Page 1 of Fear for Her Life

PROLOGUE

DEER LODGE, MONTANA

Sunday

We’re all going to die.Another explosion rocked the prison, and Amy Clark ran out of the observation deck to join the other prison guards. Choking thick black smoke filled the passageways and heat from a raging fire rushed over her, burning her nostrils. Sirens screamed and she couldn’t hear the warden’s instructions over the loudspeakers. As fire rushed through maximum security, guards worked frantically to escort notorious and dangerous prisoners to safety. Eyes stinging and throat raw, she followed the others from her section along a passageway. They rushed through a door and came face-to-face with the warden. He issued orders to everyone but left her standing alone. She glanced at her watch. If only she’d left at the end of her shift, she’d be home by now, but her replacement hadn’t showed.

“You’re Amy Clark?” The warden scanned a list in his hand.

Wondering what task he had for her, Amy coughed. The smoke was everywhere. “Yes, sir.”

“The fire is contained to one area and will be under control shortly. I’m moving four prisoners from the damaged area to Black Rock Falls County. I’ll need you to accompany the driver of the prison bus.” His stern gaze settled on her face. “I know you’re at the end of your shift, but with the staff shortages, I’ll need all hands on deck. Go home and get everything you need for an overnight stay and be back within the hour. Once the prisoners are delivered, you’ll be staying in town and returning in the morning. I’ll have someone message you with the accommodation details. Be fully aware that these are maximum security prisoners. Wear your riot gear and stay alert at all times.”

Uneasy, Amy nodded. “Yes, sir.” Being five-two and skinny, she’d chosen not to work in maximum security, and although she’d trained in every aspect of her job, her heart raced at the idea of being in such close proximity to the never-to-be-released violent criminals.

“Collect the paperwork before you leave.” The warden sighed. “There will be prison guards to assist with unloading when you arrive. Do not attempt to try this alone. Not one of these men would think twice about killing you if given the chance.”

One hour later, Amy headed toward Black Rock Falls County with four notorious criminals chained together in the back of the prison bus. She glanced at the clipboard and scanned the hastily put-together transfer documents. A wave of fear rushed over her at the list of names: Eduardo Souza, a mob kingpin; “Ice Pick” Mason Margos, a serial killer of more than twenty people; the Silent Strangler, Sebastian Callahan, another serial killer, with a body count of fifteen victims that they knew about; and the Blue Man, Carl Romero, a sadistic serial killer, who preyed on women in the guise of a handyman. She glanced at Bob, the driver. A prison guard in his sixties who spent his time in admissions or driving the prison bus. “Had any problems with transporting maximum security prisoners?”

“Strange as it may seem, they’re usually the quietest.” Bob gave her a smile. “Most times, they don’t say anything at all, but then they’re not usually transferred together. The thing is, even if they start tearing each other apart in the back there, don’t be goaded into opening any of the doors to check them out. Whatever they’ve done to each other will wait until we get to Black Rock Falls County.”

Every time Amy looked around, the prisoners seemed to be just staring out of the windows. Bob wasn’t into conversation, so she admired the scenery as they traveled along the open highway. The blacktop wound through mountains and then into endless expanses of green and brown lowlands. It went on forever and ahead of them was miles and miles of miles and miles with not a vehicle in sight. In the endless blue sky above her hovered a helicopter. The next second, a rush of dust and debris hit the windshield like buckshot. Terrified, Amy instinctively put up her hands and looked away. Wind stirred into a tornado as the powerful blades stripped the trees alongside the road. All around the air shimmered. The noise from the engine deafened her as she screamed at the driver. “What’s happening?”

“Hold tight.” The driver slammed on the brakes and the bus slid sideways.

Hanging on as they bucked and slid. She raised her voice. “Don’t stop. It might be an ambush.”

The bus increased speed as the powerful machine dropped slowly until it sat above them. Thewhoop, whoop, whoopof the blades so loud it trembled through her seat. Wind buffeted the bus as the chopper swung around and hovered in front of them. Two men sat on the edge of the door, their feet dangling like soldiers. She swallowed hard, horrified at seeing rifles in their hands. “Shooter. Drive. Aim straight for them.”

She turned to look at Bob and gasped in horror at the sight of a red dot right in the center of his forehead. She didn’t have time to react as the windshield exploded. Wind hit her in a rush of broken glass, and blood splattered her face as Bob slumped forward. Frantically, she grappled with the steering wheel, desperately trying to get her foot on the brake. In his death throes, Bob plunged his foot down hard on the gas and the bus careered out of control along the highway.

Covered in blood, her hands slipped on the wheel as the bus increased speed, swerving from one side of the highway to the other. She’d never driven a bus before and, in desperation, forced the gear stick into neutral. The bus didn’t slow, and panic gripped her. Ahead, the mountains loomed. Forest lined the highway, the trees getting closer by the second as she fought to keep the bus on the road. Ahead, she hit a steep incline, and although the bus slowed, she’d never make it around the next tight bend. Above her, thewhoop, whoop, whoopof the chopper deafened her. Would she be next?

Using all her strength, she guided the speeding bus around the bend. Tires screamed and the bus tilted dangerously and bounced along the rough edge of the highway. The next second, the driver’s side wheels mounted the verge alongside the blacktop and bounced into the gully. The world shifted as the bus rolled. Time slowed as she flew through the air, arms and legs flailing. In a scream of torn metal, the bus slid along the blacktop. She could hear the prisoners yelling as the bus slammed into a line of trees and stopped in a screech of metal. Broken glass flew around like confetti, and steam poured from the engine, filling the cab. The bus moaned as if in its death throes, and behind her she could hear the curses of the prisoners.

Dizzy, Amy shook her head and panic gripped her. The chopper made a sweeping turn and was coming back. The engine grew louder and whipped up the dust from the road and tossed it at her through the broken window. She must move—now! Pain shot through her shoulder, taking away her breath. She’d slammed into the partition and then fallen onto Ben. She groaned at the bloody mess under her. Ben’s body had taken the full impact. Sickened, she crawled off him. Shaken but with only a few bruises, she scrambled around searching for her backpack and phone. She needed to call for assistance immediately, but just as she’d grabbed her bag, the chopper dropped from the sky and landed in front of the bus. Men wearing balaclavas and carrying assault rifles poured out of the chopper. They ran straight for her, aiming their guns. Pulling her weapon now would be suicide.

“Open the door and we’ll let you to live.” A man walked up to her, aiming his rifle at her head. “We didn’t come here to kill anyone. The driver was collateral damage. Do as we say and everything will be fine.”

Amy glanced over her shoulder and through the glass partition at the prisoners. They all hung from their seats attached by the chains. None of them appeared to be badly injured. “What do you want? There’s no money on this bus.”

“We don’t want money.” The man barked a laugh in amusement. “You have one of our friends and we want him back. Give him to us and you will walk free. Act the hero and I’ll shoot you and blow a hole in the door to take the keys from your dead body. I would rather not get my hands dirty.” His black eyes met her gaze. “Do you want me to count to ten?”

Shaking her head, Amy grabbed her backpack, opened the door, and slid out. The moment her feet touched the ground, rough hands grabbed her and searched her. They tossed her weapon, stamped on her phone, and grabbed the keys to unlock the bus and free the prisoners’ shackles. One man twisted her arms so high behind her back breathing was difficult. She gaped in horror as the man she recognized as mob boss Eduardo Souza climbed out of the bus with the help of two of his men. Behind him, the three serial killers jumped from the bus and stood watching Souza expectantly.

“You are free, my friends.” Souza grinned broadly. He waved a hand toward the forest. “People enter this forest and are never seen again. It’s a perfect place to hide.” His gaze moved over Amy and, trembling, she held her breath, expecting one of his men to kill her.

“Leave her.” Souza’s mouth curled into a cruel smile as he turned to walk toward the chopper. “I’m sure my friends will enjoy her company.”

ONE

BLACK ROCK FALLS

The last seven years in Sheriff Jenna Alton’s life had become a kaleidoscope of events. The incident that changed her life forever came when she testified against cartel boss Viktor Carlos. His reaction to the never-to-be-released sentence was to threaten her openly in court. As undercover DEA Agent Avril Parker, she endured abuse for two years to take down his organization. She should have gotten a promotion, but instead, federal marshals whisked her away into witness protection. Before arriving in Black Rock Falls, her entire identity had been changed, along with her face. Discovering the sheriff of Black Rock Falls was weak and left the townsfolk unprotected, she became a deputy, then ran for sheriff and won.

She’d formed a reliable and expert team around her. Jake Rowley she’d trained as her rookie deputy and now he’d become a loyal and experienced law enforcer. They’d managed alone until the unexpected arrival of Dave Kane, who she believed was an injured ex-cop looking to recuperate in a slow town. Later she discovered she had employed an active government asset who POTUS had placed in her town to watch over her. As a black ops sniper and later Secret Service agent, Kane didn’t let the metal plate in his head slow him down. She was instantly attracted to the six-five, two-hundred-sixty-pound fighting machine, but it seemed for the first four years at least, that Kane’s only interest in her was protecting her, which drove her crazy.

Her team of Deputies Kane, Rowley, and Zac Rio and K9 unit Johnny Raven worked closely with the medical examiner and Kane’s handler, Dr. Shane Wolfe. Together, they’d faced some of the most notorious serial killers in America and brought them to justice.

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