Читать книгу Amish Christmas Hideaway - Lenora Worth, Rachel Hauck - Страница 13

Nathan hit the steering wheel again, wishing Alisha’s phone worked. Her battery must have finally fizzled out. He couldn’t reach her. But he’d been tailing her for two miles when he looked up and saw another car coming down a hill toward them.

Then he’d watched in horror when Alisha had made a sharp right turn, his heart stopping while he watched her car careening wildly.

She’d made it off the main road and he was headed to follow her when a big dark SUV coming from the other direction turned onto the same route she’d just taken, cutting Nathan off as it whipped in front of his truck.

“No.” Nathan slammed on his brakes to avoid a collision and then hit the gas pedal again. “Where are you, Carson?” The deputy sheriff should have been here by now. Carson would have alerted the town police, too, since he didn’t have the authority to make any arrests.

But if those men saw the deputy tailing them, they could have shot at Carson, too.

Lord, please protect my friend.

The silent prayer felt foreign and raw inside Nathan’s head. He rarely prayed these days, but he still believed deep down inside. Right now, he needed the Lord to hear him on a lot of accounts.

Alisha needed him. He had to get to her.

He slipped and slid onto the turnoff, noting where Alisha’s car had gone, his heart doing that jumpy thing it always did each time he came back to the place he’d once called home.

The place where he’d fallen in love with a beautiful Englisch girl who had her own dreams and ambitions. The girl who’d walked away from him because she felt as if she’d only remind him of the worst night of his life.

If he didn’t find her, this would be the worst night of his life. He might have lost his sweet little sister Hannah, but he would not lose Alisha.

Not this time.

Nathan hurried along the dark, deserted road and noted the two vehicles up ahead. The big SUV hovered near Alisha’s sedan. He had his weapon concealed in a shoulder holster and he’d shoot first and ask questions later.

When Alisha’s vehicle swerved around a curve, Nathan took off and caught up with the SUV following her. While the sleek vehicle inched closer to her, Nathan did the same with the aggressive SUV.

He knew a certain spot up ahead where if he hit at its back bumper just right, he could force the SUV off the road long enough to allow Alisha to get to safety.

Preparing, Nathan kept his eyes on the two cars up ahead. Then he looked in his rearview mirror and saw another vehicle approaching. A traffic jam on this road late at night? Unbelievable. He hoped Carson had found them.

His cell buzzed. Careful to keep his gaze on the road, he let the call come through his truck’s Bluetooth.

“I’m behind you,” Carson said. “The locals are out in force since they’ve heard what happened. There’s a BOLO out based on the eyewitness description.”

“They’re following that witness,” Nathan replied, relieved for the backup. “I can’t let them get to her.”

“I’m trying to catch up with them.”

“They have to be the same people who killed someone in front of Alisha earlier.”

“Why did she come here?” Carson asked.

“She’s afraid and...she must have been coming to see her grandmother. I don’t know. She panicked, I think.”

She had to have panicked to call him, Nathan reasoned.

“Dangerous situation,” Carson replied.

“Be careful,” Nathan warned. “They’re armed.”

“I won’t do anything stupid,” Carson said. “I’m here to observe and help with transport, if needed.”

“Okay. I’ll tail them until we meet up.”

Carson ended the call and sped around Nathan to alert the town police up on the main road out of town. Nathan watched the road ahead. His friend had the authority to stop them for speeding if nothing else. But these people were dangerous. Carson shouldn’t take that risk. Smarter to get the police out here.

Nathan focused on the vehicle behind Alisha. The big vehicle bumped against Alisha’s car. The driver tried to force her off the road. Nathan gunned his truck, thinking he’d smash into the other vehicle.

Too late.

He watched in horror as the SUV bumped hard against Alisha’s sedan again. Unable to help, Nathan shouted as her tiny car went spiraling across the road and headed into a deep ditch.

“No,” Nathan said, slamming on the brakes as he came up on the scene.

The SUV took off, speeding away. The town police should be waiting up ahead. Nathan had to check on Alisha.

Nathan put the still moving truck into Park, left it running, and hopped out and hurried toward Alisha, pulling open the driver’s-side door.

Nearly out of breath, he called, “Alisha?”

“I’m okay,” she said, her hands tight on the steering wheel, her head slumped over. “I’m all right, Nathan.”

She didn’t sound all right. More like out of breath and going into shock. “I’m calling for help.”

“No.” Grabbing his arm, she said, “Just get me out of here, please.”

He looked at her and then looked down into a dark abyss. She’d somehow managed to stop the car against a jutting rock, but most of the car sat nestled against an old jagged tree trunk. A rotting and weathered trunk that could give at any minute.

Mere inches away from what looked like a sizable drop-off into a ravine.

“I’ve got you,” he said. “C’mon, take my hand.”

She nodded. “My bag.”

“Okay, grab it. But careful.”

She lifted the big businesslike leather bag and handed it to him. Nathan set the bag on the ground and gently tugged at her. “Turn slowly toward me, okay.”

She nodded, the car rocking with each movement. Once she twisted and managed to put her legs on the ground, the car moaned and slipped another inch into the old tree trunk.

Nathan’s heart slipped right along with the vehicle, his breath caught. That old stump wouldn’t last much longer. “On three,” he said. “One, two, three.”

His hands on her waist now, he tugged her up and out and then pulled her away from the now shaking car. With a groan and the hissing of tires and metal, the car plummeted against the weak tree trunk, causing the weathered wood to crumble into a hundred powder-dry pieces. Nathan held Alisha down, the sound of the car’s front right fender scraping against the rock as it slid over the edge of the ravine and crashed down below with a last moan. A hard crash and then the sound of metal breaking apart echoed out over the hills.

They fell together onto the grass near the curve in the road. Nathan held her close, shut his eyes and took in the sweet scent of her hair.

“Alisha.”

She suddenly sat straight up and scooted away from him. “What?”

He lay there, checking her over, the urge to hold her close still strong. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. But my car... It’s gone.”

Nathan took in her dark golden hair all scattered and wispy around her heart-shaped face. “I’m sorry about that, but I had to get you out. Too late for your car but I need to get you away from here.”

Brushing at her hair and clothes, she let out a long, shuddering sigh. “I still owe on that car.”

Still practical, he thought, his pulse pounding like a jackhammer in his ear. “You have insurance?”

She gave him a nod, her expression blank now. “Did you call reinforcements?”

“Yes—a friend nearby and the locals waiting down the road. Tell me if you hurt anywhere. Did you hit your head?”

“No. I mean I bumped against something but I’m okay. When they rammed me, I tried to steer the car toward a tree. I found a rock and a tree. Bounced a bit. I could have died if you hadn’t come along.”

She was shaken but Nathan knew this woman. Tough and stubborn.

“Okay, but you did not die.” He stood and offered her his hand. She hesitated and then grabbed on while he tugged her up, the touch of her skin against his fingers jarring him with a current of awareness. “I called my friend Carson Benton. He’s a deputy sheriff who helps me out a lot.”

“Unofficially, I’m sure. I hope he chased them away.”

“Unofficially, yes. I hope they don’t shoot him.”

Looking her over, he took in the boots and straight black skirt, the tan leather jacket and black turtleneck sweater. Classy. “Alisha, listen, they don’t know you’re still alive. That gives us time. We need to get you somewhere safe, okay?”

“I’m going to Campton House.”

Just as he’d thought, and the closest place to hide for now. “Good. Mrs. Campton has a state-of-the-art security system.”

“I know. I told her to get a system installed because of the sensitive nature of some of our cases. It serves as a safe house at times, too.”

“Well, that will come in handy since we have to hide you until I can figure this thing out. The longer they think you died in that car, the better our odds of keeping you alive.”

“You mean, until we can figure this thing out. I’m the one who witnessed a double murder.”

He liked her spirit but heard that stubborn tone in her voice. “And I’m the one who’ll protect you and help you find justice. You have to stay hidden.”

He took her by the arm. “I’ll report the crash from the truck. And before you start up, it’s too cold out here to argue about this right now.”

“I’m not going to argue,” she said. “I’m exhausted.”

Nathan’s heart went out to her. “Alisha...”

“Don’t,” she said, holding up a hand. “Don’t baby me, Nathan. Just get me to my grandmother’s house.”

Nathan grunted and let her open her own door. Then he grabbed her big leather bag and hopped in on the driver’s side. “Here’s your purse.”

“This is not a purse. It’s full of work, my laptop and a flash drive, clothes. And my phone. My life is in this bag.”

And hidden chocolate, if memory served him.

“That’s a lot of life crammed into one fancy lady purse.”

“I don’t have a life,” she said. Then her gaze met his in sheepish surprise. “It’s a briefcase.”

“You didn’t mean to admit that, did you? The part about not having a life.”

“I’m tired. Not making much sense.”

“Well, if I have it my way, you’ll have a lot of life left in you.”

His cell buzzed. “It’s Carson.” Hitting Accept, he said, “Did you find them?”

Carson’s voice came over the Bluetooth connection. “Saw them, followed while the locals gave chase and we had them surrounded.”

“But?” Nathan glanced over at Alisha since she could hear the call. Her expression held dread.

“They crashed the SUV near the main highway down the mountain. Got out and ran away on foot. We’ve got men searching the area and we’ve called in the K9 unit, but I have a feeling they had another ride coming. It’s still not safe.” Then he added, “One of the escort officers is alive but critical. The other one died at the scene. I’m sorry, Nathan. The police are up to speed and they’ve alerted the proper authorities in Philadelphia, including the FBI.”

Alisha let out a sob, her hand going to her face.

“Thanks.” Nathan said, glancing at Alisha. “I have Miss Braxton with me. I got her out of the car, but it went into the ravine. They’ll send someone to circle back around to make sure she’s dead. I’d like them to think that for a while. Just until I get her somewhere safe.”

“Understood,” his friend said. “But you know how this will end, right?”

“Yeah. With me bringing these people to justice.” Nathan ended the call and turned to Alisha. “So you heard. Your pursuers managed to escape. You’re not safe.”

He saw the shudder she tried to hide. “What they did was horrible. I can’t get it out of my head.” Looking out into the darkness, she whispered, “I should have done something for those officers.”

“You did the only thing you could do—you got away. It was probably too late for the one who died at the scene and hopefully, the other one won’t die.”

He didn’t want her to meet that same fate.

“That will be in the news, too. His poor family. To lose him at Christmas. Maybe I should have gone back to Reading.”

“No.” Nathan couldn’t tell her that he was glad to see her, glad to help her. “No. You need to be with family right now.”

She nodded, her head down.

“Tell me what you saw tonight,” he said in a gentler tone, wishing he could touch her, hold her and make her feel better.

But that would be the worst idea he’d ever had and he’d had a few bad ones at times.

She nodded and started speaking, her voice strained and weary. Once she’d finished, Nathan couldn’t stop himself. He reached over and took her hand. This reeked of a professional hit. But he wouldn’t tell her that until he did some digging.

“You’ll be safe at the Campton Center for now.”

She stared down at his hand and then pulled hers away. “Of course I will. It’s solid.”

“And I’ll be there to make sure.”

“What exactly does that mean?”

“That means we’ll be spending Christmas together,” he replied with a soft smile. “Because I’ll be staying there with you until we find these killers.”