Amber breathed a sigh of relief when Matt told her Derek would be fine. However, to be sure, Amber called the hospital Matt had mentioned and asked about Derek herself. Confident he had nothing more than a slight concussion and a few bruises Amber ran up the stairs and began to pack her bags. She would not be responsible for Derek’s death.
Amber grabbed her atlas and decided to stick to her plan before Derek had tracked her down. With any luck, she would be well on her way to Washington before Derek and Matt made it back home.
Amber was so concerned about Derek she didn’t see the car parked a few houses down from Matt’s. She threw her bags in her car and pulled out of the drive. Normally so careful, Amber paid no attention to her surroundings or to the other cars on the road.
Her tank was already full and she had grabbed a couple of things from the pantry so she would not have to stop for a while. She would continue her route and head down through Georgia into Florida. She would drive around for several days before heading back west and then north toward Washington. She felt sure if she could get far enough away, she could get lost forever. This time she would have to leave it all behind, including her friend. She would call Olivia from the road one last time and tell her goodbye.
Amber drove through the dark for a couple of hours before beginning to feel tired. Her emotions were strained and she felt physically sick. She had not had any sleep that night. But she knew if she could just make it until daylight, she would be fine. She didn’t want to stop until she had put several hours between her and Derek. She wouldn’t begin to look for a hotel until the next evening.
Amber rolled down her window slightly and cranked up the radio. She sang for the next couple of hours and breathed a sigh of relief as the sun began to come up. Pulling off the interstate, Amber gassed up her car and stopped for a real breakfast and some coffee. She pulled through a drive thru instead of eating in so she could get back on the road.
Slipping her coffee into a cup holder and placing her biscuit on the seat beside her, Amber pulled out of the parking lot. She followed a highway instead of getting back on the interstate and would take a bite at the red lights. By her calculations she would hit the Florida line in just a few more hours.
Ah yes, the little rabbit was on the run again. He was hoping this would be her reaction. And so scared she was making it easy for him to follow her. If she kept this up he would be able to take her easily. Maybe his blond, beauty was tired of the games also. Maybe she wanted him to follow her. He smiled in anticipation. Yes, she was making it very easy.
Matt and Derek came home to an empty house. Assuming Amber had gone to work, Derek filled his brother in on what he had learned. The police had been able to salvage the papers and folder from his car and Matt took those and looked over them.
“So, my profile was on target,” Matt said.
“You know it was, brother,” replied Derek wincing as he sat on the couch in his brother’s living room.
“I just don’t understand how you let this guy get the drop on you,” Matt said.
“It must have happened when I was paying the waitress. I left the table to go to the bathroom and she had brought a cup for me to pour my drink into. He must have slipped something in it while I was washing my hands,” Derek said.
“Rookie mistake,” Matt smirked.
Derek winced again. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“The Sherriff said you are lucky to be alive. Said a couple more feet to the left and your car would have plummeted about twenty-five feet down,” Matt replied.
Derek whistled low. “He’s right. I am lucky to be alive.”
“We need to get a lock on this guy now that you have proof he is Amber’s stalker and the one who tried to kill you last night,” Matt told him.
“We also need to get to Amber. He may have gone after me for the same reason he did the others or he may have found out that I’m an FBI agent. If so, he will go after Amber next and we can’t take that chance,” Derek said.
“You’re right but she will be safe while she's at the hospital. He won’t be stupid enough to try something there. But just in case, I’ll send a detective to check on her,” Matt said.
“Thanks,” Derek replied.
Both men checked into their offices and touched base with their bosses. Derek told Tom about the accident and the information he had obtained from Professor Genson at the college. After assuring Tom he was fine, Derek hung up the phone. Matt hung up about the same time and the brothers talked about the plan they needed to put into action to lure the maniac out of hiding.
After another hour of discussion and debating, Matt decided Derek needed to rest. An argument ensued but in the end Matt won the debate by explaining they would both need their rest if they were going to catch Amber’s stalker. Amber was safe; they could rest and be ready for whatever the evening brought them. Both men walked up to their beds and lay down.
Finally crossing over into Florida, Amber decided she had enough time between her and Derek to stop and get lunch. She needed to stretch and get more coffee. Her cell phone had not rung so she was sure Derek had not found that she was gone yet. She didn’t know if he had not made it home yet or if he was home and assumed she was at work. Either way it was buying her more time. And the more time she had to get away, the less likely her stalker would try to hurt him again.
Amber saw a sign that promised several fast food choices at the next exit so she slowed her car and put on her signal. She was in dire need of a bathroom. She decided to gas up again even though she wasn’t quite on empty then found a fast food place that looked clean and appetizing. She quickly used the bathroom and placed her order.
Finding a booth off to herself, Amber gripped her coffee and slowly sniffed. She was so tired she debated stopping for the night right where she was. She shook herself. She could make it a few more hours then she would sleep straight through the night.
Amber slowly ate her lunch, drank her coffee, and stood to throw her trash away. She decided to call Olivia to let her know what had happened and tell her she would not be contacting her again for a while.
Amber dialed Olivia’s number as she walked to her car. Climbing inside, she heard her friend pick up the phone.
“Hello,” Olivia answered.
“Hey, Livy,” Amber said.
“Amber, it’s so good to hear from you. How are you,” Olivia asked.
“I’m good,” Amber replied. “How are you?” She wanted to gage Olivia’s mood and state of mind before dropping a bomb shell on her.
“I’m doing great. I have gone back to work and I feel so much better. Your visit was just what I needed, Amber, thank you for coming,” Olivia said.
“I’m so glad you feel better. How’s Patrick,” asked Amber.
“He’s good,” Olivia replied. “He has left again to take care of his aunt that has been sick. Sometimes I wonder if that woman will ever die,” Olivia joked.
“That’s so sweet that he is so devoted to her,” Amber replied.
“Yes, but I miss him when he is gone. Sometimes I just need him in bed beside me at night,” said Olivia.
“I understand. Look, Olivia, I have to tell you something,” Amber began. She told Olivia about the accident involving Derek and how she was on the run again. She told her Derek’s suspicion that her phone may be bugged and said she would not be calling her again for a while.
“Amber, do you think that is wise. Derek can protect you,” Olivia said.
“I thought so too, Livy, but look what happened. Anyone is vulnerable as long as we don’t know who this guy is,” replied Amber.
“I understand, Amber. But I will be worried about you,” Olivia said.
“I know. I will try to find a way to let you know I'm okay,” Amber replied.
The girls talked a little longer as Amber drove. It may be the last time she would hear Olivia’s voice and she wanted to take advantage. Eventually they
said their goodbyes. Amber hung up the phone with tears streaming down her face. She was going to miss Olivia. She was the only one who had kept her sane through this whole nightmare.
Amber turned up the radio as she continued down the interstate. She tried to get the thought of how lonely she was going to be out of her mind. She laughed as she thought about the many adventures her and Olivia had gotten into. Before long, Amber had dried her tears and had only happy thoughts running through her head as she continued to drive.
Waking from his nap, Derek stumbled down the stairs to the sound of his brother’s voice on the telephone. He began looking for some Tylenol for his pounding head when the tension in Matt’s voice had him walking back to where his brother sat on the phone.
“What do you mean she’s not at work,” Matt was saying.
Matt listened to the voice on the other end of the line, his neck muscles getting tighter.
“Find her,” he snapped ending the call quickly.
“Find who,” Derek asked quietly.
Matt whirled around to see his brother standing behind him.
“Amber didn’t show up for her shift at work today,” Matt told Derek.
“What,” Derek yelled.
“Calm down, I’ve got my best agent on it. We’re looking for her,” Matt replied.
“What if he already has her,” Derek asked.
“We will find her, Derek,” Matt assured his brother.
Derek ran upstairs and searched Amber’s room. Finding her clothes gone, he knew she had left again. If her stalker had her, she would not have packed her clothes. Derek turned and saw Matt in the doorway looking at him.
“She ran. She must have heard about the accident and is trying to get away from him,” Derek said.
“She seemed upset yesterday when she came home from work. I thought it was because you were not home, but she tried to call you several times. Do you think something happened at work that she didn't tell me about,” Matt asked.
“Pull the surveillance at the hospital. We need to know what we are dealing with,” Derek said as he reached for his cell phone. Pick up Amber, he silently pleaded. When he got her voice mail he simply hung up.
Matt drove to the hospital to see if they could find anything on the security monitors while Derek threw his clothes into a bag. They already had an APB out on her vehicle and Derek had his tracking device. If she hadn’t ditched the car, he could locate her if he got close enough.
At the hospital the security guards pulled the tapes from the previous evening and Matt saw a man dressed in jeans and a pull over walk over to Amber’s car and leave a note on the windshield. The guard, on Matt’s instructions, fast forwarded the tape until Amber’s shift was over and he watched as Amber walked to her car, stop suddenly, and then slowly pull the note from her windshield. He could see the fear on her face and wanted to kick himself for not noticing her anxiety the evening before. It was his fault she was on the run again, alone, and in the path of a monster.
Derek swore his way through Atlanta traffic trying his best to get to the interstate as quickly as possible. Matt was having his office triangulate Amber’s cell but Derek was sure she had headed toward Florida. He just hoped he could reach her in time. Matt had already called with the information he had from the hospital surveillance video and he had his team tracking the whereabouts of the suspect. With any luck, the stalker would still be at work and nowhere near Amber.
Derek continued to try to reach Amber’s cell phone. By now he was panicking. He needed to hear her voice, to know she was alright. He wanted to tell her to turn around. He knew the identity of her stalker and he would stop him for her. But she didn’t answer and Derek couldn’t say what he needed to say.
He continued to race down the interstate dodging traffic and driving as fast as he dared. He knew his brother was doing everything he could to locate her. He needed to reach her before it was too late.
♥ Chapter 12 ♥