Page 4 of Peril in Piney Woods

His hands were at his throat, blood spewed between his fingers and flowed down his torso in a river of red.

His gaze connected with Meg’s for a split second—damn, he was young—before he crumpled to the floor.

No matter that he was a goner, she kicked the gun across the floor before rushing toward the storage room. She bypassed the restrooms and the entrance to the cooler and rushed through the open door that led into the back, into the storeroom.

Jennifer, her clothes half ripped off her body, huddled in the floor next to boxes of paper products.

Her left wrist was tied to a metal pipe that snaked up the wall. Meg cut her loose and then tucked her knife away. She reached toward the terrified young woman. “You’re okay now, Jennifer. Deputy Battles is on the way.”

Jennifer’s eyes remained wide with fear. Tears and mucus streamed down her face. “He...he...”

“He won’t hurt you now.”

Meg sat down on the floor next to her and held her until help arrived.

Chapter Two

Gas and Go

Pine Boulevard

11:50 p.m.

The blue lights from the two sheriff’s department SUVs throbbed in the night, sending flashes through the glass-fronted store. Meg couldn’t say for sure how long it had taken for Deputy Battles to arrive. Long enough for the adrenaline that had been coursing through her body to recede, leaving her to face the reality of what had just gone down in a colder, harsher light. Long enough for her to understand that there was a strong possibility this would change everything.

There had been no alternative. She’d only done what she had to do.

Another deputy had cordoned off the half of the parking lot nearest the entrance with yellow crime scene tape. A sedan bearing the county’s CSI team logo had arrived maybe half an hour ago. The sergeant, probably the leader of the team, had glanced at Meg as he entered the shop.

The coroner had taken the body away a few minutes after that. There was a lot of blood on the floor.

A lot of blood.

Meg blinked and turned her face away to prevent staring at the spot on the shiny tile floor where the perp had expired. She hadn’t seen that much blood in a while.

She’d hoped never to see or to be involved with this sort of thing ever again.

This was so, so not good.

Her nerves jangled as she allowed the idea of what had just happened to sink in a little deeper.

Not good at all.

Damn it.

The perp had been identified as Zyair Jones, a career criminal from just across the state line. Though only twenty-five, he had a long line of offenses, not the least of which was armed robbery and sexual assault. Jennifer might not feel like it just now, but she was lucky to be alive. Men like the perp who’d dragged her into that storeroom typically escalated, and judging by his extensive rap sheet, an escalation had been due any time now.

Meg shifted in the stiff plastic chair next to the counter at the farthest end of the shop where she’d been sequestered by Deputy Battles. Since there were no other seats in the building except for the one she’d seen at the desk in the storeroom, she supposed this one was for the clerk on duty to take a load off when the opportunity presented itself. When someone like Jennifer was on duty alone, going to a breakroom was not really an option. The entrance would need to be locked for her to even go to the restroom for a personal relief break. Meg imagined the boss didn’t want that door locked any more than necessary.

The owner had been called and, like the rest of those interested in what had occurred tonight, waited beyond the crime scene perimeter. She’d spotted the lady who owned the diner and the man who’d opened the book shop. There were several others, but none she recognized from this distance.

Meg had already given Battles a quick overview of what happened while the paramedics examined Jennifer. But he would be back when he completed his questioning of the victim. Meg had watched his face as she answered the questions he posed. He’d tried not to look surprised when she’d told him about swiping the knife across the guy’s throat, but he’d failed to keep his face clear of the reaction. There were other questions he would have for the next round. Like why did she carry a knife? What had prompted her to react so violently? What had made her think to slash the truck tires before coming inside? Etcetera.

She gave her head a little shake. Providing answers that would assuage any concerns or uncertainties he had would be easy enough for now, but the notion of what she’d done would linger in his thoughts. Every time he saw her from this moment forward, he would remember this night. The neighboring shop owners would talk among themselves about how she’d been able to take down the would-be robber and rapist. And there was no question what Jones had intended. The cash from the register had been in his pocket, and he’d torn at Jennifer’s clothes while he regaled her with his intentions. Still, there would be talk.

Nothing she could do about that.

For now, she was just thankful she was seated far enough away from that expansive wall of glass to avoid the prying eyes. The last thing she needed was someone taking her photo and putting it on the net or, God forbid, in the news.

---