Page 109 of Shadow

He climbed out of the car. “Thank you,” Asher said. “You may have just saved multiple lives.”

The man was shaking. “I didn’t—I was just trying to help. Just trying to do the right thing.”

“You did help. More than you know.” Asher pulled out his phone. “I’m calling this in. Local police will want your statement. You’ll need to stay at the scene. Tell them exactly what happened. Can you do that?”

The witness nodded. Still pale. Still shaking. But functional. “Yes. Yes, I can do that.”

“Good. What’s your name?”

“Martin. Martin Hendricks.”

“Okay, Martin. You did good today.” Asher turned away before the man could ask more questions.

He moved back toward the cliff edge. Toward where Dmitri lay in his own blood. He looked down at the wreckage. Flames still consumed the vehicle. Smoke rising black against blue sky.

But the dash cam in his hand would tell a different story. Would show Daphne in the white Pilot, swerving deliberately. Would show the choreography. Would show Roger and Destiny in her vehicle.

Would destroy everything.

Asher pulled up the camera’s memory card. Small SD card. Everything recorded in HD quality.

He pocketed the card. Then he handed the camera back to Martin. “I got the evidence I needed.”

The sound of an engine cut through the smoke. Coming fast.

Asher turned.

A white Pilot came around the curve. Daphne behind the wheel, her face visible through the windshield—focused, alert, ready. Roger and Destiny in the back seat.

The Pilot’s tires squealed as it stopped. Door opened before the vehicle finished rocking. Daphne jumped out. Weapon drawn and up in a two-handed grip. Eyes scanning the scene.

Dmitri dead on the ground in spreading blood. Martin standing by his Honda with his phone. Asher standing between them, covered in dust and blood. The burning wreckage down the slope still smoking.

“Asher?” She lowered her weapon.

“We’re clear,” he said. Kept his voice calm. “But we need to go. Now.”

He moved over to the car. Heat flared through his torso. His hands left blood on the door handle.

Daphne hesitated. Her eyes moved from Dmitri’s body to Martin to Asher.

“Let’s go,” Asher said.

She got into the car. He eased into the passenger seat.

“Are you okay?” Destiny, leaning up from the back seat.

“I will be,” he said.

“Where are we going?” Daphne said.

He met her eyes. Saw a flare of concern a second before she shuttered it.

“The only safe place I know.”

He hoped.

The gunshot at Blackwater Pass had nearly stopped Daphne’s heart.