The Stranger Beside Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

whispered.
    He stopped and waited for them to catch up.
    “Stay behind me,” Jo said.
    She kept the gun out in front of her, pointed to the ground.
    “Point the direction,” she said.
    Garrett nodded and led them down several corridors until they came to stairs. Jo felt disappointment tug at her when she saw their exit. They were leaving without John.
    They’d looked in every room. He wasn’t here.
    She had no idea where to go once they were free from this place. Madison might know a safe place, but Jo couldn’t trust her. She had betrayed her once already.
    This man, Garrett, seemed flaky. He was constantly adjusting his glasses and clothing, straightening his hair. To be fair, Jo thought, she had no idea what he’d been through. He could have been tortured, or worse.
    She wasn’t sure he’d be much help in their getaway. But he was her responsibility now.
    She’d promise to see him out. Besides, he knew her from before her amnesia. He might be able to supply some of the missing pieces of this puzzle.
    Jo led the charge up the stairs. She was mildly surprise when she came to a trapdoor. She pushed it open an inch and looked out. It appeared to lead into a small, empty room. Jo shoved it open and stepped out.
    It felt liberating to be above ground. She looked around as Madison and Garrett emerged through the trapdoor. The room was humid; the walls were wooden. It was cluttered with yard supplies. They were in a shack of some sort.
    Jo closed the door behind Madison, then motioned towards a large shelf. Madison helped her push it on top of the door. At least, no one would follow behind them. Garrett opened the door to the shed and sunlight flooded the room.
    “Wait,” Jo hissed.
    Garrett was flighty, eager to be free of the dark, dead air. She didn’t blame him, but he was going to get them caught. Heedless of her calls, he ran out. Jo followed and was surprised to see trees. They were back in the forest. This shed appeared to be in the middle of nowhere.
    “There!” Garrett yelled.
    Two cars were parked behind the shed in front of a well-worn trail. Jo wondered where it led, then decided she didn’t want to find out. Jo approached one of the cars and pulled on the handle.
    “It’s locked,” she said.
    “Here.”
    Madison approached with a thick broken tree limb. She jammed it through driver’s side window, shattering the glass. Jo looked around anxiously. They were making a lot of noise.
    “Now what?” she said. “We don’t have the keys.”
    “Ha!,” Madison said mockingly, “Ye of little faith.”
    Madison slid in behind the wheel and pulled off the panel below the dash. She began stripping wires and twisting them together, eventually the car started.
    Jo noted that Madison had a small pocket knife. The guards had been unbelievably sloppy to allow a prisoner to carry a knife. Of course, Madison had been a plant. She was placed beside Jo to gain intel on her. Maybe, they hadn’t checked her as thoroughly? Still, Jo found it odd. For the moment, she was too eager to be free of this place to question this curiosity.
    “Move over,” Jo said as she slid in behind the wheel.
    ~
    They drove for hours. Garrett led them down winding streets and dirt roads, until finally they reached a small town. When Garrett pointed out the safe house, Jo insisted on circling the block three times before stopping. She was worried they’d been followed, though she’d seen no indication of it. She parked the car around back, then ushered Madison and Garrett inside quickly. After closing the blinds and chastising Garrett for trying to turn a light on, she said, “Okay, now tell me everything.”
    “They grabbed me as I was leaving my car, put a hood over my head and the next thing I know I wake up in that prison cell. I screamed and-”
    “Wait, back up. Start with when we met.”
    Jo leaned against the wall and peaked out a window. The street was deserted.
    “Well, young lady, you came into my life as my so-called