BooksBarbecue
Back Mobbed Save as PDF
Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

Gordy stood, unlocked his car, and got in. Should I tell her? he wondered as he backed out. No. If she knows it’s there, then she’ll wonder what I was doing snooping under her car. She drove a long way to get here. Maybe her family wanted her to have the tracking device for safety so they’d be able to find her if they didn’t hear from her. That must be it. She’s so sweet. I’m sure they worry about her.

Besides, Dirk would be mad if I interfered.

Pulling out of the parking lot, Gordy sighed. I let her slip through my fingers.

39

Cleo was about to make a mad dash for the front door of Dirk’s cabin when his cell phone rang. He opened his eyes and grabbed the phone. What am I going to do? Cleo wondered nervously as Dirk spoke to Gordy. Just because he has a rifle doesn’t make him a psychopathic killer. He might have it for self-defense. But a rifle? When he finishes his conversation, I’m going to tell him I have to go back and work on the book I’m supposedly writing about meditation. Right now I could really use some secrets on achieving inner peace. I’m a nervous wreck.

Cleo tried to keep her eyes away from the floor where the rifle was peeking out from under the couch. I’ve got other worries, she realized. Like how did my bathing suit end up on the clothesline? Did someone follow me here? Are they hiding in the woods right now, waiting for an opportune moment to do me in? Cleo’s heart started pounding in her chest. I’ll go back to my cabin, pack up my things, and get out of here. I won’t stop until I get to New York City where I’ll check into a crowded hotel. Safety in numbers, she thought. I don’t want to be alone.

Finally, Dirk hung up his cell phone and tossed it back on the coffee table. “Gordy’s leaving for the day,” he said to Cleo. “He’s a good kid. I just have to keep after him sometimes. He is so young.”

“He’s very nice,” Cleo said, then stood. “I should get going.”

A slightly hurt expression crossed Dirk’s face. “Why?”

“I have to go back and get some work done. Of course, I can give you a lift to the hospital first if you’d like …”

“Nah,” Dirk said, leaning forward and adjusting the ice pack again. “You can wait hours in those emergency rooms. If it gets worse, I’ll find somebody to give me a ride later.” He looked up at her. “How does your head feel?”

“Fine,” Cleo answered quickly. “I am absolutely fine.”

“You sure you don’t want to stay a while? We could listen to music, or watch TV, just relax.”

“No thank you. Really.”