Hidden Witness by Beverly Long

Author:Beverly Long [Long, Beverly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488768965
Google: 6zTCCgAAQBAJ
Amazon: 0373698712
Barnesnoble: 0373698712
Goodreads: 25494227
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Chase had sixteen nails left when he heard the rumble of an engine. He looked down and recognized Lloyd Doogan’s old motorcycle. He was going very fast, and when he turned onto the lane leading up to the house, his back tire slid on the loose gravel.

What the hell? Chase was off the roof and down the ladder in seconds.

“You’ve got to come quick,” Lloyd said. He was wringing his hands.

“What’s wrong, Lloyd?” Chase asked.

“Your wife, that woman, she’s hurt.”

Chase felt his chest tighten up. “Raney?” he said. “Raney is hurt?”

“Yes. On the road.”

Chase dropped his nail gun. In two strides he reached Lloyd’s motorcycle. “We’re taking this and I’m driving.”

Less than five minutes later, he’d have known he was close even if Lloyd hadn’t been yanking on his arm. There were three vehicles alongside the road, none of them his SUV, and all empty. He jammed on the brakes, got the bike stopped and was across the road in seconds.

It was a steep ravine and about fifteen feet down, his SUV was wheels up, resting on its driver’s side. Four people, none that he recognized, were standing near the vehicle. One woman was squatting and it looked as if she was trying to talk to Raney.

Who was still inside. Slumped over the steering wheel.

Please let her be alive. Please. Please.

He half slid down the rocky, weed-covered slope. He heard sirens coming closer but he wasn’t waiting. He squatted next to the woman and knocked gently on the window. “Raney,” he said.

“She’s unconscious,” said the woman.

“Raney, sweetheart,” he said.

She opened her eyes, turned her head and gave him a weak smile.

“I guess she was just waiting for you,” the woman said, awe in her voice.

Chase ignored the comment. He looked Raney in the eye. “Hang on,” he said. “Just hang on. Help is coming. We’re going to get this back on its wheels and get you out of there.”

Her eyelids fluttered shut.

Chase pounded his hand on the frame of the SUV. “Stay with me, Raney. Stay with me.”

He turned and saw four men in matching coats. Volunteer firefighters. He recognized one of them. Hank Beaumont had been their senior class president. He was pretty sure the man knew him, too, but fortunately, he wasn’t interested in chatting it up. He was all business, his eyes focused on Raney.

“One person in the vehicle?”

“Yes,” Chase said.

“Do we know the extent of her injuries?”

“No. Listen, we need to get this vehicle righted and get her out of there.”

“Step back,” Hank ordered.

Chase didn’t move. “I’m a cop. St. Louis PD.”

The man’s eyes softened. “I know. I heard you were back in town, Chase. That was my mother-in-law who was behind you checking out at the grocery store. I’m guessing this is your wife, and I’m sorry about that, but it also means that you’re not acting in any official capacity. So stand back and let us do our job.”

Chase moved and shoved his hands in his pockets. Lloyd came up and stood next to him.

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