Part 14 (1/2)
”You dont have to feed everyone, Mom,” I a.s.sured her. ”The captain will send out for food. He doesnt expect you to do this.”
”Theyre our guests, Sarah,” she said. ”Besides, you know this helps me settle down when things are, well, stressful.”
”Okay,” I said. ”Hand me a cranberry m.u.f.fin, and Ill put on fresh coffee. I have no doubt that if weve accomplished nothing else, youve done enough work here to get nominated as Ranger Mother of the Year.”
”Theres an award like that?” Mom said. She looked at me, and then broke into a nearly hysterical laugh. I slipped my arms around her and gave her a long hug.
”I love you, Mom,” I said.
”I love you, too, dear,” she answered, but then she frowned, a look I knew only too well. Mom was far from happy. ”Sometimes being your mother brings adventure into my life. I have lady friends who yearn for excitement, but a lot of this Id pa.s.s on if anyone gave me the option.”
”That I cant argue,” I said. ”But well have the superstar out of here this morning and you can go back to baking cheesecake for the paying customers.”
”Sounds good,” she said, but then she thought about that and said, ”You know, I do feel sorry for that girl. Where will she go?”
I wasnt surprised. Moms heart was always a bit too soft. Plus, I didnt have an answer. The captain walked in and it appeared he did, but not one I was going to like. ”Weve kind of hit a wall there, Mrs. Potts,” he said. ”Agent Garrity and I have been working on it all night. That kids face is too well known. Were afraid to move her. Someones bound to spot her, and once that happens, the paparazzi will swoop in and we dont have a heartbeats chance of hiding her. Sarahs decision to bring her here was a good one. Its our best option.”
That wasnt what I wanted to hear. ”Captain, may I talk to you in the living room?” I asked. He nodded and followed. David was still in the room, and I didnt mince words. ”You cant keep that kid here. Absolutely not. This was a stopgap measure to cover last night. Nothing more. Having her here puts Mom and Maggie in danger. Ca.s.sidy Collins needs to leave.”
”We understand that, Sarah,” David said. He looked tired and worried. ”But the captains telling you the truth. Weve talked with everyone at the FBI and ranger headquarters who could help, and theyve all come up dry. We dont have a safe house we can get her to without her being noticed. Its too risky. Her face is too well known. If we move her, someone is going to recognize that kid. We cant take that chance.”
”Youre not listening to me,” I said. ”I will not have my family in harms way. Its not an option.”
”Now hold on, Sarah,” the captain said, putting up his hands as if blocking a blow. ”Were not suggesting you do that. Weve come up with another alternative.”
”Another alternative, other than sending that smart-mouthed kid somewhere else? You expect me to believe theres another option, one that doesnt put my family in jeopardy?”
”Yes,” David urged. ”Give the captain a chance.”
Doubtful, I put my hands on my hips and waited. ”Okay,” I said. ”Youve got my full attention.”
”Were moving Maggie and your mother to another location,” the captain said. ”All the arrangements are already made. Theyre getting a vacation, kind of, all at the taxpayers expense.”
”Tomorrow is Monday. Maggie has school, and Mom has the ranch to run,” I said. ”Where are you planning to send them? Disney World?”
”Just through tomorrow evening, Sarah, and this will all be over. Collins will be on her way back to California,” he said. ”Right after the girl performs at the rodeo.”
Now that really threw me. I couldnt believe anyone thought Collins would be appearing in Houston anytime soon. ”You think anyone will come to see that kid at the rodeo, knowing some whack job might show up and try to kill her?” I asked. ”After what happened in Dallas? It must be all over the newspapers.”
”It is,” David said. ”And on the Internet. But Collinss public relations machine stepped in and spun it, started rumors that what happened was part of Collinss act, a publicity stunt to get the kids in the audience stirred up. It worked so well that a Houston radio station started a 'Find Ca.s.sidy Collins Contest with tickets to her rodeo concert tomorrow night as the prize. Unfortunately, that wasnt exactly what we were hoping for. We didnt particularly want teenagers all over Houston looking for the kid, hoping to be the first to post her location online.”
”The PR folks convinced the press that this whole thing is a game?” I scoffed. ”How could anyone believe that, when she ran off the stage and didnt finish the act?”
”Well, we caught a break. It all happened near the end of her performance. The timing worked,” David said. ”With a little prodding from her spin guys, yeah, her fans and the press believe it was all a ruse, just an exciting way to get Collins off the stage and start a worldwide publicity campaign.”
”Okay, so the fans will come. I understand. But you cant think that kids going to perform? After last night?” I asked.
”Were hoping to have the SOB in custody by the time the kids supposed to walk on the stage at the rodeo,” David said. ”If that doesnt happen, we need her to perform to draw him out in the open. Our plan is to use Collinss rodeo performance to lure him and were hoping h.e.l.l drop his guard. This time, well be prepared.”
”What are you going to do that we didnt do in Dallas?” I asked.
At this point, it appeared neither one of the two men wanted to take the lead. I had a feeling they didnt want to admit they hadnt planned that far in advance. ”Weve got a mess of people looking into that,” the captain said. ”When the time comes, well be ready.”
”Thats fine, but dont involve my family,” I protested. ”I want that girl out of here this morning. I wont disrupt Maggie and Mom. I cant. Not after last year.”
”Its okay, Mom,” a small voice said behind me. When I turned around, Maggie stood listening, and I figured shed heard much of the argument. ”If Ca.s.sidy Collins needs help, Gram and I can move for a couple of days. Only thing is, Captain, I cant go to Florida, even if it is Disney World. I need to take Warrior and Emma Lou with me.”
”No, Maggie,” David said. He shook his head, and moved toward her, reached out and put his hands on my daughters slim shoulders. She looked up at him, as he smiled rea.s.suringly down at her. ”Im sorry, but theres no way you can take the horses,” he said. ”Thats just not possible.”
An injured look flashed across her young face, and David didnt appear surprised. He must have understood that for Maggie, leaving Warrior was unthinkable. ”I know this is difficult, but were in a bad situation. Our priority is to keep Ca.s.sidy Collins and you and your grandmother safe,” he explained. ”The best way to do that is what weve worked out for the next couple of days, keeping Ca.s.sidy here on the ranch and checking you and your grandmother into a suite at a downtown hotel. Youll be registered under a.s.sumed names, as our guests, until Ca.s.sidy Collins leaves for California.”
”But what about Warrior? He needs us right now,” Maggie said. ”Hes so little.”
”Most of the rangers helping out on the ranch have horses, and theyll help your mom watch over him. And in a pinch, we can call Doc Larson,” David said, his manner calm. ”Maggie, its really for the best. Warrior is so young, barely two days old. You wouldnt want to risk moving him, would you?”
”David, I dont think this is a good idea,” I interrupted.
”No. Hes right, Mom,” Maggie said, being very brave. She looked up at David again, this time with a sad acceptance. ”Youll all be here to take care of the horses. Itll be okay. And the hotel could be fun. Gram and I could get room service and watch television and movies.”
”Tomorrow morning, youll call her school and tell them Maggies sick,” the captain said. ”We can get her teachers to give us her books and the days a.s.signments. Tuesday morning, sh.e.l.l be back in cla.s.s.”
”Its all right with me, too,” Mom said, standing in the doorway. ”That Collins girl needs help, Sarah. Maggie and I will be all right. Frieda will help you look after the horses.”
”Frieda should go to the hotel, too,” the captain said. ”Its safest if shes with you and Maggie at the hotel.”
”Are you sure?” I asked Maggie, and then looked over at Mom. ”Are you positive youre both okay with this?”
”Im sure,” Maggie said. ”I dont want anything to happen to Ca.s.sidy. I really dont. And I trust you and Mr. Garrity to take care of Warrior.”
”Im sure, too, Sarah,” Mom said.
”Its settled then,” the captain said. ”Can you be ready to go in an hour?”
”Ill get the car packed,” Mom said.
”No, the chopper is still out in the pasture. Itll take you,” he said. ”Just pack your bags. Well tell Frieda to pack hers, and well fly you out of here, so were sure youre not followed. Youll land in downtown Houston, and therell be a limo waiting. Were hoping to spoil you ladies a bit, to try to make up for the inconvenience.”
”Whatll I tell Bobby?” Mom asked. ”We were going to the barbecue cook-off again this afternoon.”
”Call and tell him you had to go visit a sick relative, Mrs. Potts,” the captain suggested. ”Its safer if no one knows where you are. We booked a large, three-bedroom suite, and youll have two officers with you at all times. Were not taking any chances.”
”Okay,” Mom said. ”Ill call Bobby right away.”
”No,” the captain said. ”Not from the ranch. From here on out, no one uses the house phone or your old cell phones. We have new cell phones for all of you, just for the duration.”
Mom looked at me, alarmed. ”Well, is that really necessary? Cant I make a few phone calls?”