Page 22 of Unexpected Danger (Mountain Justice #2)

Officer Robinson finished the interrogation, and another officer was on their way to sit guard outside Londyn’s room until Brodie arrived.

Even so, every time the door opened, Londyn flinched.

Fortunately, it was only Dorena taking her vitals, and one time the cafeteria brought her a meal.

Londyn sat up with some difficulty and reached for her phone to see if it had finished charging.

Thankfully, she’d had that in her pocket when she was rescued.

As for her gun, which she’d tucked into the glove compartment in its holster, and the rest of her possessions, she had no way of knowing what condition the accident left them in.

Although after the real possibility of losing her life, none of her belongings meant much to her, besides her Bible, the framed pictures, and maybe her porcelain dolls.

Her phone was seventy percent charged when it rang. At first, she hesitated, but then realized it could be someone important like Brodie or Aileen. When she flipped over her phone, Aileen’s number flashed across the screen. The tension in her shoulders eased.

“Hi, Londyn. I’m just checking in and making sure you're all right.”

Tears stung her eyes, and Londyn spent the next several minutes speaking with Aileen. It was amazing how much more relaxed and reassured she felt after the call concluded. Londyn had just hung up when the phone rang again, and this time, Jasmine's image flashed on the screen.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Londyn. Just checking in to see if you made it to Pronghorn Falls since I didn't hear from you.”

“I did.”

“Good to know.” Jasmine sounded miffed, and Londyn was about to explain the delay when she continued. “We already miss you here. Sonja just placed the ad to find your replacement, but I know it's going to be a lot of extra work for us for the next few weeks until she hires someone else.”

“I'm sorry about that.”

“Yeah, well, it's also not helping because Dustin is out for several weeks.”

Even though she already knew the answer, Londyn asked, “Where is he?”

“It's his grandma. She's not well. She lives in Washington, and Dustin has gone to take care of her in her last days. Hospice is there keeping her comfortable. It's been a devastating blow to him. You know how close he is to his grandma.”

Londyn had no idea Dustin even had a grandma, let alone one he was close to.

When she said nothing, Jasmine continued.

“I took to heart the words you said about maybe Dustin and me going out.

We talked for a few minutes before he left to go to Washington and decided to go on a date when he returns.

I hadn't realized how much we connected.”

Londyn cringed at Jasmine's revelation. How long before her friend was in danger? “Jasmine, there's something you should know about Dustin.”

“Are you having second thoughts about dating him?”

“No, not at all. How do I say this?”

“Say what?”

“Did you happen to tell Dustin that I was moving back to Pronghorn Falls?”

“I did. Why? Was it some big secret?”

Londyn tempered her comment. “No, not a secret at all. Dustin and I were friends.”

“Were? Why not now? He was upset that you didn’t tell him where you were moving.”

“He was out sick that day, and I didn’t have the chance to tell him, but I did text him.”

It sounded like Jasmine was rearranging things on her desk, a trait she often did while on the phone.

“He cares about you a lot, and when he came into work and realized you were gone and weren't coming back, it devastated him.

I didn't think where you went was confidential.” Her tone as she said “confidential” bordered on sarcastic.

“It wasn’t confidential.” Before all this had happened, Londyn wouldn't have minded if Dustin knew she was moving to Pronghorn Falls, but now… “Jasmine, I hate to have to say this, but Dustin followed me to Pronghorn Falls and ran me off the road.”

“Now I know you've really lost it,” she sneered.

“No, seriously. And then he attempted to strangle me with a phone cord in the hospital, which is where I still am. That's why I didn't call you sooner to let you know I had arrived. I was rushed to the ER after the accident.”

“I'm not sure why you're trying to paint Dustin as a monster, but he is not.

He's on a plane to Washington as we speak.

I just received a text from him a few minutes ago.

I know you have a lot of issues, Londyn, but pinning weird made-up things on Dustin is taking it too far.

He is the nicest guy and would never do anything like what you're saying.”

A sickening feeling washed over Londyn. “I'm fairly confident he's the one who's been stalking me as well.”

“That’s BJ Nuss.”

“No, it’s not Mr. Nuss.”

“All right, Londyn, now you're taking it too far. Honestly, girl, you need help. I hope you get it.” Jasmine hung up, and Londyn held her cell phone in her hand. Tears stung her eyes.

How could it be that someone she’d considered a close friend didn’t believe her?

Brodie finished assisting highway patrol with a semi-truck accident that occurred on the highway leading to the Pronghorn Mountains.

The driver, who’d failed to negotiate a 25-mile-per- hour curve, overcorrected and caused the truck to crash through the guardrail and slide over the edge of the mountain.

The man was fortunate to be alive.

Brodie completed his report and glanced at the clock on the wall. He should have agreed to Mom picking up Londyn at the hospital. As it was, she’d been there far longer than he’d planned.

His fingers flew as he sent the text message.

Hey, Londyn. I’m sorry about the delay. I was called out on an accident. Are you okay?

There was no answer. Either she was asleep, in the bathroom, or her phone was off. It’d had a dead battery when he’d plugged it in this morning.

Officer Robinson stood in his doorway. “Can I come in?” she asked.

“Sure. What’s up?” One of the things he appreciated about working at the Pronghorn Falls Law Enforcement Center was the exceptional way both the Sheriff’s Office and the PD worked so well together.

While some agencies experienced rivalry or even disregard for each other, that wasn’t the case in Pronghorn Falls.

Both offices made it their goal to join together for the benefit of the community.

Robinson briefed him regarding a man who’d attempted to strangle Londyn. Brodie tensed. Who was this guy, and what was his motive?

Brodie should have been there. Should have already picked her up at the hospital. Then none of this would have happened. “Thanks, Robinson. Let’s get an APB out on this guy.”

“Sure thing, Sheriff.”

He typed in the name Dustin Haack into his database. No criminal activity. He searched the internet and found Haack’s mug on a social media account. The thirty-one-year-old man with blond hair stared back at him.

To the average person, Dustin Haack may seem like a decent-looking guy with a lot going for him.

To the trained eye, such was not the case.

The man’s overly dark irises and vapid stare, even though he was smiling, told a different story.

Who was Dustin Haack really, and why was he terrorizing Londyn?

Minutes later, Brodie drove to the hospital to take Londyn home.

After the nurse gave Londyn her discharge papers, Brodie pushed her to the truck in a wheelchair and assisted her into the passenger side.

“I wanted to let you know that I had a tow truck tow your SUV and the cargo trailer to the ranch.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.

It was the least he could do. “Did you have your gun with you?”

“Yes, it’s in the glove compartment.”

“Good. I’ll get that for you, and maybe I can secure Roarke’s assistance in unloading your belongings from the cargo trailer.”

It would be beneficial to have Londyn settled in at the ranch, where he and Roarke could keep an eye out for Haack. The sooner they caught this guy the better.