Focus Lost

by Doug Cooper

  Eva unfastens her seatbelt and extends her taped hands to Gabe. “Here, take my wrists.”

  Gabe grabs hold of the tape binding and pulls her toward the back of the Jeep.

  Levi latches onto her leg but he’s too weak from his injuries to stop her. Hannah crawls up his legs onto his lap. Levi says, “Don’t worry, baby. Everything is going to be fine.”

  Safely at the back of the Jeep, Eva turns back toward Levi but doesn’t say anything. She just shakes her head and smiles.

  Gabe lifts her from the Jeep and sets her on the ground. “We can’t leave him. Hold my legs and we’ll lift him out.”

  “No fucking way. He tried to kill us. I’m not saving him. Besides, even if I wanted to, I’m not strong enough. Not to mention the snake on his lap. She’ll probably bite you. We need to go for help.”

  “Not enough time.” Gabe removes the tape from her wrists and ankles. “I’ll just have to hold you then.”

  “Fuck that,” Eva says, her adrenalin becoming anger. “He deserves to die. He did all this.”

  Gabe moves toward the back of the Jeep. “I’m going to save him with or without you.” Eva reaches for him, but he pulls away, saying, “I have to at least try.”

  Eva shakes her head in frustration. “Fine. Grab the back of my legs.” She climbs onto the unsteady Jeep, which shifts forward from the movement. She sinks her fingers into the top of the back seat. “This is such a bad idea.”

  “We’ll be fine,” Gabe says. “If the Jeep goes, we’ll fall back on land.”

  “Jesus Christ,” Levi yells. “Hurry up already. This thing is going to go at any second.”

  “You need to free yourself.” Eva asks. “Can you unfasten your seatbelt?”

  “I think so.” With his left arm still pinned between the door and the seat, Levi moves his right arm toward the clasp, wincing in pain. Hannah remains coiled on his lap. After several attempts, he works free from the belt. “I think I got it.”

  Gabe says, “Can you get to the phone? I’ll call for help.”

  “No fucking way. You guys will leave me.”

  “You’re going to need medical help,” Gabe says, stretching his arm toward him. “Trust me.”

  Levi maneuvers his hand to his pocket and fishes out Eva’s phone, extending it to Gabe.

  Chapter 25

  Abbie walks down the middle of the desolate road, scanning from line to line for the keys. She glances back toward the car to gauge how far she had come, but it had been swallowed up by darkness long ago. Faint sirens float from the distance. She stops and turns, taking a few steps back toward the car. The subdued sounds strengthen and soon scream toward her with flashing lights. Two LAPD cars and an ambulance screech to a halt down the road. Officers from both cars emerge with guns drawn crouching in the door wells. A command from inside the car orders their weapons down. The officer from the passenger side of the car on the right steps back and opens the back door. Marcus emerges followed by two paramedics from the ambulance. All hurry toward Abbie. She lifts her hands to shield the lights.

  “It’s Deputy Ambrose,” Marcus says. “Are you alone?”

  She runs toward him. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She leaps into his arms. He awkwardly receives her, gently patting her back. She says, “I am now. Levi was here, but he took them. I mean, first he took me, but then he had them come here, and he exchanged them for me. I think he’s going to hurt them. We have to do something.”

  The paramedics stand on each side of them. Marcus steps back so they can examine her. He asks, “Are you hurt?”

  She pushes back away from the paramedics. “I’m fine! But he has a gun and was talking all crazy. We have to find them.”

  “We will,” Marcus says. “That’s why we’re here. Eva texted us to come.” Not wanting to worry her, he doesn’t reveal the manhunt that has ensued after they found the body at his house. “Any idea where he might’ve taken them?”

  Abbie hurries toward the police cars. “I think so. It’s not far. But it was dark. I don’t know if I remember the way. It’s an old farm.”

  “Do you remember an orchard?” Marcus asks, taking some folded papers from his pocket.

  Abbie stops, turning back toward Marcus. “Yeah, that’s right. I got free and ran into a field with a bunch of trees. Smelled like rotten apples.”

  Marcus unfolds the papers and points to a location on one of the pages that has a map. “It must be here. I found an old orchard farm that Eva arranged the purchase of a few years back by some private company. Had to be for Levi.”

  “Yeah, that has to be it.” Abbie sprints for one of the police cars. “Come on. We already might be too late.”

  They all follow and get back into their respective vehicles. Predawn light mixes with a morning mist and floats down the road and into the surrounding trees. The police car with Marcus and Abbie leads, sirens blasting and lights blazing.

  Careening down the canyon road, the convoy curves onto the concealed course and cruises past the house and barn into the orchard. A thick fog offsets the visibility from the increasing morning light. The cars slow in the thick weeds, which fill the grills and wrap around the tires. The ambulance plows through unimpeded. A piece of wood flies up smashing the windshield of the lead car. The driver slams on the breaks. The car slides into a tree. The trailing car swerves to avoid, spinning into another tree. The ambulance powers on toward the edge of the cliff. The officers spring from the stalled cars, opening the doors to let out Marcus and Abbie. She immediately charges toward the cliff following the tire tracks of the ambulance through the weeds. The officers and Marcus trail after her. The ambulance stops at the edge. A thin trail of smoke rises from just beyond the cliff.

  ◆◆◆

  In the back of the Jeep, Gabe stands on the ground holding Eva’s legs. She works to free Levi from between the seat and the door. The Jeep rocks with every move.

  Levi grimaces in pain. “It’s no use. Forget it. Just save yourself.”

  Eva lowers her voice so only Levi can hear her. “You have no idea how much I’d like to.” She pulls on the seat with one arm and latches onto Levi with the other. Hannah slides up Levi’s chest around his neck and down the other side. With a forceful heave, Eva finally frees him. The Jeep shifts forward on the verge of plummeting down the canyon. She says, “We don’t have much time. It’s about to go. Grab on.”

  Levi seizes Eva’s left hand with his right arm. Hannah crawls along his arm toward Eva. He says, “I can’t hold on much longer.” His grip slides down her arm to her wrist. She wraps her hand around his wrist and grabs his forearm with her other hand. Hannah coils around their joined arms.

  “Pull us back, Gabe,” she screams. “Pull us back now.”

  Gabe arches back, pulling with all his strength. Eva and Levi rise slowly toward the rear of the Jeep. Their eyes lock on one another. All emotion fades from her face. Her stare narrows. She lets go with her left hand. Levi slides down. Hannah hisses, slipping back with him. “What are you doing?” he cries. “We’re almost there. Hold on.”

  Eva lets go with her right hand. Levi loses his grip. His fingers claw down her forearm. She says, “Just know, you were right. I was the one who sent him out to that waterfall.”

  Levi’s fingers wrap around her wrist, clinging by surprise at her revelation as much as survival. “What? But how? I thought you didn’t know him.”

  “But I know you,” she says, locking her hand around his. “I knew you were taking Emily out there that day and would end up at the waterfall. All I had to do was send someone over to his stand and rave about how he needed to shoot it. You’re all so predictable.”

  Gabe plants his foot on the back of the Jeep for more leverage. With Eva holding Levi by only one arm, the force merely stretches her, barely moving Levi. She yells back to Gabe. “Hold steady for a moment. He’s stuck on something.”
r />   Gabe eases up, dropping his leg back to the ground. “You better hurry. We’re running out of time.”

  Levi grabs the back of the passenger seat with his free hand and draws himself toward Eva. “Come on. Help me or we’re both going to fall.”

  “I gave you everything and it still wasn’t enough.” She pulls her arm back. His hand slides over her closed fist, and he falls to the front, taking Hannah with him and forcing the Jeep forward. “This was your choice,” Eva seethes. The Jeep teeters for a moment then breaks free, launching over the edge, plummeting wheels-side-up to the bottom.

  In the orchard, Abbie, Marcus, and the officers intersect with the paramedics, who had run back toward them. Abbie breezes by toward the canyon. Scant strings of smoke streaming from below thicken to billowing pipes. Seeing the marks from the Jeep, she hurries to the edge. Marcus trails a few steps behind. Peering down the canyon, she sees the Jeep falling. The vehicle drifts from her line of sight over the edge. Abbie plunges down the slope to see farther into the canyon.

  Marcus grabs for her, his hand waving behind her back. “Wait for the officers. Let them go first.” She doesn’t stop. Marcus descends the slope after her, beckoning the officers and paramedics to follow. Instead they stop at the edge and watch the Jeep fall. Marcus yells, “Come on. Let’s get down there.”

  At the next plateau, Abbie scampers to the edge and looks down. On the ledge below, Gabe and Eva lie safely on their backs. She calls to them, but they can’t hear her.

  Gabe stands and helps Eva up. “Are you all right?

  “Yeah. I lost my grip.” She throws her arms around him. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t hold on any longer. I can’t believe it.” Forced tears flow down her cheeks. “We almost had him.” They walk to the edge and peer down at the wreckage.

  At the bottom of the canyon, the Jeep bursts into flames. They watch the fire devour the wreckage. Gabe says, “No one is ever going to believe this.” He takes out Eva’s phone that Levi had given him.

  “I’m not sure I do,” Eva says. She looks at the phone then at him. “This footage would be worth quite a penny.”

  Holding the phone in front of him toward the wreckage, Gabe frames up the picture. He zooms in to capture the burning Jeep. Hesitating, he looks over at Eva. “I guess they’re just going to have to take our word for it.” He dials 911 and puts the phone to his ear. “Yes, I need to report an accident.”

  Farther up the canyon wall, Abbie with one of the officers firmly holding her arm and guiding her down the slope, is finally close enough to get their attention. Marcus and the paramedics shuffle by them. Abbie yells as loud as she can. “Gabe! Eva!”

  They spin around. Gabe sees the officers and paramedics and ends the call. He looks at Eva. “You contacted Ambrose?” He slides the phone back in his pocket. Eva stares at him, unsure if he is angry. He grabs her hand. “Thank you so much.” They hurry up toward Abbie.

  Abbie pulls away from the officer and leaps into Gabe’s arms. “When I saw that smoke and those skid marks, I—” Feeling her weight into his sore ribs, Gabe groans, stumbling back a few steps. She jerks back. “I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

  One paramedic races to Eva and the other to Gabe, who waves him off. “Just a few broken ribs I think.” Gabe pulls Abbie close. “But other than that, never better.”

  Eva immediately dismisses the other paramedic and walks over and hugs Abbie. “I’m so sorry you got caught up in this.”

  Marcus moves toward them. “It’s a good thing you texted me. What happened to Combs?”

  Abbie steps back. “Did he get away? Is he still out here somewhere? He went completely psycho.”

  Gabe looks down at the smoldering Jeep. “We tried to save him. Eva had him, but she lost her grip.”

  Abbie takes the phone from Gabe. “I need to call Ira and tell him what happened. He’s probably worried sick not being able to get a hold of me.” She dials the number from memory and drifts over to the side, bursting into the story when Ira answers.

  Marcus turns to the officers. “Call it in. We’re probably going to need a helicopter and some fire support. We don’t want that spreading.” One of the officers pulls the radio from his belt and barks orders into the microphone. Marcus further directs the officers. “You two wait here.” He motions to the paramedics. “You guys come with me. Let’s take the ambulance and see if we can find another way to the wreckage. I don’t care what’s left, we’re going through every speck of that wreckage until we find proof Combs died in that crash.” They hurry back up the slope.

  Down the canyon, Hannah hangs from a tree sprouting from the slope. She drops from the branch and falls to a grass-covered plateau. The backpack lies ripped open in the thick sod. Money flutters through the tear, scattering across the ledge. Hannah weaves between the coarse blades and emerges into a clearing next to Levi’s lifeless body. She slides over his right leg and along his groin up onto his stomach. Hundred dollar bills blow across them. Hannah stretches across his chest and stops. Her tongue flits in and out grazing his chin. She extends her head to his lips and hesitates. Smoke rising from the wreckage fills the clearing, continuing its climb up the canyon wall. Hannah curves around Levi’s face and curls into a coil on his chest.

  Gabe, Eva, and Abbie work their way back up the slope to the edge of the canyon. All three look back over the edge in silence. The sirens from the ambulance with Marcus and the paramedics fade as they speed away.

  With Gabe in the middle, they turn and walk back through the orchard. Gabe smiles and puts one arm around each, the sun peeking above the canyon behind them. Eva glances over her shoulder back toward the canyon. The morning light warms her face and strengthens her resolve. A tear wells in her eye but does not fall. Gladness hinders her despair, but the darkness still lingers.

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to acknowledge the following people, with-out whom this book would not have been possible.

  My beloved Christine Kufahl. Thank you for challenging me, exciting me, and most of all loving me every day, every way. Your intelligence, determination, and beauty leave me always wanting more. I’m obsessed with you, monks.

  All my Ohio and Michigan family. After living away for twenty-plus years chasing stories and mischief, so amazing to return home and have your love and support accessible on a regular basis.

  Bookseller extraordinaire, friend of the author, and one pretty cool and crazy chick, Nancy Simpson-Brice. Your passion for books and zeal for life are an inspiration to all who are fortunate enough to fall into your orbit. I don’t always remember everything we talk about (Damn you, Manhattans), but the meaning and motivation never leave me.

  My beta reading team: Michael Cotsopoulos, Tammy Flodmann, Beverly Weyer, Matthew Haynes, Kathy Hayes, Rebecca Bodnar, Bryan McCausland, Barbara Weyer, Luke Szabo, Mara Miller, Lisa Houston, and my man Chad Felton (you jumped on the train early and haven’t let go). Thanks for slogging through the first draft and answering my exacting questions. Your insight was invaluable and critical to the process.

  Ty Harris and Myron Williams. Thanks for the conver-sation and friendship when I needed to get out of my head and just talk Cleveland sports. We got to celebrate a Cavs champ-ionship together. A Super Bowl is next!

  Danny Rizk, Francesca Catanese, and the rest of the Beviamo staff. The Dougie All-In smoothies, perfectly-pulled shots, and invigorating banter fueled this project. You’re also pretty darn good with relationship advise. Thanks for always being there.

  Will, Sully, Amy, Nico, and the rest of the Spotted Owl team. It was amazing…and a bit dangerous to have such an unbelievable cocktail bar in the building. Thanks for hosting my last book release and most of all permitting me to take Sazeracs up to my loft as long as I brought the glasses back. You embody precision, class, and downright old-fashioned cool.

  My stylist and friend, Steve Krampf, aka SJK Style, who has had me l
ooking my best for the past ten-plus years. I appreciate you allowing me to fictionalize you and your brand in this book. There’s actually no SJK Style store in Beverly Hills like in Chapter 11—yet, but maybe soon. In the meantime, to learn more about him and his clothing line, check out SJKStyle.com.

  Carolyn Gardner, Mark Meaden, Barbara Sponseller, Frank Gonet (aka Uncle Frank, as most of the world knows him), Chris Esch, Dave Blackett, Patrick O’Connor, Jeff Goodrich and the rest of my PNC banking family. Thanks for helping me integrate back to Ohio and showing me the parallels between technology development and writing. I am a better writer and person from getting to know you all.

  Tyson Cornell, Guy Intoci, Julia Callahan, Hailie Johnson, Jessica Szuszka, and the rest of the team at Rare Bird Books. My time in LA working on the first two books helped shape the story and your guidance and encouragement lifted it to another level. Thanks for everything.

  And finally, my dearest kitty, Maureen. You made it nineteen years and were with me through every move and all the ups and downs of writing three books and me figuring things out. I miss you every day. Just know, Young Louis has stepped in to keep me focused and on task. I wish you two could’ve shared a can of tuna together.