Frustration and impatience edged Naomi’s heavy sigh. “No. You don’t understand. She contactedhim.”
“What?” Jo couldn’t believe her ears. “How did she even know him or where he lived?”
“You didn’t tell me this before, Naomi,” Cole said.
Naomi kept her focus on Jo. “He was set up. Your mother claimed she had no choice, but she told him to get out. To leave town and disappear.” Naomi shifted forward, vehemence in her eyes. “Your mother is to blame for what happened to him.”
Jo felt the need to get out of this place, but she remained sitting, not backing down. “My mother would never have set someone up. And why did he think I could help?” Jo asked.
“And more importantly, how did he even find Jo?” Cole peered out grimy windows. So, he was feeling cagey too.
Naomi closed her eyes and took in a few breaths, then she opened them. “You really don’t get it.”
Cole growled under his breath and leaned on the table. “You told me none of this. You left me in the dark. I want to know what is going on. Everything. Quit dragging it out. Who is after her, and why aren’t you telling this to the police?”
“My brother and your mom knew each other...” Naomi pursed her lips, then continued. “You know ... before.”
No. I don’t know!“Before?”
“Free—” A bullet slammed into the glass.
Cole covered Jo on the floor as more bullets sprayed the camper. The sound of bullets, of Naomi’s and Jo’s own screams, was deafening.
21
Cole’s heart jackhammered, the pounding competing with the bullets.
Around him, time slowed, seconds passing between each rapid-fire bullet spraying the camper. His thoughts raced through the cacophony.
How am I getting usout of this? I should never have agreed to it.
Lord,help me find a way.
Because right now, the worst-case scenario was going down. How could Cole have let this happen? He started up. Both women were down on the floor.
“Stay here,” he said.
“What?” Jo shouted. “No, Cole, you can’t go out there!”
“We’re all going to die if I don’t end this,” he said.
Cole would wait until the shooter reloaded, and he prayed they stayed alive that long.
Then ... the gunfire stopped.
Was the shooter reloading? Coming to check on the carnage? Cole quietly crawled to the door, which had been shredded and remained attached by only one hinge. Heslipped out and rolled onto the ground and then up to an older truck. Pressing his back against the truck, gun locked and loaded, he peered around the vehicle, searching for the shooter—or shooters. He couldn’t know how many had been involved.
A siren rang out, echoing against the trees and across the water. At least law enforcement was coming, but they usually made their appearance after the fact. He couldn’t wait that long. And Cole needed more than one deputy to show up. The report of a firearm resounded much too close, and Cole searched for the source. Still hiding behind the truck, he made his way around to the back.
The bait shop guy—Chuck—aimed his rifle to the south. He fired again, and again, then cursed.
Cole kept his handgun at the ready. Chuck dropped his rifle to his side, then jogged over to where Cole stood by the truck.
“He got away. I might have hit him, but he still got away.” Expression grim, he glanced at the trailer and shook his head.
“There was just one?” Cole asked.
“That I saw, yes. Any survivors?”
