about the journal, Chief, and he had those copied pages. You’re the only one I told. Did you give them to him?”
He scowled at her accusation then slid a legal pad and a pen across the desk. “Why don’t you write down everything that happened, in your own words? That way, there’s no discrepancy.” The bite in his voice was obvious, and she knew at that moment their friendly relationship was over. His behavior didn’t make him a drug trafficker like Blake was investigating, but he was certainly complicit in Mason’s wrongdoings. Blake was right about the widespread corruption on this force.
She reached for the pen and pad. “I think that would be for the best.”
He pushed to his feet and headed for the door. “I’ll give you some time to work on that.”
Holly was glad when he was gone. Her pen flew across the paper, though she was still uncertain what she would do when she finished. Given Chief Waggoner’s behavior, she wasn’t convinced her statement would go anywhere except the inside of the trash can.
The screech of tires outside the chief’s window grabbed her attention. She put down the pad, walked to the window and saw Mason exit a car parked at the curb and hightail it toward the station. She hurried to the office door, where she could see the front of the police bullpen and Chief Waggoner speaking with another officer. He visibly tensed as Mason entered, but approached him and had words Holly couldn’t hear. She held her breath as she waited. Would the chief take him into custody? Or ignore everything she’d told him? She had her answer when Mason’s eyes grew wide and when Waggoner pointed toward his office. He wasn’t arresting Mason or even reprimanding him.
He was handing her over to him.
Disappointment filled her. She had been wrong about Chief Waggoner. She stared around at the people in the precinct. Was there anyone here she could trust? She didn’t know for sure but she knew she could trust Blake. She had to get to him.
She slipped out of the office, softly closing the door to hide her escape, and crept on tiptoe down the hall, away from the bullpen, before anyone noticed. There had to be a back door or employee entrance she could use to make her escape. She spotted an exit sign bright and beckoning at the end of the hallway and felt a rush of relief flow through her. It was her way out. The voices and footsteps heading her way stopped her from rushing toward it. She slipped into an empty office, holding her breath as two officers passed by without seeing her. Once they were out of sight, she ran to the exit and pushed open the door to freedom.
She didn’t make it.
Someone grabbed her from behind, slipping his hand around her waist. “Where do you think you’re going?” he snarled, his breath hot against her ear. Panic seized her as she recognized the voice.
Mason.
He pulled her into a room that appeared to be an employee break area. Her heart sank when she realized it was empty. No one around to help her or to stop Mason. She wasn’t even sure anyone in this precinct would try.
He shoved her against the counter and Holly reached out, trying to stop herself. She bumped a bin and it fell, sending utensils crashing down.
“Please don’t.” She held out her hands to him as she’d done before. “You don’t want to do this.”
“Oh, no, you’re wrong. I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”
He grabbed her again, pushed her to the floor and crawled on top of her, his hand pressing into her neck.
He was going to strangle her! Holly grabbed his hand, trying to break his grasp as fear ripped through her. She had to get away from him. She kicked and pounded on him, but he easily overpowered her. When she couldn’t break his grip, she flung her hands out hoping to grab something, anything, she could use as a weapon. Her fingers locked around an object and she jammed it into Mason’s neck, only then realizing it was a plastic fork. He howled but didn’t loosen his grip. In fact, he tightened it, his face full of rage.
Holly gasped for breath that wouldn’t come. She gripped and clawed at his hands fitfully. This couldn’t be it. This couldn’t be the end. I’m not ready, God! The room seemed to spin and fade as the lack of oxygen began to affect her. She had only moments before she lost consciousness and then her life.
But it wasn’t her late husband’s face she saw in the fading light of the room. It was Blake’s...hovering over Mason...a metal chair in his hands. She realized he was really there the instant he slammed the chair into the back of Mason’s head.
His grip loosened and he slumped over, unconscious.
Holly quickly slid out from under him, fighting for each wonderful but excruciating breath. Blake grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet, then slid his arm around her waist when her knees buckled.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes probing.
She managed a nod and then a hoarse whisper. “What are you doing here?”
“Making sure you’re okay. I can see you’re not—so let’s get out of here.”
He kept his arm around her as they hurried through the exit. Her legs protested every step but she willed them to keep moving. They had to get away before Mason regained consciousness. Blake’s truck was parked at the back and he opened the door and helped her inside before running around to the driver’s side and getting in. A moment later they were speeding away.
She glanced at Blake, awestruck that he’d returned for her. He hadn’t just left her—even after she’d insisted she didn’t need him and had questioned his motives. He’d risked his own safety to make certain she wasn’t harmed. She wasn’t sure if that made him just plain dumb or incredibly kind.
“How did you know I needed help?” she asked, each syllable painful to speak.
“I was watching. I knew you were in trouble when I saw Mason pull up.”
She nodded. “Chief Waggoner tried to defend Mason to me. I can’t believe the chief is dirty.”
Blake’s jaw clenched and his fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “I should have known.”
“You were right. We can’t trust anyone on the police force.” She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“I can understand why you did. Even I would think I was paranoid if I wasn’t living it. But now we really have to get out of town.”
“How are we going to do that with the roads blocked? The police are searching for you. Mason told everyone you kidnapped me.”
He turned those blue eyes on her and comfort washed through her. “We’re going to find another way out of this town. I promise.”
This time, she didn’t doubt him.
* * *
He had no idea what their next move was. He’d walked into this, but she hadn’t—Mason had dragged her in. She had to be terrified.
He shuddered, remembering the image of Mason choking her. His heart had stopped and he hadn’t even thought—he’d only reacted. He wouldn’t allow Mason to harm her.
She slumped in her seat,
