Finding Amy (14 page)

“Yeah. They’re in my wallet.”

Martin laughed out loud. “You’re so stupid. Who the hell carries their alias ID in their wallet? That’s your problem. Not mine. How do you plan to get my bag?”

Max reached for the
Marlboros he had picked up in the store, lit up and leaned back in the seat. “Well, that’s another thing. I can’t get to your loving little wife with Carson around. I have a few ideas and I still have the kid. I’ll contact you when I get back to Texas. You see, I know where the bag is and you don’t so leave everything to me.”

“What do you want,
Guthrie?” Martin growled into the phone.

Max smiled.
He knew Martin would bite. “I’ll get the bag for you along with your daughter but I want my 100k you promised me. And Martin, you’re getting off easy. I could have asked for more. If you screw me on this, you’ll never see that bag or your little darling.”

“
You mean 25k, not a 100k, don’t you?” Martin asked. A long silence followed by Martin’s heavy sigh. “All right, Guthrie. You’ve got a deal. But, I’m warning you, if any of my money is missing, I’ll find someone to take you down. Permanently.” The phone went dead.

Chapter 21

Deep in her own thoughts, Amy failed to hear the cell phone ringing. Carson pulled the instrument from his pocket and glanced at the image.

“
It’s Guthrie.” Carson turned the scanner down and pressed the button on the phone. “Guthrie. Looks like you’ve gotten yourself in a fix,” Carson mocked him.

“Oh
, really. And how do you plan to accomplish that?” He listened. “I see. You know the law might go easier on you if you release the child and give yourself up.”

Carson moved the phone away from his ear and
Guthrie’s laughter filled the cab. If Carson could talk him into surrendering, they would get Trish.

“The trooper didn’t die,
Guthrie. Why don’t you just give it up? I’ll put in a good word for you--- Max . . . Max . . . Damn.” He checked the display. “He hung up.”

Amy leaned forward. “What did he say, Carson?”

Carson pulled a business card out of his shirt pocket and opened the glove box to retrieve his own cell phone. “Turn around and get back on the interstate. We’re going back to the Denver International. Call David and make sure he hasn’t taken the plane back to Texas yet.” He dialed the number on the card.

“I
had already told him not to leave until he heard from me. But I’ll call and let him know we’re on our way.” Rex opened his cell.

When Carson
finished his call, Amy squeezed his shoulder. “Talk to me Carson. What’s going on?”

“I think Max has found someone
to fly him out of Colorado. Trooper Stover has been filled in and he is contacting the FAA to see what charters have filed a flight plan in the last two hours. I’m not going to wait from him to call back, we’re taking the plane.” His cell buzzed and he answered.

Jamie
reached over and took Amy’s hand. “I know you must think I’m a terrible mother. But you have to know I love my little girl very much and don’t want anything to happen to her.” Tears streamed silently down her cheek.

Amy
’s heart cried for her twin. She wished she could fix this for Jamie like she had done so many times in the past. Instead she had to rely on someone else. Praying it could be fixed. “Jamie you have to believe they will get her back safe. We can’t think otherwise.”

“If I
hadn’t mailed that bag, I could just give it to him and Trish would be here. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself if anything happens to her.” Jamie sobbed. “I’m sorry, Amy. I feel so guilty. If I hadn’t taken his damn money in the first place, this wouldn’t be happening. The money is all he wants. I should get Carson to call him and let him pick it up. I can overnight the key and he wouldn’t have any trouble getting the bag.” Jamie sighed. “But that wouldn’t get Trish back, would it?”

“No, sweetie, that’s not w
hat we need to do. I think Carson’s doing the right thing and we should trust him. It’s not only Trish that’s in danger, Jamie. Martin has a contract on you.”

“I would gladly give up my life to save my daughter.”
Jamie sobbed into her hands. “I hope you’re right and Carson catches that madman.”

Amy didn’
t have enough energy left to agree or disagree with Jamie. She turned her head and watched the distant mountain range fly by. The traffic had increased. They were getting close to Denver and the airport. In a few hours they would be in Texas and hopefully make the exchange. She had to concentrate on something else besides Trish. Her tired body ached and her brain refused to think. Lack of sleep caused her eyes to dry out and burn. If she didn’t get sleep soon, her body would be shutting down, regardless of her location.

Thirty minutes
later, the vehicle pulled into the airport entrance. Rex drove around the terminal and up to a security guarded gate. A heavy set man in a solid black uniform strolled up to the truck window. Rex handed him his ID and drivers license. The guard took the documents back into his tiny guard house and several minutes passed before the gate opened. Rex drove up even with the window, retrieved his documents, and followed the drive beside the tall chain link fence. He pulled up beside hanger number four where a white Cessna with Garrett Quarter Horse Ranch printed in black and gold written on the side sat with engines running.

Carson flipped the overhead light on. “I’ll get your bags out of the back. Get anything you have in here. We’re leaving the truck. I’ll have it picked up later.” He stepped out
and he and Rex carried the bags to the waiting plane.

When
Amy got out of the truck the north wind gushed in the open door letting them know another storm had moved in. The snow fell in gushes, quickly covering the truck. A shiver ran over her body leaving a chill even the heated truck couldn’t overcome. She hurried to the steps of the plane and climbed inside. Jamie followed close behind.

Amy’s boots sunk into the deep gold carpet on the floor
of the plane. Four sets of seats covered in a rich chocolate brown lined both sides of the isle.

“There’s a small galley in the back with drinks and a restroom right across from it.” Amy jumped when Carson
walked up behind her.

“Thanks.” Too tired to
say anything else, Amy plopped into one of the soft seats and stared out the window at the falling snow. Oblivious to anything around her, her mind and body had stopped working. Her eyes closed before the plane left the ground.

****

Carson passed Amy to store the suitcases in the tail of the plane and when he stepped back inside the passenger section he smiled. Her head rested against the back of her seat and her eyes were closed. He whispered to Jamie who sat directly across the aisle, “The wind has kicked up and the tower says turbulence is going to be pretty rough before we gain altitude. I’ll buckle Amy up and you should do the same.” He grabbed a pillow from the overhead compartment and placed it under Amy’s head before fastening her seatbelt. She never stirred. She hadn’t slept since they left Wyoming and it had caught up with her. It would take about three hours to reach the ranch and he hoped she slept all the way.

Carson
walked up the aisle and sat in the co-pilot’s seat. Rex occupied the pilot’s seat. David sat in one of the passenger seats behind them. The engine roared as they accelerated and the plane moved forward.

T
he tower gave the Cessna clearance to take off. The snow had now changed to blizzard consistence making visibility six feet in front of the plane. Carson’s stomach churned. He didn’t fear the plane ride but the thought of too much turbulence wouldn’t make his stomach feel any better.

“Hang on
Jamie. This may be bumpy,” Carson instructed.

The plane tax
ied to the runway, the engine revved up and moved forward. The wheels skidded on the slick surface. Carson let off and started again. It found traction and the Cessna shot forward, gathering speed to gain altitude. The rough runway from left over ice and sand caused them to bounce in their seats. Close to the end, the wheels left the ground and they were airborne. As the plane climbed, the wind fought against them and rocked the Cessna back and forth until they rose above it. Once they were in the correct altitude, the plane settled and the flight leveled out. Carson released his breath and relaxed.

W
hen a sudden dip caused by a downdraft plunged the plane downward, Carson’s heart leaped into his throat. Bile churned in his stomach. This is why he hated roller coasters.

“
It’s just a little more turbulence. I’ll climb above it and we’ll get smooth again.” He turned around to check on the passengers and realized his words were falling on deaf ears. Jamie had fallen into a deep slumber. Good. They both needed sleep.

Carson and Rex maneuvered the vehicle expertly and were soon running
smooth until they hit Oklahoma and the heavy snow turned into torrential rains with bolts of lightning and crashing thunder so loud they could hear it through their headsets. They never knew when the fireworks would go off. The streaks of light came from all directions and Carson cringed every time one flashed.

“
We should touch down at the ranch in a little less than two hours. I’m calling Mom to let her know about what time we’ll be in,” Rex told Carson.

“Who do you think you’re kidding? You want supper ready when we get home.” Carson ribbed his brother.

Rex grinned and opened the line to the house on the radio.

The silence in the cabin made the time drag
as they waited for their mother to answer the radio.

“
Star One to home base. Star One to home base.” Rex raised his voice.

“
What’s going on?” The loud noise woke Amy.

“Home base. Where
are you boys?” a familiar voice replied.

“We’re in a storm over Oklahoma
, Mom.” Rex answered.

“It rained last night and I
had Hank grade the runway this morning but you know how slick red clay can be after a rain. Be careful,” their mother instructed.

“Roger that
. We should be home around 5:30 P.M.” Rex released the button and replaced the mike.

Carson turned around. “We’re letting the ranch know when we’ll arrive. Go back to sleep if you can.” He addressed
Amy and turned to Rex. “We’ve got to get that runway paved.”

Rex nodded in agreement.

A loud pop caused Amy to gasp. Carson glanced through the door as she set the seat upright. “It’s just lightning. We’re almost home,” he reassured her.

****

A couple of hours later, the engine slowed and the plane began its descend. The lightening had stopped and Amy gazed out the side window as they circled the property. Nestled among the numerous trees, she spotted three identical log homes. A long winding driveway passed in front of the houses and led to a large barn painted fire engine red. Further down the drive sat a much larger white metal building. Behind that building, hundreds of horses stampeded in a large pasture when the plane approached. At first they ran in the same direction of the plane but turned suddenly and ran toward the red barn. The sight of the beautiful animals running together as if they had practiced the maneuver made Amy smile. She watched in awe until they were in a tight circle close to the barn. There must have been two hundred animals in a wide array of colors. A tiny little gray colt struggled to get inside the circle by wiggling his head between two large geldings who refused to budge. He planted his feet and shoved until they moved and he disappeared inside. Amy laughed at the little ones determination.

“Here we go,
” Carson warned as the plane touched the strip and skidded to a halt close to the hanger. A white SUV pulled up beside the airplane and a tall skinny young man hopped out and waved his straw hat at the windows. His wide grin covered his face.

Carson unbuckle
d his seatbelt and opened the exit door. Amy pushed the button on the seatbelt and stood. Her body ached in places she had forgotten about and she had no feeling in other places. She couldn’t remember the flight so she must have slept but it didn’t fell like it.

“Hey Mr. C. Glad to have you back.” The youth yelled.

“Good to be home, Thomas. Everything running smooth?”

T
homas hadn’t stopped grinning. “As smooth as a baby’s bottom. Need any help unloading?”

Jamie
had unbuckled her seatbelt and stood behind him. “Yeah. We have a few bags. Ladies this is Thomas. He helps out around here. Thomas this is Amy and Jamie.” Carson introduced the women when Amy joined her sister.

“
They’ll be staying with us for a while. Take their bags . . .” He stopped. Where would the women stay? With him? Rex? No maybe Mom’s. But he didn’t want to just dump them on his mother without asking. “Put their bags in the truck and we’ll unload them.”

Carson
grabbed his hat and climbed out of the plane. Rex followed. They both helped the twins down the steps. The heat of East Texas surrounded him and he began shedding layers of clothing. Starting with his leather jacket. It might be October but Texas didn’t know it yet.

Thomas wasted no time loading the little bit of luggage into the back of t
he SUV and making sure that the women were settled. “Your mom has been cooking all day. It might be best if that’s your first stop.”

“Good idea. Will you tuck the pla
ne in?” Carson asked the young man.

He and Rex joined the women
in the vehicle and Carson swung the car around and headed down the runway until he connected with the drive that ran in front of the three houses.

As they approached the
middle house, the front door swung open and a short woman with silver hair stepped out onto the covered porch. She wiped her hands on the ruffled apron around her waist and waited for the car to park.

Carson
exited and grabbed the older woman, swinging her around. “Did you miss me?”

The woman laughed. “Put me down you big ox.
No. I didn’t miss you an ounce.” She pecked his cheek with a kiss.