He wasn’t sure what was going on here, but he didn’t want any of this coming back on Will. So far, very few people knew that Will was staying with him. Until he knew Will was safe, Hector wanted it to stay that way.
Hector put the truck in neutral and climbed out. He got a good grip on the doorframe and gave the truck a little push. Luckily, they were on a slight incline. It took a few tries, but as soon as he felt the truck start to move, Hector jumped into the driver’s seat and closed the door.
As soon as they were far enough away to be safe, Hector started up the truck and then continued on down the road. At some point, he’d have to find another road to take them back toward town, or more specifically, toward the Rusty Nail. They needed a place to lay low until the police dealt with whoever was at his house.
Hector didn’t know how far down the road they’d driven when he noticed a car moving up fast behind them. He kept a close eye on the car, glancing between it and the road as he stepped on the gas.
The car was still gaining on them.
“Will, get up here and put your seatbelt on."
Will scurried onto the seat.
“Hold on.” Hector had made enough trips between his house and the city to know this road fairly well. He stepped on the gas. As the truck shot forward, he prayed he could keep it on the road long enough to reach Old Toad Road.
The car was practically kissing their bumper by the time Hector spotted the turn-off. He really hoped they weren’t going to follow them as he took the turn, cranking on the steering wheel as hard as he could. Tires squealed as they whipped around the corner.
As soon as they were straight again, Hector stepped on the gas and glanced in the rearview mirror. He blew out a relieved breath when the car that had been following them shot past the turn-off and let up on the gas.
“Will, did you see the car following us?”
“Yes,” Will replied. “I got the make, model, and license plate number.”
Hector’s jaw dropped as he turned to look at the guy. “Really?”
“I was a paramedic. We had to remember details.”
Huh.
“Tell the dispatch lady about the car. I don’t know if it was following us or just trying to get out of town, but the sheriff still needs to know about it just in case.”
Will nodded before raising the phone to his ear and talking again.
“And tell her we’re headed into town to the sheriff’s station.”
Will nodded again and continued talking.
Hector started driving for town. He’d originally planned to go to the Rusty Nail, but he was thinking the sheriff’s department might be safer. He’d also have a better chance of finding out what in the hell was going on at the station.
By the time the lights of Cade Creek came into view, Hector’s fingers were cramping from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. His nerves were strung tight. His worry for Will’s safety was growing by the minute, clenching in his gut.
Hector steered through the streets until he spotted the sheriff’s station. As he pulled to a stop in front of the building, he glanced at Will. He didn’t like how pale Will’s face appeared or the slight trembling in his hand as he held the cell phone to his ear.
“Tell dispatch we’ve reached the sheriff’s office, Will, then hang up.”
They needed to get inside.
Hector turned off the truck then climbed out and hurried around to Will’s door, getting there just as the man opened it. He took the cell phone Will held out to him and slid it into his pocket before reaching for Will’s hand.
It was quiet inside the sheriff’s station, but Hector didn’t really expect anything else. There really wasn’t a lot of crime in Cade Creek. Hector spotted one of the deputies coming out of the back and hurried toward him.
“Deputy Hale.”
“Hector,” Deputy Nick Hale replied. “The sheriff is headed out to your place.”
“I know, but we had to leave when the shooting started.”
Nick’s eyebrows went up. “Shooting?”
