Bluegrass Undercover (Bluegrass Brothers)

tore into the back of her neck, ripping out her hair as she popped free. She slowly started to adjust her weight to her bottom half as she inched herself further out the window. She moved her right leg through the window as well and twisted towards her left until she was perched on the window facing the hall. She pushed off the window and leapt to the ground, rubbing her bottom as she stood up. That had hurt.
    Annie shoved her skirt into place as she listened for her assailant. Nothing. Not a sound. She slowly walked down the hall to where the switches were. She flipped them but nothing happened. The circuit breaker must have been thrown. She went rigid when the slightest noise reached her ears.
    Someone was here. She placed her right hand on the wall and started to turn when she heard a footfall directly behind her. Before she could turn around, something was brought down on the back of her head. She staggered forward and fell head first into the lockers before everything went dark.
    Annie heard the muffled sound of someone running away and forced herself to open her eyes. The hall appeared blurry, but she could make out a dark figure running for the exit. She pushed herself up and tried to chase after the figure, but the world spun. She focused on the end of the hallway until it came into focus. Annie ran down the hall, each pounding footfall like a hammer against her head.
    She slowed when she reached the door to the parking lot. Her hand closed around the metal rod as she carefully opened the door. Annie peered out into the parking lot. Not seeing anything, she stepped out and looked around. No footsteps, no dark figure, just her car in an otherwise empty parking lot.
    “Dammit!” She pulled out her phone to call her boss and then swore again. She was due at dinner in less than five minutes. She ran for her car as she dialed Romero’s direct line.
    “Romero.”
    “Something is going on, and I don’t know what. I was just imprisoned in my office with a lock pick broken off in the lock, electricity cut, and a cell phone jammer sitting outside my door.”
    “What happened?”
    “I broke the window, crawled out and was hit from behind and into the lockers as the perp fled. I didn’t get a good look at all. But, I wasn’t seriously hurt, and it was certainly not an attempt on my life. It doesn’t make sense at all.”
    “Okay. Where are you now?”
    “On my way to meet Cade’s family for dinner.”
    “It’s a good thing you disclosed this relationship or I’d be pissed. Hell, I still am pissed, but it works with your cover. From your file, I know you never have done this before which means this is serious for you. I remember the first time I met my in-laws. My father-in-law met me at the door with a larg e carving knife. So, I guess I’m saying good luck. I’ll send a forensic team over to the school to see if we can lift any prints and to figure out who is behind this. Do you think your cover is blown?”
    “No. If they knew who I was, wouldn’t they have killed me or threatened me in some way? That’s what isn’t making sense to me.” Annie skidded her tires as she turned onto the dirt road leading to the farmhouse.
    “I agree. Keep your cover for now. I’ll let you know what we learn.”
    “Oh my God!” Annie screeched.
    “What is it? Are you okay?” Romero asked, practically jumping through the phone.
    “I just looked in the rear view mirror. I have a huge bruise on my forehead, a lump on the back of my head, blood running down both arms where my palms were cut on glass, and I think I left a chunk of hair on my window. Plus, I just pulled up to the Davies’ house.” Annie didn’t notice the muffled laughter as she attempted to clean up.
    “I’ll be in touch with the results from the crime lab. Have fun, Blake.”
    “Yeah, right,” she mumbled, but Romero had already hung up and her time had run out.
     
    “She’s here!” Paige screamed over the NFL pregame show. Cade blew out a breath as Pierce jumped over him.
    “Oh, this is going to be so much fun,” Pierce said with a devilish glint to his eyes.
    “I hate to sound like the voice of reason here, but maybe you all should not interrogate her like you all did with me. I am FBI after all and can handle it. She’s just a counselor,” Cole told the group as he moved to the door with the rest of the family.
    “As much as I would relish grilling her as much as Cade grilled and tormented my dates, I really like her. So,