Chapter 10

Peach had expected someone to break in, but he hadn’t thought it would be this fast. He guessed Sheriff Eason liked to work fast. There was no proof Eason had sent this guy, but Peach knew from the few minutes he’d talked to the sheriff that the man wasn’t trustworthy.

With his pants and a shirt on, he headed out to the main room and undid the tape around the man’s ankles. He didn’t want to get a false imprisonment charge against him. If his buddies didn’t find someone fast to send out and intercept Eason, Peach was sure both he and Haisley would end up in jail.

The man who’d broken in and attacked them worked for the sheriff’s office. They would spin this to say that he’d come in as a law enforcement officer and he had attacked. He had little doubt that the whole sheriff’s office was corrupt.

The sirens sounded close, and Peach wondered if it was too late to run. But running wouldn't take care of the issue. If they weren't here when the police arrived, there was no question the man in charge of the place would spin a story he would never be able to get out from under.

His phone rang, and he answered. “Peach here.”

“Is this Petty Officer Robert Barclay?”

“Yes, sir. This is Petty Officer Robert Barclay.”

“This is Senator Unger. I was in the Navy for six years before I got my college degree and then my law degree and became a senator for the state of Georgia. My property is about two miles from where you are. My wife, Ginger, and a few of my staffers are on the way to your place. I’m terribly sorry your parents are no longer with us. I’m also sorry you’re having to deal with the downside of that area as you’re dealing with grief. I’ll make sure Sheriff Eason helps you get to the bottom of what is going on there.”

“Thank you, Senator Unger. I appreciate any help you can give us.”

"Son, I appreciate the heck out of you Navy SEALs. You guys saved my unit from sure death. I owe you my life. This will be taken care of quickly, and you'll have no more trouble."

The call ended, and a bunch of things happened at once. The sheriff and two deputies arrived along with Senator Unger's wife, Ginger. The woman didn't take crap from anyone, as was obvious when she told Sheriff Eason without any hesitation that if she saw anything wrong, her friend, the director of the FBI, ate lunch with her every third Friday of the month, and she had the man on speed dial.

Peach didn't like throwing around the weight of political and government leaders, but there was something about this area that was so wrong. Haisley would be harmed. He was sure of that after someone broke into the house to abduct her .

His mom found some reason to protect Haisley, and he would honor his mother by protecting this woman. It no longer mattered exactly why Haisley was here. He would keep her safe.