Adam glanced over at her. “You look pretty deep in thought. Want to talk about it?”
Before she could answer, the truck jolted forward, throwing her body against the tightening seat belt. Her head snapped back against the headrest. The dogs both let out a yelp. “What was that?”
“We’ve got company.” Adam gripped the steering wheel harder. “Hold on.”
He pressed the gas pedal to the floor, sending the truck flying forward. Emma watched the car behind them, a black SUV with tinted windows, in the side mirror. As Adam sped up, so did the SUV, slamming into them once more.
“This guy knows what he’s doing. I’m going to have to try and lose him. I can’t outrun him if I don’t.” Adam spun the wheel, turning right down a narrow road. The back of the truck fishtailed but quickly found traction as they sped along. The SUV made the turn at the last minute, rocking sideways on to two wheels momentarily. Adam kept his eyes forward. Emma watched as trees and houses sped by, praying they wouldn’t encounter any innocent bystanders.
They made another quick turn to the left. Adam steered the car up an incline. “There’s a dirt road up this way around a sharp bend that leads to an old fishing hole. No one knows it’s there unless they know this area. I’m guessing our guy doesn’t. If I can get enough distance between us, I can make the turn and get us lost in the trees.”
“Just do what you have to. Don’t worry about us.” The dogs were cowering together on the floor in the back seat. Emma gripped the door handle and kept an eye on the side mirror. She caught sight of the SUV as it made the turn onto the narrow lane. Emma sucked in a breath. The driver almost lost control but regained it before he rolled.
Adam keyed his radio and gave their location, asking for backup. “There’s a vehicle pursuing us. I’m going to try and lose them but in case I can’t, send a car.”
The dispatcher responded, “Ten-Four, Detective. I’ve got a unit headed up that way right now.”
They sped up the mountain. Adam handled the curves and turns expertly, like he’d driven this road a hundred times. The SUV swerved and rocked behind them, the front right tire sliding off the edge of the road a few times and kicking up a cloud of dirt as the driver struggled to get back on the asphalt. As they rounded a sharp turn, Adam suddenly whipped the wheel to the left into a thick stand of trees.
“Hold on!” He floored the pedal and shot through a narrow opening in the tree line Emma never would have noticed if she was just driving by. Emma gripped the door handle as she bounced on the seat. Adam barely slowed as he plowed through the brush. When they reached a small clearing in front of a pond, he put the truck in park, turned it off, and jumped out. “Come on!”
“The dogs. I have to get the dogs!”
“They’ll be fine. He’s not trying to kill them!”
Emma jumped out of the truck, following Adam into the woods. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along with him. “Stay close,” he whispered.
“Where are we going?”
“Back to the main road to make sure he didn’t follow us in here.” Adam pushed a low-hanging branch out of the way and held it so it wouldn’t hit her in the face. “This little trail runs along the road we just took. If he followed us, we’ll see him before he sees us.”
“What about your truck?” And her parents’ dogs.
“He only wants you. If the truck is empty, he’ll look for us. We’ll have the upper hand this time.”
They walked along in silence for the next few minutes, Adam forging the way through the overgrowth and Emma listening for the sound of a vehicle. All she heard were birds and insects going about their business. A siren sounded in the distance, growing louder as they drew closer to the main road.
Adam stopped walking and motioned through a little opening in the trees. There was the narrow roadway they’d been driving on. A police car, lights and sirens running, flew by them.
“He’s gone?” Emma whispered.
Adam nodded. “I think so. The patrol unit will probably scare him off if he hasn’t run already. I want to look around a little bit just to be sure there are no surprises. Can you stay here and watch the road?”
“Yes.”
Adam started to move away from her, but Emma reached out and touched his arm. He stopped and looked at her, questions in his eyes.
“Be careful, okay? I couldn’t handle it if—”
He ran his fingertips along the line of her jaw with a gentle smile. “I’m good, Emma. This is my job, remember?”
She nodded, and he disappeared into the woods. A couple small cars passed, heading up the hill while she waited. When ten minutes or so had passed, Emma noticed a black SUV slowly rolling by, heading down the mountain. She stepped back into the cover of the trees, afraid the driver would see her. But he didn’t stop. He kept rolling slowly on down the road. She shifted to try and get a read on the license plate but only caught the first two letters, SF. A few seconds later, the police car returned and followed the direction the SUV had gone in.
Adam stepped up next to her, a finger over his lips. They both watched as the police car disappeared around the bend.
“Do you think he saw the path we took?” Emma asked.
Adam shook his head. “No. I went and made sure the tree branches had fallen back in place and covered the opening. If he’d noticed, he would be here looking for us.”
Emma frowned and motioned to the road. “He just drove by before you got here, heading down the mountain.”
“I don’t think we need to worry, I’m sure he has seen the police car by now. He’ll back off for a while.”
“So, what do we do now?”
“We head back to the truck and hang out for a bit, just to be sure he’s gone. Then we get those dogs to the kennel and you somewhere safe.”
He took her hand and led the way back to the truck. This time though, he didn’t let go. And neither did she. It made her feel safe. His strength and confidence seemed to radiate to her when they touched, and at the moment she could use a whole lot of strength and confidence.
Nine
He felt the tremor when he grasped Emma’s hand. She tried so hard to act tough but the whole someone-trying-to-kill-her thing was creating cracks in that defensive armor of hers. Whatever she had witnessed, it had to be major, because that guy wasn’t giving up. And he was good at his job. Really good.
It didn’t matter. Adam was good at his job too. Much better than some hired gun.
Even under the circumstances, holding Emma’s hand felt right. Like they were meant to do that all the time. He’d given up on the idea of falling in love and having a family a long time ago. In the last twenty-four hours though, since Emma had shown up in his precinct, long-forgotten dreams had begun to surface again.
When they reached the little clearing, Emma let go of his hand and ran to the truck. He could hear the dogs yapping and yelping. Dogs were meant to bark. Not yap. If he ever got a dog, it would have some size and some power. Like a German shepherd or a Belgian Malinois. A man’s dog, not a dog that wore little sweaters and rode around in a purse.
Emma opened the truck door and grabbed them both by the leash, letting them out of the vehicle. They led her around the clearing, sniffing and yapping as they stopped to do their business.
“Do you come out here often?” Emma motioned around the clearing.
“Often enough. When I need a little perspective.”
“How did you even find it?” Emma leaned down to pet one of the dogs that had stretched out on her feet.
“It’s my uncle’s property.”
She smiled and gave him a little wink. “Ah. The family hideaway. Is there some kind of hidden underground bunker here too?”
“Nah. Just an old hunting cabin on the other side of the pond.”
“With bulletproof glass and escape hatches?” She teased him. Emma’s smile lit up her green eyes, while the laughter
added a natural blush to her porcelain skin.
“He is a bit of a prepper type. Belongs to this super-secret group of other apocalypse preppers.”
“I knew it!” The morning sun hit the water of the pond at just the right angle to bring out the reddish gold highlights in her chestnut hair.
He now knew from past experience how soft and silky that hair was. His fingers itched to run through it. Adam shook his head to clear it. They’d shared one kiss. A stolen moment a dozen years ago. How could one instance of teenage desire define a man’s entire life?
You sound like one of those silly romance novels Carrie reads.
His cousin Carrie had always been a hopeless romantic. She dreamed of handsome princes on strong white steeds sweeping in and rescuing her from little ole Staunton, Virginia. When she took the job as an airline flight attendant, Adam never expected her to end up with a real live prince.
“Whatcha thinking about, all serious like that?” Emma stood in front of him as the two dogs played chase around his ankles.
“Did you know Carrie married a prince?”
Emma’s eyes widened in surprise. “Your cousin Carrie?”
“Yeah. Crazy, isn’t it?”
She shrugged. “Not really. She always said she’d marry into royalty.”
“He’s from some bigwig oil family in the Middle East. I didn’t want to like him, but I couldn’t help it. He actually treats my cousin like a princess in every way.”
Emma laid a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Adam. Someday you will find your princess.”
He laughed. “I’m too rough around the edges for crowns and balls and stuff.”
The idea of falling in love didn’t sound as bad as it used to though. Emma’s sporadic touches had woken up a part of his brain that had long since gone dormant. As all of his high school and college buddies got married, Adam had always assumed he’d be the one to stay single—married to his job, Carrie had often said.
Especially after Leslie had been killed.
Maybe fate had decided to give him a second chance at happiness. He looked over at the woman who had so unexpectedly walked back into his life. Her appearing in his office the way she did had unnerved him. His simple little world had been rattled. And he kind of liked it.
None of that mattered if the hit man got to Emma. He needed to get his mind back on the mission: keeping Emma safe and solving the case. Once that was done, he could then maybe explore the feelings that kept trying to present themselves.
“One is never too old for happiness.” Even as she said the words, he caught the sadness in her eyes.
“What about you? Have you ever been in love?” He asked the question but wasn’t sure he really wanted the answer.
“Just once,” Emma replied, looking out over the pond. “A long time ago.”
“What happened?” He held his breath as he waited for her reply.
Emma shrugged and gave him a sad smile. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
Was she talking about him? He’d always thought he’d imagined the shock of attraction that had passed between them when they’d kissed. Maybe it had been real. They were both just so young then.
“Come on, I told you about Leslie.” He bumped her shoulder with his.
She kicked at the dirt with her toe. “Let’s just say I don’t make good choices when it comes to love and relationships.”
“I guess we still have a lot in common then.”
“I guess.”
Adam had no idea what to say next, so he said nothing. Instead he walked over to the edge of the pond and looked out over the water, wishing they could just go back in time about twelve years to a simpler life.
“Do you think it’s safe to leave now?” Emma asked, breaking the tension that had settled in around them.
Adam checked his watch. It had been more than thirty minutes since the SUV had passed by. “I think so. We’ll continue up the mountain and circle back around though, just in case he’s pulled over somewhere waiting.”
“Okay.”
Once they were settled in the truck, Adam turned the vehicle around and headed down the dirt path toward the main road. As he eased out of their hiding place and onto the pavement, he hit the gas and sped up the incline. The road stayed empty.
“Let’s get those little fur balls to the kennel, then I need to stop by the station to report the attack. Do you mind going with me?”
Emma glanced over at him. “That depends. You haven’t told me where you plan to take me.”
“I was planning to take you to a hotel, but I’ve since had a better idea.”
“Oh? Where?”
He rolled the truck to a stop at an intersection and waited for the red light to turn green. “My uncle’s cabin. The one by the pond we just left.”
Emma frowned. “I’m not so sure that’s the best idea.”
“Actually, I think it’s perfect. Totally off the grid, impossible to find, and I’d feel better leaving you there alone.”
She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to be alone. At least at a hotel there will be a lot of other people around. Harder for me to get killed with so many witnesses.”
“Have you forgotten about the supermarket fiasco last night?” The light turned green and Adam made a right, heading back toward the center of town.
“Of course not!”
“So you know it doesn’t matter how many people are around. If he finds you, he will kill you.”
“Can’t I just stay with you or at the station during the day and you can sleep at my house at night?”
Adam reached over and took her hand, giving it a little squeeze. “Emma, he knows where you live and has no issue showing up there.”
She sighed. “I know. I don’t really have much of a choice, do I?”
“I’m sorry. I know how hard this is.” He turned off the main road on to a side street, pulling up in front of a gated yard. A white sign with black letters read Kellie’s Kennels. “Is this the right place?”
“Yes.” Emma reached for the door handle. “I’ll be right back.”
“I won’t go anywhere,” he said, giving her a wink and a smile.
Emma got out of the truck and pulled open the back door to get the two dogs. “Come on, guys. Let’s go play with Kellie.”
She led the two dogs up the driveway. The door opened before she made it to the porch and a woman stepped outside, greeting Emma with a hug. The dogs jumped and yapped, obviously excited to see Kellie.
Good. That would make it easier for Emma to leave them for a few days. His phone chimed. He fished it out of his pocket and read the new message.
Waters: You coming in today or what?
Adam typed back a quick reply.
Adam: Be there soon. Ran into a little trouble on the way.
Waters: Everything good?
Adam: For now.
He typed his reply, then set the phone down in the center console.
Emma walked down the driveway, pulled open the passenger door, and climbed inside.
“They really seemed excited to see Kellie,” Adam said as she buckled her seat belt.
“Kellie’s amazing. Mom says she’s got a real gift with animals.”
Adam backed out of the driveway and headed toward the police station. The rest of their trip remained uneventful. Even as he parked in the fenced-in lot, he felt Emma relaxing. The last eighteen hours had been one adrenaline rush after another for her. She had to be hanging on by a thread at this point.
He parked his truck, jumped out, and jogged around to open Emma’s door. Stepping in close, he placed his hands around her waist and lifted her down to the ground. Emma stumbled a little when her feet touched the ground, falling against his chest. Adam tightened his arms around her slightly, not wanting to let her go just yet.
Emma made no move to step back either. “I could have done that mys
elf.” He liked the way her cheeks turned pink and her breath caught as he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
He gave her a mock salute. “Just doing my job, miss. Adam Marshall, bodyguard, at your service.”
“I’m pretty sure that none of this is in your job description.” She placed her hands flat against his chest but didn’t try to push him away.
“A Marshall man takes his duty very seriously.” He grinned down at her, those soft pink lips of hers so tempting. Adam loosened his hold. “And right now, my sense of duty tells me to get you inside.”
She reached out and took his hand, wrapping her long, slender fingers with his larger, thicker ones. “Just stay close, and I know I’ll be okay.”
“I’ll always keep you safe, Emma.”
The conviction in his words and the emotions in his eyes told Emma he meant what he said. Even as a high school athlete, Adam had always been very serious. His word had been his honor even then, and he did everything he could to be good and just and moral. Exactly why he made such a great police officer and why Miranda’s death had hit him so hard.
They walked into the station without talking. He let go of her hand when they entered the building, holding the door for her.
“Emma? Seriously?” a familiar voice called to her from across the room.
“Carter!” Adam’s youngest brother, dressed in full police gear, crossed the lobby in three long strides, scooped her up, and swung her in a circle.
“When did you get back to town?” He hugged her again as he set her on her feet. “Adam, look who it is!”
“Relax, little brother. I know. She came here with me.”
“No!” Carter looked from Emma to Adam and back again. “You’re the protective custody Adam’s been on? Man, why didn’t you call me?”
Adam gave his brother an annoyed look. “I had everything under control. Don’t you need to get out on patrol?”
Murder on the Mountain: A Marshall Brothers Novel Page 8
