Page 53 of Chasing Creed

He closed and locked the Jeep. Then he heard the other engine cut behind him, followed by the slamming of a car door. Creed walked toward the silhouette of the man who now approached with quick steps across the scrub grass.

It wasn’t Sheriff Daniels. It was the deputy.

“Hey,” Creed called out and waved, trying to hide his surprise and at the same time remember the man’s name. “Are the rescue crews right behind you?”

He turned to search between the trees, but he didn’t see any other headlights up the road. The rain had taken a break, but heavy gray clouds threatened more. This time when Creed looked back at the deputy, he had his service revolver out. And he was pointing it at Creed.

“Hey, wait a minute. What’s the problem?” Creed stopped in his tracks with his hands loose at his sides. “Deputy Perry, right? What’s going on?”

“I need you to take me to him.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Don’t play games with me.”

“Why can’t we wait for the rescue crew?”

“We’re not waiting. Lead me to him right now.”

“So, this was all you? Your deal gone wrong?”

“What? No.”

“Isn’t this where you pick up all your drug drop-offs?” Creed had no idea, but he needed to stall. Norwich said the rescue crews were close.

Deputy Perry laughed, but his narrow eyes squinted, and his thin lips didn’t smile. “You think you’re so smart. You think you’ve got it all figured out. Let’s get moving.” He gestured with the revolver, a bit reckless.

Creed wondered if he’d even fired the weapon before. It looked like a prop in his hand. Whether or not Perry knew how to use it, didn’t make it less dangerous.

“So, I take you to him and then what? Are you planning on killing him? Because then you have to kill me, too. Right?”

“You don’t have to get hurt if you just take me to him.”

The lie wasn’t convincing.

“Kyle’s not even coherent. He won’t be able to tell you anything.”

“He already delivered the package. He just needs to not talk about it. Now, let’s go.”

“Why would I take you, knowing you’re going to kill both of us?”

“Hmm, good question,” Deputy Perry said as he glanced over Creed’s shoulder at his Jeep. Immediately, Creed felt ice sluice through his veins even before the man added, “Maybe so I won’t kill your dog.”

It took everything Creed had to stop from looking back. He didn’t need to look. He knew. He could feel Grace watching. If she suspected danger, she might even be pawing at the window.

“I remember the way,” Creed said, tamping down the anger while his mind raced. He wished there was a way to warn Norwich. Once they got back into the woods, it would be tight going forward. This guy would have the gun barrel practically sticking into Creed’s back. There would be no escaping.

“We have to start back behind the house,” Creed lied.

“Let’s go then.”

Creed had suspected that Sheriff Daniels nor Perry had checked any of the buildings on the property. Not even the house. In the dark it was difficult to find the path he had stomped into the long grass. The downpour had battered and matted everything while dropping additional broken branches and leaves.

Deputy Perry was several inches shorter than Creed, and his stride was also much shorter. Where Creed easily jumped over puddles and fallen branches, Perry struggled. But he still kept up, his hand tight on the gun and pointed at Creed’s back.

“So, what was the package?” Creed asked, slowing down and trying for casual conversation.

Perry snorted an attempted laugh. “Listen, I’m just a go-between. But I’m guessing it was the girl. A shame. She was a looker. Stupid bitch brought her new boyfriend.”