Читать книгу No End in Sight - Dana Mentink - Страница 6

“Can I help you?” Valerie said.

His mouth fell open from the combined shock of Valerie’s indifferent tone and the fact that there was a guy in the passenger seat with his arm around her.

The man waved. “Hello, mate.”

Jackson felt his jaw tighten. This redheaded clown was his replacement?

He tried unsuccessfully to wipe the scowl from his face. In mute surprise, he handed her the box.

She didn’t look at the contents. “Thank you. I’ll tell my father his tools have arrived.”

Jackson took a step back, a cold sensation washing over him.

Valerie’s father was dead.

Long dead.

Jackson returned to his car, pretending to pat his pockets for keys as he watched them out of the corner of his eye. The man got out of the truck first, going around to open Valerie’s door for her. He kept his hand hidden at his side. Knife or gun, Jackson guessed. He hoped it was the former.

“Tell your dad I said hello,” Jackson called as he got in his SUV and turned on the engine.

Valerie was faced away from him now, and the guy had her around the waist. With gritted teeth, Jackson backed out a few yards before he shifted the car into Drive. Breathing a prayer that he would not wind up killing them all, he hit the gas. Hard.

The SUV lurched forward, wheels pinging gravel all over the road. He bore down on Valerie and her companion. Two heads snapped around to look at him. He could tell by Valerie’s face that she was terrified, but that she had been expecting some kind of action on his part. The red-haired guy’s eyes widened in surprise. For a terrifying moment, Jackson thought he would pull Valerie closer, but instead he stepped away, a knife in one hand, the other reaching for something under his shirt.

Jackson pressed the gas to the floor and the vehicle hurtled forward. He aimed right for the red-haired guy, who came up with a gun in his hand. Five feet, four, three—

The stranger suddenly peeled away and headed for the trees.

Jackson slammed the car to a halt and leaped out, running for Valerie.