Page 44 of Operation: Unify

“Should we go and watch with him?” She’d had a chance to rest but Connor had only slept a few minutes in the truck while they’d been at the park. The whole day had been spent hiding as much as possible.

He scraped a hand down his face. “I don’t think that’s the best idea. He wants to kill you. Sitting a block away from where he is known to go is like asking for trouble.”

“Or it’s a way to make sure I stay out of trouble because we can watch them be taken away in cuffs. They tried to murder Melinda. Don’t you want to see them caught?”

“Of course I do, but how can I protect you? Isn’t that why you asked me to come?” His exasperation came through loud and clear.

“Yes. I guess I trust you. Without reservations. I know I’ll be okay when I’m with you.”

He shook his head. “I wish I had that sort of confidence.” He looked over at her. “Let me check in at the hotel. We’ll get settled. Then, we’ll text Randy and see how he’s doing. If he doesn’t think he needs us, we’re not going.”

“And if he does?” Not that she expected him to, but she wanted to see this end.

“Then I guess we’ll go and help if we can. The police would’ve checked their addresses. They won’t be at home. They’d be really foolish to go to their normal hangouts.”

Targets in sight! I’m calling the police.

Lacy squealed even as another text came through. He had to be using text to speech.

They saw me. I’m on the run.

Connor hitthe gas pedal and exited at the nearest ramp. He quickly turned down the street, then entered back on thehighway retuning to town. Randy had risked his job and getting fined to help Lacy and that meant Connor wasn’t going to let him face danger alone.

“Tell him to drop a pin on his location if he can.” Connor pushed the truck a little faster.

Lacy pressed in the text, her keystrokes more rapid than he could usually manage. His mind whirred with different thoughts about what they could do to help. Honestly, if he was in a chase, they might not be able to do much besides call the police and pray.

“He’s near the hospital,” Lacy looked at the map on the screen.

Connor barely caught enough of it to know what she was looking at.

“What is he doing there?” Why would he be leading them right to Melinda’s door?

“I don’t know. He’s running from them so he can’t really answer me.” He heard Lacy tapping her boot on the floor.

Within minutes, they were back at the hospital, driving around to find Randy. “What does he drive again?” Connor tried to remember what the car looked like as he searched down streets as far as he could. That late at night he couldn’t tell much past a half a block away.

“He drives an old white Oldsmobile.” She rolled down her window and stuck her head out a little.

“I didn’t even know there were any of those still on the road. What are you doing?” He wanted to find out before telling her to roll it back up so Tod didn’t see her.

“If they’re chasing Randy, we might hear something like revving engines or squealing tires. I thought that might be easier than driving around the neighborhood.”

A screech at the end of the street surprised her and she pressed the button to put the window back up. Thankfully, theinside of the pickup was dark and there was no way for anyone to know who they were.

A moment later, a car drove by them and Tod looked straight at her. Realization dawned on his face, and he pointed at her.

Connor pounded the steering wheel. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to come help. Call the police, tell them he’s here and he’s after you.” Connor abruptly spun the wheel and turned the truck away from the hospital.

If they were already in danger, he’d lead Tod away from Melinda. It was after hours, but that only meant Tod would have to try harder to get to her. It wouldn’t be impossible.

A car turned down the street after him and pulled up behind him, revving the engine. Lacy talked to the dispatcher, trying to tell them where the truck was headed. Unfortunately, she didn’t know the area well and he couldn’t help while he drove. He glanced both ways at every cross street, trying to remember how to get to the park. They could lose him in the snarl of businesses.

Tod tried to pass them even though they were on a city street and Connor had to speed up to avoid letting him get alongside.

“Lacy, duck down. I don’t want him to be able to see you. If he’s already going to jail, he has nothing to lose.”

She unbuckled and lowered to the floor of the cab, ducking her head down. At the next cross street, he yanked the wheel and turned his tires screaming in protest.

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