Monroe, Melody S. - Verdict (Siren Publishing Classic) (16 page)

“You aren’t going to answer him?”

“No.” He respected the man and wasn’t ready to face the false accusations.

“Don’t you think he’ll suspect something if you don’t talk to him?”

There went Ms. Prosecutor again.

“Yes, which is why I need to get rid of my cell. I told Tom to tell him my FBI issued phone died. I guess he didn’t believe him.”

“Why would you ditch a perfectly good phone?”

The reason was obvious. She just wasn’t thinking straight. Definitely under too much stress. “It’s got a GPS in it.”

Her jaw clenched. “The FBI knows where we are?”

“If they’re looking.”

She dropped her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. “I know you suspect someone in the Bureau of leaking information.” She slapped the dash with an open palm. “Do you think they might be
telling
the killer our exact location?”

Stone gripped the wheel hard. “I’ve considered the possibility, but I can’t get a handle on the motivation.” He tapped his chest. “I’m the good guy here. I shouldn’t have to worry about my own company thinking the worst of me.”

“I know.”

He glanced over at her, needing to read the expression on her face. She turned her head before he got a chance to see the truth, or lie, in her eyes. Last night she seemed to trust him. Today, she acted as if she wasn’t so sure.

“We’ll get off I-85 at the next exit so I can get a disposable phone.”

He glanced in the rearview mirror for the hundredth time. He’d memorized every vehicle behind him. Everyone seemed to be following them.

A mile down the road, he exited and stopped at the cleanest, most brightly lit gas station. It was one of those big places that had several fast food restaurants and would have a fairly complete grocery store inside. He parked across from the pumps, the front of the car facing the road, and got out. Susan didn’t move. He tapped the passenger side window and motioned she come inside with him.

She rolled down her window part way. “I don’t need anything. I’ll stay here and wait for you.”

“I don’t want to leave you alone.”

She looked around. “I’m safe. There are three people getting gas and lots of people coming and going.”

That’s what bothered him. Two more cars pulled into the lot and drove up to the pumps. “Please come inside.” She’d been so loving and attentive last night, and now her defenses were once again high.

“Okay, okay.”

He understood that as a prosecuting attorney, she was used to calling the shots. Hell, he didn’t remember when a woman had been so aggressive in bed on their first encounter. Having someone dictate her every move obviously didn’t sit well with her, but he had a job to do and couldn’t worry over her emotional needs.

You’re a fucking liar.
He did care about her stability, maybe too much. He liked the way she held her own when they discussed their next move, the way her eyes softened when she spoke of her injured brother, how she moved her hips up and down on his cock and how her eyes squeezed shut when she climaxed.

She trudged next to him, her limp rather pronounced from having been cramped in the car so long. He shouldn’t make her walk, but the movement might help ease her pain. Or so he wanted to believe.

“As long as I’m here, I might as well use the bathroom,” she said.

“Be careful.”

She rolled her eyes. He worried she didn’t understand what was at stake. The killer could be anywhere. He waited until she disappeared into the restroom before searching for a phone. Even while he picked up some ice for her swollen knee, two cold drinks, and some snacks for the rest of the ride, he kept a close eye on the bathroom door.

After he paid for the phone and the extra goods, he edged closer to the bathroom.

She came out three minutes later and looked up at him. “You do take your job seriously, don’t you?”

“When I can’t see you, my sixth sense goes into overdrive. I worry something will happen to you.”

Irrational perhaps, as no one knew where they were, or so he hoped. If someone had gotten a lock of their location, they wouldn’t anymore. He’d dumped his cell phone in the trash.

He held open the convenience store door for her and checked out the parking lot. With his hand pressed to the small of her back, he led her to the car.

She looked up at him with a slight smile. “You don’t have to hover.”

Something about flirting with her helped take his mind off the ugliness in the world. “Is that a complaint? You had no problem being close last night.”

“That was last night.”

“Ouch. You having regrets?”

The concern in his voice must have registered, for she stopped and looked up at him. “No. It was wonderful, but I can’t be thinking about what we did anymore. I’ll lose focus.”

He understood. Boy, did he ever.

Once Susan slid into the passenger seat, he walked over to the driver’s side. A piece of paper sat under the wiper blade, flapping in the wind. He hated this kind of advertisement. Most people were probably just passing through. Why waste the ad on a bunch of transients?

He glanced at the cars to either side of them. None had ads on them. Curious, he slipped the paper from the blade and stilled.

He must have been staring at the message for too long because Susan opened up her door and came over to his side.

“What is it?”

He debated not telling her, but with her life in danger, she needed to understand the circumstances. “Seems our mystery man is taunting us.”

He checked out the cars at the pump and those parked nearby but noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Susan slipped next to him. He could smell a hint of fresh soap.

“Tell me.” She grabbed his wrist.

“It says, ‘Only one more to go, then you’ll be next.’”

Her hand sought the buttons on her shirt. “I can’t believe he was here. So near.”

“Good thing you didn’t wait in the car.”

She sucked in a long breath. “You think he’s still around?” She glanced right, then left, her eyes wide. Without thinking, he gathered her in his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his waist. He wanted to drag a gentle finger down her cheek and hold her in his arms for a long time, but he didn’t dare. Not with the world watching.

With his chin on her head, he checked out each car, each license plate, but found no one who appeared to be their killer.

A family of three was at the nearest pump, a young girl at the far one, and no one in between. Where was the bastard? The guy probably hired some punk kid for twenty bucks to put the note on the car. No self-respecting criminal would show his face with an agent so close.

She buried her face in his chest. “I’m scared.”

About time she admitted her situation was dire. Holding her again touched something inside him, something fundamental, something he needed. He placed a light kiss on the top of her head. She looked up then glanced away.

He lifted her chin. “I will do everything in my power to protect you.”

She blinked, pressed her lips together and lowered her gaze. A tear streaked down her cheek. “I thought the car explosion was the worst thing to happen to me, but this teasing, this tormenting by this crazy person is ripping me apart.”

He was highly trained to deal with psychos, but when it came to an intelligent, independent woman like Susan Chapman, he was lost. His agent training finally kicked into gear. “Get in the car.” What a dumb ass he’d been, standing around. He might as well have painted a bull’s-eye on Susan.

Protecting her with his body, he angled her into the passenger side, then jogged to his side and climbed in. He started the engine and peeled out of the lot. “We have to warn Mr. Cho. Then we have to hide.”

“Hide? Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?” Her voice cracked, tearing him up.

“Yes, but this time,
I’ll
pick the place, not the Bureau.” He looked over and expected her shoulders to relax. Instead, her hand grasped the door handle. “If you open the door now, you won’t be safe.”

Thank God that brought a small smile to her face. “I’m okay.”

That’s what everyone he protected always said.

After he sped onto the interstate, they continued to drive north. He stole quick glances at her every few minutes. If the strong jut of her jaw was any indication, she had a hold of her emotions. At least her hands weren’t fisted and she wasn’t grasping the handle for escape. His admiration grew.

Talking about who might be involved in the leak would help him get a clearer vision of the facts, but to do so with Susan might upset her more, so he kept his turbulent thoughts to himself.

She said nothing for the rest of the ninety minute drive to western North Carolina to speak with Cho, which was fine by him. No discussion meant he wouldn’t say something to make things worse. They passed the
Welcome to Brevard
sign. “We’re here.”

Even though he’d paid extra for the Jeep’s upgraded GPS package, the advanced technology couldn’t locate the remote Sunset Drive.

She massaged her cheek. “Maybe we should stop in town and ask for directions.”

He checked his mirrors. “I’ll drive around a little longer.”

“You are such a man.” He swore he heard a little laughter in his voice, and his energy rose.

“I don’t like letting the world know we’re here.”

“Me neither, but—”

He sobered and finished her sentence. “But if we don’t find Cho soon, my driving around aimlessly could cost the man his life. I get it.”

She smiled. “You do read minds, don’t you?”

He winked and pulled into the next gas station. No luck. Their next stop, a quaint 1950s-style diner, also proved a bust, as did the used car dealership. No one knew where Sunset Drive was located. Or else no one wanted to tell them where the place was. Small towns often protected their own.

“I bet the sheriff’s office will know,” she said.

“Law enforcement is the last place I want to visit. Tell a cop, tell the FBI.”

“Right.” Her tone came out dejected. He needed to keep his comments to himself.
Stupid.

“I have one more place we can try.”

He drove down 64 and headed into Pisgah National Forest. About a mile in, he found the ranger station. “If anyone will know where remote places are, it’ll be the ranger.”

Already late in the afternoon, they entered the station, the cool, crisp air chilling them. The small store had more visitors than he’d expected this time of year.

An older gentleman in a park uniform proudly directed them to the back, past the merchandise and the small theatre. Stone knocked on the ranger’s open door, stepped in and was greeted by a friendly smile.

“What can I do for you folks?”

He liked the man’s open face and handlebar mustache. “We’re looking for Sunset Drive. Thought you might be able to help us.”

The ranger’s eyes widened slightly. “You looking for Paul Henley’s place?”

Thank God someone knew the location of the mystery road. Stone flashed his badge and the man merely nodded. “If he lives on Sunset Place, then yes. We have someone in protective custody.”

The ranger pulled open his drawer and spread out a map. “Take 276 up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, go north and hang a right at this mile marker.” The ranger tapped the map. He pointed out all the fire roads they had to pass before they reached their destination.

“Appreciate the information.”

They shook hands and left. On the way out, Stone did his usual scouting routine. The same number of cars that were there when they arrived were still there. He relaxed.

“After we talk to Cho, we’ll stop back here and pick up some warmer gear. I saw an outfitter store on the way into the forest.”

She nodded. “It’s almost over isn’t it?”

Far from it. “Let’s hope.”

The road to the Parkway was steep and winding but free of snow. Unfortunately, once they reached the top of 276 and turned left, the clouds began to roll in. They look like snow clouds, which if they got some precipitation, visibility could shoot to zero, and the drive would become dangerous, or the road might close.

They passed the first scenic overview, which presented a sparsely filled forest of pines surrounding a large, bald rock. The view of the national park reminded him of T-Squared’s father’s home in West Virginia, where he learned to hunt, relax, and love nature.

Susan hugged her knees and leaned against the door. When they got to a true safe house, he’d make her a large fire where she could get warm. Maybe even get some good wine to help her forget her troubles. And then he’d make love to her. Only this time he’d go slow and not be so desperate.

A man could dream, couldn’t he?

The last two miles along the gravel road were filled with potholes that jarred his spine. Susan grimaced a few times when a wheel dug deep into a rut, but she kept quiet. He had to admit, she was quite the trooper. Susan had guts and spunk.

The sun set in a matter of minutes, and the resulting blackness prevented them up from going over five miles an hour. He made a mental note that a swift entrance and exit would be impossible.