Unlike some systems, I have no option to erase the message. If people thought I was strange before, after today, I’ll be burned at the stake, literally.
I stop at a coffee shop on Main Street and try to chill out but the feeling persists. I text Cole about a hundred times and as a second thought, drive to Jeff’s house and knock on his door.
What are the odds?He’s not answering.
It’s too early to contact the college so I pick up the phone and dial my sister.
“Danni?” Her sleepiness reminds me of the hour, making me feel not only guilty but crazy, as well.
“Yeah, sorry to bother you. Do you have a number for any of Cole’s brothers?”
“Hold on, I think so.” She rattles off Greg’s contact information. “What’s this all about?”
“I’m not sure. Is Gram sick? Mom? Your kids?” Fuck, I sound looney-tooney.
She hears it, too. “Danielle, you’re freaking me out.”
“I just… I can’t explain. I have this creepy feeling. It may be nothing. It could be hormones. I just need to make sure everyone is fine. Am I being stupid?”
“My God, Danni. Take a vacation. You’re working too hard. Call me when you get some help.”
“Yeah, overwork. That’s undoubtedly my problem. Thanks for the heads up.” My sarcasm goes right over her head. Leave it to my big sister to say just the right thing to make me feel over-the-top.
We hang up, I punch in the digits she gave me, and a familiar voice makes me pause. “Hello?”
It takes me a moment to realize the Kincaid brothers sound the same. “Hi Greg, it’s me, Dannielle Adams. I ah, left my purse at Cole’s house and it has my wallet. Do you know where I could find him? He’s not answering his phone.” I hold my breath.
Cows moo in the background, masking his response.
“I’m sorry. What?”
“I said he went hunting.” His brother sounds annoyed.
“With Jeff Kincaid?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Ah, no reason. Can you meet me at his house?”
“Ay-yup, give me ten.”
Hyperventilating, I hang up.
Cole went out in the woods with an armed murder suspect.
What the hell is wrong with him?
Chapter 18
Cole
A bullet splinters a branch overhead, this hit closer than the last. My orange vest, meant to keep hunters from mistaking me for a deer, acts as a beacon. While I’m shrugging it off, a twig snaps to the east and a blue splotch ducks behind a boulder. If only I’d had my weapon raised, I could’ve taken a shot. I can’t afford any more mistakes.
Using the arms of my long underwear, I tighten a bandage around Jeff’s wound. Once his jacket is zipped back up, I tuck him under a fallen log, and cover him with wet dark leaves.
“What’s going on?” His eyelids lift.
I place his hand over the hole in his coat. “Keep pressure on the wound, stay awake and keep quiet. You with me?”
