Dark Justice(29)

I hunched over the steering wheel, my back like granite. “That man tried to kill both of us.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know. I just know I need to get you somewhere safe.” Someplace where I could stop and rest. Think this through.

“We should call the police!” Her voice bent upward.

I said nothing, my throat tight. We couldn’t call law enforcement. It was clear Samuelson had come to my house for two reasons. First, for my computer and backup drive. Second, to kill me. Maybe Mom too. The only reason he’d want to take my laptop and backup drive would be to get rid of the copy I’d made of that video.

And the only people who knew I’d made that copy worked for the sheriff’s department.

Who from that department was working with those fake agents? Harcroft? Wade? Or both. Maybe someone else who’d been told about the video.

I’d bet it was Harcroft. He’d seemed suspicious of me the moment we met.

What did that video mean? Why was it so important?

Questions and protests spilled from Mom’s mouth. I shut her out. I had to think.

Two clear points of action lasered through my brain, both of which had to be done now. Call Emily. And hit the nearest bank for the biggest ATM withdrawal I could make.

We wouldn’t be going home anytime soon.





Chapter 12


Stone’s phone buzzed. Roz’s number. He was late. Stone cursed and punched on the line. “Where are you?”

“It’s done.”

“So why aren’t you here?”

Roz’s breath sputtered.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing.”

Stone’s eyes narrowed. “What is wrong with you?”

“Nothing. Just took . . . longer than I thought. Hurrying . . . back to my car. Be there soon.”

The man didn’t sound right. “You have her computer?”

“Yeah. And backup drive.”

“What’d she tell you?”

“Nothing. She doesn’t know . . . anything.” Roz’s breath came in spurts.

“What do you mean doesn’t?”

“Didn’t. Didn’t know.”

Stone worked his jaw. “Did you kill her or not, Roz?”

“Yes.”

“And her mother?”

“Y-yeah.”

“You did.”

“Yeah.”

Stone sniffed. Was Roz lying? “If you’re just leaving her house you should be here in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll be there.”

And he just might be sorry. Stone would get out of him what had happened.

“Can’t wait, Roz.”





Chapter 13


I veered off 280 at Woodside Road and turned left, looking for the nearest bank. There was little traffic at this hour. The digital clock read 3:37.

They’d come for me, wouldn’t they. Even if Samuelson was dead, Rutger was still around. And who knew what people they worked with? Or for?

I might have killed a man!

Who at the sheriff’s department was working with them?

Why? I hit the steering wheel with my fist. Why was this happening to us?

“Hannah, don’t worry.” Mom tried to soothe me, even as her words quavered. “We’ll be all right.”

She had no clue.

Who did I think I was to run from these people? In my mind, I flicked through movies and TV shows of innocents trying to outrun heartless criminals. Like bunnies fleeing a pride of lions.

I spotted a Wells Fargo down on the left and pulled into its parking lot. Drove right up to the ATM.

“Mom, stay in the car. I’ll just be a minute.”

She sniffled. “Where are we?”

“The bank.”

Hitting an ATM after dark went against one of my own safety rules. I couldn’t help glancing around as I slid my card into the slot. The max cash withdrawal was $300. I took it all. I already had another $300 in my purse.

Back in the car I stuffed the money in my purse and headed off Woodside, onto residential roads. I needed a darkened curb where I could pull over and call Emily.

A few blocks down I found what I needed. I rolled to a stop but kept the engine running.

“What are you doing now?” Mom fingered the collar of her shirt.

“Calling Emily.”

“Won’t she be sleeping?”

“Yes.” My fingers trembled as I pulled out my cell phone.

Emily picked up on the first ring. “Mom?” Her tone bordered on panic. I never called at this hour.

“Hi.” I tried to lighten my voice, but it came out sideways.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have long to talk. We had to run from the house.”

“Why?”

Briefly, I told her.

“Mom!”

“We’re driving at night, Emily!” Mom yelled toward the phone. “Your mother got me out of bed!”