Brink of Danger

by Christy Barritt

  Ansley had stood. “If you define troublemaker as someone who calls it like they see it, then yes I am. But I’d watch out if I were you.”

  Ansley hadn’t seen Jonathan’s possible new hire since then. If the woman had been smart, she would have left town and forgotten about the job.

  It wasn’t that he was a bad guy. But he didn’t always treat people well.

  Still, that didn’t make him a killer. But did it give him motive?

  She shifted, placing a stack of folders on the floor. She resisted a sneeze as dust flew up.

  This filing was going to take longer than she anticipated. Not only was there a lot of work to do, but her wrist still wasn’t what it should be. The injury made everything take longer than necessary.

  Ansley often told herself she should grow up and find a more serious job. She was discovering that office work wasn’t for her. She missed the thrill of talking to visitors in the area, of adrenaline rushes, of watching people as they discovered the joy of outdoor adventures.

  You should already have all of this figured out.

  Then again, who said that in order to grow up you had to have a serious job? Plenty of people made a living around here with their outdoor activities. At least, for a period in their lives, they did.

  She glanced at her watch and stood. It was past five o’clock now. Her body ached, and since she was just doing this as a volunteer—and to keep her mind occupied—she would wrap up for the evening.

  Besides, there was something she desperately wanted to do. The problem was she couldn’t drive.

  Which meant, if she wanted to do it, she needed to find someone who might want to go with her.

  She walked down the hallway, following the voices there. She paused at the end and spotted Ryan talking with some of his guys in the garage and equipment bay. He was the picture of a leader—personable yet with boundaries. Confident yet humble. Guarded yet someone you could depend on.

  Ryan’s gaze met hers, and he dismissed the guys he was speaking with. He met Ansley at the door.

  “All finished?” he asked, nodding down the hallway to where she’d been working.

  She nodded. “I am for today. I think I’m going to head out.”

  “You want a ride? I’m about to leave.”

  “Actually, I had another idea . . . if you’re interested.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “What do you have in mind?”

  Ryan gripped his steering wheel and glanced at Ansley, who sat beside him in his truck as they headed along the road that bordered the gorge. Across the expanse and down the river lay the town of Fog Lake. This area, however, was comprised of steep, narrow roads and old cabins powered on propane mostly.

  Steep cliffs lined one side of the road with the mountainside on the other. The area was also prone to falling rocks. Once an entire section of the road had collapsed after a particularly heavy rainfall. Either way, it wasn’t the kind of road you wanted to be on at night or in bad weather.

  The drive was beautiful—and not for anyone prone to distraction.

  As Ansley signaled him, Ryan waited to find a rocky pull-off and stopped on the side of the road. They climbed out, the air still around them. Being here made him feel like there was no one else around for miles—possibly because there wasn’t.

  He followed Ansley to the edge of the gorge, curious about what she would do next.

  “What do you think we’ll see here?” Ryan asked.

  Ansley shrugged, pausing for only a moment to look over the deep canyon below. “I have no idea. Maybe nothing.”

  He gave her another moment. Then, with a nod, she started down into an outcropping of rocks on the mountainside.

  The woman was fearless sometimes—a fact that caused both admiration and terror to swell in him.

  At once, he knew where Ansley was going. He just wasn’t sure of her reasoning. The good news was that she hadn’t attempted to come here alone.

  “You coming?” she called over her shoulder.

  Ryan picked up his pace. “Of course.”

  Carefully, they climbed down the rocky surface, holding onto trees and anything else they could find in order to not lose their balance. About twelve feet down the incline, they reached a wooden platform.

  The platform where Ansley should have landed after testing out the zipline Monday.

  Ansley pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked the metal gate in the fence that surrounded it. Leaving an area like this open and unsecured would be too much of a liability. Certainly, regulations required safety measures here.

  They both slipped through the gate and paused. Ryan sucked in a breath as he glanced down. He wasn’t afraid of heights, but the sheer drop was enough to shake up anyone.

  The pole where the zipline cable from across the gorge had once been connected stood at the center of the space. The broken zipline was now gone, no doubt being investigated. Another cable leading to another platform, parallel to the gorge, remained.

  This certainly would be an adrenaline rush—if it was ever cleared to open again.

  “I wonder what will happen to this place now that Dustin is dead,” Ryan said.

  Ansley tugged on the cable. “Good question. It would be a shame to see it go to waste.”

  “You want to see it open again? Even after what happened to you?”

  “Of course. That was malicious. This place is meant to be fun. Exhilarating.”

  Ryan glanced down and sucked in a breath. It must have been terrifying to fall from this height. Ryan was reminded again what a miracle it was that Ansley had not only survived, but that she was relatively unscathed.

  What had it taken for someone to venture out on this cable and cut the metal just enough that it wouldn’t break until later? That person almost had to be just plain crazy. Ryan certainly couldn’t imagine it.

  His gaze went back to Ansley.

  She didn’t even flinch as she stood at the edge now. As she stared across the expanse, Ryan had to wonder what she was thinking. The woman had been through so much.

  Unfortunately, he didn’t think the hits were going to stop coming. Not yet.

  But he did have to wonder how much more Ansley could endure.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Ryan gave Ansley a minute of quiet as she stared out over the gorge. He wasn’t sure if she was reflecting on what had happened, if she was pondering the deep questions of life, or what. But he gave her space.

  The sun was setting in the distance, casting orange light over them. Several dark, puffy clouds caught the light, which illuminated their edges, making a dramatic backdrop to the scene.

  The lighting made Ansley look more alluring, more mysterious. Pinkish-orange light made her skin glow. The last beams of the sun caught her hair, making it shine. The hues cast light on her profile, reminding him what a strong woman she was.

  Ryan knew it would be getting dark soon, and it wouldn’t be safe for them to be out here. Ansley had known when they came that they didn’t have much time. He tried to give her as much as he could.

  As the sun sank lower and lower, Ryan finally cleared his throat.

  “Ansley?”

  She glanced back, a frown on her face. “I guess I’m not sure what I was hoping to discover here.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder, sensing that she could use a human touch right now. “I understand.”

  “I guess I just thought . . . whoever did this—possibly Jonathan—was spotted here. What if he left something behind?”

  “I’m sure Luke and his guys have been over here.”

  “I’m sure they have also. I think . . . I just wanted to see for myself, you know?”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  She shifted her weight, and Ryan could tell her leg was bothering her. The climb down here hadn’t been for amateurs. He followed her through the gate then paused while she locked it before staring back at the gorge one last time.

  Ryan extended his hand, knowing the later they stayed, the more h
azardous the hike back up would be. “Come on. We need to get back.”

  Ansley gazed at him a minute, and Ryan was certain she was going to reject him. To his surprise, she reached out and their fingers connected.

  Her hand felt good in his. Ryan couldn’t deny it. He held on tight as he helped Ansley back up the rocks, through the trees, until they finally reached the road.

  Once Ansley was safely on solid ground, Ryan released her hand. But he instantly missed it.

  What would it be like to be able to reach for her hand whenever he wanted? To share moments like this all the time?

  He didn’t know. But he liked the idea—a little too much.

  Silently, they walked back to his SUV and climbed inside.

  It was twilight now, and the sky was mostly gray with only a hint of the earlier orange. Soon, it would be black.

  Carefully, he turned his SUV around so they could head back.

  The trip here had been mostly uphill, and the trip back would require a different kind of skill. They’d be going downhill, and he’d have to ride his brakes on the steep declines.

  Ansley sat in the SUV beside him, her arms crossed, staring out the window. She seemed to be lost in thought. Was she replaying what had happened? Still trying to find answers?

  He couldn’t blame her.

  Ryan wanted to reach out to her again, but he didn’t. Instead, he navigated the roads, trying to concentrate on getting her back home safely.

  He’d already lost two good men. He wouldn’t lose anyone else. Not if he had any choice in it.

  As Ryan came to a bend in the road, he tapped his brakes.

  Nothing happened.

  He hit them again.

  Still nothing.

  Ryan sucked in a breath as he realized the truth. His brakes were out.

  He had to slow down. Now.

  Their lives depended on it.

  “Ryan, what’s going on?” Ansley gripped the armrest.

  She’d heard him hit the brakes, but they didn’t slow at all. Tension stretched across the cab of the SUV. Something was wrong.

  “I can’t slow down.”

  “That’s a problem.”

  “Tell me about it.” His foot pumped the brakes again.

  Ansley stared straight ahead at the next curve in the road. It was sharp. On one side was a huge drop, and on the other side a rock wall.

  Veer too hard one way, and they’d crash into the mountain. The other way, they’d careen to their death off the side of the cliff.

  Neither option was optimal—not by a longshot.

  Ryan is a firefighter, Ansley told herself. He’ll figure this out.

  If there was something to figure out. There weren’t really that many options. The realization made her feel shaky all over.

  Dear Lord . . .

  She closed her eyes, hardly able to look.

  Had she escaped death once, only to have it come back and haunt her? That’s how it seemed.

  As the SUV turned sharply, Ansley’s shoulder flew into the door.

  They were gaining speed instead of losing it.

  Even if they got around the curve, Ansley knew there were more curves coming up on the winding road.

  “Hold on!” Ryan yelled.

  She gripped the seat harder.

  The SUV curved with the road, dangerously close to the guardrail.

  Ansley closed her eyes. Was she imagining things or did the SUV rise up on two wheels?

  She was imagining things. That had to be it.

  When she opened her eyes again, they’d cleared the turn.

  Thank God.

  As she saw the next bend in front of them, her stomach knotted with tension. This was far from over.

  There was no way they could sustain this speed for much longer. It wasn’t safe. This was practically a death mission.

  Why had his brakes gone out?

  Ansley would have to ask about that later—if they survived this.

  Ryan jerked on the wheel again. The SUV scraped along the guardrail. The terrible, high-pitched sound caused Ansley’s skin to crawl.

  But they slowed—just a little.

  Before Ansley realized what was happening, Ryan gave the steering wheel a hard pull to the left. The SUV skidded across the road.

  Skidded.

  Skidded.

  Close to the edge. Toward the trees.

  The wheels hit gravel.

  Gravel?

  Ansley looked up. A service road stretched in front of them.

  Before she had time to fully comprehend everything, the SUV slammed into something.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Ansley jerked her eyes open, halfway expecting to be dangling near death.

  Instead, the truck’s headlights illuminated a tree in front of them. The entire front of the vehicle was crumpled like an accordion. Smoke filled the interior. Air bags inflated, then deflated, leaving a chalky white powder floating around them.

  Ansley coughed and swatted in front of her face.

  She swung her head toward Ryan. He blanched but pushed himself back. A knot had already formed on his forehead. But otherwise he appeared okay.

  She was alive. Ryan was still alive. That was all that mattered.

  “Ryan?” Ansley needed to hear it for herself that he wasn’t hurt.

  “I’m okay.” He turned toward her, his gaze studying her as concern glistened in his eyes. “You?”

  She nodded. “Quick thinking.”

  “We’re not out of the woods yet. Come on. We need to get out of this rig.” He pushed his door open.

  Ansley didn’t argue. She unbuckled her seatbelt and scrambled, trying to get her door open. The crash must have crushed the metal together. It wouldn’t budge.

  Ryan reached in through his door. “Can you scoot across the seat?”

  She would find a way to make it happen, one way or another. Before she could reach the door, Ryan’s arm scooped beneath her. Carefully, he lifted her out and carried her away from the SUV. Up the narrow gravel road that sliced through the trees.

  Just as he set her down, a rumble sounded. A ball of fire puffed in the air right above the SUV.

  Ansley drew in a deep breath.

  That could have been them. They could have so easily died.

  She continued watching, holding her breath and waiting to see if the tree would catch fire. She released the air from her lungs when she realized the branches had been too high, that the leaves had been just out of reach from the flames.

  Thank God.

  When Ansley looked back at Ryan, she realized he was still holding onto her. A steely expression gripped his face as he stared at the scene.

  “How did that happen?” Ansley’s words nearly sounded monotone with shock. She thought she already knew the answer . . . or maybe she was being paranoid.

  Ryan shook his head. “It shouldn’t have happened. That was a new vehicle.”

  “So you think . . .”

  Ryan’s gaze narrowed as he pulled his phone from his pocket. “I think someone tampered with my brake lines. It’s the only thing that makes sense. And it was someone who knew what they were doing because cutting brake lines isn’t something that’s as easy as TV makes it look.”

  His words didn’t surprise Ansley—but they didn’t comfort her either. Someone was going through a lot of trouble to send a message. “But why . . .”

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” Ryan held his phone in the air, frowning as he looked at the screen. “There’s no signal out here.”

  These mountains were notorious for that.

  “Maybe if we walk down the road . . . ?” Ansley suggested.

  “It’s too dark on the road. It’s not safe. You could stay here, though, while I go get help.”

  The thought of being alone here terrified her—but the thought of Ryan walking to find help also caused anxiety to surge in her. She couldn’t put him at risk like that.

  “But—”

  “I’ll be f
ine,” he told her.

  “The way things are going, you may not be.” Her words hung in the air.

  After a moment, Ryan nodded. “I’ll just walk to the edge and see if I can get a signal, okay? Nothing too dangerous.”

  Ansley nodded and watched as he walked away.

  As soon as Ryan disappeared out of sight, Ansley suddenly felt colder. More alone.

  The woods had never bothered Ansley before. Nor had the mountains.

  But her adrenaline had risen and now crashed. Uncontrollable shivers overtook her.

  Ryan returned a moment later with a frown on his face as he slid his phone into his pocket. “No luck. There’s no signal.”

  Despair tried to bite deep. But Ansley knew she couldn’t let it. Not if she wanted to survive out here.

  Ryan felt the tension across his back, his shoulders.

  No way was this an accident. Someone had wanted him to go off that mountain.

  Just like they’d wanted someone to die on that zipline. Like they’d wanted Thickie to get hurt when his deck collapsed.

  Someone was playing a deadly game, and the stakes rose by the moment.

  Ansley might be the focus, but it was the people around her who were in danger, it seemed. No one could have known Ansley would be here.

  Ryan had been the target. There was no doubt in his mind about that.

  Now they just needed to figure out who was behind this.

  “What do we do?” Ansley’s wide, almost vulnerable gaze met his. “Should we walk until we find a signal?”

  Ryan looked her over, realizing that vulnerability wasn’t easy to come by. Ansley was very careful how she presented herself to other people. He felt honored that she was being real with him.

  “I’m not sure you’re in any state to walk down that road,” he finally said.

  “I can if I have no other choice.” She raised her chin, an edge of determination creeping in.

  “I think we should stay put for now,” Ryan said, his voice leaving no room for question. “Someone will realize we’re missing and come look for us.”

  “But we could walk—”

  He squeezed Ansley’s arm, desperate to get through to her. She had to know the facts here, had to know how dangerous that was. “You and I both know how narrow that road is. It’s not safe. It’s too dark.”