CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“Why would Hannah be going out to Wes’s place with a sniper rifle?” Bobby asked. “And what does it have to do with Chloe’s stalker?”
There was only one reason Gage could think of for anyone to be dressed as Earl describe the waitress, armed with a rifle, and headed out to Wes’s place in this weather. And it wasn’t good.
“This may have nothing to do with Chloe’s stalker, sweetheart,” he said, walking back to his desk and his phone.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
He dialed Wes’s number again. Damn. It went straight through to voice mail again. “We know the stalker was at Chloe’s place sometime after the blizzard hit. Hannah lives here. Has lived here for months. How would Hannah and the stalker know each other?”
“So, you think Hannah is going out there for another reason? Maybe something from Wes’s past?”
That was one of the things he loved about his wife, she might be worried about her sister, but her logical brain was already headed down the same track as his.
His phone rang. Reaching for it, he hoped it was Wes. It wasn’t.
“What’s up Harriett?” he asked without preamble, hitting the speaker phone option. Clint’s office nurse was a woman of few words and didn’t like small talk of any kind.
“Gunfire over by Wes’s place,” she said.
“You’re sure it was at Wes’s place?” he asked, already headed for his coat.
“First shot surprised me. Thought it might be a fool out hunting. Repeated shots? Not likely. All near his place.”
“I’m headed there now.” He didn’t have to say goodbye. She’d already disconnected. “Bobby, call Daniel and Cleetus. Both should be on their way here, have them divert over to Wes’s place. Give them a heads-up to the situation and to wait a mile down the road for me.”
“I’m coming with you,” Bobby said, grabbing her coat off the back of her chair.
Oh, hell no.
She had her coat on by one arm sleeve when he caught her by the free elbow. “Bobby, you need to stay here,” he said as gently as he could, considering how fast his heart was pounding at even the idea she and their unborn child would be near gunfire and freezing temps.
“She’s my little sister, Gage.” Bobby stared up at him with such anguish in her dark brown eyes that he almost gave in. Almost.
“I know that, sweetheart. And I promise I’ll do everything I can to bring her home safely to you.” He brushed an errant lock of dark hair off her face. “But I can’t do that to the best of my abilities if I’m too busy worrying about you,” he dropped his hand to her stomach, “and this little person’s safety.”
It took her a moment, but finally she nodded, making a twisted-lip pout at him. “You’re right. I’d only be a hindrance. Go. Go, get my sister.”
He gave her a quick kiss, then grabbed a sat phone from the station where they sat on his way to the back door. “Tell the guys to bring the ones they used yesterday. Cell towers may not be up in that area since we can’t reach Wes on his phone.”
“Got it. Be safe.”
As he stood by the weapons locker and took out an assault rifle, he paused to look at his wife. Already on the phone, she was completely fixated on her tasks. If she were still upset about being left behind, she wasn’t giving in to it. Something in him relaxed and his heartbeat slowed to normal again, allowing him to focus on the problem.
Beyond her, Earl seemed to be hovering near the door, not quite knowing what to do with himself. The man needed a mission and Gage had just the one for him.
He motioned the older man to follow him out the back.
“What’s up, Sheriff?” Earl asked as Gage opened his truck and set the rifle in the rack in back.
“I have a job for you, Earl. Something I don’t want Bobby to know about.”
The man seemed to stand a little taller. “Whatever you need, Sheriff.”
* * * * *
About ten yards from the tree line, something red caught Wes’s eye. He veered that direction, hoping the shooter stayed focused on the cabin and not the woods beyond.
Paw prints lead up to the spot and then further into the trees.
“Wöden?” Chloe whispered.
Wes nodded and took a minute to stomp on the bloody spot, hoping to push it deeper into the snow. No need to leave the neon sign for their predator to track them so easily. Chloe seemed to be doing a dance beside him. She was making a dozen different tracks towards the woods then circling around. Might not confuse the hunter for long, but perhaps long enough for him to get her to a safe hiding spot.
“Stay here,” he told her. He stomped through the snow in the direction Wöden had gone, careful to keep his tracks to the side and the wolf-dog’s visible. He went three or four yards, then carefully back tracked in his own steps until he once more stood by Chloe.
Again, he didn’t think it would fool their pursuers for long, but might buy them a little time.
Gunfire sounded behind them. More breaking glass. Shouting.
Grabbing Chloe’s hand, he pulled her into the forest.
“Do you think you can find him?” Chloe asked as she tromped along in his footsteps.
“Yes.” Wes didn’t need to follow Wöden’s blood trail. He already knew where the wolf-dog was going. “He’s headed to the deer blind.”
“The one where you found him years ago?” She sounded out of breath, but kept right in step with him. Tromping through the snow had taken time and effort, even with her almost stepping right in his tracks. Yet, she hadn’t uttered one word of complaint. Exhaustion had to be hitting her, it was him.
Pausing he held up the low-hanging branch of an evergreen for her to pass by then dropped it behind them. Sheltered in this spot, he crouched down and took a few minutes to scan the path behind them letting them both catch their breath. The cabin looked okay. Whoever it was hadn’t hit the gas tanks, or the propane for the outdoor grill—yet. Would they do that if they’re gunfire failed to draw him and Chloe out the door?
“Do you see them?”
He shook his head. “No one moving, but I don’t know how long we’ve got—”
“Before they find our tracks?” she finished his thought. “Guess we best keep moving, now that I have my breathing under control.”
He wanted to pull her in his arms and kiss the hell out of her, reassure her they’d make it out of this.
Only he couldn’t. After that last mission, he swore he’d never again make a promise he couldn’t keep.
Another gun shot, more screaming followed it. Chloe was right. They needed to get moving.