Page 86 of Snowbound Threat

He directed the light to the ground checking for new footprints. There weren’t any.

Was he overreacting and putting Charlie in danger by taking her out again?

As he left the protection of the house, a strong wind screamed around the side of it as the sky unleashed its payload.Heavy snow began to swirl in the light’s beam. Had he waited too late?

He checked the perimeter without seeing any evidence to back up this feeling.

Still, Ryan knew better than to ignore it. He returned to the front door and knocked. “Charlie, it’s me.”

Locks disengaged. The door opened and her wide eyes were filled with fear.

He grabbed both their bags. “Let’s get out of here.” She stepped beside him and waited while Ryan locked the door. “As soon as we’re on the road, I’ll call Boone and let him know what’s happening.”

He placed the bags in the back seat and held open the passenger door for Charlie. She slipped inside. Soon they were on their way. At the gate, he made quick work of unlocking and relocking it.

Once they were heading toward town, some of his tension eased. He reached for his phone and tried to call Boone back. A fast busy signal was his only answer. “It’s not going through. The weather must be affecting the service.”

Ryan tried the radio with the same results. “I don’t like this. The sooner we reach the station the better.” He continued watching the rearview mirror.

Charlie clutched the door handle while her concern was etched on her face.

Ryan clicked on the wipers to high speed to keep up with the onslaught of snowfall bombarding them.

He leaned forward to see the road better. The headlights picked up something strange. Tire tracks.

“Someone else is out here,” Charlie whispered.

He didn’t answer. There would be no reason for another person to be down this road. Boone’s place was the last one down this far and the road wasn’t very easily found.

He pushed down on the gas because he couldn’t let go of his own misgivings.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ryan spotted a flash. A heartbeat later the crack that followed was unmistakable. A gunshot.

Someone was shooting. At them.

Charlie screamed.

“Get down,” he yelled and pushed Charlie down in her seat.

Ryan scrunched down as low as possible. The first shot missed the cruiser entirely, but the second one struck the driver’s window, shattering it instantly.

Another scream from Charlie before her fearful eyes met his looking for answers.

Over his panicked thoughts one truth became perfectly clear: the killer believed Charlie knew something that would identify him, and he wasn’t taking any chances.

Chapter Thirteen

The cruiser barreled down the road while the shooter continued firing on them. Ryan hit the mic on his radio. The static that answered confirmed there would be no help coming.

The shots sounded farther away as the cruiser’s tires squealed on the snow-covered pavement.

Charlie inched back into her seat while another fearful thought emerged. “What if he follows us?”

Ryan’s eyes shot to her. “Let’s just hope we make it into town before that happens.” He tried the cell phone with the same results.

Charlie glanced behind them. “I don’t see anything yet.”

Ryan kept his attention straight ahead. “If he comes after us, he won’t use his headlights.”