Chapter 31

But he was too proud. And too ambitious. And he was drawn to her. And he didn't want her hurt, either-at least, no more than she had already been hurt by those damn kidnappers. So he hadn't spoken up. He hadn't insisted on another team member handling the job. And he hadn't taken a different assignment. And now he had left her to turn to her impetuous friend to find a way to escape him. The town vanished behind him. The dark highway lay ahead, growing darker as clouds crept across the face of the moon and obscured the thick wash of bright stars. He pressed the gas harder, adjusted the Bluetooth device in his ear and kept going.  ------------------------------- On the radio, a lonely cowboy begged his girl to come over. By then, Kimberly had it turned to full volume. Phoebe turned to her. "Can you cool it a little bit" she said. But she laughed too.  Kimberly turned to her "No I can't" she said.  A moment later, Rowdy's Roadhouse appeared up ahead, a wash of lovely, garish light