The deceptive closet door closed behind them. Doug slid the bolt lock into place and guided Beth down the dark steps. He’d turn on the light but had no desire to telegraph their escape. In all the years he’d owned the cabin, not once had he envisioned using the underground escape. He’d bought the place from retired FBI Agent Willis Bankman, who’d used the cabin as a safe house. The man had built the extra security measures for high-profile clients. Right now, Doug could hug the guy for his paranoia that led to the addition.
“Shh. Stay quiet. We don’t want whoever threw the Molotov cocktail through the window to find us,” he whispered.
She squeezed his hand, which he interpreted as an acknowledgment of his request. Her trembling fingers sent a dagger through his heart, but he had no time to reassure her. He concentrated on each step away from the person trying to kill Beth. His mind spun with the thought. Kill—not kidnap. Unless the person had gotten desperate and the fire was only a means to an end to flush her from the cabin.
The soft glow of a dim security light from the underground room guided Doug down the final few stairs. For the first time since his initial bout of overwhelming guilt over his wife’s death, Doug rejoiced in the fact he’d allowed himself to indulge those feelings of insecurity. The lack of control of that situation had sent him over the edge. So, he’d taken his plans for the cabin over the top. The security system, the sprinkler system, and he’d maintained Agent Bankman’s secret bedroom and escape route. Deep down, he knew he couldn’t control everything in his life, but little things like that helped him cope with that reality.
He pulled Beth into the bedroom, closed the secondary door, and locked it.
“What is this place?” He had to strain to hear Beth’s quiet question.
“A safety net.” The stale odor from lack of use tickled his nose.
“But we’re stuck! And the fire!” she whispered through gritted teeth. Doug thought Kyle’s fiancée had that ability perfected, but Beth’s skills rivaled Cassidy’s.
He cleared his throat to cover his amusement. He figured Beth wouldn’t appreciate his laughter. Besides, he had to get Beth away from whoever remained outside. “The sprinkler system will take care of the fire. As for being stuck...the cabin has an escape route.”
Now that his eyes had adjusted to the darkness, the tiny windows near the ceiling let in enough moonlight for him to see her owlish wide eyes. From the outside, the design simulated vents at the foundation of the cabin. No one would know it housed the equivalent of a safe room. “Let’s just say I’m happy the man I bought this place from went overboard with the safety factor.”
“Me too.” She held his hand tight, cutting off his circulation, as he led her to the far wall.
“Stay right here.” He released her and strode to the opposite side of the room. A couple packs of water bottles and hiking snacks were beneath the bed. He’d used the place for storage of nonperishable items. A few moments later, with the backpack filled with necessities, he rejoined Beth.
He led her into the closet and flipped a switch. A solid metal door opened to a long tunnel. “Follow me.” Once she stepped through the entrance, he secured the door closed and continued along the underground path.
“Where does this exit?” Beth’s whispers echoed off the walls.
Oh, this will go over great. “The outhouse.”
She pulled him to a stop. “Say what?”
Doug chuckled. “Relax. It looks like an outhouse, but it’s locked from the inside. I promise it’s only a façade.” He tugged her hand. “Come on.”
At the end of the passage, Doug climbed the ladder and lifted the hatch. Once in the small room that appeared to be an old-fashioned outhouse from the exterior, he helped Beth climb up next to him. He lowered the access flap and scooted to the door. “Don’t move.”
The weight of the Glock against his palm loosened the knot that had formed between his shoulder blades. He edged to the door and peeked through the moon cutout that made the structure appear authentic. With the well-placed shrubs, he and Beth had a straight shot into the woods at the rear of the property. Agent Bankman was definitely getting a Christmas present this year. Assuming Doug and Beth made it out alive.
After one final scan for the person who’d attempted to kill them or, at minimum, tried to smoke them out, he slid the lock open. “The darkness will be good and bad. It’ll be easier to go unnoticed, but picking our way through the woods will be difficult. Stay low and follow close.”
“Lead the way,” Beth whispered.
Doug eased the door open, examining the area before slipping from the structure. Hunched low, he hurried toward the thick trees.
Beth kept pace behind him. The woods within reaching distance, she tripped and landed on her hands and knees with an “oof.” The dried branches crunched beneath her, and a small branch snapped, signaling their location.
A gunshot ricocheted off the tree next to Doug. The bark splintered and tagged his neck. He lifted his weapon and returned fire. The person had fired blindly into the night. Otherwise, one or both of them would be dead.
“Hurry!” No longer worried about stealth mode, he grabbed Beth by the waist and half helped her run and half dragged her into the woods. “No time to stop. We have to get out of here.”
Feet under her, she matched his stride. “I’m good. Go!”
Doug released his grip and took off through the overgrown brush. Blood trickled down his neck from the shower of bark, a cut he’d attend to when they found a place to hide for the night. The moonlight seeping through the trees gave little to no help. He picked his way through the darkness. Footfalls echoed behind them. Whoever had found his cabin refused to give up.
The whole situation gave him a mental pause. Two attempts at kidnapping. One break-in, obviously looking for something. And now the intent to kill, or so he assumed by the person’s actions. Holding his Glock by his side, he continued through the brush. He lifted his left arm too late. A branch raked across his forearm and slapped him on the cheek. He hissed at the sting of the slash across his skin and chastised himself for losing focus.
A quick right turn took him and Beth deeper into the woods. If they’d continued in the original direction, they’d have ended up at the river. Which was where he planned to take her. But not until morning and the sun came up so he could see.
After what had felt like hours, Doug slowed and held his finger to his lips. He prayed they’d lost the person chasing them. Continuing in the dark was not an option. One or both of them would end up with a broken ankle or leg.
Beth nodded her understanding.
He tilted his head and listened for the person hunting them. When no movement met his ear, he motioned for Beth to follow. Certain the person who’d attacked wouldn’t give up, he couldn’t double back to the truck. Hiking to the river and following it to the next town seemed the only option. Maybe he’d borrow his closest neighbor’s boat. But even that was a ways away.
The lack of light, coupled with the exhaustion and aches from the day’s events, made it impossible to keep going. He had to find a place to lie low for the night. With the aid of the moonlight peeking through the trees, Doug ducked between two large boulders and tucked into the farthest corner out of sight. He kicked his foot over the pine needles and leaves, chasing away unwanted critters. Snuggling up with something that slithered had no appeal to him. He shivered at the thought. Yes, he was man enough to admit that he’d scream like a two-year-old if that happened.
Doug lowered to the ground, praying nature wouldn’t surprise him. He gently tugged Beth’s hand and lowered his voice. “Have a seat.”
She sat, leaned in, and found his ear. “Are we safe?”
Staying as quiet as possible, he whispered, “As long as whoever is chasing us doesn’t look directly in here, we should be.”
He felt the sag of her shoulders against his. “What now?”
“We get some rest.” Thankful for a tiny bit of light from the night sky, he unzipped the backpack and pulled out two water bottles and a couple of protein bars. “It’s not much, but at least we won’t go hungry or thirsty.”
She accepted the items. After unscrewing the cap on the water, she drank half then replaced the lid. She tapped on the pack and pretended to peek in. “What else do you have in that Mary Poppins bag?”
He snickered. “Several more waters and protein bars, a light jacket, waterproof matches, a small first aid kit, and a utility knife.” Last year, he’d left the backpack holding the basics in the closet for those times he went hiking. He’d never expected to use it for survival.
With a long, slow exhale, Beth relaxed and nibbled on her food. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Putting up with me.” She shrugged. A sliver of moonlight touched her blonde hair.
“Believe me, it’s not a hardship.” In fact, it was anything but that. Once they finished drinking and eating, he collected the trash and shoved it into the bag. He retrieved the first aid kit. “I have a few cuts and scrapes that need to be cared for, and I’m sure you do too. Let’s get those cleaned and bandaged before we rest.”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
Together they worked in tandem to treat each other’s injuries. The lack of light made it difficult, but they took care of business in record time.
“Any other wounds?”
“No, I think we got them all. Thanks.” A shiver shook Beth’s body.
Doug snapped the kit shut, put it away, and retrieved the jacket from his backpack. “Come here.” He draped the jacket over her, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her next to him. “Better?” A smile curved his lips when she snuggled into his side.
“Much.”
A long night loomed for her to sleep upright, but it was all he could do. “Go ahead, get some rest. I’ll keep watch.” He removed his Glock from his holster and placed it in his lap, barrel pointed away from Beth.
The nocturnal sounds kept him on edge. The symphony of cicadas usually eased his tension, but on this particular night, the cacophony of buzzing tapped his brain like an ice pick. He strained his ears beyond the whining. Since the wildlife continued their normal activity, it told him no humans had come near. Pushing the ear-splitting noise aside, he closed his eyes and prayed. For wisdom. For safety. And for Beth.
Dawn began to make its presence known. Doug stifled a yawn and let the crisp morning air fill his lungs. He’d dozed on and off throughout the night, allowing his body to recover from the beating it had taken from the explosion and accident. He required more time to heal, but his aches and pains would have to wait until he got Beth to safety.
She shifted in his arms and peered up at him. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” His voice had deepened an octave in the early hours. He couldn’t help but smile at her sleepy words. “It’s time to eat breakfast and make a plan.”
She stretched and winced.
“Take it easy. You’re bound to be a bit sore today.”
“That’s an understatement.” Beth folded the jacket she’d used for a blanket and handed it to him. “Thanks for the loan. I can’t believe how chilly it got last night.”
“Once the sun goes down, the temps tend to drop. Not enough for concern, just to be uncomfortable.” He stuffed the jacket into the pack and removed another water bottle and protein bar. “Eat up. We’ll need the fuel if we are going to hike out of here.”
“We’re not going back to the cabin?”
He shook his head. “My gut says that whoever is after you will be waiting for us.”
Her brows pinched together. “You’re probably right.”
Now that she’d shed the cover and night gave way to day, Doug got a good look at her injuries. Scratches and shallow cuts marred her arms and legs. And she had a small gash on her cheek he assumed came from the branches. He chewed on his breakfast and made a mental note to keep an eye on the cut so it didn’t get infected.
“What’s up with the underground room and tunnel? Not that I’m complaining.” Beth took a bite of her protein bar.
He scratched the stubble on his jaw. What he wouldn’t give for a razor right now. Beards had never been his thing. He mulled over his answer. Not to hide the truth, but he preferred to collect his thoughts first. “Call it paranoia or an obsession. My anxiety hit an all-time high during that first week or so after Christine died. I’d failed her in the worst possible way, and I vowed never to let it happen to anyone I cared about ever again. So, I kept the secret room that Agent Bankman had created. I eventually intended to block off the tunnel and use it as a storage room or extra bedroom.”
“I’m glad you kept it as is.”
“Me too.” His stomach roiled. What would have happened if he’d sealed off the escape route?
A shy smile graced her face. “Does your house in Valley Springs have the super spy room built in?”
His body shook with laughter, but he stayed quiet, unsure if the assailant lurked nearby. “No. Just a really awesome security system. The spy room, as you call it, was all on Agent Bankman.” He tilted his head to listen for their attacker but heard nothing. He enjoyed talking with Beth but refused to ignore the threat.
Beth placed her hand on his and clutched his fingers.
The warmth of her touch eased the tension flowing through him. Once again, he recognized strength beneath her mousy exterior. The strong desire to persuade the courageous woman deep inside her to come out surprised him. “I told my therapist what I had bought and my plans. She encouraged me to preserve the escape route and continue with my security design. It gave me a sense of control when my world had shattered. It was rather cathartic. Between the physical labor and my sessions with my therapist, I began to slough off the guilt and found a bit of peace.”
“Is it gone? Your guilt?” Beth’s timidity returned.
“I still have my moments. Those events shaped who I’ve become—for better and worse.” Doug studied her. Beth’s injuries bothered him, but the night’s rest had removed the dark circles under her eyes. He stowed the wrappers and the bottles in his pack and zipped the bag. “We need to keep moving. It’s a long hike to the nearest town.”
She combed her hair with her fingers and used the hair tie on her wrist to pull the strands into a ponytail. “How far?”
“By foot through the woods... I’d say four or five hours. It’s not an easy trek through the forest. But we might be able to cut off a couple of hours. The river isn’t far. My ‘neighbor,’ if you can call Wayne that since he lives so far away, has a fishing dock and a boat we might be able to borrow.” Doug had never regretted the secluded location of his cabin until now.
“I wouldn’t complain about that.”
As if the woman had complained about anything. He holstered his Glock, slipped the backpack onto his shoulders, and adjusted the straps. “Ready?”
She nodded.
“Remember. Stay as quiet as possible.” Doug rose and scanned the woods. Satisfied the person after them wasn’t lurking in the trees, he helped Beth to her feet. “Let’s go.”
Doug picked his way through the bushes and brambles, attempting to find the clearest path possible. He hated the thought of inflicting more scrapes and bruises on Beth. As he moved toward the river, he prayed the assailant had given up but knew more than likely that wasn’t the case. The first couple of attempts to take Beth had resulted in the attacker fleeing. This time, the person hadn’t stopped to regroup. Something that bothered him more than he cared to admit.
But the information he and Beth retrieved was too important not to consider all the possibilities. He tapped his pocket, confirming the flash drive remained safe. If only his cell phone worked out here in the middle of nowhere. At the cabin, he had Wi-Fi, so communication with the outside world wasn’t an issue. But in the forest... Maybe he should invest in a satellite phone to keep in the cabin. He shook his head and sighed. Now he was paranoid. Letting the differences between the attacks simmer in his mind, he continued the trek toward the river and prayed he didn’t walk them into a trap.
Avoiding twigs and brambles was next to impossible. For the past hour, Tabitha had focused on the thick brush that twisted and tangled together on the ground. Doug had steered her down the most accessible paths possible, but she’d narrowly missed another branch to the face on more than one occasion. An outdoors girl she was not. But she refused to complain. It didn’t help, and more times than not, it caused her pain. She’d learned that lesson early in life. Although the man who’d saved her life hadn’t given her a reason to worry. However, old habits stuck like superglue. And she refused to push his patience.
Doug glanced over his shoulder. “Doing okay?” They’d quit whispering but continued to keep their voices low.
“As good as can be expected.” What else could she say? The scratches on her arms and legs from the brush and insect bites stung, and her muscles ached. The accident hadn’t done her any favors, but the hiking—that was another story.
He shoved another branch out of the way. “Do you need to stop?”
Did she? Um, that would be a yes. Would she admit it? No. “I can keep going.” Her stomach chose that moment to gurgle. No, not now. She’d passed the morning sickness stage, but the lack of food in her belly hadn’t helped. The protein bar she’d eaten a little while ago had disappeared from her system, leaving her stomach to gnaw on itself. She placed a hand on her belly and willed the nausea to go away.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
She glanced up in time to avoid running into Doug’s broad chest. Her gaze met his. In her entire life, she’d never had a man look at her with the concern or compassion that filled his brown eyes. Her mouth worked before her brain engaged. “I’m a bit tired, that’s all.”
Hands on her shoulders, he dipped his chin and peered at her. “Then we should rest for a minute.”
The intensity in his gaze threw her off-balance. She cleared her throat. “Yeah, that might be a good idea.”
His eyes drifted to her lips and back up. After a moment, he nodded. “I spotted a log just ahead. It’ll make for a good place to sit.”
Her heart rate spiked. Had he wanted to kiss her? More importantly, would she have let him? Ugh. Why had she allowed her mind to go there? She shoved the thought away and focused on keeping the contents, or lack thereof, of her stomach where it belonged.
Doug brushed the pine needles and leaves from the log and patted the space next to him. “Have a seat before you fall down.” He placed the backpack between his feet and retrieved a water bottle.
She joined him and accepted the drink. “Thanks.”
“I have a few pieces of candy in here.” He dug in the pack, found the sweet treat, and handed it to her. “Peppermint. It’ll help settle your stomach and give your blood sugar a boost. Once that’s under control, I’ll give you another protein bar.”
“Wait. How did you know?” Her heart rate shot up. Had he figured out her secret?
“You look a little green.” He shrugged. “Just put two and two together.”
She swallowed the panic crawling up her throat. Had his math added up to knowing she was pregnant? Oh, how she hoped not. She accepted the candy and popped it in her mouth. The sweetness melted on her tongue. The peppermint flavor quickly eased the churning in her belly. She sat in silence as the sugar infiltrated through her system.
He broke a protein bar in half and handed it to her. “I don’t want you to overdo it. Eat half, and once that settles, you can finish the rest of it a little later.”
She nibbled on the offered food. Between the sugar and the protein, the nausea disappeared.
Doug shifted on the log to face her and tucked a strand of flyaway hair behind her ear. “Better?”
“Much.” She ducked her head, hiding her tears. The more she tried to avoid feelings for the handsome detective, the more he burrowed his way into her heart. Birds chirped above, and a slight breeze rustled the trees. The peaceful surroundings gave her a false sense of security. “Do you think he’s still out there?”
“Yes.” Doug sighed. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m praying he gave up and returned to the cabin. But my gut tells me he won’t walk away. I’m guessing Kyle’s truck is still intact, and the guy didn’t eliminate our transportation out of here. But when he threw the Molotov cocktail to smoke us from the cabin, as far as I’m concerned, he took away that possibility. Whoever this guy is, he’s determined. He probably hoped we’d try for the vehicle as an escape plan, but I’m not comfortable doubling back. We’ve only seen one person, but I’m banking on him having backup.”
Doug’s little rundown of the facts sent a shiver snaking up her spine. “Then let’s get that flash drive into the hands of your friends.” Eyes closed, she inhaled. She could do this—had to do this—if she wanted freedom from Tommy.
Doug readjusted the backpack and helped her to her feet. “It’s about another thirty-minute hike to the river, then we’ll follow it a little ways and hope we find Wayne’s boat.” He clenched his teeth, tightening the muscles in his jaw.
“Doug?” She swung her gaze from one side to the other, searching for what had caused his reaction.
“Sorry. Just thinking.” He jerked his head, indicating for her to follow him on their trek through the woods. “If I were the one hunting us, the river is where I’d make my stand. It makes the most sense.”
Her stomach dropped. “So, we’re walking into a trap?”
He scratched the back of his head as he kept walking. “Maybe.”
Beth wanted to run screaming in the other direction, but Doug had protected her so far. She knew deep down that he’d do everything in his power to keep her safe. She hoped it was enough.