Part 27 (2/2)

The must have recognized him from the news.

He followed his uncle into the diner with a silent prayer on his lips.

Zack, if you're looking, please come get me.

The truck had stopped moving. Jake sat up and peered out the window at the bright yellow wall of a building. He cursed and looked around for Brent and Bobby. Neither of them was in the truck. The stink of fry grease was definitely not from the lingering scent of Egg and Sausage Mcm.u.f.fins and strong coffee.

Both doors on the driver's side were open enough to let in the noise of the busy street and the tinny sound of Mariachi music piped through a sound system into the parking lot. Jake grabbed the .45 from the console and shoved it into his jeans.

Hot rage replaced the stiffness and pain from Logan's beating and from driving all night as he got out of the truck. His knee was swollen from where Logan had gotten a kick in, and he cursed the b.a.s.t.a.r.d again. He limped around the corner, warily keeping his hat brim down as he looked around at the few vehicles in front of the building. The sign out front proclaimed it Rosalita's Family Restaurant.

Jake entered the gla.s.s door and blinked a few times to help his eyes adjust to the darker interior of the restaurant. Brent stood in a hallway behind the salad bar. The frilly sign above said, ”Restrooms.”

An older woman approached and asked cheerfully in a strong Mexican accent, ”Just one?”

He ignored the question and pushed past her to head for his brother. With widened eyes and a gapping pie hole, Brent took a step back when he noticed him. ”Jake.”

”What the f.u.c.k do you think you're doing?”

Brent spread his hands and stuttered, ”B-bobby had to p.i.s.s. He begged me to stop.”

”You're an idiot,” he snarled and headed into the door marked Mens.

He found Bobby standing at the sink was.h.i.+ng his hands. The boy jerked with shock when he saw him. ”Dad. You're up.”

The brat was up to something. He grabbed Bobby by the shoulder and yanked so hard the kid yelped in pain. ”C'mon, we're getting the h.e.l.l out of here before someone calls the cops.”

”Oww. Dad, you're hurting me,” Bobby cried out again as Jake pushed him into the wall beside the sink. The boy turned and looked up at him with fear and tears in his eyes.

”You think you're pretty smart gettin' Brent to stop, don't you?” Jake clenched his fists, then released the tension as he slapped Bobby hard enough the boy fell into the side of the sink. He bawled louder and the sound served to grate on Jake's nerves. He lifted his hand again to hit the sniveling brat. ”You will know who's the boss when I'm done with you. I am, and you will never do something like this again.”

”Dad, please don't hit me.” Bobby sobbed as Jake's hand landed on his face again.

”Jake, what are you doing? We gotta go. I think the cops are coming.”

Jake turned his fury on his brother. He pulled the gun out from his belt. ”And whose fault is that?”

Brent's eyes widened so large it was almost comical. He backed up with his hands, palms out, held up on either side of his head. ”Whwhat are you doin'?”

”I told you never to double cross me, Brent.

”Where do you want to start?” Wyatt asked as Zack drove through the morning traffic of Seguin.

Zack shrugged and kept his eye on business route US-90 otherwise known as West Kingsbury Street. He and Wyatt had disagreed about which way Jake would go. He had no reason as to why anyone would choose to go through the city and stay away from the faster by-pa.s.s, but he'd won the argument when they heard chatter over the police radio that put two county sheriff deputies on the I-10, not to mention the Guadalupe County Sheriff's department was off the interstate.

”They won't stop again. But I know we're not far behind them.”

”Back there a little ways, you said Jake was a lying b.a.s.t.a.r.d. What did you mean?”

Zack spared the Ranger a glance. ”Why do you want to know?”

Wyatt shrugged and rubbed the dark auburn stubble on his chin. ”I'd like to know how likely you are to snap and try to kill him.”

Sucking in a deep breath, Zack let it out slowly. ”Jake lied to Tracy. I'm not getting into the gory details, except to say his lies are the reason Tracy cheated on me.”

He knew it was irrational to lay blame for his shaky marriage to Lisa and her ultimate death on Jake Parker's head, but it was hard for him to remain that rational. If Jake hadn't broken his heart by leading Tracy on, Zack would have never wanted to find solace in another woman's arms. And if he had never led Lisa on, she wouldn't have married him. She wouldn't have been killed after she found out he never fully loved her.

He couldn't tell Wyatt all that. It was crazy to blame someone else for his mistakes. However, thinking everything had happened because of happenstance and no one, including himself, was to blame for the mess into which his life had turned was hard to believe.

”I see.” Wyatt's quiet words had Zack looking at his friend when he stopped at a four-way stop. When Wyatt had his attention, he said, ”You found an easy target to blame, but remember taking all of your hate and anger at what had happened out on Jake Parker won't change a d.a.m.ned thing.”

”No, you s.h.i.+ttin' me?” Zack snorted. ”Are you done, Dr. Phil?”

”No, I'm not done. If you go off half-c.o.c.ked and do something crazy where Parker is concerned, it can destroy your future.”

Zack looked back at him. Wyatt was right.

”You and Tracy have a chance, Zack. Yes, I know it hurts like someone ripped your heart out because you've missed so much. That she's been with someone else. But think about what you wouldn't have if Tracy and you had gotten together all those years ago. You wouldn't have your little girl if you hadn't met your wife, and Tracy wouldn't have Bobby if she and Jake hadn't been together.”

Zack focused on the road as he eased through the intersection. Before he could respond to his friend, the police radio buzzed to life. ”Calling all units in the vicinity of West Kingsbury and Eighth Streets. Missing boy, Robert Parker, was seen entering Rosalita's Family Restaurant...”

Wyatt picked up the handset and glanced at Zack as he called in their proximity to the suspects. They'd just crossed Sixth Street. Zack's heart kicked into overdrive. He was close.

Hang in there, buddy, I'll get you.

Zack and Wyatt weren't the only police to respond. Two Guadalupe County sheriff deputies also pulled into the small parking lot. Brent's truck sat in a s.p.a.ce beside the brightly painted stucco building.

He and Wyatt got out of the Tahoe and introduced themselves to the two deputies.

The lieutenant of the two smiled. ”I know this boy's from Forest County, but it's unusual for the sheriff to go hunting outside of his county.”

Zack took one look at the young man and the deputy lost his c.o.c.ky grin. ”I have a personal reason for wanting Bobby found.”

Wyatt took a step forward as the front door shattered when a bullet hit it. Zack dropped to the ground the same time as Wyatt and the two deputies, all of them with pistols aimed at the restaurant.

Jake's voice boomed through the opening. ”I have ten hostages including the boy. If you don't let me go, I'll start shootin'.”

Zack's heart sank into his stomach when Jake stepped into the line-of-sight of the shot-out door window with a middle-aged Mexican woman. He held her to him with an arm around her ample waist, and with a Colt .45 pressed against her head. She was crying and muttered something in Spanish.

Jake wiggled the gun at her temple to make his point. ”You have ten seconds to put your guns away.”

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