Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chief Ricco glanced at his watch, then looked at Hunter.
“We’d better get moving and be ready for him in case he actually shows up here,” the chief said.
“He will. I know it,” Hannah replied without hesitation.
That’s what scared Hunter. Without a doubt, he knew there would be some sort of altercation today.
He’d helped to orchestrate it. Would it be what he and Hannah wanted?
Still, it worried him. The last thing he wanted was for Hannah to be in harm’s way, though he knew this was their best option.
Get Sebastián to violate his parole and get him sent back to prison.
A touch to his arm drew his attention.
“Are you okay?” Hannah asked.
No, he wasn’t, but he certainly wouldn’t tell her that.
“I’m good. Just working through everything in my head.”
The chief nodded.
“Let’s go.”
They loaded into Chief Ricco’s SUV and he drove toward the access point they’d use to get to Lover’s Leap Falls and campsite.
It was the same point Hannah had escaped the woods while being chased by the shooter—Sebastián.
Though Sebastián provided an alibi that day, Hunter knew in his heart that Sebastián was the shooter.
For a while, he’d thought maybe the shooter had been a hired hand, but now he believed Sebastián was the guy.
Chief Ricco tucked his squad SUV under the cover of the forest in a nearby driveway of a vacant property, and they exited the vehicle.
Hunter holstered his pistol and slung his rifle over his shoulder.
Hannah holstered her weapon. The chief’s lips parted as if he were going to speak, then he clamped them shut.
He knew Hunter. He knew he’d be cautious with his weapons.
The expression the chief wore still sent a message to Hunter to be careful.
As they neared the embankment, where Hunter had been told they’d carried him out of the woods on a stretcher, he took a moment to study the area.
He had no memory of being hauled out of the woods or his ambulance ride.
Though he’d heard the story enough from his brother and sister, it almost felt like he recalled it from his own memory bank.
He remembered being shot at and leaping over the falls with Hannah tucked in his hold.
He remembered being on the run, but at some point, his brain shut off.
He woke up in the hospital, and Hannah was gone.
Once they reached the embankment, the chief climbed down. Hunter followed, then held a hand up to Hannah to help her. She didn’t reach out to him. She just stood there, staring out into the woods. Her eyes looked glossy. Her skin was pasty white. Her body quivered.
“Hannah.”
No response.
“Katrina.”
Hannah stared into the woods, recalling that horrible day ten years ago.
Her heart raced at the thought of placing herself in Sebastián’s sights intentionally, but it was what she needed to do.
It was the best way to deal with him. Draw him out, make him try something stupid to violate his parole, and get him back into prison.
His being locked up was the only way to ensure her safety.
She swallowed hard. He may have hired someone to take her out, but in any case, Sebastián needed to be removed from the public.
She heard Hunter say her name. Hannah. She missed using her real name.
“Katrina,” Hunter said.
She looked at him. Those warm, dark eyes of his calmed her.
She knew he’d protect her at all costs, just like he’d done once before.
She didn’t want him to get hurt again, or worse, die today.
Maybe this was a bad idea, but she’d put the plan in motion, and there was no stopping it now.
She could text Bianca, or most likely it was Sebastián and say she’d gone elsewhere.
Throw him off their trail, but then she’d have to hide for the rest of her life.
She took Hunter’s hand, and stepped down the embankment.
“It’ll be fine. We’ll be okay,” Hunter said.
Hunter led them through the woods with a fast stride. When he intersected the actual trail they’d been on that fateful day, he paused and looked back at her.
She easily recognized this spot with the downed tree that was at the edge of a large hole created by the uprooted tree. This was the spot she’d stashed Hunter in to hide him from the shooter. Erosion had filled the hole in a bit, but it was still fairly deep.
Staring into the hole was like staring into a mirror of the past. Every detail of that day on top of Lover’s Leap came into crystal clear view, making her nauseous.
She flashed her gaze around and could have sworn she heard the words, I’m coming for you , among the slight whistle of the breeze, just like she’d heard ten years ago.
Hunter scooped up her hand and held it reassuringly.
Honestly, she didn’t think returning to this spot would be that hard, yet she should have known it would be similar to the two other times she’d visited Lover’s Leap since the incident.
“We need to keep moving and get into position. And keep your eyes peeled,” the chief said.
Now that they were on the trail, Chief Ricco took the lead. She followed him, and Hunter followed her.
It didn’t take long to reach the pool of water at the bottom of the falls. She paused for a moment and stared at the waterfall. There seemed to be more water coming over the edge than she remembered from the past, but it was spring, so maybe the quick snow melt was feeding it.
Her gaze floated upward, running along the forty-foot falls she and Hunter jumped into.
The memory of how he’d wrapped her in his protective arms warmed her heart.
He’d taken the brunt of their fall. Sure, she had a few cuts and bruises, but he’d nearly lost his life, adding more injuries to his body after being shot.
The thick, thorny brush surrounding the pool wasn’t as dense as it was that day in the middle of summer, but the spring foliage was entering full bloom now.
Hannah closed her eyes and blew out a long breath.
“Ready?” Hunter asked.
She opened her eyes and nodded, then she followed him to the path that led up the back side of the falls.
Once near the top, they all paused, staying just inside the tree line. The top of the falls was rocky and bald. She scanned the area, looking for any lurking dangers. When she looked at Hunter and Chief Ricco, they did the same.
The rush of the water echoed in the air, and her gaze latched onto the fast-flowing water that swept over the edge in a free fall, just like she and Hunter had done once. Only the water fared better than they had.
Chief Ricco radioed his men, “We’re in position. Are you all in position?”
One by one, his men, the sheriff and his men replied. Everyone was where they needed to be.
“Any activity?” the chief asked.
Everyone responded acknowledging no activity.
Chief Ricco called out to Lee. “Is the campsite set up?”
“Yes, we just finished.”
“Good. Keep your eyes peeled on the way back. Stay safe,” the chief replied.
“My eyes are peeled,” Lee replied.
My. Wouldn’t it be our eyes ? Hannah thought.
Now what? Should she stand on the bald rock like a sitting duck?
“Likely, he’ll come up the trail. He doesn’t know the woods, so that seems logical,” the chief said.
Hunter nodded.
“We should go to the other side and stay tucked in the tree line. We’ll still watch all directions.”
She watched Hunter’s nervous eyes scan the area.
“Due to the heavy, fast-flowing water coming in, I don’t think there’s an area shallow enough to walk through safely, without getting swept away, or an area narrow enough to leap over. We’re going to have to cross over the exposed area and bridge for the best angle to watch the trail,” Hunter said.
Chief Ricco nodded.
“I was thinking the same thing. We should still have plenty of time to do that before he arrives, that is, if he does, but let’s move quickly,” the chief replied.
It’s not like the top of the falls was that large. It would only take them a minute or so to get to the opposite side of the river that fed the falls, but still, who knew?
“Let’s go,” Hunter said as he grabbed her hand and shot out of the tree line, over the rock, over the bridge, and to the tree line opposite where they’d been.
Her heart raced. Not from the distance they’d just run, but from the fear of the potential possibilities that could have prevented them from reaching the other side.
“Now we wait,” the chief said as they stood next to each other, scanning the woods. The trees and foliage were thicker on this side, making it difficult to see far, but as Chief Ricco pointed out, it was likely Sebastián would use the marked trail.
“Just ran the plates on a passing car,” one deputy radioed.
Hannah’s heart leaped into her throat.
“Came back as Theresa Milborn.”
“I know her. She’s a resident of Iron City,” the chief replied.
“I’m back at base camp. All quiet here,” Lee’s voice sounded over the radio.
I’m. Not we’re?
Lee’s choice of words didn’t seem to faze the chief or Hunter. Was she overthinking this?
Two hours of mostly radio silence passed. An occasional report of a passing car came through from the deputies and officers, but all the cars and occupants were known by Chief Ricco or his men. Maybe Sebastián wouldn’t take the bait today.
Another hour of nothing except birds chirping. The temperature had warmed some, and the morning wind had settled. Hannah wanted to pull off the lightweight camouflage jacket that Hunter insisted she wear, but she decided to keep it on. Any cover was better than no cover.
Hannah’s stomach growled. A glance at her watch informed her why. It was nearing one o’clock.
Hunter pulled three granola bars out of his backpack, handing one to her and one to the chief.
She kept her gaze on full alert even while eating. Hardly blinking, causing her eyes to become dry and itchy. She’d closed them for just a second when she heard Hunter’s quick intake of breath.