Page 18 of Thin Ice

A police car eased down the road that ran in front of the house.

This was Abby’s worst-case scenario. “We have to leave. Now. The barn should block the van from the road, but if they come closer—” They couldn’t stay here any longer.

Victor helped Kinsley to her feet while Brookes gathered the radio and supplies. Once everyone was inside the van, Abby slipped to the edge of the house. Where had the cruiser gone?

She jumped inside the van. “Go, Brookes. I didn’t see the cruiser.”

“Let’s hope they kept driving.” He fired the engine and slowly eased toward the frozen field. He’d covered but a short distance before he checked the side mirror. The cruiser was flying down the drive. “They’ve spotted us. Hold on everyone.” Brookes floored the pedal while she prayed the vehicle was up to the rough ride ahead.

The van bumped across the dirt field that hadn’t been used in years.

Abby kept watch behind them. The cruiser screamed down the long drive, closing the space between them. “Get down.”

Both Victor and Kinsley ducked low. The cruiser swerved onto the field and kept coming.

Brookes kept a close eye on the vehicle. “They’ll have radioed for backup. They’ll be waiting at the road.”

Abby handed Kinsley her phone. “Call your brother. Tell him what’s going on. We’ll have to find another location to meet.”

Brookes reached the woods and didn’t slow down. The van was ill-equipped for taking on the downed branches they’d be facing, but they were out of options.

“My brother’s standing by. He’ll get as close as he can and wait for our call. He says the police are focusing all their efforts on this location.”

Up ahead the trees thinned. Brookes slowed enough to hit the road without losing control. Once the van was steady, he floored it again.

On the road ahead, a police vehicle waited with its lights flashing.

“We can’t turn back,” Brookes said. “The cops following us will do their best to cut us off. We’ll have to try and get through on the shoulder.”

As they neared the cruiser, an officer got out. Abby recognized the man right away. “That’s Tom.”

She looked behind them. “I don’t see the cruiser yet.”

“Go. I’ve got you covered. Get off this road as soon as possible.” Tom yelled to them as they passed by.

“There!” Brookes spotted a side road to the left and didn’t slow down. He whipped onto it which slung the passengers out of their seats. Kinsley screamed when she slammed against the side of the van.

“Are you alright?” Abby twisted in her seat. The pain on Kinsley’s face confirmed she wasn’t.

“I think I busted some stitches. I’m bleeding again.”

“Swap seats with me, Victor.” Holding onto the seat tight, Abby climbed over it and waited until the president was in the passenger seat. “Let me have a look.”

Kinsley grimaced as she eased to the gurney. Her shirt was soaked with blood.

“Looks like most of the stitches are broken. I won’t be able to stitch them up now.” Abby rummaged through the supplies in the van. “I’m going to have to pack the wound and rebandage it, but you’ll have to stay as still as possible.”

“Not a problem,” Kinsley slurred her words and closed her eyes. Her face was devoid of color.

Abby packed as much gauze as she could over the wound. When she finished bandaging, she whispered a silent prayer for Kinsley. Though the entry wound wasn’t large, it would need stitches to close. Unfortunately, Abby didn’t see that happening anytime soon. “What’s going on up there?” Abby asked after Brookes made another turn.

He glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “So far, there’s no sign of anyone following. Tom’s keeping them from discovering which way we’re traveling. I just hope they don’t realize he’s helping us. If they do, he’s as good as dead.”

The words chilled her to the bone. Legion had taken out so many good people already. The death toll for the bombings alone were in the thousands. The thought of another innocent dying was unthinkable.

“We’ve got to ditch this van soon,” Brookes said. “We might as well be riding around with a bullseye on the side of this thing.”

Abby glanced back at Kinsley. “I’m calling your brother back. I’ll tell him where we are and see if he can find a safe place to meet.” Kinsley barely managed a nod.

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