corner behind the stalls. Well, well, well. Want to bet that belonged to Lucy Shade? Which begged the question: where was that maniac?
Maddie hid the heavy tire iron in the hay now that she had a killer knife and a loaded pistol. Stepping lightly and quickly toward the limo, she second-guessed herself all the way, wondering if stabbing all those tires had been a smart idea. The men inside the house needed to see just the burning barn when they ran out and investigated the fire. She expected they’d all vacate the house, because that was what people did when someone yelled fire. It’d give her the time she needed to sneak back inside and break Jameson out.
But even if she made it all the way back inside the farmhouse and to Jameson, there was no guarantee she could get him out alive. And if even a single one of those men noticed the flat tires first… If someone stayed inside the house instead of running toward the fire…? Good grief. Actual covert operations were scary, dangerous things.
Finally at the limo, Maddie licked her lips at all the ways rescuing Jameson could go wrong. But she was determined. That counted for something, didn’t it?
Biting her lower lip, she smoothed her fingertips over the sleek hood on her way to the driver’s door handle. So far, so good. The door opened without setting off an alarm. Which she hadn’t remembered until she’d sprung the latch, and by then, it would’ve been too late.
Focus, Maddie! Settle down. You can do this. Save Jameson. Save the day.
She leaned one knee on the driver’s seat, weighing her options. Darn, this was a long vehicle, but she knew she could drive it. A key fob with no keys lay on the center console. Well, that was stupid. Decision made.
Thinking like a real covert operator now—she wished—she climbed in and fastened her seatbelt securely. Then, with her eyes closed, she risked everything and pressed her index finger to the button that relied on the low-frequency signal coming from the fob to start the engine. It purred to life. Oh, my gosh, without any of the noises her much cheaper, economy car made.
She opened her eyes and blew out a low, congratulatory breath of ‘I did it!’ This time, she made sure the headlights didn’t come on. Parking lights, either. But by then, she’d also thought twice about leaving the tire iron behind. Sometimes, more really was just that, and what woman didn’t need a heavy-duty weapon when face to face with ruthless killers?
Braking to a slow, soundless stop at the barn door, she put the car in park, unfastened her seatbelt, and quickly retraced her steps. She’d been smart not throwing the tire iron willy-nilly. It was out of sight and under the hay, but it had to be close by. She’d just delved both arms up to her elbows into the dusty pile when—a great big hand grabbed her ankle. Good Grief! Maddie scurried backward, but she was caught.
“Let me go!” she nearly screamed, she was so scared.
Whoever he was, the guy held on tight. His hand was so big that it shackled her entire ankle, making getaway impossible. And it was black. Dark, dark black. Like ink. And big. But his voice was weak when he asked for, “H-h-help.”
“Who are you? One of those k-k-killers?” There was no way she’d help one of Pops Delaney’s men.
“Vlad...” he groaned.
“What are you doing out here?” She truly wished her voice would stop quavering.
“Shot. She… she shot me,” he wheezed.
“Who? Lucy Shade?”
“Yeah. She’s insane.”
Maddie sucked up her courage and crawled back to the man under the hay. She brushed it off his long arm, then off his shoulder and face. He was a big African American with a funny name for a Black guy. But the gooey, bloody hole in his side, under that long arm in the sleeve of a dirty white dress shirt, was telling. Maddie knew what to do. Back when she’d been homeless, she’d been smart enough to duck into an American Red Cross class in emergency first-aid. She’d been hungry and cold that wintry evening, and she’d only gone in because she’d heard on the street they served hot coffee and donuts after class, and the class was free.
Despite the fact she hadn’t showered in days and her clothes were wrinkled and dirty, and she had no doubt she’d smelled, she’d learned a lot that night. She’d even made a couple friends