Silver Falls - Anne Stuart [42]
Rachel shifted in the seat as they sped down the interstate. Caleb wasn’t about to tell her where he was taking her—she’d asked enough times. All she could do was sit there and realize what a total idiot she’d been to say yes.
He had just about the worst reputation in Silver Falls, as far as she could tell, and everyone in Stephen Henry’s living room had tensed up when he walked in. Even her even-tempered husband had freaked out.
And suddenly women were dead. And she had willingly gotten in the car with him, without telling anyone where she was going.
She only had his word for it that David had invited him over for dinner—her husband hadn’t even mentioned it in his message. If Caleb Middleton was a serial killer he could strangle her, dump her, and…
But he’d been too careless. Anyone could have seen him walk up to the house, seen her leave with him, which was a whole other problem. If he was really trying to get away with murder, he was doing a rotten job of it, and she suspected Caleb Middleton was as efficient as her husband at getting things done. Maybe even better. David wouldn’t be able to get away with murder—he was much too transparent. She could read his feelings clearly, when he was disappointed in her, when he was feeling affectionate, his frustration over Sophie’s polite distance.
Caleb struck her as much more of a liar. A manipulator, who cheated to get what he wanted, who had some score to settle with his younger brother.
It didn’t make sense. In truth, Caleb was taller, better looking, more charismatic than his brother, whether she wanted to admit it or not. He was charming and manipulative—why would he envy David? David, whose very appeal was because he was safe, ordinary.
But then, nothing made sense. She remained silent when he pulled off the interstate, heading down a dark road. She’d never driven in this direction, away from Seattle rather than toward it, and she felt a little shiver slide down her backbone despite the warmth of the car.
“You know, I didn’t think to leave David a message. He might come home and worry.”
“I doubt it. He’ll assume you’ve gone somewhere with me.”
“I don’t know that that’s going to provide much peace of mind,” she said, her voice wry. “Anyway, I think I’d better call and tell him where we’re going. Did you bring your cell phone?”
“No service around here.” They sped down the deserted road.
“How do you know? You just got home.”
“I’ve already been down this road in the last few days.”
“Why?”
A faint smile twisted his mouth. “I had my reasons.”
Oh, shit, he’s going to kill me. She surreptitiously squeezed closer to the door. He wasn’t driving that fast, and if she moved quickly she could unfasten the seat belt and open the door at the same time, rolling out and heading into the woods at a dead run. He might not catch her, and at least it would give her a fighting chance.
He turned left, onto a dirt road, and there were no more houses anywhere around, just the road leading through the towering trees. She shifted, trying to look like she was just getting comfortable, and moved her left hand to the seat belt buckle, sliding her right hand up toward the door handle. He was looking straight ahead, paying no attention to her, and she knew she had to take her chance soon, before it was too late.
Maybe it was already too late. If she had anything left of her brain she should do something, scratching his name into her leg or something so that they could pin it on him when they found her body. There was a dip in the road up ahead, a deep pool of water lying there, and she knew he’d slow down and swerve to avoid it. That would be her chance. Her fingers played with the metal buckle, waiting, waiting.
He sped up, splashing through the puddle, moving deeper into the forest, and she knew she had to make her move, no matter how fast he was driving, no matter how slim a chance it was, and her fingers curved around the metal flange, ready to flip it up, when he slammed on the brakes, her seat belt released, and she went hurtling toward the glass windshield.
His arm shot out