“I don’t think they’d bother since the road is closed and I wasn’t obstructing anything. If they did, we’ll be close enough to town to get another ride, if there’s anyone left to hook us up. What about your car? At the hotel?”
“I left it at the train station in Clover and took a cab.”
“Thought you might have grown a tail?”
“Can’t be too certain. Lots of people seem to be on the lookout for me.” She frowned. Was she thinking about the fact that the cops would be eager to take her back into custody? The thought occurred to him that it might be the safest thing for Mackenzie, if they were to encounter an officer. Hopefully she’d be protected in jail, from Bullseye and from herself.
He was still thinking about the notion when a brown bird streaked from the bushes five feet ahead. He stopped abruptly. “Something startled it.”
But the forest again subsided into quiet broken only by the dripping leaves. When there was no more indication of danger, he moved on, but his nerves stayed knotted.
Something didn’t feel right.
The moments blended in an uncomfortable blur, their plodding pace making the hour stretch endlessly on. They stopped only briefly for sips of water and sprinkles of quick-energy sugar from the packets he’d taken at the lookout. Neither wanted to prolong the agony by stopping too long.
The Jeep. Once he got it back, they’d have a much better chance at survival.
They approached another switchback, and the faint hiking trail they were following vanished into a turn screened by windblown trees.
When she stopped to adjust her boot, he touched her shoulder. “Wait here. I’m going to check ahead.” She nodded wearily.
He hadn’t made it more than fifteen feet when an ATV appeared around the turn.
Eleven
Mackenzie’s stomach dropped.The ATV advanced slowly as Gideon retreated until he’d rejoined her. The vehicle continued toward them. When it was only a few yards away, wheels churning up mud and small rocks, Gideon shoved Mackenzie behind him. “Run,” he told her. “I’ll try to slow him down.”
But the ATV shuddered to a stop and the door was flung open.
Her jaw dropped as Kevin climbed out. His face was sweat-streaked and there was a rip in the knee of his jeans.
He was wearing the waterproof jacket and hat he’d been in when they’d driven to the stables, but he was haggard, dark circles under his eyes, his lips trembling.
“I’ve been looking for you all night. Thank God you’re okay.” He pressed a hand to his heart. “Thought those guys got you at the stables.”
“We thought the same,” Gideon said. “And we figured you’d led us right into a trap.”
“I didn’t.”
“Really? What happened to you after we stole the truck?” Mackenzie asked.
“Soon as they took off after you, I beat it out of there right behind Cordelia and her trailer.”
Mackenzie studied him. Friend or foe? She hadn’t decided. “If you weren’t helping them, how’d they know we were coming?”
“I dunno. Cordelia maybe?”
“Is she loyal to Bullseye?”
He blinked. “Who’s that?”
She frowned. “The drug runner who owns everyone in this town, according to local legend.”
“Never heard that name before.”
He didn’t quite meet her eyes. “Well, what namehaveyou heard, Kevin?”
“What do you mean?”
