Escape from the Badlands

His stomach tightened and his breathing grew shallow.

Even though Ackerman was engaged, he knew the man was unable to resist a beautiful girl. What’s more, he’d heard that the race coordinator was not above pursuing women, married or otherwise. If Ellen Brown hadn’t given him an alibi for the night of Olivia’s murder… He ground his teeth, stowed the papers inside his jacket and unhooked the car seat from the back. Then he took the keys from the ignition and made his way to the trunk. He unlocked it and retrieved a small duffel bag, swallowing against the lump in his throat.

It was the same bag she’d lugged along on their river rafting adventure. He jerked it free and grabbed a smaller blue backpack with a train emblazoned on the front. He closed the trunk again and made his way clumsily back to the top in time to see Gleeson pull up in the van.

“See you got your bags packed,” Gleeson joked.

Shane didn’t respond as he got in. They drove for several miles in silence.

“I guess we’ve got our new medic now,” Gleeson said, giving him a quick glance.

“So it seems.” Shane fumed. “How did Ackerman find Kelly?”

Gleeson tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Through me, actually. He met her when he took me to the clinic after I sprained my knee. She was real competent and looking for a job because her gig there was almost up.” He grinned. “She’s not bad to look at, either, so I think that already put her ahead of the previous medic.”

Biting back a fiery remark, Shane forced himself to stare out the window. “What happened to the other medic?”

“Quit suddenly. Didn’t give a reason that I’m aware of. Why you so interested?” Gleeson asked. “You know her?”

Shane wondered what Kelly had told him. Was Gleeson testing him?

He went for flippant. “I’ve met a lot of pretty girls. Who remembers?”

Gleeson chuckled.

Who remembers? Shane did—every moment of their time together was indelibly engraved on his mind. The smallest things remained there: the way her smile was higher on one side than the other, the curl of her hair right after she washed it, her laughter that always made him forget everything else. Her failed attempts at learning to cook, and all the truly awful food he’d eaten with a smile firmly plastered on his face.

“Anyway,” Gleeson continued, “she’s saddled with a kid. Don’t know why anyone would sign on to hook up with that.”

A kid. The comment circled in his mind, stabbing and biting like an angry beast. Is that what Kelly thought? That he’d left because he didn’t want to be saddled with a kid? How could he ever tell her the truth?

He leaned his head back and let the miles go by, uncertain why the situation had taken such a strange turn. There was only one thing he knew for sure—Kelly had to leave. Immediately. The thought carried him back to the campground where he parted with Gleeson, shouldering the bags to take to Kelly’s trailer, the one with the Team Medic placard displayed in the kitchen window.

The curtains were drawn and his hands felt clammy, heart hammering erratically.

Convince her to leave. That’s all you have to do.

In an effort not to wake Charlie if the child was sleeping, Shane knocked softly.

Kelly answered, dressed in a pair of sweatpants that were too big and an oversized T-shirt. Her hair was still wet, but pulled up into a high ponytail. Even in clothes that didn’t fit, after a harrowing near-death experience, she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and for a moment he couldn’t speak.

Kelly eyed the bags in his hands. “You didn’t have to bring those.”

Shane shrugged. “Concierge service included with your luxury accommodations. Car will need to be towed, but I figured you might be able to use some of these things after they dry out.” He hesitated. “Can I come in?”

She gave him a long look before she opened the door. “Just for a minute. Charlie is sleeping. I…we’ve been looking for his mother but no luck so he’s got to settle for me. Guess I didn’t do so well tonight.”

He saw a little bundle in the full-size bed. “Is he okay?”

“Yes.” She took a breath. “Thank you again. I’m not sure what would have happened if you hadn’t come along.”

He could see in her face the effort it took to say those words to him, the man she despised. “Forget it.” He shot another glance at the boy, only the top of his head visible from under the blankets. He looked so small in the bed. “Any word on your sister?”

Kelly’s face shimmered with pain. “My uncle has a lead, but so far nothing concrete.”

“I hope she turns up safe.”

“Me, too.” She hugged herself. “I don’t mean to be rude, but it’s late. I’ve got to start work tomorrow so I think I’d better get some sleep.”

“I need to talk to you about that.”

Kelly cocked her head at him. “I think I know what you’re going to say. I’m sorry that it’s going to be a little awkward, Shane, but I had no idea you’d be here. We’ll stay away from each other. One week and the whole thing will be over. You can stand it for that long, can’t you?”

He winced. “That’s not what I meant.”

She frowned, the dim kitchen light reflecting in the dark pools of her eyes. “What, then? Does this have something to do with the fictitious name you’re using?”

“Yes. Did you tell Gleeson we…know each other?”

“No. I’m not sure why, but I didn’t. That was almost two years ago. Old history. What’s going on?”

Their time together, though only a year, would never be old history in his mind. “I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because it might put you in danger.”

Anger flickered to life in her face. “You know, I’ve become pretty good at taking care of myself and Charlie.”

He felt his cheeks flush, and he looked at his wet boots.

She waited a moment. “Fine, don’t tell me, I’m not sure I want to know anyway. Say what you need to say. I’ve got to get some sleep.”

He took a deep breath. “Kelly, you need to leave Desert Quest.”

Kelly felt as if she must be dreaming. All the long evenings she’d sat in the secondhand rocking chair, comforting a wailing Charlie. Half the time during those endless nights, she found herself wishing Shane would walk back into her life, and the rest wishing she’d never met him in the first place. Now that he stood there, blond hair dark with moisture, full lips drawn tightly together and the fire in his blue eyes as strong as ever, her feelings flared into the same confused mess she’d experienced those earlier days. She was not sure whether to be furious or concerned.

“You can’t just walk in here and tell me to leave my job. Working for Desert Quest is an incredible opportunity, and it’s going to help me and Charlie buy a place closer to the city where I can find a job to support us both until my sister comes back.”

He shifted. “I know it sounds crazy, but the people here are not who they seem to be.”

“What do you mean?”

He walked to the window and opened one of the curtains to check out the other trailers. No one was watching, at least that he could see, and if anyone was, he was just returning Kelly’s belongings. “It would be better if you just trusted me and left.”

She tried not to gape. “Trusted you? How can you even ask that after you walked out on me?” She fought for calm. “All your professed love evaporated as soon as you got wind of Charlie. The responsibility scared the love right out of you. That’s a guy I’m supposed to trust again?”

“That isn’t why…” He broke off. His voice was low and soft when he answered. “I guess not, but I’m asking you to anyway.”

She bit down on her impatience. “Why? What’s going on here? I’m not leaving, so you might as well tell me.”

“Did Devin Ackerman hire you?”

She shrugged. “He told me his boss, Martin Chenko, did.”

“On Ackerman’s recommendation?”

“I suppose. Devin brought Gleeson into the clinic. I was just subbing there for a girl on maternity leave so it was actually my last week. He liked my work, and I suppose he recommended me to Mr. Chenko.”

“Don’t trust Ackerman, Kelly. You’ve got to get away from him.”

“Why?” Her voice came out louder than she’d intended. Charlie stirred in the bed, and she lowered her volume. “What do you know about him?”

Shane turned determined eyes on her. “He killed Olivia.”

“How…?” She tried again, head still whirling from the shock. “How do you know that?”

“There are lots of reasons which would take too long to give you now. Main point is my brother is in jail awaiting a murder trial for killing his wife, while Ackerman is the real killer.”

“I’m sorry about Todd. I know how much you love him.” The truth finally dawned on her. “So that’s why you entered this race? To wander around pretending to be a racer to somehow find proof that Ackerman is guilty? That’s not much of a plan.”

“I’m going to find a lead to locate Ellen Brown, the woman who provided Ackerman’s alibi. Someone here will know how to find her. Many of these people raced with her last year.”

“Shane, that’s crazy. You’re desperate to help your brother—I get that—I feel the same way about my sister. But this isn’t logical or rational.”

“I’m past rational.” Shane’s faced blazed with emotion. “We mortgaged the ranch and hired the best lawyer we could afford, and you know what? It still looks like Todd is going to be convicted, even though I know he’s innocent.”

“Just because he’s innocent doesn’t make Ackerman guilty.”

Shane shook his head. “I’m not going to get into the details. Please, Kelly. I want you to leave before you get hurt.”

The look he gave her made her feel dizzy, as if she’d just stepped off a merry-go-round. That face that had lit up at the sight of her, the mouth that kissed her with the promise of forever, the mischievous eyes that looked at her now, shimmering with loss and heartbreak. Whether or not Shane was right about Ackerman, he believed wholeheartedly that the man was a killer.

She glanced over at Charlie. He was so small and vulnerable, and he had experienced more pain than a child ever should. She straightened. “I’ve already been hurt worse than I ever imagined, and I’m not leaving.”

Shane was still, as if he was in another place with his thoughts. Then he nodded. “I’ll let you get some sleep now.”

She watched him walk into the darkness, headed for the trailer two spaces away from hers, head bowed against the heavy mist. He didn’t look back at her, and she found herself oddly disappointed.

Follow your own advice, Kelly. Stay away from him, and the whole thing will be over soon enough.

She saw him fish the key out of his pocket. Then he stiffened, head cocked.

Something about the posture made her hold her breath. The weak porch light cast shadows against the trailer as he stood there, key in hand. She watched as he backed quietly away, before she poked her head out of her trailer door.

“What is it, Shane?” she whispered.

He darted a look at her.

“Someone’s in my trailer. Go inside and lock your door.”

Her body grew cold. “What are you going to do?”

He flashed her an almost grin, reminding her of the cocky Shane Mason she used to know. And love.

Then he vanished into the shadows. Kelly followed his advice and shut herself inside, but she opened the curtains and slid the window open. Heart in her throat, she considered calling someone to help Shane, until she remembered that her phone was on the floor of her car, wedged in the canyon. There was no one to call anyway, except Uncle Bill—and he was nearly two hours away.

The air was heavy with the promise of more rain. Droplets of mist danced in the air near the various porch lights, leaving the rest of the area cloaked in darkness, redolent with the scent of wet earth. She strained to make out any sign of Shane. It was quiet, except for the clunk of wet pine needles falling now and again to the metal roof of the trailer.

The situation was nearly preposterous as she considered Shane’s wild allegations against Ackerman and his plan to pose as a racer to sniff out proof. She knew he was grief-stricken, so consumed by worry for his brother that he’d convinced himself Devin was some sort of calculating murderer. Her heart squeezed at the thought of his paranoia. He was not like the Shane she’d known, brash and unafraid of anything.

Except when Charlie had showed up.

Through all the anger and hurt at his abandonment, she could not shake the notion that there was a strange and unaccountable fear inside him. She’d just turned to check on Charlie when a shout cut through the silence. Out in the darkness, she saw a blur of movement. Shane? Someone else? She couldn’t tell.

Another shout brought her out on the front porch and into the night. She ran toward the sound until Shane barreled around the corner. “What happened?”

He was breathing hard and unable to answer when Devin Ackerman jogged up. “What’s going on?” he demanded, hands on his hips. His dark hair was expensively cut, a tiny diamond stud winking in his ear.

Shane straightened. “Someone was in my trailer, going through my stuff.”

Devin blinked. “Who would want to do that?”

They were interrupted by the arrival of Martin Chenko on a golf cart. He pulled to a stop in time to hear Shane’s explanation. He stepped out of the golf cart and smiled broadly, his stocky frame a few inches shorter than Devin’s. Kelly guessed him to be in his early forties, fit and hearty. “What’s going on?” he asked.

Devin explained. “I’m sure it was nothing. Probably someone got disoriented and went into your trailer by mistake.”

Shane fixed Chenko with a dubious look. “The lock was picked. I thought I saw someone running away.”

Chenko’s thick eyebrows shot up. “Now why would anyone want to do that?”

Devin laughed. “When I heard you shouting, I thought someone had set their trailer on fire.” He clapped Shane on the shoulder. “It’s your imagination. You probably left your door unlocked. Too much late-night TV.”

Kelly saw Shane stiffen, but he did not pull away.

“We don’t have any dishonest racers around here, now do we?” Devin asked.

Kelly thought there was a challenge in Devin’s eyes before he turned to her.

“Kelly,” he said, clasping her hands in his, long fingers wrapping around hers. “I’m so glad you’re okay after what you’ve been through today. It’s like a bad movie or something.”

She wanted to pull away, disentangle herself from his grasp. “It turned out okay, thanks to Shane.”

Devin didn’t look at him. “I’m relieved.”

She finally managed to pull her fingers from his when Chenko spoke. “Wouldn’t do to lose our nurse before we even kicked off the race. So glad you’re okay. And the boy, too? Charlie? Is he all right?”

“Perfectly fine, thank the Lord.”

“How did you make it here so fast?” Shane asked Devin.

“I was out for a walk.”

Shane stared at him. “Bad weather for a stroll.”

A flicker of emotion passed across Devin’s face, but the smile never faded. “I’m not afraid of a little water. Lucky you aren’t, either. Lucky for Kelly here, too. We watched your progress via your GPS, but by the time we got close enough to help, you’d done your hero thing.”

Shane shrugged.

Chenko sighed. “It’s chilly out here. How about we all go to my cottage and we’ll have some coffee? I was just looking over the routes again and trying to think of some alternate plans if the rain continues.”

Shane shook his head. “No, thanks.”

Devin turned to Kelly. “We really just want to meet this lovely lady anyway,” he said with a chuckle. “How about it, Ms. Cloudman? Coffee? It’s boring just talking to Chenko, no offense.”

Chenko shook his head in amusement. “I’m a businessman, not an entertainer.”

Kelly felt Shane’s gaze boring into her, though she didn’t meet his eyes. “Thanks very much, but I need to get back to Charlie.”

She walked to her trailer, suddenly feeling a strange anxiety building in her stomach. Increasing her pace, she covered the ground quickly, confusion roiling through her. Shane’s wild accusations, Devin’s overly friendly gestures and her near drowning crowded through her mind, and she felt desperate to cocoon herself in her trailer with Charlie cradled in her arms. Entering quietly, she heaved a sigh of relief.

The horrible night was over. At least she could hold on to that. She breathed a prayer of thanks and eased off the flip-flops Gwen had loaned her, tiptoeing into the tiny bedroom.

Her heart thunked to a painful stop when reality hit home.

Charlie was gone.

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