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ChapterOne
Aidyn ran through the brush, ducking under low branches and jumping over downed ones. The heavy footfalls behind him grew louder. Aidyn would be caught if he didn’t change direction or pathway.
His breathing grew labored, and he tripped on a branch covered in dead leaves. Catching himself with his hand before falling over, he righted himself and continued running.
He heard the man chasing him fall on the ground with a thud and an “Oof” grunted out as he fell. Not daring to turn around in case it was a trick, Aidyn ran toward the black road that led him up here.
The instant his feet hit the pavement, he picked up speed and made it to the main road in what felt like record time.
He shot across Main Street, to the parking lot of Bloomin’ Lovely, the flower shop in town. His truck sat at the corner of the lot, looking like the best thing he’d ever seen. Shoving his hand into his pocket, he pulled his key fob out and unlocked the doors.
He jumped inside and took off without a backward glance.
His breathing still came in spurts and the sweat he’d produced caused his shirt to stick to his back. He’d need a shower soon. But his teammates were waiting for him.
Navigating the first corner that led him out to the old sewing factory on the edge of town, where he was to meet the rest of his team, he kept his pace within the speed limit and heaved out a deep breath.
Flashing lights and a siren sounded behind him. “Shit!”
A glance in his mirror confirmed the officer was after him. He pulled his truck to the edge of the road and turned on his flashers.
He rolled his window down and lay both hands on top of the steering wheel and waited for the officer.
The officer approached his truck. “May I see your driver’s license and insurance papers, please?”
Aidyn glanced out his window and realized this was the new cop Glen Hollow had hired to replace Keaton Bennit.
“I need to reach behind and pull my wallet from my back pocket.”
“Go ahead.”
He reached back and pulled his wallet out, then held it up as he searched for his driver’s license.
He handed it out the window to the officer. What was his name? Aidyn glanced at his name badge. It was obscured by his arm.
“I need to reach into my glove box for my registration.”
“Nice and slow, Mr. Dunbar.”
He nodded and deliberately reached over to grab his insurance papers.
He held them out to the officer, who looked up at him and squinted in the sunlight. “You’re one of the GHOST team.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Did you just run down the hill?”
He didn’t put his work face on this morning and before he could think; he rolled his eyes.
“May as well tell the truth, Mr. Dunbar. I saw you run from the hill.”
“Yes. I was doing some recon work.”
“It looked like you were being chased.”
“Yeah, I was being chased.”
The officer looked back at the hill, then took a deep breath. Aidyn felt like he used to feel when he was a kid and he’d disappointed his parents. They tried to keep their frustrations hidden, but neither of them managed it. He’d been a bit of a handful through his teen years. He had help being a bit of a shit though. And that help was all here in Glen Hollow, Kentucky. Lord, help them all.
