Page 83 of Only One More Lie

The whole evening had been good for all of them. It was one of the few times when they were reminded about how they were not just colleagues but friends. Here in Alaska, they were also family to each other.

The trees closed in as the road narrowed. This wasn’t even the tough part of the drive, she realized. The tough part would be at the end of this lane when the road descended onto another road below. The grade was steeper. Even though they were in four-wheel-drive, it would be tricky.

As Duke reached that part of the street, he slowed but kept going at a steady, reliable pace.

“You’ve got this,” Andi murmured.

He gripped the wheel. “Let’s hope.”

The road was essentially a sheet of ice beneath them.

She swallowed hard as Duke tapped on the brakes. The SUV slowed. Slowed some more.

She started to let out a breath of relief.

Then, just as they reached the bottom, the SUV began to slide downhill.

Toward the intersecting road.

The tires lost all traction.

“Hold on . . .” Duke murmured.

Andi glanced at the crossroad just in time to see a truck plowing through the snow . . . headed directly toward them.

Duke saw the truck coming at them. He resisted the urge to follow his instincts—to slam on the brakes.

Instead, he gently pressed the brakes and turned the wheel.

He prayed the truck driver saw him in time and eased into the other lane, out of their way.

“Hold on,” he murmured to Andi, bracing himself for the worst.

The SUV began to swerve, the back tires swinging out.

No! The timing couldn’t be more terrible.

At any second, that truck was going to hit them.

Duke lay on his horn. Then he braced himself for the impact, praying everyone would be okay.

Then, just as it seemed the vehicles would collide, the truck veered out of the way, narrowly missing them.

Duke let out the breath he’d been holding.

“That was close.” Andi rubbed her neck, looking ill at ease.

“You can say that again.” He gripped the steering wheel as he continued down the road.

God had been watching out for them on that one. Duke lifted up a prayer of thanks.

The rest of the drive was fairly quiet, which was fine. He needed the silence to concentrate. They couldn’t risk any more close calls like that.

Finally, they reached Fairbanks. The streets in town had been cleared more than the back roads. But Duke knew they didn’t have much time before the snowstorm came back with a vengeance. If they didn’t get back to the camp before that, they most likely wouldn’t make it.

Andi called out directions, and several minutes later they pulled to a stop in front of Jared Burrows’ house.

The place was small and painted a light purple. Similar-looking houses stretched up and down the streets and throughout the neighborhood.

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