Angela Strong - Presumed Dead

* * *

They were almost back to his truck. But that didn’t change the fact a police officer was chasing them. As if running from the bad guy wasn’t terrifying enough.

Shaw must have thought he was the bad guy. And it didn’t help that they couldn’t stop sliding down the hill when the officer yelled for him to stop. He would have gladly turned himself in rather than dodge bullets.

He couldn’t blame Holly for freaking out at the sight of a gun after what she’d already been through. He’d just blame her for trying to climb out the window in the first place. This was exactly why he’d needed to say goodbye. Now the people who were supposed to be helping her were hunting her.

Holly panted next to him as they burst from the woods onto the road. He pulled her arm to guide her toward the Chevy with one hand and dug in his pocket for keys with the other.

Grass crunched and footsteps pounded behind them. Static crackled. “Code eight. Requesting backup. Kidnapping in progress at Cedar Glen.” The voice wheezed between sentences and grew faint.

They were going to make it. Preston would have to drive into the mountains and lie low for the night—after he got Holly to the police station. She could report him if she wanted to. At least he’d know she was safe.

Preston swung Holly toward the passenger door and let go of her hand so he could run around to the driver’s side. She stared back into the woods as he turned the key in the lock and reached across to unlock her side. “Come on.”

She jerked the door open with a squeak and buckled herself onto the bench seat before twisting around to watch for Shaw behind them. “He called for help. The police are going to chase us. They are going to catch you before we find your saboteur. I’m so sorry.”

He started the engine and stepped on the gas, keeping his headlights off to avoid detection. Just up around the corner, he’d take a left onto the highway, then another left onto a back road. No flashing lights or sirens yet.

“They aren’t going to catch us, Holly. But you are going to turn yourself in. You’ve got enough to worry about without running from cops and trying to solve my problem.”

She covered her face. “I know. I just don’t want to think about my problems anymore. It makes me feel so alone.”

If only he could be there for her the way he wanted to. Preston glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure they still weren’t being followed. All clear. “I know, doll.” Doll. He didn’t mean to keep using the old nickname. He’d practically forgotten about it until it had slipped out. He should have forgotten about it, given it up. Just like his sister had given up playing with her dolls.

He needed to keep his eyes on reality and not on what he wished it to be. He focused forward.

A Jeep darted onto the road in front of them. Preston slammed on the brakes to keep from rear-ending it. Holly’s head whipped forward. His mouth went dry and his heart lodged itself in his throat at the idea of causing her even more pain.

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