“I’m going to make your death slow and painful when I catch you, Elaine!” The words came from above her.
“Come out now!”
Dickhead. Like I’d ever do that.
“I’ll find you, Elaine. I’ve waited four years. A few more minutes will make no difference. You may as well give up; there’s no one around to save you.”
Not happening.
Thinking of Noah and his love of the water, she took a deep breath and eased into the icy black depths. She bit back a hiss of shock as the cold took her breath away and submerged herself up to her chin. She saw a shadow of bushes hanging over the bank and hoped nothing was sleeping in there. If she could get there, she’d be hidden from the moonlight. Barnaby couldn’t swim, so he wouldn’t come in after her. But he would shoot at her.
Making her way slowing through the water, she tried to do it quietly. Lani stopped if she heard his footsteps and sank below the water. Her body was going numb.
Moving again, she finally reached her destination and swam under the branches. Holding on to one, she focused on Noah, remembering every detail of how he’d looked when last she’d seen him tonight.
Hurry, Noah. Find me… please.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“There’s Pete.” Cubby pointed to the car stopped on the side of the road. He pulled alongside and lowered the window.
“Went down there about twenty-five minutes ago and had a passenger.”
“Why didn’t you follow?” Noah demanded.
“Ignore him, he’s in love,” Cubby said. “Thanks, Pete. You climb in the back beside Katie now and we’ll head in.”
Noah bit back any more words and hugged Buddy, who was on his lap.Was she still alive? Had he hurt her?“These thoughts are driving me crazy,” Noah muttered.
“If you’re in love, the crazy is only just beginning, is my guess,” Pete said, which made Noah want to turn around and punch him.
“Okay, so this guy is a real whack job,” Cubby said. He went on to explain to Pete what they’d learned about Barnaby Lester. The man was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he liked to gamble but kept his nose clean. Lawyer, like his daddy. Apparently he’d been devastated when his fiancée had gone missing and been trying to find her ever since. There was no record of the conversation Lani had had with the police that night she’d tried to escape.
“Can’t you drive any faster!”
“You say the track is about twenty minutes, Pete?” Cubby ignored Noah.
“Yup.”
“Okay, I’m shutting off the lights now, and we’ll cruise in quietly so as we don’t alert anyone we’re here,” Cubby said. Katie gripped Noah’s shoulder.
“Tex, you there?”
“I am.”
“Where you at?”
“About ten away, circling.”
“Okay, stay tuned,” Cubby said, pulling the car to a halt.
“No heroics, Noah, and Buddy stays in here. If he has Lani, we want the element of surprise.” Cubby gave Noah a steady look.
“Okay” was all he could manage.
Buddy whined as he told him to stay. Getting out of the car, he saw the silhouette of a small building; it had a light on inside. Cubby signaled for Katie and Pete to go left, and they’d go right.
Walking slowly, they circled the building and found Lani’s Bronco. He’d have her in his arms soon, and she’d be safe. Please God, let her be safe.
