Page 71 of Luke
“I should have known better than to say something like that to Hancock. He’s drowning in debt and desperate. But I never thought he’d go that far.”
“His father seems like a decent man.”
“I’ve never met him, but Maggie loved him. She used to say he was the only good thing she got out of her marriage.” Waters clenched his jaw tightly. “One day Frederick hit her so hard he broke her jaw. I wanted to beat the shit out of him, but Sharon said it would only make things worse for Maggie.” He looked at Luke. “We helped her leave him. If he found out, we’d be dead.He’s sick in the head. Last time he asked me for money, I told him to get off my property. I didn’t have that kind of cash, and even if I did, he’d be the last person I’d give it to. I suggested he try his father again. He said his father refused to give him anything. I jokingly said, well, he has a lot of expensive horses, maybe he could sell one for you. I swear on my life, Agent McCallister, I never told him to steal them.”
“I believe you.” Luke stood up as Mrs. Waters walked in with his coffee. “Thank you, ma’am.” Once she sat down, Luke did. “I met with Hancock recently. Of course, he denied knowing anything about the horses being taken. I knew he was lying, but I had no proof. Until I found his ex-wife and called her.” He shook his head. “He sounds like a real piece of work. It doesn’t seem possible that he’s related to Fred Hancock. He’s a nice man, but he is also aware of his son’s problems. He told me how his son asked him for more money, but he refused to give him any. It wasn’t long after that the horses went missing. One Shire could be worth up to twenty thousand dollars, and Hancock must know it. I’ll have to pay him another visit and let him think I know for sure. But, if it goes to court, you may have to testify.”
“I have no problem with that.”
Luke placed his empty cup on the end table and stood up. “I appreciate your time. Both of you. I’ll be in touch.”
Luke shook their hands, walked out onto the porch, and sighed. Damn. He had to get that bastard. He jogged down the steps, climbed into his truck and drove back toward the hotel room, but changed his mind, and headed for the dealership.
After parking, he got out of the truck and was approached by the same young man from before. As soon as he saw that it was Luke, he turned around and went back inside. Luke couldn’t help but grin.
He strode to the desk where the receptionist sat. When she saw him, she sighed. She opened her mouth, but he shook hishead, and entered the office quietly, hoping to catch him off guard. Hancock was on the phone again with his back to him.
“I don’t want to hear you can’t sell them. They’re expensive horses. Hell, take ten thousand each for them. That’s a hell of a deal.”
Luke slammed the door closed, making Hancock spin around in his chair. If Luke wasn’t so pissed at this situation, he would have laughed at the look on the man’s face. Walking to the chair, Luke sat down, propped his feet on the desk, then raised his eyebrow.
Hancock hung up the phone without saying another word as he stared at Luke.
“What kind of horses are you selling? I might be interested.” Luke smirked.
Hancock didn’t take his eyes off Luke but didn’t say anything. Luke sighed, put his feet down, and sat forward.
“I know you stole those horses and from the sound of it, you’re having trouble selling them. If you cooperate with me, and tell me where they are, I could get you a lighter sentence.Ifthey’re in good health.”
“I don’t know—”
“Stop. Just fucking stop. Cut the bullshit. I know everything, Hancock. I've talked to people; people who would love to see you end up in prison.” Luke stood up, placed his hands on the desk and glared at Hancock.“Where are they?”
“I want a lawyer.”
“You’re going to need one. Get up. Turn around, put your hands behind your back. You’re under arrest.” After he snapped on the handcuffs, he placed a call to the local sheriff’s office, then led Hancock outside, read him his rights, put him in the back of his truck and waited for the deputies to arrive.
****
Wednesday morning, Bryce carried Leah down the steps, set her in her car seat, put the bags on the floor, then climbed behind the wheel. She yawned as she started the SUV, then drove down the alley and out onto Main Street.
Lord, she was tired. Leah had kept her up half the night. She wasn’t hungry or needing a change of diaper, she wanted to play. No matter what Bryce did to get her to sleep, she wanted to stay awake.
Bryce looked into the rearview mirror to see her daughter sound asleep.
“Of course, you sleep now.” Bryce knew it was common with newborns to confuse day and night but not at three months old. “I hope they keep you awake today so I can get some sleep tonight. I can’t be tired at my job, baby. It’s a new job. Do you want mama to get fired for falling asleep while at work?”
As she drove along the road toward the hospital, she couldn’t help but notice a car following behind. Shaking her head, she knew it could just be someone going the same way, but she couldn’t stop looking into the mirror. She could make out a man wearing dark sunglasses, but that was all.
When she came to the intersection where she turned right, he was still behind her.
“Bryce, you’re getting paranoid. Mick could not have found you,” she muttered.
God, she hoped not, but when she drove to the hospital Monday and yesterday, no one was behind her.That doesn’t mean anything!You were earlier both days.
“Yeah, that’s it. I was much earlier Monday since it was my first day, and I’d heard about the accident yesterday so I had to get an earlier start.” Satisfied with that, she drove into the hospital’s parking lot, then into the section for employees. She sat in the car and watched the car that was behind her, drive past then out the other side of the lot. He drove back the way he’dcome.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, but she was terrified. She pushed the door open, stepped out, opened the back, lifted Leah and her bags out, then hurried into the hospital.