Free The Big Finish by James W. Hall Page A

forum, so they mostly speak in code, it’s not easy to follow. But this particular message is straightforward. Posted ten days ago, just before Thanksgiving. Jellyroll, the one who signed it, he’s a member of Cassandra’s cell.”
    Dobbins Hog Farm, NC. U dont hear from us tmrow, come lookin for bodies.
    He turned to look at her.
    She pursed her lips and expelled a breath as if blowing out candles.
    “That was a week and a half ago,” she said. “Nothing’s been posted since.”
    He absorbed her words and the message on the screen for a long while then came slowly to his feet. He drew in a deep breath but it did nothing to relieve the swelling inside his chest. He moved toward Cruz.
    She stared into his eyes and held her ground. He came close, raised his hand to her chest, pressing her against the wall.
    “This is a lie. Flynn’s not dead. I’d know if he was. I’d feel it.”
    “Every parent thinks that. But would you? I know I didn’t.”
    He cocked his arm, pressed his forearm against her throat. Trying to hold himself back, to quiet the teakettle’s scream in his ears.
    “Step back.”
    “This is a lie, it’s a fucking lie.”
    “Step away from me, Thorn. Do it now.”
    He got a breath down and said, “It can’t be.”
    “No one’s said your son is dead.”
    Thorn lowered his arm and turned away. His heart floundering.
    “The group was attacked and some of his associates were killed. We believe Flynn was shot, injured. He and Cassandra have gone into hiding. They’re still in the area. That’s why I need you, Thorn. You can entice him.”
    “What does that mean?”
    “He learns you’re in town, he’ll seek you out. That’s the outcome I’m looking for. You get your son back, I get Cassandra.”
    “How do you know this? How do you know he’s injured?”
    “I went to Pine Haven immediately after I saw the post on the message board. I met Webb Dobbins, the owner of the hog farm, met the sheriff, got the lowdown.”
    “How badly is he hurt, how’d it happen? I want details.”
    “We don’t have time for this right now. You’ll have to trust me. I’ve got a plan. You’ll get Flynn, I’ll get justice.”
    “Trust you? Why should I? A couple of hours ago you were talking about dangerous people hanging out by the Neuse River, a larger federal operation under your command, Tina’s job was to deliver me, she was leading me into a trap. Now it’s something else. It’s about Flynn and Cassandra.”
    “What I said earlier was for Sugarman’s benefit, not yours. What I’m telling you now is the truth.”
    “Then you lied pretty goddamn easily.”
    “Okay,” she said. “So don’t believe me. Go ahead, you go to Pine Haven, you and Sugarman. Go on your own, fumble around in this minefield, see how that works out.”
    “How do you know Flynn was hurt? That he’s still alive?”
    “Listen. We have to sort out Sugarman before he gets back.”
    Thorn couldn’t name the feelings rocketing through his chest. His face was hot. His ears rang. Body clenched.
    Cruz said, “Sugarman can’t be involved. It’s got to be you and me, Thorn. Just the two of us.”
    He gripped the back of the chair, looked around at the unsteady room.
    “He is involved.”
    “Not after tonight.”
    “I don’t understand. I don’t understand any of this.”
    Thorn was struggling to fill his lungs. He settled into the chair.
    “I want a name. The fucker who shot my son.”
    “I can’t do that.”
    “But you know who it is, the shooter.”
    “Right now there’s only one thing you need to know. You and I have a common objective. You want to rescue Flynn, I want Cassandra. I know the lay of the land where they’re hiding out, and you have the ability to draw them into the open. What that means is we have no choice but to work together.”

EIGHT
    “AFTER WE GET TO PINE Haven I’ll give you everything I have about the man who attacked your son. Not before. If I revealed it now, you’d jump ship, try to