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“Jess—”
She held up her hand. “I know. I know I’m wrong. I can’t help it. I have to hope that we’re wrong, okay?”
He squeezed her hand. “I hope you’re right and I’m wrong, too. Until then, can you follow my lead?”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to cut down the mountain to the road. When they don’t find us at the center, they’ll start searching. We need to get as far from here as we can.”
“Okay.”
The chill was beginning to seep into her bones. Her chest and thighs ached.
Samuel braced his hand on the stones again then peered back up the way they’d come. “Ready to move?”
“Yes.”
“Is the laptop okay?”
“What does that matter?”
He stared at her. “I’m guessing you got too close to the truth, and that’s why they are here.”
Her mouth dried up as she processed that reality.
There was a chance this was all her damn fault.
Fuck.
“Let’s go,” Samuel said and pulled on her hand.
Physically and mentally numb, Jessica followed along behind him. The ground was treacherous, becoming rocky and steep the farther they went. Though they tried to cut straight down, they were forced to wind their way awfully close to the driveway leading to the facility.
Every now and then she caught the sound of yelling in the distance and she had to wonder, what would happen if they were discovered? Would they be killed on sight? Or slowly over time?
Chapter Four
Thursday. Recovery Facility, Undisclosed.
Samuel could feel their lead time slipping away. By now, whoever these people were, they must be looking for him and Jessica. Chances were they only cared about her. Yes, his identity was burned. But so what? It wasn’t like he was the only FBI criminals might know by name. It was different for Jessica. She’d kicked rocks and uncovered secrets the rats would have preferred left alone. There was no going back. They had to push forward.
They weren’t going to get far enough away.
The ground was too difficult and slippery in this weather. Not to mention neither he nor Jessica were in any shape to make such a mad dash through the forest.
He also couldn’t keep her by his side if he was going to take a chance.
Samuel hesitated under the low boughs of a tree and peered around.
If they were going to get away, he needed to get them some wheels. The employee vehicles were out of question. The lane to the recovery center would be blocked. Their best chance was to flag down a passing vehicle.
As best he could tell, the mountain road was below them a short ways.
He turned to Jessica. “I need you to stay here.”
“What?” Her brown eyes went wide. “No!”
He gripped her by the shoulders. “I need to scout ahead and you need a break. Stay here and catch your breath.”