crazier.  He’s a crack shot so if anyone should have a gun trained outside, it’s him.  I’m just happy my dad didn’t insist on staying there with him.  There’s enough to worry about.  I’ll get there as soon as I can.  Dustin called and he’s with the Scottsdale police right now.  There’s an APB out for Buck.  He’s bound to make a mistake soon and the police will catch him.  Dustin’s exceptional at what he does and I have no doubt he can get this done.  He’ll be there as soon as or sooner than I am.  I know it’s hard to believe this, babe.  Everything is going to be alright.  I promise.”

After Lake hung up with a tense goodbye, she rubbed the back of her neck and stared out the window at the barn.  Thank goodness the horses were safely inside with Chad and Juan.  She trusted them both to keep the horses protected.  A blanket of eerie silence enveloped the entire farm.  Lake recalled when poets referenced the calm before the impending storm and she had to admit the thought caused gooseflesh to creep up her arms.  She rose to return to the living room when a flash of liquid gold caught her eye.  No, it can’t be, we haven’t planned for it!  All the preparation in the world couldn’t help them now.  Lake ran for the front door as fast as her legs would carry her.

The time had come to face her enemy, her and her alone.  She knew deep in her heart she might die but would willingly make the sacrifice to save her treasured horses.  She flung the deadbolt to the right and flew through the door before Ryan could even turn in his seat.  Summer raced after her.

“No, you two need to stay in the house!  Let me go outside.”  Ryan’s words fell on deaf ears. Lake wouldn’t turn around with the horses in jeopardy and propelled herself towards the barn at a full sprint.  Buck had started the barn on fire and the flames licked their way up the sides to the roof.  If it reached the hay supply, they were done.  That diabolical bastard had figured a way to get everyone out of the house.

Lake knew Ryan chased her because she could hear his screams for her to stop.  She’d made it halfway down the sidewalk when she glanced over her right shoulder.  Ryan had slowed and his body leaned forward, bent from the waist as he held his hands over his stomach.  Blood trickled out of his body and through his fingers.  She stopped and turned towards him, horrified.  Buck had just shot one of her best friends in this world.

“Lake, I’ve been hit in the gut.  You have to stop.  Please, Lake!  I need an ambulance!”

“Ryan, I have to get to the horses.  Maria will call the police.  Maria!  Maria, Ryan needs help!  Ryan, keep holding your hands over the wound and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

As Lake started to trot backwards, she saw Maria peer out the front door and felt some blessed relief.  Maria was a mother and very capable in a crisis.  It was pure torture to keep going and not to run back to Ryan but the horses had to come first and she had to believe in Maria.  The horses were defenseless and they trusted her.  It would be hard enough to get them outside herself.

“Get in the house, lock the door and call 9-1-1.  Tell them we need Dustin Johnson from the FBI.  Buck Hoeff has started a fire at the Lake Harrison farm and a man’s down with a gun-shot wound to the stomach.  Hurry, Maria!  I need medical help, right now!”

Ryan’s words pierced through Lake’s panic and she turned around to run straight to the barn.  Maria would help him.

Chad and Juan doused the flames with saddle pads, cooling sheets and a watering hose while Lake and Summer, opened the stall doors and turned the horses loose.  Lake decided not to blindfold any of them, more concerned with immediate evacuation to avoid smoke inhalation. The horses smelled the smoke and sensed the panic of their human caretakers and they were frantic in their wish to bolt outside.  The farm sported a six foot adobe wall around the perimeter of the entire acreage so Lake didn’t worry about putting them into gated paddocks.  It was unlikely that any of them would leave the safety of the herd to try to jump over the wall, unless someone started shooting at them.  She prayed that Buck acted alone.  Chad and Juan already had most of the fire extinguished.  Angels must be watching over them.  The remaining flames weren’t going to reach any ladder fuels dried out by the strong Arizona sun.

Lake bent over from the waist as she sighed with relief for her horses although she knew the worst was yet to come.  Buck lurked on the premises and hadn’t shown himself.  She glanced towards the house and gasped when she saw Ryan on the sidewalk, deathly still.  Why hadn’t Maria helped him?  Where were the police?  Lily stood next to him as she nudged his left hand with her muzzle and beseeched Lake with her liquid brown eyes. 
He shouldn’t be down there
, she seemed to impart.  Lake ran towards his prone body and fell to her knees beside him.  She struggled to keep the bile from shooting out her mouth on to the landscaping rocks.  There was so much blood.  Too much blood.

She had done this!  She’d put them all in extreme danger.  If they got out of this alive, it would be a miracle.  Josh and Ryan were so much better than her.  She couldn’t stand the fact that she’d put their very lives in jeopardy just by their association with her.  Steely determination consumed her. 
Please God
, she prayed,
just let everyone else live and take me
.  Lake looked from left to right as she tried locate Summer, Maria, Juan and Chad to assure herself they were still safe.  She would make any deal with this devil to save her loved ones.

In that desperate moment, it hit Lake hard how much she loved Josh.  He didn’t deserve any of this.  Her old doubts came flooding back like a river overflows its banks in the springtime.  Buck was right.  He’d called her an ugly cow that no man would want.  She wasn’t good enough for one of the best man she’d ever known.  She was overreaching again, as always.  Josh possessed honesty, loyalty, integrity ... an incredible man.  He deserved better.  Someone stronger, less damaged, more beautiful.  With resolve, she made an iron clad pact with herself to walk away if she made it off this farm alive.  To leave him would be the hardest thing she’d ever do.  Maybe, Buck would just kill her and end her misery.  The pain of the physical body had to be more desirable than this torment of the soul.  She just didn’t deserve to be loved.

Placing her hands on the bullet wound to staunch the flow of bleeding,  Lake could barely see through the stream of tears that sprang from her eyes.  Ryan had lapsed into unconsciousness.  She felt for a pulse and at first, she couldn’t find one.  It felt thready at best.  He had become one of her favorite people in the entire world.  She couldn’t help the involuntary scream of terror that tore through her body and escaped out of her mouth.

“Oh, my God!”

“God’s going to sit this one out, bitch.”