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He punched in a code to his friend Sam and hit Send.
Helping Harper to her feet, they strode toward the edge of the hall and looked around the corner.
Sam texted back in the affirmative.
Seeing no one, they bolted for the door, opened it. Deckard cleared the space.
They moved in unison down the three flights of stairs, making sure each flight was clear before proceeding down it.
Walking four open blocks to his vehicle was untenable. Hence Sam.
They exited into the night but hung against the building in the shadows until Sam’s blue pickup roared to a stop in front of them.
The question registered on Harper’s face, but she didn’t ask, just moved with him behind her to the truck and climbed in.
“Hi,” she said to Sam.
He returned the quick greeting as Deckard climbed inside and shut the door.
Sam peeled off. “What happened and where to?”
“Drop me a couple blocks from Leroy’s and take Harper to Frannie’s diner.” It was knowable ground with lots of people always sifting in and out. She’d be safe there.
“Roger that.”
“What’s happening?” Harper said.
Deckard kept his gaze in the side mirror. “Getting us someplace safe and making sure no one is following us in the process.”
“Right here is good,” Deckard said to his friend, thankful forthe backup measures they’d put in place should an emergency like this—or any for that matter—arise.
“I’ll wait with her at the diner,” Sam said.
“Thanks, man.” He clasped his friend’s hand, then turned to Harper, her temple swollen and marred with splotches of black and blue in the light of the moon. “I’ll be to the diner a matter of minutes after you. Go in, grab a seat. Stay with people until I pull up.”
She nodded then winced again.
Climbing out, he made his way to the garage, moving fast and in the darkness of night, making sure he wasn’t being tracked. Reaching the SUV, he climbed in and grabbed the key from under the mat, then started the engine. There must have been a third man who’d come around the other side of the conference room. It was the only thing that made sense, but he couldn’t dwell on that. His mission was to get Harper and get to the safety of the ranch.
Pulling up outside of the diner, Harper caught sight of him, lifted her chin, and headed out with Sam at her side. She climbed into the Equinox, and Sam’s hand braced on the open door. “You two be safe.”
“Thanks for being there,” Deck said.
“I’m just glad I was home to help.”
“Me too.” Though they had three friends in play should the need arise.
Sam shut the door, and they were on the way to the ranch, Deck tapping the wheel, his nerves vibrating. How’d he let someone get the jump on him? He clasped the steering wheel, his knuckles surely white, though it was too dark to see. He looked over at Harper. “You okay?”
She gave a slight nod, holding two fingers gingerly to her temple. “I took a good one.”
“What happened?” he asked.
“You stepped out and dropped to the ground. I was already stepping out behind you and the guy caught me on the side of the head. That’s the last thing I remember.”
“Third guy.”
“Yeah,” she said.
