Silent Run

harder; the windshield wipers could barely keep up. The turn in the road came quickly. The car began to slide. She hit the brakes, to no avail. Lights from the opposite direction blinded her. And then she was flying, terrified that when she landed it would all be over.
    But where was Caitlyn in her dream? She never looked over her shoulder. Never heard the baby cry. Never once whispered a reassurance to her daughter that everything would be all right.
    Caitlyn wasn’t in the car. Sarah suddenly knew that with shocking clarity. When she’d looked in the rearview mirror, she’d seen the trace of a car seat -- an empty car seat.
    Her eyes flew open, her gaze connecting immediately with Jake’s.
    â€œShe wasn’t in the car,” she said. “I saw the seat in the mirror. There was no one there. Caitlyn wasn’t there."
    He stared at her with grim eyes. “So where was she?"
    â€œI don’t know, but doesn’t it make you feel better to be sure she’s not down there?” she asked, waving her hand toward the wild canyon below. “And that no one took her from the car?"
    â€œI still don’t know if she’s safe. I won’t feel better until she’s in my arms."
    As Jake finished speaking, Sarah heard a car coming down the road. Her spine stiffened as she glanced over her shoulder and saw a dark sedan heading toward them. She suddenly realized how vulnerable they were standing alone on this desolate strip of highway. Not a car had passed since they’d arrived. She’d almost died here before. Was someone going to try again?
    The sedan began to slow. She could see a man behind the wheel.
    Jake grabbed her hand, yanking her toward his rental car. “Get in. Hurry."
    She slid into the seat and was barely inside before Jake slammed the door and jogged around to his side of the car. He had just flipped the locks when the sedan stopped next to them.
    Her heart pounded against her chest. “Start the car. Go,” she urged.
    â€œHe’s blocking me in,” Jake muttered.
    She stared past him at the man in the other car. He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a red tie. He had light brown hair, and he was rolling down the window on the passenger side. He motioned for Jake to do the same.
    After a moment’s hesitation, Jake lowered the window a few inches. “What?” he asked.
    â€œEverything okay?” the man inquired. “Do you need me to call for help? Is your car all right?"
    â€œWe’re fine. Thanks anyway,” Jake replied, raising the window back up and starting the car.
    The guy in the sedan stared at them for a moment, then shrugged and continued on down the highway.
    Sarah put a hand to her heart. It was beating in triple time, her breath coming short and fast.
    â€œJust a Good Samaritan,” Jake said.
    â€œI hope so."
    He shot her a quick look. “Did you recognize him, Sarah?"
    â€œNo, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know him, does it?"
    * * *
    Sarah’s question ran around and around in his head as Jake drove down the coast toward Los Angeles. Had there been something odd about the man who had stopped to offer help? Or was he just letting Sarah’s nerves and his own imagination get the better of him? If the guy had wanted to hurt them, he’d certainly had the opportunity to do so. They’d been trapped on the side of that road, a mistake he would not make again. He checked the rearview mirror, knowing that he had to start thinking ahead. He couldn’t let anyone sneak up on them.
    Sarah hadn’t said much in the past hour, but that wasn’t unusual. She’d never been the type of woman to chatter. He’d liked that peaceful quality about her. He’d liked a lot of things about her, things that were starting to come back now that the haze of anger he’d been living under was beginning to dissipate. He was still furious that Sarah had walked out on him with Caitlyn, but he now knew there was more to her story. How much more he still had to discover. Aside from that, it was tough to spend every second breathing fire over her head. She was clearly terrified and worried and hurt. And they’d get farther if they found a way to work together instead of in opposition.
    At least, that was what he was telling himself, and he didn’t intend to look any closer at his motivations. He was just going to stay focused on finding Caitlyn. It felt good to be taking some