Midnight Hero - By Diana Duncan Page 0,82

Bailey completely understood that compulsion. She would not hesitate to give her life to keep him safe.

In fact, she might be about to do just that.

She took several deep breaths, filling her lungs, oxygenating her muscles. Her timing had to be impeccable, her execution flawless. She wasn’t stupid enough to embark on a suicide mission. She could and would make it. For Con. For their future.

She watched Mr. No Neck execute another methodical patrol, and stretched her weary muscles. Prepared for the scariest race of her life. Sweat slicked her palms and her nerves jittered. Too bad she didn’t dare return for the pack, a weapon might come in handy later. No time, though. She couldn’t risk leading the robber to Con. And the extra weight would just slow her down anyway.

The robber started his third sweep, and she swallowed hard. Ready or not. Ollie, ollie oxen free. The ludicrous phrase from a childhood game of hide-and-seek popped into her head. Except this was no game. This was a race to the finish, in every sense of the word.

Balanced on the balls of her feet, Bailey took another deep breath, and hit the exit running full out. Irresistible bait. Catch me if you can. Unless he was blind, deaf and comatose, No Neck couldn’t fail to see her.

He didn’t disappoint.

He tore after her, a bull charging the red flag. Her arms and legs pumping, she dashed down the mall. Having raced up and down this stinking hallway fifty times tonight, she knew every inch.

She hurtled past deserted stores, flashes of dimness breaking the pervasive gloom. Her pursuer lagged behind. She didn’t stand a chance going head to head with him in a fight. But in a long-distance run, a greyhound would leave a bull in the dust.

Supercharged by adrenaline, she ran. Her plan was to lure the robber into the tree wreckage. With him entangled in debris, she’d follow the maze she’d cleared to wheel Con out. Then she’d circle the escalators, double back and head for the bank end of the mall. Once she got far enough ahead, she could veer into a store.

If No Neck didn’t see where she went, he’d have the devil’s own time finding her. The hunt would keep him busy—and away from Con—until she radioed SWAT. They’d send in the cavalry, and everyone could finally get the hell out of here and go home. It was a good plan. Not bad for a bookstore clerk.

The escalators lurched into view. Her mistake with Glacier Eyes had taught her not to look back, no matter how tempting. Her pursuer’s harsh panting echoed through the corridor about thirty feet behind. She leapt over the first hurdle and rushed headlong into the wreckage. Several moments later, crashing sounded behind her. So far, so good.

She located the path and zigzagged through the ruins. Thrashing and inventive swearing from No Neck—right on schedule. Clearing the carnage, she vaulted the last barrier. The robber tried to bulldoze out of the epicenter, with no luck.

A fierce grin creased her face. Greyhound, one…bull, zero. Now, circle back, and then get the heck outta Dodge. She tore around the bank of immobile escalators. Her pursuer was out of sight, which meant he couldn’t see her either.

Keeping her eyes on the corridor ahead, she instinctively skirted the mounded batting. The last leg of the marathon loomed in front of her. One long, last dash for freedom. For Con. Her blood pumped hot with resolve. With victory.

Something snagged her right ankle. She stumbled, flailed and tried to extricate her foot. For a moment, she teetered in midair. Then gravity caught hold and slammed her to the floor.

She lay stunned, trying to find her bearings. Up. She had to get up. Panting, she pushed to her hands and knees.

And came nose to nose with Glacier Eyes’ malevolent face.

“What goes around comes around, Fairy,” he gritted. He waved a tree branch he’d used to trip her. “Not so smart now, are you?”

She didn’t have time for a war of wits with the weaponless. She shoved to her feet and started running.

“Gotcha!” No Neck growled, and she was jerked backward by the hair.

She yelped as the whiplash snapped her neck back.

“Good going, Jace,” No Neck gloated.

“I owed the bitch one.” Glacier Eyes…she couldn’t think of him as anything else…smiled his nasty smile.

No Neck smirked. “If she hadn’t covered you up all nice and cozy and left the packages laying around, I would never have known which store to search.”

Bailey