Fatal Recall. Carol J. Post

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      As they walked, she kept her hand in his. Her grip was firm. Strength had to be a good sign. Or maybe the firm grip meant she felt unsteady. Whatever the case, she wasn’t much of a conversationalist.

      He offered her a friendly smile. “I’m Tanner.” His tone was just above a whisper.

      One side of her mouth lifted a sliver. “Hi, Tanner.”

      She didn’t give him her name. Maybe his hunch she might be running from crimes of her own was dead-on.

      Right now, that didn’t matter. His responsibility was to get her to safety, which meant a hospital so she could be checked out. It would be up to local authorities to decide what to do with her after release.

      As they walked, he kept scanning the woods. He’d left his pistol in the glove box of his Silverado, never dreaming he’d need it kayaking. What he wouldn’t give to have a weapon now. The three-inch blade on his multi-tool didn’t count.

      When they reached the river, he heaved a sigh of relief. They’d made it. Almost. He still had to get her to a working phone. Fortunately, whoever was after her likely wouldn’t look for her on the river.

      After lowering the kayak into the water, he helped her into the front and took the seat at the rear. Colton had bought the small boat with his wife in mind, so it was a two-seater.

      “Keep an eye out.” The command was probably unnecessary. He couldn’t see the woman’s face, but her head slowly pivoted side to side.

      A half minute later, they rounded the bend, and a long stretch of white water lay ahead. Theirs was the only boat in either direction. In another month or two, activity would pick up, but April was early. Though the sun was shining, the air still held some bite.

      Over the next several minutes, he split his attention between navigating the rapids and scanning the trees that bordered both sides of the river. A gasp drew his attention to the front. The woman had twisted and sat looking over her right shoulder.

      He followed her gaze. “Did you see something?”

      “I thought I did. Now I don’t.”

      He didn’t, either. Without slowing his pace, he gave hard looks in that direction. Pines, firs and other evergreens stood interspersed among trees budding with new spring growth.

      Then there was movement. Something dark, out of place with the greens of nature. He continued his powerful strokes, casting repeated glances over his right shoulder.

      Something shifted, and the dark area became a black shirt or jacket. There was more movement. Then a flash. A glint.

      Like the sun reflecting off something metallic.

      Someone had a gun. It was likely aimed at them.

      And he had about one second to react.

      * * *

      Three cracks split the air in rapid succession. A second later, she hit the water face-first, driving it into her mouth and up her nose. Its icy chill engulfed her, and the current dragged her downstream, slamming her body into submerged rocks. When she surfaced, she gasped for air between fits of coughing. Tanner was nearby, being carried downstream at the same speed as her, one arm looped over the side of the kayak.

      “Get to the edge.” He gained his footing, then turned to roll the kayak onto its side.

      “What are you trying to do, drown me?” Even as the words spilled out, she knew better. Gunfire had reverberated around them as he’d tackled her and pulled her overboard.

      He ignored her outburst. “Keep down and stay out of sight.”

      The worst of the rapids was behind them; the current at the river’s edge was more manageable. More shots rang out, none of them finding their mark. Which was good. A bullet would sail through plastic as easily as a hot knife through butter.

      As they approached the bank, everything fell eerily silent. Moments later, gunfire again rent the air. A hole appeared near the back of the boat. Of the next four shots, two hit their target. One narrowly missed Tanner.

      He tilted his head toward the bank. “We’re going to use that for protection.”

      She cast a glance over her shoulder. An old hardwood had lost its grip at the edge of the river and toppled over, its roots a vertical tangled mass six feet in diameter.

      The assailant fired two more shots. Tanner stared at her, eyes intense. “When I give the word, scramble up the bank, staying as close to the downed tree as you can. Then run into the woods without looking back.”

      When the water wasn’t much more than a foot deep, she dropped from a crouch to her hands and knees. The bank was within arm’s reach.

      She looked at Tanner. “What are we waiting for?”

      “The eighth round.”

      “Huh?”

      Before he could respond, a shot hit the water near them.

      “Now.”

      When she hesitated, he gave her a push. “Go, go, go.”

      She sprang from the water and scrambled up the bank, back itching for the bullet she expected. By the time the gunfire resumed, she’d left the river behind and entered the safety of the trees on its opposite slope.

      But she didn’t slow down. Tanner was somewhere behind her. She could hear him crashing through the forest.

      Finally, he closed the distance between them. “I think we’ve lost him.”

      She bent over and sucked in several gulps of air. Tanner looked to be in great shape, definitely a man who frequented the gym. But he was as winded as she was.

      He leaned against a tree and pulled his phone from his pocket. “No service. But thanks to the waterproof case, it looks like it survived our impromptu swim.” He slid it back into his pocket. “So, who are these guys?”

      “I don’t know.”

      He lifted one brow, the gesture filled with doubt. “What are you doing out here?”

      She searched for an answer. It was there somewhere, but her head hurt too badly to pull it out. “I can’t remember.”

      Tanner frowned. “You forget where you put your car keys, not why you’re alone in the woods with men shooting at you.”

      “I said I don’t know. Okay? Just leave me alone.” She stalked off in a different direction. Her head was killing her and focusing was pretty much impossible. She didn’t need some stranger giving her a hard time.

      He fell into step beside her. “I’m trying to help you. Do you have a name?”

      She studied his face, as if the answer would somehow be there. What she found were piercing green eyes under a head of soft brown hair and a square jaw covered by a day’s worth of stubble. Not a single hint as to her identity.

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