Rain Shadow(44)

Once in sight, I ran toward the two lane stretch of road. My legs could barely support me, but I managed to get there without falling on my face. There were no cars in sight, which was what I’d expected. I was certain that Cash had pointed me in this way because Dreygon rarely rode this way. I would have little chance of running into him. I headed in the direction the car had gone.



I trudged on for what seemed an eternity. There was a half moon above, and it made the painted line between the lanes glow yellow. The road and surrounding land were so deserted, it felt as if I was the only living thing on the planet. Then two headlights appeared like glowing eyes in the distance. As the car neared, a blinding spotlight came out of the side window and lit up the road like daylight. It was a highway patrol car. It slowed and then pulled over.

“Hands behind your head,” a voice came over the loudspeaker.

I lifted my hands and dropped to my knees in exhaustion. Two officers got out and approached me with caution. One pointed a flashlight in my eyes.

“Let’s see some identification.”

“I don’t have any.” My throat was so dry, it was hard to speak. “I’m Special Agent Luke Barringer of the Reno Drug Enforcement Administration. Call and ask for Detective Carson. He’ll know me. And if you have any water in that vehicle, I’d really appreciate a sip.”

One of the officers returned to the car to make a call.

I pushed to my feet. It took me a few seconds to gain my balance.

“Let’s get you to the squad car. I have a water bottle inside if you don’t mind some of my backwash,” the officer said.

I smiled weakly. “I’m so thirsty, you could have scooped the water up from the gutter and I’d still drink it.”

I’d been walking for hours, but the last few steps to the patrol car were fucking torture. I collapsed into the backseat. The officer handed me his water. Angel’s warning to drink slowly drifted through my tired mind. I closed my burning eyes as the cool liquid coated my throat. I finished the water off just as a familiar voice came through the speaker.

“This is Carson.”

My chest tightened at the sound of his voice. There had been so many times in the past few days that I was sure I would die, hearing Carson sent a tidal wave of emotion through me. I relaxed against the seat and listened as the officer spoke to him.

“Detective Carson, this is Officer Davis of the Nevada Highway Patrol. We’ve found a young male wandering along the interstate. He has identified himself as Special Agent Luke Barringer.”

A profound silence followed. “Where is he? Is he all right?”

The officer handed me the phone. “Hey, Carson,” the words were tight in my throat. “It’s me.”

“Fucking hell, Luke. You’re alive,” his voice broke. The ache in my eyes produced rare tears. “My god, Luke. Can’t tell you how good is to hear your voice.” Sally, his wife, cried out in the background. “Thought you were— fucking hell, Luke.”

I laughed weakly. “I know exactly how you feel.” Having to leave Angel behind, the emotional mind fuck of thinking I was going to die and the realization that I was going to return to the DEA office without Dex was too much. “Carson,” I pressed my fingers against my eyes, “they made me kill Dex. They rigged up a gun—” I scooted down into the seat wanting to be swallowed up by it.

“Don’t talk, Luke. We need to get you back home. Your brothers are at your house. They’ve been here helping in the search. I’ve got Sally calling them right now on the house phone. She’s balling her head off though.” He turned his mouth from the phone to talk to his wife. “Don’t cry or you’ll freak them out. Women,” he sighed as if we’d been holding it together. “I’m going to pick up your brothers and head out to the highway patrol office right now. Do we need a police escort to get you back here safely?”

“Nah, I think I’m safe for now.”

“Guess there’s a lot of debriefing waiting when we get you back to town.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

The highway patrol officer started the car. He swung it around, and I watched the barren landscape slide past as we headed back to town.

“Luke,” Gage’s voice came through the speaker. “Luke, shit, Luke,” The brother who I’d only seen cry twice in my life could barely speak. “Are you all right?”



“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s a long story, but I’m fucking tired.”

Seth’s voice came through next. “Get your ass home, Bro,” he said with a half cry and half laugh. “You’ve got some explaining to do. And you’ve got Gage bawling like a damn baby.”