“How the hell did you get into that thing?” Luke asked.
I shrugged, “It was unlocked.”
His brows rose, and his eyes shot to Copper. “When Ember was at the cabin with Dash, we apparently forgot to lock the bunker when all was said and done. Afterward, no one thought to check it.”
Luke shook his head in disbelief. “Okay, I think I have what I need. What’s the best way to get in touch with you? I may have more questions, but we’ll definitely need you to testify at the trial.”
“You can call me until I can get her a phone,” Copper answered.
We shook hands and said our goodbyes. Once Luke was gone, I faced Copper. “What are the other details?”
“Let’s go upstairs, and I’ll tell you.”
The last thing I wanted to do was go upstairs with him after his behavior that morning, but I desperately wanted to know whatever details he had to share.
He closed the door and took a seat beside me on the bed. “First, I have a question or two for you. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier, but with the way we met…Anyway, how did you get from the Senator’s place in Kentucky to Meadow Ridge? And don’t bullshit me. I know you didn’t walk.”
I swallowed thickly. “You’re right. I didn’t walk, but I don’t feel comfortable telling you that story,” I confessed.
His forehead scrunched while he stared at me for a few seconds before his eyes widened as something occurred to him. “You said you were running from something that was chasing you, but it wasn’t something, was it? It was someone.”
* * *
I didn’t knowwhat to do, and I couldn’t stop crying. I had no idea where I was, and it was starting to get dark. My feet were killing me, I was exhausted, and I could hardly swallow because my mouth was so dry, but I couldn’t stop moving.
When I heard a car approaching, I darted off into the trees to hide until it passed. But it didn’t pass. Instead, the car came to a stop, and someone got out. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard footsteps getting closer to the tree I was tucked behind.
“Hello?” an elderly female voice called. “You looked like you could use some help, sweetheart. You still there?”
I fought to silence my breathing while my heart worked overtime in my chest.
“Can I give you a ride somewhere? It’s not safe to be walking out here at night, honey. We’ve got a lot of wild animals around here that like to come out after dark, and I can’t in good conscience leave you here,” she continued. “I’m a God-fearing Christian woman, but I don’t pass judgment. I’ll take you wherever you want to go, no questions asked.”
What was I supposed to do? She was right about the animals. I had already heard several coyotes howling in the distance. But what if it was a trap? What if she was sent to find me and bring me back?
“Name’s Evelyn Carmichael. I’m a seventy-two-year-old widow. I live about an hour from here. Just passing through on my way home from my sister’s funeral. It’d sure brighten my day if you’d let me help you.”
Taking a deep breath, I prayed she was being honest and stepped out from behind the tree.
She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, honey, I don’t know what happened, and you don’t have to tell me, but please let me help you.”
I swallowed with what little saliva I had and managed to say, “I could use a ride.”
“Of course, sweetheart. Hop in the truck.”
True to her word, she didn’t ask about how I came to be in my current situation. She gave me a few minutes to myself before asking, “Where would you like to go?”
If that wasn’t the million-dollar question, then I didn’t know what was. I couldn’t go home, and the one person I could always count on was gone. “Um, is there a women’s shelter nearby? Or something like that?”
She made a sound of discontent with her teeth. “I don’t rightly know. I live in Meadow Ridge, about half-way up the mountain, and I know we don’t have one in our little town. I suppose there might be something like that in one of the bigger cities, but I’m afraid we won’t get you there before they close their doors tonight.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” I blurted, trying not to panic and epically failing.
“Of course, you do, sweetheart. You can spend the night at my place. I have a guest bedroom, and you’d be doing me a favor by keeping me company. I used to spend my evenings talking to my sister on the telephone, right up until the night before she passed. I’ve been up at her place ever since, so this’ll be my first night back in my own house. I was wondering what I was going to do with myself when I spotted you jumping into the trees. It was like the good Lord heard me and answered my prayers right then and there.”
“I, I don’t—” I started, but she knew what I was going to say.
“Just say, ‘Okay,’ sweetie,” she prompted.