Pure Dynamite (18 page)

Adam spread a map out on the hood of the car, studied it intently. He refolded it and turned to her. "You need to check Lyle before we hit the road. We'll be driving all night again."

She bristled over being given orders. "How much longer do you intend to keep me?"

"I haven't decided."

"That's not an answer—"

He cut her off and moved away. "You're alive. And uninjured. Like I promised. Some days, that's as good as it gets."

"At least tell me where we're going," she called after him.

Lyle began loosening his pants. "If you're real nice, maybe I'll tell you where we're headed."

"I don't want to know that badly"

"Snooty bitch."

Disregarding him, she took his vital signs and changed the bandages. Once again the gauze was saturated with fresh blood.

"This isn't good."

"No shit. But we both know there's not much you can do," Lyle's lip curled. "My brother will get me in to see a real doctor, so just throw a new bandage on it for now."

Renata had been about to snap back when Adam rejoined them, a serious look on his face.

"We need to hurry. I just heard on the radio that there are flood watches and tornado warnings all along the east coast. It'll be a bad night for driving."

Renata prayed for rain. Lots of it. In hopes it would slow them down enough to let the police catch up.

At first it seemed the weather couldn't make up its mind. Rain sputtered intermittently, then gradually grew steady and heavy. She fought to remain awake, casting her eyes to the side of the road when the hypnotic sweep of the windshield wipers made her eyelids feel they had weights attached.

Over and over, her thoughts returned to the clinic back in Durham. Had anyone discovered her missing? Noticed her briefcase still in her office? Or found clues in the exam room? She had purposely stuffed a section of bloody cloth in the supply drawer. Would someone recognize it as a clue and call the police?

Neither man had attempted to avoid leaving fingerprints behind. Arrogance or carelessness? She'd bet on the former. At least it wouldn't take the police long to confirm who had abducted her.

She bit her lip, worrying again about how her mother would react to the news. Her older sister and brother lived in Denver, so they'd be there for her. But Renata knew her mother; she'd make herself sick imagining the worst.

They had left Virginia, skipping across Maryland before entering Pennsylvania. It was a deceptive route; she knew their ultimate destination was West Virginia. But their route was convoluted because they bypassed most towns.

She watched Adam in her peripheral vision. Each time a car went by, his eyes drifted to the rearview mirror.
Please be a cop,
became her silent mantra.

They rounded yet another curve and this time, just a short distance ahead she spotted flashing red and blue lights. The road was blocked by a patrol car.

Renata leaned forward in disbelief, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Finally!"

Adam hit the brakes. The car hydroplaned slightly on the slick roads as he slowed and pulled onto the shoulder.

He pointed to the luminous sign beyond the patrol car:
bridge out.

"Don't get your hopes up. Rain's washed out the bridge. We have to turn around." He reached over and unfastened her seat belt. "But just as a precaution, get down on the floorboard."

Adam put the car in reverse as a slicker-clad officer climbed out of the patrol car. Ducking his head against the wind and rain, he waved a flashlight as he made his way toward their car.

The cop probably wanted nothing more than to advise them which way to detour, but Adam couldn't let him near the car. If he recognized them, or swept his flashlight inside and saw Renata in handcuffs and an injured man hooked up to an IV, it was over.

Adam hit the gas. With a squeal of tires, he reversed, speeding backwards down the road before spinning into a three-point turn.

In the rearview mirror he saw the cop pivot and shine his light at the rear of the car, trying to get the tag number. Adam sped off, churning up mud.

Seconds later, flashing lights appeared on the horizon behind them. He floored it, grateful for the Buick's powerful V-8 engine and a full tank of gas.

With luck he could outrun the patrol car. But outrunning the radio was another story. The cop was undoubtedly broadcasting their location and would soon have help. The dark, the rain, and the fact that Adam was unfamiliar with the roads would add to the cop's advantage and erode their slight head start.

He spotted a sign, a junction for a main highway he was vaguely familiar with. Increasing his speed, he turned. The road was busier than he liked but he didn't dare cut down some dirt road and risk a dead end. He also needed help.

"Lyle!"

The younger man didn't respond.

"Damn it, wake up!"

"He took more painkillers," Renata said. "Even if he comes to, I doubt he'll be much help."

Adam glanced at her, then shoved the map and flashlight across the seat. "Fine. If you want to live, find a way to get us out of here!"

Adam thought he had lost the cop. Then he spotted the telltale flash of lights behind them. He punched it, eager to increase their lead.

"Well?" he prompted Renata.

"Turn left on Highway 56 and follow it to Highway 96," she said. "It will take us south."

At the intersection, Adam turned sharply, felt the tires lose traction and become useless against the wet pavement. The car skidded started to spin. "Hold on."

Steering into the slide, he regained control, but instead of slowing he shot straight ahead the gas pedal floored.

He spared a glance at Renata, saw her huddled on the floor, her knuckles bloodless from gripping the flashlight. He knew she was terrified yet there was nothing he could do to reassure her.

He backed off the gas slightly and grabbed the flashlight. "You can get up now."

She awkwardly climbed back into the seat. "Damn you, Adam! You could have killed us driving like that!"

It was the first time she'd said his name aloud. That she'd used it swearing didn't bother him; it wasn't his real name. Still it had been a moment of personal connection. A lost moment.

"I had the car under control the entire time." He
reached over to refasten her seat belt and had to resist the urge to touch her cheek.

"Does the term 'too fast for conditions' mean anything?"

Her voice quavered, husky from restraint. Adam knew she covered her fear with anger. She'd been pushed beyond a reasonable point numerous times.

He squeezed her fingers briefly, released them. "Keep the map handy. The weather is getting worse and we have to get off the road as soon as possible. That means I'll need to find a short cut to our next stop."

That he even bothered explaining surprised Renata. He didn't have to. Even more surprising was the way he'd brushed her hand as if offering silent comfort. It was one more clue that in small ways, perhaps even subconsciously, Adam seemed concerned about her well-being. She needed to play on that. Exploit—encourage even—any sign of softening.

"Where are we headed?" she asked. "And I'll start checking for alternate routes."

"You're volunteering to help?"

She didn't miss the sarcasm. "Actually, I'm helping myself. I'd rather look now instead of when we're being pursued. And with Lyle passed out, I'm your only navigator."

For a moment Adam remained quiet. Then he handed over the flashlight again.

"I need to end up on Highway 150, in the Yew Mountains."

"Then where?"

"The other roads won't be listed. Just get me to Highway 150. And we have to avoid all cities, so think rural."

She studied the West Virginia map, first found
where they were headed. After a few minutes, she rattled off an alternate route.

Adam slowed not fully trusting her. "Show me."

Turning the map toward him, she held the flashlight and pointed to the route. He studied it, only taking his eyes from the road for brief seconds.

"Thanks," he said finally. "It'll take us a few hours to get there. Why don't you try to grab some shut- eye?"

She shook her head. "I'm used to not sleeping."

"In that case, you can talk to me. Keep me awake."

"If you're tired, pull over."

He laughed. "Nice try. Actually, I'm curious why you pursued medicine. Was your father a doctor and you decided to follow in his footsteps?"

Renata's first thought was to not answer. Then she remembered her earlier resolve to draw Adam out. This was an opportunity to build a
bond...
or perhaps distract him while the police caught up.

Still, she chose her words carefully. "My father was an auto mechanic. He died of congestive heart failure after ignoring chest pains he thought were indigestion. I was only two."

"You were an only child?"

"No. I have an older sister and brother."

"It must have been difficult for your mother, being left to raise three kids by herself."

"She told me she got through it because she simply didn't have time to grieve. She juggled three jobs and three children."

"That had to be tough, too."