Race Against Time: A Novel

by Kimberley Woodhouse

  Orange hat.

  I gasped.

  He stared at me. Then smirked.

  They were following me?

  No! This couldn’t be happening.

  Did Mom see him?

  “We’re gonna have a talk. And you’re going to tell me what’s going on, is that understood?”

  My heartbeat quickened. Not now! God, if You’re there, help me! “Why should we talk? It won’t do any good.” Try to keep her off the subject . . . yeah. Keep her off the subject. I swallowed.

  “Excuse me? I’m the one who will determine that, young lady.”

  We drove on in silence.

  After about fifteen minutes Mom pulled onto our road. Soon we’d be to the house. If I could keep her sidetracked until then . . .

  Minutes passed by. Each moment my anxiousness grew. Was the man following us? Would he hurt Mom? Did I need to do something?

  Mom still said nothing. As if she were waiting for me.

  We pulled up to the house. “Go to your room. I’ll be up in a minute, and we’ll talk.”

  Before she could scold me again, I opened the door and hopped out. I couldn’t let her find out about the note. About those men . . . They would kill her.

  I ran into the house, glancing around. Was the man here?

  Sasha jumped up and ran over to me, tail wagging.

  “At least I don’t have to worry about you questioning me all the time.” I patted her head. Somehow that comforted me. Eased my shaking. Would she protect Mom? Of course she would. But Sasha couldn’t stop a gun . . .

  Mom came through the front door and walked into the office, then shut the door behind her.

  A walk. I’d go on a walk. Maybe for a day or two.

  “Stay, Sasha.” I walked over to the back door. She whined.

  “No, girl. Not this time.”

  She obeyed. But I could see the worry in her eyes.

  Once again I glanced around, then slipped out the back door.

  Tiny plate-like discs of ice scattered here and there crunched and crackled underneath my feet as I walked. I neared the end of our property. Thoughts and emotions wouldn’t stop swirling within me.

  Where was I going? I couldn’t trespass on other people’s land, and if I took the road Mom or Auntie would find me.

  I should have taken Sasha. She could have comforted me, kept me company. But then again she would have made noise and Mom would’ve known what I was doing.

  It’s cold out here. I wonder if there are any wild animals watching me. What’s Andie doing right now?

  Andie? Why was I thinking about Andie?

  Thinking of my best friend brought on the tears.

  No. I wouldn’t cry. Couldn’t. Had to be strong.

  I wrapped my arms around my middle and kept walking.

  A twig snapped behind me. My back stiffened.

  What was that?

  I jerked and turned around. I couldn’t see anything through the heavy foliage.

  A click.

  No. A gun.

  I gasped. I could hear my heart hammering. Everything went into slow motion.

  A man stepped out from the cover of trees. His smile chilled me.

  I stared as his arm raised and a gun pointed at me—

  Something growled and attacked his arm.

  The man screamed and fell, smashing his head into a fallen log. Blood dripped and pooled into the clean white snow.

  Sasha turned to me and barked. She walked over and licked my hand, easing my speeding pulse.

  The gun lay a few feet away. I should take it. But what if he woke up?

  “We need to get Mom!” No sooner had the words left my mouth than we started running back the way I had come.

  “Mom!”

  We were at least a mile away, she couldn’t hear me. But yelling for her helped anyway. Maybe Sean was out and would hear.

  Oh, God help me!

  I wasn’t getting enough air, but I couldn’t stop. I ran. Sasha nudged my leg, as if prodding me to go faster.

  Couldn’t. But had to.

  “Mom!” Air stopped filling my lungs. Out of breath . . .

  Sasha ran ahead and barked. Soon the house came within view.

  Derek ran out from the barn.

  I couldn’t focus. Everything was a blur. A man had just pointed a gun at me! I couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to. I gasped for air.

  I could hear myself wheezing. Had to keep running. Almost to the house. My legs gave out and I fell. My gloved hands picked up a handful of snow.

  No. No! The tears fell.

  Had to get up, get to Mom . . . I pushed up and continued running. Almost there.

  Nothing would stop those murderers from killing the only witness.

  Me.

  * * *

  ANESIA

  January 30

  Naltsiine Kennels

  4:19 p.m.

  Zoya’s scream split the air, and the hair on the back of Anesia’s neck rose. She jumped up from her desk and flew out the front door. No shoes, no coat. Didn’t matter.

  Zoya was in trouble.

  Barreling around the house, she heard her daughter scream again and ran in the direction of the soul-piercing sound. There. She spotted her daughter rounding the corner past the barn. Sasha barked at Anesia and just about toppled her over as she ran full-force into her legs. Then the dog ran straight back to Zoya.

  “Mom!” The seconds stretched into hours as they ran for each other.

  Anesia caught and wrapped her precious baby in her arms.

  “Mom!” She gasped for air. “Mom . . .” Another gasp and a shiver.

  But as Anesia tightened her hold, she realized Zoya wasn’t shivering. She was shaking.

  “Zoya, talk to me. What happened?”

  Glassy eyes gazed past her shoulder. “Mom . . .”

  Anesia knelt in front of her only child, pushing her an arm’s length away so she could check her over. “What?”

  Zoya looked her in the eyes. “A man. With a gun.”

  “What? Where?”

  “Tried to kill me. Sasha . . . knocked him down . . . hit his head . . . blood everywhere . . .” Her daughter’s tiny frame collapsed in the snow at Anesia’s feet. Zoya sucked in air.

  Oh God, no!

  She spotted Derek standing by the barn. Once again, God was looking out for them. “Derek! Get over here!”

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Help me get her in the house, please.” Not until that moment did Anesia feel the cold seeping into her own bones. Her socks were drenched, and her feet were burning. Frostbite happened all too fast at these temps.

  As her stocky employee helped them into the mudroom, Anesia realized Zoya was shaking harder. Was she in shock?

  “Derek, go check the perimeters of the house and barn.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He started to head out the door.

  “And Derek? Just so you know, Zoya said there’s someone out there. I’m calling the police. Please make sure no one else approaches the house.”

  His dark eyes flashed at her. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Anesia locked the door behind him and ran through the house, checking all the doors and windows, and setting the alarm system. Back in the mudroom Zoya lay unconscious. As Anesia pulled all the wet outer gear off her daughter, she also stripped off her own wet socks and jeans. She yanked on a pair of dry sweats and socks from the mudroom shelf and ran to the phone. All the while talking to Zoya.

  “Wake up, honey. You’ve got to tell me what happened.”

  The cordless handset beeped as she dialed 911. Anesia ran her hand down Zoya’s face. “Honey! Wake up!”

  The operator came o
n. As she explained that someone had attacked her daughter, Zoya began to moan and flail around.

  “-Yats’e’e?” Her daughter wouldn’t respond.

  The calm voice on the other end assured her that someone would be there as soon as possible. Did she want them to stay on the line with her? No. She just wanted them here. Now.

  “Mom . . .” Dark eyelashes fluttered.

  She pulled Zoya into her arms. “Oh, hon, you had me worried.”

  “It was awful, Mom. I was so scared.” Her daughter jerked away from her. “Is he still here? What if he’s in the house?”

  “No one’s in the house. It’s locked up tight and the alarm is set. Now just calm down and tell me what happened.”

  Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I should’ve listened to you, but . . . I . . . I can’t seem to think straight. I snuck out the back door and went into the woods on the west side of the property.”

  Not a time to scold her daughter. But oh, the consequences. This would cause even more guilt to heap onto Zoya’s already burdened shoulders. “It’s okay, baby.” She wiped tears. “Shh. It’s okay. Just tell me the rest.”

  “I was standing there trying not to think about all this junk when I heard a twig snap and then . . . I heard a gun cock.” More tears streamed in tiny rivers and dripped off Zoya’s chin. “There was this man. He was going to shoot me, Mom! He was going to shoot me!” Sobs wracked her small frame.

  Icy fingers clutched Anesia’s heart. Someone tried to kill her daughter.

  Again.

  “And then Sasha came out of nowhere, growling and snapping. She knocked him off his feet. He hit his head on a fallen log and started bleeding all over the place. That’s when I ran. As fast as I could. I couldn’t stop screaming for you. I just wanted to be home.” The tears stopped then, but as Zoya climbed into Anesia’s lap, she saw the anguish and terror in her daughter’s eyes. Small arms wrapped around her waist and squeezed with a force so strong she thought she might snap in two.

  And then the anger came. Filling her gut with a searing hot flame. Whoever did this better not live to see tomorrow. Because if he did, Anesia would kill him.

  * * *

  SEAN

  4:29 p.m.

  He banged on the door and jiggled the doorknob. The echo of Zoya’s screams still ringing in his head. He’d heard them from the entrance to the Naltsiine property. The terrifying screams of someone in pain. In trouble. “Anesia! It’s Sean. Anesia!”

  What could’ve happened? He continued to bang as loud as he could on the door. He tried the knob again. Locked. Anesia never locked the doors during the day. Something was terribly wrong.

  “Anesia! Zoya!” He pounded until his fist throbbed from the pain.

  The dead bolt clicked and Anesia opened the door an inch, keeping the chain intact. Her eyes were filled with fear and skittered about until she recognized him. “Oh, Sean. I’m so glad you’re here.” She lifted the chain and opened the door.

  Before it could register, she was in his arms. Holding onto him with a fierceness he’d never known. “Anesia. I was so worried. I heard the screams. What happened?”

  Sobs shook her frame and she held on tighter. As tiny as she was compared to him, he loved the feel and fit of her against him. “It’s Zoya. Someone tried to shoot her in the woods.”

  He stiffened. He should have been there! Should have protected them! “Have you called the police?”

  She nodded against his chest. “They’re on their way. I called Jenna too.”

  Sean’s arms tightened around her and he kissed the top of her head. “It’s okay. I’m so glad I got home when I did.” Even the anger he held against his father couldn’t compare with what he felt toward the shooter at this moment. Every instinct screamed at him to search and destroy. How dare anyone attack his girls? He squeezed Anesia one last time, then eased her away. “You go on inside and lock everything back up. I’m going to see what I can find.”

  Fresh tears streamed down her face and she shook her head. “Sean, be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.” She grabbed the front of his coat.

  He took her hands in his and squeezed. “I’ll be back. I promise.”

  She hesitated, but then went back inside. He didn’t leave the porch until he heard the lock and chain.

  Taking the steps in one long leap, Sean headed out to search the property. If it took him the rest of his life, he would help bring the shooter to justice.

  For Anesia.

  * * *

  COLE

  4:34 p.m.

  The Expedition ate up the distance between the Naltsiine property and their own in short order.

  Jenna touched his arm. “Cole. Babe, slow down.”

  A glance at the speedometer told him he’d doubled the speed limit. With snow and ice, that was plain stupid. He let his foot off the accelerator. Andie’s eyes met his in the rearview mirror. This wasn’t a military operation. This was family. Careful, Maddox.

  Almost there. “I’m sorry, girls.” He let out his breath. “It’s just—”

  “We know, Cole.” Andie blurted, crossing her arms across her chest. Anger dripped from her words. “I want to hurt whoever’s doing this.”

  Jenna whipped around in her seat. “We’re all upset about this, young lady, but that is no way to talk.”

  Andie’s face turned beet red as tears streamed. “They’ve stolen my best friend, Mom! Stolen her spirit, her faith, her trust, her laughter! We’ve been connected since we were babies, you said so yourself—”

  “Squirt—”

  “I feel like I’ve been torn in half, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the other half back.” She sobbed into her hands.

  Cole and Jenna exchanged a look.

  “I’m sorry.” With heavy sniffs, Andie wiped the tears from her face. “I’m sorry. I’m just so stinkin’ worried about Zoya. She hasn’t been herself since this whole thing started.”

  Cole pulled into Anesia’s driveway as Jenna reached back to their daughter. He shifted the truck to park. “It’s all right, Squirt. We’re all a little tense.”

  Jenna nodded. “But we need to be strong and find out what’s going on, okay? This is tough junk for you guys to have to handle, but please remember that you can always talk to us. Always.”

  Andie’s blue eyes lifted to stare at Sean. Sadness etched lines into her forehead. “I know. But if Zoya keeps stuffing everything inside and doesn’t talk to me, we’re going to have a bigger problem.”

  The wisdom in their daughter’s words struck his gut like a physical blow. He searched Jenna’s face. Her mouth set in a grim line. As they all exited the vehicle, Cole watched his girls head up the front steps to Anesia’s home. His gut tightened.

  If his suspicions were correct?

  God help them all.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  COLE

  January 30

  Naltsiine Kennels

  5:34 p.m.

  Sergeant Roberts walked in the door. “There’s no one there.”

  Cole watched Zoya for a reaction.

  Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “But . . . he was there . . . and all that blood . . .” She clamped her mouth shut and shook her head again.

  Detective Sheldon turned to the other officer. “I’ve got a statement, let’s get back out there and do a full sweep.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The detective turned to Cole. “Keep the door locked behind us and it would be a good idea to set the alarm again.” The man’s intense gaze swept the room. “Is there anything else you need, Ms. Naltsiine?”

  Anesia looked at Cole. “The dogs need to be checked on, but that can wait ’til you get back.”

  The officers took their leave. Cole loc
ked the dead bolt and went to the alarm key pad.

  “Just hit STAY,” Anesia rubbed her neck and held onto Jenna’s hand. “Thanks for coming, guys.”

  Jenna wrapped her arm around her long-time friend. “Not a problem. I’m so glad you called.”

  Cole pulled a chair up beside the couch and touched Zoya’s knee. “How’re you doing, kiddo?”

  No response. Just a few silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Zoya’s knuckles were white where she gripped her mother’s arm. The kid was in shock.

  He turned to Anesia. “Did she recognize the guy who shot at her?”

  “No. And if Sasha hadn’t gone out the dog door behind her, he probably would’ve succeeded.”

  Jenna gasped. “Anesia, maybe you shouldn’t say things like that in front of—”

  Anesia’s gaze snapped to Jenna, then Cole, then back to Jenna. “I’m not going to coddle anyone, Jenna. We’ve always been honest and open about everything. This terrified my daughter, yes, but she saw what happened. I can’t change that. Can’t take it away.” She wrapped Zoya in a fierce hug as tears pooled in her eyes. “First, Zoya witnessed a murder. A murder, Jenna. And I can’t do anything about that. Can’t take those horrible images away. And now? Now someone has tried to murder her! Again! You might not think I’m handling this correctly, but let’s face it.” The tears were streaming down her face now as the volume of her voice grew. “This is our reality.”

  Jenna’s jaw dropped. And then snapped shut. She looked to Cole.

  He shook his head. Hoping she’d get the hint.

  But she spoke anyway. “Anesia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that you weren’t handling this right, I was just—”

  “Trying to help. I know.” Anesia stood, Zoya attached to her arm like glue. “Let’s just drop it. I never should’ve snapped at you.”

  “Ladies, emotions are running a little high right now, and we’ve neglected the most important thing.”

  Anesia’s fiery gaze focused on him.

  “We need to pray.” He grabbed Andie’s and Jenna’s hands. “You guys know I’m still new at this. But—”