Chapter 6 - The Man Behind Butch
His name was Gideon Vale.
I had never seen him.
That was the point.
Butch looked like a gang leader.
Gideon looked like a banker.
Fifty-one.
Clean record.
Owned three auto dealerships.
Two construction companies.
A charity.
Sat on the county hospital board.
Photographed every Christmas delivering toys to children.
And according to Kaylee Morrison, he controlled the Iron Vipers.
Agent Bishop showed us his photograph.
Nora stared.
“I know him.”
“How?”
“He spoke at Paul’s funeral.”
The room went cold.
Of course he had.
Men like Gideon survive because they learn to stand beside grief they caused.
Kaylee’s story was incomplete.
She was safe but traumatized.
She had escaped months earlier with help from another victim.
She never returned home because she believed Dalton would find her.
She had been right.
She said Gideon rarely touched the crimes directly.
Orders traveled through others.
Butch.
Dalton.
Business managers.
Club members.
People owed favors.
“He’ll run,” Morales said.
Bishop shook her head.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Men like Vale don’t run while they still believe they own the board.”
She was right.
Gideon issued a public statement that afternoon.
He condemned the Iron Vipers.
Claimed he had once associated socially with some members.
Denied criminal involvement.
Praised law enforcement.
Expressed sympathy for Nora Vance.
When Nora saw that line, she threw the newspaper across the room.
“Sympathy.”
Emily retrieved it.
“Grandma.”
“He murdered my son and sends sympathy.”
“We don’t know that yet.”
Nora looked at her.
Emily immediately corrected herself.
“We can’t prove that yet.”
That was different.
Bishop warned us not to contact Gideon.
I had no intention of doing so.
Then he contacted me.
A black SUV appeared outside Nora’s home around sunset.
One man stepped out.
Suit.
No visible weapon.
He handed me an envelope.
“Mr. Vale would like to speak with you.”
“No.”
The man looked surprised.
“You haven’t heard the offer.”
“I’m still not interested.”
“He believes this town owes you an apology for what occurred at the diner.”
I laughed.
“Then he can mail it.”
The man lowered his voice.
“Mr. Vale respects military service.”
“Good for him.”
“And believes misunderstandings should not become permanent conflicts.”
There it was.
A threat dressed as diplomacy.
I stepped closer.
“Tell Gideon I’m going home.”
“That would be wise.”
“Not because he told me.”
His smile disappeared.
I handed the envelope back unopened.
The SUV left.
Bishop was furious when she learned.
“You should have taken the envelope.”
“Why?”
“Evidence.”
“He offered a conversation.”
“Could’ve contained money.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Exactly.”
Fair.
She ordered surveillance around Nora’s house.
I tried Sarah again.
No answer.
Ava answered.
“Mom’s mad.”
“I know.”
“She thinks you’re going to get yourself killed because you don’t know how to stop being deployed.”
That hurt because it was precise.
“I’m coming home.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“You said that yesterday.”
“I know.”
“Why should I believe you?”
I had no good answer.
Then Ava sighed.
“Rex okay?”
“Yes.”
“Tell him I miss him.”
“What about me?”
“Still deciding.”
She hung up.
The next morning, I actually left.
Nora hugged me.
Emily hugged Rex before me.
Morales shook my hand.
“You ever come back, don’t punch anybody.”
“I didn’t throw the first punch.”
“That is exactly the answer I expected.”
Agent Bishop met me at the highway.
“Vale knows you’re leaving.”
“Good.”
“Stay alert.”
“I usually do.”
I drove west.
The town disappeared behind me.
For the first hour, I felt lighter.
Then Rex stood suddenly.
His nose lifted.
He looked toward the rear window.
Black SUV.
Three cars back.
I changed lanes.
It changed lanes.
I exited.
It exited.
“Of course.”
I called Bishop.
“Vale’s people?”
“Maybe.”
“Do not engage.”
“I’m literally driving away.”
She coordinated with highway patrol.
Before they arrived, the SUV pulled beside me.
The passenger window lowered.
My muscles tightened.
No gun.
A phone.
The passenger held it toward the glass.
On the screen was a photograph.
Ava.
Leaving her school.
My blood turned to ice.
The SUV accelerated away.
I almost followed.
Almost.
Every instinct screamed at me.
Then training took over.
Do not let emotion dictate movement.
I pulled onto the shoulder.
Called Sarah.
She answered.
“Jack?”
“Where’s Ava?”
“At school.”
“Call her.”
“What happened?”
“Call her now.”
Thirty seconds later Sarah came back.
“She’s in class.”
Relief did not come.
“They have a picture of her.”
Silence.
“What?”
“Someone followed me from town and showed me a photograph of Ava.”
Sarah stopped breathing.
I contacted local police near home.
School security locked down Ava’s release.
Bishop called the FBI task force already joining the trafficking investigation.
The situation had crossed state lines.
Gideon had made the mistake powerful men make when they panic.
He touched family.
The FBI agent who called me was named Marcus Reed.
His voice was calm.
“Mr. Mercer, do nothing.”
“They photographed my daughter.”
“I know.”
“You have children?”
Pause.
“Yes.”
“Then don’t tell me to stay calm.”
“I’m not.”
That surprised me.
“I’m telling you to let us build the case while we protect your family.”
I looked at Rex.
He watched traffic through the windshield.
“What do you need from me?”
“Drive home.”
“Straight home?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because if Vale’s people are watching you, we want them to believe the threat worked.”
I understood.
“And then?”
May you like
Agent Reed’s voice hardened.
“Then we start watching them.”
