Smoky Mountain Investigation by Annslee Urban

Author:Annslee Urban [Annslee Urban]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Nick flew into the lot, tires squealing against the asphalt. Slamming on the brakes, he parked and jumped out of Kylie’s car, still on the phone with a 911 operator. “Ma’am, Kylie Harper already called, but I just want to reiterate that she’s in the basement of the Asheville Daily News building and the police need get over here now!”

Racing across the parking lot, he glanced right, then left, his gaze sweeping along the length of the brick building like a searchlight. Where was that door?

Toward the east side of the property, the land began to veer off, the slope becoming steep. Frustration rising, he stopped, assessed the scene, made a decision. He headed into a thick stretch of forest. He elbowed past bushes and fir trees as twigs and underbrush snapped beneath his boots, and made his way to the back of the building.

In his mind’s eye Kylie’s face appeared. He mentally kicked himself for being late. Once again, he’d let her down. Like he had Conrad.

He’d been dropped into the heaviest war zones in the world. He’d saved lives, made a difference. Home in Asheville, he was nothing more than a hazard.

Gnashing his teeth, Nick forced his brain off that track. No time for self-pity.

Through the trees he spotted a small parking lot and beyond that the building’s loading dock, with several large metal overhead doors. Was that what Kylie had been talking about?

His question was answered as he broke into the clearing and caught a glimpse of the security door lost in the afternoon shadows.

He lengthened his stride, making for the door.

* * *

At the sound of keys jingling, Kylie shot to her feet. The lock rattled. Her nerves were back on alert.

This man had to be someone who worked for the paper. One of her colleagues.

A second passed; the doorknob twisted and creaked.

Heart in her throat, she threw her weight against the file cabinet as the heavy door cracked open, meeting resistance.

“Kylie, sweet Kylie, you are making this difficult.”

No kidding. Pressing a shoulder to the cabinet, she strained, pushing with all her might as the man on the other side of the door used his strength to push against her.

For several long moments the reverse tug-of-war continued. As she made a desperate attempt to hold her ground, the heel of her shoe caught on a crack in the concrete floor. Her foot slipped and she thudded onto her hands and knees. Reacting fast and breathing hard, Kylie regained her footing, but not before the cabinet slid into the room several inches.

A distorted chuckle filled the air. Her heart leaped and she gulped for air.

With adrenaline spurring her on, she braced herself, threw her weight against the cabinet again and pushed harder.

* * *

At the back entrance to the building, Nick yanked on the metal knob once and when the security door didn’t budge, he switched gears. He’d broken into more secure buildings than this, although not without the help of explosives. Still, he knew what he had to do.

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