by Sharon Dunn
Once through the tunnel, Alex stepped out on the main concourse where the food vendors were. When he entered the concession area, the crowds had thinned substantially. He searched but found no sign of Morgan.
He stepped into a quiet area away from the noise, rested the food on a ledge and pulled out his cell phone to call her. As he listened to the phone ring three times, a hand grabbed him from behind. He’d been too focused on the phone call to register the hurried footsteps behind him.
FIFTEEN
Morgan scanned the concourse where the vendors were, hoping to see one of the security people she’d noticed earlier or a pay phone. The man in the baseball hat had disappeared, but there was still a chance he was in the stadium. The noise of the game, crowd and announcer floated in. A player had scored a home run.
With the game under way, most people were in their seats. A crowd of teenagers dispersed and she saw Beige Cap. His murderous eyes bored into her. Her heart pounded out a raging rhythm as he stepped in her direction. She turned the other way, increasing her pace. She needed to stay in this area, with customers and merchants, and not let herself get isolated. She looked over her shoulder; he was within twenty feet.
She slammed into a wall of muscle and the stench of cigars surrounded her. Cold metal pressed into her stomach. She looked up into Josef Flores’s cold dark eyes.
Her breath stopped in her throat. When she looked back at Beige Cap, he offered them a salute and disappeared into a tunnel.
“Now, my dear, it seems we have some unfinished business.” Josef’s voice was as cold as ice.
Morgan felt as though she was shaking from the inside. The memory of Josef’s attempts on her life in Mexico only intensified her fear. “You wouldn’t. All these people.”
He poked the gun harder against her stomach. He stood so close to her that no one could see the gun. He chuckled. “People have accidents in crowds all the time.” He poked her again. “Now if you would please make your way up to the deck.” He tilted his head, indicating the tunnel she needed to take.
Morgan’s voice trembled when she spoke. “So you have been trying to kill me and make it look like an accident.”
“I have to hand it to you. After all the failures—fire, snake, car accident—we were hopeful that something truly tragic would happen to you on that trail ride, but my man couldn’t get close enough without witnesses.” Josef squeezed Morgan’s upper arm while still pressing the gun barrel into her back with the other hand.
There had been someone in the camp that night.
He said, “I have to tell you, between your cowboy boss and Marshal Trier, we had a hard time getting to you at all.”
Fear surrounded her. Josef wouldn’t be telling her this unless he intended to kill her soon. “We thought we could bide our time and wait for the right opportunity. As long as it looked like an accident there was not a huge hurry, but now it turns out you’re going to leave again.”
How could they have found that out? She had only told Brendan of her decision this morning.
As Josef prodded her to go up the stairs that led to the viewing platform, she glanced side to side. There had to be some way to escape.
“And if you’re thinking of calling out for help, we have your friend,” Josef said. “All it would take is a phone call from me, and he’d be gone. He’s so protective of you. We had to make sure he was out of the way.”
All the air left her lungs. She struggled to not shut down, to remain alert. She could hear the thundering footsteps and enthusiastic cheering of the crowd on the deck.
She stopped for a moment, looking up.
“A crowded balcony. Tons of drunken fans in a confined space.” Josef drew out his words as though each one held a punch. “People fall all the time. Total accident.”
He pushed her up the remaining steps. They merged with the crowd of fans. Squeezed in on every side, people jostled her around. The balcony was maybe ten feet wide. One side looked out on the game and the other on the parking lot below, which had to be a seventy-foot drop onto concrete, a fall no one could survive.
Morgan couldn’t stop shaking as she struggled to take a deep breath. A loud cheer rose from the crowd. Most everyone was focused on the game. She leaned over to look at the field and the seats below. She could see the section where she and Alex had sat, their two empty chairs. Josef wasn’t lying about Alex. She refused to give in to despair. There had to be a way out.
Josef pushed her toward the other side of the railing. She peered over the edge at the hard concrete below. The fans’ focus on the game dissipated; nothing exciting was happening on the field. More people drifted closer to her as they sought out more personal space and leaned against the railing. Josef’s grip on her upper arm cut through to the nerves. He was waiting for another big play on the field, and then he would throw her over. Even though she was surrounded by people, no one would witness the fall because they would be watching the game.
Then he would just slip into the crowd while everyone stood aghast at the woman who had fallen to her death. The announcer said the next player was up to bat. Her heart seized. The crowd roared and applauded. The first pitch was a strike. The crowd grew louder and more hostile. The second pitch connected with the bat as the fans scrunched close to the opposite railing. Everyone’s eyes were on the game as the player ran the bases.
Josef backed her up to the railing and prepared to land a blow to her shoulder. She tried to angle away from him, hoping someone would see what was going on. All she saw was the backs of people’s heads; no one was even looking this way.
If she struggled too much, or screamed, he might shoot her and then push her over. And then what would happen to Alex? He would die, too. All because of her.
“Hey, aren’t you Maryanne from Peoria?” A very drunk man squeezed in between Josef and Morgan. The man put his face close to hers. His words came out beer scented. “Don’t you remember?” He placed a hand on his chest. “Richard, high-school marching band, trombone.”
She peered over Richard’s shoulder. Josef had been pushed several people away from her. The big play was over and the game had become uneventful again. “I think you must be mistaken.” She took advantage of the separation and pushed through the crowd as fast as she could.
She squeezed between two large men. At one point, she felt a tug on her shirt hem, but she persevered, pushing through the crowd. Even though he had a gun, Josef wouldn’t try anything that would peg him as guilty. Finally, she arrived at the stairwell and hurried down. He couldn’t be far behind her. Once she was downstairs, she slipped behind a janitorial cleaning cart. The minutes ticked by and she waited for her heart rate to return to normal.
When she peered above the cart, she thought she saw a man who looked like Josef go by. A realization sank in that sent shivers over her skin. Josef had revealed himself to her and all but confessed. His determination to make sure she didn’t get out of the stadium alive now would be stronger than ever.
She moved out from behind the cart. As afraid as she was, she had to find Alex and help him.
She knew the clock was ticking. Alex didn’t deserve to die, especially not because of her.
She ran out onto the main concourse toward the concession area; wave after wave of panic forced her feet to move faster. She ran toward the T-shirt vendor, who had no customers. She still had options, and she wasn’t going down without a fight.
Glancing side to side, she nearly slammed against the counter. “Please, can I borrow your phone?”
A stunned look crossed the clerk’s face. “Are you okay?”
“It’s an emergency. I need to borrow your phone.” Her voice was jittery, filled with fear.
“Do you want me to get security?”
Morgan thought for a moment. “Tell them that there are two men in this stadium who have committed a cr
ime.”
The girl pulled her cell phone from her purse and pressed in a phone number. She glanced nervously at Morgan several times. Someone came on the line. “Hey Max, there’s a woman here who says she spotted two men who have committed a crime.” She listened for a moment, nodded and then hung up. She looked at Morgan. “He’ll come and talk to you.”
“No, that’s not going to work. We don’t have that kind of time. They can’t let these guys leave the stands.” She thought for a moment. “Please let me have your phone.”
If she couldn’t make sure Josef and his thug were caught, she needed to get out of here. The woman’s hand moved in slow motion. Morgan took the phone and stepped away from the vendor booth. She couldn’t have the clerk overhearing the conversation.
“Hey, where are you taking my phone?” The girl skirted around the counter and grabbed the phone back.
“I wasn’t going to steal it. I just need to make a private call.”
The suspicious look on the clerk’s face remained, but she backed away. Morgan dialed the number of her contact in Des Moines. Brendan picked up on the first ring.
“I’m in a life-threatening situation. I’ve been found. I need to be brought in.”
“Where are you?”
“Principal Park,” she said.
“I can be there in twenty minutes. I’ll be in a blue SUV.” Brendan sounded as though he was walking as he spoke on the phone. A sense of urgency colored his words.
“I’ll look for you, but I can’t be out in the open.” She glanced side to side, aware that she couldn’t stay out here much longer, either. “I need to get out of this stadium.”
“There’s an employee parking lot to the east of the entrance. There will be people there, and it won’t be the first place these guys would look for you.”
Her heart raced at the prospect of having to wait while Josef and the other man were still looking for her. “Got it.”
Morgan slapped the phone down on the counter.
“Aren’t you going to stay put until security gets here?” The clerk held the phone protectively to her chest.
She couldn’t wait around like a sitting duck. She needed to keep moving. “One of the men has a white suit and is Mexican, and the other has a round face and wears a beige baseball cap.” She doubted they would be caught, but she had to try.
She took several steps back. She needed to get out of here, but first, as afraid as she was of Josef catching her, she had to find Alex. Once Brendan picked her up, she’d never see him again. She needed to leave knowing he was safe.
Her worry over what might have happened to Alex increased. It could be that he had only gone looking for her, but the threats Josef had made pierced through her all over again. She walked faster.
A roar came up from the stadium and then quieted. A dozen or so spectators trailed into the concession area. Morgan fought off the panic that invaded her muscles and fogged her thinking. The last time she’d seen Alex he was going to get hot dogs for them. She ran over to the hot dog vendor.
The clerk was a college-age girl. “What can I get for you?”
She glanced around, fearing that Josef or Beige Cap would appear. “There was a man here maybe a half an hour ago. Western-cut blue shirt. Dark curly hair.”
“I remember him. Good-looking guy. The reason why I remember him is I saw him walk by about five minutes after he bought his food, still holding it. Weird.”
“Which way did he go?”
She pointed toward the far end of the concourse. “By the janitor’s closet.”
Morgan hurried in that direction. Beige Cap came around the corner. Heart racing, she slipped into an alcove and waited as he stalked past her, his face distorted with rage.
She found the janitor’s closet. Two hot dogs and drinks were strewn across the concrete. She tried the doorknob. It was locked. She banged on the door. “Alex.” Her voice cracked, giving away the level of urgency she felt. “Alex, are you in there?”
She didn’t hear anything. She banged again.
Oh God, let me be in time.
“What are you doing? That area is for employees only.” A man pushing a garbage can on wheels glared at her.
“Please, you have to let me in here. There’s a man in there. He’s in danger.” The man’s tight expression suggested that he didn’t believe her. “Please, you must have a key. Open it for me. What can it hurt?”
His look softened, and he took a step toward her. “I’ve seen some crazy things in my life.” He pulled out his keys and shoved one in the lock.
Morgan dashed into the long narrow room. Alex wasn’t here. She stared at the wall of cleaning supplies. What had happened to him? Had Josef lied so she wouldn’t raise a ruckus when he dragged her up to the deck?
The janitor stood behind her. “Ma’am?”
Her mind raced as her stomach clenched. Realization rose to the surface of her awareness. Josef would not have come out in the open like that unless he intended to kill her. She was cut off from the people who could help her. She wasn’t going to get out of this stadium alive. “I’m sorry. I’ve made a mistake.” She hurried back out toward the main concourse.
She glanced around at the fans and the vendors. What could she do? If Josef had been lying to keep her in the stadium, was it possible Alex was okay? She ran toward the tunnel that led to where they’d been sitting. She had to know that he was safe.
A voice sounded behind her. “Morgan.”
She turned. Alex ran toward her. Overjoyed, she fell into his arms. “I was so afraid.” She looked into his face. He had a cut above his eyebrow.
“Some guy tried to push me into a janitor’s closet. He didn’t see my left hook coming, but then he ran away. I need to go down to the police station and file a report.”
She touched his face, unable to contain the elation she felt at his being unharmed. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Her joy turned to terror. Next time, Alex might not get away. “You make sure you go to the police, Alex. Give them the description of the man who did this to you.” She turned and started walking.
He grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”
She pulled away from him. She might die here today but she wasn’t taking Alex down with her. Josef’s threat was very real. “I have to go. Stay away from me.”
He pointed to the cut on his forehead. “This is connected to you, isn’t it? Who was that guy?”
“Please just stay away from me,” she pleaded. She ran toward the entrance. When she looked over her shoulder, Alex had been slowed down by a crowd of people. She exited the stadium and stared at the streets around her and people passing by. No sign of Josef, but that didn’t mean she was in the clear.
She started walking, scanning the parking lot for her contact’s car or the police. Twenty minutes hadn’t passed since she’d made the call. She moved from one cluster of people to another while she watched the street.
Within minutes the blue SUV pulled up to the curb, and Brendan got out. His gaze darted from side to side. Morgan breathed a sigh of relief and made her way toward him across the concrete expanse. She walked fast, trying not to draw attention to herself.
Recognition spread across his face when he saw her. In a little while, this would all be over. They’d take her to a safe house. She’d start a new life somewhere...without Alex.
Brendan stepped toward her. Then she heard a high-pitched popping sound and Brendan crumpled to the ground.
SIXTEEN
Morgan felt as though she’d hit an invisible wall. Brendan lay on the ground, not moving. She looked up and all around the lot, not sure where the shot had come from. She could not even process what had just happened. Her first impulse was to run to see if Brendan was still alive.
Before she took a step, Morgan felt a man’s arm w
rap around her neck. He yanked her back.
“Stay away from her.” Alex’s voice was strong and steady. He landed a blow to the man’s jaw that knocked him flat. This was not Beige Cap. It was a different man. His suit jacket flopped open and she saw the gun.
A car screeched into the lot. Josef was behind the wheel.
Alex grabbed her hand. “Come on, let’s go.”
She glanced over her shoulder as the man got to his feet. Two people had rushed over to where Brendan lay. Alex dragged her past the stadium toward the spectator parking lot as the thug pushed himself to his feet and chased after them. They ducked behind the cars, weaving their way toward Alex’s car.
He jerked the car door open. He looked at her, fire in his eyes. “We need to go down to the police station.”
She looked over her shoulder. The thug’s head bobbed above the cars about five rows away. Their pursuer was closing in. The only other people in the huge parking lot were far away.
“No, please!” She pushed Alex away.
“I’m not leaving you here with that guy coming after you. What kind of man do you think I am?”
She could feel her determination shrinking. She was tired, tired of running, tired of looking over her shoulder. Tired of living in a constant state of fear. What did it matter if they got her? But they could not hurt Alex. “Please, I’m poison to you. Just stay away from me.”
The man was within a hundred yards, and he was headed straight for them. The thug reached his hand into his belt to get his gun. Alex yanked open the driver’s door and pushed her in as a shot was fired. She screamed and ducked down. Through the windshield she could see the man running toward them.
Alex pressed on the gas and backed out, spraying pebbles as he zoomed toward the street. She looked out the back window. Her pursuer had stopped running and was talking on his cell phone, probably getting Josef to pick him up.
Alex zigzagged through traffic. An ambulance sped past them headed to the stadium, probably to give aide to Brendan. She was grateful someone had been there to help him.
