“The ambulance will be right behind us,” Kellan let her know, and she relayed that info to Scotty. Whether he understood that or not was anyone’s guess.
“Scotty, I need you to tell me who hired you to get into the files,” Caroline insisted. “It’s important.”
Nothing. Not even a groan. And the call disconnected, causing Caroline’s concern to skyrocket. Because someone could be there with Scotty. Someone who wanted to finish what they’d started.
“Who called in the 911?” she asked Gunnar. She tried Scotty’s number again, but he didn’t answer. Caroline kept trying and silently cursed her now trembling hands.
“Hank Perez,” Gunnar answered. “He said he heard a noise, looked at his window and saw that a little red car had slammed into a utility pole. His house is on the hill just above the road, and there are some trees obstructing the view, but he said he could see the front end of the car bashed in and steam pouring from it.”
So Hank hadn’t actually witnessed the wreck. “Was there another vehicle, someone following the red car?” Caroline pressed.
“Hank didn’t say, but he doesn’t have the best eyesight. He’s in his mideighties.”
Yes, Caroline remembered. During the months before Eric had taken her hostage, she’d seen Hank in town a couple of times. “He uses one of those scooters to get around?”
Gunnar verified that with a nod. Part of her was relieved by that because maybe it meant Hank wouldn’t go from his house to the car. She didn’t want him getting shot by the person who’d been after Scotty. Of course, that person would be a fool to hangaround since he or she would have figured someone would call the cops.
It didn’t take them long to get down Main Street and onto the rural road that would lead them to Scotty. Hopefully, before it was too late.
Caroline continued pressing in Scotty’s number while she kept watch, and despite the drizzle, she still had no trouble seeing the blue SUV that was coming up the road toward them. Maybe the vehicle that had been chasing Scotty. Gunnar must have thought so, too, because he slowed down a little, and both Jack and Kellan drew their weapons.
When the cruiser passed the SUV, Caroline got a glimpse of the driver inside, and her stomach went to her knees.
“That’s Grace Wainwright,” Caroline told them at the same moment that Jack’s phone rang and Grace’s name appeared on the screen.
“Should I go after her?” Gunnar asked.
“No,” Jack said, “but call for someone else to do that. I want to question her and find out why she was out here.” He answered the call as soon as he’d finished those instructions to Gunnar.
“I didn’t do anything to hurt Scotty,” Grace volunteered the moment she was on the line. “I was trying to help him, but someone ran him off the road.”
“Who?” Jack snapped.
“I don’t know.” Grace made a sobbing sound. “Is Scotty dead?”
“You tell me,” Jack countered.
That only caused the woman to cry even louder. “I didn’t see the person who did this to him. But I did see Scotty’s car. I drove past because I thought someone was in there with him. Someone trying to kill him. I drove away and called 911.”
“There was a second call,” Kellan verified in a whisper. He was on the phone with someone, probably dispatch.
“I couldn’t help Scotty,” Grace went on. “I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t help him.”
The woman sounded genuine, but Caroline had a ton of questions for her. She was certain Jack did, too, but she didn’t get any more info from her because Grace ended the call. Maybe the deputy that Gunnar sent out would be able to intercept her and take her to the sheriff’s office. Caroline put that thought on hold, though, when she looked ahead and spotted the red car.
Her breath vanished.
Because the car was practically wrapped around the utility pole. She couldn’t imagine Scotty or anyone else surviving that kind of collision.
Gunnar pulled the cruiser to a stop, and he threw open his door. Kellan and Jack did the same.
“Stay here,” Jack told her. “Let me check things out before you see him.”
He was trying to protect her, to shield her from seeing Scotty. Part of her appreciated that, but if there was any chance Scotty was alive, there might not be much time to talk to him.
But she didn’t get a chance to remind Jack of that because of the movement in the ditch.
Caroline caught it from the corner of her eye. Just a glimpse of someone next to the old ranch trail that was across the road from Scotty.
