Chapter 20 #2
“Hey, you two.” Nester’s voice cut through the quiet.
He jogged down the hallway and burst into the conference room, his phone clutched tightly in one hand.
“I just got a camera hit on the black truck that rammed into you. The front end is all warped, and I can see bullet holes on the hood from where you returned fire.”
Laurel’s attention snapped to him. “Where?”
Nester sucked in a breath. “The footage is from the traffic cam at the base of Stony Mountain. It’s only about a half hour away from here. I’ve notified Agent Norrs in Seattle, but he’s a good two hours away.”
Walter’s gaze sharpened. “Then we can’t wait for him. I’ll go and report back in to you.”
“No.” Laurel stood. “This is my case, too. They shot at both of us.”
“They shot at you.” Walter’s eyes narrowed, his tone dropping. “Wear a vest.”
She didn’t have time for this. “You wear a vest, too.” She spun on her heel and rushed into the back room, her steps rapid and precise.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she yanked open the cabinet, grabbing two Kevlar vests.
She shrugged one on over her sweater, the cold, heavy weight pressing against her chest. The fabric was stiff, resistant, but she forced it into place and zipped her jacket over it.
Walter took the other vest without a word, yanking it over his broad shoulders and fastening the straps with the efficiency of someone who’d done it a thousand times before.
Laurel clipped her weapon into a leg harness, her fingers moving quickly and surely. She double-checked the fit before strapping a backup pistol to her ankle. The weight of the weapons sharpened her focus.
“You good?” Walter asked, his eyes already darting toward the exit.
“I’m good.”
Nester hustled up, his arms full of printouts.
“I’ll let Norrs know you’re both en route and you’ll probably beat him there.
I’m sending these to your phones, but I thought you’d want to see.
” He slapped the pages on the table and pointed to a highlighted map.
“This mountain only goes up so far and then winds around toward Genesis Valley, going down the other side. He could head into Canada, but right now, he’s closer rather than farther away. ”
Walter’s gaze traced the routes, his jaw set. “He could be coming right here.”
“You both need to keep your heads down.” Nester’s expression was tense, his eyes glancing from Walter to Laurel.
“Understood,” Laurel said. “Let’s go.”
Nester cleared his throat. “Rachel Raprenzi called again about her interview with Abigail tomorrow night on The Killing Hour. She really join.”
Laurel gritted her back teeth together.
Nester held up a hand. “That’s pretty much what I told her.”
Laurel nodded and then hurried out of the office and down the stairs, her boots echoing against the steps as she and Walter descended to the vestibule.
Huck was waiting for them, already armed and practically vibrating with impatience.
Aeneas sat expectantly next to him, his ears twitching.
“My Zoom meetings went long and I was just leaving when Nester called.” Huck crossed his arms over his chest, his expression grim.
“I’m armed. If I can’t stop you from going, which I know I can’t, I’m going with you.
” His voice was firm. “I know that area like the back of my hand. Aeneas and I have spent plenty of time on that mountain.”
Laurel gave a single, terse nod.
“All right, let’s go.” Huck’s gaze swept the parking lot before he pulled the door open.
He glanced around, his phone in his hand.
“I don’t feel anybody out here, but let’s make sure.
” His thumb scrolled through the camera feeds, the screen’s glow reflecting off his tense expression.
“Okay. We’re good. Let’s get to the truck. ”
Outside, a light spring rain had started to fall, the drizzle cool against Laurel’s face as they strode toward the truck.
The parking lot was a mix of shadows and dim lights, the air thick with dampness.
She climbed into the front passenger seat, her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings as Walter took the back seat.
Huck placed Aeneas in his crate and then jumped into the driver’s seat, igniting the engine and backing out of his parking spot.
Her phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen and then answered.
“Agent Norrs. It’s Agent Snow, and we’re on our way out to Stony Mountain and the pass toward Canada.
Or Genesis Valley, I suppose. We’re about an hour and a half ahead of you,” Laurel said, her voice clipped but steady.
“I have Agent Smudgeon and Captain Rivers with me.”
“Good. Isn’t that Fish and Wildlife territory?” Norrs asked, his voice tinny through the speaker.
“Yes.” Huck kept his gaze on the rainy road ahead. “If the guy hasn’t headed into Canada, we’ll get him.”
“Keep me updated.” Norrs’s voice was sharp before the line cut out.
Huck’s hands gripped the steering wheel as he pulled out of the parking lot. His gaze never strayed from the road, but his shoulders appeared wound tight.
“Drive fast,” Walter growled.
“I intend to.” Huck’s eyes flicked to the mirror before settling back on the road.
The truck’s tires splashed through shallow puddles as they sped toward the mountain, the rain thickening as the terrain grew steeper.
Laurel’s phone buzzed again with another message from Nester that included updated coordinates with real-time tracking. She read through the data, her fingers gripping the phone a little too tightly.
If the suspect was heading into Canada, their window was closing. They drove up the mountain, high enough that drifts of snow still showed through the trees. Laurel stiffened and pointed. “Is that—”
“Black truck,” Huck confirmed, slowing his vehicle. “It looks like it slammed into that pine.” He angled the truck so his door faced the crumpled wreck. “Go out your side. Guns out. Stay sharp.”