Page 615 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

The blaring music caught her attention before she saw the truck. She veered off the road and slowed her pace on the grassy shoulder and waited for the truck to pass. The truck pulled beside her and kept the same pace. Its tires were so large they could have passed for tractor tires. The back end of the truck was jacked up, making the front look like it was perpetually going downhill. In a flash she took in the red dull paint covered with rust spots and the two men with their caps pulled over their eyes, their bushy hair sticking out the sides.

Well this was great. Just what she needed. A couple of rednecks gawking at her.

The passenger leaned out the window and gave a loud wolf call. She didn’t even bother to look his direction but kept her eyes fixed straight ahead.

“Man o’ man. Look at them legs!”

They made a few more comments, which she ignored.

“You think you’re too good to speak?”

She just kept running while her heart beat wildly in her ears.

A car came up behind the truck, forcing them to go on. She blew out a breath. Thank goodness for the car. She was only halfway finished with her first lap around the park. She glanced at her watch and decided she wouldn’t risk going around another time. It was getting late and the truck might come back. As it was, it would be dark by the time she made it back home.

A fragment of a documentary she’d seen on the discovery channel popped into her mind, causing her stomach to flip. She could almost hear the announcer’s voice speaking. There must be a sixth sense that warns prey of impending danger. Does thelion’s prey feel it seconds before an impending attack? Or does it rest in ignorant bliss until the instant of the kill?

For Sydney, it was the subtle changes that were the biggest clues. The feeling of being watched and then turning and seeing no one there; a prickling of the skin, causing the hair on her neck to stand; the rapid beating of her heart and sweaty palms for no apparent reason. Was paranoia getting the best of her? Was someone out there? Watching, waiting? It was the feeling she’d had the night she’d driven home from Stella’s in the rain, when she came home to find her door partially open. It was the uneasiness in the pit of her stomach that she was feeling right now!

Sydney shook her head in an attempt to brush aside the oppressive thoughts. She was being ridiculous. Still, she couldn’t help but note that the park was empty. She told herself that she would feel more at ease once she was out of the park and on the main road. She wanted to get out before the truck circled again. She rounded the last curve and started up the hill by the swimming pool. She hesitated when she saw the truck up ahead. It was sitting beside the entrance to the park. Her legs went weak. She would have to run by it to leave the park. There was no other way out. Darkness was descending rapidly, crickets screeched in the distance. Her eyes narrowed. Those rednecks were trying to corner her like a scared animal. She squared her jaw and increased her pace.

When she reached the truck, the man on the passenger side leaned so far out that he looked like he was going to topple out the window head first. “Hey, remember me?”

She lifted her chin and ran past him without speaking.

The driver started the truck and came up beside her. “What’s your hurry, honey? You ain’t too friendly, are ya?”

“It looks like you’d take a hint,” she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. “I’m not interested.”

The man in the passenger side chuckled. “You hear that, Sammy? She ain’t interested.” This brought a loud chortle from the driver. “That’s cause she don’t know what she’s missin’.”

Sydney’s heart felt like it would leap out of her chest as she increased her paceagain. Another minute and she’d be sprinting.

The men found this amusing. “You cain’t outrun a truck, darlin’.”

“Is there a problem here?”

Sydney looked back in time to see Sean running up by her side. She was so relieved she could have kissed him.

“And just who do ya think you are?” The man on the passenger side scowled. They’d cornered their prey and weren’t going to let her go that easily.

Sean stopped and Sydney followed suit. The truck stopped too. “Let me handle this,” Sean said.

“I believe I heard the lady tell you she wasn’t interested. You need to just keep on moving down the road.” He eyed the men, daring them to defy him. “Do you have a problem with that?”

Sean’s comment was the match that lit the stick of dynamite. The man in the passenger seat began swearing. “The only problem I have is with you!”

Sean pointed. “It’s awfully easy to talk brave when you’ve got lug head over there to back you up.”

Sydney looked back and forth between Sean and the men. The man on the passenger side was lanky, but the driver was big and burly. His arms looked bigger than Sean’s legs. He must’ve weighed at least three hundred pounds. She was grateful for Sean’s help but didn’t want to see him get beaten to a pulp either. She tugged at his arm. “Let’s just go.”

“You’re right,” Sean said. “He’s not worth it.”

At this, the man in the passenger seat jumped out of the truck and lunged at Sean. Sydney stepped back. Sean sidestepped theman and then turned and punched him in the jaw, sending him sprawling headfirst across the pavement. This brought the big man out of the truck. “Look out,” Sydney yelled but it was too late. He came up behind Sean and caught him in a chokehold. The lanky man stumbled to his feet. He used the back of his hand to wipe the trickle of blood from his mouth. “I’ll teach you a lesson, city boy.” He moved to punch Sean in the stomach. In an instant Sean flipped the big man over his shoulder where he landed with a sickeningthudon the pavement. There was surprise in the lanky man’s eyes the split second before Sean punched him again in the face. The big man got up. Sean gave him two swift punches in the stomach, causing him to double over, gasping for air. The men backed away from Sean and stumbled to their truck. “Come on. Let’s get out here. She ain’t worth it, nohow!” one of them said. The engine came to life and they squealed off.

Sydney turned to Sean. He was shaking his right fist.

She reached for it. “Here, let me see.” His knuckles were cherry red. She grimaced. “You’ll have a big bruise.”