The Wolf Code

“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about a thing,” Dale said with a roguish smile that drew a smile from the teen.  “We’ll help you get through this.”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s go.  The sooner we get this over with, the sooner you can start to heal.”

“Are you sure he’s already gone?”

Dale nodded.

“Eric- I mean, your father – has been declared brain dead.  But they can’t take him off life-support without your approval, and they want to talk to you about organ donation.”

Hannah nodded.

“They can take whatever they want.  Daddy’s gone, and he doesn’t need his body where he’s going.”

“That’s a very mature and compassionate choice you’re making, Hannah.  I would say you are wise beyond your years.”

Hannah laughed and got into the passenger side of the SUV, buckling her seatbelt and sitting back for the long ride ahead.  Dale got into his seat and looked at the young girl sitting there, seat back, eyes closed, completely trusting. 

Dale turned the engine over, hitting the locks at the same time to disguise the noise.  He watched Hannah, who didn’t even twitch when he locked the doors and flipped the lockout button on his door panel.  Now, even if she tried to unlock the door first, she wouldn’t be able to.

“It’s a long drive to Dallas,” Dale said.  “Maybe you should try to get some rest.”

“Dallas?  I thought we were going to Fort Worth.”

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, giving her that sultry smile he used on all the ladies.  “We were just talking about you moving here from Dallas, and I misspoke.  We’re going to Fort Worth.”

Hannah nodded, seemingly unbothered by his fumble.    

“Was my father alone?” she asked, her eyes still closed as he took the winding road out of town and the sun set slowly behind them.

“Alone?” he asked.

“When he collapsed, was he alone, or was someone with him?”

“Mark was with him,” Dale lied.  “He didn’t die alone.”

“But he’s not really dead yet?”

“Yes and no.  He’s never going to get better than he is now, but he’s still breathing.”

At least that wasn’t a lie.

“I understand.  I know he wouldn’t want to stay a vegetable forever.  And if his organs can save a life, that would make him so happy.”

“Your father is a good man.”

“He’s the best,” Hannah said, a single tear sliding out from under her lashes and slipping over her smooth skin.  “I’m going to miss him.  I don’t even know how I’m going to take care of myself without him here.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Dale said as he pulled onto a dirt road.

At the first bump in the road, Hannah’s eyes flew open, and she looked down the road in the gray light, looking confused.

“Where are we going?” she asked, still not alarmed but definitely confused.

“There’s construction between here and Cleburne,” he said, the lie sliding smoothly of his seasoned tongue.  “This is the fastest way to get around the construction.”

She nodded, leaning back and closing her eyes again.

Dale shook his head.  She was so trusting, and it was going to be her downfall.

“Can you wake me up when we get there?  I worked two twelve-hour shifts this weekend, and I’m just exhausted still.”

“Of course, I can,” Dale said.

Hannah turned in her seat, her back to him.  It only took a few seconds for her breathing to slow and her body to relax.  She was making this far too easy. 

Dale turned the radio on, gradually edging up the volume so that she didn’t wake up.  The road smoothed out and then gave way to the remnants of an old paved road that was still in good condition despite being forgotten years before.

 Hannah was fast asleep when he pulled around the corner and the large barn came into view.  Careful to keep the speed steady and to avoid the occasional pothole, Dale coasted up to the large barn and gently applied the brakes.  Hannah stirred, but she didn’t wake up. 

A door opened beside the barn, and two large, muscled men came out of the barn and approached the car, their menacing eyes locked on Dale.  He nodded and tilted his head toward the passenger side of the car, and both men headed that way.  Dale released the locks on the door as the first man’s hand reached the handle.

Hannah woke up, looking around and blinking.

“Are we there ye-”

She screamed when the first man reached in and grabbed her, his arm going around her and clamping her against his body.  Hannah struggled mightily, kicking and thrashing.  She hit the first man in the face with her head, but he didn’t flinch.  He held her tight, and the second man advanced, a large needle in his hand.

Hannah bit the man who held her, her teeth sinking into the hand that was clasped over her mouth.  He dropped her, and as soon as her feet hit the ground, she took off running toward the trees. 

She’d only made it three steps when her body froze and her back arched at the most unnatural angle an instant before her body seized.  Dale smiled at the satisfying crackle of the Taser he held in his hand.  Hannah slumped to the ground and lay there in a twisted heap.  Her eyes were wide with fear, but she was unable to move. 

Dale moved to stand over her, smiling down at the girl. 

“You’re going to make someone a feisty pet,” he said with a wide grin.

“Sheriff?” she said, the word trembling on her lips.

A tear slid down her cheek, but her eyes held his.  Hannah was a feisty one, Dale admitted, and he was sad that he wouldn’t get to keep this one for himself.  But the situation with Addie and a few other stumbling blocks had set him back, and his buyers were demanding more product.  He either delivered or his body would be found in a ditch, dumped as unceremoniously as Addie’s had been.  He couldn’t risk that, and he wasn’t about to get killed over the merchandise.

He waved one of the men over, and he stepped in with a syringe.  Hannah’s eyes followed him as he moved to kneel beside her and inserted the syringe into her arm.  Hannah winced when the needle went in, but she didn’t move a muscle otherwise.  She was still paralyzed from the Taser and would be for a couple more minutes.  By the time the Taser wore off, the drugs would be taking hold, and she would find herself drifting off to sleep.

Dale watched her for a few minutes, and when her eyes grew heavy and began to close, he smiled.

“Put her in one of the stalls, and make sure you lock the door.”

“Yes, Sir,” the men said in unison as they hoisted her up between them.

He almost laughed at the effort, but he knew better than most how heavy dead weight was, even in someone as petite as Hannah.  Completely relaxed so that her body flopped and oozed as if it had no bones, he knew that it took monumental effort to move someone in a state such as Hannah was in.  Still, the sight of the muscled men working together to lift her was amusing.  At least part of his day was going well.  Hopefully, his latest acquisition would soften the failure of Addie and Robin. 

His client was going to love Hannah, and sweet, innocent Hannah was going to net a pretty penny at the online auction.  Until then, he needed to keep her safe.

What happened once she left his care wasn’t his problem.