Toward the Brink (Book 3) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Kath’s,” the Tall Man replied.
    As long as we don’t run into a wall of foamers, Elliot thought. He had put a good distance between them and the airport. He reached down and put the headlights on full beam. Even if the foamers could see them, they wouldn’t be able to catch them.
    “Straight through, Elliot, don’t stop for anything.”
    “You got it, Chuck.” He pushed his foot down on the gas pedal now that he was on the open, paved road and could see. A moment later, he felt his arms tremble and his heart beat faster. It was like this on that night he’d been forced to flee Twin Falls. He was aware that Cindy and Mulhaven had noticed it back then, with the latter putting it down to fatigue. Elliot hadn’t said anything more about it. The last thing he wanted was for his friends to think he was a chickenshit who shook like a bowl of Jell-O whenever things got tough. He didn’t know it was a natural physical reaction after a surge of adrenaline. A field with thousands of foamers had a tendency to get the adrenaline flowing. By the time they arrived at his aunt’s house, the tremors had subsided and his heart had returned to whatever passed for normal these last few days.
    Most of the eastern skyline was a lighter blue, and at horizon level the first hint of the sun’s rays was visible. The sun would bring relief from the foamers, but it would not make the day any easier.
    Elliot pulled the truck as close to the cellar doors as he could. The Tall Man surveyed the area around the house in the morning light. He was pleased to see no damage had been done to the motor home or the Hummer, but especially the house. When he was certain there were no undesirables around—a term he used when he wanted to include all possible threats—he gave the all clear. The Tall Man went through the cellar first, then Kath. Elliot waited with Mulhaven, who was summoned from the truck. Tired of being in the dark, figuratively and literally, Cindy followed Mulhaven.
    The doors were locked, which was a good sign.
    “Hey, Riley!” the Tall Man greeted him.
    Mulhaven grunted in response. The trip from the airport in the army truck had been far from luxurious.
    “You two can come on in,” the Tall Man said when he saw that Cindy had joined Elliot. “Riley, you tell the folks in the truck to be patient for just a few minutes, okay?”
    The Tall Man turned to Kath. “Let’s go up top. Keep the cellar secure, Elliot.”
    “You got it, Chuck,” Elliot assured his friend, but wondered what he meant. “That was weird. Why would he—”
    Cindy put her arms around Elliot’s neck and pulled him close. She kissed him warmly, passionately, and with a touch of desperation. She pulled back for a moment and whispered, “Silly, they went upstairs to be alone, and they left us here to be alone.”
    She kissed him again, and this time Elliot put his arms around her waist. Even under that army jacket, it was still there.
    “If you ever run off and do anything stupid like that again, Elliot Goodwin, I’ll kill you myself—never mind the damn foamers. Do you understand?” She planted her lips on his again. Both wished they had more time and privacy.
----
    “ I f it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have gotten away.”
    “Well, I think you owe some gratitude to your nephew, too,” the Tall Man told Kath.
    “Yes, but you had the plan to get—”
    “Shh.” The Tall Man pressed an index finger lightly against Kath’s lips. “I’m also the one that got us into that mess, remember?”
    She didn’t answer but took his hand away from her mouth and inched closer.
    “I was so scared out there,” she said.
    “I won’t put you in any danger ever again, I promise.” He pulled her against him. He leaned down and forward as she pushed her head up. As their lips touched, the Tall Man felt relaxed for the first time in days. If only it could continue. If only.
----
    “ W hat are you people doing down there?” Mulhaven called from outside the