Chapter Fifteen

She clutched the steering wheel with both hands, knuckles white as she fought for control. The car hit a pothole and bounced. It slammed her against the door. She choked back a curse and pressed harder on the gas pedal. The rotting wooden bridge creaked under the car's weight as she crept across it, gunning the engine once she was clear.

A sudden bend made her gasp, stamping on the brakes as she tried to keep the car on the narrow track. It slid sideways, rear bumper smashing into a tree before the car shuddered to a stop across the road.

For a long second, she didn't move, eyes wide as she stared at the huge tree inches from her face. That would have killed me if I'd hit it, she thought. Harsh breath tore through her as she shakily turned the ignition key. The engine grumbled. She closed her eyes, twisting the key again. This time, the engine caught. She put it into drive, moving off carefully.

Dust rose behind her as she followed the rutted track. Grass and small trees grew in the middle of it, signs that it didn't get used very often. The roar crept slowly higher, peaking in a small rise.

She stopped to check the cell phone for a signal.

"Shit!" she cursed, throwing the phone back on to the passenger seat as she saw only a red cross.

The trees seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on her like a dense green blanket. A big black bird took off from the woods next to her in a flap of noise and motion. It made her jump, jerking the car halfway across the track before she got her nerves back under control.

A stone bounced against the side window. It scraped against the glass like a witch's fingernails. Tears raced down her face. She barely noticed them. The taste of blood filled her mouth as she bit her lip.

Come on! I don't have much time! she thought, and felt like screaming the words as the road twisted back on itself, crawling deeper into the woods. Branches brushed against the sides of the car. She looked forward, spotting a few that were already broken.

"This has to be the right way," she said aloud, "I'm going to find the main road soon and get help."

Her stomach twisted sickly as she thought of the feel of the gun in her hand as she fired the bullet. She closed her eyes for a second, shaking her head. "Don't think about that now. Just get help!"

A sharp dip gave her hope. She drove down the hill slowly, memories of sliding across the trunk going up it flooding back. The distant sound of music tickled her ears. "I have to be near the road. That must be someone's car," she said, too worried to care that she was having a conversation with herself.

The road levelled out again, stretching in front of her in a straight line. Carefully, she sped up, leaning forward to see better. A sliver of black and yellow against the woods made her eyes widen. The track turned slightly, meeting the main road at an angle.

She stopped just off it, picking the cell phone up off the passenger seat. The reception bars flickered between two and one. She dialled anyway, pressing the phone tightly to her ear as she waited for it to connect.

"Nine-one-one, what's your emergency?"

Static crackled across the connection. "I need help... I sho... there was someone shot."

"Miss, I need you to calm down. Where are you, and what do you need?" The dispatcher asked.

Hope sucked in a deep breath. "I need an ambulance. A woman has been shot. There's a Marshal called Raylan Givens with her. We were kidnapped. The police chief is in on it." Her voice shook. She tightened her hand on the wheel.

The sound of an approaching car made her look up, eyes widening in horror as she saw what was coming. She slammed her elbow down on the door locks, watching as the man approached. The car engine spluttered weakly as she put her foot on the gas.

"Miss, I need your location."

"I don't know it!" she cried. "It's all just woods!"

Glass shattered over her as the chief used the butt of his gun to smash the window. She fought him, clawing at his hands as he tried to take the phone from her. "Help me! Oh, God, he's going to kill me!"

The chief slammed his fist into her cheek, dazing her. The phone fell from her hand.

He lifted it to his ear. "Hi, this is chief Nick Oakley. I'll deal with this. The girl is clearly out of her mind on drugs, and there's liquor on the seat next to her."

He ended the call, turning the phone off. Glass tore at his skin as he reached through the shattered window to open the locks. She scrambled away from him as he reached for her. His hand closed on her hair, pulling her back.

"I'm going to kill you for this, you little bitch!" he screamed, and reached for his gun.

She slammed the door into him with all of her strength, knocking him off his feet. The gun landed on the road and slid under the car. She didn't wait to see what he'd do, but took off running for the patrol car he'd been driving.

A sharp pop made her jump. The bullet missed her body, burying itself in a tree inches to her left. She yanked the door open, almost falling into the car. The keys dangled from the ignition. Shaking, she twisted them, starting the engine.

The back windscreen shattered as a bullet passed through it. She screamed as the projectile tore across her shoulder before punching out the front windscreen. Blood poured down her arm.

She set her teeth and kept driving, know it was her only chance to get help. The chief's phone beeped, drawing her attention. She reached for it, dialling information with clumsy hands. "I need to speak to the person in charge of the marshals in Kentucky..."

A beat of dead silence echoed down the line. "Miss, if you need help, I can put you through to the local police or nine-one-one," the operator said uncertainly.

"I can't trust them. Just connect me!" Hope snapped. "Please. I really need their help!"

"Okay then," the operator said. "One moment."

The phone rang a couple of times before a female voice answered it. "US marshal service, Kentucky office."

Hope sniffed. "I need help. Raylan Givens told me to call..."