Page 66 of New Year

“At home. Nat and I were talking, and a car alarm started blaring outside. We didn’t think much of it, but Nat went to make sure it wasn’t my car. It wasn’t, but the alarm kept going off for another minute or so, and then it stopped. I hollered for Nat, but he didn’t answer. It took me so damned long to get up, because I had PT today. The front door was closed, but my car is gone.”

Zack had already grabbed his keys off the desk and was hauling ass for the stairs. “I assume he didn’t answer when you called?”

“Voice mail. There’s no reason for him to take my car and leave. He would have said something if he needed to run to the store.”

“I know. Call the police and report your car stolen.”

Zack hit the first floor and took a sharp turn toward the kitchen. Yelled at the nearest person he had a personal emergency and had to leave as he burst through the back door.

“Are you sure about the police? Maybe I should check the security tapes first. We don’t know he’s in trouble.”

“Yes, we do. Damn it.” Zack started running. “Listen, let’s hang up so you can report the car first, then check the tapes. I put a GPS tag in your trunk last week.”

“What? Why?”

“Precaution. I needed a way to know where you guys are if you don’t answer your phones.” And it had been a damned good instinct. “If he’s not too far out of town by now, I might be able to track him.”

“God, I hope so. I’m so sorry, Zack.”

“You didn’t do this.”Goddamn Austin did this, goddamn it.“Talk soon.”

Zack climbed into his car and cranked the engine. As much as he wanted to bring up the home security app and look for himself, he didn’t have time. Nat didn’t have time. ZackknewAustin had him.

Instead, he brought up an app on his phone and chose the Chase’s tag. If Nat’s phone was off or broken, the tag wouldn’t connect. But Austin was obsessed with his phone, so his was likely on. The tag just needed a Bluetooth signal to connect to, and others within range to carry the signal to the network. Or that’s how the guy at the store had explained it.

The tag was active but not in the city. The mountains southwest of town. There wasn’t much out there except campsites and hiking trails. It was isolated and—the tag disappeared.

“Fuck!” The phone must have lost reception in the mountains. It wasn’t a lot but it gave Zack a direction to try. He texted the info to Chase, and then pulled into afternoon traffic.

The mountains, why is that important?

While he navigated his way toward the interstate, Zack replayed all the conversation he’d had with Nat about Austin. Austin and mountains, anything that clicked.

Sparrow Creek.

Last weekend, they’d been discussing a fun, outdoor date idea. Zack was fond of the mountains, having spent most of his life on flat land, and he loved the way Reynolds was bordered by them on three sides. Nat had preferred the beach, because North Carolina had gorgeous beaches. When Zack pressed about the mountains, Nat had mentioned a place called Sparrow Creek. What Austin had referred to as “their place.” Southwest mountains, off a country road, over a wooden bridge to a pull-off.

Zack thumbed open his Maps app and hoped it knew where Sparrow Creek was.

* * *

Nat spent the interminably long drive to the creek trying to both come to terms with the fact that he was going to die up here, and to also form some kind of escape plan. Austin was a sociopath and he was smart. Nat could play along, try not to make things hurt too much, but that wouldn’t trick Austin into sparing his life. Austin knew Nat wouldn’t forgive and forget this—especially if Austin had done something to Chase.

The car didn’t have any easily accessible weapons. The Taser was under Austin’s seat. The trunk had that handle that went with the tire jack, and the walker they kept there in case Chase was too tired to only use his cane. But otherwise, Chase kept a tidy car. Their destination was heavily wooded, so there would be sticks, branches, probably rocks. Trying to secure Austin’s gun with his hands taped would be next to impossible, even if Austin wasn’t a lot bigger than him.

Austin eased off to the side and everything got bumpy. He drove farther in than the usual parking area, then shut off the engine. “Good, we’re alone.”

Nat’s bladder seized. He already kind of had to pee, and this new wave of overwhelming terror wasn’t helping.

“Stay put a moment. I’m going to hide the car keys. Even if you somehow manage to overpower me, which you know you can’t, you’ll have to try and run, and we’re miles from anywhere. I’m going to put a few small traffic cones in front of the turn-off. So no one interrupts us.”

The driver’s door opened and shut, and Nat released a muffled scream of frustration and anger. He tried to sit up, but couldn’t. The trunk opened and slammed shut again—probably Austin getting those cones, which would likely deter others from stopping here, damn it. Nat wriggled around but whatever was holding him down was too strong. He pulled his feet up and flung them at the steering wheel. Hit the horn once but with little force. He tried again.

His door flew open. Austin’s hand closed around his windpipe and squeezed. “Stop that.”

Nat went limp, in no hurry to be choked out again.

“Now, be a good boy and stay still for a second.” Since Nat really had no choice, he watched Austin open the rear door and grab a green backpack. Put it on his shoulders. He got something else that clinked and jangled, and then shut the door. When he showed it to Nat, fury exploded in his head, leaving his face in flames.

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