Page 106 of Axe-ing for Trouble
I held her tightly. “Tomorrow,” I said into her hair. “I’ll call Parker and set up a meeting. You can share everything, show her the maps. She’ll make a plan. There’s enough here for several warrants at the very least.”
She nodded into my chest. “Do you really think this could be over soon?”
My heart tightened painfully. “Yes, Trouble. I know it.”
Chapter34
Mila
After a morning of anxious cuddles, Jude headed to work to inform his siblings and call Parker.
It was time. I’d done my part. Now we would hand things over to the police and the prosecutors. Parker was a good cop and had connections from her state police days. It would be okay. I kept repeating that to myself. It would be okay because it had to be okay.
My job for the morning was to finish digitizing all the evidence. I’d organize folders and ensure we included everything law enforcement needed. Then I’d make copies and save it all to a secure cloud-based drive for potential future use. This way I could hopefully help make sure the chain of custody was clear for the trials that would happen for what was likely to be the next several years.
A calm I hadn’t experienced in years had set in. Maybe it was this house and the beautiful forest. Maybe it was the man who lived here. Regardless, after years of pushing, I finally felt like I could stand still for a minute. In fact, I felt like maybe I wanted to stand still.
As I crossed one more task off my list, I rolled my neck. Pain shot up my shoulder, reminding me I should put my sling back on. I’d progressed to going without it several times a day. I hated being injured, but the measurable progress helped keep me from wallowing in self-pity. And in some ways, maybe I was the tiniest bit grateful for it. After all, the injury had brought me here, to Jude, and if he hadn’t insisted on working with me, I never would have made it this far.
Suddenly Ripley, who had been lying on the floor by my feet, jumped up and growled.
Startled by her abrupt change in demeanor, I stood and padded to the window where she stood at full attention, her hackles raised. I drew back the shade and scanned the yard, but found nothing out of the ordinary.
Just as I’d chalked it up to a squirrel, I caught the sound of a low rumble. With every second I stood there, it got louder until there was no denying it was the roar of motorcycle engines.
My heart took off at a sprint and panic flooded my veins. Had they found me?
Hand shaking, I closed my laptop and grabbed my phone. Then I headed for the kitchen door, where I shoved my feet into my shoes and grabbed one of Jude’s jackets. Ripley remained at my side the entire time. When the noise was deafening, I crouched and peered out the window.
Sure enough three bikes were parked in the driveway, as well as a van withPhobos Managementemblazoned on the side. The name, I was almost certain, belonged to one of the Huxley’s shell companies.
My lungs seized, making it impossible to breathe. Hands shaking, I sat on the ground, dropping my head between my knees.
They had found me. After weeks of hiding, I’d finally become hopeful that we’d make it out of this. Yet they’d tracked me down. My first thought was Jude. Was he hurt? In danger? I couldn’t even contemplate it.
For so long, I’d been doing it all on my own. And that was a risk I’d been willing to take. But Jude?
I looked at Ripley, who was watching me, her big doggie eyes full of concern. With my good hand, I stroked her fur. Only then, when I focused on the softness of each strand, could I take a full breath again. My mind cleared, and instantly, I knew we had to go. I could do it. I could escape again.
They were still in the driveway, so if we slipped out the kitchen door, the woodshed would block their view.
From there, I could head into the forest. I knew the trails well after walking them with Ripley and Jude for the past few weeks. I pulled Jude’s jacket tighter around me, hugged the laptop to my chest, and gently turned the doorknob.
“Okay, girl,” I whispered to Ripley. “We’re gonna make a run for it. Straight to the woodshed, okay?”
As I pushed the door open a crack, it squeaked slightly, but the engine noise from the driveway was surely loud enough to drown it out.
“Let me go first,” I said to her.
Eyes closed, I took a deep breath. Then I slipped out the door and motioned for her to follow.
I was safely behind the woodshed when they dismounted and walked up the porch steps. There were more of them now, and a black SUV had pulled in behind the row of bikes.
When I peeked around the corner, Razor was banging on the door while a few of the other guys were circling the house.
Shit. The tree line was close, but not close enough. Probably twenty yards. But it was open grass, and they’d see me. My hands shook as I tried to find cover.
I squeezed my eyes closed and prayed for some kind of distraction.
