Page 51 of Shrouded Past

He charged toward the fenced area that separated the subdivision from the road. Some distance behind him he heard voices. They were coming.

He faced the fence and gathered a couple of breaths before he started climbing.

It seemed twice as hard to summit than it did when he arrived. He’d planned to wait until the house was quiet before grabbing the woman. He’d made a huge mistake by not doing it when it was just her and him. When the others arrived, he knew he was in trouble. He’d managed to reclaim his hiding place after he’d spoken to his boss. This was his last chance. And now he’d failed again.

He dropped to the ground with a thud. Glanced behind him.

They were gaining on him.

He had to reach the car. Everything depended on him reaching the car.

He ran as fast as he could to get there.

In the distance, a far more frightening sound could be heard. A siren. Cops. Time was running out.

???

Someone knocked on the back door, causing Piper to startle.She bit back a scream.

Rachel rose and clamped her shoulder. “It’s JT and Bryce. I heard sirens. Will must be taking over the hunt.” She moved to the door and unlocked it. “Did you find anything?”

“We saw the direction he went.” JT said to his wife while Bryce came over to where Piper stood and tugged her into his embrace.

“He undoubtedly had a car parked on the road,” Bryce told her. “Will’s checking to see if he can find anything useful. He’s sending his forensic team this way to gather evidence from the attic.”

Piper wanted to believe they’d find something but if Darby was their man, he’d know how to keep his identity secret.

A vehicle pulled into the drive.

“That must be forensics.” JT went to the door and stepped outside. Rachel and Katrina followed.

“How are you holding up?” Bryce asked, his concern for her evident.

“I’m okay.” But she was far from it. It seemed that her kidnapper was determined not to leave the island without her, and, so far, their attempts at capturing him had failed.

Members of the forensic team came in and nodded to them.

“I’ll show you the way.” JT led the team upstairs.

“Will’s on his way here now,” Rachel told them. “Declan and Eli arrived shortly after he did, and they canvassed the area. Looks like he managed to escape.” Sympathy showed in Rachel’s eyes as she looked at Piper. “I know this is hard. Believe me, before the identity of my stalker was revealed, I thought it would never end.”

“Thank you.” Piper was grateful to her for sharing her story. It gave her hope.

A knock at the front door had everyone turning.

“It’s Will.”

Katrina opened the door to let Will, Declan, and Eli inside.

“It’s really coming down out there,” Declan exclaimed and ran his hand through his hair, eliciting a puddle at his feet.

“Let me get you all some towels.” Janine hurried away, returning with three towels.

“Thanks. There were tracks in the woods near the road. He must have been parked there while he was hiding out in the attic.” Eli’s jaw ticked as he dried off. “I can’t believe he was up there and we didn’t know it.”

Bryce reminded him if they were dealing with someone in law enforcement he’d have skills.

“No doubt. Still, that’s unnerving.”

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