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Hollis quickly studied the woman, who, according to reports, was her own age of thirty-three. She wore jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Although they had never officially met, Hollis had attended a charity banquet years ago that Nyla Roker’s parents sponsored. Although she was not dressed in the glitz and glamour she had been wearing that night, she was still a beautiful woman.
She came toward them with a tentative smile. “I’m Nyla.”
Locke extended his hand. “We officially meet. I’m Locke Dangerfield, and this is my private investigator, Hollis Calloway.”
Nyla shook their hands. “I’m glad to meet you both.”
“We’re glad you made it through the tunnel okay,” Hollis said.
“Thanks, but I saw how the house looked on television. There’s nothing left of it.” Nyla shivered a little and then added, “There’s no way I would have survived that.”
“According to the news, there are some people who think you didn’t,” Lenny spoke up and said, reminding everyone of his presence. “Some television reporters are even speculating that Karl might have died with you, and it’s the work of Barcos’ men.”
Locke nodded. “No wonder Detective Connors is blowing up my phone. “If Barcos’ men are responsible, I want to know how they got that information.”
Nyla reached out and touched his arm. “I don’t want Karl to hear about it and assume I’m dead, Locke.”
“I spoke with his bodyguard to make sure he doesn’t watch the news.” He then checked his watch. “Are you ready to go? We’ve arranged to take you somewhere safe.”
“But you will let me talk to Karl, won’t you? When he finds out what happened, he will think the worst until he hears my voice.”
“Yes, you will be able to talk to Karl.” There was no need to mention that he remotely shut down her phone with Rexar, so no one could use it to track where Karl was being held.
“I saw on television that my parents think I’m dead and are blaming Karl for everything,” she said.
Locke nodded. “For some reason, they believe he forced you into the relationship with him.”
“My parents know that’s not true, but it’s something they chose to believe. They can’t accept that I’m giving it all up for Karl,” Nyla said. “If my parents did track my location and told the authorities where I was, I want to know how those bad men found out.”
Hollis nodded. “We want to know that, too.”
Locke looked at his watch again. “We need to leave while there’s still daylight outside.”
Nyla nodded and turned to Lenny. After giving him a bear hug, she said, “Thanks for everything.”
“No thanks needed. Karl helped me out of a jam when no one else would. I owe him, and I’m glad I was able to help,” Lenny said.
The older man then turned to Locke and Hollis. “Keep her safe for Karl. Anyone who knows Karl Halifax knows how much Nyla means to him. That’s probably why they tried hurting her.”
He paused and then said to Locke. “I’m glad you’re defending Karl. If he shot someone, there’s no doubt in my mind that it was in self-defense.”
“And I intend to prove it,” Locke said.
“Are you sure no one followed you here?” Nyla asked nervously.
Hollis answered. “I made sure of that. I think everyone’s attention is focused on the place where you were hiding. Once it’s known that you and Karl are still alive, there’s no telling what Barcos’ men will do. But then we’re not certain they’re the ones behind what happened today.”
“If not them, then who?” Nyla then asked.
“We don’t know, but I intend to find out,” Hollis said.
CHAPTER 10
“Okay, Striker, do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?”
Striker looked across the way at the man towering in the living room. They were about the same height, weight, and build. He had promised Shep there would not be a brawl between him and Karl Halifax, but he had a feeling that, with so much pent-up tension and frustration, Karl was itching for a fight. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”
Karl crossed his arms over his chest and stood in a stance that said he had reached his limits. “First, we took an extended walk around the yard. At any other time, you would be rushing me back inside. Now, I can’t find the remote for any of the televisions.”
