Hollie’s accounts to make the deal seem legit, despite the low price. “Was there…anything in the car? Any sign of him?”
“We searched it inside and out. Nothing. Couldn’t even find a footprint what with the rain and all. I’m about to have the boys start looking in the woods. Maybe he wandered off and got lost.”
“Please hurry. I’m scared to think of what might happen to him.”
“We’ll do everything possible. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”
Laney stood in silence, save the pounding rain. Where was Henry Ellison?
+++
Lights flashed in the dreary night, trying vainly to cut through the darkness and sheets of rain. They called out as they walked, methodically sweeping the area.
“I’ve got something!” came the shout.
Darryl Knox sloshed his way toward the voice, the others continuing the search. “What have you got?”
The officer pointed with his flashlight. “Looks like a white suit coat.”
It was pointless trying to take pictures in the rain. Besides, it wasn’t a murder investigation. Knox bent down to search the coat. On the inside pocket, clearly stitched was Henry Ellison, Jr .
“Dammit.”
“Is it his, chief?”
“It is. Now keep looking.”
The cop moved off to continue the sweep. Knox peered into the soup, hoping they’d find the old lawyer soon.
+++
Hollie’s head lolled to the side at the sound of the basement door opening. Max Laney walked in a moment later, a look of disgust plastered on his face.
“Looks like this is your lucky day, Hollie.”
A look of confusion. Hollie had expected his executioner. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, there’s been a little…delay in getting the paperwork processed. That means that you’ll live to see another day. I thought I’d bring you the good news.”
“Why should I care?”
Laney shrugged. “Thought a Godly man like yourself might like to enjoy his last hours on earth. It’s a gift.”
Hollie laughed out loud. “You fucking hypocrite. Get out my sight. You mention God again and I might puke on your pretty little shoes.”
Pulling a chair over, Laney took a seat across from his captive. “Very well. I’m bored. How about we chat a bit?”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Not even about Mr. Briggs, the Marine sniper?”
Hollie’s glared. “Don’t you dare.”
“What? Can’t we honor his memory? Such a hero and all? Seems only fitting…”
“You don’t deserve to talk about that boy. He was a good kid and you had him killed.”
Laney nodded thoughtfully, almost sadly. “That’s true. He might have been a mighty foe. I’m sure you were proud of his being nominated for the Medal of Honor?”
The look of confusion on Hollie’s face said it all.
“You didn’t know?” Laney’s devilish smile spreading. Hollie shook his head, the tears coming again. “That’s too bad. I wonder why he didn’t tell you. Why do you think that is?” Not a word from Hollie. “Maybe you weren’t as close as you let on. Did you know about his PTSD?”
The sobs started. Hollie coughed up more blood, moaning like a man who’d just lost his wife.
Laney went to put a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder, but thought better of it. He stood up. “Well, at least that should give you something to think about. Max Laney not only took your land, but killed your hero friend. How fitting.”
He turned and headed to the stairs, leaving Hollie to his searing grief.
Chapter 28
After three hours of traipsing through soppy fields and obsidian woods, Chief Knox called the search off. They’d try again in the morning, possibly calling in the search dogs from the sheriff’s office.
Knox sat in his car, eyes closed, heat blasting, trying to warm his shivering body. Despite being summer, the hours of trudging in the rain had taken a toll on everyone, the out of shape Knox more than the rest. A knock on the window.
It was one of his officers. Knox reluctantly rolled
“We searched it inside and out. Nothing. Couldn’t even find a footprint what with the rain and all. I’m about to have the boys start looking in the woods. Maybe he wandered off and got lost.”
“Please hurry. I’m scared to think of what might happen to him.”
“We’ll do everything possible. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”
Laney stood in silence, save the pounding rain. Where was Henry Ellison?
+++
Lights flashed in the dreary night, trying vainly to cut through the darkness and sheets of rain. They called out as they walked, methodically sweeping the area.
“I’ve got something!” came the shout.
Darryl Knox sloshed his way toward the voice, the others continuing the search. “What have you got?”
The officer pointed with his flashlight. “Looks like a white suit coat.”
It was pointless trying to take pictures in the rain. Besides, it wasn’t a murder investigation. Knox bent down to search the coat. On the inside pocket, clearly stitched was Henry Ellison, Jr .
“Dammit.”
“Is it his, chief?”
“It is. Now keep looking.”
The cop moved off to continue the sweep. Knox peered into the soup, hoping they’d find the old lawyer soon.
+++
Hollie’s head lolled to the side at the sound of the basement door opening. Max Laney walked in a moment later, a look of disgust plastered on his face.
“Looks like this is your lucky day, Hollie.”
A look of confusion. Hollie had expected his executioner. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, there’s been a little…delay in getting the paperwork processed. That means that you’ll live to see another day. I thought I’d bring you the good news.”
“Why should I care?”
Laney shrugged. “Thought a Godly man like yourself might like to enjoy his last hours on earth. It’s a gift.”
Hollie laughed out loud. “You fucking hypocrite. Get out my sight. You mention God again and I might puke on your pretty little shoes.”
Pulling a chair over, Laney took a seat across from his captive. “Very well. I’m bored. How about we chat a bit?”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Not even about Mr. Briggs, the Marine sniper?”
Hollie’s glared. “Don’t you dare.”
“What? Can’t we honor his memory? Such a hero and all? Seems only fitting…”
“You don’t deserve to talk about that boy. He was a good kid and you had him killed.”
Laney nodded thoughtfully, almost sadly. “That’s true. He might have been a mighty foe. I’m sure you were proud of his being nominated for the Medal of Honor?”
The look of confusion on Hollie’s face said it all.
“You didn’t know?” Laney’s devilish smile spreading. Hollie shook his head, the tears coming again. “That’s too bad. I wonder why he didn’t tell you. Why do you think that is?” Not a word from Hollie. “Maybe you weren’t as close as you let on. Did you know about his PTSD?”
The sobs started. Hollie coughed up more blood, moaning like a man who’d just lost his wife.
Laney went to put a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder, but thought better of it. He stood up. “Well, at least that should give you something to think about. Max Laney not only took your land, but killed your hero friend. How fitting.”
He turned and headed to the stairs, leaving Hollie to his searing grief.
Chapter 28
After three hours of traipsing through soppy fields and obsidian woods, Chief Knox called the search off. They’d try again in the morning, possibly calling in the search dogs from the sheriff’s office.
Knox sat in his car, eyes closed, heat blasting, trying to warm his shivering body. Despite being summer, the hours of trudging in the rain had taken a toll on everyone, the out of shape Knox more than the rest. A knock on the window.
It was one of his officers. Knox reluctantly rolled
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