Page 92 of Sam's Salvation
Forty-Two
“That’s some house.” Dean leaned forward, peering through the windshield at the sprawling Spanish-style ranch house they’d come up on.
Sam studied the building, cataloguing entry and exit points. There were a lot of them. Lights blazed in the middle of the house, softened by the sheer curtains covering the windows. Only the sidelights around the door were uncovered, but they were too small to see through at this distance.
“We need to get closer.” He got out of the car.
“That’s a lot of open ground to cover.” Max came up next to him. He’d ditched the suit jacket and tie and rolled up his sleeves. So had Dean.
“We still have several hours of darkness left, though. And there’s no moon. We don’t have a choice.” He eyed his friends. “I understand if you want to stay back. But I’m going in.”
Dean scoffed. “Do you hear him, Max? Stay behind… What an asinine thing to say.” He looked at Sam. “You can dress my blisters now for that. Also,” he turned to Max, “I’ve half a mind to take all your fancy shoes and dump them in the ocean when we get home. My feet have never disliked me so much.”
Max lifted a shoulder. “They don’t bother me.”
“It’s because you wear them all the time,” Sam said, staring out at the desert. “Just let it go, Dean. He’ll never change.” He tipped his head toward the house. “Come on. We’re wasting time.”
The three of them set off into the darkness, staying low to limit their silhouettes. Halfway there, the sound of an engine made them pause. Sam looked back toward the road. Headlights rounded the bend.
“Down!” Sam ordered.
They all dropped to the dirt. The car slowed and turned into Callahan’s driveway.
“Who’s that?” Dean asked.
“No clue. Let’s go.” Sam began to army crawl toward the house. “Watch out for snakes and scorpions.”
“Ow!” Dean hissed. “And cacti. Dammit.”
Sam ran into one of the prickly plants too. Wincing, he came up to a crouch. “Maybe a duck walk would be better.” There was enough low vegetation to offer them some cover.
As fast as their crouch allowed, they moved toward the house. The car pulled to a stop out front, and several men got out. A floodlight came on as they approached the front door. Sam muttered a curse as he clocked the identity of one of the men. “That’s Liam Brogan.”
“Donny said he planned to take Brogan out.” Dean shifted closer.
“I know.”
“So, what’s he doing here?”
“Good question. Let’s go find out.” Whatever the man’s reason, Sam didn’t think it was a good one.
Liam and his men knocked on the door. “Donny! Open up!” The man’s voice carried through the still desert night.
Sam, Max, and Dean continued to creep closer.
Brogan knocked again. “Donny!”
When another thirty seconds passed and there was still no answer, Liam stepped back. Sam saw him gesture to one of his men, then the door. The man stepped forward and kicked the door in.
“I think Brogan knows about Donny’s plan,” Max said.
“Yeah.” Sam moved toward the house, increasing his pace. Audra wasn’t just Callahan’s captive now. She was in the middle of a power struggle.
Forty-Three
Audra jumped at the heavy bang that echoed through the house following Liam’s shout from outside. He didn’t sound happy. She didn’t blame him. She’d be miffed too if someone she trusted tried to take her job.
But his appearance made her situation much more complicated. If Liam knew she was here, he’d rip the place apart to find her. While her hiding spot tucked behind the dryer in the laundry room right off the kitchen was a good one, it would only be a matter of time before someone found her.