“Where’s this new place?” Luke asked, glancing over the top of his sunglasses. The love of his life was intently watching her mirrors and the road. She was sexy when she worked.
He was a lucky man.
“It’s off the beaten path, so to speak. I have two locations picked out. The first one has a little of the comforts of home, and the second will suck.”
“How will you choose?” Luke asked.
“I don’t actually make the choice. When it comes to her safety, Avalon has the final say.”
Luke was surprised by that.
Glancing up in the mirror, Maura threw it out there. “Which one do you want to head to first?” she asked, giving her the two general locations.
“The first one is just as risky. We’re not going to have an easy time at either of them, so it’s not going to matter,” Avalon offered.
Both men stared at her.
“You’re going to let Oracle choose?” Luke asked.
Maura laughed. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned when moving her, it’s that she knows what’s best. She’s my secret weapon against the enemy.”
Nate brushed a strand of hair from Avalon’s face. ‘“Okay, so which place?”
“We should go with the cabin with more luxury.”
Maura was good with that. “There’s more of a paper trail, and the Blackhawks know about it, but it’s worth the risk. There’s going to be a bit of a hike in. Is everyone okay with that?”
Avalon nodded. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just need to hold someone’s hand.”
As if on cue, Nate did just that. Gently, he ran the pad of his thumb over her knuckles. One of the things he liked most about the woman beside him was even if the chips were down, she didn't whine or complain.
She was a trooper.
“It won’t be too bad,” Maura reassured. “If you had a good night’s rest, it’ll be like a walk in the park.”
Luke started laughing, knowing that neither of the people in the back seat had slept—not much. In fact, someone had been up all night.
“Why is your partner all chuckles over that statement, Nathaniel?” she asked sternly.
“Because your fiancé is a pervert,” he replied, not even batting an eyelash. While Maura didn't want him getting involved with Avalon sexually, it didn't matter what her opinion was. He had to follow his heart.
Besides, it wasn’t up for discussion.
As if to prove his point, he pulled her under his arm and dropped a kiss to the crown of her head.
Before they could comment more, Avalon’s body jerked upright. It was like every muscle in her body went tense. “We’re in trouble,” she said. “There are two vehicles and lots of guns headed our way.”
The men looked around and didn't see anything.
Maura didn't waste any time.
She’d been in this situation before, and this was exactly what she’d been talking about. Avalon’s early warning was going off.
“Nate, slide the seat back. Get Avalon on the floor and place your body over hers. There are bullet proof vests under the seat. Use them to protect your heads.”
He still looked around.
“Are you…?”
Maura looked up in the mirror and saw them. “Incoming,” she stated.
Luke stared into his passenger mirror until he finally saw them. “We have two back Escalades heading our way. They’re tinted out, and just like the ones at the diner. Avalon’s right. We’re made.”
Nate didn't hesitate.
He did exactly what Maura asked because he couldn’t let Avalon get hurt. It would kill him.
Pushing the seat lever, he helped her get down onto the floor. Shoving the vest between the top of her head and the side of the vehicle, he finally placed his body over the top of hers.
“You’re going to be safe, honey. I promise that no one’s getting you,” he said, reaching back to get his gun as she clung to the front of him. “I want you to hold onto me. Use my body to keep you safe.”
Avalon did exactly what he said, by burying her face in his neck. The scent of his cologne soothed her even as her heart pounded in her chest.
“Luke, get out of the front seat. I need to have a clear shot, and you’ll get caught in the cross fire.”
“I’m not leaving you to…”
“Luke! Let me do my God damn job!”
He could hear in her voice that she was dead serious. He wasn’t happy, but in this case, he’d do what she asked. He trusted her skill, even as she was putting it all on the line.
“Get in the back and get down.”
As soon as he was out of the way, she pulled her guns and placed one on her lap with the second one on the passenger seat.
“Brace yourselves! They’re going to be alongside us in three…two…one!” And that’s all she got to say. There was a spray of bullets shattering the window’s all around them.
Avalon screamed.
Nate held her tight.
Maura’s training took over. “Sorry, babe,” she muttered, right before she shot out the remaining glass from the front windows to get a clear shot. Luke was going to shit a brick, but it was too late to worry about his ride.
Now it was about saving their asses.
Maura continued driving with her knees as she returned fire at the two vehicles surrounding them.
This wasn’t going to be good.
Then without warning, they slammed into her. Both vehicles tried to crush the hummer between them.
When they backed off, she glanced up to make sure the people in her care were safe.
“Hold on!”
While still firing, she grabbed the wheel and slammed into the one Escalade, driving it off the road. Fortunately for them, Maura was accustomed to driving the boxier vehicle, and she kept it under control. When they were back on the road, she hit the release on her gun and popped out a clip. Using the replacement positioned on her hip, she reloaded and got ready.
They weren’t going to give up so easily.
“One more minute,” she stated. “We’re almost in the clear.”
From her mirror, Maura could see the second Escalade coming back for more, and she knew it was going to take some well-placed gunshots to end this little bout of road rage.
As they rammed her again, someone tried to climb into the front passenger seat through the shattered window. She felt the impact of the man’s bullets hitting her, and it stole her breath.
Yet, it didn't matter.
If she stopped, they were dead, and Avalon was gone.
Maura took her shot. It hit its mark. The man fell from the vehicle and onto the roadway with a sickening thud.
Then with both booted feet, she hit the brakes.
The Hummer’s brakes screamed as the massive vehicle stuttered to a stop. As it did, the Escalade blew by her. When he tried to spin and come at her head on, Maura leaned out the window to take her shots.
With each ‘pop’, Avalon flinched.
“It’s okay, honey,” Nate crooned in her ear as glass continued to spray around them.
Before Maura could stop him, Luke was back in the front seat also leaning out his window to stop the looming Escalade.
When the Hummer picked up speed, blowing by the other vehicle, it was clear that the two men were now out of commission.
One was buckled in with a bullet hole to the head, and the other was draped over the dashboard, his brains everywhere.
It was done.
Luke dropped back into his seat and stared over at his woman. There were scrapes on her face from exploding glass, and blood running down her arm. He didn't know whether to shake or kiss her.
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” she muttered, shaking her hair only to have glass fly all over.
“Jesus! Are you shot?” he asked, trying to remain as calm as could be.
“Yes, but we don’t have time to play doctor. We have to get out of here,” she said, getting off the exit. “The state police will be rolling up to that shoo
tout, and we don’t need to get pulled in for questioning.”
Luke stared incredulously at her.
Who was this woman?
“Maura…”
“Not now, Lucas. I’m fine.”
“Is it safe?” Nate asked from the floor behind them. He didn't really feel like listening to them argue. He was too shaken up.
“Yeah, are you two okay?” she asked, driving down a quiet road.
Nate lifted his head to stare down at Avalon. Her eyes were closed, and her fists were clenched in his shirt. “We’re okay. How we survived that, I’ll never know.”
“We were driving a tank,” she stated. “That’s how. If this vehicle had been fiberglass, we’d be dead.”
“Now what do we do?” Nate asked, pulling Avalon from the floor and onto the seat. He immediately began pulling chunks of glass from her hair. It wasn’t lost on him that she was shaking and wouldn’t let go of his shirt.
“We dump this ride, and we take the hike in on foot like we planned.”
“How far are we from the safe house now?”
She glanced over at her GPS and calculated the mileage. “I think it’s about five miles or maybe six at the most. If we take the shorter route, by the rockier terrain, we can cut the hike down.”
They needed to get moving.
“Empty the glove compartment,” she said. “They’re going to come looking for this vehicle. We have to slow them down. Fortunately, the people who saw us won’t be talking.”
Avalon moved into Nate’s lap, and he didn't stop her. In fact, he wrapped his arms around her waist to hold her to him.
“It’s okay, Avalon. We’re safe.”
He lied.
Nate new the truth.
If these men were willing to do something so daring in daylight, they’d do anything to get to her.
This upped the danger.
Maura focused on the job at hand, despite how sore her side and ribs were. She couldn’t wait to get into the trees where it would be safe. When she found a spot off to the side of the road, she made her decision. “We leave it here.”
“Won’t they start following us in?”
Maura pointed over her shoulder. “We’re going the opposite way, so I hope they do think we went into the woods here. It’ll buy us some time. Luke, you’re going to have to walk into those trees, and make it look like we headed in that way,”
He didn't hesitated.
In the meantime, Nate began grabbing their burner phones, papers, files, and their gear.
After a few minutes of stripping the vehicle, Maura knew they were ready. She whistled for her fiancé so they could get moving.
When he made it to her side, he saw her hand against her ribs.
He nearly lost his mind.
“Where are you shot?” Luke hissed, trapping her against the side of the Hummer so she’d have to finally answer him. His hands immediately slipped under her black hoodie.
“Babe, I’m okay. It clipped me in the wrist, look.”
She took off her hoodie and shook it out. There was a gash on her wrist, like she said, but nothing more.
He stared at her ribs and side. They were red, and looked like they were beginning to bruise, but that was it.
“How?” Luke asked, as three spent bullets fell out of the material and to the ground.
“Military trade secrets,” she stated. “They’ve developed a new form of body armor. I’m testing it for them.”
He looked sick. “Maura! You’re the guinea pig? Are you out of your damn mind?”
She laughed. “It works. Chill.”
“How did they find us?” Nate asked.
Dropping down, Maura scooted under the vehicle. When she stood, there was a transmitter in her hand. “They tagged us. It must have been when the vehicle was parked in that lot.”
“Shit!”
“Yeah, and they still know where we are,” she admitted, “so we have to stop the transmission.”
“How are you going to do that?” Nate asked.
She pointed across the road. “I’ll handle that. You need to get Avalon into the woods. I need to deal with the Hummer. Once that’s done, we’ll head out. There’s going to be too much space for them to cover on foot, so we may get lucky.”
Nate didn't hesitate. He quickly swept Avalon under his arm and across the road into the safety of the trees.
“What do you mean ‘handle the Hummer’?” Luke asked, as it finally registered.
“Babe, you know I love you, right? You know that I wouldn’t do something that hurt you—not intentionally.”
He stared at her.
She pulled out a box of matches.
“Jesus! Are you going to…?”
She nodded.
“I can’t watch this.” Luke walked away, shaking his head. “I hate these assholes. I loved my fucking ride. We’ve been through a lot together these last years.”
She laughed, right before dumping some alcohol all over the inside. They couldn’t leave prints. They couldn’t leave trace. Now, they were going off the grid to be ghosts.
That she knew.
So, this had to be done.
With the flick of her wrist, she tossed the lit match and began walking away.
There was a brief explosion as the alcohol caught. The Hummer went up in flames behind her as she climbed down the incline and into the tree line.
Now, they had to hustle.
When she saw Luke’s face, Maura gave him a kiss. “You can get a new one, and the FBI will foot the bill.”
He still didn't like it.
This whole thing sucked.
* * * C a r t e r - G a i n e s * * *
Fredricksville
Local Church
It took a little help from the local law to track him down, but when Sheriff Adam Lawrence said he’d deliver, he did just that. He made a call, and thirty minutes later, Reverend Michael Wayne was there and ready for questions.
Inside his parish office, he offered Callie some tea.
“I can’t imagine what you need to see me about,” he stated. “I generally try to stay out of trouble.”
Callie smiled. “Yes, Father, we know. We were really hoping that since you’ve been here for a long time, you could answer some questions for us.”
“My child, for the flock, I’ll do what I can.”
She hated to break the bad news to him, but she was so anti-organized religion, that she was one sheep he couldn’t wrangle back onto the ranch.
“We need to know everything you know about a young woman who once lived in this town and came to your church.”
That intrigued him. “Who?”
“Avalon Miller.”
She noticed the man looked worried. “Why? What is she accusing me of?” he asked.
Quinn lifted a brow. “What? Why would you say that? We’re investing a case that involves her and the family.”
“Oh, I didn't mean anything by it.”
Quinn stood. “Listen, Father, if you think we have time for this bullshit, we don’t. I’ll have my partner here ship you back to FBI West for interrogation. You can do it here or there. Decide.”
“I have a funeral this week for Frank Miller. I can’t go anywhere.”
“Then I suggest you spill it,” Quinn stated.
The man stared down at his hands. “She was a little girl in this parish. Her grandmother was convinced that something evil lived in her.”
“Why?”
“She spoke to demons.”
They stared at the man.
“What?” Quinn stated.
“She knew things. Avalon would be around someone and just know what they were thinking or what was going to happen. She was in church one day and pointed at my organist. She told her grandmother that she was going to die in childbirth. Six months later…”
“So because of that, you assumed she talked to demons?” Callie asked. “Maybe she was just psychic.”
“There is no such thing, my chil
d. The Bible discusses people who bear false witness, and trust me, when you have someone professing to be a psychic, they are generally the devil in disguise.”
Callie rolled her eyes. From a science standpoint, there were studies that showed that some people had a gift.
Avalon was one of them.
“What did you and her grandmother do to her?” Quinn asked, finally understanding why the man had been so worried when they brought up her name.
“I baptized her, I tried to exorcize her, and we spent hours praying for her but nothing worked. Afterwards, she simply stared at us with those dead eyes and was the same demon possessed child. In fact, she prophesized her grandfather’s death, and we were at our wit’s end.”
“So Mary Louise kept her locked away?”
“Yes. She wasn’t allowed to go to school with the other kids because no one knew what she’d say. It was freaking people out, and she had to be contained.”
Callie wanted to be sick.
“You abused her.”
He shook his head. “We tried to heal her.”
She got up. “Quinton, can you finish this interview? I need air.”
With that, she was gone.
He watched his wife leave. Never before had he ever seen her walk out like that during an interview. She was frustrated, and so was he. Avalon slipped through the cracks, and now she was being used as a weapon.
It sucked.
“What else can you tell me?” he asked the reverend.
“Her mother couldn’t stand her. Every time she heard Avalon’s name, she would cry. She left her with Mary Louise, and the woman did the best by her.”
Yeah, Quinn wasn’t feeling so bad about the woman being dead. She sucked as a parental figure. He’d kill anyone who treated his kids that way.
“She was blind, but she saw. We believed she was faking it. The child had the devil’s sight. She saw what she wanted to see.”
The man was clearly an idiot.
“And?”
“When Melissa Miller dumped her off, Mary Louise wasn’t happy. The last thing she wanted was this burden, but she took her in because they were kin. Then Melissa started her life, but she didn't want anything to do with Avalon.”
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