Silent Run

kidnap her or ransack her apartment while she was out of town. Certainly the other attempts on her life had been solely about getting rid of her. It was more logical to think that the fire had just been a distraction to lure them into the open. And it had worked. Fortunately, they’d managed to evade getting shot, but what was he going to do now?
    He’d lost Sarah and he still didn’t have Caitlyn. He was right back where he’d started. It was his fault. He’d told Sarah to run, and she’d done just that. She could have hopped on a bus, taken a cab. She could be anywhere now.
    A kid on a skateboard came down the street, stopping in front of him, his attention on the fire. “Whoa, dude. That’s cool."
    Trust a teenager to think a fire destroying the homes of a dozen people was cool.
    â€œYour name Jake?” the kid asked.
    â€œYes,” he said, surprised and wary.
    â€œSome chick told me to give you this,” the kid said, handing him a piece of paper. He then got on his skateboard and headed closer to the fire action.
    Looking around to be sure no one was watching, Jake unfolded the paper and saw only a few words -- Barney’s Ice-cream Parlor, Fourth and Beach Street . The message had to be from Sarah.

Chapter Fifteen

    Jake got into his car, started the engine, and made a quick U-turn. He headed down the block. They’d come in on Beach Street, just a few blocks away. He checked his rearview mirror every few seconds, hoping he wasn’t leading anyone straight to Sarah. With any luck the guy who’d ambushed them had already taken off. Jake wished to God he’d had time to force the guy to say why he was after Sarah, or who he was working for. That would have to wait for another day. At this point he had no reason to doubt that there would be another time. The attacks on Sarah were relentless. No one was giving up. How long would they be able to fend them off?
    Jake parked his car in the small lot next to the ice-cream parlor and made his way into the store. It was filled with kids and families, and in the very back corner at a small table sat Sarah. As soon as she saw him, Sarah jumped to her feet and ran over to him. “Are you all right? You’re bleeding. I was so worried about you. I was so afraid you wouldn’t make it...” Her voice trailed away, as if she couldn’t finish the terrifying thought in her head. She searched his face with anxious eyes. “You’re hurt."
    â€œI’m fine,” he said. “The firemen arrived just in time."
    â€œAre you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?"
    â€œPositive. I’m just glad you found a way to tell me where you were."
    â€œI sent that kid with the note to look for you, but I wasn’t sure he would be able to find you in the crowd. I didn’t even know if you had made it out of the building. I shouldn’t have left you there. I should have stayed."
    â€œNo, you did the right thing,” he told her, leading her back to the table. “I wanted you to go."
    Sarah shook her head in self-loathing. “I took the easy way out. You could have been killed."
    â€œIf you hadn’t gone, we might both be dead, and then where would Caitlyn be?"
    She didn’t look convinced. “When I left the building, I saw the fire truck coming. I hoped they would be able to save you, since I couldn’t. Then I thought I should get away, but I didn’t want to go too far."
    â€œYou did everything right. You picked a crowded place with lots of people, and a seat at the back where you could see whoever came in the door.” He wasn’t surprised she’d known what to do. Her self-protective instincts were finely tuned. “This is what you do, Sarah -- you hide; you protect yourself."
    â€œWhat happened to that man? Did you... did you kill him?"
    â€œI wish,” he muttered. “We were wrestling for the gun when the firemen came in. The guy bolted. The firemen forced me out of the building. I never saw him again after that."
    â€œSo he’s still free, still out there somewhere?"
    â€œYes.” He met her gaze. “And I don’t think he’s finished with you yet."
    â€œI don’t think so either. Did you get a better look at him?"
    â€œIt was difficult to see anything, but I suspect it’s the same guy. My instincts tell me that he’s just the front man. He didn’t talk to you like he knew you. He