Chapter 30
Plans
The unmarked car was waiting for them at a small rest stop two miles down the road. As he expected, they pulled onto the road right as they passed.
Every so often, Rhyne checked on Nash via the front rearview mirror.
He noticed the man had found the package of straws and was using one to suck up the blood still oozing from the dead deer.
Once he had his chance at the carcass, they’d toss it back into one of the fields to give the other critters a go.
In the meantime, he was assailed by the rich aroma coming from the back seat.
The smell made his stomach clench almost painfully in anticipation.
They were less than five miles from Mansfield when Nash tapped the back of the headrest. “All right. Time to switch.”
“I’m going to pull into the next gas station and top off the tank. We’ll exchange there.”
The next gas station turned out to be a Traveler’s Rest, complete with in-store restaurants and gift shops, fifty-plus gas pumps, and the cleanest restrooms in the state.
Rhyne parked next to a pump at the farthest end of the lot to prevent anyone from looking into the back seat.
Their tail pulled up to a pump several stalls over.
As he filled the tank, Nash used the wipes in the backpack to clean up enough to where he wouldn’t attract any undue attention when he climbed out of the back.
Rhyne grinned at him when he finally emerged. “Feeling better?”
“Yeah. Lots. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it. I need to take a piss. Mind holding down the fort until I get back?”
“Sure thing.”
Nash slid into the driver’s seat as Rhyne quickly walked into the main building and headed for the restrooms. Rounding a large display beef jerky, he jerked to a halt and immediately took cover behind the display.
A familiar figure emerged from the entrance to the restrooms and turned to go in the opposite direction, away from him.
Clearly, Cargill hadn’t spotted him. Even if he had, Rhyne wondered if the man would recognize him.
One of the advantages of being in a crowded venue like this place was that the man’s vamp senses were dulled while being around so many humans.
Regardless, it was sheer luck that prevented Rhyne from encountering him.
Cargill may not have remembered who Rhyne was if they had, but a close encounter would have set off the guy's vamp alarm.
Rhyne glanced at the restroom entrance. There was no way of knowing if Welsh or any of Cargill’s nest were in there. He couldn’t take the risk.
He returned to his car and motioned to the man. “Move over.”
Nash crawled over the console and buckled himself into the passenger seat. He didn’t ask why the sudden change in plans. The man could tell from Rhyne’s demeanor that something had happened inside.
They drove around the rear of the building until they reached the set of gas pumps on the far end. Rhyne scanned the cars filling up but was unable to locate the black Aspenall.
“Cargill was inside,” he finally informed Nash.
“Did he see you?”
“No. And there were too many people in there for him to sense me,” Rhyne said. “I saw him heading in this direction, but I don’t see the car.”
“Maybe they parked in front,” Nash suggested.
“Let’s find out.”
He slowly drove behind the pumps, using them and the other vehicles to partially conceal them. The unmarked police car was temporarily dismissed as Rhyne concentrated on trying not to run into another car.
They’d almost reached the front of the building when Nash whispered, “There! Eleven o’clock!”
He checked. Just as Nash had suggested, a black Aspenall was backing out of a parking space located in front of the entrance. As an extra precaution, Rhyne put the car in reverse to use a nearby boat on a trailer as a shield.
They watched the Aspenall cautiously turn and approach the nearest exit.
It’s right side turning flashers came on, indicating Cargill and the others were about to pull onto the frontage road to gain access to the highway.
Rhyne debated why they would change their route and figured they wanted to get back to Lockerby as quickly as possible.
The Aspenall entered the frontage road. Rhyne had to wait for the two vehicles in front of him to also turn. A glance at the three rearview mirrors didn’t give him a clue as to where the county sheriff’s car was waiting, but he knew it had to be back there somewhere.
The two cars eventually advanced and Rhyne followed them onto the expressway. Fortunately the Aspenall was still within sight—or rather, within vampire sight.
His stomach clenched again. The pain was sharper this time, reminding him of how long it had been since he’d fed.
That and the scent of the freshly-killed deer only made the current situation worse.
His thoughts went to the men in the car ahead of them, and cold dread filled his veins.
If he was feeling the need, those men were undoubtedly feeling it, too.
Especially since she’s menstruating.
That revelation hit him with blunt and horrifying force. Grace was their deer. Freely bleeding and helpless.
Rhyne softly moaned at the knowledge of what they could be doing to her.
“Rhyne?”
Nash’s calm voice cut through the black fog circling his brain. The man continued. “How do you plan to rescue Grace? Do you even have a plan?”
“No,” Rhyne almost choked.
“Mind if I throw you a bone?” The man’s calmness was a sorely-needed balm.
“Throw it.”
“What if we’re going about this the wrong way?”
Rhyne fought to keep his eyes on their target as well as the surrounding traffic. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Nash lifted his cell phone in Rhyne’s field of vision. “What if we create our own diversion?”
Rhyne shot him a curious look. “I’m listening.”
“What if we call 9-1-1 and tell them we saw the guy on TV who was suspected of killing that guy at the hospital, and we’re following him. We then give them the type of vehicle and its license plate number…”
“And wait for the authorities to do their job,” Rhyne finished.
“And while the cops have them pulled over, we sorta find a way to get Grace out of there.”
For the first time in a very long time, Rhyne breathed a sigh of relief. “Buddy boy, you’ve just redeemed yourself in more ways than you could ever imagine.”
Chuckling, Nash dialed the emergency number.