Read Online Hiding His Witness by C. J. Miller - Free Book Online

outside the bathroom. She landed on her side, her hip striking first. Ignoring the stinging pain, she dragged herself to her feet and circled the building, looking for another entrance.
    Behind the rest area was a small patio with wooden picnic benches...and a door leading inside. One small element in her favor. She rushed to it, pulling on the handle. It gave and she opened it a few inches, peering through the crack.
    Mark’s men’s heads were bent together in quiet discussion. Wondering if they should charge inside the women’s restroom and look for her?
    Her heart sank when she saw Reilly standing by the vending machines. If the thugs turned around, they’d see him. Reilly glanced at his watch. Was he getting worried about why she was taking so long? How could she signal him without calling attention to herself?
    Carey closed her eyes and prayed for a distraction. Where was the large bus trip making a stop and flooding the area? In the confusion, she could get to Reilly and they could hightail it to Montana.
    No large flood of people came, nor any other distraction, but losing their patience, the thugs made a move to enter the women’s bathroom. Carey’s legs seemed to think for themselves. She shoved open the door and raced toward Reilly. He turned to her, either hearing the footsteps or sensing her approach. Pressing a finger over her lips, she pointed to the front doors. He cocked his head in question, but didn’t speak.
    They had three seconds before the thugs figured out she wasn’t in the bathroom and started looking for her. Taking Reilly’s hand and ignoring the surge of heat in his touch, she ran with him toward the door.
    When they were outside, he stopped, setting his hands on her arms, forcing her to face him. “What’s going on? What are you—”
    She cut him off and ignored the heat lightning that ricocheted between them at the contact. They didn’t have time for delay. “Someone from my past has found me.”
    His eyes narrowed in thought. “Are you sure?”
    Yes, she was sure. She didn’t know how they had found her, but they had. “Please, we have to go. They can’t know where we’re headed, or nowhere is safe.” She took his sleeve and tugged him in the direction of his car. He followed her.
    Reilly swore under his breath. “I didn’t see anyone tailing us.”
    It didn’t matter now. All that mattered was getting away. “We’ll worry about the how later. Please, let’s just go!”
    Reilly drew her to a stop. “Which car is theirs?”
    Carey scanned the parking lot. A minivan. A Cadillac. And the black sports car. “The black car.” The one parked a space down from Reilly’s white sedan.
    Reilly dragged his keys from his pocket and opened the pocketknife attached to his key ring. He pressed the button to unlock his car doors. “Get inside the car.”
    He went to the front tire of the black car and slit the rubber. Then he did the same to the back tire. Hearing a shout, Carey looked to the entrance of the building. The thugs had seen them and were racing in their direction.
    “Hurry,” Carey yelled from the passenger seat.
    Reilly circled his car and got inside, started the engine and zipped out of the spot. Carey couldn’t tear her eyes from the side mirror. The thugs climbed in their car, prepared to give chase.
    “Why did you slit both tires?” she asked. The seconds might have cost them.
    “In case they have a spare. They won’t have two,” he said, his jaw tight with tension.
    Turning in her seat to watch behind them, fear drained from her chest when they skidded to the side of the road. “They stopped.”
    Reilly swore under his breath and banged his fist against the steering wheel. “I made a rookie mistake. They must have followed my electronic trail.”
    “What mistake?” she asked. Was it a mistake that would cost their lives? “Did they follow your cell? Your pager?”
    “No, my cell is department-issued. The signal bounces across cell towers at random