Evasive Action (Holding The Line Book 1)

doesn’t realize I called Jimmy and doesn’t want to have any contact with me in case Jimmy finds out.”
“You called Adam from your new phone, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Adam doesn’t know that number. He wouldn’t know to avoid it.”
“I also texted him, letting him know it’s me.”
“Keep at it. I’m curious to find out what he knows about that flash drive.”
“You’d better get going. Denali and I have things to do.”
“Don’t make him adore you more than he already does. You’re gonna break his doggy heart when you leave again.”
April swallowed hard. “Denali and I have an understanding.”
“If you say so.” Clay jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “I took out the supplies to clean your gun and left them on a workbench in the garage, if you’re serious.”
She patted the small backpack she borrowed from Meg. “Oh, I’m serious. I have my piece with me.”
One corner of Clay’s mouth turned up. “Okay, then you should probably clean your...piece.”
“Go ahead and laugh. You know I’m a good shot.”
“I know you are. Just be careful.”
“With the gun...or everything else?”
“In general.”
“I think the heads are just some kind of message to you. I don’t think Meg and I have to worry.”
“Probably not.” He hitched his bag over his shoulder. “I don’t like the idea that these people know you’re connected to me somehow and followed you home. It means they’re still here—watching.”
She tightened her grip on the strap of the backpack. “I don’t like it, either, but I’ll be safe with Denali and my gun, once I get it ready.”
“Then I’ll see you at lunch.” He waved on his way out the door.
April fed Denali, cleaned and loaded her gun, and then slipped into Clay’s office where he had a tablet charging on his desk.
He didn’t have a password on the computer, so she launched a browser and started a search for El Gringo Viejo. After scanning past a few results for Mexican restaurants, she zeroed in on a couple articles about the mysterious drug supplier in Mexico.
This guy didn’t have the fame or notoriety of some of the other big-time drug lords—no fancy villas, no fancy girlfriends. In fact, nobody knew where he lived. Nobody knew what he looked like. Nobody knew much about how he operated.
Where would Adam get the idea that El Gringo Viejo was their father? Why would he tell Jimmy? None of it made any sense.
The articles didn’t provide much information, certainly not enough to head down to Mexico on a fact-finding mission. Of course, if she went down there and let the word drop in a few circles that the daughter of El Gringo Viejo was searching for him, she might just get a hit. Or take a hit.
What did she hope to accomplish by finding her father? If he really were El Gringo Viejo, wouldn’t that shoot her theory all to hell that he never murdered Mom? It would, in fact, confirm his guilt.
Sighing, she slumped in the chair. She’d just gotten out of a sticky situation with Jimmy. Clay was right. She should put this all behind her and move on—put Clay behind her, too. What was the shelf life for threats? She didn’t want to find out.
Denali whined at her feet, and she kicked off a sandal and ran the bottom of her foot across the soft fur on his back. “Are you ready to go for a walk, boy?”
His ears cocked forward and his tail wagged in response.
She’d missed having a dog. Jimmy had claimed he was allergic. That should’ve been a sign right there.
She collected Denali’s leash and stuffed a plastic bag in the pocket of her capris. She hooked him up and set out for the pecan groves about a half mile from Clay’s house.
Nash Dillon’s family owned this particular grove in addition to the one surrounding his house, had owned this land for years. Her sandals scuffed against the dirt, and she unclipped Denali’s leash from his collar so he could roam a little bit.
April inhaled the slightly sour scent of the trees and soaked in the dry heat that seemed to permeate her skin and warm her bones. She could’ve been happy in Paradiso with Clay if her life hadn’t taken a hard left turn her senior year of college.
If her father hadn’t stabbed her mother to death in their kitchen. If her fragile little brother hadn’t found the body. If she hadn’t had to clean up everyone else’s messes.
Denali’s sharp bark pierced the air as he appeared through the trees as if chasing a rabbit—or running from something.
He skidded to a stop in front of her, the fur on his back standing on end. He twirled around to face the grove that had just spit him out. His lip curled, one tooth hooked over his lip, but he remained silent, his entire body quivering.
His fear reached out to her, causing a chill to sweep across her flesh. “What is it, boy? Something coming after you?”
She tipped her sunglasses to the edge of her nose and peered through the trees. Maybe nothing was chasing him. Maybe he’d found something.
“Did you see something? Dig something up?” She shivered despite the heat beating on her shoulders.
Could there be another head? They seemed to be following her around in this town since she arrived. Maybe not another head, but there was definitely another body out there.
Crouching down, she attached Denali’s leash to his collar and gave him a little yank. She had no intention of finding a woman’s headless body out here on her own.
“C’mon, Denali.”
He offered no resistance, scampering ahead of her, leading her from the grove.
She glanced over her shoulder once. “You and me both, Denali. Let’s see what your dad has for lunch.”
By the time she reached Clay’s house, her heart rate had returned to normal. All kinds of things spooked dogs. It didn’t have to be a dead body.
She filled Denali’s water dish and gave him a quick brush before washing her hands and inspecting Clay’s kitchen. For a