Trained To Defend. Christy Barritt

everyone else panicked, he calmly assessed a situation and became the hero.

      She gripped the door harder as her thoughts continued to race. “How did he even find us again? He wasn’t back there when we left. I’ve been watching, and I know you have also.”

      Colton glanced in the rearview mirror. “He must be tracking you somehow. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

      “How in the world would he track me?”

      “I only have one guess. Your phone.”

      “My phone…?” It made sense, Sarah supposed. The man had her number—he’d called her using Loretta’s cell. The device had a GPS locater that he could have somehow tapped into, if he had the right skills or knowledge. “What should I do? Throw it out the window?”

      “No, I have another idea. I don’t think he knows for sure that we’re in this truck.” He eased into another lane.

      “Why do you say that?”

      Colton glanced in the rearview mirror again and pressed the accelerator harder. “It’s just a hunch. He seems to be keeping his options open and staying behind several vehicles. I’m going to play a little game with him so I can know for sure.”

      Sarah nodded, her throat tight. She was going to have to trust Colton on this one because she had other ideas about what they should be doing.

      As the road curved up ahead, Colton hit the accelerator and sped just out of sight. He turned at a large gas station and parked beside a semitruck. Moving quickly, he took Sarah’s phone, instructed her to stay in the car, and then rushed out.

      As Colton walked past the back of the semitruck, he nestled the phone in the back bumper of the vehicle. Based on the snug fit, it should stay there for a while.

      He glanced around.

      No one looked his way.

      Moving quickly, Colton headed back to his car, jumped into the driver’s seat and sped around to the back of the building to wait.

      “Why are we staying here?” Sarah’s voice sounded breathless with fear.

      “I need to see what happens.” The semi was just in his line of sight. He had to keep a careful eye on it. Otherwise, his plan would be all for nothing.

      “If your guess is wrong, then we’re sitting ducks,” Sarah whispered.

      Her words were a somber reminder. She was right. The stakes were high right now—it could cost them their lives. But he had to rely on his gut instinct at the moment. It was all he had.

      “You’re right,” Colton said. “So let’s hope I’m not wrong.”

      “Comforting.” Sarah crossed her arms and slunk down lower.

      Though Colton was just out of sight, he could still see the truck where he’d planted Sarah’s phone. He watched carefully, waiting for the black sedan to appear.

      His breath caught when he saw the car slowly creep into the parking lot and pull into a space.

      Part of Colton wanted to get out and confront the driver right here. But he couldn’t do that. The man could be dangerous—could have a gun and put other people at risk. No, Colton had other ideas right now—ideas that required patience.

      “Colton?”

      He raised a finger, asking for silence. “Just a minute.”

      He could feel the tension—the fear—in the car. Even Buzz seemed to notice. The dog stuck his nose into the front seat and sniffled, like he smelled danger was near.

      A minute later, the semitrailer pulled out of the lot. Colton waited, watching to see what would happen next.

      The sedan pulled out after it.

      Sarah gasped. “Wait…”

      “Someone was tracking the phone.”

      After giving the driver a good head start, Colton followed as he headed down the road. He wanted to follow this car. See who was inside.

      Because the driver had some answers—answers they needed.

      But there was also more than one way to figure out who was behind that wheel.

      With his eyes on the car, he pulled out his phone and called a friend, Jim Larsen, with the highway patrol.

      “Colton, what can I do for you?”

      “Hey, Jim. I need you to run some plates for me for a case I’m working,” Colton said. “Would you mind?”

      “Not at all. What do you have?”

      Colton rattled off the license plate.

      “I’ll do it right now. One second.”

      Colton waited, anxious to hear what Jim found out.

      A moment later, his friend came back on the line. “Car belongs to a Randolph Stephens in Spokane.”

      “Randolph Stephens?” Colton repeated, glancing at Sarah.

      She shrugged, indicating the name wasn’t familiar.

      “Anything else on this guy?” Colton asked.

      “I don’t see any priors. Not even a parking ticket.”

      “That’s great. Thank you, Jim.”

      Colton ended the call. At least it was something. He’d take whatever information he could get right now.

      Randolph Stephens?

      Sarah turned the name over in her head as they continued down the highway.

      Had Loretta ever said the name?

      Sarah didn’t think so. She’d probably remember a name like Randolph. It was unique enough that she didn’t hear it often.

      Colton handed her his phone. “Do me a favor. Do an internet search for me for this Randolph Stephens guy. Tell me if anything comes up or if he looks familiar.”

      Sarah took the device from him and stared at the screen a moment. “I need your code.”