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Once she was out of sight, Marc tried Bri again—with the same result. No reply to his text, and the call immediately rolled to voicemail.
Her lack of response suggested her phone was off or disabled.
Neither scenario was comforting.
Now what?
She’d promised to contact the Kirkwood PD, so that was worth following up on. But the query would get faster attention if it came from her own people at County.
Unfortunately, she’d never mentioned her boss’s name.
But he did know one County detective who could track her sergeant down and who would give this assignment top priority.
Calling up his most commanding ATF special agent persona, he put in a call to County, told the operator he had urgent official business to discuss, and asked for Jack Tucker.
“TURNRIGHT UPAHEAD.”
As Travis issued his second instruction since directing her to exit I-64 west of the Missouri River, Bri frowned at the sign.
A conservation area?
“Why did you bring me here?”
He remained silent, as he had during the long drive from Kirkwood except to provide directions.
Once she swung into the entrance, however, he spoke more often, reading off a series of turns from a crumpled sheet of paper filled with scribbles.
As Bri navigated the narrow gravel lanes that took them farther and farther away from the main road, her stomach knotted. With the day waning and shadows lengthening, there was almost no activity in the conservation area—especially on a weekday. Nor were there any cars in the small, remote lot where Travis told her to park.
Her fingertips began to tingle.
This was looking worse and worse.
Not a soul knew where she was, and no one would ever think to search for her in such an off-the-beaten-path location.
Meaning she was on her own to find a way out of this.
And since it was obvious Travis’s earlier pranks had escalated to one with lethal intent, there was no downside to an escape attempt. Better to die trying than go meekly to her demise.
She just had to wait for the right moment.
“Leave the key on the console.” Travis kept the gun aimed at her. “Get out of the car, walk ten feet away, and face me.”
Respiration quickening, she set the brake and did as he instructed.
He slid out of the passenger side and retrieved a combination flashlight/lantern from the back seat, gun never wavering from her. “Now we’re going to take a hike. Follow the path behind you.”
She pivoted. A narrow trail led into the woods.
Snuffing out the fear short-circuiting her brain, she forced herself to take a calming breath and put her gray matter to work.
Based on the strength Travis had exhibited the day he’d cornered her in the locker room, she’d never be able to overpower him in a hand-to-hand fight. But if she could lure him close, maybe she could snatch up a downed limb, take a swing, and perhaps stun him long enough to get one of the guns.
Maybe.
Perhaps.
An iffy plan, but it was all she had.
