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

She sank down in the seat. “I don’t want to lead them to the house and cause problems for my stepfather or anyone there.”

“On the contrary, maybe they’re letting your stepfather know that you’re on the way and to be prepared for you. Don’t let your guard down around that man or anyone who works for him. I know you want to believe he’s innocent, but at the same time you’ve more than convinced me he’s not.”

“He’s not even there. But I hear what you’re saying. Let’s lose the tail anyway.”

“Tell me about the road ahead. What am I going to see?”

“A lot of twists and turns as we climb into the mountains. Motorcycle enthusiasts love this road.”

Will blew out a breath and grinned. “I think I’m going to love it, too.”

“Don’t get us killed, Will.”

“I’m not going to get us killed. I’m trying to keep you alive. Don’t you trust me by now?”

Her throat tightened. That was a loaded question. “You haven’t let me down yet.”

“They’re closing the gap. Before we lose them, can you see their faces? See who it is? Is it Diverman and Rifleman?”

She flipped the visor again. “I can’t tell.”

“All right, then. Hang on.”

Sylvie pressed back into the seat as Will floored the accelerator. “If I punch it enough, I should be able to lose them around this next curve. Turn off on a side road or drive.”

They whipped around the mountain curve, and Sylvie got a better look of the rocky ravine below than she wanted. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the centrifugal force to release her. Will turned off onto a private drive and followed it up.

“I saw them drive by. We’ll wait here and see if they backtrack.” He found a place to turn the car around and waited.

“Do you think we lost them?”

“I have a feeling they already know where we’re going so it probably doesn’t matter.”

Sylvie didn’t like his answer, but she didn’t know what else to say. She sat back and waited with Will. Finally, he shifted into gear and eased out of their hiding spot back onto the road. They didn’t see the vehicle that had tailed them.

She let him enjoy the twists and turns, squeezed her eyes shut when the road hedged the river gorge. A few miles more and they came to the gated drive to Damon’s house, and Sylvie punched in the code to open the gates. “We’re going to wait on the other side and make sure nobody comes inside the grounds after us, okay?”

“Works for me.” Will drove through and waited for the gate to close behind him.

The men that had followed them earlier drove by slowly on the road. The two men peered out at them but acted casually, as if they were out for a Sunday drive.

“At least it’s not Diverman and Rifleman.”

Will frowned. “No, it’s two more people we need to watch out for. Told you they already knew where we were headed. They look like Feds to me.”

“How do you know?”

“I’ve delivered a few Feds to parts unknown now and then.”

Sylvie blew out a breath. She couldn’t worry about more men following her now—especially if they might just be law enforcement. She had a bigger problem to face head-on and up ahead. Going through Mom’s things in search of incriminating evidence against Damon or proof of his innocence was not going to be easy.

A sour taste rose in her mouth.

Sylvie wasn’t sure what she hoped to unearth but anything at all that would give her a clue, a look into what happened, was worth this trip. She remained quiet while Will maneuvered the curves of the two-mile paved and winding driveway to the mansion. She thought about Will’s warning that she was taking them into the lion’s den, right into the mouth of the lion.

The mansion loomed ahead, resting on the side of a mountain and overlooking the river. To the right was a great steel-enforced deck and helipad. The house was all brick and stone stacked in horizontal and vertical planes and overhangs. Sylvie waited for Will’s reaction.

“It looks like something from an Alfred Hitchcock movie.” Will chuckled. “I’m sorry if that didn’t come out right. I think it’s magnificent.”

“I think the architect was a Frank Lloyd Wright student. As for Alfred Hitchcock, you’re thinking of that movie North by Northwest. This is similar to that, yes. Though it’s modern-looking, futuristic in some ways, it’s a decades-old historical mansion that’s been refurbished.”

“I had pictured something else altogether.” Will shifted in his seat. “You never actually said who your stepfather is. I have the feeling he’s someone important.”

“Damon Masters is the CEO of Masters Marine Corporation. The great-grandson of the founder.”

“Um...wow. Just. Wow. Regina did well for herself when she married.”

Sylvie frowned at the comment, but didn’t say anything. She knew Will hadn’t meant any harm.

“So what exactly does the corporation do? Obviously it has to do with the ocean and seafaring vessels, and I sound like a real idiot.”

“It’s a marine solutions company. Transportation. Logistics. International and domestic. A holding company for other marine businesses, as well. And don’t ask me more than that because then I’ll sound like an idiot. Not saying you did, but then you’ll find out how little I really know.”

Sylvie’s mother had started out as her stepfather’s assistant, then eventually married him. Sylvie had wanted no part of the business in that capacity. Sitting in an office all day turned her into a puddle.

Had Will sunk down into his seat?

“And you’re the princess.” He’d said it matter-of-factly, as though there was no question in his mind.

She bristled at his words but was unsure how to respond. After all, there was truth in them and she’d said as much herself. And that left her torn. Yes, her childhood had been privileged. But that wasn’t always a good thing. Money could cover up a lot of ugliness, but it didn’t make the pain go away. How could this beautiful old mansion,