Page 121 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

But he wasn’t going to do any of that, not now.

He turned to her and took her hand. “Jane, there’s somebody inside. We’re trying to save the forests, but it’s not worth killing for.”

Her head bobbed. He’d gotten through to her.

“Okay, okay.” Her gaze flicked from him to the building and back. “Why don’t you go see what you can see. Maybe the car is just broken down or something. Go see if there are any lights on inside.”

Rather than argue, he said, “Don’t get out of the car. Promise?”

Again, she nodded. “I won’t move.”

He climbed from her little hatchback and crept across the lot, keeping low. No need to take the device with him. There was no way he’d be setting it up and starting that timer, lights on inside or not. That was a line he was not willing to cross.

He reached the building, then crept around the side and out of sight. He stopped beside a grouping of windows and checked his watch. He’d wait sixty seconds, then go back to the car. He’d tell Jane he’d seen a light on and get them out of there.

While the second hand made its slow circuit, he picked up a sound. Was that…? Yes, inside, somebody was crying. A woman, by the sound of it.

Crouching again, he jogged back across the lot to Jane’s car, parked on the far edge. He slid into the passenger seat.

The driver’s seat was empty.

He climbed back out, looked around. “Jane!” It was a whispered shout that sounded too loud in the silent night.

There was no answer.

He checked the backseat, dread filling his middle.

The device was gone.

No.

He stood in time to see Jane bolting across the lot. “Get in, get in!”

“Tell me you didn’t?—”

“We have three minutes. Go, go!”

“There’s someone inside!”

She stopped abruptly, eyes wide. Shook her head. “It’s empty. It’s empty. You said it would be empty!”

“There’s a car.”

“Nope. It’s empty. Nobody’s here.” She climbed into the driver’s seat.

What should he do? He could run to the building, bang on the window, try to get the woman out.

She wouldn’t hear. Even if she did, she wouldn’t know what he was saying. She wouldn’t get out in time.

He could try to stop the device, but he’d have to find it. The area where they’d planned to leave it was large enough, it would take time in the darkness.

Either way, it would go off. He’d die too. Or survive and be charged with murder.

“We have to go!” she shouted. The car started moving.

It was too late to save the stranger. He could only save himself and the woman he loved.

He yanked open the back door and dove, barely getting it shut before she floored it.

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