Page 2 of CHASE: Captive to the Dark

My eyes peeked over the roof of the car and I eased more inside, sliding my foot back toward the brake.

“You okay, ma’am?” The officer had his hand on the butt of his weapon as he held his palm out toward me while he slowly walked forward. Blood. His knuckles were covered in the deep red substance. It was even on the shoulder of his uniform. And he’d looked so angry when I first saw his face.

I didn’t give him an answer. After all the shit I’d seen in my life, I wasn’t about to wait around. I dropped my weight back into the seat and threw the car in drive as I slammed my boot on the accelerator. My door caught and I didn’t bother to reopen and shut it all the way. My mind spun and bile burned my throat as I turned, looking back. The man in plaid was running in my direction, appearing to yell something. The body still lay on the road and I watched the officer stop next to it and reach up to his shoulder. Was he calling dispatch? Was he reporting me for running? Jesus, what if he told them I hit the victim and kept going? I couldn’t see the injuries. If it was a brutal beating, it could appear as a hit and run. Surely the one hurt would tell them I was innocent?

If he lived…

“Fuck. Fuck. Shit.”

The road turned again and I held in the tears that blinded me. What in the hell was going on? Did I go to the police? I didn’t trust cops. Never had after I saw Rory pull them into his pocket. But I couldn’t not tell someone. The man needed help. But if a cop was involved, would they listen to me? Would they side with him? I had to find my brother. He was a lawyer. If anyone could help me, it was him.

The town came into view and I cursed, taking in the old-fashioned two story buildings lining both sides of the street. I looked at the hood of the car. The man had been covered in blood. Had some smeared on the light gold color of my vehicle?

I pulled in between a large truck and SUV, hoping the size would help hide the rental. My phone was in my purse and I reached in to grab it. My hands were shaking so badly, I almost dropped the damn thing in my lap. No bars had a cry coming from my mouth. Before I could figure out what to do, a knock on my window had me screaming and jumping in my seat. An older woman with short grey hair leaned over, looking in at me. I swallowed hard, rolling down the window. Where in the hell had she come from so fast?

“You okay in there? Looks like you might have hit something.”

Fuck. I knew it.

“I…” My voice cracked and I tried to hold in the sob. “There was a man. He…no. Two men.” Words blurred together while I battled with what was safe to say. If I told her, she’d involve the cops. I couldn’t let that happen yet.

“Two men what?”

“I’m looking for my brother, Rory McIntyre. Do you know where I can find him?”

The woman stiffened and slowly rose to stand straight. “Don’t know who you’re talking about.” She opened the passenger side of the truck, where a man was already sitting inside. I had to force my mouth closed at her abrupt ending to the conversation. The door slammed and I watched as they reversed and pulled away. I didn’t wait around. Cautiously, I got out of the car and headed farther into the town. My eyes constantly scanned behind me as I waited for a police vehicle to arrive at a fast speed. My heart was racing and I felt sick as I glanced at the names of the shops I passed.

A woman with a little boy walked out of a pizza parlor and I jogged forward to meet them as they neared an SUV.

“Excuse me!”

Dark hair whipped around and a smile came to her face as she paused.

“Hi, I’m sorry to bother you. I’m looking for my brother. I was wondering if you could help me?”

“Your brother?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, I’m not from here. He owns a law firm here in Untold. His name is Rory McIntyre.”

The stiffening confirmed my fears. The woman knew him, or knew of him. Just like everyone else in this town. Goddammit. What had Rory done?

“I…did you say he’s your brother?”

“Yes. Do you know where I can find him? I believe his law firm is somewhere here along this strip.” I quickly pulled up my phone. “I might have the address somewhere. If you could just point me in the right direction.”

I stole glances as she turned, staring down the street.

“No need to keep looking. Two blocks down on this side.”

Before I could thank her, she was already pulling her son toward the SUV. Nervously, I checked the road behind me, only seeing older model vehicles making their way through. A frown came to my face while I took off walking again at high speed. These people knew something concerning my brother and I was almost afraid to discover what it was.

Chapter 2

Chase

All black. White collar. A priest.

As I stared at the reflection in the wall-length mirror in my room, I didn’t recognize the person looking back at me. The appearance was mysteriously familiar enough, but not the apparel. Was this really me? Was I a man who had devoted himself to the church? It left me puzzled. I’d sat through numerous services since I’d been brought back here from the hospital, but this life didn’t seem real. I knew nothing of the Catholic religion. Nothing of God. I had been thrown into a world of unfamiliarity and it left me with constant vertigo. They said I had amnesia. That I’d been attacked one night and left for dead. The head injuries I’d woken up to confirmed they spoke the truth. But where was my family? My friends? Shouldn’t they have been by my side, trying to remind me who I was?

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