Page 49

Fiona continued to pray as gunfire reverberated around them. She almost screamed when Doc slammed on the brake, spun their rental car around, then hit the gas to surge forward again. The seatbelt had tightened painfully across her chest in her bent position. She strained to listen, but it was hard to hear over the gunfire and roaring in her ears.

There was no indication their vehicle had been hit, although Doc would be in a better position to know that than she was.

Several minutes ticked by before she dared to lift her head. Turning to look behind them, she expected to see the black SUV closing in. She blew out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding when she saw the road was empty behind them.

For now. But she still couldn’t believe the gunmen had shown up at the rental property in the first place.

Why was this happening?

She rubbed the spot on her chest where the seat belt had cut into her. Better a bruise than to be dead.

“We’ll be okay,” Doc said, reading her thoughts. He dug his phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “Call Rex, let him know the rental property is a no-go. I don’t want him heading up the driveway if the gunmen are still there.”

She quickly called the only number displayed on the phone screen. As she waited for Rex to pick up, she grimly realized this nightmare would never end. She was still stunned at the realization the rental house hadn’t been safe.

And since it obviously wasn’t, there was no place they could use as a refuge.

“Hey, Doc, I’m fifteen minutes out,” Rex said in lieu of a greeting.

“This is Fiona.” Her voice sounded shaky and weak. She cleared her throat and pressed on. “The gunmen found us at the rental property. We escaped by crashing through the garage door, but I’m not sure where we’re headed.”

“What? You crashed through the garage door?” Rex sounded impressed. Under different circumstances, that would have made her smile.

“I’m not sure how we managed to escape either,” Doc drawled. “Tell Rex we need a meeting point.”

“How did the gunmen find you?” Rex demanded.

“I don’t know,” she answered Rex, then added, “Doc wants a meeting place to discuss our next steps. Any ideas?”

Rex was silent as he thought about their situation. Fiona tried not to panic at not having a plan of action. So far, nothing had worked.

Nothing!

When Rex remained silent, she wondered if he was regretting his impulse to drive down to meet with them.

“Maybe you should drop me off at a police station.” Fiona spoke to Rex and Doc at the same time, feeling the need to give both men a way out. “This is my problem, not yours. I’m the one who is in danger and can’t remember why. Other than it’s likely related to the horse race Fiona’s Folly just won. I think it’s time we let the Lexington police know what’s been going on, let them take things from here.”

“Not yet. Maybe if your memory returns that will be a viable option.” Doc held out his hand for the phone. “Let me talk to Rex.”

She passed him the phone and turned again to scan the road behind them. Doc had stayed on rural roads, but they’d have to get back to the highway sooner or later.

“Yeah, I remember where that is,” Doc said in response to whatever Rex was telling him. “Twenty minutes works for me. We’ll meet you there.”

Twenty minutes would put them more than halfway to Lexington. She turned toward Doc. “Where are we meeting Rex?”

“There’s a restaurant open twenty-four seven.” Doc tucked his phone away. “That’s our meeting point. From there, we’ll take Rex’s car.”

“And go where?”

“I don’t know.” Doc sighed. “Honestly, we’ll probably have to drive somewhere secluded and sleep in the car for a while before we head out either to the river or your father’s farm. Probably the latter.”

Sleeping in the car did not sound comfortable, especially for three people, but she didn’t voice her concern. What choice did they have anyway? Safety had eluded them for so long now she knew it would never return. Not until this nightmare was over.

Pressing her fingers on her temples, she wished more than anything that her memory would return. Even if that meant remembering something terrible that her father had done. A wave of exhaustion hit hard, the few hours of sleep she’d gotten was not nearly enough to make her feel normal. And she was sick and tired of running from gunmen. If her father was responsible, then he ought to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

She deserved to be safe, didn’t she? That didn’t seem too much to ask.

Tears pricked her eyes, and she quickly swiped them away. Crying wouldn’t solve anything. She needed to remember.