Page 41 of Killer Summer
“I’m fine. I’ll see you soon.”
“Love you, girl.”
“Love you too.”
Click.
Dani stashed the phone in the center console and turned on the radio. What was he looking for? Maybe nothing. She shuddered to think of what would have happened if he showed up while her aunt was still there. Lisa Spencer would have put up a good fight, but still, Dani would have felt responsible if she had gotten hurt too. Perhaps he destroyed their homes because he knew that was the last thing Dani had left. If he wiped away all of her loved ones, her friends, her family, her memories, there would be nothing left for him but a shell. He only wanted the idea of her, the fixation. He may have stalked her, but Matt Vickers never knew the real her. He wanted someone he could isolate and imprint his fantasies on.
A chilling thought brushed against Dani’s spine. Could Vickers have known about her escape vehicle too? She didn’t want to stop, but she had to know for sure. Dani pulled into a gas station, got out and began to inspect her tires. Sure enough, a little black box had been placed inside the wheel well on the rear passenger side. She plucked the magnetic box from its hiding place and tossed it in the trash, but the damage was already done.
If he planted a tracking device on her truck, it was likely that he had planted one on her aunt’s vehicle too. The cabin. An image of their idyllic little cabin in flames flashed before Dani’s eyes. She had to get to her aunt before he did. If she drove straight through, it would only take eleven hours. It would bea long day of driving, so she needed to get into a good head space. She wanted to drown out her racing thoughts and think of something, anything other than what had happened that night. She needed fresh air, a fresh start.
Dani rolled down the windows as she passed Lake Seminole Park and breathed in the deep, heady scent of the pine scrub landscape she had grown to love. Somewhere in the distance a blue jay cried its shrill song. Blue jays were her favorite bird, always busy little creatures who could be abrasive yet beautiful. It made her a little sad to think that she would never be able to jog on her favorite walking trail again, the place where she worked out so many of her demons over countless miles.
She stepped on the gas, propelled by the horrific thought of Matt Vickers taking her aunt by surprise. As she rounded the corner near the entrance of the park, a familiar blonde ponytail darted in front of her truck. Dani slammed on her brakes, and her tires screeched as she came to a hard stop. Her heart pounded in her chest as the jogger took off her headphones and turned to face her.
“Watch where you’re going, jerk!”
Dani recognized the jogger before she even spoke. “Missy?”
“Dani! Is that you?” Missy blinked into the bright headlights, shielding her eyes with her hands.
“Yeah,” she said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Missy said. “Holy shit! You nearly gave me a heart attack!”
“Oh my god!” Dani held a hand to her chest and let out a shuddered breath. “I’m so sorry. I almost hit you!”
“When did you get the truck?” Missy asked.
“I’m borrowing it from my aunt.” Dani lied. “What are you doing out here so early?”
“It’s too damn hot to run any other time of day,” she said. “I lost my evening jogging buddy, so I had to start running before work. What are you doing out here?”
“I was just over at my aunt’s house,” Dani stammered. “To uh, pick up the truck. I need it to take some trash to the dump.”
“Oh, right. She lives nearby,” Missy panted and wiped her brow.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Dani asked. Her heart was still beating a mile a minute.
“I probably lost a year of my life, but I’ll live,” Missy laughed. “I’m pretty hot though. You don’t happen to have a bottle of water do you?”
“I think so. Let me check.”
Dani glanced in her rearview as a pair of headlights flashed. Instinct told her that she needed to get Missy out of the road and move. “Yeah, um. My aunt probably has some bottled water. Get in, she lives right over there.”
“Sure. My legs are jelly. I got in three miles before you nearly hit me.” Missy opened the passenger door.
Dani glanced at the rearview again. The headlights in the distance grew nearer. Faster. Her pulse picked up speed.
Missy slid into the seat and closed the door. “Hey, shouldn’t you be home getting ready for work?”
“Oh no.” Dani gripped the steering wheel and slammed her foot on the gas. “Hold on.”
The headlights illuminated the interior of the truck cab, bathing it in a horrific, almost angelic glow. Before Dani had time to react, the car rammed into the back left side of her truck, sending it spinning 180 degrees.
Missy screamed as the centrifugal force of the crash slammed her body against the inside of the truck door. Dani’s neck snapped to the side as the seat belt pulled against her collarbone. She hit the brakes in vain as the spinning truck slowed, finallycoming to a stop. Headlights blinded her vision as she realized the truck was now facing the opposite direction. She held up a hand to shield her eyes as a giant, limping man crossed in front of the truck.
