Brink of Danger

by Christy Barritt

  Ryan slowed his SUV as he made his way toward an intersection. The command center would be set up on the outskirts of town.

  His heart was torn. He wanted nothing more than to fight this fire, to do his job. It was what got his adrenaline pumping, that made him remember his purpose.

  His phone dinged, and the message began playing on his SUV’s Bluetooth.

  “I thought you should know that Ansley is refusing to leave town,” an electronic voice said. “She’s going to get herself killed.”

  His muscles stiffened, and he glanced at the number.

  Who had sent that? He didn’t recognize the number.

  It didn’t matter, he supposed. The only thing that was important was that Ansley had decided to stay. She couldn’t do that. She’d be signing her own death certificate by doing so.

  His jaw tightened, and he glanced at the time. He’d told the rest of the crew he would be at the command center as soon as possible.

  But he could take five minutes to make sure Ansley had followed through with her promise. He knew people could cover him for that long.

  Feeling a stony resolve wash over him, he turned his SUV around and headed back to Ansley’s apartment. He would get her out of this town kicking and screaming if he had to.

  He pulled up to her apartment and threw the vehicle in Park. Moving quickly, he strode to her door. As he started to knock, he realized it wasn’t latched.

  More tension threaded up his spine. Strange.

  He pushed it open and called, “Hello?”

  There was no answer, though music played in the background.

  Cautiously, he stepped inside and called again, “Ansley? Are you there?”

  Again, nothing.

  Feeling a mix of trepidation and irritation he stepped farther into the space.

  He didn’t see anyone. Had Ansley left her radio on? It seemed unlike her.

  Just to put his mind at ease, he would check this place and then leave. If worse came to worst, he’d call Luke or Boone.

  Ryan followed the music. It was coming from Ansley’s bedroom. The door was closed.

  Cautiously, he knocked and then stepped inside. He halfway expected to see Ansley there, chilling out as the rest of the town panicked.

  Instead, it was empty.

  Just as he took a step back, he felt something come down hard over his head.

  Then everything went black.

  Ansley tried Ryan’s number again, but he didn’t pick up.

  Why wasn’t he answering? Was it because he was so busy at the command center? Ansley knew that was a possibility.

  But her gut told her it was something more serious.

  On a whim, she called Luke.

  He answered on the first ring. “What’s going on, Ansley?”

  His voice sounded all business. This was obviously a bad time as he tried to evacuate the town.

  “Luke, I know this is bad timing, but I need to talk to Ryan.”

  “Did you try calling him?”

  “He’s not answering. If you go to the command center, can you tell him I need to talk to him? It’s urgent.”

  “Ansley, I’m at the command center. He’s not here.”

  The blood drained from her face. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, we’re waiting for Ryan to show up. He’s not here.”

  “He left my apartment more than thirty minutes ago. He should be there by now.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you. But I can’t talk, Ansley. I’m sorry. If I see him, I’ll tell him you called.”

  Something was wrong. Ansley knew that beyond a doubt.

  She glanced at the road leading back to town. The lane headed toward Fog Lake was empty while the lane leading away contained bumper-to-bumper vehicles.

  Making a split-second decision, Ansley headed back toward Fog Lake. She wouldn’t get by the checkpoint at the entrance to town. But she’d lived here long enough to know there were other ways to get in.

  She had to warn Ryan.

  Otherwise, she might not ever see him again.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Ryan pulled his eyes open and moaned.

  What had happened?

  Everything flooded back to him. He’d come here to check on Ansley.

  No one had been in her apartment. Then he’d been knocked out.

  But by whom? He hadn’t seen anyone.

  He started to stand but realized he couldn’t.

  He jerked his arms. They were tied behind him, secured to one of the wooden posts in the center of Ansley’s apartment.

  He tugged again. His binds were tight. He wasn’t sure he could get them off.

  Smoke filled his lungs, and he coughed.

  The fire was getting closer.

  The smoke getting lower.

  If he stayed here, there was a good chance he wouldn’t survive. If the fire didn’t kill him, the smoke would.

  Ryan twisted his arms, his hands, trying to get them from between the ropes. They didn’t budge. He was going to need another plan.

  He glanced around. Was there anything close enough for him to grab and use as a tool to cut the ropes?

  He saw the coffee table and chair. A pair of flip-flops. Nothing else was in reaching distance.

  He just needed to think.

  Who had done this to him?

  Ryan still didn’t know. Thickie was still out there. So was Jonathan. Both of them remained suspects, though there wasn’t enough evidence to officially charge either of them.

  What about Murphy, his firefighter? The man was obviously interested in Ansley. Could he be behind this?

  Ryan didn’t know. He prayed it wasn’t too late to find out.

  Ansley pulled off on a side road before Fog Lake, parked her car at one of the vacation rentals there, and went the rest of the way on foot.

  Woods lined the area right before town. She was careful to remain behind the trees, so she wouldn’t be seen. If the wrong person spotted her—like one of her brothers—she’d be forced into a car and sent out of town.

  She knew her brothers well enough to know that.

  She paused at the edge of town and glanced at the street.

  She saw no one.

  Perfect.

  Moving swiftly, Ansley darted across the road and paused beside a building. In the distance, she could still see the line of cars leaving.

  She pulled her T-shirt over her mouth and coughed.

  The smoke was getting thicker. That meant the fire was getting closer.

  A surge of concern rushed through her. She still prayed that the fire stayed away. That a rain shower popped up or the winds shifted or . . . something.

  For now, she didn’t have any time to waste.

  Keeping an eye open for anyone who might notice her, she rushed across the sidewalk. She knew Ryan wasn’t at the command center. She could safely assume he wasn’t at the station either.

  So where should she check?

  She wasn’t totally sure, but she was going to keep an eye open for his vehicle. She could easily scan the city blocks for a sign of it.

  Despite her sore leg, she hurried from building to building. As she spotted a sheriff’s cruiser in the distance, she ducked behind the corner of the town bank. She waited for it to pass before continuing.

  Where could Ryan be? Had she read too much into this? Maybe he was okay.

  Her gut told her he wasn’t.

  Finally, she reached the side of town where her apartment was located.

  There in front of her place was an FLFD SUV.

  She sucked in a breath. Ryan was here? Had he come to check on her? And had something happened to him in the process?

  She didn’t have any time to waste. She needed to find out.

  Now.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  Ryan coughed again. He knew all too well about the effects of smoke. Soon, it would invade his lungs and make it impossible for him to breathe.

  He’d pass out.


  If the fire didn’t consume him, it wouldn’t matter. He’d be long gone.

  This was the perfect plan, though—if you were a killer. After this fire was over, rescuers would find his charred body here. No one would be able to tell that he’d been tied up. They’d just think he’d come back to check on Ansley and had been burned to death.

  Whoever was behind the crimes was clever. Too clever.

  Just then, he heard something at the front of the building and sucked in a breath.

  Had whoever done this returned to ensure their plan worked?

  He braced himself for a fight.

  Instead . . . Ansley appeared.

  Her eyes lit with worry when she spotted him. In three seconds flat, she was at his side, and his face was in her hands.

  “Oh, Ryan. What happened?”

  Before he could even respond, she began working to untie him.

  “I got a call that you stayed behind,” he said, his voice raspy. “I came here to check on you, and someone hit me over the head.”

  “Who called you?”

  “I have no idea. It was a text from an unknown number.”

  “They wanted to lure you back here,” she muttered, her hands still working the ropes. “I’m going to have to get a knife.”

  “Okay.” He coughed again.

  A moment later, she returned and began sawing through the thick, prickly rope.

  As happy and grateful as he was to see her, Ansley should be long gone by now. “Why are you here, Ansley? You should be out of this town.”

  “I tried to call you. I got this bad feeling that the attacks on you weren’t over. I tried to call, and you didn’t answer. I asked Luke to give you a message at the command center, and he said you weren’t there.”

  He could thank God for that turn of events. Otherwise, no one may have found him.

  Finally, he felt the tension at his wrists ease. The ropes had been broken.

  He pulled his arms forward and shook them out—just for a couple seconds. Then he stood and grabbed Ansley. “You’ve got to get out of here.”

  “I know. And you have to get to the command center.”

  “It’s too late for you to go anywhere else. You can come with me.”

  She didn’t argue.

  With a hand still firmly on her arm, they started toward the front door. But just as they reached it, Murphy Bennett stepped out.

  And the man had a strange look in his eyes.

  Ansley sucked in a deep breath and took a step back. “Murphy . . . what are you doing here?”

  “I was going to ask the same thing,” Ryan said. “I thought you were fighting the fire.”

  He pointed behind him. “Some of the embers from the fire are starting to catch a few buildings here in town on fire. We’ve moved the crew back here to help extinguish them. I saw your SUV here . . .”

  Ansley paused. Could she believe him? Or had the man come back to check on Ryan? To see if he was still tied up and ready for the barbecue of his life?

  Ansley’s gaze went to an old building across the street. Fire rained down from above, landing on the roof. Slowly, the flames spread.

  She closed her eyes.

  It was really happening. This town was on fire.

  Ryan reached for her hand and gripped it. “I need to get her somewhere safe.”

  “All our guys are headed back to town. But the fire is surrounding us. It’s already taken out a few homes on the outskirts of town. It’s moving quickly.”

  Ryan glanced up in the distance. “Is that a raincloud up there?”

  “It is. It looks like a front could be headed this way. If it rains, that will be great. But if the system just brings wind . . . it will be devastating.”

  Fear rushed through Ansley. They were trapped here, and the fire was coming this way. What were they going to do?

  If this killer didn’t get to them, the fire would.

  She stared at Murphy.

  Was he the one behind this?

  She had no idea. She didn’t want to think so.

  Then again, she didn’t want to think that anyone she knew could be.

  Had this person stuck around to watch the carnage of their actions?

  She had a feeling the answer was yes.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  “Let’s get that fire out,” Ryan ordered, nodding toward the building in front of them. “We don’t have any time to waste.”

  “Ryan—” Ansley started.

  “I want you to wait in the truck.”

  “But I can help. I can do something.”

  “I don’t want you out of my sight.” He turned toward her, feeling the intensity in his gaze. Every time he turned around, he almost lost her. And they hadn’t even been together that long.

  “But—”

  “Please, Ansley. I have to focus on the fire.”

  “But what about the person who did this to you?”

  “They’re probably long gone—trying to protect themselves, you know.”

  Ansley’s frown told him she didn’t quite believe that. Neither did he, truth be told.

  But there were only but so many situations he could handle at once.

  Murphy’s radio crackled, and they all listened. Whoever had knocked Ryan out had taken his gear.

  “Thickie was just rescued,” a voice said. “He was at his cabin, trying to pack up things.”

  Thickie? Was he still in town because he hadn’t had time to get out yet? Was that because of what he’d done to Ryan?

  There were too many questions here and not enough answers.

  As Murphy’s radio crackled again, they all waited as he responded.

  He looked up, his gaze on Ryan. “That was the captain. The truck is on its way. I’m going to direct them to this building.”

  Murphy stepped around the corner as sirens filled the air.

  Before Ryan could say anything else to Ansley, he spotted movement from the corner of his eye.

  He started to turn. But, before he could, he heard the click . . . of a gun.

  His fears were confirmed: Whoever was behind these incidents wasn’t done yet.

  Ansley twirled around, and her eyes widened when she saw the person standing there.

  “Kit? What are you doing here?” Ansley’s gaze drifted to Kit’s hands. “Why do you have a gun?”

  Kit shook her head, transforming into a different person. Gone was the mild-mannered, neat bookstore owner. In her place was someone with tousled hair. Crazy eyes. Rumpled clothing.

  “I’m sorry, Ansley.” Kit’s eyes widened so much she almost looked cartoonish. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

  “What way? What’s going on here?” Ansley had no idea what was happening, but she didn’t like it. She backed up a step until she ran into Ryan. His tense body clearly stated he was on edge also.

  Ryan nudged Ansley behind him. “Kit is responsible for all of this.”

  Ansley gasped. “What? No. What sense does that make?”

  Kit’s gaze softened. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way, Ansley. You promised me you’d leave.”

  “I had to make sure Ryan was okay,” Ansley said. “I thought you were gone.”

  “I’m trying to get rid of anyone who will hurt you. I’m trying to protect you.”

  Ansley shook her head, still confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “First, get inside. I don’t want anyone to see us out here.” Kit pointed to the door.

  Ansley didn’t move. “That building is going to catch on fire. We can’t go in there.”

  Kit’s face hardened again. “I said, get inside. I have things under control. Don’t you know I always look out for you?”

  Kit couldn’t possibly have this fire under control. But Ansley knew she couldn’t argue. Kit had a gun, and the look in her eyes said she wasn’t afraid to use it.

  Could she and Ryan take Kit out? Maybe. But it was risky.

  “It’s okay,” Ryan said softly.

 
Slowly, the three of them walked back into the building. With the gun still pointed at them, Kit followed behind, yelling for them to stop in the living room.

  Ryan and Ansley paused there, anxiously waiting to see what Kit had planned next.

  “Now I have to figure out how I’m going to handle this.” Kit shook her head as she glared at Ryan. “You messed up my plan.”

  “Kit . . .” Ansley said. “I don’t understand what’s going on here.”

  She twisted her head. “I thought you would understand by now, Ansley. You’re just like my little sister.”

  “Your little sister who died?” Ansley tried to put the pieces together, but she still couldn’t.

  “Exactly. As soon as I met you the first time, it was all I could think about. I knew I had a second chance to make things right.”

  Ansley’s arms trembled as the truth spread through her. “What happened to your sister, Kit? How did she die?”

  Kit licked her lips, waves of emotions lapping in her eyes. “People didn’t treat her well. Men were awful to her. They made promises they didn’t keep. She was beautiful, you know.”

  “I’ve seen pictures. She was pretty.”

  “Men treated her horribly. They called her terrible names. She always picked the bad ones. The ones with no respect.” Kit grimaced. “She didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

  “No one does.”

  “They drove her to do it.”

  “To do what?” Ryan asked.

  “To take her own life.”

  Ansley sucked in a breath, pieces clicking in place. “You think . . . you thought I was going to crack under the pressure?”

  “Your mom left your family. Your dad died. Men treat you like a piece of meat. You didn’t deserve any of that.”

  “But some of those people . . . they might have been jerks, but they didn’t hurt me.”

  “They could have. You’re more fragile than you know.”

  “But Kit . . .” Ansley wasn’t sure what to say.

  “You’re just like my sister.” Kit raised the gun again. “I couldn’t risk anyone taking you away. We’re going to be best friends, Ansley. Just like my sister and I. You’re my second chance.”