Page 6 of Mountain Shadow

If this man knows about the bar, that means he’s telling the truth.

“Open the door, Sarah. Let me help you.”

She hesitated. There was something about his voice that inspired trust. Maybe she could trust this man. Maybe—

You don’t know him.

And there’s still the other man to consider.

The one who chased you into the bathroom.

You can’t trust anybody, Sarah.

The shivers came back then. She pressed her head back against the door.

“No … please call Damien. I’m not coming out until I speak with him.”

Damien would help her. He had to.

3

Jens

The pain and fear in her voice made a wave of emotion rise up inside him.

Jens shifted position on his knees, keeping his mouth to the door. “I can’t call Damien now, but I promise I’ll get him on the phone as soon as possible. Please open the door and I’ll explain.”

“Then call my sister. Call Tess. Please.”

The softly uttered please almost undid him.

He sighed. “I can’t reach either of them right now, Sarah.”

Her voice got sharper. “Why not? Are they okay? Is Tess okay?”

“They’re fine.” Jens paused. He wasn’t about to tell her where they were. Not until he was sure what was going on here. But he also couldn’t leave her worrying about her sister. “Just out for the weekend with Jamie.”

“Oh.” He could almost hear the wheels turning in her head. “You’re not lying to me, are you? I can’t … I can’t take it if you’re lying to me.”

“I promise I won’t ever lie to you, Sarah. I know you don’t know me yet, but you can trust me. Open the door and we’ll talk.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Melkopf, but I’m not coming out.”

Jens’s heart beat hard against his chest. He’d broken just about every speed limit to get to her, and a part of him wished he could have made it even faster. Something serious must have happened to this woman to spook her like this.

“Jens,” he said.

“Sorry?” she whispered.

“Call me Jens.”

“I’m not coming out … Jens,” she repeated, her voice stronger this time around.

“Okay.” Jens shifted again, sliding into a sitting position and leaning his back against the door. The wood rattled as it took his weight.

“What are you doing?” she asked fearfully. It sounded like she expected him to break down the door any second.

He looked at the unprotected hinges. It wouldn’t take much for him to break down this door. And it would certainly be the quickest way to get her out of here. But Jens wouldn’t do that unless he feared for her life—he didn’t want to cause her to be any more afraid than she already was.