The Enemy's Son (24 page)

He kept his eyes on her like a hungry hyena waiting its turn to eat. Her knees tried to give out, making her realize she had to pull it together. Remember Jerry. Remember Nick. Alexander was smart, cunning, and evil, but she could do this. Somehow.

He pulled out a cigar and lit it, bringing her face up in disbelief. He laughed, but walked back a few steps to finish his smoke.

A few minutes passed and his sickening smoke didn’t come her way. Leaning over, she put her forehead n the cool surface of the car roof. Okay, she wasn’t going to throw up. There wasn’t anything in her stomach, to tell the truth. She closed her eyes, listening, but didn’t hear a river. The only sound around was the light wind teasing the oak trees in the park. Not even the noise of an engine.

She opened her eyes to look around. There was a green outhouse off in the trees.

“Do you mind if I go to the bathroom?”

“You don’t want to go in there.”

No, she didn’t. That was the last place on the planet anyone would want to be sick, but she had a plan. “Please, I don’t want you to see me sick.” Still somewhat ill, she hoped she looked sick enough to gain his pity.

“I won’t watch, but you’re not going in there.”

“Fine.” She kept her head down, waiting. Her entire chest thumped with each forceful heartbeat. Her vision tried to go black again but she pushed back.
Go, go, go
! Shoving herself off the car, she sprang into a full speed sprint toward the trees.

The park’s low branches were cleared, but she went straight for the brush and let the twigs whip and cut her.

“CORA!”

She stumbled several times over sticks, but didn’t slow down. Logs turned into hurdles from her races in high school. She flew, not caring when her feet landed awkwardly and pain jolted her ankles.

“I’ll shoot!” His yell was a ways back.

The ground rose and she turned to follow it, watching as a gorge formed to her right. The dried riverbed grew deeper and wider. Five feet across, ten, maybe twelve. She used to jump that and farther in track. She could do it.

She veered left, putting some space between her and the gorge, but only for a few seconds. He yelled behind her. She turned sharply, facing the gorge, and raced toward it.

She leaped, willed herself across, kept her limbs back, and then snapped her legs and arms in front of her in perfect long jump form, crashing onto the ground on the other side. Scampering on all fours, she hugged the dirt to avoid the bullets overhead and scrambled away.

“CORA! CORA!”

She weaved through the trees, keeping up her speed, almost sure Alexander couldn’t jump the gorge without stopping and backing up. She risked one glance back. Dust flew up where he skirted down the side.

The noise of air rushing in and out of her lungs filled her hearing. She kept her direction straight until a patch of blackberry briars, where she steered to the right. Another small hill sloped upward and she reached the top and fell on her knees, controlling her breaths as much as possible while she hid in the Scotch Broom bushes.

She didn’t hear anything. There were endless trees, blocking any possible view of a road. She’d made it away from him!

Then she heard a noise.

Alexander?

Cora held her breath, listening, realizing the noise was growing louder. A motor? A log truck, she heard a logging truck! Springing to her feet, she bolted down the hill, dodging more trees, and running for the noise. The trees cleared for the road, and she saw the semi truck roaring toward her.

She waved her arms, jumping, and heard the tires trying to stop in the gravel. Alexander could be coming so she ran to the other side of the road, to the passenger side of the truck, while the truck slowed down the rest of the way. The trailer almost fishtailed at the sudden stop. The door swung open, the driver stepped half way out, cussing and yelling.

Still dragging in gulps of air, she yelled back, “I need your help, please. Stay inside and shut the door!”

Instead of waiting for an answer, she climbed up into the cab. “A man is chasing me. I think I lost him, but I need to get out of here. Please.”

“No need to plead.” He got the truck going as quickly as possible while she tried to get her breath back. She half expected to see Alexander run out of the trees or shoot at them but nothing happened.

“What’s your name?”

“Cora Evans. I’ve been missing for a week.”

“Let me call for help.” He picked his CB and put out a message. “This is a 911 call.”

Her body hadn’t been prepared for that jump or crazy run, and now she felt the pain in her muscles, ankles, and the burning scratches on her face, arms, and legs. The man pulled out a tissue for her, and she saw in the mirror that several cuts were bleeding.

“Are you hurt other than those cuts?” he asked.

“I don’t think so.” Her answer wasn’t sure, and her mind was contemplating whether Alexander could be behind them.

The truck driver gently patted her hand. “You’re all right. We’re close to the town, you weren’t too far out. It’ll be okay.”  

It’ll be okay.
Half an hour wasn’t close enough for Cora, but she didn’t spot Alexander’s car anywhere. Finally, the town appeared around the corner with four police cars waiting in the small parking lot of a convince store. The truck barely had room to maneuver onto the side of the road. Several officers hurried to her door and helped her down.

“Medic!” One called, and she saw the ambulance parked on the side of the store. She grabbed one of the police offices when her ankle didn’t hold her weight, and he eased her arms over his shoulders to help her.

She looked back to the driver, who nodded at her silent thank you. An officer approached her and asked, “Remember me?” The man looked familiar. “Officer Nickels?” He prompted.

“Oh, yes, from the hospital.”

“If you’re okay, we’d like to take you back to Eugene.”

While she nodded, Cora watched a fire red Mustang screech to a stop on the side of the road. Nickels followed her gaze and spotted Nick sprinting across the pavement to them.

He ignored everyone while running to her and pulling her up into his arms.
Nick.
Alive and safe, holding her. Just as quickly, he gently set her down, asking, “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, not speaking, but staring into his eyes for a minute before laying her head against him, breathing in his scent and feeling his strength all around her. She’d stay right here forever. His strong, yet gentle, hands carefully held her arms as he inspected her cuts. She just wanted held and tried to pull her arm back.

“Wait…what is this from?”

She looked down at a scratch that wasn’t fresh like the others. “It’s nothing. It’ll go away in a few days.”

“I’m talking about the bump right here. Feel. It’s not much, but it feels like something in your skin.” He was bent over looking at it.

Nickels stood close by and stepped even closer. “Let me see.”  He looked up at Cora’s face and quickly to Nick’s. “You didn’t know about this GPS chip?”

They looked at each other as her mouth fell open. That clued Nickels in. He explained, “It’s just like the chips some pet owners use to track down their dogs.”

Cora immediately began scratching at it. Both Nick and the officer said, “Hey!” Nick grabbed her hand while Nickels called a paramedic over.

“You want it out, right?”

The paramedic numbed the area and removed it, although Cora didn’t want to wait for it to numb. She just wanted it gone. So it hadn’t been some evil magic that helped Alexander find her. She met his eyes and tried to hide her fear. It was over, but… but Alexander was still out there.

“I will keep you safe, I swear.” Nick kissed the top of her head, her forehead, and then buried his face in the crook of her neck. Cora thought she felt him shaking and realized he was chocked up with tears.

“I’m okay,” she breathed into his ear, tears now streaming down her own face. She couldn’t believe how much she needed him. This had started as overwhelming attraction – mental, emotional, physical attraction – but it had grown into love. It was lightning fast but real nonetheless.

“Cora,” Nick said to her. “Everything’s worked out. There’s a warrant out for Keith’s arrest for his drug trafficking. Alexander will be charged with attempted murder and kidnapping as soon as he’s brought in. The FBI cleared us of any charges. It’s going to be okay.”

Cora’s stomach flipped back and forth as she walked with the help of crutches though the hospital corridors. Everyone insisted she get medical attention for her cuts and ankle sprain, but Cora was more than anxious to see her father. Nick understood. Even now he smiled at her every few seconds, feeling the same high.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. It’d buzzed quite a few times and he had ignored it until now.

“That could be important.”

“Nothing is as important as this time with you,” he said easily. She raised an eyebrow at him, laughing, and he pulled his phone out. He did add a sigh, although it sounded more endearing than anything else. They continued walking at a slower pace, both because he was on the phone and because her crutches slowed her down.

The conversation was rushed, with Nick mostly listening. She didn’t like the dark look coming into his eyes. All the panic and fear from the last few days jumped right back into her stomach.

He ended the call and shook his head at her. “It’s not… bad. Well, not…”

“Nick, tell me.”

“The police found Alexander’s car at that park, just like you described, with him inside…dead. They’re not sure if it was a real or staged suicide yet.”

“But he’s dead?”

“Dead as dead can be. A bullet through the head. I personally think Angela just might be that ruthless. I know Keith is.”

She wouldn’t have to run anymore. It was a fitting end to an evil man, even though she valued life. “It’s all over now.” 

“Exactly.” Nick stopped to wrap his arms around her and bury his face into her hair yet again. In unison, they breathed a deep sigh of relief. He lifted his head to meet her gaze with that warm,
I only see you,
look. “Are you okay?”

“Let’s see, I’m holding onto you and going to see my father again.” A smile sprung onto her lips. “I’m doing great.”

They continued to the right room number and she stepped in. “Dad?”

“Sweetie!” He held a hand out to her. “Come here, give me a hug.”

“Oh, Daddy.” Gently she leaned over him, but he didn’t act like a wounded man. He squeezed her tightly, and she understood how he needed to have her close.

“I’m so sorry I put you through all this.”

“Don’t worry, Dad, good things came of it.” She smiled toward Nick. Jerry held out his hand, but Cora saw uncertainty flickers in Nick’s expression.

“Nick, I don’t know what I should say, or how I can ever thank you.”

“It’s all good, sir.”

Now Jerry smiled and said, “It’s not some little thing. From what I hear, you saved her life, and mine. Thank you.”

“Actually, she saved me several times.”

She swatted him. “We helped each other quite a bit.” What a crazy story. They looked at each other, transfixed and happy. Jerry wiped at his eyes and gestured to the nearby chairs. Cora saw the beginnings of good things to come.