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My hesitation doesn’t last long, as I have a sudden feeling that I need to stop her rather than watch her. Maybe it’s the moonless night making it so dark, or the fact she’s already provoked Hellman once and stolen from him, that I’m thinking I should’ve stopped her at her driveway.
But damn it… I wanted to give her the chance to prove me wrong.
I take the left turn down the darkened road looking for Abby’s car along the shoulders.
Nothing. At the dead end, I turn around and head back, looking deep into driveways to see if they parked at someone’s house, which would not be realistic, but I have to be careful in my search.
When I get back out to Sanitarium Road, I’m confused. Did Abby change her mind?
I hang a left, driving past the Hellman place. A quick glance and I can see the main house in the distance, lights off except for the porch sconces.
Two hundred yards down the road, I’m considering turning back when I glimpse Abby’s car up ahead along the side.
My gut rolls as I pull in behind it, and my headlights reveal the interior is empty.
“Fuck,” I mutter as I turn off my car. Leaning across the console, I flip open the glove box and pull out my Glock and a flashlight. I don’t think I’ll need the gun, but given that Hellman carries one, along with a grudge, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
I backtrack up the highway closer to Hellman’s property and cut into the tree line that surrounds his acreage. I listen intently for sounds of Abby moving around, but there are no telltale signs of pine straw or limbs crunching underfoot.
She has no more than a five-minute head start, but it’s enough to put me at a disadvantage if I’m guessing wrong that she came in this way. I can only go off the knowledge that if I were sneaking onto Hellman’s property, I’d do it under the cover of trees rather than approach from the open road.
Using the flashlight to illuminate my way, I move as quickly as I can through underbrush and downed trees. It’s not overly thick, but it is slightly treacherous with ditches and small hills to navigate, which prevents me from an all-out run.
It seems like hours, but in truth, it’s no more than five minutes before I reach the back of the property where it starts to curve northeast. I’m deep into the forested area, but I can make out the faint outline of the warehouses—no floodlights attached to the buildings but rather a few light poles around the perimeter. It’s not the best security if you’re trying to protect your property as there are too many shadows one could sneak around in.
I push forward another fifty yards, keeping my flashlight aimed downward in front of me rather than sweeping so as not to draw attention if Levi has guards milling about. I’d expect after Abby stole from him once, he would’ve increased security. It’s why it’s shocking that the lighting isn’t better. He should—
Stopping dead in my tracks, the realization of what might be happening flips my stomach.
What if Levi knew Abby would come back, and he’s intentionally making it easier for her to prowl around? Best-case scenario, he catches her and calls the police.
Worst case, the asshole takes a shot at her for trespassing. It’s illegal to shoot at someone for trespassing, but someone as egotistical as Levi Hellman might not care about that in the heat of the moment.
A branch cracks, and I narrow my eyes in that direction. I don’t dare sweep my light, but up ahead, I see a small, crouched figure.
Abby.
Before I can even take a step her way, she bolts from the trees, aiming straight at the closest building. She’s alone, and I wonder where the hell her friends she was allegedly meeting are.
I run toward the tree line and get no more than a few paces before blinding lights flick on, flooding the surrounding area with illumination so strong, I can see Abby in stark detail.
She freezes.
“Abby,” I call out, running her way. I don’t care if anyone sees me. They know she’s here. “Get your ass back!”
Startled, she turns my way and peers into the forest. I break through the tree line and run straight at her. Grabbing her hand, I yank her along with me, heading for cover.
And that’s when the first crack of a gun rings out. Abby shrieks, and I push her in front of me. “Run.”
Another shot just as we reach the trees, and it slams into a pine, spitting bark and wood right at Abby as she runs past. I consider firing back but decide against it. I don’t need my bullets left on this property, and despite the glow of lights, no one was close enough to get a good look at me.