“Fine,” Rory answered. “They’re on the run. I think they had another vehicle nearby. The drugs are in the back of Connor’s truck.” Rory turned to face the other end of the barn. A car engine roared to life up the road. Tires squealed on pavement and the car took off at high speed, the rev of the engine fading into the night.
Mark listened to his radio as other sheriff’s deputies relayed information about the suspects speeding away in a black Mustang.
“What happened?” Mark asked.
Rory ran down the events for the deputy.
“Was this Trigger guy one of the men present when Derek attacked you?” Mark asked.
“No. I’ve never seen him before. I don’t know if he’s working for Derek. It seemed that Derek and Connor were nervous about him,” Sadie said.
“Trigger seemed to be here to make sure they got the drugs and delivered,” Rory added.
“Okay, we’ll check out the truck. Head on up to the house. I’ll take your statement before I leave.”
Rory took Sadie’s hand and carried the rifle in the other as he led her up to the house. Her father missed all the action and remained asleep in his room. Sadie sat beside Rory at the breakfast table, holding his hand.
“You’re too quiet.” Rory traced his fingers up and down her arm.
“Did you see all those bags of drugs?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“How many people do you think would take those drugs, get addicted, maybe die? How many lives would be ruined?”
“I don’t know, sweetheart.”
“He made them. He barely got through chemistry class, yet he can mix up those chemicals and create something that kills like it’s no big deal.”
“Sadie . . .”
“Did you see him? He looks like a walking zombie. He doesn’t even sound the same. It’s bad enough I have to watch the cancer take pieces of my father, weakening his body and stealing his mind, killing him a little more each day, but do I have to watch my brother do the same by his own hand?”
“Sadie, sweetheart.”
She squeezed his hand and shook her head. “Don’t. I know there’s nothing to say. Who can make sense out of that?” She let go of Rory and reluctantly stood and went to her purse on the table by the door, and found her phone. She swiped her finger across the screen and Googled up the number for the DEA and dialed the Billings division office.
“Who are you calling?” Rory asked.
Someone answered. “Yes, I’m calling to speak with Special Agent Cooke.”
“Who’s calling?”
“Sadie Higgins from Crystal Creek. I have a message from Trigger.”
“Please hold.”
Sadie waited, surprised when the deep voice that came on the line sounded very close to that of the man who’d given her the slip of paper. “Cooke.”
“Agent Cooke, my name is Sadie Higgins. I have a message for you from Trigger.”
“What’s the message?”
“I don’t know.”
“Look, I don’t have time to play games, either give me the message, or . . .”
“I can’t read the message,” she admitted.
The silence stretched for a good ten seconds. “Read me the letters and tell me where the breaks are.”
She read off the letters and spaces.
“Who are you?”
“I told you, my name is . . .”
“No. How do you know Trigger?”
“Oh, well, he held a gun to my head and saved me from a knife-wielding maniac who likes to watch me bleed.”
“Uh, when did this happen?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
“Where is Trigger now?”
“On the run from the sheriff’s department after he, my brother, and Derek Pete ran away.”
“I see. Anything else I should know.”
“He’s not what he seems.” She didn’t know why she said it, but it seemed important.
“Do not ever say that to anyone else. Are you safe where you are?”
“Yes. The deputies are outside investigating the scene and sorting out the bags of drugs.”
“They didn’t get away with the drugs?”
“No. My boyfriend stopped them.” She turned and stared at Rory, still sitting at the table watching her talk on the phone. His eyes narrowed on her, but one side of his mouth cocked up in a half grin.
“Burn that paper he gave you. Do not tell anyone about it.”
“Well, I kind of told my boyfriend about it.”
“Can he be trusted to keep it a secret?”
“I’d trust him with my life.” He’d already saved it twice.
“How did Trigger look?” The softness in his voice surprised Sadie.