One in a Million by Janet Dailey

Author:Janet Dailey [Dailey, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2023-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Driven by panic, Jasmine stumbled over the uneven ground. One of her boots had lost its heel, and she was nursing a painful stitch in her side. But to stop, even long enough to catch her breath, would raise the odds of her being caught, charged, and sent to prison. She hadn’t just been dragged into this mess. She’d been the guide—a key player who could be named and identified.

Behind her, the fire, started by the fallen torch, was blazing six feet high as it burned its way toward the animal pens. Someone had called the fire crew. They were moving in with hoses and shovels.

The four-wheelers, which would have been trailered to the site, were roaring across the bumpy landscape, their headlights bobbing in the dark. Other troopers had joined the chase on foot. Jasmine glimpsed one runner being cut off and forced to his knees. There would be others, any one of whom could identify her by name.

A rabbit—white, one of Charlie’s—streaked across her path. An animal like that one, its color standing out against the landscape, wouldn’t last long out here before being caught by an eagle or coyote. Jasmine felt the same about her own chances. It was only a matter of time.

Thirty yards ahead and to her right, a dense thicket of mesquite made a dark smudge against the pale ground. If she could reach it, she could belly crawl under and hide in its deep shadow. There could be snakes in there, and the thorns would rip her skin and clothes, but she would have to take her chances. Anything would be better than going to prison.

Turning toward it, she twisted her ankle. The pain brought tears to her eyes with every step, but she forced herself to keep moving. The headlights were gaining on her. Had she already been spotted?

She had nearly reached the mesquite thicket when a tall figure came at her from out of nowhere, pinioning her arms to her sides. She fought and thrashed, but his grip was too strong for her.

“It’s all right, Jasmine. I’ve got you.”

Her legs went limp as she recognized the deep voice that spoke in her ear. It was Sam—here to save her. But he was making no effort to hide or run. What was going on?

“Act like you’ve been caught,” he muttered. “That’s the only way we’re getting you out of here.”

Jasmine understood. She thrashed and cursed as he pulled her hands behind her back, clapped the cuffs around her wrists, and turned her roughly around in the opposite direction. “Now march. The Jeep’s outside the main gate. We’ve got a score to settle, you and me, lady!”

Was he putting on a show, or did he mean what he’d said? Sam had warned her about getting involved with these people. She’d ignored his advice. If he was furious with her, she could hardly blame him.

Biting back a whimper with every step, she let Sam propel her back up the slope. Now she could see the damage to the game complex.

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