Hide'n Go Seek (31 page)

The bottom line was that Kali saw violence - whether the victim was alive or dead.

There was a strong possibility Julie was alive. There was no doubt the method of her incarceration was extremely violent. The energy signature would be there, only fainter. Theoretically, Kali should be able to sense it, to see it. Maybe the ribbons would be thinner? Softer or lighter in color? She didn't know. This was uncharted territory. The truth would be found with practice.

"Shiloh, how are you doing?" Kali found comfort at the sound of her voice. "Being alone out here is unusual, isn't it? Normally, we're surrounded by people." Although Scott should be close by soon.

Shiloh ran toward Kali to say hi. Her ear twitched as she accepted a caress then took off again, her nose to the ground, her lead stretching a solid ten feet in front. Kali walked faster to narrow the distance between them, but with the slack in the lead, Shiloh pulled forward.

"Take it easy, girl. We need to conserve energy."

Shiloh ignored her and ran ahead. Kali caught the same sense of urgency and quickly caught up with her, using the powerful light of the flashlight to illuminate their way. A wind picked up, filling the woods with a chilled rustling. Kali pulled the zipper of her multi-pocketed vest up to her neck. The shiver that overcame her was a sign of her lowered health. The doctor's stuff wouldn't sustain her for long at this rate. Kali hunkered deeper in her vest.

The moon peeked out behind the clouds for a brief moment, illuminating the eerie darkness. Branches cast villains and bushes whispered dire warnings. Kali hurried to stay behind Shiloh. Her watch illuminated the time. An hour had passed. One hour and she'd already reached the cold sweat stage.

Kali's cell phone rang. She jumped at the noise.

"Hello."

"Kali?"

"Hi, Grant." Kali closed her eyes, caught off guard. She struggled to regulate her heavy breathing. Shiloh tugged her forward, forcing Kali to quickly juggle flashlight, lead and cell phone. She shuffled the flashlight to her left hand and picked up her pace.

"Are you okay? Your voice is...shaking?"

"I'm fine, tired maybe." Just a little. "How's the search going?"

"It's in progress. It's weird though, one of the teams thought they saw someone else out here at the same time?"

Kali spun around, searching the woods, expecting someone to burst through the trees at any moment. Had she been spotted? An agent would have approached her, surely? Refusing to be deterred, she plowed forward.

"Kali, what do I hear?"

"What?" Kali glanced at her phone. "What do you hear?"

"You're at the hospital, aren't you?" he questioned, his voice rising. "Those noises make it sound like you're running? Puffing with exertion?" Kali couldn't stop the wince at the aggressive accusation in his voice. He didn't know the half of it.

"Uhmmm," she hedged.

"Kali, where the hell are you?"

The shit was about to hit the fan. She sighed heavily and confessed. "I'm probably a couple of miles behind you."

"What?" Shiloh whined. Kali slapped her thigh, calling Shiloh over. "It's okay, Shiloh. Everything's fine."

"Like hell it's fine," Grant roared. "You're supposed to be in the hospital. God damn it, Kali." This time, Shiloh barked at the voice thundering through her cell phone.

"Stop it. You're upsetting Shiloh."

Grant spluttered. "I'm upsetting the dog? What about me? What about how upset I am?"

"Get over it." She snapped. "I'm cold and tired and don't want to be out here." Kali shivered in the cool air. She wanted to be in her bed. Julie wanted the same thing, and she deserved to have it. Kali wouldn't quit.

"Then don't." The phone line crackled with bits of conversation trickling through from Grant's side. "Go home."

"I'd love to," she said, letting her irritation grow. It helped dispel the fatigue. "Except this isn't about you or me. This is about Julie. And I didn’t come alone. I brought Scott, the guard from the hospital...except he was supposed to be behind me and he hasn’t caught up yet."

"Shit. There are forty good men here."

Kali shook her head, interrupting, "And not one dog team. Shiloh's sense of smell beats your forty men in a heartbeat. And then there's me."

"Where are you?"

"I'm searching twenty feet off the west fence." Kali searched the gloom to identify a landmark. "A hard walk for an hour plus, I'd guess we're about four miles in. Maybe four and a half. Hard to say with the rough terrain." Kali tripped as she spoke. "Shit."

"What happened?" Grant said, concern overriding the anger in his voice.

She bit back the moan as the burning in her back heated up. Thank God for the pain shot. And how long would it last?

"Damn it, answer me."

"I'm here. Give me a second," she whispered. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I tripped on a root. I'm fine." And she would be. She had to be for a while longer.

"Shit, Kali. I'll be there in a couple minutes. Don't move."

Like hell. "Grant, I haven't stopped moving." She searched the gloom for the halo of flashlights. Nothing yet. "Either walk toward me or wait and I'll get there in a bit."

"Jesus, you're stubborn."

Kali smirked. "I've heard that before."

Nearby, the brush rustled. Kali stopped, her hand to her throat. "What was that?"

"What did you hear?"

"Noises. In front of me." Shiloh growled deep in her throat, the sound raising the hairs on the back of Kali's neck. Kali's gaze followed Shiloh stare. The shadows stilled, blending bushes to trees into a dark silhouette. Clicking off her flashlight, she hunkered close to the ground, one arm wrapped around Shiloh. "Grant. Did you say someone else is out here?"

"There are several teams out here. I have men everywhere, damn it. I don't have an update pinpointing everyone's location. Where’s Scott?"

"I’m hoping that’s him, but I don’t want to call out...just in case." Memories of startling the killer at David’s burial site filled her mind. "Can you get one please?" Impatience gnawed at her. She hated the reminder that the killer could be here watching her. She'd refused to consider it before and could hardly change that now. "I'd really like to know if friend or foe is in my area."

She did not want a repeat of the last incident where she'd come upon the killer in the dark.

"I can't. I'm talking to you. As I can see just enough to run, I should be within ear shot within about five to ten minutes."

"Thank God," she whispered, wishing he'd already arrived. She could hear his uneven breathing as he covered the ground between them. Kali stayed quiet, hugging Shiloh. Scott would have trouble finding her like this, but her light was still on.

Poor Julie, she must be going through hell. Cold, tired, worn out with the effort of staying alive. Survival wasn't for the weak. Kali buried her face in Shiloh's warm fur and waited.

"Kali."

Kali snapped upright, frowning. Had someone called her name? Grant? No, he'd call out several times. Not a grated whisper. Her heart pounded. She wasn't alone.

Noises crashed through the underbrush up ahead. No attempt at being quiet. Kali slipped further into the shadows.

And was grabbed from behind.

Kali screamed and struggled to free herself. Shiloh barked and jumped at her attacker, dashing in for an attack before retreating, dancing out of reach of the kicks, then rushing in again.

"Shit." The man grunted, the muffled sound blasting in her ear.

A gloved hand slapped over her mouth. Kali fought, a scream gurgling past his leather covered fingers. The strong arm pulled her backwards. Fire tore across her shoulder. She cried out with pain, tripping and falling to one side. Her movement broke free of the one restraining arm. Pivoting, she kicked up at him, screaming at the top of her lungs for Grant.

"Kali?"

The distant shout sounded off to the left. Grant. Although she couldn't be sure for Shiloh's constant yipping. At least Grant would hear her, too.

Her attacker dropped on top of her, trying to pin her arms down, his shoulder shoved against her mouth, pinning her head low. Pain stabbed at her constantly as her stitches argued with the hard ground.

Twisting and kicking with only limited success, Kali managed to slide one arm free. She immediately raked her nails across his face.

"Bitch!" But it was enough to loosen his grip on her mouth.

"Grant help!" Pain enveloped her entire body. Fire surged across her shoulders. Christ, she hurt. Kali ignored her injures as she strove for freedom, while the movements pulled at her stitches. Bile climbed the inside of her throat.

Shiloh added to the nightmare, barking, and nipping at any body part she could reach.

Her attacker roared, his arms clamping on hers, pivoting her onto her belly, his knee slammed against her spine as his weight came down holding her there. "Fucking bitch."

Kali gasped for breath, but couldn't get any oxygen. Her spine felt seared and she couldn't imagine the damage to her back. "Shiloh," she whispered.

Shiloh charged. Her attacker screamed again. Suddenly, his weight lifted and Kali scrambled to her feet, bolting into the darkness in panic.

"Shiloh. Here Shiloh." Kali raced ahead in the blackness of the night.

"Grant. Scott," she screamed. "Grant, help. I'm free."

"Kali."

Strong arms reached and grabbed her. She screamed and panicked.

"It's me." Grant pulled her tight into his embrace. "Stop, it's alright. Calm down. It's okay now."

His words finally penetrated her pounding blood. "Grant." She burrowed against his chest, her body quivering in fear.

Grant held her gently, careful to keep his arm low and away from her injuries. "Easy. It's going to be okay. We'll get him. Calm down."

Kali twisted to peer into the darkness behind her. "In this light he could hide out here all night. And there's nothing stopping him from going over the fence."

Grant considered her comment, pulled out his phone and within minutes, he had tapped another team of men.

"Wow," Kali said, pulling back to smile up at him through the tears that had arrived now that she was safe. "A man of action, I like that."

Grant snatched her close again, his chin dropping to rest on her head.

Several more men broke through the brush from the way Kali had come. Scott in the lead. He slowed down, shaking his head when he saw her. "Jesus, when you said catch up, Kali. I didn’t figure you’d be sprinting for miles." The men dispersed on the hunt for the killer. .

Comforted, Kali closed her eyes and leaned in. Just as tension drained from her spine, Grant tilted her head back to snap, "Why the hell aren't you safe in the hospital?" He demanded in angry frustration. "God damn it. Why the hell can't you stay in one place like you're told to? Do you know how much shit I'm going to do to Scott for letting you out?"

"Don't. I begged him too. And it was the right decision. Besides, I'm not a damned dog," she fired back, glaring at him. "Nor am I ragdoll. Stop shaking me. You're ripping out my stitches." Cheap shot, yet effective.

Instantly, he stopped. "Shit. Did I hurt you?" His arms cradling her, he rocked her back and forth. "I'm so sorry."

He shifted gears again, pushing her back again, his hands running over her. "Did he hurt you? One of my men will take you back to the hospital right now. Get those stitches checked."

"Stop." Kali placed her hands on his chest and pushed him backwards. "Of course I'm sore, but I'm going nowhere - not until I find Julie. Don't-" She held up a hand to forestall the words as he opened his mouth. "It's now or never for her." Shrugging free of his grasp, Kali bent to pat Shiloh on her back. "I need a flashlight since I dropped mine in the attack. I should have hit him with the damn thing. At least then I'd still have it."

"Jesus." Grant splayed his flashlight across the area, trampled grass and broken branches testament to her panicked flight. His face grew grim.

Kali watched the hollows beneath his cheekbones deepen. "It's over and I'm fine. Let's get this job done."
Before I collapse
, she wanted to add but managed to keep it in at the last moment. From the way she felt now, she could use some more of the doctor’s miracle stuff - it had long since worn off.

"Take mine. I'm sticking close to you, anyway." Grant handed his to her. "Now let's see if we can put an end to this madness."

Kali turned toward the fence line and stepped out. "Shiloh, back to work."

"What the hell, Kali?" Frustration oozed from Grant's voice, even while he fell into step at her side.

"We're close. I can feel it." It would explain the killer's presence. She had no doubt that's who'd attacked her.

Grant compromised. "One hour. If we don't find her in an hour, you're returning to the hospital and we continue without you."

"Like hell," she muttered under her breath. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that. Kali picked up the pace as Shiloh strained on her restraint. She could feel the exhaustion and cold gnawing away at her. Suddenly energy surged through her, colors erupted in her mind, bathing her body in a warm lavender energy. Kali didn't dare stop. In fact, she suddenly felt like she could go all day. Then recognition hit her. She laughed inside.

"
Stefan?
"

A rumble of warm laughter wafted through her mind.

"Thanks. I needed the energy."

"You're welcome!"

And he left, leaving a pulsing, throbbing surge of power in her legs and body. She didn't know how long it would last, but she was grateful to have it at all. She hadn't been at all sure she could go on.

Kali raced now, focused and determined to finish this job before her body or Grant finished it for her.

For fifteen minutes they raced forward in the darkness. Going left, then right, under trees and around brushes and hillocks as Shiloh tugged on the lead. Kali's determination waned as her energy declined. Her stomach growled. Grant pulled a granola bar from his pocket and handed it over. She snatched it with a grateful smile and devoured it in a few bites. Shiloh's focus had to be intense; she rarely missed a chance at a bite of Kali's bars.