Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Charlie’s eyes locked onto Ryan’s. Until she saw the shock on Ryan’s face, she believed she hadn’t heard the words correctly.
“Someone shot at you?” Ryan asked incredulously. “I didn’t notice a bullet hole anywhere.”
Will swallowed before he spoke. “It struck the front driver’s tire.
I lost control of the vehicle. I was afraid he’d try and finish the job.
I couldn’t see anything.” He pushed Charlie’s hand away.
“I’m okay.” Will sat up against the headboard.
“Anyway, I thought I had the vehicle under control when another shot hit the engine, and I swerved. That’s when I hit a tree and lost consciousness. ”
Charlie couldn’t believe what happened. What was even more concerning was there was someone out there who didn’t want Will to reach them.
“Stay with him,” Ryan rose and headed for the door. “I’m going to lock up.”
Charlie tried to control the terror spiraling inside her. Was the shooter close? She had no doubt. He’d known all along where they were and had ambushed Will to keep him from coming to their assistance.
Ryan returned. “Doors and windows are secured. I didn’t see anyone out there but I’m radioing Boone. We need immediate help.” He disappeared again. Will swung his legs over the side of the bed. Charlie helped him up. Together they went into the living room.
“Why don’t you sit by the fire and warm up?” Charlie guided him over to one of the rockers before she returned to Ryan.
“He’s not picking up yet.” The tense set of his jaw confirmed Ryan was worried.
“You think he’ll strike again?” Charlie wrapped her arms around her body knowing the answer.
“That’s the whole reason why he shot at Will to take him out before he could assist.”
The radio came to life with Boone’s worried voice. “Can you hear me?”
“I’ve got you.” Ryan told the sheriff what had happened. “We need immediate backup. It’s only a matter of time before he attacks.”
“I’m headed your way now with Doug. I’ve radioed for backup from the neighboring county. Hang on. Help is on the way.”
Ryan didn’t respond. He rose and went over to check on Will. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m lucky to be alive.” Will smiled. “But I’m guessing my weapon went down with the cruiser.
Ryan confirmed it had. “I have my handgun and backup.” He looked around the room. “There’s a rifle here somewhere as I recall. Hopefully, I can find shells for it.”
Charlie helped him look for the missing weapon.
“The last time I saw it was in the hall closet.” Ryan opened the door. “It’s gone.”
Charlie had a sinking feeling. The killer knew the gun was there. Had he taken it? It didn’t add up in her head. If he took the weapon, why not destroy the radio?
“Found it.” Ryan called out from the bedroom. Charlie followed his voice there and saw him holding the rifle in one hand while searching the closet. “I don't see any shells though.”
Charlie opened drawers until she found a box of shells.
“This will help. But I don’t have unlimited clips for the handguns. I sure hope Boone gets here soon.”
The worry in Ryan’s tone scared her. One thing they had going for them was there were three of them and hopefully only one bad guy.
Ryan handed Will the rifle. “I know you’re familiar with one of these.” He went to his bag and found his backup giving it to Charlie. “You remember how I taught you to shoot?”
She did. But back then it had been for fun. This was deadly serious.
Unable to sit, she held the gun tight and waited.
In the distance over the wind a welcoming sound could be heard.
“That should be Boone.” Ryan went to the window and cracked the curtains. “I can’t see anything in this storm.” He leaned closer. “Wait. What is that?”
The words had barely cleared his lips when a sharp crack had Ryan jumping back. Shattered glass spilled all over the floor. A heartbeat later, something was tossed through the broken window.
The bottle that landed inside exploded around them in a firebomb.
Ryan removed his coat and tried to put the fire out. Charlie and Will helped but the fuel used to create the explosion had caught the curtains and the dry wood. There was no stopping it.
“The bedroom. There’s a window.” Ryan yelled over the flames. They raced toward the bedroom. A single window faced out to the right.
Ryan struggled to get the warped window up. When it wouldn’t budge, he took the butt of his handgun and broke the glass.
He cleared the leftover shards away. “Let me go first. He could be expecting us to use the window.”
Charlie’s heart leapt into her throat as Ryan climbed through. Over the crackle of the fire gobbling up more of the cabin, the terrifying sound of gunfire. Ryan had been right. The killer had expected them to leave through the window.
“Wait here for a second. Cover your nose and mouth.” Will jumped through the window to assist.
Charlie glanced over her shoulder at the fire closing in. She couldn’t stay here much longer.
While she prepared to bail through the window, Ryan appeared in the open frame. Charlie suppressed a scream.
He held out his hand. “We’ve got to go. Boone’s almost here but the shooter is still out there.”
She swung her legs through the window and let him pull her out while the perp and Will exchanged fire.
Will spotted them and fired again before racing after Charlie and Ryan around the front of the burning house.
“Don’t stop.” Ryan yelled over the noise. They raced past the fire. Charlie’s heart thundered. Their vehicle was completely engulfed in flames, eliminating their means of escape. “Keep going. We’ll meet Boone down the road.”
She half expected to be picked off by the shooter as they rounded the bend in the road and stumbled over the icy terrain.
Around the next bend, the best sight ever. A string of police vehicles led by Boone.
Charlie’s knees went weak. Ryan held her up as they reached the sheriff.
Boone’s gaze shot from them to the plume of smoke above the trees. “What on earth is going on here?”
In between gasps for oxygen, Ryan told him about the Molotov cocktail tossed into the cabin. “We managed to get out through the bedroom window, but the shooter was expecting us. He’s back there somewhere.”
“Get in.” Boone waited while they piled inside before punching the gas.
Charlie leaned back against the headrest and tried to understand what had happened to them. They’d almost died. Again. How many more attempts before the man who killed her uncle succeeded?
When they reached the cabin, the fire was out of control. “We’ll never get the fire department here in time,” Boone told them. “We’ll have to let it burn.”
He got out along with Ryan and Will. Ryan opened her door. “Wait here where it's safe.”
She didn’t argue. He closed the door. She watched him and Boone and Will ease toward the side of the house along with the rest of the officers.
Where was the shooter? Her gaze skittered around. What if he expected them to come after him. It was Charlie he wanted. If he got her alone. . .
Before she could lock the doors, someone opened the door next to her. She jumped and bit back a scream.
Ryan scooted in next to her. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. There are enough officers hunting the shooter. I wanted to be with you.”
Those words sent her heart soaring. She clasped his hand. “Thank you.”
He turned his head toward her and smiled. “Always. I can’t believe this happened.”
Charlie leaned her head against his shoulder.
“Me, either. I was so afraid he’d shoot us.
” But in a weird way, part of her was glad this was happening.
Too many years had passed without justice for Abby, and it had cost her uncle his life.
The killer needed to be brought to justice before he claimed another life.
Ryan touched her cheek. “Are you okay?”
She looked into his eyes and wished she could tell him yes. But the past and death swirled all around them like smoke in the wind. “I don’t know. What happens next?”
“I’m hoping we can head the suspect off before he escapes but I have a feeling he had every aspect of this attack planned out. He’s tracking us somehow.”
Charlie frowned. “How?”
Ryan shook his head watching the fire as it completely consumed the cabin.
“We’ve limited our information on the radio.
I’m not using my cruiser.” He stopped and she turned his way.
“My phone. It’s the only possible explanation.
Since the beginning I’ve had my phone with me.
” He noticed Boone coming their way. “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.
” He got out and went over to the sheriff while Charlie watched the two speaking and couldn’t dispel the feeling that the showdown which had started years earlier was coming to a head.