Page 43 of Hidden Depths

“I’m just making sure she’s learned her lesson.” Dutch said, then reached out and slapped her arm lightly.

She jumped with a restrained squeal, and he laughed again. “Sheisscared, Balthazar. Look at her. She’s like a mouse.”

“Let her go, Dutch. We’re not looking to make trouble where we don’t need it.”

“I know. It’s just so tempting. What’s your name?”

“S—Stephanie.”

“Well, Stephanie, you heard the man. Get out of here. Go home, little mouse.”

She hurried out the gate before either of them could change their minds or recognize the familiar scared face they would have seen all those years ago.

Biting down hard on her lip, she blinked as tears filled her eyes, walking an achingly slow pace down the road, her mind a cloud of confusion and terror.

* * *

Tom remained in the shadows, wishing he’d disobeyed his order to put his gun and badge in the safe. When he’d seen Sara come around the fence, he’d known there was more going on here than what he’d first thought.

Because she snuck onto the property, she must not have been workingwiththese guys, but it could be no coincidence that she’d ended up here. A woman hiding from the mafia wouldn’t be snooping around their hideout. But that didn’t account for the fear he’d seen when she’d stumbled across the two men. She’d expected the place to be empty, and when she’d found out it wasn’t, her terror had been palpable. He’d had to restrain himself to not step in and save her. Although, if they hadn’t let her go, he would have.

After climbing back outside the fence, he dropped the piece of iron he’d brandished as a weapon and snuck away from the premises, hurrying to catch up with her. But when he got around the corner, he only just caught sight of her sprinting down the road before turning a corner.

He took off after her. When he turned the corner, he called out, “Sara.”

She turned, her eyes widening before she picked up speed.

“Sara, wait,” he yelled, continuing the chase. “I’m not going to hurt you. I want to help.”

She was fast in her fear, but he was a good sprinter. He put his head down and eventually caught up with her, reaching out to tap her arm.

She swung around, hitting him in the side of the head.

“Whoa. Slow down. I want to help.”

She sped away, darting across a parking lot. He followed, rubbing his ear as he noticed the pain for the first time. She’d gotten in a decent hit.

As they continued along, she looked back again. “Leave me alone.”

“Sara, you need to talk to me.”

“Why are you following me?”

“Those guys you had a run in with, they’re dangerous.”

“Why do you think I’m running?” Her pace had slowed. She was getting tired.

He closed the gap a little. This was better. Anyone who looked would think they were out together for a run. “I’m not with them. I told you. I’m FBI. I was looking into them.” She still didn’t stop. He needed to defuse the situation. “You can’t run forever. We have a date tomorrow, remember?”

“Leave me alone,” she yelled and picked up speed again.

“Okay,” he mumbled. “We’ll do it your way.” He veered off, out of sight. His only course of action would be to follow her from the shadows.

Chapter12

Sara gaspedfor air as she pushed herself harder. She hadn’t known what to think about Tom following her, but she didn’t have the space to figure it out. But whatever unease she felt about Tom being behind her, it had startled her more to see that he wasn’t there anymore.

The rest of the way home, she’d backtracked and gone in several circles before finally stumbling down the dock in near exhaustion. It wasn’t only the physical exertion of the run that had stolen her breath. The initial burst of adrenaline was now mixing with the shock of the earlier events, and she thought she might throw up.

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