Alaskan Mountain Pursuit Elizabeth Goddard (best short novels .TXT) 📖

dimpled grin when he found her, and then he led her out the door and to the parking lot of rental cars. They passed by every one of the midsized sedans. Practical and economical. Then stopped at a cherry-red Chevrolet Camaro SS.

“Seriously, Will?”

“This has a V8. We need something with a powerful engine. I don’t want to be stuck in a Prius if I need to lose someone. Besides, they were all out of BMWs.” He opened the door for her, his smile fading as his gaze took in the parking lot and others climbing into the more practical midsized cars. She scanned the crowd, as well, and saw no sign of the man who’d attacked her at the hospital or the one from the ferry.

So far, so good.

When he looked down at her sitting in the sports car, the grin came back again as he shut the door. He dropped into the seat on the driver’s side.

“Are you sure this isn’t just your way of living out some unrealized juvenile dream?” She hoped he caught her teasing tone.

“I live my dream every time I climb into a bush plane.” He started the ignition and paused to listen to the engine purr. “But if I can’t fly, this will do in a pinch.”

Looking out the window, watching for their pursuers, Sylvie smiled as Will steered them from the parking lot. This guy might be a lot of fun in a world where she wasn’t being pursued by killers. But Sylvie shoved those thoughts out of her mind.

They stopped at a strip mall where she and Will bought a few additional items of clothing and grabbed some lunch. Better to buy new clothes and avoid going back to her apartment where dangerous men could be waiting to kill her, until this was over.

She had one destination in mind, and that was her stepfather’s mansion, where she’d grown up. The last place her mother had been before her tragic death. Although the killers had found Sylvie in the waters of the channel, in Snake’s cabin, in the hospital and on the ferry, she could hope they wouldn’t follow her to her stepfather’s home. If the worst-case scenario was true, and he was involved, he would never allow anything to happen at the refurbished historical mansion he’d purchased for her mother as a wedding gift.

A morbid way of believing she would be safe there. All things considered, though, it was as safe a place as any.

At least he wouldn’t be there this week, and Sylvie could search Mom’s things without having to face him. He was the head of an international corporation and traveled often, and Sylvie knew he was in Asia for a month. He hated the house, and she figured he would move out and into another monstrosity as soon as was socially acceptable given the loss of his wife. With all the doubt and suspicion coursing through her, she didn’t think she could look him in the eyes. If she saw him now, in her current frame of mind, she might accuse him to his face just to see his reaction. But he could be convincing, even if he was guilty, which meant she had to find solid evidence—something only she could get her hands on.

Would she be strong enough to see through him if it came to that?

God, please don’t let him be involved in her death...

She didn’t think anything could hurt worse than his betrayal of their loving, happy family, but a murder would certainly slice her heart in two.

Her thoughts were jumbled as each passing mile put her closer to home. She thought about what she would say to the housekeeping staff when she arrived. Though the house had been Sylvie’s home, too—her bedroom was still the same and she was always welcome—she wouldn’t give her usual courtesy call to let the staff know, to give them or her stepfather any prior warning, in case there was anything to hide.

How she hated these ludicrous, suspicious thoughts.

She’d forgotten about getting in touch with Ashley, Damon’s assistant, but that could wait until she’d searched the house.

The home was located southeast of Bellingham, toward the national forests. Damon had preferred his home near a seaport or an airport, but agreed to move inland to the mansion sitting on the side of a mountain for Regina. Sylvie directed Will, who was clearly enjoying driving the Camaro. If she tried, she could almost imagine they were out for an afternoon joyride to take in the scenery of thick forests. They had been on the road for almost an hour when they hit Marblemount.

“Better stop and get gas here. Not many stops after this. We can grab some snacks, too.”

Will filled the tank while Sylvie grabbed sodas and junk food. She exited the gas station and let herself admire Will as he topped off the gas. She had to admit he looked good standing next to that car. But then she caught the expression on his face.

Something was wrong.

The realization made her trip up as she approached. “What’s the matter?”

“Someone’s following us,” he stated grimly.

“What?” She started to turn—

“Don’t look.” He leaned in as if he would kiss her, obviously trying to make it look as though they hadn’t noticed their tail.

Her breath hitched at his nearness, at how much she wanted him to kiss her. She stepped back and handed off his snacks, gathering her composure. That had been a close call. He was a huge distraction in her efforts to figure this out. Sylvie tried to look nonchalantly across the street as she made her way around the car and climbed in. Once inside she flipped the visor down to look through the mirror but couldn’t see anything.

Will pulled out of the gas station and continued onto the state highway.

“Don’t turn around, Sylvie. Don’t give us away. Let them think we don’t know they’re back there.”

“How long have you known?”

“I’ve had my suspicions from the start, but the gas station stop