Copyright © 2008 J. Hines
All rights reserved, Wild Child Publishing.
Thorpe pushed hard against the wind-stuck door. Losing his footing, he caught himself before falling down the flight of stairs. Thorpe froze. In front of him sat a black SUV--a Lexus from the look of it. He made out movement.
He didn't have much time. Fighting the sleet, snow, and wind, he slammed against the SUV right at the second the abductor hit the gas.
Back latch. Back latch ran through his mind. His right hand desperately searched for the latch. Fumbled for it, found it. It clicked open, but in the same second the SUV jerked up the parking lot's incline toward the street.
Thorpe's heart sank. He'd had him. He should have parked in the back to start with. Useless, Thorpe knew, but he ran after the SUV. In that instant, the hatch door swung open. An object rolled onto the black top. The SUV stopped.
Within seconds, Thorpe pulled his pistol and aimed at the tires. The SUV took off again. Thorpe fired at the front tire. He didn't dare fire again. He couldn't see his objective plainly.
Thorpe pushed his pistol back in its hostler and ran to the motionless object. He reached down and rolled it over. The girl. He bent down on one knee and felt for a pulse. Unconscious, but alive.
Thorpe caught his breath. In that instant, he realized he'd reached into the depths of Hell and pulled her out. In the distance, sirens wailed. He picked up the girl. Under his breath he thanked God and whoever was this young lady's guardian angel. He wished he knew what the hell just happened.