The Survivor (8 page)

9:35 A.M. FRIDAY

V
icki’s screams pierced Kariss’s ears. The car hit the ditch with a sharp jolt that deployed the air bags. The chemicals released stung Kariss’s eyes and nose.

She blinked as the car ground to a stop. The windshield had cracked in a spiderweb pattern but hadn’t shattered. She whirled around to watch the truck, but it disappeared in a flurry of dirt and gravel. For a moment, she considered pulling out her 9mm and unloading it in the direction of his tires or gas tank.

Not a godly thought, but still true.

Rose.

Vicki.

Dear God, let them be all right.

Grasping the steering wheel for support, she touched Vicki’s arm. “You okay?”

Vicki slowly turned toward the backseat. Blood trickled down the right side of her face. “My baby. How’s Rose?” Her sister’s quiet sobs filled the car. Unfortunately, the car leaned against the ditch in such a way that it was impossible to open the passenger door, but Kariss could still get out her side. “Please, Kariss. Get her out of here.”

Kariss pressed the Unlock button on the doors and lowered the windows before turning off the engine. She pushed aside her air bag and tried to release her seat belt. It was jammed.

She reached over to Vicki’s side to search through the glove box for a pocketknife, an item their father had always insisted
be in his girls’ cars. With it, she cut her seat belt and then pushed open the door. If only Rose would scream at the top of her lungs. But there was nothing.

Kariss flung open the rear door, and a muffled cry met her ears. Not a pain-filled sound, but a whimper. Kariss studied the baby’s face while reaching for the car seat’s Release button, not an easy task with the car leaning on its right side. Kariss held her breath. No blood. No marks.

The little face scrunched into a frown, then a cry. Kariss lifted Rose from the car seat, speaking words of comfort. Not a visible mark on her tiny body. The car seat had done its job. Praise God she’d been strapped in on the driver’s side so Kariss could reach her.

“She’s fine, Vicki.” When her sister failed to respond, the possible extent of Vicki’s injuries slammed against Kariss’s heart.

Glancing behind her, Kariss saw that an SUV had stopped, and a couple was emerging. But her concern was for her sister.

“Help is on the way,” the woman called as she hurried toward Kariss.

Kariss nodded. Vicki had phoned 911 before the pickup had run them off the road. Now the emergency hotline had two calls about them.

Rose looked unharmed, but Kariss couldn’t lay her on the ground to check on Vicki. Kariss took a quick peek at her sister. Vicki’s eyes were closed, and blood flowed down her face and onto her neck. Had she blacked out?

“How can I help?” the woman said.

Kariss patted Rose’s back to calm her. “I’m concerned about my sister.”

The man peered through the open driver’s door at Vicki. “Wait for an ambulance. She might be badly hurt.”

Kariss had thought the same thing. “I wonder how long before help gets here? We called 911 when the pickup was riding our bumper.”

“Just a few minutes. It’ll come from Tomball.” He shook his head. “Wish we’d seen what happened.”

“I’m just glad you’re here now.”

“Why don’t you let me take the baby?” the woman said. “I have four girls of my own.”

Kariss looked into the woman’s kind eyes and relinquished Rose, who was still crying. “Thanks. I’m shaking so much I’m afraid I’ll drop her. I think she’s fine.”

The woman cradled Rose. “You get a hold of yourself, and I’ll keep little missy company. Do you have a bottle?”

“My sister’s nursing her. But she ate just before we left. I’ll get her wah-wah from her diaper bag.” She gave the woman a smile. “That’s what our family calls a pacifier.” Kariss reached into the car, her attention flying to Vicki, who was still so quiet and stationary. While searching for the diaper bag, she heard a siren. What a blessed sound. “Help is here, sis. Hold on.”

Vicki moaned. “Rose. Where is she?”

Relief lifted a ton of weight from Kariss’s heart. “She’s just fine. Not a scratch. A nice lady is holding her.”

“I hear her crying. Thank You, God.”

“I wanted to get you out of there, but the man who stopped to help suggested we wait for the ambulance.”

“Probably smart.” Vicki had yet to open her eyes. “My head—”

“Hush. The paramedics will fix you up. Save your strength.”

“Thanks, sis. You’re the best.”

Kariss forced a laugh. “Remember how you protested when I spent three hundred dollars on Rose’s car seat?”

Vicki smiled through closed eyes. “Yeah.”

“You can now write an endorsement for the brand. Probably get lots of good free stuff.”

Vicki didn’t appear to hear this last comment.

Kariss would find out who had done this. A chill raced up her arms. She didn’t care about possible danger to herself, but the driver had stepped over the line when he threatened Vicki’s and Rose’s lives.

10:00 A.M. FRIDAY

T
igo’s personal cell phone, the iPhone, rang. Seeing the caller was Kariss’s father, he explained to Ryan the need to take the call and left Vanessa’s office to answer it. Odd for Mr. Walker to call during working hours.

“Tigo, Fred Walker here. Wanted to let you know that Kariss, Vicki, and the baby were in an accident this morning.” Tigo’s pulse raced into overdrive. “How bad?”

“The baby and Kariss are fine. Vicki’s awaiting treatment for a head wound. She has a nasty bump on her head. We’re on our way to the hospital now.”

Tigo blew out a breath. “What happened?”

“Some redneck ran them off the road and into a ditch and didn’t bother to stick around. Kariss says she’s okay, but I have my doubts. Vicki and Rose would come first for her.”

Tigo pushed aside his rising apprehension to focus on the situation. “What hospital?”

“Tomball. We’ve been on the road a little while, but it’ll still be over twenty minutes before we get there.”

“I’m on my way. Coming from the southwest side of town.” Tigo stepped back into the office and motioned for Ryan to join him in the hallway.

“What’s going on?” Ryan said.

Tigo told him all he knew. “Vicki’s hurt, but Kariss and the baby are supposedly okay. I’ve got to make sure.”

“Go ahead. I’ll take care of things here. They were lucky.”

“I have to see for myself. Probably wouldn’t hurt if you’d pray.”

Ryan chuckled. “I’m on it. The skeptic asks for prayer?”

“I’m listening on Sundays. Got to admit, though, just when it all makes sense, I’m confused again. That whole surrender thing goes against the grain of my independent nature.”

“Keep at it.”

Tigo wasn’t sure faith answered the plaguing questions in his life. But Ryan and Linc held stock in prayer, and for them, it worked.

Twenty minutes later, at the hospital ER, Tigo flashed his ID and followed a nurse through double doors into the treatment area. She no doubt thought the accident was an FBI matter. Behind a curtain, Vicki lay on a treatment table with her eyes closed.

A nasty gash near her right temple needed stitches. Why hadn’t they taken care of her yet? Kariss sat in a chair holding a baby decked out in pink and lace and some sort of frilly headband. Kariss and Vicki’s parents stood by Vicki’s bed. Fred held his injured daughter’s hand while Ella gently stroked her hair. Tigo planted a kiss on Ella’s cheek and patted Fred’s back.

“We’ve been here about five minutes. Did you fly?” Fred said.

“I have my moments on the road.” Tigo caught Kariss’s gaze. The first time they’d met, he’d been driving faster than Buzz Lightyear on steroids and had cut her off on the highway. A mile later, an officer had ticketed him.

“I remember.” Although her hair was tousled, she looked in control and beautiful … as always.

“How’s the patient?”

“Doing okay. I think she’s in more pain than she’ll admit,” Kariss said. “We’re waiting to get her stitched up. They had another emergency just before she was brought in.”

Tigo studied Vicki’s pale face. “Is she sleeping, or did the doctor give her something?”

“Resting,” Kariss said. A hint of pink tinged her cheeks. “I think she used up her energy making sure Rose was okay. I told Dad not to bother you.”

“Friends look out for friends.”

“Most of the time.”

He understood exactly what she meant and focused his attention back on Fred and Ella. “Thanks for the call.”

“We knew you’d want to know about the accident, despite our youngest daughter’s protests.”

Tigo chose not to toss out a sarcastic remark and turned to Kariss instead. “Rose is growing. She’s a beautiful baby.”

“We’re all prejudiced, but you’re right.” She smiled.

Thoughts about the past slammed against his brain. Why had he been so stupid?

Vicki half opened her eyes. “I thought I heard a familiar voice. Are we having a party?”

“Only when the jerk who did this is arrested,” Kariss said.

“I pity him if my sister gets to him first,” Vicki said. “Thanks for coming, Tigo. I’m fine, really. Just waiting”—pain creased her face—“for the doctor to stitch my head.”

“And a room.” Fred patted her hand. “Got to run a few tests on little mama. Make sure nothing’s knocked loose up there.”

A doctor stepped inside the curtained area, a nurse trailing behind, pushing a cart loaded with paraphernalia to stitch up Vicki’s head. Tigo seized the opportunity and turned to Kariss. Odd how he needed courage to talk to the woman who occupied his thoughts. “Would you and Miss Rose join me for a walk? Blood makes me squeamish.”

Kariss laughed. “Right.”

He reached for the baby so Kariss could stand.

“You handle Rose very nicely,” she said.

“I handle little girls better than big ones.”

Ella and Fred laughed, but Kariss didn’t. Once outside the ER, they strolled down the hospital hallway. Tigo continued
holding Rose. She felt right snuggled in his arms. To think Kariss had once been this helpless. She could still be helpless, but Tigo wouldn’t bring it up.

“Are you in trouble, Ms. Indiana Jones?” he said. “Or should I ask if you’re working on a story that’s put you in danger?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Her voice trembled.

Was it fear he detected, or did she feel uncomfortable with him? “I hear the reservation. Want to tell me about it?”

“I’m tired and angry at the truck-daddy who did this. He was probably strung out. Got scared and took off when we headed for the ditch.”

“Your Jag tends to attract attention.”

“I should have stuck with my Prius. Vanity took over once the arrests were made last summer.”

He remembered the day she’d sold the Prius. They’d celebrated with dinner at Ruth’s Chris. “Did you get his license plate number?”

“Only V8. I gave it to the officer who arrived on the scene. Vicki thought she took a pic of the truck with her cell phone. But it’s not there. I guess she was too nervous.”

He brushed a kiss across the tip of Rose’s nose, and the baby smiled. Melted him like butter. “Did you get a look at the driver?”

“Nope. Tinted glass. I thought about trying to stop him before he got away, but I had Rose and Vicki to worry about.”

“What would you have done? Chased after the guy with your handgun?”

Kariss rolled her eyes. “Very funny. I was actually planning to shoot out a tire or aim for his gas tank.”

“Don’t worry, they’ll find him. Although I’d like the chance.” He forced himself to look into Kariss’s brown eyes and realized he couldn’t breathe. Facing bad guys was so much easier. “I’d appreciate a call in a few days on how your sister’s doing.”

“Sure.” She winced. “I smell awful from the deployed air bag.”

“I thought it was the ER.”

“I’d take you out if you weren’t holding my niece.”

“Then I’m safe.”

“Sorry Dad called you.”

“No problem.” He was glad Fred did. Tigo wanted to be there.

A nurse met them in the hall. “Your baby’s beautiful,” she said. “She has her mama’s hair and eyes.” She smiled at Tigo. “I bet you’re one proud daddy.”

“We’re not her parents.” Kariss brushed her finger across Rose’s cheek. “She’s my sister’s baby. Thanks anyway. We think she’s beautiful too.”

Tigo wanted to think they had a future if they could just work through the damage. That they could someday earn that compliment. But he’d have to take the first step.

5:00 P.M. FRIDAY

S
o now your wife claims you were at home the morning of the car bombing?” Tigo watched Roger Collins, who had three eyebrow piercings, two piercings on his upper lip, and a safety pin through his ear. Very easy to stereotype him. “New information. Had she forgotten you were there?”

Roger Collins had been brought in before Tigo and Ryan returned from Curt and Ian’s high school. Tigo was in a sour mood, regretting the waste of time talking to the basketball team, and Collins wasn’t helping his attitude.

Ryan glanced up from his iPad, no doubt reading Collins for signs of deceit. Although the interview was being recorded, the two agents always compared their personal notes with the footage. The FBI interview room was quiet except for the low hum of the heating system.

Collins rubbed his nose. “I was at home with my wife and daughter. Since I lost my job, where else could I go? I was sitting on the patio talking to a friend most of the morning. You know, commiserating.”

“A little cold to be on the patio. It was pouring rain that morning.”

“It’s covered. And the weather fit my attitude.”

“Especially if you were planting a bomb in Jonathan Yeat’s car,” Tigo said.

“No way. I went to prison once. I’m not going back again.”

“But you threatened him.”

“Wouldn’t you if you didn’t know how you were going to feed your family?”

Tigo picked up a piece of paper. “I wouldn’t resort to murder. Says here you’d like to see him dead.”

Collins pressed his fingers into the top of the table, his knuckles white. “I didn’t kill anyone.”

“How good are you at building bombs?”

“Not good enough.”

Tigo glanced at Ryan. “What did you tell me about this man’s record?”

“Did time for armed robbery. Pistol-whipped a male clerk behind the counter of a convenience store.”

“Hmm.” Tigo tapped his pen on the table. “Did you have a job then?”

“Look, dude. I was living in California. Me and the wife were just married. Had a three-month-old baby girl. Needed cash for food and stuff. But I learned my lesson, and I’ve worked hard for nearly eighteen months at Yeat’s Construction. I’m going to college and making good grades.” He pointed a finger at Tigo. “I have an alibi—two of them, my wife and my friend. You’re not going to blame me for something I didn’t do. My wife’s pregnant with our second kid, and the doctors are concerned she might miscarry. I need a job. But note this—I’ll flip burgers at Micky D’s before breaking the law.”

“Maybe you know who did.”

He shook his head. “Guys are upset with the layoffs. Some got hot and talked crazy. Me? I was one of them. But I wouldn’t murder for revenge. That doesn’t put a man back to work when the economy gets better.”

“Anybody mention Semtex?”

“No one talked about a bomb or how they planned to get even with Jonathan Yeat. You guys need to talk to someone else.”

“Maybe so,” Tigo said. “But don’t leave town.”

6:30 P.M. FRIDAY

Kariss didn’t know whether to admire her sister’s stubbornness or knock some sense into her. Vicki had refused to be admitted into the hospital. Instead, she insisted the tests be conducted while she was in the ER. Mom and Dad took care of Rose while Kariss arranged to have her Jag towed. She also phoned Babies”R”Us and arranged to have a new car seat delivered to the hospital via taxi. A rental car arrived at the same time Vicki was signing the discharge papers.

“Sis, you’ve got a mild concussion, and your right eye is turning purple,” Kariss said while their dad helped Vicki scoot into the backseat beside Rose. “I really wish you’d reconsider and spend the night here.”

“I’ll second that.” Dad massaged his lower back. Installing the car seat in the rental had been a chore. “I won’t sleep a wink wondering if you’re all right.”

“Dad, I’m a nurse, remember? And I’m quite capable of knowing when Rose or I need medical attention.”

“I’ve made a decision.” Mom’s brown eyes widened with a familiar threatening look. Kariss had seen that look plenty of times during her growing-up years. “I’m staying at the condo with my girls tonight.”

“Good idea,” Kariss said. “Mom’s even better at making sure you behave than I am.”

“Suffocating attention.” Vicki moaned. “Rose’s schedule will be a thing of the past.”

“That’s right. I’m going to spoil both of you.” Mom slid into the front seat. “As soon as we get to the condo, I’m putting Vicki to bed and making a pot of gumbo.”

“And I’ll get my dinner at Whataburger and load up on the fries your mother doesn’t let me have at home.” Dad double-checked the car seat. “Great to see Tigo today. He’s a good man—good enough for a son-in-law in my book.”

Kariss’s emotions were still playing havoc with her heart. “I don’t think so. Too many problems.”

“I can feel it in my bones. God’s gonna work this out.”

If Kariss didn’t ease into another subject soon, Dad would be inviting Tigo to Sunday dinner. “He teased me about chasing the driver with my handgun.”

“Too bad I didn’t see who ran my girls off the road. There wouldn’t have been anything left to bury.” He shook his head. “Excuse me, Lord, but I’m not feeling too forgiving right now.”

“I’m right there in a box seat.” Kariss allowed a single tear to drip down her cheek. Until now, she’d been too angry and concerned about Vicki and Rose to let her defenses down. “That guy thinks he got away, but God knows where he lives.” She wouldn’t rest until the jerk was arrested.