Authors: Wendy Davy
Nick walked into the station, pulling the door shut against the harsh winds and removing his hat. The emergency lights had activated, telling him the station had lost its power. Helen stood behind her desk wringing her hands. Deputy Owen stepped out of the back hallway with soggy clothes, wet hair and a deep crease edged in his brow.
Nick’s gut clenched. He didn’t see Cali. He paused in the entrance. “Where is she?”
Owen said, “I went to your cottage…”
“And?” Nick’s impatient voice betrayed his growing anxiety.
“And I couldn’t find her.”
“Did you go inside? I told her to wait there.”
“Of course. She wasn’t there. But, her car was. It was floating in the surf. I checked inside it, just in case.” His voice lowered. “It was empty.”
Nick pulled out his cell phone, dialed Cali’s number and listened to the voice mail pick up. Her phone was turned off. Why would she turn off her cell phone? He looked at Owen. “Did you call out to her?”
“I used the spare key you told me about before. I searched the whole place, including your level. She was gone, Sheriff.”
Nick’s heart plummeted. Fear gripped him. But instead of immobilizing him, his protective instincts kicked in. He reached for his hat, ready to go and search.
“Sheriff, I know you’re not heading back out into the storm,” Helen’s southern drawl held a warning to it.
“I have to find her,” he said with conviction.
Helen paused, and then gave a reluctant nod. Owen took a step forward.
“You stay here.” Nick held out a hand. “Call me if Cali shows up.”
Nick drove as fast as the conditions allowed. Trees bent and swayed with the high winds. Several cracked branches dangled precariously over the roadway, while others had completely fallen, stretching across the pavement.
He prayed he would be able to weave through the destruction to the cottage, and he prayed he would discover a clue as to where Cali had gone. There was a chance she hadn’t heard Deputy Owen calling. A slight chance, but still a chance, and as long as there was hope, he refused to give up.
As Nick continued to drive, he strained to see through the thick downpour of rain. He passed by another vehicle, dodging broken limbs and road signs. He wanted to stop and force the driver to seek shelter, but could not afford to take the time. Everyone had been warned, an evacuation had been ordered. He could not control what people did, no matter how reckless.
He jumped when something slammed into his truck. He glanced through the side mirror. A beach chair was pinned against the door by the wind. A moment later, the red trimmed chair bounced to the road then tumbled into a storefront, crashing through an unprotected window.
Nick prayed no one was inside.
It took him three times longer than usual to drive to the cottage. He had to detour around a flooded section of the roadway, and avoid several fallen trees. At one point, he drove over a battered stop sign, which had crashed to the ground. When he finally caught sight of his home, fear lodged in his throat and dread filled his heart.
Several feet of roaring surf had engulfed his carport. Waves crashed into the stilts, battering the cottage’s foundation. He parked the truck at a safe distance and stepped out. He cringed as the cottage groaned from the storm’s relentless assault.
“Stay with me, baby,” he whispered, speaking both to the cottage and to Cali.
He removed his pistol from his ankle holster, his wallet from his pocket and deposited them in the truck. Ducking, he headed for the devastating waves, preparing to combat the force of the rising tide.
****
Cali fought hard to control her breathing. She fumbled with the neckline on the T-shirt she wore, hoping to disguise her racing pulse. As Nick had pointed out, the soft spot at the base of her neck gave away her hidden emotions.
She itched to get out of the lime-scented material. The moment she had begun to suspect Chad, the soft cotton had turned abrasive against her skin. She wished she could take it off, but it would appear suspicious.
Trey stood next to her, taller than she remembered. His biceps strained against his short sleeves as he crossed his arms and studied her. “You seem interested in how things work around here. Why is that?”
She shrugged, pretending indifference. “It comes with being a reporter.” Could Trey have Serena locked away somewhere? Her suspicions grew with each passing moment, making her leery of every move he made.
Chad’s footsteps sounded behind her. “I’m heading out. I’ll give you a lift if you want.”
Trey spoke quickly, “I’m on my way out, too. I’ll give you a ride.” He stepped closer, his gaze flickering over her.
Cali looked between the two, wondering if she could make a right choice. Maybe they were both involved.
Chad lifted his shoulders. “It’s up to you, Cali.”
She studied the two men. Neither appeared anxious or foreboding. Neither looked like a serial rapist. She began to wonder if she had overreacted. But, she still didn’t want to go anywhere with either of them. “I don’t want to be any trouble. I’ll call Sheriff Justice. He’ll pick me up.”
Trey glanced at his watch. “I’d better get going then. I’ll see you around.” He nodded at Chad then looked at Cali. “Be careful out there.” He picked up his raingear and headed out the door, leaving Cali alone with Chad.
Indecision immobilized her. Should she catch up with Trey? What if he was the stalker? What about Chad? What if neither of them was to blame?
“I’ll drop you off anywhere you want.”
“I’m sure Nick can come and get me.” She reached for her purse.
Chad stepped forward. “No need. I’m heading past the sheriff’s station anyway. I could have you there in a few minutes. It’s no trouble.”
Cali studied Chad’s guileless expression. Maybe she had overreacted. “You don’t mind?”
“Not at all. I’ll grab my things and we’ll get going.”
Cali swung her purse over her shoulder, picked up the wet shirt she had draped over a chair, and waited. When he had gathered his things he headed for the door, and she followed.
“Let me pull the truck close to the door for you so you won’t have to get drenched again.” He ran into the storm, bending low against the harsh winds.
Chad wasn’t behaving like a criminal. Cali began to feel foolish at her assumptions. A moment later, he pulled a dark-green Jeep Cherokee close to the door, opening the passenger side for her. Cali ran through the torrential rain. She climbed in, grateful he had driven so close. “Thanks.”
“No problem. I’ll lock up and we’ll get going.” He climbed out, leaving the engine running.
The lime scent assaulted her again, causing her doubts to return. For a split second, she considered locking Chad out and taking his Jeep. Then common sense made her hesitate. What would she tell Nick? She had become anxious and committed grand theft auto? Not wanting to become a felon, she tried to calm her jittery nerves and took deep, calming breaths.
Cali glanced around the interior. Dust covered the dashboard and air vents. A bottle of lotion sat in the floorboard along with a few discarded fast food containers.
Chad slammed back into the jeep in a hurry, bringing a splattering of rain with him. He ran a hand through his wet hair. “Whew. It’s getting bad out there.”
“Yes it is. I’m sure Nick’s getting worried about where we are. I should call him.” She unzipped her purse.
“Why do you keep mentioning Nick? He’s not here. He’s not the one who saved you,” Chad’s voice had a new edge to it. He shifted his hands on the wheel and pulled out onto the road.
Cali’s hand stilled as she swallowed a lump forming in her throat. “He would’ve come, but he was too far away. That’s why he called you to come for me.”
A tight smile formed at the edge of his lips. “I never said he called me.”
Cali’s suspicions deepened and a chill ran down her spine. “But he said he’d send someone…”
“Well.” Chad sighed as he turned down a debris-filled road. He took his time answering as he maneuvered around a large tree branch, which had broken and filled half of the roadway. Once past the obstacle, he pressed the gas pedal. “I came for you. But not because of him.”
The hair on the back of Cali’s neck stood on end. “How did you know I needed help?” She tried to sound calm and unaware.
“I didn’t.”
Her vision narrowed as shock stole her breath. “But then, w-why did you come?”
His kept his head facing forward, but his gaze slid to her. “I came for you Cali.” His voice lowered, taking her fear to a new level.
“How did you know where to find me? I only met you once.” She had to ask, although terrified of the answer.
He sighed. “You have too many questions. Relax, Cali. We’re going to have plenty of time to get to know each other.”
She ignored his strange comment, distracted by the left turn he made. “You’re going the wrong way. The sheriff’s station is east of here.”
“We won’t be going there.”
Her eyes widened. Her pulse raced. She had to get out. Now.
God, grant me courage...
She released her seatbelt and attacked the lock on the door, flipping it as fast as she could. She jerked the door handle and shoved the door open. The pavement went by in a blur, and she braced herself for impact. Chad’s hand gripped her arm. Desperation filled her. She pulled against him, ignoring the pain streaking through her flesh.
He slowed the Jeep to a stop. “Don’t you want to see your friend again, Cali?”
Shock paralyzed her.
The strength of the wind ripped the door handle from her grasp, forcing it to open wide. Sharp pain struck her fingers, instantly numbing them and rendering them useless. Rain assaulted her, and wind-blown sand blasted her face, her eyes and ears. Cali turned to shield herself from the onslaught, and came face to face with Chad. He leaned over her, reaching for the door. The lime scent he carried with him sickened her. His large biceps strained against the forces of nature, but he managed to shut the door in one sweeping movement.
He remained close, leaning across her. The raging storm threatened from the outside, and Chad’s presence threatened from within. The Jeep shifted with a gust of wind, and then rocked back into place. An electrical transformer blew, sending sparks flying into the air. Cali turned just in time to see a thick, black power line disengage and slice through the air like an uncontrolled whip. It landed a few feet from the Jeep, sparking and hissing as it touched the flooded street. Cali instinctively drew away from the door, afraid to touch anything metal in the car.
Chad remained unaffected by the incident. He inched back, his eyes sliding down the length of her. Assessing. Gauging. But, with no real interest. What his gaze did reveal terrified her. Darkness swelled to the surface, cloaking his once-friendly green eyes with violent intent.
Given the choice, Cali would rather take her chances outside in the hurricane than remain stuck inside the Jeep with Chad. But, any further escape attempts must be delayed. The downed power line made any immediate attempts potentially deadly. She would have to look for another avenue of escape.
Chad straightened in his seat. “Now that I have your attention, I know you’ll cooperate.”
“Where is Serena?”
“You don’t need to worry about her.”
“Is she OK? Did you hurt her?”
“This isn’t about her anymore. It’s about you and me.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Serena hasn’t seen my face. None of them have.” He pulled his shoulders back, puffing out his chest as if proud of his accomplishment as he resumed driving.
“I’ve seen you…” Cali’s words trailed off, and she wished she hadn’t pointed out the fact.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“W-why?”
“Because I intend to keep you.” The muscles in his arms flexed as he spun the steering wheel, avoiding another fallen obstacle.
An intense fear clawed its way up through her chest, tightened it, making it hard to breathe. “Why me?”
“You’re special.”
Cali’s stomach dropped and nausea rolled through her. “Nick will find me.”
Without warning, he grabbed her hair and jerked her toward him. Pain erupted, and she felt as if he had yanked a wad of hair from her scalp. His gaze seared into hers. “Not if he thinks you’re dead.”
“You won’t get away. He’ll track you down. He’ll hunt you.” She held her eyes steady on his, refusing to give in to the terror.
His narrowed eyes bore down on her. “You have too much faith in him.”
Nick’s words rushed back. We have limits. God doesn’t. “You’re wrong. I do trust Nick, but I put my faith in God.”
“How nice for you. But, you’re in my hands now Cali.” He gave her hair a tug, exemplifying his point.
She wished Chad would stop using her name. Every time he did, a new wave of shivers ran down her arms. “No. I’m always in God’s hands.”
“We’ll see if you still think so in a few days.” He released his hold on her hair, putting his hand back on the steering wheel. She inched away, rubbing her scalp in an effort to ease the pain.
“You left Serena’s necklace in my motel room,” she said. “Why didn’t you take me then?”
“I needed to prepare for you.”
“Prepare?”
“I needed time to get rid of Serena and Marlene first. To make room.”
Her blood ran cold. “Get rid of?”
“That’s right.”
“Where did you take them?”
“Take a guess. I’m the High Tide Stalker, remember?”
Cali trembled. “A-are they…alive?”
“I’m growing tired of your questions.” His gaze narrowed, and his knuckles turned white against the wheel.
Afraid to provoke him further, she fell into silence.
A few minutes passed as Chad concentrated on weaving his way through the streets. Cali tried to note the turns, and any other recognizable places. They passed through residential neighborhoods where the wind had battered roofs, pulling shingles free and tearing eaves apart. A few streetlights still glowed several blocks down, but only blackout conditions prevailed in the direction they headed.
The darkness, combined with the blustery wind and driving rain, made it nearly impossible to make out any street names. She caught a few letters here and there, but nothing that fully described their location. He took so many turns, Cali wondered if he was trying to confuse her.