by Karen Kirst
Audrey gripped the seat in front of them. “Is there anywhere we can pull over for a few minutes?”
Craddock’s washed-out eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. “We’ll be at the station shortly. There are vending machines. I’m sure a cold soda would help calm his stomach.”
She didn’t recognize the passing scenery of night-draped woods and the occasional house, but she hadn’t been paying attention.
Julian groaned again. “You’re going to have to reclean your car if you don’t pull over soon.”
When the officer didn’t respond, Audrey spoke up. “I’m a registered nurse, and I recognize the signs of distress. Please, there’s hardly any traffic on this road. Can’t we find a spot to get out for a minute?”
With a frustrated grunt, he slowed the vehicle and pulled onto the shoulder. “You’ve got five minutes.”
The officer got out. The headlight beams became distorted as he walked past the hood.
“What’s his problem?” she wondered aloud.
“Audrey—”
Craddock opened Julian’s door and switched on his powerful flashlight. “Watch your step.”
Julian climbed out and shuffled a short distance away. Audrey exited after him. Worry distracted her as she ran through a mental list of ailments.
She started to join him.
“Don’t come close,” he ordered gruffly. Turning away, he crouched over a shallow ditch.
She remained behind the open door. “I’d like to help.”
He dismissed her with a wave. “Can you not shine that thing on me, Officer? A little privacy would be nice.”
After a long moment, Craddock complied, pointing the light onto his feet. “Nothing to be embarrassed about. I see this type of thing a lot.”
“Do you see this?”
Julian sprung up from his crouched position and used the forward motion of his body to knock Craddock into the side of the car. Audrey screamed and jumped out of the way.
“Julian?”
“Run, Audrey!”
The officer retaliated and dragged Julian to the ground. The pair rolled into the cone of light supplied by the dropped flashlight. Craddock landed a hard blow to Julian’s face. Unfazed, he used his legs to maneuver himself into the superior position. He went for Craddock’s weapon. Again, the officer’s balled fist connected with Julian. His temple area, this time.
Audrey slapped her hand over her mouth as Julian hung his head and blinked several times, then slowly crawled out of reach. She had no clue why he’d attacked the officer, but she trusted him one-hundred-percent.
When Craddock pulled his gun and aimed it at Julian’s back, everything inside her rose up in protest. She sprinted toward him. He swiveled. Time slowed. In the darkness, his eyes gleamed like a madman’s. He relished the chance to kill her.
She skidded in the sandy, roadside soil.
Julian’s rage-filled growl penetrated the roaring in her ears. He rammed into Craddock. A shot ripped through the night. The bullet whizzed past her shoulder.
In a matter of seconds, Craddock was facedown on the ground.
Shock held Audrey in place. Julian jammed his knee between Craddock’s shoulder blades and used the man’s own handcuffs on him.
“You’re a dead man,” the officer snarled, trying to twist free.
Julian calmly emptied Craddock’s service weapon and tossed the bullets into the grass. “I’m not the only one with a target on my back. You had a job to do, and you failed. Tell me, Craddock, what does Gerald do with men who can’t follow orders?”
His body went slack. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you?” Fishing through his pockets, Julian produced a cell phone. “What am I going to find? Texts? Emails? Is Officer Dunn on Gerald’s payroll, too?”
His lips thinned, and he said nothing.
Audrey’s knees grew weak. “How did you know?”
After powering down the cell phone and removing s the battery, he tucked it into his pocket. “We have to move. I’ll explain on the way.”
“You can’t hide,” Craddock said almost gleefully. “Not with modern technology.”
“Same goes for you,” Julian quipped. “Get up.”
Once the officer was on his feet, Julian thrust him into the backseat.
“You’ll have law enforcement descending on this area the moment I’m discovered. You’ll be fugitives—”
Julian shut the door. He popped the car hood and started ripping out wires. Audrey looked up and down the road, unwilling to imagine what would happen if someone came upon this scene. Not that it mattered. Their fingerprints were everywhere. Craddock would spin whatever tale suited his purposes.
“He’s right, you know. On top of Gerald’s army, we’re going to have every single law-enforcement officer in this area searching for us.”
“That’s why we have to get moving.” Lowering the hood, he threaded his fingers through hers and urged her into motion. “I’ll get Craddock’s phone to a buddy of mine. Let’s hope he’s either too careless or too arrogant to have erased evidence of his connection to Gerald.”
“If there isn’t any...” The prospect of jail time loomed.
His grip tightened. “We’ll find another way to link them.”
He led her away from the road and into a farm field.
“I didn’t detect anything suspicious about him,” she said, feeling foolish. “What tipped you off?”
Dried cornstalks crunched beneath their feet. “ Craddock didn’t take the turnoff to the station. While you were resting, I pretended to snooze. He flew past the downtown area and headed toward Richlands.”
Audrey replayed the recent scene. She’d seen Craddock’s expression. He’d been poised to shoot Julian in the back. Sure, Julian had started the altercation, but he’d been dazed and struggling in that moment. And she couldn’t forget he’d actually shot at her, and barely missed.
“I waited for him to make a stop,” he said. “Maybe at a gas station or even a fast-food place, before turning around and heading to the station. The more miles he put between us and the city, the more convinced I became that he had other plans in mind. When he lied to you, my suspicions were confirmed.”
“So you pretended to be sick.”
“Yes.”
Audrey thanked God that Julian had heeded his instincts. If he hadn’t, Craddock would’ve disposed of them, leaving Gerald to continue preying on military kids and putting hospital patients at risk.
TWELVE
Furious barking erupted somewhere to their left, and Audrey nearly jumped out of her skin. A light blinked on, flooding the house’s rear yard.
“Looks like we disturbed the farmer’s guard dog,” Julian said, increasing the pace.
The woods they were heading for weren’t far off. Would they reach them before the owner greeted them with a shotgun?
“I don’t have any treats to use as a bribe,” she said, picturing sharp canines and claws. “Where are we going, anyway? Once day breaks, there will be few places to hide. Are you familiar with Richlands?”
The farming community was farther inland than Jacksonville, and she hadn’t had cause to frequent it other than a yearly visit to the pumpkin patch.
They entered the woods, and the barking ceased. Audrey glanced over her shoulder. There were no irate home owners bearing down on them. Yet.
“I’ve visited friends who live in the area, and I’ve driven this direction when I’ve had flights to catch in and out of Jacksonville. Do I know exactly what’s on the other side of these woods? No.”
They dodged tree trunks and decaying logs. She wished she’d worn tennis shoes and workout gear to Lincoln and Chasity’s party. Adding to her body’s various aches and pains, her toes and heels throbbed in the ballet-style flats.
�
�We’ll find a place to hunker down for a few hours, then we’ll search for a way to contact my buddy, Brady. I wish we could use Craddock’s phone, but I don’t want to risk anyone tracing our location. When I do manage to speak to him, I’ll arrange for him to bring us cash and clothing.”
“And food.”
“Definitely.” A light laugh escaped, an unexpected and pleasant sound.
“I didn’t get a chance to ask what was in that room with you.”
A shudder worked its way down her spine. “Pit viper. Gerald called it a fer-de-lance.”
He squeezed her hand once. “You’re a brave woman.”
“I don’t feel like I am.”
“I’ve seen you in action. Believe me, you’ve handled everything that’s been thrown at you with pure grit.”
Tears smarted. “Before this, the most challenging thing in my life was watching my fiancé battle cancer and not being able to do a single thing to help him.”
“The young man in the photograph?”
“Seth.”
“He didn’t make it?”
“He fought long and hard for five years. Had several remissions, but it was persistent.”
“I’m sorry. Watching people suffer and being powerless to save them is devastating.”
“You did everything you could, Julian.”
“Did I?” His voice brimmed with self-reproach.
“What the media reports left out, my dad filled in. You risked your life pulling those men out of the burning wreckage and administering first aid until the EMTs arrived. What more could you have done?”
“Lots of things. Moved faster. Pulled them out in different order. Treated their injuries in a more efficient way.”
“You were injured, don’t forget, and probably suffering from shock.”
An owl hooted above their heads. Beneath their feet, twigs snapped and dead leaves crunched. They walked through the copse without speaking.
“I can’t wrap my head around the fact that I survived, and they didn’t.”
This glimpse of his immense sorrow humbled Audrey. “I wish I had answers for you. Some magic words that would wipe away your pain. All I have is my faith in God, Who is loving and just and wise. His Word instructs us to cast our burdens and hurts on Him, and He will comfort us.”
“He didn’t hear my pleas that day.”
Hurting for him, she traced her thumb over his knuckles. “He did, Julian. Just like He heard mine throughout Seth’s long ordeal. He simply chose to answer our prayers in a way we didn’t want or understand.”
She sensed rather than saw him shake his head. Since he didn’t voice his thoughts, she had no way of knowing the effect of her words. As they put more distance between themselves and the farmhouse, she asked the Lord to give him peace and comfort. She also prayed for wisdom and protection. Things were bound to get harder before they got better.
* * *
Julian contemplated the massive pond they’d stumbled upon in the midst of fallow fields. They’d left the woods behind an hour ago and had yet to reach another road or dwelling. He could hike indefinitely. He was used to dealing with gnawing hunger and fatigue. Audrey was another story. She was tough, he’d give her that. There’d been no complaints. No sighs or grumbling. But she’d grown quiet, and he couldn’t overlook her slowed pace or the frequent shivers wracking her frame.
The moon’s reflection bobbed on the mirrorlike surface. Its faint light outlined a wooden structure at the pond’s edge. “Let’s check that out.”
“I thought we would keep going until we found a means for you to contact your friend.”
“Better to rest for an hour or two while we can.”
It was a calculated risk. There was no way to predict how much time would pass before Officer Craddock was discovered. He might or might not sic the authorities on them, depending on how Gerald typically wanted situations like this handled.
“Don’t stop for me,” she said. “I’ll tell you when I can’t take another step.”
“We can’t approach any homes in the middle of the night asking to use a phone. I was hoping to come across a gas station by now. There’s bound to be a customer who’ll take pity on a pair of stranded sweethearts.”
“Sweethearts?”
“We have to have a convincing backstory. Look at us.”
Frowning, she flicked a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I suppose.”
“Don’t worry. No kissing required.”
“That’s a relief.”
An awkward tension settled between them. What he’d meant as a joke had fallen flat, probably because they were both aware of the attraction brewing between them. Had he been tempted to kiss her for real? Absolutely. Would he give in to that impulse? He couldn’t be sure. Doing so would be foolhardy. Not only because of her father’s express wishes, but also because Audrey was a special person. He wouldn’t dream of toying with her emotions.
Yawning, she reached behind her and kneaded her lower back muscles. Decision made.
“One hour,” he said, striding for the shelter. “We can afford one hour.”
Audrey didn’t argue. Flicking on the flashlight, he was glad to see the interior of the boat-storage area was in decent shape. There weren’t any cushions or blankets, but at least they’d be tucked out of sight.
They found spots and relaxed against the side wall. A wide shaft of filmy moonlight fell through the opening. Audrey groaned and, slipping off her flimsy shoes, started to massage her feet through the thin socks.
“Let me do that.”
“That’s not necess—”
Julian brushed aside her hands and took over for her. Her eyes drifted closed, and a contented sigh escaped.
“Now that’s a useful skill in a fellow fugitive,” she quipped.
“During high school, my sisters begged me to massage their feet after long shifts at their part-time retail jobs. I agreed. For a small fee, of course.”
“You are that brother, huh?”
Her eyes were still closed, and she used the wall for support. Slowly, the tension seemed to leave her body. Julian assumed she’d dozed off.
Suddenly, she stiffened. “We’re near water.”
He removed his hands. “What’s wrong?”
Lifting her head, she glanced around. “It’s dark. Lots of undisturbed nooks and crannies for snakes to hide.”
This was her first chance to rest, and her mind must’ve begun a replay of events. He placed his hand on her knee and squeezed. “They aren’t usually active during winter months, but I’ll take a look around.”
Switching on the flashlight, he got up and looked around the stacked kayaks and paddles. He inspected all the corners, too. Nothing but cobwebs and dead insects.
“You can relax,” he said, returning to her side. “This shelter is officially a reptile-free zone.”
He saw her smile. “Beneath that marine-hero armor, you’re a really sweet guy.”
“My sisters would have something to say about that.”
“I would argue the point if they cared to discuss it with me,” she vowed, pulling on her flats. In a more subdued voice, she said, “Do you have a plan for what’s next? If you’re required to medically retire?”
“No.” He couldn’t bring himself to consider an alternate life other than the one he’d been leading.
“You wouldn’t want to return to Hawaii full-time?”
“And live under the shadow of Chin Tan’s disapproval? No, thanks. Besides, it’s not cheap to live there. I have no idea what career I’d pursue. The Marine Corps is my life, and I assumed it always would be.”
He’d been taught to think outside the box, to expect the unexpected during missions. He’d failed to apply that lesson to the civilian side of life, leaving him reeling and unprepared for a future that suddenly wasn’t writt
en in stone.
“Maybe it’s time to consider other options,” she ventured. “If we don’t wind up behind bars. Or worse.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“I wish I had your confidence. Usually, I’m a glass-half-full kind of girl, but lately—”
She stopped talking and cocked her head. The unmistakable sound of dogs barking pierced the stillness. Julian stood to his feet. That was the sound of a hunt. And he and Audrey were the prize.
THIRTEEN
“Run!”
Julian seized Audrey’s hand and broke into a sprint.
“Is it the police?” she gasped. “Already?”
“It’s possible.”
Resting hadn’t been the safe choice, after all. He was starting to wonder if he’d lost his touch.
They circled the pond and entered an overgrown field. His night-vision goggles would come in handy right about now.
“They’re getting closer!” Audrey gripped his hand more tightly.
He couldn’t stand the thought of her suffering any more than she already had. Releasing her hand, he slowed. “Keep going. I’ll distract them.”
Her eyes widened. “No, Julian.”
“Yes.” He stopped running. “Remember this number. Brady will help you. Nine-one-zero—”
“I’m not leaving you.” Jutting her chin, she glared at him. “We’re in this together.”
Lights bounced over them, and within seconds, he could see a trio of bloodhounds baying and frothing at the mouth. Julian moved to stand in front of Audrey and held out his arms. They’d have to go through him to get to her, and he wasn’t about to make it easy.
A single ATV lurched to a stop several yards away. The driver let loose a shrill whistle that silenced the dogs. He approached with rifle in hand.
“You think you can trespass on my land and get away with it?” Outrage distorted the elderly man’s wizened face. “I’m fed up with you people using my property to do your drugs and drink your booze.” He aimed his rifle at them.
“We apologize for trespassing, sir,” Julian said. “We’re not using your land as a party site.”
