He could get to her if he wanted, so that’s why she’d gone into WITSEC—so he couldn’t retaliate because he wouldn’t be able to find her. In a way, Theo Dawson was like a mob boss, heading up his own “family” and she had betrayed him. But what if he had found her now? It sure felt like that was the case.
“Oh, believe me, my boss is talking to multiple agencies to look into where the threat is coming from. But it’s a delicate situation because we need to keep witnesses safe and not expose them any more than they already are. Tonight, you’re my priority. I need to find a place where you can be safe.”
“I trust you, Ben. You’re good at what you do and I’ve never doubted that. I know you’ll get us somewhere off the grid.”
“So, we’re heading east instead of north or south. Does that mean...” Tears of joy choked off her words.
“That we’re heading to Holly House to check on your brother? That was my plan.”
She closed her eyes in relief. She was absolutely dying to see Brighton.
“I can’t wait to see him.”
“We’ll talk about it, think it through, and make sure we’re being cautious before we approach him. I don’t want to lead anyone to him. But we’ll get close, and then we’ll look at what’s happening with this security breach before we make a decision to see him. Brighton’s in the safest possible place at the moment. Contacting him right now could be dangerous for him—and if we decide it is, then we’ll need to keep our distance. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I would never want to bring harm to him. I’ve done enough by turning on my uncle.” Rubbing her arms, she stared out into the silvery moonlit landscape of the desert.
Lord, please keep my brother safe. And thank You for sending Ben to save me back at the lake. And please help me not to fall for him again. Not to get hurt.
The more time she spent with Ben, the greater the danger of having her heart broken again. Getting across Nevada and then Utah would take a couple of days, even if they drove straight through. Spending all that time with him, never leaving his side, would she be able to maintain any kind of emotional distance? She just wasn’t sure. She’d have to try to stay focused on her brother.
“Will they put a security detail on Brighton to keep him safe?”
“I’ll call my chief back and ask. But we already know Holly House is well equipped with security and it isn’t easy to get into or out of.”
Ben grabbed Chasey’s hand and squeezed, but said nothing more to reassure her.
Because, really, what could he say?
SIX
The sky turned gray with early morning light as they approached the outskirts of Salt Lake City, Utah. They’d made it through the rest of the night without anyone following them along the long stretch of highway, with only a few more stops for gas.
Ben should feel relieved but he didn’t. From Salt Lake, it was another seven or so hours on the road, at least, to Denver where Brighton lived. And that was only if the weather cooperated. If they hit snow in the mountains, it could slow them down or potentially stop them altogether.
Am I making the right decision?
Was driving to the Holly House the best use of their time?
Was he only putting both Chasey and Brighton in danger? Should he risk a flight to Denver? No, definitely not. Whoever was after Chasey might be monitoring the airlines. It would certainly be easier watching the airports than watching all of the roads, which meant the roads were the safest place for them right now.
A horn honked and Ben opened his eyes to see the grill of a vehicle coming right for him. His heart jumped to his throat.
“Ben!” Chasey shouted.
He swerved back into his lane and caught his breath. Pushed his heart back into his chest. But his pulse still pounded violently. He’d...he’d fallen asleep? He had to do better than this. So much better or he would end up getting them both killed.
“That’s it,” Chasey said. “I’m driving now.”
“You’re in no better shape than I am.” Ben exhaled, letting the rush of adrenaline drain out of him. “We’re stopping.”
“What? In Salt Lake?”
“It should be fine. There’re a lot of people here and we can get lost in the crowd.”
“If they know which direction we’re headed, then there are only so many state highways we could take from that gas station, and Salt Lake is an obvious place to stop,” she said. “I don’t...I don’t want them to find us again.”
“We don’t have a choice.” He didn’t like to admit it, but it was true. “I’ll find a place off the beaten path.” He turned into another gas station and pulled up to the pumps.
He sensed her growing anxiety and added, “Don’t worry. Once we get some rest, we’ll drive straight through to see your brother.”
They’d both been through so much in the last day that it was weighing on them, exacting a price. They were both drained and Ben was forced to admit they couldn’t go any farther tonight.
Her lips cracked into a brilliant smile, which completely surprised him, but then again, news of going to see Brighton had put it on her face. That smile reached all the way to her warm hazel eyes. Ben’s heart jumped around inside. He would love for that smile to be for him.
He pushed that unbidden thought deep down and out of the way.
“I hope he’s safe,” she said. “He has to be. But I can’t help but worry, and I miss him.” The smile fell from her lips and she looked at the gas station.
No doubt she was remembering what they’d gone through only a few hours ago.
“I’ll gas up and then we’ll find a hotel. We can order takeout. Are you okay waiting to get something to eat?”
“Sure. I still have the snacks from the other place.” She lifted the bag.
Neither of them had eaten after that terrifying experience, though Ben had downed the coffee. A lot of good that had done. He’d still fallen asleep at the wheel.
Ben counted the cash in his pocket. Really, he would have benefitted from a vehicle that was less of a gas guzzler, but that had been the trade-off he’d made. He’d needed something safe, anonymous and without any trackable software installed, that C.J. could provide right away. The old Suburban had been the best option, but that didn’t mean it was without its drawbacks. At this rate, he’d run through his stash of money very quickly. He could only hope that he’d have other resources to draw on when that happened. As soon as they checked into a hotel, Ben would contact Chief Calvin to find out if he had learned who had been behind the attacks.
Chasey rested her head against the seat back, trusting Ben with her life. He hesitated mentioning Brighton to his chief. If his supervisor sent someone to watch out for Brighton, then their inside man might be able to learn where Brighton had gone. If not, Brighton wouldn’t be as well protected. But only Ben and Chasey, Brighton’s sister and guardian, would know his whereabouts. Ben had no choice but to trust that the facility was secure and that Brighton remained well hidden.
He dashed inside the convenience store and left enough bills for the gas. “Keep the change.” Then hurried back to the Suburban.
He found Chasey snacking on Doritos.
“I thought you were going to wait to eat. I don’t want you to ruin your breakfast.”
“Breakfast?” She arched a brow. “This is dinner, after which I’m going to crash, thank you very much. Maybe we can do a late lunch. But, Ben, what about clothes? Toiletries? I’ve got...nothing.”
“We’ll get checked in and then I can pick up what we need.” And somehow keep a low profile while protecting her.
He would just have to remain vigilant—more vigilant that he’d already been.
One thing for certain, Ben needed a few hours’ rest so he could think clearly. He had the sense that he was missing something important. He steered from the gas station and drove around the
city until he found them a motel off the beaten path, as he’d promised. Then he paid cash for two connecting rooms to give Chasey privacy while keeping her safe.
After ushering them into their adjoining rooms, Ben parked the Suburban across the street behind a shopping strip mall. On the off chance that someone was tracking the vehicle, having some distance from it would give him a head start in getting away. He hoped. He had a lot of tricks up his sleeves, but if there truly was an inside man, that person would also know many of the same tricks, and could already be one or many steps ahead of Ben.
Their rooms were at the back of the hotel, blocked from the parking lot’s view behind a copse of trees. There were pros and cons to that, but Ben chose to take advantage of the trees. He jogged across the street and entered his room. He found Chasey snoring on the bed in hers.
Before he slept, he needed to check in with the chief. Ben checked the locks on the door in Chasey’s room, and mostly closed the door between their rooms, leaving it open a crack. He didn’t want to wake her, so he stepped outside his room, leaving the door partially open, as well. He leaned against the wall and observed their surroundings. If he angled just right he could catch a glimpse of the parking lot across the street. He saw no familiar vehicles, except the Suburban. No snipers could position themselves to take a shot at her.
He moved to stand in the trees where he could both watch his surroundings and engage in a private conversation.
Before his brain was too fried, he called his chief.
“Bradley. I’ve been waiting for your call.”
Ben didn’t like the sound of the chief’s tone, and dread filled his gut. “What’s happened?”
“Your brother contacted us because he’s worried about you. Someone put C. J. Carlton in the hospital.”
“What? When did that happen?”
“Sometime last night. Reece wasn’t able to contact you to warn you, but he believes C.J. was beaten to force him to give up information about the vehicle you took from the lot.”
Not good. “Is he going to be okay?”
“I have someone checking on him.”
“Even if they know the vehicle, it doesn’t mean they can find us.”
“It’s your decision whether or not you want to ditch the Suburban.”
“Thank you for keeping me informed.”
He wanted to hang his head to absorb the news but instead remained alert. He’d made the right decision parking the Suburban behind a strip mall. Now he wondered if he would just have to leave it and secure entirely new transportation—somehow. With barely any money. People like C.J. didn’t exist on every corner.
“What of the other witnesses?”
“So far, so good.”
“That makes me question why someone is so aggressively pursuing Chasey. It’s sounding more and more like she was the main target all along.”
“I hear you and we’re looking into possible ties with her uncle, but that can take a while.”
“What about the man who attacked us at the gas station? The way that went down seemed strange. He claimed he wanted to rob the place, but he seemed much more interested in capturing Chasey. Who is he?” Ben had not found ID on him.
“I have someone looking into him. Nothing to report yet. And I personally questioned everyone in our offices last night, and everyone is accounted for. I don’t know who the marshal you claimed you saw is.”
“Claimed, I saw? Chief, I know what I saw—even if I can’t be sure that the man was in a uniform that he earned rather than one he bought or stole. And what about the man who went into the lake? Were the locals about to grab him?”
“No. And...there’s something else.”
Ben sighed. “What is it?”
“Your Volvo is toast.”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone set it on fire at the car lot. You’ve made someone very angry.” Chief Calvin blew out a breath. “By taking Chasey to safety and thwarting her attempted murder or abduction, you’ve made an enemy, Ben.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time.”
“I’d say let’s hope it’s the last, but that doesn’t sound exactly right, either.”
Though the comment might have elicited a chuckle on another day, Ben couldn’t bring himself to laugh. “I’ll contact you again soon.”
Ben ended the call, but his chief’s words still ricocheted around in his brain.
You’ve made an enemy, Ben.
Ben had been leaning so heavily on thinking that Chasey’s uncle was behind the attacks on Ben’s witnesses in a search for his niece, he hadn’t thought about the attacks being about him.
If this really was about Ben, he was doing Chasey no favors by trying to protect her personally. She’d be safer the farther she got from him...
A fierce pounding grew louder in his head. He went back into his room and laid on the bed, hoping he could sleep because he had a long drive ahead. But he knew that he wouldn’t be able to sleep.
What do I do, Lord?
Ben made one more call on his cell then closed his eyes.
* * *
Chasey curled under the covers and positioned the pillow over her head. Though it blocked out daylight, it barely muffled the noise of the housekeeper vacuuming in the room next door. Or the traffic along the highway or all the other activity that came with the day. Too bad that the world seemed intent on waking her up. She would love to keep sleeping so she could forget the dangerous predicament she was in.
Growling, she threw off the pillow and sat up.
Bright white from the snow outside cut through the cracks in the curtains. Chasey stretched and yawned as she listened to her stomach growl.
Brighton was only another day of driving away. Less than a day—seven hours, Ben had said. She glanced at the clock. No wonder she was hungry. It was nearing noon. Ben had explained he’d paid for two days so they could get the rest they needed without worrying about checking out before noon. But the sooner they were underway, the faster they would see Brighton. She was eager to get going—but only if Ben was ready to head out, too. If he was still sleeping, she knew she should let him rest. He’d need to be at his best to make the drive and stay on top of protecting her.
Protecting them.
She couldn’t shake the sense that Brighton needed to be protected, too. That this was about more than witnesses or even retaliation.
Uncle, what are you up to?
Knowing she wouldn’t be able to fall back to sleep because she was eager to see her brother, she slipped from bed and eyed the shower.
Oh. That’s right. She had nothing to change into. Oh well, at least she could freshen up a little. At the sink she washed her face and, in the mirror, she noticed a plastic bag on the floor near the small table by the window. She’d missed that when she’d gotten out of bed.
She rushed over and opened the bag. Seeing it contained clothes, she eagerly dumped them on the bed. When did he do this? Chasey lifted the items—jeans, sweats and a couple of T-shirts. Enough to get her through until this was over, or until she had the opportunity to buy her own things. Also included was a small bag of toiletries. How thoughtful.
Of course, she’d always known that about Ben. During the time she’d spent living out of a hotel while she’d waited for trial, Ben and a couple of other marshals—Lisa and Natalie—had been stuck in the room with her. They had been assigned to protect her; she’d been terrified of reprisal or murder to keep her from testifying against her uncle. She’d been the only witness against him.
Oddly enough, Ben had been much more attuned to her needs, much more thoughtful, in making sure she was comfortable and happy and lacked for nothing, than the two female deputies. Later, she’d hoped that might have had more to do with his feelings for her—though she’d never been sure if she was right about that or just seeing what she wanted to
see.
Whether or not he had fallen for her as she had for him, they’d both known he would never stay with her or commit to her. She would do well now to remember what happened before, how much he’d hurt her, and not let Ben’s kindness get to her again.
Chasey readied for the day. It felt good to be clean and dressed in clothes she hadn’t been jogging in the day before or had fought with two different men in while fleeing through the night.
Slumping to the bed, she thought through everything she’d undergone the previous day—and then earlier than that. Yesterday had been the most dramatic day of her life... But back before the trial, before she’d turned in her uncle, she’d endured living in fear when her eyes were opened to the kinds of business activities he’d participated in. The dangerous clientele he worked with. She’d only been “free” for this past year, living under a new identity. Had only started to believe she could have a chance at a new life the last few weeks. Still that new life hadn’t included Brighton. They’d separated because she believed her uncle or anyone working for him would have a more difficult time finding them if they were apart rather than together. In the end, that hadn’t mattered and she had been found anyway.
Once she and Brighton were together again, and she hoped that would be soon, she would never again be separated from him.
When the tears surged, Chasey pressed her face into her hands and prayed.
Lord, how long do I have to go through this? Haven’t I endured enough? Please protect us from whoever is pursuing us. Please keep us safe from the wicked men after us. And please, please, hide Brighton in the shadow of Your wings.
A hand gently pressed against her back and she started, relaxing when she saw that it was only Ben. He eased next to her on the edge of the bed, smelling of soap and dressed in new duds, too.
“Are you all right?” He grimaced and gave an apologetic shrug. “Sorry, that was a dumb question.”
High Stakes Escape Page 6