Evie pressed her lower leg to his. He didn’t deserve anything close to support right this second, but he was damn happy to have it.
“That’s why we moved early.” Cordell swore. “Figure it out, Jameson. There must be more than one road in this state.”
Wyatt stopped Evie before she could say something provoking and tried to make sense of what he could see through the windows. It was all a haze of white, nearly impossible to distinguish the shadows of trees from rocky outcroppings. Cordell had researched the diamonds, the casino, and the people. Why hadn’t the man put more effort into researching the terrain?
Because he’d hired Wyatt, an expert on the area who was disenchanted with all things legal after the military cut him loose for getting injured on a patrol. Then he’d tried to use Evie as research but this blasted winter storm interfered.
The SUV slowed as Baker eased off the gas and coasted to a stop. Snow had drifted into a high bank that blocked the road. “What now?” He used the rearview mirror to shoot a dark look at Wyatt.
“Remind me never to doubt the weather girl again,” Evie said. “At least she still has her job. Thanks to you, I’m sure my career at the Silver Aces is over.”
“Better a job than your life,” Wyatt said. Dealing poker wasn’t a career for Evie anyway, but this was hardly the time to point that out.
“Guess you’ll have to turn back,” Evie quipped. Her false cheer filled the vehicle and Wyatt knew he was the only one amused. “Can you manage a three-point turn or do I need to handle it?” she asked sweetly.
Wyatt bumped her knee. “Knock it off.” He appreciated her attempt to be annoying enough that Cordell would toss her out, but it wasn’t in her best interest. They were too far from any shelter for her to survive the storm. He had to come up with something and fast.
“Miss Cotton, listen to your pal and shut up,” Cordell agreed. “I’m waiting for a solution, Jameson.”
She fixed her gaze on the windshield and wisely kept quiet. He did the same, watching the wipers slap uselessly against the heavy snowstorm. “Either we get out and hike from here or we back it up and take the next available road,” Wyatt said with a sigh. “In my opinion, we’re better off going back. A longer drive, but less risk of exposure in this weather.”
Cordell turned to Evie. “You agree with him?”
“I don’t know where you’re going,” she said. “Though the clearest route out of the storm is to the south.”
Cordell scowled. “Of course you’d want us to go back through town.”
Evie shrugged and Wyatt drew the thief’s attention. “Clear is relative,” he said. “This storm is massive.” But if they were closer to town, he could get her out of the car before guiding Cordell and his men the long way around to the ghost town. The GPS tracker in his wallet was built to hold up so the FBI could pick up their quarry. Every hour he could keep them in transition gave Evie a better chance to notify the authorities of their destination.
“Do it,” Cordell said to Baker. “Turn around.”
Baker’s hesitation was almost imperceptible, but it was something. Wyatt filed the reaction away. If he could get the others to turn on Cordell, their chances of survival increased. Slowly, with extreme caution Baker backed up until he had the space to turn the car around.
“Excellent,” Evie declared. “You’ll get caught and I can clear my name. Hundreds of cameras cover the highway in Deadwood. No industry has more watchdog tendencies than the casinos.”
He recognized her ramping up into a tirade and let her ramble, just to see Cordell’s reaction.
“The law around here doesn’t cater to thieves and kidnappers,” she continued. “Even if you get away today, Sheriff Russell will track you down. You should?—”
He shoved his elbow into her ribs. “That’s enough, Evelyn.” He said her name with a sneer that he knew would get under her skin. One of the perks of knowing another person so well.
She gawked at him. “You’re the worst.”
He wished he could assure her he wasn’t. It was just more motivation to get both of them out of this in one piece so he could explain everything and prove he hadn’t given up on being an honorable man.
“I’m not going to post bail or visit you in prison,” she said, nose in the air.
“Shut up!” Cordell roared. “Or I’ll just shoot you and dump you in the snow for a bear.”
“The bears are hibernating,” she said. The woman never knew when to quit.
Cordell aimed a small revolver at her. Wyatt hadn’t known he was carrying that one in addition to the bigger, semi-automatic he’d used in the robbery. At this range the revolver could be deadly enough. Beside him Evie paled. “Easy,” Wyatt said. “She’s a complication we can turn to our advantage, especially in town.”
“We’ll see.” Cordell lowered the gun.
Evie didn’t look all that grateful. Wyatt knew she was fuming and plotting her way out of the vehicle. He didn’t blame her. In her place, he’d do the same thing. He just hoped she had the patience to let him assist.
“If we end up going all the way through town having her along forces the cops to think twice before taking aggressive measures,” he said, outlining the main reason they should keep Evie with them. “Not to mention if something happens to me, you have your backup expert.”
