No Pit So Deep: The Cody Musket Story by James Nathaniel Miller II Read Free Book Online Page A

graduated. Thank God for the rainout this evening. Without it, you wouldn’t have been here, and we would’ve lost her tonight.”
    Cody looked around nervously and then gently took her arm and ushered her away from the gathering crowd.
    Sasha lowered her voice. “She’s been doing editorials in the Gazette about a trafficking ring in Pittsburgh. Children have disappeared around here in the past year — about fifty of them.”
    “Children?”
    “Last week, she gave authorities a tip that paid big dividends. They raided a house in Peters Township. Saved seven little girls and four women and also arrested the bad guys. Now the traffickers have put a contract on her life.”
    “You mean she has a price on her head?”
    “I know one man they won’t be able to stop when he finds out about this — her father. He’s a decorated US Marine like you. Those three attack dogs who assaulted Brandi might not be alive right now if Captain Barnes had been there.”
    “Sasha, I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell —”
    “Their plan is to force her to give up her informants and then torture her to death. After that, her mutilated body will turn up in a public place as a warning to anyone thinking of standing in their way. It’s happened before. That’s why nobody has the b — Never mind, here comes Dupree. Wanna get together for coffee later?”
    “Umm, no thanks. I…I have to meet someone. Sasha, I need to ask you —”
    “ Shhh . ” She placed one finger over his lips and spoke softly. “I know, Cody. I understand why you want to stay anonymous. Don’t worry.”
    “Do I know you from somewhere?” He was certain they had never met.
    Sasha closed her eyelids, kissed him affectionately on the cheek, and then stepped back with shimmering eyes.
    “No, you’ve never met me, Cody, but I know you. My cousin was one of the eight survivors of that Chinook that went down near Helmand Province.” She soft-stroked his cheek. “He wouldn’t be alive today if you hadn’t volunteered to… what I mean is… thank you.”
    He thought to embrace the tearful young woman, but she turned to walk away, then stopped and smiled back at him. “And you’d better hurry if you want to catch her. She’s not too high on men, but I think she’ll like you just fine. She shouldn’t be alone right now, you know. Next time, they’ll have guns.”
    Cody saluted Sasha by tipping his cap as she departed.
    Dupree returned Cody’s ID and said he was free to go but not to leave town for a couple of days. He was leaving town after the Sunday game because like his friend Tanner McNair, he was heading to Detroit to play in the All-Star Game.
    So far, no one else had recognized him, but by now, half the population of Pittsburgh was swarming the hallway — all gawking at him.
    EMS responders gave him alcohol wipes to clean blood from his arms and face. They wanted to stitch the knife wound on his left arm. “No thanks, I gotta meet someone. Could you just clean it and wrap it?”
    He was frantic to depart before he was recognized, and his chances of finding Brandi diminished with every passing second. Was anyone guarding her? Did she realize the danger?
    Cody trotted toward the lobby of the theater, but by the time he reached the outside door, there was no sign of her. He walked up and down the street and searched unsuccessfully. Rain began pouring down again, so he returned to the shelter of the mall, soaked.
    The officers had not recognized Cody’s name since he wasn’t yet a national celebrity. He reasoned that if he could dodge the press, perhaps he could avoid the unwanted publicity. But Brandi was the press. She would eventually discover his identity — one more reason he needed to find her.
    *     *     *
    Brandi was 24. She had enjoyed VIP status since becoming a star athlete, and was accustomed to men throwing themselves at her. She was a popular, well-educated career woman who had no problem attracting status-seeking