Sealed With Courage, page 12
Russo turned back toward her. “Yeah?”
“Please do your best to find Lucas.” For a moment, she looked as if she might cry. “If he’s really been gone since Tuesday morning, we’re already three days behind. He could be in Mexico by now.”
“I promise we are working every lead we have on this case,” Russo said reassuringly. “I’m aware of the timeline.”
She nodded without saying anything further.
Once Russo and Lee were gone, he urged Aubrey back inside. “We both need to get some sleep.”
“I know.” She shook her head. “But it’s hard to rest when you know Lucas is in terrible danger.”
“We’re doing our best and so are the detectives.” Mason wished there was more he could do too. Unfortunately, he was fresh out of ideas.
“You didn’t mention searching Nanette’s apartment.”
“No, I didn’t think it prudent to describe how I broke the law.” He shrugged. “Thankfully, they didn’t ask why I went to The Overlook.”
“I think we should go to El Cajon.”
He sighed. “We’re not going anywhere tonight, it’s too dangerous. Besides, what do you suggest? That we stroll up and ask the locals to take us to el jefe? We’re going to be seen as outsiders. I doubt anyone will talk to us much less help us find the boss man in charge of the Blue Devils.”
“We need Nanette. Maybe she’d be able to get through to them.”
Mason didn’t want to point out that Nanette could very likely be with the Blue Devils too. Maybe it was a case of joining the gang to get close to her son. “Let’s get some sleep.”
Aubrey nodded and turned away. He took Bravo outside to walk the perimeter of his house.
Darkness was never absolute in the city, not compared to the blackness he’d experienced in Afghanistan. Still, he checked the shadows to make sure no one was lurking nearby. He paused at the damaged SUV, wishing he could hide it in the garage. But he didn’t want Aubrey’s car out where it could be easily seen either.
He stayed outside for far longer than was necessary to give Aubrey time to use the bathroom and head to bed. Holding her in his arms earlier had made him realize how emotionally involved he was.
How much he cared about her.
Maybe once this was over and they’d found Lucas, they could get together as a normal couple. Have dinner, maybe watch a movie.
Things he hadn’t done in what seemed like forever.
A movement on the opposite side of his enclosed pool caught his attention. He hadn’t heard anything, but these days he couldn’t count on his hearing. The Ratland versus Ranchero was proof of that.
He knelt beside Bravo, using his K9’s senses to cue him to any threats. The Malinois perked his ears forward, lifted his nose to the air, then let out a series of staccato barks loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood.
There! The shadow moved, then broke into a run. “Get him,” he shouted.
Bravo took off like a rocket, with Mason following close on his heels.
Chapter Ten
The sharp barks from Bravo made Aubrey freeze in alarm. From the past twenty-four hours, she knew the dog only barked when he alerted on Lucas’s scent or when there was danger.
This sounded like danger.
She had already changed into her flannel pajamas, so she quickly stripped them off and put her clothes back on. Shoving her feet into her shoes, she tiptoed out of the bedroom and peered down the short hallway.
The barking had stopped, but there was no sign of Mason or Bravo. She knew if Mason was here, he’d tell her to stay inside, but she hated the idea of standing around doing nothing. Glancing down at her phone, she debated calling 911. A number she’d never called before until yesterday. Now it had become second nature.
She pressed the numbers, then hesitated. What would she say? That Bravo had barked and that meant danger? With a groan, she shoved the phone back into her pocket. She’d wait to make the call.
Moving through the house, she peered out one window, then the next. There was no sign of either Mason or Bravo. Her belly knotted with tension, but she reminded herself that Mason had proved over and over again that he was more than capable of holding his own.
She blew out a breath and did her best to remain calm. It wasn’t that she was afraid of being left alone.
But of what Mason and Bravo were facing out there.
San Diego was a safe place to live. A beautiful city on the ocean. When had that changed?
She wasn’t naïve enough to believe there hadn’t always been crime happening around her. No city was immune from that.
But it hadn’t touched her personally, until now.
Aubrey continued moving around the house, from one window to the next, hoping to see Mason and Bravo. The minutes ticked by with excruciating slowness.
Finally, man and dog emerged from the shadows. She was so glad to see them tears pricked her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and tried not to look as worried as she’d felt when Mason unlocked the front door and stepped inside.
“What happened?” Her tone came out sharper than she intended. So much for not looking concerned. “I heard Bravo barking.”
“We took off after a man hiding in the shadows.” Mason rested his hand on Bravo’s head. “We almost caught him, but there was a car waiting for him. He managed to get inside before we could stop him.”
“Who was he? Did he look familiar?”
“No, and we only saw him from a distance.” Mason frowned. “He was fast, I’ll give him that. Normally, Bravo would have gotten him. I had to call Bravo back, or he would have jumped in the car with him.”
“Good grief.” She shivered. “I don’t understand. Were they with the Blue Devils? And how did they find us?”
“I can’t say for sure those guys are with the Blue Devils, but we can’t take any chances. The only way they could have found my location is by tracking the license plate of the SUV.” Mason gestured toward the bedrooms. “You need to pack your things. We’ll have to find another place to stay.”
“A hotel?”
“Yeah.” He eyed her warily. “You okay with that?”
Yesterday she’d have refused such a thing, but Mason had proved himself to be a gentleman and a protector. She didn’t believe he’d force the issue of going to a hotel if it wasn’t necessary for her safety. “Yes, of course. I’ll pack my stuff.”
He nodded and followed her down the hall. Minutes later, they met in the kitchen.
“I’m afraid we’ll have to take your car,” he said. “The broken window of the SUV is too noticeable.”
“That’s fine.” She forced a smile. “My car is too boring to get anyone’s attention.”
“Trust me, that’s a good thing.” Mason lightly touched her arm. “I’ll grab Bravo’s stuff out of my SUV and move it out of the way so you can back out of the garage, okay?”
“Got it.” They’d done this last night, which seemed like a week ago or longer. Again, she second-guessed her decision to try and find Lucas. The danger was all too real, and Mason had already been wounded.
She wasn’t sure they should keep investigating. What if something even worse happened the next time they headed out to meet with one of the Blue Devils? She believed God was watching over them, but the fact that they’d been found here at Mason’s house was far from reassuring.
Yet turning her back on Lucas felt wrong. He was young, deaf, mute, and likely scared to death.
No, she could not give up searching for him.
And somehow she knew Mason wouldn’t either.
Once they had the damaged SUV parked in the garage, Mason placed their overnight bags in the trunk of her Kia. With Bravo in the back seat, they headed off.
“Any particular hotel?” She glanced at him questioningly.
“Nothing too fancy considering we have Bravo.” He glanced at her. “I hope you’re not disappointed.”
“I’ll be fine,” she assured him. She noticed he drove to the other side of the city, away from his neighborhood and hers while close to East Village. He drove up to the main entrance of a well-known budget chain motel. “Wait here, I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.” As Mason disappeared inside, she realized they’d be sharing a room, likely with two double beds. As if being in the same house wasn’t bad enough.
Oh, she trusted Mason not to try anything, he wasn’t the type.
It was her own willpower she needed to be concerned with. Her awareness of Mason was off the charts. And very unsettling. He tempted her more than any man had in a very long time.
Kissing him again was not an option.
He emerged from the motel, casting a gaze around the area, before sliding in behind the wheel. “I was able to get us adjoining rooms for the next two nights.”
She was surprised he’d even asked about that. “Ah, great. Thanks.”
“Trust me, you’ll be glad, Bravo snores,” he teased as he drove around to the rooms along one side. “We’re in rooms seven and eight.”
She nodded and waited until he parked before pushing out of the car. He let Bravo out of the back seat, then came around to unlock both doors. “Here’s your key.” He handed her the one for room 7. “I hope you don’t mind opening your side of the connecting doors.”
“Of course not.” She entered the room, ignoring the musty smell, and did as he’d asked. Moments later, he dropped her suitcase on the bed, then went into his own room. After he unlocked his side, Bravo came through the opening, sniffing curiously.
“I’ll reimburse you for my room,” she offered.
He waved it off. “Don’t worry about that. I would like to come up with a plan for the morning.”
“I’m open to ideas.” She plopped down onto the edge of her bed, exhaustion catching up with her. “The only thing I can come up with is visiting El Cajon. Not that I think that will get us very far. As you pointed out, we can’t very well ask around for the Blue Devils.”
“Yeah, but it may be worth a try.” He stood in the doorway as if wary of invading her space. “Maybe Russo and Lee will come up with something too. For now, try to get some sleep.”
“I will.” She managed a smile. “Good night, Mason.”
“Good night. Come, Bravo.” Dog and man disappeared into their room, leaving the connecting door slightly ajar.
Aubrey stood and donned her flannel pajamas. She desperately needed sleep, but as she stretched out beneath the covers, everything that had happened since early that morning, tumbled through her mind.
She pushed the images away and silently prayed, first thanking God for watching out for them, then asking that He provide peace and badly needed sleep.
When she woke up, light was streaming in through the motel window. She blinked, realizing she hadn’t slept that well in a long time. She heard a door close and watched as Mason and Bravo walked past the window.
Using the brief time alone, she quickly showered, changed, and blow-dried her hair. By the time Mason and Bravo returned, she was ready for whatever the day might bring.
Today was Friday, which meant Lucas had been missing for four days. A long time for a young boy to be in the hands of the Blue Devils. And what if they’d already taken him across the border? Their chances of rescuing him would be slim to none if that had happened.
She shook her head, reminding herself not to imagine the worst. It was seven o’clock in the morning, so she made a quick call to the principal at the Stanley School for the Deaf to let him know she wouldn’t be in that day. She’d braced herself for an argument, but thankfully, the call went straight to his voice mail.
She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if they hadn’t found Lucas by Monday.
Crossing to the connecting door, she lightly rapped on it. She waited, then realized Mason may not have heard her. “Mason?” She projected her teacher’s voice through the opening. “Are you decent?”
“Yeah.” A hint of amusement laced his tone. She peered into the room and saw he was feeding Bravo. He turned to smile at her. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” Her cheeks heated, and she had to resist the urge to cover them with her hands. This electric awareness of him had to stop. She was almost thirty-nine, too old to act like some sort of teenager with a crush.
“I don’t suppose you’ve heard from Russo or Lee?” She edged farther into the room.
“Not yet.” Mason gestured to Bravo. “When he’s finished eating, we’ll grab breakfast.”
“We can drive through a fast-food restaurant for a breakfast burrito on the way to El Cajon.” Despite her emotions being all over the place about heading into more danger, she figured they may as well get started. The sooner they checked the city for any sign the Blue Devils were using it as their headquarters, the better.
Mason hesitated, then shook his head. “There’s a family restaurant next door. We’ll eat first so I can check in with Russo and Lee.”
The way he avoided her gaze made her think he was planning to leave her behind. To her shame, there was a tiny part of her that wanted nothing more than to hide in the motel room.
But she wasn’t going to do that. Mason needed backup, and while she might not be any good in a fight, she’d managed to call for help, twice, and to drive them to safety.
Surely that was better than nothing.
Man, he wished Kaleb was with him. Or any of the guys, really. He would prefer to have backup while searching for Lucas.
Late last night, he’d decided against taking Aubrey to El Cajon. He felt certain she was safer here in the motel since he’d made sure no one had followed them. And despite the fact that they’d managed to find his place either by a chance sighting of his damaged SUV or through his license plate number, he didn’t believe they had the resources to track his credit card.
He planned to hit the ATM for cash, anyway, so that they could stay completely off the radar from this point on.
First, though, he needed to follow up on the only lead they had. Upon reaching El Cajon, he planned to use Bravo’s excellent nose to potentially pick up Lucas’s scent. If the dog was able to do that, he’d know Lucas had been taken there at some point and could hopefully convince Russo and Lee to work with the local authorities to dig deeper into potential hiding spots.
Worrying about Aubrey would only slow him down.
She wouldn’t like his decision. He mentally braced himself as they walked next door to the restaurant. He left Bravo in the motel room as he figured the dog would only attract unwanted attention.
The guy he and Bravo had chased last night might recognize the animal. Which was another reason he’d decided to head out to El Cajon.
And if Bravo didn’t alert to Lucas’s scent in the city, then they could scratch that location off the list.
Not that there weren’t dozens of other possible locations they could be holding the boy. Many potentially located south of the border.
After the server brought coffee and took their order, Aubrey said, “Please don’t go to El Cajon without me.”
Scary the way she read him so easily. He took a sip from his mug. “You’ll be safe at the motel, no one knows you’re there.”
“I haven’t held you back so far,” she pressed. “In fact, if I remember correctly, I was able to help you get out of several close calls.”
“Yes, but that was because I had to come back to keep you safe.” He eyed her over the rim of his mug. “I would have gotten away even if you weren’t there. I always made sure to have at least two different escape routes.”
She stared down at the table for a moment. “I hate holding you back.” Her voice was so low he had to lean forward to hear her. She noticed his movement and lifted her head. “I keep thinking about what’s better for Lucas. He knows me. If you find him, he’ll feel better if I’m there to reassure him.”
It was a difficult argument to ignore. “I know enough sign language to reassure him.”
Aubrey reached across the table to take his hand. “If those men hurt him, he’ll still be afraid of you, Mason.”
He felt his resolve weakening. Good thing she wasn’t asking for the sun and the stars as it was beginning to look like he was unable to deny her anything. He tried to find a compromise. “What if I find a motel where you can stay for a while that isn’t too far from El Cajon? Will you wait for me there?”
She hesitated, and he could tell she didn’t want to do that either.
“This entire trip could be a waste of time. I’m hopeful Bravo will alert on Lucas’s scent, but if he doesn’t? It’s another dead end.”
“Okay, I’ll wait somewhere close by if you let me pay for the room.”
It went against the grain to let her pay for anything, but he reminded himself that this was a compromise. “Sounds good.”
Their meals arrived a moment later. He stared down at his eggs and bacon, remembering how Kaleb had always prayed before eating a meal, even an MRE, which was basically fake mystery meat in a sealed pack.
Without thinking too much about his motives, he prayed for God to keep them safe as they continued searching for Lucas and to protect the boy from irreparable harm.
“Amen,” Aubrey said.
He glanced up at her, belatedly realizing he must have whispered loud enough for her to overhear. “Amen,” he agreed.
It didn’t take long for them to finish their meals. He glanced frequently at his phone, but of course, he didn’t hear from Russo or Lee.
Or Kaleb for that matter.
He paid the breakfast tab, then rose to his feet, holding his hand out to her. “Are you ready? Let’s go.”
After getting their bags from the motel and hitting an ATM for cash, he tried to call Russo, but the detective didn’t answer. He left a message, explaining his plan to use Bravo to track Lucas’s scent in El Cajon.
“I pray we find him today,” Aubrey said as they hit the road.
“Me too.” Mason glanced back at Bravo sprawled out on the back seat of the Kia. He didn’t like driving without having the animal in a crate, but there wasn’t another option at this point. Time was of the essence.
