Chilling Effect (An Aroostine Higgins Novel Book 2) by Melissa F. Miller

Author:Melissa F. Miller [Miller, Melissa F.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2015-06-16T04:00:00+00:00

They crossed the rise and headed west toward the town side by side in silence, conserving their breath and maintaining a good clip. Every minute to ninety seconds, Aroostine glanced up, scanning the sky for a dark shadow. The lack of a drone flying overhead did nothing to alleviate her concern. If anything, the quiet served to ratchet up her anxiety.

“We should head toward the highway,” she said, her panic overtaking her plan to stay out of view.

“Someone might see us.”

“That’s kind of the point. Maybe we could hitch a ride to Boylestown.”

Joe coughed. “You look lovely, don’t get me wrong. But I look like a man who slept in the woods. Would you pick us up?”

She inspected him closely and imagined what she might look like despite his flattery.

“Probably not.”

“Besides, the risk that someone who works for Buckmount is going to drive by and see us is too great. That road’s the main thoroughfare to the casino.”

He was right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they had to get to town. Fast.

He eyed her.

“Did you have another vision?”

“No.”

And the truth was at this point—for the first time in her life—she would have welcomed one. She felt adrift, unsure of how to help the mother and child who counted on her. She increased her pace, almost jogging now, as though she could outrun her worry.

“Hey. Roo, look at me.”

She stopped and turned to face Joe, who’d fallen behind and was now lagging by several paces. But before he could launch into whatever inspirational pep talk he had planned, her eyes slid over him and locked on a set of deep ruts that had been carved into the soft earth.

“Joe, look.”

A wave of irritation rolled across his face, but he followed her gaze and craned his neck to look over his shoulder and off to the left.

“Tire tracks?” He crouched and traced the indent with a finger. “Looks like an ATV. Must have been carrying a heavy load.”

A spark of excitement raced up her spine.

“Maybe we can get a ride, if the driver’s still around.”

“What makes you think they’re still around?”

“Only one set of tracks,” she pointed out. “So, whoever it was didn’t come back this way. We should follow them and see where they go.”

He hesitated.

“Come on,” she urged.

“Wait. A minute ago you were all hopped up to get to the highway and catch a lift to town. Now you want to go off on what’s likely to be a wild goose chase and a huge waste of time? Do you have a plan or not?” his voice shook with anger and betrayal.

She stiffened and prepared to fire back defensively when a flash in the distance caught her eye. As if she’d summoned it, her spirit animal stood on its hind legs about fifty yards away, its feet planted smack in the middle of the tracks. A sign. An unmistakable sign. The only clearer sign would have been if it had worn a placard around its neck with the words “GO THIS WAY” displayed in flashing neon lights.

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