Page 83 of Cold Light of Day

Grier glanced at Autumn. “Stay here and guard Sarah.”

He opened the door and stepped out before she could react. Then he shut it in her face.

“Grier ... wait!”

THIRTY-FOUR

The wind hit Grier with greater force than he’d expected as he stepped outside while the train rushed through the tunnel. The locomotive clanked and vibrated, the sounds echoing against the chiseled rock walls.

Darkness surrounded him, but the light at the end of the tunnel created the silhouette of the man standing on the platform of the car in front of him. Mateo Santos. The man who abducted Autumn.

Grier held his gun at his side, pointed downward to avoid bringing a gunfight into this volatile situation. “What do you want, Santos?” He ground out the words loud enough the man wouldn’t mistake his question.

“I’ve been sent to retrieve only two things. The police chief with the strange eyes and the money you stole, neither of which belong to you.”

Mateo’s choice of words surprised Grier and sent anger slicing through him. “I don’t have the money, and you’re not taking her. She belongs to no one. Either way, you’ll have to go through me.”

In a flash, Mateo hopped over the rail and jumped between the cars as if he were a much younger man practiced in parkour.He landed next to Grier on the platform and immediately thrust a knife at him.

Grier dodged and parried. The train exited the tunnel, and brightness momentarily blinded him.

He had to get out of this space. Overpowering this maniac wouldn’t be so easy, and the longer it took, the greater the risk to those inside the car, especially Sarah and the chief. He had a feeling the chief was about to burst through the door to help him. And the only way to keep her safe, to keep everyone safe, was to get Mateo off this train.

Grier was too close to use his gun effectively without risk.

Instead...

Aiming for Mateo’s midsection, Grier rushed forward, knocking the knife from his hand at the same time he lifted the surprised man off his feet. They both toppled over the rails and onto the rise near the tracks. Pain ignited in Grier’s shoulder and back as he rolled down the incline. He tried to stop his momentum before he tumbled into the woods, digging his hands into the meadow grass, dirt, and rock. Finally, he stopped. Caught his breath. Ignoring the pain, he scrambled to his feet, then up the hill, and grabbed the gun he’d dropped when he slammed into the ground.

Grier quickly glanced around and spotted Mateo at the tree line about ten yards from the tracks, getting to his feet. The man scowled at Grier then took off.

“Grier!”

The chief called from the back of the last car as it continued rolling toward White Pass Summit.God, please let her stay on that train.

Grier might never recover from the fact Krueger had given his life for him, but he wouldn’t fail the chief...Autumn...the woman he loved. Hemusttake this guy down.

He started for Mateo, racing through the woods and cutting between the trees. The thick clouds at this altitude reducedvisibility, and he quickly lost sight of the man. He paused to listen.

Hearing footfalls, Grier hunkered behind thick foliage and waited. Was Mateo getting closer or farther away? Hard to tell. The chief stepped out of the fog, then made her way to him.

“What happened towestick together?” She glared at him.

That was fair. But...“I saw a chance to take him out, get him off the train, and I took it.”

She nodded, respect in her eyes. “I would have done the same thing if given the chance.”

“All we have to do is find him,” he said. “Secure him and take him for transport.”

“Oh, is that all?”

“I think he’s going to find his way back to the train for a ride back down. If we don’t get up there, he’ll slip through our fingers again.”

“You’re probably right. He could jump on the passenger train and ride back down since it’s round trip or go into Canada and disappear or take the bus back at Mount Frasier. But it’s risky. They’ll definitely be looking for him, so he won’t be entering across the official border.”

“I don’t think he planned to be thrown from the train. No one is out there waiting to pick him up.”

They shared a look.

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