Kenzie forced the fear away. If she wanted to find her son, she had to stay focused. Had to keep her mind on the job she was determined to do.
Reese’s deep brown eyes ran over her head to foot. “You look amazing. Considering the reason you’re dressed that way, I’m glad you can’t read my mind.”
She almost smiled. “I can’t believe you cut your hair.”
He shrugged, moving the black T-shirt that hugged his sculpted chest and revealed mouthwatering biceps. “Not a great job,” he said, “but it’ll grow back, and I don’t think anyone’s going to recognize either of us now.”
“Where’d you get the hat and boots?”
Reese just smiled. “Actually, they’re mine. I was wearing them the last time I came back from the ranch.” A place he and his brothers owned in the Hill Country, though Reese didn’t go there often.
“Maybe when this is over,” he said, “the three of us can fly down and I’ll teach Griff to ride.”
Her throat tightened. Would they really be together that long? “He’d love that.”
Serious again, Reese tipped his head toward the door. “We need to get going. We still have to pick up the rental car.”
A black Ford F-150 pickup. Top-of-the-line, with a powerful engine and fancy chrome wheels. It fit their image but wouldn’t really stand out in a town like Shreveport.
Reese turned to grab the overnight bag he had set on the floor and she caught a glimpse of the falcon’s head on his spine, barely visible above the neck of the T-shirt. The tips of the bird’s wings appeared on his shoulders. He looked good. Better than good. But not the least like Reese Garrett, CEO of a billion-dollar corporation.
An hour later the pickup was on its way to Shreveport. Tabby still hadn’t phoned with a location for the origin of the kidnappers’ call, but Kenzie remained hopeful.
And Hawk was there. She hadn’t met Jason “Hawk” Maddox, just talked to him on the phone, but Reese trusted him, and Kenzie trusted Reese.
She leaned back in the seat of the truck and said a prayer that they would find her son.
* * *
There were half a dozen major casinos in Shreveport, plus Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, a casino and racetrack on the east side of town.
ID was required for a hotel room these days and unlike in his criminal youth, Reese no longer had a fake ID. So instead of staying at the casino hotel, he’d made online reservations for a one-bedroom family suite at the Holiday Inn downtown, fairly close to the Pot-of-Gold. He was just turning into the parking lot when his burner phone rang. Chase was on the line.
“What’s up?” Reese asked.
“Heath Ford came to see me. He’s looking for you. Wasn’t able to find you at your office or on your cell.” Big surprise.
“What’s he want?”
“He wants to talk to Kenzie. She’s not home and her grandmother isn’t coughing up her whereabouts. He figures she’s with you. He says if you don’t bring her to the station, he’s putting a BOLO out on both of you.”
“Fuck.” Reese pulled into a parking space and turned off the engine, put the phone on speaker.
“My guess,” Chase said, “Heath’s found out about the life insurance policy—the three million dollars that goes to Griff.”
“Christ, more trouble we don’t need.”
“It was only a matter of time.”
“Can you talk to him?” Reese asked. “Get him to hold off a couple of days?” When Kenzie looked at him with those big golden-brown eyes, everything inside him tightened. “Kenzie has family in Dallas. She isn’t going to run away.”
“Where are you?” Chase asked.
“Shreveport. Hawk’s in town. Guy named Sawyer DeMarco is behind the kidnapping. Owns the Pot-of-Gold casino. Arthur Haines owes DeMarco big money.” He went on to explain how it all fit together, Lee Haines’s murder, the extortion, Daniel Haines, and the gaming permits.
“The mob involvement ratchets up the danger,” Chase said. “You should have called.”
He’d planned to. Things were moving way too fast. “We’re talking now. I’ll call if we come up with something new.”
“Kenzie’s with you?”
“She’s here.”
“I’ll try to get Ford to hold off as long as possible. I’m not far away if you need my help. Both of you stay safe.” The line went dead.
“Let’s go.” Reese checked them into the hotel and they carried their bags and laptops up to room 310. The third-floor suite was high enough for protection and close to the stairs in case they needed to leave without being seen. As soon as they were settled, he phoned Hawk and gave him their location.
“Haven’t heard anything more from the kidnappers. Figured if we’re here, there’s a chance we’d learn something useful.”
“Could turn out to be a good idea,” Hawk said. “With DeMarco involved, it’s possible the kidnappers are holding the boy somewhere in the area.”
Kenzie stood so close, Reese could feel the jolt of hope that ran through her body. Sliding an arm around her waist, he eased her against his side and kissed her cheek.
“Anything new on the shooter?” Reese asked. “After talking to Arthur, it’s clear Haines’s killer must work for the mob, just like you figured.”
“I’ve got a meet with one of my informants later tonight. He’s got something. I’ll let you know what I find out.”
“I’ll leave a key for you at the front desk. We’re in suite 310. There’s a sofa in the living room if you need a place to crash.”
“Thanks.”
The call ended and Kenzie went to the window to stare off toward the river. Reese tried not to think how sexy she looked in her tight jeans and blond wig. But he was a man and he wanted her. Add to that, this was Kenzie, and everything about her appealed to him.
His groin swelled. It wasn’t the right time, but his body didn’t seem to care. He forced himself not to glance at the bedroom door.
“Come on,” Reese said. “Time to go to work.” Setting a hand at her waist, he urged her out of the hotel room.
They made their way into the warm, humid night and loaded into the pickup, Reese stashing his .45 in the glove box. The big Ford engine fired up, and he pulled out of the lot. The casino wasn’t far, but they were driving instead of walking, keeping their options open in case they needed to leave in a hurry.