Firefly Run (21 page)

He caught her lips with his for a quick, soft kiss. "All you have to do is call me, and I’ll be there. And I don’t care what your brother thinks."

She almost took him up on it, but the thought of taking Reed into her bedroom with her brother sleeping on the couch made her face burn. Sure, they were adults, but she didn’t want to share this fragile thing between Reed and her with anyone, least of all her know-it-all big brother.

At the sound of Sean’s car returning, she pulled away. Thankfully, Reed seemed to understand.

Sean got out of the car and lifted the large to-go bag. "Come on, you two, I got three helpings of the best lasagna in the South."

The three of them shared dinner and light-hearted conversation about sports, Jolee’s latest antics and how Shelly put all her guests to work. For short periods, Shelly forgot about Eddie, but then some harmless noise would make her jerk in fear that he stood right outside the front door. She could only eat a quarter of her dinner because her stomach began to turn with the building anxiety as darkness fell.

When Reed rose to go to his own cabin, she almost grabbed his arm and begged him to stay. A nearly blinding fear filled her that as soon as he stepped outside a shot would ring out, taking yet another man she loved away from her. It took several deep breaths and considerable willpower to let him go. At the front door, she ached to step outside with him, if only for a moment to kiss him the way she wanted to. But her brother’s presence and her sudden fear of the night kept her rooted firmly inside.

"Good night." She looked up into his eyes, hoping he could see how much she cared for him.

For a brief moment, he took her hand and stroked her palm with his thumb. "Remember what I said."

She nodded and let him go. She stood there for several seconds, her body tense and her ears straining.

"You love him, don’t you?"

She thought of denying it, but it would be a waste of time. From the time they’d been children, she’d never successfully lied to Sean.

"Yes."

"I’m glad. I like him."

She turned toward Sean and leaned on the door. "Listen, I don’t want you saying anything to him."

"You don’t think he feels the same?"

"I’m not sure. He feels something, but neither of us has even hinted at any type of long-term relationship. And that means no prodding from you."

"Who, me?" he asked, feigning innocence.

"Yes, you, Mr. I-Have-To-Run-My-Sister’s-Life-For-Her."

"I object to that characterization."

She smiled despite herself. "Overruled."

Sean chuckled, then sobered and looked at her more seriously. "I hope it works out. Reed’s a good man, and I think you’ve been alone long enough. Tina and I have worried about you. So have Mom and Dad."

"I know." She approached and hugged him. "Thanks for being such a good big brother, even if you are a bit nosey at times."

He patted her back. "I just want you to be happy, whatever that takes."

Shelly knew what it would take, but he would be sleeping two doors down tonight. Maybe that was for the best. If he was going back to Dallas soon, their budding relationship had to end. But how did a person stop feeling a certain way?

Reed had said it best. Feelings weren’t a faucet. You couldn’t just turn them off. If only it were that easy.

****

Eddie huddled beneath the thick brush, not daring to move. The occasional car passed by on the road a few yards away, but he wouldn’t risk one of the drivers seeing him. It was almost impossible to be patient, to not rush in and be done with the deed now that the time was near. But he had to wait for the right opportunity. The morning would be soon enough, and this time his plan wouldn’t fail.

Besides, he kept telling himself that the longer he waited, the more pleasure he’d take from watching his victims’ lives slip away. His blood surged with excitement.

He stayed seated with his back to a sturdy tree and the rest of him surrounded by a thick weave of undergrowth that seemed inherent to southern forests. It was the devil to walk through but provided more than adequate cover. Night fell, but he moved no closer, even though the gravel drive back to Shelly’s home and business lay within sight.

He knew cops well enough to deduce Tanner would be more alert to potential danger at night. And despite the fact nearly three weeks had passed since his release, he knew Tanner wouldn’t have lessened his guard. During his previous forays into this forest and the tiny community nearby, he’d not encountered anyone other than friendly locals. But today, he’d seen several deputies pass slowly down the road near where he sat. The time for stringing Shelly Myers along was nearing its end.

As the night deepened, fewer cars passed. In truth, the lights from a passing car worried Eddie much less than the occasional thumps and rustles in the forest. He gripped the reassuring butt of the gun, ready to use it if a bear suddenly decided he looked like a tasty midnight snack. He’d take a dark alley in Dallas any day.

Eventually, even the forest noises quieted, lulling Eddie to sleep.

The passing of a mufflerless pickup truck woke him with a start. He squinted, at first thinking he’d been discovered and someone was shining a spotlight in his face. After several instinctual blinks, he realized it was the sun. Though it seemed as if he’d just closed his eyes, several hours had elapsed. He was more tired than when he’d fallen asleep.

The ache in his back and the gnawing in his belly combined to further sour his mood. Today was the day he finished things. He glanced at his watch. Almost time.

He carefully crawled to a spot where he could see the cabins. A patrol car sat parked in front of the office, and a deputy stood talking to Tanner. Poor yokel didn’t know his morning was about to get way more interesting.

Eddie glanced back at his watch, at the seconds ticking by Three, two one.

A distant boom followed by a rumble through the earth beneath him made Eddie smile.

The downshifting of a motor caught his attention. He peeked out of his cover to see a drink delivery truck turning into the gravel drive.

Perfect.

****

The windows shook in the office, causing Shelly to look up from writing Chris’s paycheck. She rose, then walked out onto the porch where Reed was talking to Robbie Carnes, one of the county deputies.

"Did you all feel that?"

Before they could answer, Robbie’s car radio squawked to life and he went to answer the call. She and Reed watched and listened to Robbie’s half of the conversation. Shelly knew it wasn’t good when she heard Robbie say, "Good Lord. Is anyone hurt?"

"We don’t know yet," the dispatcher said. "We need all available units."

"On my way." Robbie stepped outside his door. "I gotta go. There’s been an explosion at Mountain Gas."

Shelly prayed no one was hurt or worse as she watched Robbie’s cruiser spit gravel and nearly collide with the Coke delivery truck.

Jack pulled into his customary spot, then jumped out with his clipboard. "Where the heck was Robbie going in such a hurry?"

"There’s been an explosion at the gas company. Evidently, it’s pretty bad."

"Man, I hope everyone’s okay. I just drove past there not half an hour ago."

Reed left her to her job and headed toward where Chris and Sean were taking a water break. Shelly tried to focus on the delivery instead of the explosion, Eddie and the constant arguments with herself over whether she wanted to be with Reed.

"See you finally got all those trees cleaned up," Jack said.

They fell into amiable conversation, the type shared by two long-time acquaintances, while Jack unloaded her order. As she signed the paperwork for the delivery, Shelly started and snapped her head left.

"What’s wrong?" Jack asked as he accepted the clipboard from her.

A cold chill crept up her back as if on hairy spider legs. Had she truly jumped at her own shadow this time?

"Uh, nothing," she said. "Just thought I saw something move."

She said goodbye as Jack climbed up into the cab. As he disappeared around the curve, she noticed Reed, Sean and Chris sitting at the edge of the forest on a log they’d intentionally left behind for a bench. She crossed her arms and walked toward them.

"I know I pay at least one of you," she said.

Chris turned his attention to the other men. "See what I have to put up with."

"You?" Sean asked. "I’ve had to deal with her sassy tongue since she was two. I think I deserve a Purple Heart."

Shelly stuck out said sassy tongue at her brother.

Reed watched her throughout the good-natured one-upmanship looking for all the world as if he wouldn’t mind one bit putting up with her. Or was that wishful thinking on her part?

With a roll of her eyes, she turned her back on them and headed back inside. Maybe they could lollygag around all day, but she had work to do.

She took only a few steps inside before someone grabbed her from behind. A large, sweaty hand clamped over her mouth.

Eddie.

Panic exploded inside her. She wriggled and tried to punch backward with her elbows, but Eddie held her so tightly her efforts accomplished nothing.

He pressed the barrel of a gun to her temple. "Stop fighting."

Oh God. This close to three people who would help her, two with guns of their own, and they didn’t even know she was in danger.

"One wrong move and I’ll kill you right here and then kill all three of those bastards outside." He hesitated for a moment. "No, I think I’ll make you watch me kill them, then put you out of your misery."

Her skin went cold. Her brother, her friend, the man she loved.

Shelly stilled. If she was going to die, she wanted to go first. The shot would warn the guys to take cover and protect themselves. She’d at least know they were safe. Without her as a shield, Eddie would have no way out. If he tried to leave, he’d be dead within ten seconds.

Eddie’s hot breath breezed by her ear as he spoke. She swallowed against the bile rising in her throat. For now, she’d comply with his demands and watch for a chance to escape. But if he tried to take her away from here, she’d fight. But not here, not when her resistance could lead to the deaths of people she loved.

Her mind raced, trying to figure out what Eddie planned so she might counter it.

Keeping the gun pressed in the tender flesh of her temple, Eddie urged her toward the back room. Her heart thundered in her ears, nearly drowning out the sound of her own steps. Did he also have a knife? Did he plan to slit her throat in the storage room, then flee through the back door? No, he wanted Reed, too. Even if he did kill her, he’d wait for Reed. He wouldn’t leave any loose ends this time. The urge to fight welled within her, but what could she do against a gun?

Once they were out of sight of the windows and front door, he shoved her forward, causing her to trip over a box of supplies. She caught herself before she hit the floor and with an awkward turn righted herself—and saw the man who’d killed her husband. Even though he’d rarely been far from the front of her mind since she’d heard of his release, nothing had prepared her for facing those dark, venomous eyes again. He’d shaved his head and grown a full beard, but nothing he did would ever change his eyes. Her skin chilled so much she shivered, unable to keep him from seeing her reaction.

"Good, you’re scared. That will make this that much better."

It took all her effort not to scream. With manufactured bravado, she stiffened her back and refused to break eye contact. Men like him preyed on the weak, and she’d be damned if she’d give him an ounce more pleasure than he’d already derive from killing her.

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"I think you know. I’m sure Detective Reed told you about the promise I made when they dragged me away to that hellhole."

That he’d get out and come for them.

"Then why don’t you shoot me and get it over with?"

Eddie didn’t shoot her, though. He smiled as if he found her amusing, which angered her even more. Fear and anger danced through her veins, each trying to lead. She alternated between wishing Reed or Sean would come into the office and praying they’d stay away. How had this bastard gotten in here without any of them seeing him?

He took two slow, menacing steps toward her, but she refused to back away.

"There’s something to be said about savoring the first few bites before devouring the meal." He skimmed his fingers around the curve of her breast.

She shrank away, her skin crawling. Eddie chuckled.

"Much as I would like to bend you over this box, this isn’t the place. No, I think we need a more private spot. You’ll just have to wait a while longer."

Every instinct in Shelly screamed at her not to let him remove her from the office, but what were her choices? If they exited out the front, he’d place her between himself and the armed men, preventing them from taking a shot. If he forced her out the back, she could scream for help but receive a bullet for her trouble before the shout even reached Reed and the others. And then Eddie would pick them off one by one as they rounded the corner in response to her plea. Thank God her two guests were in Cherokee trying their luck at the casino.

No matter which scenario she played in her mind, she always ended up dead. If she got the chance, she’d make sure Eddie Victor joined her in the afterlife, if perhaps to spend eternity in the opposite direction.

Before she was ready—as if she ever would be—Eddie shoved her toward the barred back door. "Unlatch it," he demanded, his voice hard and impatient.

She complied, her hands shaking, still hoping some miracle might save them all. She prayed for the strength and wisdom to find a way out of the peril in which she found herself.

The bright, clear sky contrasted sharply with the dark reality transpiring below it. Despite her situation, perhaps because of it, Shelly inhaled deeply, drinking in the sights and scents of her beloved mountains. Maybe heaven looked a lot like the Smokies. Perhaps it looked different to each of its inhabitants, appearing as their favorite place during their sojourn on Earth. Though the possibility held a fascinating appeal, Shelly wasn’t quite ready to test the theory.