Page 62 of Graced
He slowly drove behind the pumps, using them and the other vehicles to partially conceal them.The unmarked police car was temporarily dismissed as Rhyne concentrated on trying not to run into another car.
They’d almost reached the front of the building when Nash whispered, “There!Eleven o’clock!”
He checked.Just as Nash had suggested, a black Aspenall was backing out of a parking space located in front of the entrance.As an extra precaution, Rhyne put the car in reverse to use a nearby boat on a trailer as a shield.
They watched the Aspenall cautiously turn and approach the nearest exit.It’s right side turning flashers came on, indicating Cargill and the others were about to pull onto the frontage road to gain access to the highway.Rhyne debated why they would change their route and figured they wanted to get back to Lockerby as quickly as possible.
The Aspenall entered the frontage road.Rhyne had to wait for the two vehicles in front of him to also turn.A glance at the three rearview mirrors didn’t give him a clue as to where the county sheriff’s car was waiting, but he knew it had to be back there somewhere.
The two cars eventually advanced and Rhyne followed them onto the expressway.Fortunately the Aspenall was still within sight—or rather, within vampire sight.
His stomach clenched again.The pain was sharper this time, reminding him of how long it had been since he’d fed.That and the scent of the freshly-killed deer only made the current situation worse.His thoughts went to the men in the car ahead of them, and cold dread filled his veins.If he was feeling the need, those men were undoubtedly feeling it, too.
Especially since she’s menstruating.
That revelation hit him with blunt and horrifying force.Grace was their deer.Freely bleeding and helpless.
Rhyne softly moaned at the knowledge of what they could be doing to her.
“Rhyne?”
Nash’s calm voice cut through the black fog circling his brain.The man continued.“How do you plan to rescue Grace?Do you even have a plan?”
“No,” Rhyne almost choked.
“Mind if I throw you a bone?”The man’s calmness was a sorely-needed balm.
“Throw it.”
“What if we’re going about this the wrong way?”
Rhyne fought to keep his eyes on their target as well as the surrounding traffic.“What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Nash lifted his cell phone in Rhyne’s field of vision.“What if we create our own diversion?”
Rhyne shot him a curious look.“I’m listening.”
“What if we call 9-1-1 and tell them we saw the guy on TV who was suspected of killing that guy at the hospital, and we’re following him.We then give them the type of vehicle and its license plate number…”
“And wait for the authorities to do their job,” Rhyne finished.
“And while the cops have them pulled over, we sorta find a way to get Grace out of there.”
For the first time in a very long time, Rhyne breathed a sigh of relief.“Buddy boy, you’ve just redeemed yourself in more ways than you could ever imagine.”
Chuckling, Nash dialed the emergency number.
CHAPTER31
Takedown
Grace found herself floating in and out of consciousness, which was a blessing in disguise.When she was awake and cognizant, she was acutely aware of her current circumstances.Of the danger she was in.Of the sharp moments of pain being inflicted on her.And worse, how little a chance she had at getting out of this alive.
She lay bound and gagged in the back of a large SUV.Besides Welsh and his friend, a man she heard referred to as Cargill, there were two other men in the vehicle who took turns watching over her.Or who used that excuse to prick her with their hypos and withdraw a little blood to indulge themselves when they were back there with her.If the guys up front were aware of what they were doing, they didn’t care.
She couldn’t speak for the tape over her mouth.Even if she’d been able to convince them to take it off, she doubted they’d accommodate her.
If those men torturing her wasn’t enough, menstrual cramps left her curled up in pain.There was also hunger, but those pangs eventually faded away as the need for something to drink grew worse.The most humiliating part was when she was forced to let her bladder go.Although her jeans managed to soak up most of it, the smell remained.
