Page 95 of Critical Alliance (Rocky Mountain Courage 3)

Lights came on in the backyard and a man rushed out, cocking his shotgun.

“Great,” Alex said. “Ron, it’s me, Alex.”

“What are you doing, sneaking around my house?”

A woman rushed around the man, pulling her robe tight. “Alex?” She continued forward. “Ron, what are you doing? It’s your stepson. Alex is here for his car.”

“His car?” he said, lowering the shotgun. “I didn’t give him that car.”

“You’re right, you didn’t. It wasn’t yours to give. It belongs to him. You know he never meant those words back then. Wait here.” Alex’s mother stepped into the house for a moment and came out jangling keys on a key ring and handed them to Alex. “I’m sorry, son. I didn’t know he would try to lock you out. He never locks this.”

Mackenzie hated the tension she sensed between Alex and his stepfather.

“I’m sorry I didn’t knock on your door first, but it’s late and I didn’t want to wake you. And it’s an emergency.”

Alex’s mother glanced from Alex to Mackenzie and thrust her hand out with a smile. “I’m Alex’s mother, Carol.”

“I’m Mackenzie.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I hope Alex will bring you back during the day for lunch.”

Alex unlocked the padlock and, inside the workshop, flipped on the lights. His mother pressed a button that opened the garage door. Alex yanked off a big tarp to reveal an old car.

A convertible Mustang.

What? She came here for ... Oh. Now she got it.

He hopped in and started it. “Are you coming, or what?”

“Alex Arthur Knight. That’s no way to treat your date.”

“Oh, I’m no date.” Mackenzie opened the door and sat in the leather seats.

No. I’m much more than a date.

What exactly she was when it came to Alex, she hadn’t figured out. But she did know something about Alex. “Smart, getting this car.”

“Old. No tech to break into.”

“I like it.”

And she liked Alex. A little too much.

His stepfather had lowered the shotgun and opened the wide gate so Alex could exit. He saluted the man as they drove by, but it was clear no love was lost there. She’d have to get that story from him, like he’d gotten part of her story from her.

But right now, Nora was in trouble. Mackenzie texted her again.

Nora, we’re on the way.

Mackenzie stared at her phone, waiting for a response. She tried not to panic. Nora could have lost the signal. She could have escaped. Terra and “the gang” could be there now helping her. She tried calling instead, but only got Nora’s voice mail.

She squeezed her cell phone. They’d taken too long. “There’s no answer, Alex. I’m scared. Can we call your friends again?”

He handed over his cell. Mackenzie found the contacts and called Terra.

“Alex,” Terra answered.

“This is Mackenzie. We’re on the way. Have you found her?”