Whispers in the Dark (KGI #4)(30)

She felt the strength of his will like a bolt of caffeine. His mind sharpened. Anger and then determination coursed through his consciousness.

Listen to me, Shea. Slow down and think. Get your breath and focus for me. Your instinct is to run, kill yourself getting out. You’re probably making enough noise to wake the dead and you’re leaving signs all over the place. Tracking you will be child’s play. Even if you manage to elude them, they’ll find you eventually.

She came to an abrupt halt, and then despair sagged her shoulders. Who was she kidding? He was right. Finding her would be easy. She didn’t have a chance.

No! he reprimanded sharply. That’s bullshit, Shea. You’re not a sitting duck. I’m going to tell you everything you need to know to make damn sure you escape.

She swallowed and cocked her ear to the distance, straining to hear if they had drawn closer.

Tell me everything you can about where you are. Do you know? Is the terrain flat? Hilly? Are you in the mountains?

She inhaled sharply. The tang of salt danced through her nostrils. Mixed in was the scent of pine. A breeze ruffled her hair and she turned in the direction of the wind.

I’m facing the ocean. It’s not far. There are lots of redwoods. Big ones. The forest is thick, but the floor isn’t snarled and overgrown.

Okay, listen to me. Head toward the ocean. Where were you last? Where did they find you?

Shea began picking her way through the trees, following the direction of the wind blowing off the water. I was in California. I was planning to head north, farther up the coast. But they found me. They kept me in my own hotel room for several days. Then when they moved me, I escaped. I’m…I’m not sure where I am now. They drugged me. So much is fuzzy.

You’re doing fine, he soothed. Keep moving. From the description you gave, I’d say you’re still in Northern California or maybe even Southern Oregon. I’m coming, Shea. As fast as I can get there. But I need you to keep yourself safe until I find you. You have to protect yourself until I get there, okay?

She nodded grimly and then echoed her agreement through their link. Where would they expect her to go? She pushed ahead, hurrying, but taking greater care not to disturb the vegetation around her. Nathan’s presence calmed her. His steady reassurance made some of the panic fade, and she was able to think more rationally.

And then fear skittered up her spine again and gripped her throat until she could barely draw a breath. Nathan. I hear them. They’re close!

Find a place to hide. Get there and hunker down. Don’t make a sound. No movement. Let them go by you.

She glanced frantically around, her gaze finally lighting on a huge redwood in the distance with a twisted, massive trunk that had a hollowed-out opening.

She lunged forward, going as quietly as she could, all but flying across the distance. Oh please, oh please, let there be a place to hide.

The tree towered over her. The base was broad and the roots extended in all directions, huge and steadying. She slid into the narrow opening, sucking in her breath, praying she would fit.

It was tight and only adrenaline gave her the strength to shove her way inside the opening in the tree. She sank back as far as she could, embracing the darkness. Things she couldn’t bear thinking about flickered across her skin. Flies, insects, creepy-ass bugs. God only knew what else shared the interior of the trunk with her. It was all she could do not to shriek as something slid down her neck and back.

Through it all Nathan hadn’t said a word, but she felt his presence, knew he was there, waiting patiently, not wanting to distract her from her goal. When she finally managed to calm herself down enough that she wouldn’t risk giving herself away, she reached back out to Nathan.

I’m inside a tree. A really big tree full of really creepy things.

Better them than the men after you.

True. I don’t hear them yet. I’m not sure what direction they went.

Just sit tight. Be very still. No sound. Do not panic. They might move right by you, but if you don’t move, they won’t find you. No matter what, you have to control your panic.

She leaned her head against the inside of the tree and flinched when she felt something crawl through her hair. It took every ounce of her discipline to remain so still when she wanted to bolt.

And then she froze. There was a sound not very far away. The creak of a stick breaking. Leaves rustling. And then even closer. Hurried footsteps.

She held her breath as sweat rolled down the sides of her neck. Her heart pounded so hard against her chest wall that she was sure it was an audible sound. She began to shake and cursed her lack of self-control.

Easy now. Be calm. I’m with you. Let them go by you. It won’t be long now.

She closed her eyes as the noises got even closer. So close that they could only be a few feet away. Her pulse raced as she waited to hear the sounds retreat as they got farther away.

But they stopped.

She crammed herself as far back into that tree as she could go, pressing against the rough surface in an effort to stop the ridiculous shaking.

They were out there. Just a few feet away. Did they know she was here? Were they preparing to pull her out?

“She couldn’t have gotten far. She was stoned on the drugs we gave her. She’s probably wandering around in circles.”

One of the other men made a sound of disagreement. “She played you, fool. She’s probably already made it into town. We have to get there immediately before she can disappear again.”