Part 25 (1/2)
”You ordered them,” Daniel said.
”You can't prove it.”
Daniel placed both hands on the table and leaned in close to Arnie's face. ”Tom Hudson,” he spoke the name slowly.
”Is that suppose to mean something?”
Daniel nodded. ”He's the snitch in our department working for Boyd-and now working for you. He's talking his head off to save his own hide.”
Arnie didn't say anything, but Daniel could see he wasn't quite so pompous anymore so he pushed further. He tapped the photos. ”When a jury sees these photos and hears Tom's testimony, there'll be a cell on death row with your name on it.”
”I want to see my lawyer,” Arnie spouted.
”Well, Arnie,” Russ said. ”That high-powered attorney from Austin you called hasn't shown up. Guess you're not his number one priority.” Russ opened a door and a man stepped in. ”This is Wendell Groves, a court-appointed attorney.”
”Get that idiot out of my sight. He doesn't know the first thing about being a defense attorney.”
”Are you refusing counsel?”
”You're d.a.m.n right.”
”You heard the man,” Russ said to Wendell. ”Your services aren't required.”
”Are you sure, Mr. Bishop?” Wendell asked.
”d.a.m.n sure.”
Wendell quietly left.
”I wanna go back to my cell,” Arnie muttered.
Daniel got into his face again. ”Listen, you sleazebag, you're not going anywhere until you tell me where Bear is. Do you understand me?”
”It's too late anyway.” Arnie glared at him.
”What?” Daniel strained to catch what he was saying.
”It's too late,” Arnie shouted. ”Can't you hear?”
”Why is it too late?” Daniel asked.
Arnie glanced at the big clock on the wall. It was eleven forty-five. ”He was supposed to kill her by midnight.”
”Kill who?”
Arnie stared directly at Daniel, a sly smile on his thin lips. ”Sarah Welch.”
The blood drained from Daniel's face and he could feel it seeping from his body, leaving him defenseless and weak. He jerked up and tore out the door with one thought on his mind-to get to Sarah.
He ran out the building to his car. As he backed out, Russ yanked open the pa.s.senger door and leaped in. Daniel turned the siren on and they blared through the night.
”Slow down, Daniel,” Russ said. ”You'll kill us both. I'm trying to get Chad on the phone.” Russ frantically poked out numbers on his cell phone. There was no answer.
Daniel pressed his foot down, praying, hoping she was still alive.
Hang on, Sarah.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN.
DANIEL WAS OUT of the car before it came to a complete stop. He went in with his gun drawn; Russ was a step behind and backup was on the way. They found Mac and another officer first. Daniel felt for the pulse in the officer's neck.
”He's dead,” he murmured in a stiff voice.
”Mac's still alive,” Russ said, and called for an ambulance.
Daniel ran toward the house, not thinking, just reacting with steel-like precision.
”Let me go first,” Russ appealed. ”We don't know what we'll find in here.”
”No. I have to do this. Cover my back.”
”Daniel...”
Daniel wasn't listening. He wasn't feeling, either. He was frozen inside and he let his training, his cop instincts, take over. Slowly he moved to the front door. The lock was broken and swung open easily. He stepped inside the foyer, looking around, an eerie quiet permeated the place and he moved to the den then... He stopped dead at the scene in front of him and a sharp, paralyzing pain shot through him.
”My G.o.d,” Russ uttered as he took in the b.l.o.o.d.y sight.
Daniel fell down by Drew, trying to keep his emotions at bay. ”Drew, buddy,” he whispered, feeling for a pulse. He was still alive. Air gushed from Daniel's lungs.
”Chad's alive-barely,” Russ said as he checked him and moved to Ron. ”G.o.ddammit. Ron's dead.”
”Buddy, can you hear me?” Daniel asked.
”D-D-Danny.”
”Yes.” Daniel swallowed. ”It's me.”
”H-h-he killed her. I'm sorry.”
Daniel had to swallow again. ”Where's Sarah, buddy?” Where is Sarah!
”He killed her,” Drew said again.
His heart slammed into his chest, restricting his breathing. ”Who killed her?” he asked with a tremor in his voice.
”D-D-Daniel,” Drew gasped. ”I'm sorry.”