Against All Odds Read online

  She stumbled as she yanked it on, and nearly crashed into a tree. But she managed to push off it and regain her balance. Her ankles continued to throb, but at least nothing was broken.

  Fingers brushed against her arm.

  Ava screamed. Then she ran faster.

  The fingers grabbed her arm, this time squeezing tightly and yanking her back. Dave pulled on her hair, forcing Ava’s head back.

  “You’re going to regret that.” He was so close, she could feel his hot breath on her skin.

  “Run, Zoey!”

  He covered Ava’s mouth. “Yeah, run! I have my gun! I’ll shoot Ava if you come near us! If I see you again, I’ll shoot you!”

  Then he dragged her back toward the cabin.

  She kicked and screamed, not that it did any good against him.

  Guilt

  Zoey fought the urge to run after Dave and Ava. If she tried to take him down, she would fail. He would shoot one of them. He’d already proven he had no problem killing people.

  She couldn’t risk Ava’s life. What she needed to do was to get away and tell the police about this place. They could take him down.

  But the question was, why did he want her to run? Was it to make her think twice, then go back? Or did he have another plan for Zoey? Like hunting her down as soon as he had Ava restrained again? Or did he think she would die before ever making it out of the woods because they were so deep?

  Her head hurt. She had to think, though. There was no other option.

  Dave had threatened to kill Ava if she came after them. She had to believe him. If he did kill the girl, it would be her fault. Then she’d never be able to look Alex’s best friend in the eyes again.

  No. There had to be a road nearby. She would find it and flag someone down. Tell them to call the cops.

  Hopefully it wouldn’t be too late. She couldn’t risk Ava’s life by going after her.

  She listened but couldn’t hear them anymore. Guilt stung for leaving without her, but she would find a way out of the woods.

  Zoey shivered. It was time to move, she couldn’t let anything slow her down—not being cold, hungry, or lost. None of that was an option.

  She cupped her ears, but still didn’t hear anything.

  Now it was time to move, but which direction? It was nothing more than a guess.

  She closed her eyes and whispered a quick prayer, hoping that might work.

  A slight breeze tickled her skin and gave her goose bumps.

  Her heart sped up. Was that a sign? Was she supposed to follow the direction of the breeze?

  Zoey glanced to her left. There was a narrow path she hadn’t noticed before.

  She bolted for it.

  “I’ll get you help, Ava.”

  She ran as fast as she could without shoes. Everything dug into her feet—rocks, branches, and other sharp things she couldn’t identify.

  Dave probably thought she would never make it out of the woods alive. Not like she was. But that was where he was wrong. He’d just underestimated Zoey Carter, and he would spend the rest of his life in jail because of it. She would see to that.

  Nowhere

  Alex struggled to keep his eyes open. It had been hours since he’d sent the photo of Dave and his kid to Nick and Detective Garcia, hearing nothing back from anyone.

  He’d also managed to find absolutely nothing more with his online searching. It would take either getting a lot more creative or getting one of them to accept him as a friend online, and being that he was connected to Nick, it was unlikely.

  His mouth was dry, so he grabbed an energy drink and turned on the news. Maybe there was some big break in the case that nobody had told him about. His picture could have led the police to the cabin.

  Yeah, it was probably too soon for that, but Alex couldn’t look at his laptop for another moment. He sipped his drink and flipped through the channels until he came to the first news report.

  They were covering the shooting at the scene. Of course they were zooming in on the part of the building that had been blown up. Nobody had been hurt in the blast, but that looked most dramatic.

  A sketch of Dave, the one that looked the most like him, and the reporter switched the topic to him. His name and other details about him scrolled on the ticker at the bottom, and they were asking anyone with details to call the hotline or their local police station.

  After that, they showed several actual pictures of him—all ones that Alex had already seen. Ones easily accessible from Dave’s online presence. Nothing about the cabin or his kid.

  The police had to keep some stuff secret from the public to help weed out real and fake tips, and that was probably what they’d picked.

  Alex flipped to the other news stations, finding pretty much the same thing on all channels. He stopped cold when he saw an image of Flynn in a crowd of people near the school as police continued to process the scene.

  Alex jumped up and yelled at the screen to go back. He pulled out his phone, ready to snap a picture of the image. But they didn’t return to the crowd. That would be the proof he needed that Flynn was actually a free man. Maybe he and Nick could find the footage online.

  He was about to turn the TV off when the last news reporter said something that made Alex’s stomach twist.

  “The suspect is tied to the local police captain. I did some digging and found that Dave Cooper was dating Captain Nicholas Fleshman’s ex-wife. He has no prior criminal history, but his son on the other hand—”

  Alex turned off the TV and took a deep breath. It was probably only a matter of time until all of that came out, and Alex didn’t want to be the one to tell Nick. But they were friends. He couldn’t let Nick find out everything was out there from someone else, much less the cold news itself.

  He went back to his spot at the window and stared out at the night sky. “Fight, Zoey. Keep fighting.”

  It took a minute to build the nerve to call Nick and tell him the connection had been made. The news was probably already spreading, and quickly.

  Not surprisingly, Alex got Nick’s voicemail. He hung up and texted him.

  One of the news stations figured out your connection to Dave. Call me.

  After hitting send, Alex regretted being so direct. He hadn’t meant to drop the bomb on his friend through a text. Too late now.

  What?

  Call me.

  Alex’s phone rang.

  “Hey, sorry to tell you over text.”

  “No, I get it. I wouldn’t have responded otherwise. Which station? How do they know?”

  “I think it was one of the national ones. Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. It pissed me off, so I just had to walk away.”

  “That wasn’t supposed to be released to the press. Someone had to leak the information.”

  “The reporter said she figured it out. Probably sniffing out his online presence.”

  “Wouldn’t be too hard, now that you mention it. I think Parker is connected to both of us. Ava cut all ties.” Nick’s tone sounded off.

  Alex couldn’t figure out what exactly it was. Obviously, he was crazy worried for Ava, but there was something else. “Are you okay?”

  Nick drew in a deep breath, then released it slowly. He didn’t say anything.

  Something was definitely up—something he wasn’t telling Alex.

  “Hey, if you want to talk—”

  “I don’t.”

  Laughter sounded in the background.

  “Where are you?”

  “Nowhere.”

  “How can you be nowhere?”

  Nick sighed. “I’m actually at the Nowhere Bar and Grill. Trying to think. It’s not working.”

  “Mind if I join you?”

  “Why not? Misery loves company, right?”

  “Sure does. See you in a few.”

  On his way over, Alex realized Nick was at the bar and grill. Given Alex’s past struggles, he hoped his friend was at the restaurant side of the establishment. If not…

&n
bsp; He shook his head. They could always move if Nick was there. No big deal.

  The thought of alcohol sent a rush of desire through him. It pushed on him like a lead weight.

  With Zoey missing, he wasn’t sure he could handle the temptation. But Nick knew about his struggles. He would help him say no. Or would he? With his own misery, Alex’s struggle with the drink would be the furthest thing from his mind. Probably why he’d invited him to the bar in the first place.

  That was also why Alex had immediately thought to decline.

  Alex clenched the steering wheel. Maybe he should just turn around. He wasn’t sure he could beat his demons this night. Not at a bar.

  Just the thought of being surrounded by boisterous drinkers made his mouth water for a beer. Or some shots of something stronger.

  That sounded so good. It would feel so good.

  Only one. Well, maybe two. Just as long as he didn’t get drunk.

  Everybody would understand, given the circumstances. It wasn’t like he was going to return to old habits. He just needed some relief. To blow off some steam.

  No big deal.

  Alex stopped at a traffic light and closed his eyes, imagining the way it would feel going down.

  A text came in. Alex pulled himself away from the fantasy to check it. It was from Nick.

  Hey, let’s meet at the coffee shop next door. I could really use some caffeine.

  Alex took a deep breath. Thank God for good friends.

  There was no way he could only have one or two drinks. It would lead to so much more. Potentially ruining everything if he spiraled far enough out of control.

  He texted Nick back. Yeah. If that’s what you want. Almost there.

  I do. See you in a few. I’ll order you a mocha.

  Thanks.

  Hopefully Nick understood the gratitude Alex couldn’t find words to express.

  Surprise

  Nick waved to Alex from the back of the dim coffee shop. He shoved the enormous peppermint mocha toward the empty seat. Guilt stung him for his momentary lapse of judgment. Inviting his recovering alcoholic friend to a bar.

  He was such an idiot. At least he’d come to his senses before Alex came in. Normally Alex would’ve declined, and it worried Nick that he hadn’t.

  Neither of them said anything about Nick’s stupidity as Alex sat. “How much do I owe you for this?”

  “Nothing.” Nick sipped his black coffee. “So, word’s out about Dave’s relationship with Corrine?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  He took a deep breath. “I suppose it was only a matter of time.”

  “I guess.” Alex guzzled the hot drink like it was his lifeline.

  “At least I’m not only off the case but taking leave. Nobody can make any false claims.”

  “Well, your daughter’s missing. Who could blame you?”

  Nick nodded. “No way I could get any work done. I’m next to useless. Don’t know how I managed with you gone.”

  Alex set the cup down. “It’s different, I get it. Ava’s your kid. There’s nothing worse.”

  “But still, I was worried as hell when you were abducted.”

  “I know.”

  They sat in silence, sipping their caffeine, trying to avoid getting too touchy-feely. Words weren’t necessary. They were friends, and they had each other’s backs. It wasn’t like they needed to talk about it.

  After a few minutes, Alex tapped the table. “You sure you’re okay? You sounded… I don’t know, different on the phone.”

  Nick drew in a deep breath. He’d rather tell Alex he loved him like a brother than talk about how stupid he’d been to be with Corrine all those years, much less to mention the possibility of any of his kids being Dave’s. He’d happily throw her under the bus about being Mason’s mother if it didn’t make Nick look like such a fool.

  Alex spun his empty cup on the table. “You don’t have to tell me, but I’m here. I know how hard it is to have a missing kid.”

  Nick nodded and dug his nail into a groove in the table. “I appreciate it.”

  He probably would tell Alex all about it, eventually. Now just wasn’t the time. Or was it? What if word got out about Corrine’s first child? It wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

  What if Corrine’s college friend put two and two together? She could sell the entire humiliating story to a news source—for a lot of money with a case this high profile. Then the whole world would know their dirty laundry. How naive and foolish the police captain really was.

  He looked up at Alex, who gave him a sympathetic glance.

  May as well tell him. At least he would have someone to talk to about the mess. Alex wouldn’t judge.

  Nick took a deep breath. “Corrine is Mason’s mom.”

  Alex’s eyes widened as he processed the news. “You mean Dave’s kid?”

  Nick nodded.

  “Like you mean, she gave birth to him? Not like she adopted him?”

  Nick nodded. “Corrine kept it from me all these years.”

  “Oh, man. While you were together?”

  “Yeah. Pretty stupid of me, huh?”

  “How’s that possible? I get a guy being able to hide something like that, but a woman?”

  Nick studied the groove in the table. “She went across the country to take care of her grandma, except that was a lie. Can you believe that when she came back I didn’t even notice she’d been pregnant and had a baby?”

  “I’m so sorry, Nick.”

  “You’d think I’d notice something like that, but she did a good job of getting back into shape. It also helped her that she never got stretch marks until Hanna.”

  “She gave up the baby?”

  “Let him raise it because she was afraid of losing me. Can you believe she went to all that trouble to pull one over on me? And I fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker. Then, of course, when she got tired of me, she ran right back to Dave.”

  The discussion made Nick’s head spin. They talked in circles about the whole disaster, and at least Alex didn’t think Nick was an idiot.

  After a while, one of the baristas came over and told them the cafe was closing.

  Alex yawned and stretched. “I should probably get a few hours of shut-eye.”

  “Yeah, same here.” Nick rose, feeling like his body was a lead weight. He and Alex said their goodbyes at the door and headed to their separate cars.

  Nick sat in his car and stared at the dashboard. Putting the key in the ignition felt like a monumental task. His arms may as well have been tied down.

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Alex pull out of the parking lot. Nick sighed. What did he have to go home to? An empty condo with no food, full of despair. It was like an open grave, waiting to swallow him whole.

  What would he do if Dave hurt his baby girl? If that monster laid a hand on her?

  If Nick had never been so stupid as to miss the fact that his fiancée had given birth to someone else’s baby, none of them would be in this mess. No. If Corrine hadn’t been a heartless cheater, then none of this would’ve happened. That kid wouldn’t have been born, and she wouldn’t have felt the need to run back to Dave.

  Nick leaned his head against the steering wheel. He needed to stay strong, but he’d never felt weaker. He didn’t think he could ever move from his spot again.

  He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when his phone rang. Probably Alex.

  Nick reached for it, not moving his head from its place on the steering wheel. It was Corrine. He wanted to throw the phone through a window. That would take too much energy.

  He accepted the call and put her on speaker. “What?”

  “Nick, I found something. You need to see this.”

  “Did you discover another baby you forgot to tell me about? Is this one a serial killer?”

  A beat of silence passed before she spoke. “Nick, I’m serious. I—”

  “I’m serious, Corrine.”

  “Look, I already told you e
verything. But I was going through some pictures and found one that I must’ve accidentally brought back from Dave’s.”

  “I don’t want to see your kinky photos.”

  “Nick! That’s not what I’m talking about. I found a picture of a cabin. Looks like it could be from around here. Maybe he took Ava there.”

  He sat up. “Why are you telling me? Call Anderson or Garcia. Anyone who’s actually on the case!”

  “Okay, but I want you to see it. I want to know what you think.”

  “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He ended the call and started the car. It didn’t make any sense that she wanted him to see it before showing the police, but if it could help bring Ava home, he’d go back to Corrine’s place.

  Her house was dark and quiet.

  “Parker and Hanna are sleeping.”

  “That’s good. How are they holding up?”

  “It’s rough. Parker isn’t as easy to convince that everything’s going to be okay, but Hanna’s holding out hope.”

  At least someone was. “Where’s the picture?”

  “Right over here.” She led him to the couch and picked up a shoe box. “I grabbed a bunch of pictures from his place, wanting some of my boy.”

  Nick’s stomach twisted hearing her call Mason hers. Yes, it was true, but it hadn’t really sunk in yet. He turned on a lamp and sat next to her. “Let me see the picture of the cabin.”

  She pulled it out, handed it to him, and then set the box on the other side of her. Tears welled in her eyes. “I just want this nightmare to be over.”

  Nick bit back a comment about it all being her fault and studied the picture. The dilapidated cabin seemed to be in the same woods as the picture Alex found—it was very similar. “Have you called the station about this?”

  Corrine nodded and sniffled.

  “Good.” Nick handed her back the photo. “They can handle it. I don’t know why I’m here.”

  “Nick, I need you. We’re a family. You should be here with me and the kids.”

  He stared at her, unable to find words.

  She scooted closer and pleaded with her eyes. “Move in here, Nick. We won’t have to bounce the kids back and forth. We can all be together all the time. I won’t complain about your work hours, I promise.”