“I’m riding behind you, and my gun is in your back. Do what you’re told and you might live.” I was not kind as I threw him into the vehicle, a Nissan Xterra with a flatbed. Say what you want about Dane, he did pick nice vehicles. I slid behind him and showed him my SIG. “Let’s go.”

We passed the convoy and headed back to the complex. I could almost see Dane’s brain trying to figure a way out of this. I didn’t say a word, I just let the thought of my child being murdered fuel the cold fire of rage that had started when I heard the news.

I spoke when we approached the complex. “There’s Pamela. Honk your horn.” Dane complied and I could see Pamela’s head whip around. Her eyes got huge when she saw who was driving. She couldn’t see me yet, because I had crouched down. Dane pulled into the lot and parked under the building, next to the second pillar at my direction. Pamela came running over and spoke heatedly to Dane.

“What the hell are you doing?” she hissed at Dane. “You weren’t supposed to come back here yet! That wasn’t part of the plan!”

I popped out of the backseat and leveled my SIG at Pamela’s head. “What plan?” I asked. “Was it the one where you have men kill me and my son, not to mention my friends? That plan?” I spat the question at her through gritted teeth.

Pamela’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head when I stepped out of the car. But she recovered her composure well enough. “You can’t prove anything, and even if it is true, are you an executioner? Who would follow you after that? All you have is the word of this man. Where are your witnesses that he and I had any contact?”

I kept the gun on her but lowered it slightly. “Charlie heard you talking to Dane here, same as I did. You’re finished here.”

Pamela laughed. “You think Duncan is going to get rid of me? You’re a bigger fool than I thought. That idiot will do anything for me.”