Escape From the Badlands by Dana Mentink Read Free Book Online Page B

Christmas.”
    “That’s great.” He watched Charlie tuck into his scrambled eggs, the fork seeming too large in his small fingers.
    Kelly eyed Shane over the top of her coffee cup. She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “Shane…” Her words trailed off for a moment. “I was thinking about the reason you came here. It seems like a long shot to find a way to crack Ackerman’s alibi.”
    Shane winced, wishing he hadn’t been forced to tell her about the plan. “It’s the only thing I can do to help my brother.”
    “My uncle Bill is back with the Tribal Rangers. Maybe he can help you.”
    Shane shook his head, surprised at the offer and fairly certain he would not get much help at all from Kelly’s uncle after what had happened between him and Kelly. “I appreciate that,” he said, looking around to be sure no one had overheard. The group was hanging on Ackerman’s every word. “There’s nothing he can do that the cops haven’t already done.”
    “Don’t be too sure. He’s very persistent.”
    He couldn’t hold back a smile. “Really?”
    She returned the smile for a moment before the humor was replaced by a cool expression. “Anyway, it was just a thought. But you’re not giving up—I can tell.”
    “Must be a family trait.”
    “I wouldn’t have thought so.”
    The words stung. He looked away. She busied herself wiping Charlie’s hands and face, looking around, he imagined, to find another spot to sit. She’d just finished her cleanup when Ackerman announced from the microphone, “Let’s introduce you to our new race medic, Kelly Cloudman. Come on up here, Kelly.”
    Kelly flushed and walked to the platform. Charlie watched her. “That’s my mama. I’ve got two. Mama Rose is on a trip.”
    Shane found himself unable to answer.
    Charlie waved and knocked over his orange juice in the process. Instinctively, Shane threw the nearby napkins down on the spill and said in his best John Wayne voice, “No worries, Cowboy Charlie. We got the flood under control, partner.”
    Charlie laughed. “You’re funny.”
    Funny. A memory of his little brother’s laughter rolled through him.
    Funny Shane. The goofy big brother who could always get a laugh.
    Lonnie, whose laughter was swallowed up by Shane’s carelessness in a moment that would change everything.
    One horrible moment.
    His reverie was broken at the sound of applause for Kelly. She waved, and Ackerman hugged her around the shoulder. Just a friendly gesture, a warm greeting that nonetheless made Shane want to launch himself at the platform and knock Ackerman away from her.
    He gritted his teeth as Kelly detached herself and made her way back to the table, cheeks flushed.
    “Embarrassing,” she said.
    Shane couldn’t stop himself. “Stay away from him, Kell. He’s not what he seems.”
    Her eyes flashed. “Ironic, coming from you.” She helped Charlie from the chair and made her way to the back, holding him in her arms as Ackerman started up a computer presentation.
    Shane felt like breaking something. She was stubborn and she would not listen to reason, especially when it came from him.
    Do what you need to do to find Ellen.
    He watched the handsome man, so at ease in front of the crowd. Hard to believe he could be a murderer. What if Kelly was right and he wasn’t? The whole thing was some desperate effort that made no sense.
    His hands balled into fists. No. Todd was right about people, and he’d pegged Devin as trouble. Todd’s cop friend felt the same way. Pictures began to scroll across the screen of prior Desert Quest races. The first had been in Utah, the last two in South Dakota. Smiling, dirt-covered racers, engaged in everything from biking to kayaking to spelunking, waved back from the screen to the hoots and hollers of the audience. He saw a quick shot of Gleeson on horseback, which surprised him. The man had said nothing about participating in other Quest races.
    The music swelled and filled the small trailer, the