“But I’m glad I’m here. With Geoff. You were right, I couldn’t have been alone. I just called to say thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Call any time, my rates are pretty fair.”
Dani laughed. Hauck was pleased to hear the lightness back in her voice again. Then she said, “I just wanted to say thank you for being there for me, Uncle Ty.”
“Hey, you were the one who made all the difference, Dani, not me.”
“I didn’t mean just for today … I meant, for coming out here in the first place. For just caring. I’ve been thinking, since my mom and dad split, the truth is, I haven’t had anyone in a while. Someone I could count on. That I trusted. My dad was always off somewhere. You know how busy he is with his work. Then Mom got sick, and it was more me taking care of her than anyone. There was Wade. But even back then I knew he was always out for himself. Plus he had Kyle, who got hurt and needed so much attention.”
“I understand.”
“No,” she said, “I don’t think you do fully understand. I always felt like I had to be so tough and independent of everything. And everyone. To prove I could handle whatever came at me. Maybe that’s why I stayed out here and why I do what I do, when everyone else is starting to put their lives together. And I kind of saw all that today … in that tank. I saw all I was, was just alone. And scared. Not scared to give up or to let people down. Scared to die. I just wanted to get out of that tank and live.”
“Anyone would have been just as scared, Dani. And wanted the same thing. Put me at the top of the list.”
“You’re never scared, Uncle Ty.”
“No,” Hauck said. “That’s not true.”
“What are you scared of?”
He had been to the edge many times. Scared of losing the people he loved. Scared of letting them down. Scared sometimes that the bastards would win. “Just things.”
“But there was one thing I had faith in,” Dani said, “the whole time I was in there. And in a way, that’s what kept me going.”
“What was that?”
“You, Uncle Ty. That you would be there for me. That if I could just hold on, you’d come. And you did.”
Hauck felt a wave of warmth travel through him. “Like I said, you were the one who led me to you, Dani.”
“Maybe. But there was something else I knew, and I just wanted you to know it. And it gave me a little peace when I wasn’t sure I would make it through.”
“And what was that?”
“I knew that you’d get them. I told them that. That one day, no matter what happened to me, you’d kill them for what they did to me.”
Hauck smiled inside. She could have been his own.
She said, “I was right about that, wasn’t I, Uncle Ty?”
“Yes.” Hauck drew in a breath and nodded to himself. “You were right.”
That was exactly what he was going to do.
Dani said, “I just wanted you to know that. All of it.”
“I’m glad we got to spend that time together, Dani. Though a part of me wishes we had just gone to see the hot springs.”
She laughed again. “So what are we going to do …?”
“You’re going to rest up and keep out of sight. That’s all.”
“And what about you? I thought tomorrow we could get together and have breakfast? And talk about what’s next.”
Hauck blew out a breath. “I’m afraid I’m not going to be here tomorrow, Dani. I was going to call you and let you know. I just hadn’t made my mind up until a while ago.”
There was a pause. It was filled with anticipation. “You’re heading back there, aren’t you?”
He didn’t reply.
“To Templeton,” she said.
He wasn’t sure what to say, or even how to explain it. Only that he didn’t want her to come along.
“Ty, I know you are.”
“I have to, Dani. There’s stuff to finish there. Stuff you don’t even know.”
“I’ll go with you,” she said quickly.
“You can’t.”
“I’m the one who got you into this. I’m—”
“It doesn’t matter how I got into it, Dani. I’m in, that’s all that matters. There’s nothing more you can do. None of this would have ever come out if it wasn’t for you. You put it all together. You saw through Wade. You knew Trey and you saw what was happening when few people would have. That’s your skill. But it’s time for my skills now. It’s just how things work out sometimes.”
“Do you even have a plan?” she asked.
“The makings of one,” he joked, trying to break the tension.
“I’m not sure the ‘makings’ of one is going to be enough this time.”
“I’m sure it’ll evolve, as it goes along.”
“Please don’t joke, Uncle Ty …” Hauck got the sense that she was crying. “I’m scared for you. I can’t help it. I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t lose me. But I need you to stay safe as well. I want you to stay out of sight with Geoff until you hear back from me. And don’t go out. I’m going to email you a number. It’s a friend in D.C. If you don’t hear back, you tell her everything. She can help. And please don’t let Wade know that you’re even here.”
“Okay.” He heard her sniffle again. “I don’t even know if I’ll see you again.”
“You will.”
“Promise me …”
Hauck drew in a breath. An honest one. “I can’t promise something I can’t keep, Dani.”
“You have to.”
Hauck closed his eyes and could almost feel the tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Promise me something else then?” She sniffed.
“Name it.”
“When you nail him, Robertson, remember to give him a knee to the balls for me. And Trey.”
Hauck laughed. He shut off the TV to get rest for tomorrow. “I’m not sure how that will all play out, Dani. But I give you my word I’ll sure try.”
ONE MILE UNDER
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
Hauck’s first stop upon arriving back in Greeley was the Weld County district attorney’s office.