He released another low growl.
Then I remembered he was supposed to meet Franken, not me. And Franken had been in town stalking me. What if this guy was supposed to meet Franken to get the information he’d gathered, then plan his kidnapping? One thing was certain, this guy knew who I was when he saw me. Maybe he was so shocked, he decided to snatch me right then and there, previous plans be damned.
I decided to take a chance. “Franken sold you out, you know.”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“He took the information and ran. He set you up. Who do you think told him to do that?”
His body tensed and he fisted his hands at his sides. “You’re lyin’.”
The sirens grew louder.
“Am I?” I asked. “How did we know to come here at noon?”
“I’m still not tellin’ you nothin’.”
“What were you supposed to do with me?” I asked. “Where were you supposed to take me?”
Evil lit up his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. I mistook you for my girlfriend.”
“Then how do you explain draggin’ me out of there?”
“Mistaken identity. My bitch likes it rough.”
“I think I found his car,” Witt said, from behind me. “Texas plates.”
“Were you plannin’ to take me to Dallas?” I asked.
He flicked his gaze up to Joe. “I’m not talkin’ in front of the law man.”
“Joe,” I said.
“I’m not leavin’,” he grunted.
“I’ll play backup,” Witt said, walking up behind me. “I think you’re gonna want to take a peek at the backseat floorboard of Bozo’s car.”
Joe gave me a reluctant look, then walked toward the dark gray sedan.
“I’m not talkin’ in front of him either,” the guy said, motioning to Witt.
“I ain’t no law man,” Witt said. “I’m the damn opposite. I spent enough time at the Arkansas Department of Correction for armed robbery that I can assure you that you’re gonna love it.”
The guy’s eyes narrowed.
“Where the hell were you gonna take her?” Witt asked.
“Who are you to her?”
“Her cousin, but more like a brother,” Witt said, his voice tight. “And I wanna know too.”
The guy grinned. “I was plannin’ to take my time with her, you know?”
“No,” I said, playing dumb. “I don’t know.”
“I was supposed to find out where the money was, but they didn’t care how I got the information.”
Witt looked like he wanted to strangle the guy, and his tormentor was loving every minute of it.
I stared at the guy in horror, making sure my face was a mask of indifference, but then I became furious. He was just one more prick who thought he could do what he wanted to me because I had a vagina instead of a penis, and I was sick to death of it. “I doubt you could have gotten the job done,” I mocked. “You know what they say about big guys. They can’t get it up.”
Witt sent me a shocked look, then quickly caught on. “You’ll be popular in prison. They like to screw big guys like you.”
“Shut up,” he said through gritted teeth.
The sirens were right on top of us now, but I was pretty sure I’d gotten everything he was going to spill. This next part was for my own satisfaction.
“That was probably your last chance to ever screw a woman,” I said. “I bet they put kidnappers away for a long time. You’re gonna be all shriveled up when you get out.”
His face turned even more crimson.
“I’m gonna make sure they throw the book at you. I’ll be there in court when the judge hands out that long, long sentence. And just think, if you hadn’t bungled this so badly, you could have been takin’ your time with me right now.” I gave him a look of disgust. “And I would’ve taken one look at what you’ve got tucked in your undies and wondered how you planned to get the job done with that.”
He lunged for me then, but I was ready for him. I kneed him hard in the groin, then as he started to bend forward, I punched him in the nose. Blood spurted all over me, and he started to reach for my hair, but Witt was behind him and grabbed one of his arms to pull him away from me.
The guy spun around, recovering enough to take a swing at my cousin, but Witt was ready for him, getting in a punch to his gut and a counterpunch to his face.
The guy released a roar and went after Witt, but Witt was faster. He ducked a punch and got in one of his own before the guy clipped Witt’s cheek as he was squatting to get out of the way.
Grabbing my shoulder, Joe tugged me backward, out of the way of the brawling men.
“Shouldn’t you stop them?” I asked, worried about Witt even though he was holding his own.
“Witt’s got it covered, and I think he needs this. Besides, they’re here to handle it now.” He gestured to the group of sheriff’s deputies rounding the corner.
Two deputies grabbed each man, pulling them apart. They started to handcuff them both, but Joe made it clear Witt wasn’t guilty of anything.
One of the deputies gave him a questioning look. I was sure they were wondering why Joe hadn’t tried to stop them.
Joe held up his hands in surrender. “Witt was protecting his cousin. First the asshole tried to kidnap my sister from inside the diner, then while we were waitin’ for you, he attacked her again.”
One of the deputies’ eyes widened in surprise. “Your sister was here?” He spun around, looking right past me.
“Not Kate Simmons,” Joe said, then gestured to me. “Neely Kate Rivers. She’s my half sister. We only just found out in February, but we’ve kept it under wraps while the FBI was investigating my father. It was safer for her that way.”
The deputies studied me with open curiosity in light of this new information, and one of them asked, “Do you need medical attention?”
I swiped at my cheek and realized the guy had bled on me when I’d punched his nose. “It’s his blood.”
They turned their attention to my attacker and took in his bloodied face.
“That asshole tried to kidnap Neely Kate,” Witt said. A line of blood trickled down his cheek. “Joe and I chased him out here. There’s a restaurant full of people who can give statements that he grabbed her and forcibly dragged her out the back door.”
“Why isn’t he cuffed?” another deputy asked.
“We initially cuffed him,” Joe said, “but since he attacked my sister, I wanted to make sure there was no impropriety. So I uncuffed him and we waited for y’all to make it official. We just kept an eye on him to make sure he didn’t get away.” He gestured behind him. “Be sure to peer into the back windows of that gray sedan with the Texas plates. You’ll find some interesting evidence.” He lifted his hands again. “I didn’t touch a thing. I just looked in the windows.”
One of the deputies peeked inside the back window for several seconds, then said, “Hold him in the back of a cruiser while we take statements and get a warrant to search this car.”
“What’s in there, Joe?” I asked.
He shook his head but kept his eye on the kidnapper as one of the deputies guided him toward the corner of the building.
The guy turned to face me with a gleeful look. “It’s not over, pretty girl. Not by a long shot.”
Chapter 18
We spent the next hour at the diner, waiting around to give our statements. Witt was somber, refusing medical attention when the paramedics showed up. I’d tried to refuse too, but Joe had thrown a full-fledged fit and told me I had to wait to give my statement, so I might as well let them look me over. As I took in his pain-filled eyes, I threw my arms around his back and hugged him tight. “I really am okay, Joe, but I’ll let them look me over to ease your mind.”
His arms wrapped around me and held me close. I winced when his arm pressed against a sore spot on my back, and he pulled back like I’d scalded him. “See? You’re not all right.”
“It’s a bruise, Joe. I’m fine.”
He looked close to breaking down. “Witt’s right.”
I wrinkled my nose. “About what?”
“I was careless with you. I’m sorry.”