Cold Case Double Cross by Jessica R. Patch

Author:Jessica R. Patch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-06-13T16:52:02+00:00

EIGHT

Mae had the upper hand. Whoever was in her bedroom didn’t know she was awake yet. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

Adrenaline pumped. She pretended to mumble in her sleep and shift, removing covers from hindering her surprise attack. Cracking an eye open, she saw the figure in black slowly approach. She swallowed and prayed for strength then sprang from the bed, hollering and charging the intruder.

She knocked the solid figure into the rocking ottoman. The attacker tripped and toppled backward. Mae didn’t have time to cross back to the nightstand and grab her gun or phone. Instead, she darted toward the kitchen and the closest door to exit the house. The intruder was hot on her trail. She grabbed a lamp and tossed it behind her, not sure if she hit her mark, but a low grunt said she did.

As she entered the kitchen the intruder grabbed the back of her hair and yanked her toward him. It felt like fire burning through her scalp and she shrieked as she fell onto the floor. Gloved hands wrapped around her throat and squeezed. It was dark and she could barely see the intruder’s eyes from the ski mask. Were they light? Dark?

Mae grabbed at the hands, then reached up and went for the eyes. The attacker must have anticipated her self-defense move and reared back, releasing some pressure from Mae’s throat. She bucked and threw him off balance then grabbed the leg of the kitchen chair and swung it as hard as she could into the attacker. That released her completely from his grip and she scrambled to her feet and aimed toward the back door. She unlocked it with fumbling fingers and hustled into the backyard.

She zipped around the side of the house and noticed the garden hose rolled up on the stand. She yanked it and pulled it with her along the yard. Her pursuer was right behind her.

Mae tugged on the hose and heard a groan as the attacker tripped over it and crashed to the ground. Too far to double back and subdue the attacker—he’d be to his feet before she could make it and his solid mass outweighed her. Her best choice was to sprint across the street to Mr. Tuckett’s home and call for help.

As she stormed out of the driveway into the street, headlights popped on and a car door opened. “Mae!”

Cash? “Cash!”

She ran straight for him. “Behind me! He’s behind me! I don’t have my gun.”

Cash drew his SIG Sauer and ran toward the side of the house, only a fraction of a limp in his gait. Mae had no weapon so she waited while frantically pacing beside the mailbox.

What was Cash doing here?

She braced as a figure rounded the house. Only Cash. He jogged to the car. “He’s in the wind. I made a pass through the neighbors’ yards. What happened?”

She told him.

He smirked. “Smart thinking making a play for him before he attacked you in the bed.” His glance moved down her torso and legs and back up, meeting her eyes.

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