Page 141 of Highball Rush
Callie’s rental car was an option. Although we’d long since returned her motel key from the little place she’d rented in Hayridge, she’d wanted to keep the car for a while so she had transportation, and she’d insisted the expense wasn’t a problem. But I knew my truck like the back of my hand. And I could take it off-road if it came to that.
I dropped the bags by the front door. Callie was in the kitchen stuffing a paper grocery bag with dog food and treats. I went to the front window and pushed the curtain over a few inches to peek outside.
It was dark. Quiet. My truck was parked out front, Callie’s rental car next to it. I did a double-take. There was another truck out there, parked in front of my workshop. Lights were off, and in the darkness, I couldn’t see if anyone was inside. From here it looked like Rocky Tobias’s big pickup.
“Shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Callie asked. “Do you see something?”
“Either Rocky Tobias decided to pay us a very unexpected visit, or…”
“Or she’s here,” Callie finished for me.
“Could have stolen his truck.” I let the curtain drop. My eyes went to the scar on Callie’s face. At the evidence of the depth of Imogen Kendall’s crazy.
I’d never seen true evil before today. But when I’d looked at that woman in the street, it had been like staring into the eyes of the devil himself.
Damn it all to hell, I’d been sleeping. A truck had pulled up and I hadn’t heard it. I had no idea how long she’d been here.
“Call the sheriff,” she said. “Didn’t Bowie say a deputy is coming? We’ll wait inside and they’ll find—”
A crash of breaking glass filled the air and the front curtains billowed backward. Cash barked and I jumped in front of Callie. Grabbing her, I turned my back on the window, shielding her with my body.
Glass tinkled as shards broke free and fell. I glanced over my shoulder, still keeping Callie tucked safely beneath me. The curtains shifted, the breeze coming in through the broken window. I had to act, and I had to act fast.
“When I say go, we run for the truck. Don’t stop. Don’t look back. Get in and get down on the floor.”
She nodded against me. Her body was tense, but she wasn’t shivering with fear. I could feel her strength. Her resolve. Her survivor’s spirit shining through.
“Call for Cash to come,” she said.
“I will. Ready?” I loosened my hold on her. “Go.”
I sprang into motion and shouted for Cash to come. Callie was already on her feet. I spun her in front of me and we rushed for the door.
She threw the lock and jerked it open. The truck was right there, my keys already in my hands. I just had to get it open and get her inside.
“Callie Dawn.”
That voice sent a chill down my spine, but I didn’t falter. Kept myself between Callie and danger while I slid my key in the lock, my hand steady as anything.
“Callie Dawn, you’ve been a very bad girl,” Imogen said, her voice flat. “You always were. I told you what would happen if I didn’t punish you, and now look.”
I turned the key and the lock popped up. Cash growled and I unlatched the door. Didn’t risk looking back.
“You betrayed us. That Bodine woman was going to betray us, too. She thought she was doing me a favor. Isn’t that sweet? Bringing the news that you were alive to your poor, sad mother. So she had to die, just like you do now.”
I shoved Callie inside and Cash jumped in after her. Slammed the door shut. “Get down.”
With my heart beating so hard I thought it might burst, I ran around to the driver’s side. Callie had already unlocked the door. I threw it open, jumped in, shoved the key in the ignition, and started the engine.
A shot rang out and I heard the bullet pierce metal. Callie hunkered down on the floor, covering her head. I hunched as low as I could, threw the truck into first, and hit the gas. Goddamn, I’d never been shot at before.
This was fucked up.
The tires skidded through the gravel as I whipped around in a circle. I flinched at another gunshot, glass shattering everywhere. Same fucking window Misty Lynn broke.
“Damn it. Not again.”
