Page 3 of Swept for Forever
I paused for a few gulps of water, then stilled.
There was a dull thump ahead, a grunt and the sound of something heavy hitting dirt.
Keeping my movements quiet, I took a couple of steps forward.
Just beyond the curve of the trail, the trees thinned. Sunlight dappled the ground in patches, hitting a small clearing where a man stood, half-hidden by the foliage.
Instinct kicked in before logic. I ducked behind a thick bush and peered through the branches.
The guy was lanky, wearing a black jacket zipped up high. He moved in quick, jerky motions, shoving dirt over a shallow hole.
A prickle ran up my spine.
Inside the hole was a duffel bag.
Money? Drugs? Cache of weapons?
It had to be something illegal. Had to be.
The man straightened abruptly and…ow. His whole upper body did this weird hitch, like his neck had a rusted hinge in it. He winced, then gingerly tilted his head left. Right. Left again.
I clamped a hand over my mouth.
A mobster with a neck problem?
My pulse spiked as he scanned the area, his head swiveling in halting motions.
I barely breathed.
He grabbed the duffel bag, then gave one last twitchy glance around. I should’ve used that moment to back away.
I should’ve.
Instead, a rock shifted under my boot.
Crunch.
The man’s head jerked, his whole body stiffening.
Right then, a bark split the air.
The surprise nearly had me falling backward.
Rounding the corner was a black-and-white blur—medium build, lean legs, ears cocked. A dog.
Shit. The man has a dog?
I might’ve escaped a near miss, but a dog wouldn’t miss me.
But the dog wasn’t looking at me. It was barking at him.
“Oh, you decided to come back, huh?” He abandoned his shovel, annoyed. “Lulu, come here.”
Lulu hesitated.
The man’s voice dropped. “I said, come here.”
Her tail tucked, but she didn’t move.
