Page 56 of Crossroads of Betrayal
“Sure is a shame about Shelly,” Darrin said as he hurried downhill. “Brynn’s a mess. Heading home today. I know that sonofabitch is responsible for this. I don’t understand how the local police can’t see it.”
Crouching low, Grace ignored the constant burning sensation squeezing her hip. She held the end of the branch like a baseball bat and took a step away from the tree—away from cover. The forest wasn’t as dense as usual with the leaves falling and foliage dying in preparation of winter. But she couldn’t sit back and watch an innocent man die.
Darrin skidded on a patch of wet weeds. He lifted his palms to steady himself. “Whoa. It’s slippery.”
“Tell me about it,” Joan said, bringing her gun out of its hiding spot and training it on Darrin. “No need to come further.”
She moved slowly, snaking between bushes, darting for cover wherever she could find it. Mere feet separated her from Joan, whose attention appeared to be fixed on Darrin. But Grace knew Joan listened for her, was in tune to every little shift of energy. Grace held her breath, calling on every detail of training she’d received during her years in Special Forces to stay under the radar.
“What the…” Darrin’s eyes flew wide, and he held his palms in the air.
Grace raised the branch and snuck behind Joan, slapping the makeshift weapon on the side of her head.
Bang!
The gun went off, and Darrin fell to the ground as Joan collapsed on the forest floor. She kept her grip on the gun and spun around to face Grace. Blood dotted her temple and her lips twisted into a sinister sneer. “I’m going to make you pay for that.”
* * *
Zeke was backin the golf cart beside Lincoln, whizzing toward a path he’d been on only once before. He craned his neck and watched Tucker and Brooke veer off the trail, jump out of their cart, and disappear into the woods. “Where are they going?”
“Chances are Grace took your golf cart to the spot in the forest where Shelly’s body was found. There is more than one way to get there. The path Brooke took is quicker, a straight shot to the death scene, but impossible to reach with the cart. Grace might have ditched the cart and attempted to hike to the spot. We need to cover all our bases, even if the odds are high she couldn’t make it with her injury.”
The explanation was nearly lost in the jumble of terror clogging his brain. He didn’t care who went where or why. All he wanted was to find Grace as quickly as possible and make sure she was safe.
Lincoln whipped around a curve. Wind barreled through the open sides, and the wheels bumped over an upturned root. A deep ravine cascaded down to a narrow stream on one side.
Zeke tightened his muscles, bracing against the jarring impact. He wanted to get out and run, but he didn’t know the land. Didn’t know how to get to Grace. “There’s fresh tire marks, but those could be from anyone.”
“True. But since they lead to where we’re heading, that’s a good sign.”
Bang!
“Gunshot,” Zeke said, his heart lodging in his throat. Oh God, if he didn’t make it in time…if Grace had been hurt or worse…he’d never get over it. Never get over not telling her exactly what she meant to him. Never get over losing her again.
“Sounds close,” Lincoln said. “Do you have a gun?”
Swallowing the bile rising in is throat, he shook his head. He hadn’t wanted to stop and find a gun to bring with him, especially since Lincoln had his weapon. “All I have is my pocketknife.”
Lincoln cast him a quick glance. “You pocketed evidence?”
“I took back what was mine, and I don’t think that’s our biggest concern at the moment.”
Lincoln grumbled something Zeke couldn’t make out, and he didn’t care enough to ask for clarification. His stomach churned with each turn of the tires. Anxiety made his pulse race.
Bang!
Another shot made vomit hit his pallet. “That was even closer. They can’t be far.” He silently urged the cart to go faster, but Lincoln had already reached top speed. The crunch of wheels over sticks and dead leaves competed against the sound of his heart thudding against his breastbone.
A shrill shriek split his eardrums.
Grace!
Mud stalled their progress. The cart slowed, and Zeke jumped out.
“What the hell are you doing?” Lincoln yelled.
“The mud’s too thick. You’re not going to get much further, and I won’t sit around on my ass while you try.” He shot forward, following the tread marks etched into the ground around a bend. The tracks grew thick and went off the trail, before heading toward the tree line. He walked beside the marks, retracing his steps as they circled back to the trail and veered toward the edge of the ravine.
