Dead Running (22 page)

“You were the only one who knew Dad was alive?”

“Jared and I.”

“Oh.” So many pieces falling into place: Jared always acting like an overprotective oaf. Nana talking me out of volunteering in South America. But why didn’t they tell me? “Couldn’t you trust me?”

“It wasn’t like that.” She shook her head. “The less people who knew the better and who knew how long your dad would survive? Once we found out he’d made it, Jared and I decided we couldn’t put you through losing him twice.” Nana rolled her neck, pressing her fingers to her forehead and staring through me. “I can’t believe they know he’s alive. Did he expose himself? How would they figure out it was him?” She sighed and dug her fingers into the sagging skin that formed her eyelids. “There will be a huge price on his head. Panetti and Ramirez want him dead for so many reasons. Oh, Cassie, you should’ve told me someone was after him. I could’ve warned him.”

Panetti?
The name brought dark memories. The guy still visited my nightmares. “How could you warn him? Muscle Man acted like the only way to flush Dad out of hiding was by this video he made. He said that he could kill Dad if he could lure him to a spot where he could call me.” My heart sank. The phone cutting off. I gripped the edge of the table for support. “Oh, no. Oh, Nana.” I swallowed hard. “Our call was cut short. What if Muscle Man got him? What if he’s already dead?”

Nana’s soft hands wrapped around my forearms. “Who is Muscle Man?”

“The dude who forced me to make that videotape. He told me he just needed to trick Dad into making a phone call and he could capture him. He said that he was assigned to kill Dad the first time and he would stay dead this time. I don’t think he was bluffing. The dude was terrifying.” I gnawed at my lip. My eyes clouded over again. “Oh, Nana. What if Muscle Man got him and Daddy is truly dead this time?”

Nana’s arms came around me. “Don’t worry.” But her voice sounded very worried. “Sham will protect him. What did your dad tell you to do?”

“I barely realized it was him before the phone cut off, but he told me to stay put. He said he was coming here.”

She tossed her head. “No. He mustn’t come here. They know he’s alive.” Her hands trembled on my back. “Anyone could target him here.”

“Nana, what are we going to do?”

“You’re going to do what your dad told you and stay put. I’m going to use the contacts your dad told me only to use in an emergency.” Her lips formed a thin line. “Sham will know what to do.”

“Who is Sham?”
           
Nana’s lips came up. “The only man I know who’s tougher than your daddy.”

*
         
*
         
*

Al stared down at the man pinned between him and Terry. It had been too easy. Nathan Christensen was so focused on talking to his daughter he hadn’t even noticed their approach. Al knocked him unconscious. He and Terry hoisted the doctor between them and scurried off toward the designated kill spot.

It would’ve been even better if Al could’ve just put a bullet in Doc’s head and left him to rot, but he had to wait. He wouldn’t kill him until the first half of the payment was in his bank account. Then Al and Terry would drive the body to Acapulco or they wouldn’t get the second installment. Apparently Mr. Ramirez wanted to make sure Nathan Christensen didn’t come back from the dead a second time.

Al could see their shack. Only a few more yards to safety. Terry had made sure they were well preparedgetaway van, refrigerated box to transport the remains in, a computer with internet connection to confirm they had the doc and make sure they received the first half of their payment before they gave away their leverage.

Terry banged the door open. The trio shuffled through. Al slammed the door behind them and dropped Nathan in the dirt. Terry grabbed his digital camera, shot several angles of the unconscious man’s face and then hurried to the computer to download the pictures. Al fidgeted. They had to be done and gone before Doc’s large African friend came back from the marketplace.

“Ready?” he asked. Terry nodded. Al hit send on the pictures and wiped away a trickle of sweat.

An instant messenger popped up on his screen.
Is Nathan dead already?

Al typed quickly.
Not dead, unconscious. As soon as I have confirmation of the first million in my account I will plug him and deliver what’s left to you.

The words appeared on his screen.
Check your account. The money is already there.

“Terry,” Al’s voice pitched up several octaves, excitement coursed through him. “Is it true?”

Terry moved into Al’s spot, punched some keys, and after a few seconds nodded. “One million dollars confirmed.” He pounded Al on the shoulder, backing away.

Al grinned. He turned to type a response to their sponsor.

“One million
dollars
,” Terry celebrated by his side, staring at the computer screen over Al’s shoulder. “And another mill once they get the body. Tell Mr. Ramirez that we love work” There was a loud thud.

Al whirled. A black shadow hovered over his chair. He didn’t have time to raise his hands before a solid hit to his head let him know he had lostagain.

I glanced at Damon, not ready to exit his vehicle. “Do we really have to go on a run with the whole group this morning? I thought it could just be you and me.” I’d actually prefer the large numbers, especially since Muscle Man and Greasy Beanpole could be coming for me and this setup made Nana worry a lot less, but I wasn’t in the mood to deal with Hot Redhead when I was so worried about my dad.

Damon covered my hand with his. “What are you afraid of? You’re running great. You can keep up with anybody here.” He gestured to the half-dozen runners milling about the parking lot at the base of Logan Canyon. What was it with runners and canyons? Did they enjoy running straight uphill?

Damon gave me a quick peck on the lips, released my hand, and jumped out of the car. His door slammed, but I needed a minute. I took a couple of calming breaths, told myself my dad was going to be okay, then forced myself to jerk the handle and swing my door open. The heavy metal thumped into something, followed by some muttered curses.

My eyes widened. I jumped out of the vehicle and grabbed Damon’s arm. He was bent over, clutching his abdomen.

“Oh, Damon. I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.” I stroked his arm consolingly.

He didn’t straighten, but glanced up at me, acknowledging my words with a shake of his head and a forced smile.

“Are you all right, Damon?” Hot Redhead asked, coming level with me. “I can’t believe Cassidy would do something like that to you. That must
really
hurt.”

I didn’t give her the courtesy of turning around, but kept patting Damon’s arm and muttering useless, sympathetic words.

“It was just an accident,” Damon said from between clenched teeth. “I’m fine.”

The entire group was upon us now.

“Girlfriend just take you out?” Joe asked.

“I think he was begging for it,” Trevor said. “I saw him cop a cheap kiss a couple of seconds ago. You were totally justified in slamming the door into him, Cassie.”

I shook my head. “Thanks, Trevor. I feel so much better now.”

Damon straightened, ignoring his friends. “Let’s run.”
 

Slowly everyone turned away and started jogging up the path. Everyone but Hot Redhead. She couldn’t miss such an opportune moment. The three of us formed the rear of the pack.

Elizabeth slithered next to Damon. “Are you sure you’re okay? That was a hard hit Cassidy put on you.”

Damon rubbed at his lower abdomen. “I’ll be fine, thanks Elizabeth.”

I shook my head. “I am so sorry.”

Damon grabbed my hand, pulling me closer to him. “If you say that one more time, I may not forgive you.”

“Say it again,” Elizabeth muttered.

“Thanks for being so great,” I whispered, squeezing his hand before focusing on my stride.

The first of the run was a lot less demanding than I’d feared. Trees, shrubs, and wildflowers lined the trail on one side and The Logan River flowed down the other. It was picturesque and Damon was a champion. The time flew as we chatted and laughed. Even though Elizabeth insisted on staying close by Damon the entire run, we had a good time. My legs were just beginning to tire when we reached the turn-around point.

I flew back down the trail. Elizabeth ran ahead so we got to enjoy uninterrupted talking and companionable silence. The birds chattered to us and the river added its rushing happiness. I just hoped Damon wasn’t watching Hot Redhead’s perfect backside in those miniscule shorts.

We made it to the parking lot and were milling around stretching and sharing funny running stories when Hot Redhead unleashed her claws.

“So, have any of you ever urinated on yourself during a run?”

One of the girls shrieked, “Ew. Are you serious?”

Several of the group exchanged glances. Damon looked at Elizabeth like she was a weirdo. I liked that, but knowing what was coming had my gut twirling. I pulled my foot behind me for a quad stretch and studied the leaves of a towering cottonwood tree.

“I haven’t.” Hot Redhead tossed her long hair. “But I know Cassidy urinated down her leg during Hyde Park’s 10K and I just wondered if anyone else could claim such an honor. How did it feel, Cassidy?”

I held myself back from tackling her and peeing in her face. See how she’d like that. “You know it was kind of warm, a bit sticky. Just the usual urine.” I bent into a hamstring stretch and avoided looking at anyone.

Silence scratched through the park for a second before a loud chuckle broke the most awkward moment of my life. Another laugh joined it milliseconds later. When Damon’s throaty laughter complimented the other two, I allowed myself to stand up and face everyone. Joe and Trevor were exchanging looks with Damon and all of them laughed uproariously.

Hot Redhead faked a laugh. “Pretty funny, huh? Cassidy has bladder issues.”

I didn’t see anything funny about it.

Trevor walked over and clapped me on the back like a football buddy. “Cassie. I have to say you are the rockingest girl I’ve ever known. What kind of a girl runs so hard she passes out and then races so hard she pees on herself? That is tough.” He winked at Damon. “If my buddy ever gets tired of dating you. I’m in line.”

Joe nodded. “I’ll fight you for position, Trev.”

Trevor and Joe walked off to Joe’s truck laughing and talking.

Damon smiled at me. “Trevor’s right. You’re the toughest runner, girl or boy, I’ve ever met.”

I gave him a shy smile. “You don’t think I’m disgusting?”

“No. I’ve heard it happens. Never personally experienced it, but you know . . .”

I smacked his arm. “I know. You’re perfect.”

The rest of the group dispersed, muttering quick goodbyes. A tall blonde named Jocelyn walked up to us. “It happened to me last year during the Park City Marathon. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”

I gave her a smile. “Thanks. It’s not something I usually brag about.”

Jocelyn laughed and gave Hot Redhead a scathing look. “I don’t believe you brought it up.”

All of us turned to Elizabeth. She planted her hands on her hips. “I didn’t do it to be mean.”

“Uh-huh,” I said.

Elizabeth whirled and stomped away. I could hear her muttering to herself all the way to her car.

Damon turned to me. “I’d better get you home. I want to make sure you’ve showered before our date tonight.”

*
         
*
         
*

Nathan and Sham ducked into a crowded shack at the market. Wind chimes and colorful wraps floated around them. Nathan grabbed his friend and held tight, partially for support, mostly because of his gratitude. After Sham had rescued Nathan yesterday afternoon he’d hidden him at a friend’s house and watched over him throughout the night. This morning Nathan had awoken with a tremendous headache and a determination to get to America.

 
“Once again you save my life,” he said to Sham as they threaded through the overcrowded tables. “Where would I be without you?”

Sham’s handsome ebony face split into a grin revealing straight, white teeth. “Dead. Over and over again.”