That in and of itself wasn’t any kind of concrete proof. The library wasn’t the only location in town they could have been coming from, but Colt’s gut instincts told him Gus and his boys were looking more and more suspect.
He shifted on the bale of hay. “Okay, let’s see this message.”
Wes pulled up a new window with his mail app and opened the most recent one from DoItOrJSDie389. Colt shook his head and snorted at the obvious handle.Do it or Julie and Sandy die. He didn’t get how the389was related though.
“Right?” Wes replied, eerily knowing what Colt meant without speaking. “Stupid handle.”
“What do you think the three-eight-nine means?”
Wes shrugged his shoulders. “Could be nothing, could be everything.”
Colt knew between him and his brothers, along with Nick and his team, they’d figure it out. He just hoped they figured it out before it was too late. The back of his throat tightened at the thought of what “too late” would mean for Mason. He shot a quick look at the man he’d loved as a boy, then hated, and now as a full-grown man loved again. Mason flashed a smile at Colt as he slid a fly mask over Lancelot’s head.
Colt rubbed at his chest and redirected his focus as Wes scrolled down to the message body. He huddled closer so they could read together. And suppressed a shiver at the opening line.
WE KNOW.
MASON HAYES WAS WARNED
IF HE IS STILL BREATHING WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN TOMORROW NIGHT
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DIE
“Fuck,” Colt whispered.
He glanced up to find Mason watching him again, his smile now a frown.Double fuck. Mason did not need this.
He pulled his phone from his pocket and turned to Wes as he stood. He punched Nick’s name from his recent calls list at the same time as he said, “Stay with Mason. I’ll be right back.”
Wes nodded as Colt walked out of the barn and away from Mason’s curious eyes and ears. Hot July sun beat down on him as he stood in the dry, dusty yard a few feet from the barn doors. The line connected.
“Colt,” Nick said by way of greeting. “I was just about to ca—”
“John got a new message,” Colt cut him off. “They want Mason dead by tomorrow night.”
Nick cursed under his breath, and Colt heard shuffling noises in the background.
“Tell me exactly what it says,” Nick ordered. “Word for word.”
Colt read the message, emphasizing “we know” and “Mason was warned.” The shuffling noises gave way to booted footsteps on concrete, then ading-ding-dingfollowed by the slam of a metal door closing. Colt pictured Nick getting into his Interceptor.
“There’s more than one person pulling the strings,” Colt said when Nick hadn’t responded. “They said ‘we.’”
“Listen, Colt,” Nick began as an engine revved in the background. “We got an anonymous tip that the Bristows are planning something against Mason. I’m heading there now—”
“Shit.” Colt ran a hand down his face. He should have told Nick what was happening at the time. Then maybe he’d have made looking into the rancher a priority. “The other day when we were in town, Gentry Bristow made a veiled threat to Mason about getting his land. Wes figured out that someone used the library IP to send the messages but not on the computers themselves. Whoever it was likely hopped onto their open Wi-Fi. We saw the Bristows coming from the direction of the library that day. It’s not hard evidence, but it’s enough to possibly get a warrant.”
Nick sighed. His frustration came through clear as a bell. “Why didn’t you tell me this then?”
“Because I only had my gut to go on at the time.” Colt looked over his shoulder to make sure Mason hadn’t come outside. “It looks like less of a coincidence now.”
“True.” Nick’s tone was distracted, as though he was thinking and talking on two different tracks. Wind whooshed through the phone in the absence of his voice. “Okay. The reason I called. I have a warrant to search the Circle B Ranch and am headed there now. You sit tight and don’t let Mason out of sight until you hear back from me.”
“I’ll meet you there.” Colt checked his pocket for his keys and turned back for the barn.
“No,” Nick commanded. “You need to keep Mason safe.”
“My brothers will stay with him,” Colt countered. He didn’t know why, but he had a feeling it was imperative he be there. “I’m coming.”
