Cold Case Justice. Sharon Dunn

shelter of the trees. Out of breath and barely able to walk, she stopped and bent over. He wrapped his arm around her waist and all but carried her the remaining distance. Finally Matthew’s car came into view. She yanked open the passenger-side door, glancing over her shoulder. Blondie’s car rounded the corner. Matthew pressed the accelerator of his car just as she sat in the seat and closed the door. She belted herself in. Every part of her body felt like it was on fire and each inhale caused physical anguish.

      She glanced over at Matthew, who focused on the road in front of him. What was going on with him that he would take this kind of risk for her?

      Matthew gained speed. The other car loomed dangerously close.

      He gripped the wheel tighter and pressed the accelerator to the floor.

      The other car bumped against them. Rochelle braced herself on the dashboard with her good hand as her heart beat out a wild rhythm. There was a second and a third bump and then their car rolled down a steep hill. The front end impacted with a fallen log, coming to a jerky stop. She flew forward but the seat belt held her in place. Her whole torso flared from the trauma.

      Matthew’s hand touched her shoulder. Concern filled his voice. “You all right?”

      The intensity of the pain nearly blinded her, but she managed a nod. The warmth of his touch calmed her.

      His hand brushed over her cheek. “I’m so sorry. The last thing you needed was to be in another accident.” He stared at her so intensely it was clear he was doing his paramedic thing and assessing her responses.

      “Why are you doing all of this?”

      He looked directly at her. “I just figure a kid who doesn’t have a dad deserves to at least have his mom around.”

      His comment pierced straight through her. He was willing to do all of this for Jamie.

      He clicked the key in the car, but nothing happened. “I’ve talked to your kid a couple of times when we ran into each other in the neighborhood. He’s a good kid. He deserves a shot at a normal life.” He shook his head. “I don’t think this car is going to start.”

      Still reeling from what he had said about Jamie, Rochelle was seeing Matthew in a new light. For nine years, she’d been alone in caring about Jamie’s future. With Dylan gone, she’d assumed it would always be that way.

      Rochelle glanced around. They’d rolled down a steep, snowy embankment. The road was above them, a forest on the other side. Blondie had hit them with such force that his own car had rolled down the hill, too. It was upright, but the smashed roof indicated that it must have turned over at least once.

      Matthew tried his car one more time. Clearly it wasn’t going to start. He drew his attention to the thug’s wrecked car. “I’m going to make sure that guy is okay. And see if his car will run.”

      Rochelle was amazed. Matthew never stopped being a paramedic. Blondie had nearly killed them, and Matthew still cared enough about his fellow human being to check on him.

      “Be careful,” she said.

      “I can handle it. He’s not getting out of the vehicle. He’s probably incapacitated.” Matthew pushed open the door and stepped out.

      She waited for a moment and then thought it would be better if Matthew didn’t confront their pursuer alone. Still in pain, Rochelle pushed herself from the car and trailed behind Matthew. She watched him reach through the broken window of the thug’s car and touch the unconscious man’s neck to make sure he had a pulse.

      Concern filled his expression when he noticed her. “You should’ve stayed in the car.”

      “I was worried the guy might hurt you,” she said.

      “I’m not sure how much help you would have been. You’re in pretty rough shape.” The corner of his mouth turned up and a smile danced in his eyes. “We need to call for help.” He looked down at his belt. “I don’t suppose you have my phone?”

      “I dropped it when he grabbed me.” She peered inside the car. “His phone must be in there somewhere.” She went around to the passenger-side door and opened it to search.

      Blondie’s eyes shot open. He grabbed her hair and started pulling. “You.” His voice filled with rage. Her scalp burned.

      Matthew ran up behind her, wrapped his arm around her waist and wrestled her free. The thug crawled across the seat, reaching out for her, but Matthew pulled her back. The thug emerged from the wrecked car, swaying on his feet. His injuries from the accident had left him debilitated, and he stalked toward them slowly, stopping frequently. Matthew helped Rochelle sit down. After patting the thug down for a weapon, he led him back to the car where he tied him up. Weakened by the accident and his outburst with Rochelle, the thug resisted only once.

      After returning to Rochelle, Matthew glanced up at the road above them and then at the forest. “Follow me.” He raced over to his wrecked car and pulled a first-aid kit out of the backseat.

      She staggered toward him. Her side hurt every time she wheezed in air.

      He must have seen the pain in her expression. “You can’t keep running like this. It will mess you up more. You can’t walk back to town in your condition.” He stared up at the steep incline that led to the country road.

      “We have to at least try,” she said. “Someone should be along to pick us up.”

      She swayed, and he wrapped an arm around her waist. He glanced over his shoulder to where the thug remained slumped against the car. “Guess we don’t have a lot of options. We’ll call for someone to come and get him when we get to town. I’ve got you. Walk as fast as you can.”

      They made it only a short way up the hill before she stopped, breathing heavily and leaning against him. This wasn’t going to work. She could hardly walk, let alone climb a hill.

      “I don’t think we should stay out in the open long. Other people might be coming when that guy doesn’t show up with me,” she said.

      He walked parallel to the road, still supporting Rochelle. “Where was that guy taking you?”

      “He was taking me to a man, an evil man who I am pretty sure wants me dead.”

      “Why does he want you dead?” He continued to hold her up and plodded forward.

      “Because...I...witnessed him...kill a man. Jamie’s father.” Recalling the horror of ten years ago weakened her even more. Her knees buckled.

      He caught her in his arms and then looked directly at her. His hand touched her cheek. “You need to get your strength back up. You can’t walk anymore.”

      “Maybe it’s not such a good idea to go up there anyway.” She was having a hard time forming a complete thought. “They’ll be looking for us on that road when I don’t show up.”

      “We’ll have to come up with a different plan, then,” said Matthew. He pulled her into the shelter of some trees. He ripped open the first-aid kit and doled out two pills from a packet. “Take these. They’ll help somewhat with the pain.” His face was etched with concern. “What you need more than anything is rest. We’ll have to walk awhile on the flat ground, find a hiding place. Can you do that for me?” He shoved other items from the kit in his pockets.

      She nodded even as she felt herself growing light-headed. She peered over her shoulder wondering if the thug would be able to figure out which direction they’d gone and tell whoever showed up. The snow was patchy and their footprints faint. “I guess hiding is our best option for now.”

      With Matthew supporting her, they walked until they came to a place where the tree cover was fairly thick. He gathered tree branches and laid them on top of the snow. Using the branches as a chair, Matthew helped Rochelle to the ground.

      “You need to stay here and rest. I’m going to scout around and see if there is another more accessible road where we might be able to catch a ride