“It’s going to be okay. I hope some part of you knew that I would come. We’ve been through so much together. We faced off against Raul before. If he comes for you, we’ll face him again and win—together, Sierra. That’s why I’m here. To face him with you if it comes to that.”
Though uncertainty about his decision to come had plagued him, now Bryce was more than glad he’d decided to head to Crescent Springs. Whether she had realized that she needed him before, he didn’t know. But the way she held on to him now told him she would accept his presence, at least for the time being.
He eased away and gripped her arms. “I’m here for you.”
In her eyes he could see that she didn’t want to need him. He took a step back even as she did too. “See you at dinner?” he asked.
She nodded. “Okay. Sure.”
“How about the Crescent Springs Café just across the street.” That should be easy.
“It’s going to be crowded.” She shrugged. “We could eat here.”
“We could. But then your father would hear our conversation.”
She nodded. “Right. I don’t necessarily want him to know all the danger I’ve had to face or am facing now. I haven’t even told him the worst part about yesterday.” She rubbed her arms. “I need him to know. He needs to be safe and remain cautious, but I know how much it will hurt him to learn all the details of what I went through before, and that it followed me here.”
“I’ll be praying for you,” he said.
Her eyes widened. “Looks like you have a lot to share with me, then.”
Right. He’d found God. Or rather God had found him since Sierra had left Boulder.
“So the café it is.”
She smiled. “I’ll call and let them know to save us a table. I’m friends with Miguel, the owner.”
“Sounds good.” He left her standing in the kitchen petting the gentle giant he’d given her four years ago. She’d remained in Boulder for three years. When Samson had been old enough she’d trained him for K-9 work. Just before Samson had become an official part of BPD, Sierra had moved to Crescent Springs. Bryce got the feeling that the timing wasn’t a coincidence. Sierra hadn’t wanted to put Samson in harm’s way or lethal situations.
He headed out through the toy store and gave a small wave to her father and the young woman Bryce assumed was Jane. She didn’t look a day over twenty. As he exited the toy store, he realized the anticipation he felt about tonight’s dinner with Sierra felt so much like a date when it shouldn’t. She’d hurt him before, and he knew Sierra well enough…she would hurt him again if given the chance. Regardless, Bryce was only here to keep her safe. Sierra was in danger. That he found himself wrapped up in protecting her against a Novack brother again seemed surreal. But he would see it through until the end.
If only he could shake the feeling that it wouldn’t end well. They had survived the last time. Could they survive this time?
He hesitated before crossing the street and leaving the toy store. But he reassured himself that while Sierra was at the toy store and surrounded by people, she should be safe. He walked the growing crowds to see if he spotted any familiar or unwanted faces and called his old boss from the Boulder PD on his cell.
“Bryce.” The man was breathless. Traffic resounded in the background. “Good to hear from you. Since the Novack brothers’ escape, we’ve been trying to find out everything we can. Where are you?”
Three steps ahead of you. Bryce leaned against a storefront and watched the toy store across the street while he talked. “Crescent Springs, Colorado.”
“Oh, you’re staying close to Sierra then. You obviously know about the plane crash.”
“Yes. And I’m here with her until this is over.”
“Don’t forget that you sent them to the penitentiary too. You could be in as much danger.”
“I’m well aware of that, don’t worry. But I don’t think that I was their primary target since they headed straight for Crescent Springs.”
“But now that you’re there, it’s easier for Raul to get at both of you. That said, I don’t blame you for being concerned about her.” A car door opened and shut. “You’re a good man to make sure she’s all right. I’ll stay in close communication with Sheriff Locke there in Crescent Springs as the state and NTSB work through this so we’re all on the same page. I don’t need to tell you to watch Sierra’s back, but please watch your own.”
“I will, don’t worry. I’m sure someone will spot Raul soon. He couldn’t have lasted long in the elements so my guess is that he would have made the closest town.”
“Crescent Springs.”
“Which is hopping right now for a local ice festival. If he’s hanging around, someone’s going to see him.”
“On the other hand,” his old boss said, “he’s smart enough to know that, with the plane crash, we’re onto him. He might get as far away as he can rather than trying to get to Sierra.”
“Whatever the case, let’s hope he doesn’t get to Sierra.” The state was searching and local law had been called in, as well. Sierra wasn’t out there searching for the criminal for obvious reasons. Bryce was glad that Sheriff Locke hadn’t involved her.
“I’m with you. And Bryce? It’s good to be working with you again. I wish you would have stayed with the BPD. You’re always welcome to come back. We could always use another good detective.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Captain. I’ll keep that in mind.” At the very back of his mind. He ended the call.
Bryce leaned against the wall to watch the tourists entering the shops or merely window shopping.
Across the street, next to the toy store, he spotted a big man, his hood covering his face. The guy’s build was the right size. He could be Raul.
Sierra appeared in the glass doorway of the store, stepped out onto the sidewalk and turned left to walk up the street. Where was she going?
His gut tensed. Bryce started across the street. The big man turned and walked away from the store as if to follow Sierra.
Bryce trailed him, picking up his pace. If this was Raul gunning for her, Bryce couldn’t let him hurt Sierra. Nor could he let him get away.
The man increased his pace and headed directly for Sierra.
“Sierra! Watch out!” Bryce shouted but he wasn’t sure if she could hear him over the bustling crowd and the traffic.
Sierra jerked around at the same moment the man was on her. He grabbed her, then threw her against the wall. He wielded a knife, but Sierra dodged his strike.
“Hey!” Bryce called out as he weaved through pedestrians and sprinted toward Sierra and her attacker.
The man jerked his attention to Bryce then threw Sierra down hard as if she was nothing but a rag doll. He pushed his way through the tourists to escape, bumping shoulders with people as he passed, and knocking a man and his child over.
Bryce caught up to Sierra and tried to help her to her feet.
“Go, get him!” She pointed. “I’ll radio the sheriff.”
Bryce ran after the man, but the attacker climbed onto a motorcycle and sped away. The chase wasn’t over yet though. The traffic and tourists would slow the motorcycle and that would be Bryce’s only chance of catching him. Bryce pushed himself, dashing between cars and people, shouting that he was coming through. The motorcycle turned right at the corner, away from the heavy traffic in the town’s