Page 51 of Caught in the Crossfire

The Fortress tech’s voice sounded over the speaker. “Linc, I sent the coordinates to your phone. Anything else I can do?”

“Not right now. Thanks.” He ended the call and checked his text message for the coordinates. After scrolling rapidly through several screens, Linc studied one and frowned. “He’s seven miles from here. I’ll find him and let you know what’s going on.”

“We’ll all go,” Nicole corrected. “You can’t leave us here unprotected, right?”

“It’s not safe, Nic.” Dawn squeezed her hand. “You’ll be out in the open and a likely target since this involves Mason.”

“I have an alarm system I’ll activate until I return with Mason,” Linc said. “You have my word that I’ll bring him back to you. Just stay here where it’s safe.”

Nicole shook her head. “Either you take me with you or I’m driving myself.” She yanked her hand free from Dawn’s hold, snagged her purse, and headed for the door. If Linc thought he was going to leave her in safety while Mason was at least sick if not injured, the PSI instructor was fooling himself.

He sighed. “Hold it, Nicole. Wait until I tell you it’s safe.” Linc passed her to open the door and step onto the porch. After scanning the area, he signaled Nicole and Dawn to join him. “Straight to the SUV.” He unlocked the vehicle with his remote and hurried the two women to safety.

Nicole climbed into the back while Dawn slid onto the shotgun seat. Even though Linc drove faster than the posted speed limit, she mentally urged him to flatten the accelerator to the floor.

While he drove, Linc made another call.

“Blackhawk.”

“It’s Linc Creed. Mason’s in trouble. He called, asking for help. I’m going to him now with Nicole and Dawn.”

“Where?”

He gave the police chief Mason’s coordinates.

“I’m not far from there. I’ll meet you on site.”

“Be careful, Ethan. After Mase asked for help, he hasn’t responded to any questions. This may be an ambush.”

“Copy that.” He ended the call.

An ambush? Nicole clutched her phone like a lifeline. The call from Mason was still active. She’d heard some odd sounds, but nothing from him. Tears burned her eyes. Was he sick? Had he been in an accident? What if the killer had forced Mason off the road and hurt him?

She had to hold it together until they had all the facts. The most important thing was to find Mason and get him help.

Five minutes later, Linc rounded a curve, slowing when he spotted the swirling blue-and-white lights of a police SUV parked behind Mason’s truck. The driver’s door was open with a large figure leaning into the cabin.

When Linc skidded to a stop, Nicole threw open the door, jumped to the ground, and ran toward the truck.

The police chief glanced over his shoulder and backed away from the door with a bag in his hand containing a bottle. “I called an ambulance. ETA is two minutes.”

“What happened? Is he sick?”

“He appears to be drunk.”

Cold fury filled her. “Mason doesn’t drink.”

Ethan held up the bag in his hand. “How do you explain this?”

She glanced at the contents. Her mouth gaped. “I can’t, but I know that’s not his. Mason doesn’t drink period. When he did drink in college, it was only beer. No hard liquor.”

“You need to step back, Nicole.”

“I’m checking on Mason. If you want to arrest me for it, go ahead.” She hurried to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door.

As soon as she climbed inside, the overwhelming scent of alcohol assaulted her nose and made her cough. No matter what Ethan thought, Mason wouldn’t be blind drunk and driving, not with his history. She’d find a way to prove that he was innocent no matter what she had to do.

Mason lay slumped over his center console. At least he was breathing steadily. Nicole stroked his hair away from his forehead. “I’m here, Mason. You’ll be okay. An ambulance will take you to the hospital. Just hold on for me, sweetheart. I can’t lose you.” Her voice broke.

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