Misconceptions Read online

  “Vinnie has the file you’re looking for.” He explained what Travis shared with him.

  She let out a frustrated sigh and threw her arms up in the air. “That’s just great!”

  Houston placed the recording device on the desk. “But I’m willing to bet what’s on this is more valuable than anything that file contained.”

  Angelica stared at the pen. “Is that one of those recorder pens?”

  “It is.”

  “Well, I hope it contains something good, because if Vinnie has that file, my cover is blown.”

  Houston connected the device to the desktop computer on the chief’s desk and turned up the volume so they could hear the conversation clearly.

  “That puts a new spin on this case.” Angelica tapped a finger against her lips. “I have to call my boss and apprise him of this latest development.” She pulled her cell phone from her purse and stalked from the room.

  The hair on Houston’s arms raised. His years of experience told him something wasn’t right. He cocked his head towards the door. “Have you checked her credentials?”

  Kenny stepped around his desk. “What are you getting at, Houston?”

  “I’m simply asking how much you know about her.”

  Joe burst into the room, followed by a thin young man with glasses Houston recognized as one of the computer techs.

  The young man placed the GPS device from Dominique’s purse on the desk. “We got a signal. Upload the information on this device to your phone, and you’ll get the exact location of the device Dominique planted.”

  “Fantastic! Let’s fire it up.” Houston connected the GPS to his phone. “Let’s see if there’s any active movement.”

  While it loaded, he looked out into the station. Angelica stood isolated in the corner, still on her cell phone. What was she hiding?

  His cell phone beeped.

  “Looks like the vehicle is on the move. Let’s see where it’s headed.” The map popped up on his screen. His heart lurched. “They’re headed toward my house. Becky and the kids are in danger!”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Becky bounded down the stairs, picking up trucks, dolls, and several mismatched socks. She breathed out a long sigh. She’d miss it when the kids left. Would she be able to handle going back to a home without all the hustle and bustle?

  At a snore from the living room, she glanced through the railing to Samuel’s lanky form stretched out on the couch. And how much longer would he live with them? If only Houston would least entertain the idea of having Samuel live with them permanently.

  Her cell phone chimed from the bedroom. She glanced up the flight of stairs. Probably not worth the dash up the stairs to try to answer it in time. Whoever it was would call back or leave a message. She picked up another stray sock and continued down the stairs.

  Only seconds after the cell phone quit ringing, the house phone rang. Odd.

  She put down the items she’d gathered and picked up the receiver on the coffee table. “Hello?”

  “Becky, get out of the house!”

  “Houston? What? Why?”

  “Please trust me! We don’t have time to talk. Just get everyone out of the house!”

  She tightened her grip on the phone. “Where are you? Should I go to the station?”

  “No! Don’t take Cindy’s Land Rover. Please hurry.”

  The line went dead.

  Fear rippled through her body. Houston had always been very cautious, but never panicked. “Samuel, wake up,” she called as she gave him a nudge. “We’ve got to get out of here.” She gave him a firm shake. “Samuel, did you hear me? Houston said we need to get out of the house.”

  Samuel struggled to get up. He gripped his cane, but couldn’t pull himself up. It was of little use to him. “Go get the kids; I’ll take care of myself.”

  She took the stairs two at a time and ran to the guest room, where the twins were engrossed in building a Duplo city and Megan lay on the plush rug, immersed in a picture book. She took a slow, deep breath so her voice wouldn’t shake. “Come on, kiddos, we’re going out for a little bit.”

  “Can I finish my book, Aunt Becky?”

  “Sorry, honey we don’t have time. Let’s go.”

  The twins cried out as she scooped up one in each arm. With Megan close behind, they trotted down the stairs. Becky rushed over to Samuel. “Grab my arm, Samuel. I’ll pull you up.”

  Samuel held up a hand. “I don’t know what’s going on, but if Houston told us to leave immediately, he means it. I’ll just slow you down.

  “I’m not leaving without you, Dad.”

  Tires crunched on the gravel driveway.

  The sound echoed through the living room and propelled Becky to the kitchen. Her heart slammed in her chest. Houston couldn’t have arrived so quickly.

  At least Houston always insisted on keeping the house locked, so whoever it was couldn’t just waltz in.

  “Houston’s on his way. Hold tight, Samuel!” Tears streamed down her face. She wiped them away so she could see clearly.

  “Megan, Aunt Becky needs you to open the back door for me, then close it and run as fast as you can to the barn.”

  Becky sidled through the door as fast as she could. Both of the boys clutched her like leeches. Megan followed behind her and closed the door. Adrenaline and physical exertion pumped Becky’s heart, but fear drove her beyond her limits. Just a little further. Just over the hill, where they wouldn’t be able to be seen from the house. But her legs seemed to move in slow motion.

  Becky looked over her shoulder. Megan trailed several yards behind. Not wanting to draw attention, she remained quiet, even though everything in her wanted to scream Hurry up! Run, Megan, run!

  Becky topped the top of the hill and slowed, but held onto the twins until they entered the barn.

  Seconds later Megan joined her. “Why are we running, Aunt Becky?”

  “We’re going to play a little game of hide-and-seek.” Better safe than sorry … just in case whoever had arrived came looking for them.

  “Where should we hide?”

  Becky thought for a moment. They would be easily discovered in one of the four stalls, “The loft. It’ll be the best place.”

  “No! No loft!” Megan cried. “The loft hurt Audrey.”

  “It’ll be okay. You’re going to have to trust me.” She quieted Megan’s crying. She craned her neck to look up. She’d forgotten how high up it was. “You first, Megan. I’m right here. You’ll be okay. Once you’re up there, scoot all the way to the back.”

  Megan started crying again and turned away from the ladder. “I can’t. I’ll fall. I know I will. And Mommy and Daddy will be sad again.”

  Becky sent up a quick prayer for patience. “I’ll climb right behind you. Okay?”

  Megan nodded.

  Becky sat the boys down. “It’s very important to listen to Aunt Becky. I need both of you to sit still. See who can stay frozen the longest.” They would tire with the game quickly, but it may just give her enough time to help Megan up the ladder.

  Becky kept a hand on Megan’s back as she took the first four steps up and positioned herself behind her. “That’s it, honey. Keep moving. I’m right behind you.” Becky stepped on the ladder and followed Megan up two more steps.

  The knuckles on Megan’s hands were white. She took several more steps, then stopped. “I can’t do it. Please don’t make me.”

  “Come on honey, just a little further.”

  One slow step at a time, Becky followed Megan up the ladder. At the top, Megan scuttled away from the edge. Becky gave her a quick hug. “I knew you could do it. Stay put; I’ll be right back.”

  After two more trips that seemed to take hours instead of minutes, Becky sat on a hay bale. She held Megan’s hand while Max climbed into her lap. “We have to be very quiet until Uncle Houston tells us we can come down.”

  Her moment of calm was shattered by the blast of a gun firing.

  Chapter Thirty-Sev
en

  Racing down the familiar country road in his car, Houston glanced at Joe. His brother’s head was down, and his lips moved.

  He’s praying? Somehow that both irritated and comforted Houston. Maybe it would work for Joe, although it had never worked for him. Growing up, his mom had repeatedly told him to give his troubles over to the Lord, but every time he tried, he ended up disappointed. He’d leave praying and spiritual things to Joe, and Becky … and his father.

  “We’re almost there,” he interrupted Joe’s prayer time. “You’ve seen a lot as a doctor, but I have to warn you about what we might face. Dominique’s been missing for several hours, and Vinnie is a despicable man with no regard for human life. It could be brutal.” He glanced at his brother.

  “I know, Houston.” Joe’s response was barely a whisper. “That’s why I’ve been praying. I’m praying for Becky, the kids, and Dad too.”

  The thought of harm coming to Becky sent a wave of fear coursing through Houston. For the first time in a long time, he wished he possessed a small measure of Joe’s faith. Although Dominique’s situation was precarious, somehow Joe remained peaceful. Houston envied him.

  The police radio squawked. “We’re less than a mile out, Houston,” his boss said. “We’ll come in with sirens blaring, to try and scare them off as quickly as possible.”

  What was Kenny thinking? He knew it would also warn the attackers, who might then take drastic measures to keep from being apprehended. He picked up his radio and responded. “I’d rather the sirens be off so we have the element of surprise on our side.”

  The thought of Vinnie’s men harming Becky or the kids—or using them as hostages—in order to save themselves sent a shudder through him.

  “Houston.” Kenny’s voice practically growled through the radio. “You need to step back. You’re too close to this.”

  Houston gripped the steering wheel tight as he turned the truck onto his road. The same warning bells that had just gone off about Angelica now sounded the alarm against Kenny. Could his boss really be on Vinnie’s payroll?

  The sight of the white utility van parked in his driveway stiffened his resolve. He would protect his family against Vinnie’s men, no matter what, even if that included his own boss.

  An ambulance and an unmarked police car were parked along the side of the road, and two men were positioned at the corners of the house. Houston pulled his car across the driveway behind the van, at an angle to block any possible escape.

  Joe reached for the door handle, but Houston grabbed his arm. “Wait here until we’re sure it’s safe. If shots are fired, keep low.”

  Joe hesitated, then let go of the handle and nodded.

  Houston walked to the police cruiser, and the officer unrolled the window. Everything in him screamed that they should storm the house and rescue his wife and family immediately, but his professionalism ruled over his protective instincts. “Any word on what’s going on in the house?”

  The officer shook his head. “No contact’s been made.”

  Houston ran his hand over his service revolver. At the sound of sirens in the distance, he gripped the revolver with a tight grasp but left it in its holster.

  The sirens became louder. Several black and whites turned onto the road. Houston eyed the house, searching for any signs of the enemy’s actions, but saw nothing.

  Kenny pulled his car to a screeching stop in the road at the end of the driveway. He hopped out, nodded to Houston, and started barking orders. “Let’s clear the van first, then we’ll head into the house.”

  “Let’s go,” the officer in the car radioed.

  Officers popped out of their vehicles and filed down the driveway. Houston joined them at the end of the line.

  Kenny took the lead in front of them, approached the back end of the van, and motioned for two others to approach the front doors.

  When the all-clear sign came from the officers at the corners of the house, Kenny yanked open the back doors.

  Houston’s heart sank at the sight that greeted them. Joe will be devastated.

  Dominique’s lifeless body lay sprawled on the floor of the van, face down.

  At a nod from his boss, Houston crawled inside. He gently turned Dominique onto her back. He checked for a pulse and let out a sigh of relief at the slight beat. “She’s still alive.”

  Houston rushed back to his car, pounded on the window, and motioned for Joe to follow him.

  Joe grabbed his bag, flew out of the car, and raced around Houston to the van. He crawled in the back, grabbed his stethoscope and listened to Dominique’s heartbeat. Next, he opened each eye and flashed a penlight over them. “I think she’s been drugged. I’ll know more once I can get a blood workup. Right now, I’m thankful her vitals are strong."

  Houston waved for the officer waiting outside the van to come in. “Bring a gurney and help him transfer her to the ambulance.” He eyed Kenny as he led the remaining men toward the house. Could he trust him to secure the house properly?

  He rushed toward the house as Kenny entered the front door. His men followed and entered one by one, weapons in front of them.

  Houston pulled out his revolver and leaped up the porch stairs. He eyed the splintered wood near the doorknob, evidence that Vinnie’s men had shot their way into the house.

  The last man to enter the house before Houston glanced back. He pointed to the door and whispered, “You shouldn’t be in here. You’re too close to this.”

  Houston ignored the warning. He didn’t care about protocol; Becky needed him. As men charged up the stairs and others entered the kitchen, Houston positioned himself against the armoire next to the curtains and scanned the room. All appeared in order, yet the hair raised on his arms.

  Shuffling came from the spare bedroom off the dining room. He aimed his Glock and approached the door.

  One of Vinnie’s men jumped out from behind the bedroom door. He targeted Houston’s chest.

  Houston shifted his aim, but before he could shoot, Samuel stepped out from behind the curtains on the other side of the armoire. Two faltering steps put him between Houston and the gunman as a gunshot echoed throughout the room.

  Samuel dropped to the ground in front of Houston.

  Dear, God! What had just happened? Houston dropped to one knee and returned fire.

  Vinnie’s men darted from the bedroom, ducked low as they ran behind the dining room table and toward the back of the house.

  Houston lurched after them, but an officer appeared from the kitchen and cut him off. “We’ve got’em! Hold your fire!”

  Houston holstered his gun and grabbed the radio from his belt as he returned to his dad’s side. “Shots fired! My dad’s down. Get my brother and the ambulance up here fast.”

  His dad stared up at him, his face pale. His mouth moved, but no sound came out. Pain rippled across his face as he tried to suck in a breath.

  Houston ripped open his dad’s shirt. Blood flowed from a hole the size of a quarter only inches above the heart. He grabbed a panel of the curtains a few feet away and pulled until it ripped from the rod. He wadded up one end and pressed it gently against his dad’s chest. “Take it easy, Dad. Help is on the way.”

  The realization of what his father had done seeped through the shock. He hadn’t even hesitated to step into the line of fire.

  Joe rushed into the room, followed by two paramedics carrying a gurney. He grabbed Houston’s shoulder. “What happened?” He knelt next to Houston

  Fighting emotions long buried, Houston explained. “Vinnie’s man came out of the spare bedroom, and Dad jumped in front of me and took a bullet.”

  “We’ve got it from here.” The paramedics knelt next to Samuel.

  Houston stood and allowed Joe to take his place. Joe’s brow furrowed, and the paramedics wouldn’t make eye contact. He’d seen it before … usually when someone was dead or about to die.

  Static from his radio diverted his attention. “This is Houston, go ahead.”

&
nbsp; “We found your wife and the kids. They’re fine, just a little shaken up. We’ll bring them to the front of the house.”

  “I’m going outside to check on Becky and the kids,” he told Joe. “Let me know when Dad’s ready to transport. I’ll follow behind the ambulance.”

  Joe stood as he gave a few instructions to the paramedics, seemingly oblivious to the fact that his shirt and pants were covered in their father’s blood. He placed a hand on Houston’s arm. “I don’t know if he’s going to make it, Houston. We need to notify Cindy and Travis.”

  “Let’s get him to the hospital. Then I’ll call Travis.”

  As Houston walked outside, Becky led the boys by the hand down the ridge from the barn, and Megan walked alongside. He rushed to greet them. He wrapped Becky in his arms. “Thank, God you’re okay.” The kids circled around them. Houston smiled at them and tousled their hair.

  At the scream of an ambulance siren in the distance, Houston sobered. “I have to go.”

  Becky squeezed his hand. “What happened?”

  Houston pulled her to the side and filled her in on the details.

  “We’ll be fine, Houston. Go!”

  ***

  Houston sat in the surgical waiting room, surrounded by friends from church. How many times had they had he spent his day off helping them with a project, yet did it while keeping an emotional distance from them? Now they were here for him and Becky, cramped in the small waiting room, praying and supporting his family.

  He looked up when Joe walked in, dressed in his scrubs. His presence drew everyone’s attention, but he headed straight for Houston. “Let’s go out into the hall and talk.”

  Houston followed him, but before they even came to a stop, he asked, “How’s Dad?”

  “Well, he made it through surgery, but he’s lost a lot of blood. He’s also had some damage to his chest cavity. He’s very weak, Houston.” He paused and looked down. “I noticed Cindy and Travis aren’t here yet. Have you contacted them?”

  “I left them a message.”

  Joe nodded. “I don’t think he’s going make it through the night. I hope they make it in time.”