Shaking his head slowly, Terrance’s gaze wandered around the empty road in front of the boat shop. Denton stayed alert, preparing for anything to happen.
Terrance huffed. “I cannot believe you’d doubt your good friend. I suppose you have your mind set and nothing can change it.”
Denton wondered what game Terrance was trying to play with him now. “What I can’t believe is that mygood friendwould think I was a fool not to suspect you, considering this is what I do for a living.”
“You’re wrong, Denton.” Terrance turned and entered the shop quickly.
Denton had a strong feeling he knew what was coming next and hurried inside to finally bring this long-awaited showdown to an end.
FOURTEEN
COURTNEY IGNORED THEaches in her legs as she concentrated on watching Denton and Terrance. She and the sheriff hid behind two large trees, just as Denton had requested. But now she wished she had a gun – if only to have something in her hands to keep them occupied. Her nerves were already jumping, and once Denton and Terrance walked back into the building, she thought her quaking nerves would make her scream with frustration.
“Why did they go back inside?” she whispered to the sheriff.
“I don’t know, and I don’t like it.”
“What should we do?”
The sheriff swung his attention to her. “You should stay here. I will go inside.”
“But Denton told us to stay out here.”
“Yes, but because I’m his backup, and I can’t see him, I need to get closer.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
The sheriff threw her a glare. “No, you’re not. Going inside will only put you in the line of fire. You are staying here, Miss Mills, and I don’t want to hear any argument from you.”
Courtney gritted her teeth. She wouldn’t argue, but neither would she sit idle.
The sheriff crept away from the tree he’d been hiding behind, and made his way toward the building, holding a gun in his hand. When he reached the side of the building, he flattened himself up against the wall and scooted toward the closest window. It took him a few times to peek inside and then withdraw quickly before he switched directions and snuck around toward the back.
Once the sheriff was out of sight, Courtney searched the ground until she found a tree limb that was thick enough to hit someone with, but not too large that she couldn’t lift it. Using the tree limb as her weapon, she darted from one tree to another, trying to stay hidden as she moved closer to the building.
Suddenly, she saw a movement from the other side of the building. Her body froze as she pushed herself up against the tree for coverage. After a few seconds passed, she dared to take a peek. When she recognized Terrance hurrying away from the building as if the devil was on his heels, Courtney’s heart dropped. Denton was hurt, and she prayed that the sheriff would help him because she was going after Terrance.
