He turned into the lot, and though the fog had thickened into a cloudy soup, she spotted her car as they drove in.
“Would it be okay if we stopped to get something from my car? I have a bag in there with magazines and books that I usually take to Ella’s appointments. It’ll give me something to do tonight if I can’t sleep.”
“Where did you park?”
“Section C.” Memories of the race to catch Fowler earlier in the day brought her unease to the surface again, and as Reid maneuvered through the lot and parked, fear had her searching around. Did the horrible man hide in the shadows waiting to attack? If so, where?
“We need to make it quick.” Reid turned off the ignition, grabbed his phone, and opened his gun safe.
Thinking he was leaving his gun in the car and leaving them unprotected, panic threatened to climb out from where she’d buried it. He reached into the safe. With long fingers that had once held her hand, he pulled out another ammo clip, then shoved it into his jacket pocket. He checked the clip already seated in the gun, and then he glanced at the backseat, where Bandit snored softly.
“I’ll leave him here for now. You ready?” He smiled but it was forced.
She returned it with a wobbly one of her own and climbed out, Boo-Boo in her arms. The lot was well lit, but fog swirled at their feet and fear crept up over her. She searched the thick haze for Fowler, expecting him to pounce on her. Reid came around the vehicle. One hand was on his holster, the other held out in front.
“Stay close.”
She couldn’t miss the transformation in him, going from a man feeling the loss of his wife to a former FBI agent, sharp and serious. He didn’t have to tell her twice about staying close.
Together they crossed the aisle through the misty rain that seemed to encapsulate them. The slick pavement held unseen puddles, soaking her feet. She knew her car sat only a few feet away, but she couldn’t see the entire vehicle.
She inched closer to Reid and hated that she did so. She’d been independent and on her own for years now. Doing fine. But here she was on the day that was second in terror only to the day Fowler held her at gunpoint, letting Reid take care of her again.
So what? This was different. This was life-threatening. She dug into her purse for her key fob and unlocked the door.
Reid opened the door, flooding the interior with light. She leaned in to get her tote bag. Reid grabbed her arm and jerked her out of the car.
“What…” She couldn’t finish her statement. Not when ticking from under the hood broke through her brain fog.
“A bomb!” he said. “Run!”
He charged away from the car and dragged her after him. He ran at top speed. She tried to keep up, but her legs were shorter, and she stumbled. He jerked her upright and lifted her into his arms.
They reached a grassy island in the parking lot, and he dove for the ground, turning and cocooning her in his arms to take the brunt of the fall and protect her. He rolled and covered her body with his. Her muscles stiffened, and she waited.
A loud explosion pierced the air. She sent a shrieking scream into the darkness of the night.
Please. Please don’t let us die.
8
Reid covered Megan, his muscles tightening in wait for the debris to rain down on them. He took a deep breath—or tried to. His lungs refused to respond. His heart beat a rapid rhythm.
Nothing fell. Silence reigned save Bandit’s frantic barking from Reid’s SUV.
What was going on? Fragments should’ve pelted them by now. Sharp. Pummeling.
Time passed. Seconds really. Ticking slowly by like hours.
He lifted his head. Searched for fallout from the bomb. Nothing. Not even the tiniest scrap of metal. Safe to move? Likely.
He rolled off Megan, drew his gun, and came to a crouch. Weapon extended, he pivoted in a circle to perform a threat assessment. No one bearing down on them. No one in sight at all. He focused on Megan’s car. White smoke poured from under the hood, but the car remained intact.
A fake bomb or one that failed to detonate? Was it just another attempt to scare Megan?
He kept his focus on the area by her car. “You okay?”
“Yes.”
