Chapter 47

 

I tapped the redial button, slowing to concentrate on the tight curves in the road. For a moment, I thought we’d reconnected but the crackle cut off immediately. I backed off my accelerator and began watching every possible wide spot where the car might have turned.

It appeared suddenly when I rounded a bend. The BMW was parked in a designated space where one of the many trailheads began. Hiking?

Could I have misread Clover’s body language when she approached Ryan’s car? I pictured the exchange between them. Clover was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and sandals. She knew this side of the mountain, at this altitude, would have patches of snow for a few weeks yet. There was no way she’d planned on hiking.

Surely she was up here against her will.

I parked, blocking his car from leaving, and tried to think what to do. I saw no sign of them and wondered if Ryan was armed. I didn’t have my pistol with me, not that I would use it other than for self defense anyway. But it could have made a good intimidation tool to get him to let her go. I rummaged in my purse for another idea.

Zayne’s cell phone. I’d intended to return it, but what if I could use it as a distraction? I tapped into the contacts list and found Clover’s name. When it began to ring, I heard a very faint riff of rock music from the woods ahead. The two were much closer than I’d imagined. The music continued to sound in the distance. Then it quit.

I whispered to Freckles to stay in the car and be a good girl. Grabbing my jacket from the back seat and closing the door with the softest possible click, I tapped the number again. Surely, Clover would see Zayne’s name on the screen and know this was her chance to speak to someone who would summon help.

The music chimed again, this time a bit farther away.

Pick up, pick up, I pleaded silently.

“Hello?” came a tentative voice.

“Clover, it’s Charlie.” I kept my voice to a whisper. “Pretend it really is Zayne calling. Carry on conversation and let me ask you some questions.”

“I can’t …” she wailed.

“Yes, you can. Just pretend.” Dammit, girl. You’re good at pretending.

“I—”

There was a scuffle. “Who’s this?” demanded a male voice.

Oh shit. I didn’t have a story ready for this.

“Oh, hey. I’m a friend of Clover’s. I need to ask her something real quick.”

“No you’re not. It says the call is from Zayne. Who are you?”

I had to let Clover see me, but I needed to be armed in case Ryan was.

“Uh, my name’s Charlie. I think we met once. You’re Ryan, right?” I bent down and picked up a fallen tree branch, a chunk about four feet long. It was hefty enough to do some damage.

“Clover’s gonna have to call you back later,” he said. The call went dead.

I dropped the phone into my pocket and lifted the branch with both hands, wielding it like a sword. The bark was rough, and I had no idea if the thing had been deadfall for a long time. It might shatter into splinters at the first whack. With luck, I wouldn’t need any more than one shot.

I caught a glimpse of pink through the trees. Clover’s tank top. My heart rate picked up as I approached with as much stealth as possible. Still, Ryan heard me a moment before I walked into the small clearing where they stood.

He had a grip on Clover’s upper arm. When he saw me he spun her around and drew a knife from his belt. With a sharp click it switched open and he held it to her throat.

“Get out of here,” he said. His handsome face was contorted with rage.

“Ryan, calm down.” I scanned the area, looking for an easy escape path for the girl.

“I said—get away!”

That’s when I noticed they were standing at the edge of a precipice.