On The Run Read Online Free PDF Page B

Charlie’s truck.
    Hell, who else could it be on this stretch of road? She wanted to be down
there
. But there was no way she could have Frankie go with her if it was Charlie’s truck. She put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. “It’s better if we stay here. If Charlie’s there, Kilmer will get him out.”
    “He’s a stranger. You don’t even like him. I can tell.”
    “But he’s very good in emergencies. If I was in that truck, there’s no one I’d rather have go after me than Kilmer.”
    “Is that the truth?”
    “That’s the truth. Now let’s get closer so that we can see if there’s anything we can—”
    Kilmer was coming up the bank, half-leading, half-carrying someone.
    She stiffened, her heart jumping with hope. Charlie?
    “Charlie!” Frankie was running toward them. “I was so scared. What—”
    “Easy, Frankie.” It was Robert, not Charlie, who was being helped up the bank. He was soaking wet and dragging his left leg. “Be careful, this muddy bank is slippery.”
    She skidded to a stop. “Robert? I thought it was—”
    “No.” Robert met Grace’s eyes. “God, I’m sorry. I dove in and managed to get him out of the cab, but when I got him to the bank, I found out it was—” He shrugged helplessly. “I’m sorry, Grace.”
    “No! Don’t you tell me that.” She was running past him down the incline.
    Not Charlie.
    He was wrong.
    Not Charlie.
    He was lying on the bank. So still.
    Too still.
    Grace fell to her knees beside him.
    Don’t give up. Drowning victims sometimes could be brought back.
    She felt for his pulse.
    Nothing.
    She bent over him to give him mouth-to-mouth.
    “It’s no use, Grace.” Kilmer was standing beside her. “He’s gone.”
    “Shut up. Drowning victims can be—”
    “He didn’t drown. Look closer.”
    How was she supposed to look closer when she couldn’t see through the tears brimming from her eyes and running down her cheeks? “He . . . was in . . . the river.”
    “Look closer.”
    She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She saw the hole in Charlie’s temple.
    She bent over double as the pain jagged through her. “No. It didn’t happen. Not to Charlie. It’s not fair. He was—”
    “Shh.” Kilmer was kneeling beside her. “I know.” He pulled her into his arms. “God, I wish—”
    “Let me go.” She pulled away from him. “You don’t know. You never met him.”
    “I know your pain. I’m feeling it, dammit.” He stood up. “But you won’t believe me right now.” He looked down at her. “I’ll leave you alone with him for a few minutes, but you’d better get back to the car. Frankie’s pretty upset. I left Blockman with her, but she needs you.”
    He didn’t wait for an answer but started up the incline.
    Yes, Frankie would need her. Frankie loved Charlie. Frankie wouldn’t understand the death of a loved one.
    Neither did Grace. Not this loved one . . .
    She reached out and gently pushed back the damp hair that was clinging to Charlie’s forehead. He was always very neat about his hair. She had often teased him about how much he combed—
    The tears were coming again. Try to stop them. Frankie needed her.
    Jesus, Charlie . . .

3
                                                                                                                                       
    F rankie tore away from Robert and hurled herself into Grace’s arms when she opened the car door. Tears were running down her cheeks. “They wouldn’t let me go. Tell them I have to go see Charlie.”
    “No, baby.” Grace hugged her close and buried her face in her daughter’s hair. “You can’t see Charlie right now.” And never again. But how to say those words?
    “You’re crying.” Frankie pushed her away and looked at her face. She reached out with a tentative hand and touched Grace’s cheek.