“If you don’t mind my dog in your car, I can get your car up onto the highway for you.”
“Oh my god.” She bent in half as she tried to catch her breath. One hand shot out and grabbed Creed’s arm. “Oh my god, are you serious right now. I would be so grateful. You have no idea.”
Because of liability, Creed wasn’t sure he was allowed to drive someone else’s car. “Let me get permission from my supervisor.” He pressed his mic. “Creed for Striker.”
“Go for Striker.”
“I have a lady who doesn’t have the skills to get her car up to the highway. Over.”
“It’s getting worse by the minute. We need to get her out of here. Patch her through to Logistics so they can get an oral agreement that she takes full responsibility for any damages. Then you get her up as far as the highway. Out.”
Creed briefed the woman, and they all got into the car to make the call. Legalities done. He signaled Deep, and Deep held back traffic. Creed edged the car around.
He chose not to drive where the clay was moist and slippery, but kept the left tires near the scant vegetation and rocks. He put the gear in low and kept his foot steady.
“I was in the car with my husband during our first rainstorm, which was last week. It was coming down so hard, we didn’t know what to do.” The woman’s teeth were chattering. “We couldn’t see. When the people ahead of us put on their hazards, we could kind of see where they were going by following their flashing lights.”
“Which is fine until they’re driving off the side of the road,” Creed said as he felt for the conversation between the tire tread and the road surface, giving just enough gas and no more.
“Yeah. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“If you can’t see when you’re driving, I’d pull over. And if you’re under an overpass, then drivers can see that you’re there and parked. You don’t want someone to plow into you as they get off the road themselves.” He turned off the dirt road up over the bump of pavement.
“Yes. You’re right. That could happen.”
Creed pulled to the other side of the highway and put the hazards on. “You good from here?”
“Oh my goodness. You are a guardian angel. Truly, thank you so much. I’ll keep you in my prayers all day, that you get home safe and warm.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Creed got back out of the car and jumped Rou down beside him as the woman came around to take over the driver’s seat.
The traffic surging out of the dell was nuts.
He patted his chest so Rou would jump into his arms. Creed would have to dash across the street when there was a break in the line created by someone heading north.
As he turned his head to watch for a blinker telling him to go, Creed thought that those turning south were damned lucky. And a chill snaked its way up his spine.
Chapter Twelve
Auralia
“Where do you think the speakers are heading?” Doli slid the phone into Auralia’s jacket pocket and zipped it up.
“Not home. They all live to the south. North is an interesting choice.”
“We’re heading toward the highway on the other side of the northern bridge, then?” Doli tapped the navigation panel.
“That’s what we planned, right? Find a BBQ joint?”
Doli narrowed the screen. “This takes us toward West Virginia.”
“Beautiful area, but nowhere near a population center. If I were running away, I wouldn’t head to the country.”
“Why’s that?” Doli asked.
“Think about your family. What would happen in a small population when strangers show up?”
“I grew up on Native lands. So there would be a group that went out to have a chat about why they were there and how soon could they be gone.”
