Leverage. Janie Crouch

pose unless he had to.

      “What?” she asked him.

      “A car just turned onto the road up the block. A sedan.”

      “The same one?”

      “I don’t know, but I don’t want to take any chances. I need to keep you out of sight and away from anything that might associate you with me.” Dylan turned them away from where his truck was parked. “Detour.”

      Shelby kept up as Dylan now rushed across the street toward the bank building rather than his vehicle. He didn’t stop until they were standing up against the wall of the bank, the opposite side from where the car was coming. Shelby clutched her balled-up change of clothes to her chest with one arm.

      “Okay, we’re going to work our way around to the back side of the building and see what that car is doing.”

      They stayed against the wall as they walked back. Dylan had yet to let go of Shelby’s hand. When they got to the back where they could glance out to see the road, Shelby stayed behind Dylan while he took a look.

      “I don’t see anybody. Maybe that car wasn’t even the same guy.”

      “That’s good, right?”

      Dylan nodded and let go of her hand. Everything seemed safe. Shelby wondered if this whole thing was just a case of overactive imaginations. Admittedly, it was unlikely that two cars similar in make and model would almost hit her twice in one day, but it wasn’t impossible.

      “Okay, I don’t see anyone,” Dylan told her again. “Let’s head to the truck.”

      Shelby nodded and they began walking, neither of them quite as worried about secrecy.

      Shelby felt Dylan stiffen a moment before she noticed the car again herself. It was pulling out of the parking lot directly adjacent to the bank, moving slowly, obviously looking for something or someone.

      Okay, maybe not overactive imaginations.

      Dylan grabbed Shelby’s hand again and pulled her forward, then put his other hand on her head to get her to stay low. They ran to his truck, keeping as low as possible. Dylan opened the passenger-side door and jumped in, sliding across the seat and reaching to help Shelby at the same time.

      “Hurry. Stay down.” Dylan’s voice was curt as he kept a watchful eye out the windshield while trying to stay out of sight himself. Shelby threw her clothes toward him, grabbed his hand and climbed. She pulled the door closed as quickly as she could, glad that no lights had come on in the cab. She ducked down low in the seat.

      “Is he still coming toward us?”

      “Yes, but I don’t think he saw us. It looks more like a sweep-through than anything. He’s past us now.”

      Shelby peeked up and saw the rear of the car as it drove slowly by. The person driving was looking for someplace. Or someone. But the car was moving on now.

      Dylan straightened up in his seat. “I think it’s safe now. But let’s get out of here before he comes back. Once he’s sure the street is clear, he’ll try to find you at your room.”

      “Okay.” Shelby sat up and reached to grab her clothes which had fallen all over the cab when she’d thrown them inside. She found her pants and shirt with no problem. But kept feeling around the darkened cab for her underwear.

      “Um, I think this is what you’re looking for.”

      Hanging from Dylan’s finger was Shelby’s black-and-red lace thong.