Gone Away (16 page)

“Stay there,” Mason said to Riece and cracked opened the door. “Where’s your friend?” he shouted. Without turning around Mason added in a voice soft enough only Riece would hear, “I don’t like this.”

The words had no sooner left Mason’s mouth than Riece heard a dull thud from behind him. He felt a presence. Mason turned, and the color drained from his face. He slammed the door shut, took one long stride toward Riece, and froze. Mason’s hands were at his sides, his fists bunched, and he glared, breathing hard.

In the next second, a strong arm wrapped around Riece’s neck and something sharp was pressed against the base of his throat. Riece sucked in a breath. He recognized Banjoff’s voice. This time it was right in his ear. “Don’t give me any trouble. You’ll just die more slowly and painfully.”

“Do what he says, Riece,” Mason said. Riece met Mason’s gaze, swallowed, and barely nodded.

Banjoff pressed more tightly on Riece’s throat and said with a low chuckle, “I knew hunting an injun would be fun. Time to finish this thing. I want my trophy.”

MASON WAS
going to have one shot at this. Bourne and his people were a good five minutes away at least. Any closer and they’d have run the risk of being seen by Kemp and Banjoff.

Riece pulled in a deep breath and shouted, “If you ever want to fuck me again, you’d better save this fine ass!”

Mason met Riece’s gaze and settled his weight in his heels, centering and balancing himself. The door squeaked ever so slightly when it was opened. He silently counted to three. Years ago, Mason’s father had purposely rigged a floorboard about three steps into the cabin so it would squeak when someone walked across it. Jessica Kemp would have no way of knowing that. Mason was banking on the fact that Riece saw Jessica come through the door. His wildly inappropriate statement was a warning that Jessica was behind Mason and moving closer.

Mason silently blessed his father’s paranoia. He spun around and kicked out. The rifle Jessica carried flew out of her hands. A second kick found its mark in her abdomen, doubling her over and incapacitating her.

Banjoff, as before, was armed to the teeth with a crossbow, two Glocks, and not only the knife he had against Riece, but another in a sheath on his belt. Riece slammed his foot down on Banjoff’s. The man was surprised, but not enough to let go of Riece.

Mason faced Banjoff, held both hands out, and waggled his fingers in a
come here
motion. “You want a kill? Come and get it.” He was bigger, heavier, and younger than Banjoff, but the man was probably as well trained. Mason had no misconception of having an advantage.

Banjoff suddenly shoved Riece into Mason, who caught him and pushed him toward Jessica, ordering, “Get her gun and hold it on her!”

Banjoff came at Mason with his knife. Mason jumped out of the way while still managing to stay between Banjoff and Riece. Banjoff screamed and lunged at Mason again. Mason met him halfway, twisting to the side as they collided. The knife skimmed past Mason’s chest. He grabbed Banjoff’s knife hand and wrist in both hands and twisted. There was an audible snap of bone, and Banjoff dropped to one knee, shouting through clamped teeth.

As Mason stepped back, Banjoff swung one leg out and swept Mason’s feet from under him, taking both of them down. Riece yelled as Banjoff leaped back to his feet, injured arm held to his body. He brandished the second knife in his good hand.

Mason rolled to his feet as Banjoff swiped at him again. Mason barely managed to block the knife by throwing up his forearm and stepping into the swing with one quick punch to Banjoff’s midsection. Banjoff grabbed him, and they grappled for a few more seconds before Mason was able to kick Banjoff’s legs out from under him. He threw himself on Banjoff, one knee rammed into Banjoff’s chest. He stomped one foot down on Banjoff’s injured arm.

As Banjoff flailed, Mason grabbed his good arm and twisted his hand backward, pulling his arm and holding it against his chest. “Drop the knife or I swear to God, I’ll break this wrist too!” Mason snarled and gave Banjoff’s wrist another jerk.

Banjoff swore, but the knife fell to the floor.

Getting to his feet, Mason hauled Banjoff up and drove him back against the sink, then slammed his head against it. Bending Banjoff over backward, Mason took one of his Glocks and pressed it to his skull.

“Go ahead,
injun
!” Banjoff spit at Mason.

The front door crashed open as Bourne and his people rushed in. “FBI. Freeze.” Bourne paused, then said in a low, calm voice, “Arquette, put the gun down.”

Mason glanced at Bourne, then Riece. He smashed the butt of his gun into Banjoff’s head. He stepped away and let Banjoff slither to the floor, unconscious. When he turned to look for Riece, he saw Jessica sprawled on the floor with a gash in her head. Riece stood over her, a rifle clutched in his hands. He couldn’t shoot a gun, but he could apparently use one like a club. Mason set the Glock on the sink and leaned down, bracing his hands against his knees, dragging in air and trying to catch his breath.

Bourne took the rifle from Riece and said, “You did good.”

“Thanks,” Riece said.

Then Bourne moved closer to Mason and put one hand on his back. “Are you all right?”

Mason bit his lip and nodded. “They trapped us in a pit. There are probably more all around the area.”

“We’ll get the information.” Bourne patted Mason’s shoulder. He left them alone to supervise the moving of Jessica and Banjoff. He’d no doubt heard the words Riece used as a warning to Mason. Judging by the way he ushered everyone out as quickly as possible, Mason could tell Bourne was trying to give them some privacy.

Mason peeled the bulletproof vest off, then pulled off the wire he wore. “Let’s get this stuff off you.” He helped Riece shed his vest and surveillance equipment. Mason switched off the tiny transmitters they’d worn and piled everything on the table. He turned Riece and examined him for any knife wounds. “Are you okay?”

Riece nodded. He hugged himself, rubbing his arms with his hands. He focused on Mason’s feet. “I thought that man was going to kill you. Then I thought you’d kill him.”

Mason wrapped both arms around Riece and rubbed his back a few times. “I wanted to,” he whispered. “If the FBI weren’t hanging around, I would have.”

Riece leaned into Mason, took a deep breath, and sighed it out slowly. “I’m glad you didn’t. But I wanted him to die too. My arm hurts.”

Mason kissed the side of Riece’s head. The sound of voices outside made him decide it was time to leave. Holding Riece at arm’s length, he said, “That warning you gave me when that woman was coming in behind me? Best warning ever!”

“It was the truth,” Riece said and smiled. Mason had to agree.

THERE WERE
a lot of people swarming in and around the cabin. All the commotion and everyone talking at once muddled Riece’s brain. He and Mason had been separated while Mason was answering questions and giving an official account of what happened from the time they dropped into the pit until now.

“Is it all right if I go over—” Riece’s words were cut off when one of the FBI agents put her hand on his chest. He had to make an effort not to cringe as he stepped away from her.

“Sir, I just have a few more questions about your statement,” she said. Riece had been told her name, all of the agents’ names, but he hadn’t had the time to properly catalog them in his mind. He’d normally create some association to remember names. She was one of two women, and she had blonde hair.

“But, Mason—Agent Arquette—is over there.” Riece turned around and looked toward Mason. Mason knew the words to say and how to act. Riece was at a complete loss and simply wanted to be near the man who’d always been his safe port.

“I know. Could you describe the man who held you at gunpoint the first time?” the blonde agent insisted.

“He’s sitting in one of your vans. Can’t you go look for yourself?” Riece asked. “I have photos of a few of them. I gave my SD card to Agent Bourne. Why do I need to keep describing them to you?”

“Mr.…,” She glanced down at a note pad. Apparently she was as bad with names as Riece was. “Mr. Burrell, I’d like to hear it in your words.”

“My arm hurts.” Riece rubbed the dressing Mason had applied.

The agent sighed. Mason tapped her arm and held up his badge. “If I promise to have him write everything down in a report, will that suffice?”

She looked from Riece to Mason. “Yes, it would.” She handed Riece a card, which Mason intercepted and took from her. “You can send it to this address, or e-mail if you prefer.”

“We’ll get it to you in a day or two,” Mason said. He reached for Riece and took his good arm, urging him toward the door.

“Thank you,” Riece said quietly. He looked at his boots for a few beats before remembering to lift his gaze and meet Mason’s.

“Make sure you write that report.” Mason released Riece’s arm as they left the cabin. “You can ride back with Tyler. They’re wrapping things up here. The only reason I have to stay any longer is because I technically am part owner of this cabin.”

“Is it all right if I stay here with you?”

“You need to get that checked out.” Mason nodded to Riece’s arm. “I’ll meet you at the hospital. I promise. I shouldn’t be more than an hour or so behind you.” He grinned. “Besides, this way you can ask Tyler all the questions you want about how well I know him.”

Riece rolled his eyes and snorted. Mason stayed with him until he and Tyler were in the delivery truck and ready to leave.

“Don’t give the doctors grief,” Mason said and rapped his knuckles on the truck’s side. He looked past Riece to Tyler. “Have your boss contact the ranger station about repairs to the truck.”

Tyler nodded and waved. He started the truck and pulled onto the road. Riece took off the pack he carried his camera in and set it on the seat between them. He opened it and searched inside. Remembering the other SD cards, he dug those out of his pocket and stored them carefully in their appropriate place.

As he drove, Tyler glanced at Riece every few minutes. When they hit what Riece recognized as the main road, Tyler said, “Mason really has talked about nothing but you coming here for a few weeks.”

“You said that before,” Riece said.

“Yeah. I thought it was worth repeating. The guy is crazy about you,” Tyler said. “And if you’ve never noticed, he’s not a very chatty guy.”

Riece stopped shuffling items around in the bag and stared out the front window. “That doesn’t mean everything can go back to the way it was.”

“No,” Tyler agreed. “But does it have to? You’re a smart guy, I can tell that. You might think differently than some people, but there is no reason you can’t make something better between you.”

“What did Mason tell you about me?”

“That you are a photographer and very talented. He said you saw right through to the real him, and you never lied. I really was a teacher.” Tyler shrugged. “There are certain things I learned to spot in my students.”

“My mother told me Mason would eventually grow to hate me because of how I am,” Riece said softly.

“I’m sure your mother meant well, but she was wrong. From what I can see and from the way Mason talks about you, he takes you at face value. And honestly, I think you’re good for the guy. He lightens up around you,” Tyler said.

“I appreciate that, thank you.” Riece looked around the truck. “Do you have a radio or something to play music on?”

Tyler pointed to the glove compartment. “I do. There is a MP3 player in there.” He glanced at Riece and grinned. “You know Mason better than I do. So be brutally blunt with him. He’ll get it.”

Riece smiled back. “You like to give out advice.”

Tyler laughed. “I was a teacher! Comes with the territory.”

Riece wondered why Tyler wasn’t still teaching. Maybe if he got to know Tyler better and was more comfortable with him, he’d ask. There were no headphones, but the music that Riece had playing through the speakers calmed and centered him. He finally worked up the courage to ask Tyler about his friendship with Mason. “How long have you known Mason?”

“Um, two… maybe three years. I think I started working at the inn about the same time he came back after school. He patrols this whole area, and would come by the inn and Devils Tower regularly. I was your original fish out of water when I moved here, and Mason was the only person who took the time to say hello once in a while.” Tyler looked over at Riece.

“Did you ever date?”

Tyler laughed. “Are you kidding? Not with you in the background. I’ll be honest with you—in the whole time I’ve known him, I’ve seen plenty of guys interested in Mason. He never once looked. I should also tell you that it was my idea for the two of you to come to the inn.”

“I guess I should thank you,” Riece said.

“You’re welcome.”

By the time they reached the hospital, Riece was doing much better. He was still waiting to see a doctor when Mason arrived. Tyler bid them both good-bye, with a promise to see them in a few days.

Mason settled in the chair beside Riece and dropped his arm behind Riece’s shoulders. “I went and retrieved my Jeep. Did they give you anything for pain?”

“Someone offered, but I said no. That stuff makes me too fuzzy.” Riece pulled in a deep breath and shifted to lean closer to Mason. He wanted to be sure their conversation wouldn’t be heard by others. “What you said about losing me, and that you loved me, did you mean that?”

Mason nodded. “When was the last time I told you something I didn’t mean? Of course I did. For the record, I never stopped loving you.”

“I’m staying here in Custer.” He made sure to look Mason in the eye. “No matter what. Maybe I can’t make up for what I did when we were in college, but staying here is the only way I know how. I’m not sure I’m going camping again, though.”

Mason chuckled. “Fair enough.”

Wasn’t it just Riece’s luck that he was called in to see the doctor at that moment?

MASON JERKED
awake. The window in his bedroom was open, and a cool breeze wafted through the blinds. The air smelled like rain, or maybe the temperature would drop low enough for the snow to start falling.