Chapter 9 - TAKEN
Shawn couldn’t breathe.
“How?”
Don grabbed the phone.
“What is that?”
Shawn tried to take it back.
Don saw the picture.
His face crumpled.
“Maria.”
Ruiz shouted for hospital security.
The answer came quickly.
A man wearing a doctor’s coat had wheeled Maria out during a shift change.
Fake credentials.
No one stopped him.
Don punched the wall.
“Damn it!”
Shawn caught his arm.
“Dad.”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!”
“I’m not.”
“Then do something!”
Shawn stared at the photo.
Background.
Metal siding.
A broken window.
A faded red sign.
He zoomed in.
Don leaned closer.
“What?”
Shawn recognized it.
“The old feed mill.”
Ruiz turned.
“You sure?”
“I used to ride my bike there.”
The mill had been abandoned for fifteen years.
Perfect place to hide someone.
Ruiz mobilized deputies.
Shawn grabbed his coat.
“You stay here,” Ruiz said.
“No.”
“Shawn.”
“That’s my mother.”
“That’s why you stay here.”
“I know the building.”
Ruiz swore.
“Fine. You stay behind my deputies.”
They reached the mill twenty minutes later.
Snow blew across the empty yard.
No vehicles.
No lights.
Ruiz raised a fist.
Everyone moved silently.
The side door stood open.
Inside, the building smelled of rust and dust.
Shawn heard something.
A cough.
His mother.
“Mom?”
A gunshot struck the wall beside him.
Deputies returned fire.
“DOWN!”
Shawn dropped behind machinery.
A man ran across the upper catwalk.
Kyle.
“How the hell is he out?” Shawn shouted.
Ruiz answered.
“He made bail before we connected him to the wider case!”
Kyle fired again.
Then disappeared.
Shawn heard Maria cry out.
He ran despite Ruiz yelling.
He found her tied to a chair in a side room.
“Mom!”
Her mouth was taped.
He tore it away.
“Shawn?”
“I’ve got you.”
She shook her head violently.
“Run!”
The door slammed.
Kyle stood behind Shawn.
Gun raised.
“You never listened.”
Shawn slowly stood.
“You’re finished.”
Kyle laughed.
“You think Reed cares about me?”
“He’ll sacrifice you.”
“I know.”
That answer surprised Shawn.
Kyle’s hand shook.
“He was going to kill me anyway.”
“So let her go.”
“I need something first.”
“The ledger?”
“No.”
Kyle looked at Maria.
“Ask your mother.”
Shawn turned.
Maria closed her eyes.
“Mom?”
She whispered:
“He wants the original deed.”
Shawn frowned.
“The house deed?”
“No.”
Her voice trembled.
“The deed to the land behind the farm.”
Kyle smiled.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
Shawn looked at his mother.
“What land?”
May you like
Maria answered:
“The land your grandfather never told anyone he owned.”
