“Someone tried running us off the road and shot at us,” he said, pointing to the new SUV.
The officer took out his notepad. “May I see your driver’s licenses?”
Owen dug into his wallet, pulled out the card, and handed it to them.
The other police officer collected the others. When he stopped in front of Leslie, he waited for her to hand hers over.
“I’m sorry. I got excited about my new vehicle and didn’t grab my purse. It’s at the top of the mountain and can get it,” she explained.
“Stay here,” the officer directed, walking back to his car.
Owen rubbed her back as she trembled from the adrenaline running through her.
The officer handed their license back to them. “What business do you have here?”
“We’re visiting friends,” Gunny replied. “Last time I checked, it’s not against the law.”
Glancing at Owen, the officer asked, “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
Owen gave the officer a play-by-play account.
His partner approached Leslie and handed her aticket. “You must have your license on you at all times while operating a vehicle.”
“What?” she exclaimed. “We called you because someone repeatedly rammed into my car on a mountain, I might add. And you’re doing your due diligence by serving me with a ticket?”
“Calm down, ma’am, or we’ll be forced to take you in,” he warned.
“Leslie,” Owen whispered, letting her know to stay quiet.
“Do you have any idea who might do something like this?” the officer asked.
“Isn’t it your job to find out,” she said.
His partner wrote the report number down on one of his cards and handed it to Leslie. “For the insurance,” he directed. “Take it slow around these parts. You never know when someone will get hurt.”
Astonished, she watched them climb into their squad car and drive away. “Can you believe this?” she asked.
Placing an arm around her, Owen led her to the bullet-ridden vehicle and helped her inside. She trembled in violent shudders as the adrenaline dropped.
“My new car,” she cried. “It’s the first new thing I’ve owned in forever.”
“I’m sure the insurance will replace it,” he assured her as he drove them the rest of the way home.
Shaking in fear and watching her future flashbefore her eyes, Leslie pondered over Jeremiah’s last days. Something spooked him, and he tried to warn her in his own way. She felt sure he left her a clue.
“Do you feel all right?” Owen asked. “I asked Dillon to contact Charlotte. I want her to make sure you didn’t hurt your neck or anything.”
“I’m fine,” she said, her voice shaking. “I’m only freaking out. Someone tried to kill us.”
They pulled into the driveway,and he helped her out of the car. As soon as they entered the house, Wyatt pressed a whiskey glass into her hands. “This will help.”
Tilting the glass back, she swallowed the entire drink, letting the burn and glow calm her nerves. The adults sat at the kitchen table.
“I gave Elias the plate number,” Gunny said. “Do you want me to call my friend? We can have more people here within the hour.”
“No. I don’t want to draw more attention. For some reason, they seem focused on Leslie. I’m beginning to wonder if the barn fire might’ve acted as a distraction,” Owen said, thinking out loud.
“You might be right,” Gunny agreed. “The faster we get the security system up, the better.”
