Page 13 of Katherine's Last Hope
She increased her speed a little more and found the call button on her steering wheel. She might be overreacting, her paranoia at an all-time high after the night before, but her instincts screamed that something wasn’t right.
When the sound dinged through her speakers, she said, “Call the sheriff’s department.”
The line picked up and ringing overtook the country music on the radio.
“Sheriff’s department, this is Anne. How can I help you?”
“Anne, it’s Katherine. I’m driving into town, about five miles south of the city limits, and a truck behind me is freaking me out. I’m in a black SUV. Are there any deputies out this way?”
“One second, honey. Let me see what I can do.”
Time ticked by slowly. Katherine kept her foot on the gas and focus ahead of her. She didn’t have to keep looking back to know the truck was still right behind her. The turn to her house came into view, but she didn’t want to lead this guy to her home.
She drove in the opposite direction. She’d take him into town, pass a traffic camera so they could get a better look at the guy’s license plate.
A sudden bump against the back of her SUV lurched her vehicle to the side and whipped her body forward. Her seatbelt tightened, biting into her middle. Fear clouded her vision, and she gripped the wheel in her sweat-slicked palms, cranking it back to center.
“Anne,” she said, terror clipping her voice. “The truck just hit me.”
“Okay, honey. I just spoke with a deputy in the area. Help’s on the way. Just hold on.”
She took the suggestion to heart, holding on to the steering wheel like it was a lifeline. Her pulse beat against her temples, and she chanced a quick glance in the rearview mirror, catching sight of the truck one more before it slammed into the back of her vehicle. The sound of metal crunching metal scraped along her skin and her front tires bounced on the berm, spinning out of control.
Cody madea U-turn on his way to the sheriff’s station and headed south of town. The call from dispatch requested a deputy to check out a situation with two drivers headed toward Water’s Edge. He had no clue what the issue was beyond a woman upset somebody drove too close to her car, but he’d make sure everything was okay.
Chances were high it was some teenager running late for something and with no regard for others on the road.
To make it quick, he turned on his siren and activated the flashing lights that would clear his path. He sped to the country road that fed into Water’s Edge. He spotted the black SUV seconds before the truck behind it rammed into the back and sent it spinning off the road.
The SUV whipped to the side and crashed against the guardrail. The bright yellow metal bent and twisted, straining to keep the vehicle from plummeting into the ravine on the other side.
“Son of a bitch!”
He increased his speed and grabbed the receiver of his communicator. “Found the SUV and there’s been an accident. Send an ambulance to County Road 81, a few miles south of Water’s Edge. The perp is fleeing in the opposite direction, heading toward Pine Valley. Send deputies, keeping an eye out for a four-door black truck with an extended cab.”
As much as he wanted to chase after the dumbass who’d sent the SUV into such a precarious situation, he had to make sure the SUV driver and possible passengers made it out safely. And the way the guardrail had shifted told him he didn’t have a lot of time.
Closing the distance between him and the accident, he threw his cruiser in park and jumped outside. He ran to the SUV, sending up a quick prayer whoever was inside wasn’t injured and could be easily removed before things got worse.
As he approached the driver’s side door, shock threatened to knock all the sense from his brain.
Katherine sat with her hands glued to the steering wheel and wide eyes fixed straight ahead. Her shoulders raised up and down as though releasing her breaths at a rapid rate.
He tapped on her window.
Her body jolted, and she turned her head his way.
Even with the glass between them, he could see the shock holding her hostage. He lifted a palm then pointed to the door handle. He tested the handle, relief flooding over him when the door flew open. “Katherine, are you injured?”
Swallowing hard, she shook her head and tears leaked down her cheeks.
“That’s good. Can you unhook your seatbelt so we can get you out of the vehicle? That guardrail is keeping you in place and I’m not sure how much longer it’ll hold.”
Her hands trembled but stayed locked on the wheel.
The pallor of her face worried the hell out of him. He needed to get her out of the car.
“That’s okay,” he said, inching closer. “I can help. Is that okay?”
