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He’d turned on the motor once he’d rowed for five minutes. It was a small motor and he had crossed his fingers that he was far enough away that Corey wouldn’t hear it.
Or Bobby or Ed. Or the two people they’d brought in on Bobby’s boat.
Who were they and why were they there? Was Corey a drug dealer, too?
He rounded a bend and nearly cried in relief. There was the dock Corey had used when they’d returned from Cardozo’s house. Parked on the gravel lot were five vehicles. The minivan Corey had been driving, a Chevy SUV, and Dewey’s Dodge truck had been there earlier. The Honda and the Hyundai were new, probably belonging to the two blindfolded strangers.
Carefully, he guided the jon boat to the dock and tied the boat to the piling. Rifle in hand, he scrambled up onto the dock, his heart hammering in his chest. Almost there.
He nearly dropped the keys three times trying to unlock the truck but finally succeeded. Don’t celebrate. Don’t think. Just go. He set the rifle on the floorboard at his feet, then cranked the engine to life. Then exhaled. Almost there.
He still didn’t know where he was going, but he was one step closer to getting away. He’d started to back out of the parking area when the moonlight flashed off Dewey’s boat. It was like a neon sign telling Corey where he’d gone.
He jumped from the truck and ran back to the dock, untying the boat and shoving it back into the river. It would float back downstream, toward where Corey’s camp was. With any luck, Corey wouldn’t think he’d made it this far and would search for him closer to camp.
He ran back to the truck, threw himself behind the wheel, and started to drive. The road was gravel, but it soon dead-ended at a real road. They’d turned left on the way back from Cardozo’s, so Jace turned right.
Another road sign, with words he recognized. to new orleans.
That was where Rick was. He’d dropped Rick on Cardozo’s lawn like he was trash. I have to fix this. He had to get Rick out of Cardozo’s hands.
And if you get caught? If someone’s found out that you were the driver?
Fear had his chest freezing up. Breathe. Breathe.
Jace thought about jail. Then he thought about Corey shooting Dewey in the head and shoving his body into the water for the gators. Then laughing about it.
Even jail would be better than staying with Corey.
And if Rick wasn’t at Cardozo’s?
I’ll find Dianne. She’ll help me. Once I sober her up, anyway.
He clutched the steering wheel, forcing himself to breathe. I got away. I can do this.
10
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 12:55 A.M.
KAJ,” A VOICE hissed. “Wake up.”
Kaj swatted at the hand shaking his shoulder.
“Kaj. I said, wake up!”
He opened his eyes, clarity returning in an instant when he saw Val standing over him, a finger against her lips. His heart rate went from zero to racing in a single breath. “Where’s Elijah?”
“In his bed. With Czar. He’s fine, but there’s someone outside. Come with me.”
Without another question, Kaj followed her into Elijah’s room. She knelt by his son’s bed and shook him gently. “Elijah? I need you to wake up.”
Elijah snuggled deeper into the covers. Czar lifted his head and stared up at Val. “Czar, come,” she said and the dog obediently jumped off the bed and trotted around to sit at her side. “Elijah. Come on, honey. Wake up.”
“He’s a very heavy sleeper.” Kaj scooped his son into his arms. Elijah’s head lolled, then settled on his shoulder. My baby. “Where are we going?”
She drew her gun. “Downstairs, in case we need to leave in a hurry.”
