Page 104 of Sutton's Shadow

Travis Muñoz was a recent hire of Jonah’s thatHollynnhad worked with over the last month. She didn’t know what prompted Jonah’s shift in attitude towards her coworker. When the shots started pinging through the hanger and Jonah lay bleeding on the concrete floor, he’d told her to run. Wanting to help the man who’d been like a father to her, she’d hesitated. She should have listened.

She glanced at her instruments in the cockpit to seethe fuel gauge needle on the big E, and she wished shehadlistened.Hollynnflicked the gauge with her fingers, realizingsomewhere in the back of her headthefutilityof the movement.

But alas, no luck. The stupid needle remained on the E.

Travis and his guntotingfriends must have hit thefuel tank as she made her escape from the small airfield that had been her second home since she was young.

Jonah Krause had raised her at that airfield. Instilling in her a love for all things flying. Uncle Jonah and her father had been buddies in the Air Force together. AfterHollynn’s father passed, and her mother became distant in her grief, Uncle Jonah had taken her under his wing. He’d taught her to fly and had been so proud the day she told him she was joiningSokaris Air.

But now her surrogate parent was gone, and she could very well join him if shedidn’t get her wits about her.

Hollynnreached for the radio to transmit her mayday but hesitated.Travis would be listening for her. She’d seen Travis kill Jonah and was now a murder witness.She knew, instinctively she would be next if Travis or his goons found her.Using the radio was definitely out.

Hollynnrooted around in her backpack for her cell. She could call someone. Sheshouldcall someone. Someone she trusted.

But who?

Sadly, Jonah had been one of her only friends. Since she’d been home, her days had beensolitary. She worked alone for the most part. And she went home alone. It was a pathetic life she’d locked herself into.

But recently, Jonah had been giving her more operational control of Haven’s Dust, thecrop-dustingbusiness he owned. She’d been working closely with Madison Ghannon, a local freelance bookkeeper. They’d met several times at a local bar togo over the finances and Hollynn had enjoyed her time with the woman. Her sister had joined them on a few occasions with an innate ability to make Hollynn feel welcomed.

The Ghannon sisters were close to the Nighthawks, a group of men and women who worked in search and rescue. Maybe ifHollynncalled Maddie, one of her friends could help.

Decision made, she unlocked her phone and pulled up Maddie’s contact information and hit the phone iconto make the call. Putting it on speaker, she waited for her to answer.

“Hey,Hollynn,” Maddie answered. “I was just about to call you. I’ve finishedyour quarterly review if you’d like to meet sometime to go over it.”

“Jonah’s dead,”Hollynngasped, still in disbelief. Saying it out loudcaused her heart to clench and her throat to close up.

“What?”

“Travis,” she croaked again. “He killed Jonah.”

“What are you talking about? How do you know?”

“I . . . I saw it,” shepanted.Hollynnknew she needed to slow her breathing before the panic attack she could feel coming hit. Now was not the time for her system to shut down. Her engine was doing enough shutting down for the both of them.

“Oh God,Hollynn. Are you okay?”

“No,” she stated simply. “Listen . . . I’m in the plane heading north. They must have shot the fuel tankas I escaped. I’m going to try to find a place to land safely.”

“Where are you?”Hollynncould hear the worry in Maddie’s voice. “What can I do to help?”

“Callthe police. Tell them you heard shots near Haven’s Dust. Don’t tell anyone about me.”

“Hollynn,” Maddie started to argue butHollynncut her off.

“Idon’t want Travis to find me. I’m sure he’ll kill me too.” The planesputtered again, the engine trying futility to stay engaged.

The noise was so loud there was no way Maddie could miss it. “Oh God,Hollynn!” she yelled. “Tell me where you are? I have friends who can help you.”

“It’s not safe,”Hollynninsisted.

“Please,Hollynn. The Nighthawks can protect you. Many of them are former special forces.”

The engine sputtered again, the noise deafening. “Flick!”Hollynnwheezed under her breath.

“What happened?”

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