“Wait, what?” I ask, feeling alarm bells going off inside my mind. “Rental car? What the hell’s she doing driving all the way out here on her own?” I ask, the edge returning to my voice.
“I know, I know.” Greg groans, asking me not to blame him but I can’t help but notice how overprotective of her I’m sounding.
My free hand gripping the steering wheel of my truck, and even though it’s not moving I can hear it creak and groan as my hand clenches around it.
“So you called her, right?” I ask before her dad can even finish what he’s trying to say.
“That’s why I’m calling you, Ben. Her cell’s not picking up and the rental company can’t reach her either.” He sniffs, losing his bravado as his voice crackles with more emotion.
I’m already planning how to get to that side of the park quickly.
If I take the sealed roads, it’s still a good hour and a half away. If I cut through the park, using the old fire tracks I might save some time, but with this weather, it could take me longer.
“Dammit!” I growl, punching the steering wheel and wishing I’d known about all of this beforehand.
There’s no way I would have let Stacey drive alone from college all the way home.
No way I’d let her go anywhere alone if I had things my way.
Jesus. I never knew I had it this bad.
“Why would she even be up this way, Greg?” I ask, forcing myself to calm down and reminding us both that the National Park is hundreds of miles out of the way from a direct route from her college to home.
“Oh, I dunno, something about her renting an electric car. Cheaper upgrade and the need to go out of the way to find recharge points… I’m not wanting to sound like a worrywart, Ben. Sounds like you have your hands full anyway,” he adds meekly, picking up on my own irritation at the news.
But anything I was thinking about before he called or anything pressing I had to do just took a back seat.
If Stacey’s out in this weather that’s coming in, alone and maybe in trouble?
The thought makes me shudder.
Not on my watch she isn’t.
There’s no way I could do anything except find her.
“I’ll find her, Greg,” I tell my oldest friend, needing to make sure he won’t worry himself to the point of doing anything stupid either.
Like driving hundreds of miles in a what? An electric car? Jesus, I must be out of touch.
His breath of relief is cut short when I tell him I should have been at her graduation, should’ve made sure she got home safe.
“I didn’t know she was going so far out of the way, Ben and I sure as hell didn’t know it was in a god damned wind-up car!” he almost shouts before he apologizes.
“Sorry, Ben. I’m just outta my head with worry is all.”
“It’s okay buddy. I hear ya.” I console him. “And I’ll find her, then I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”
Weather permitting.
“She’ll know to stay with the car,” her dad says matter of fact. “She’s a clever girl and is always telling me things you would say to do,” he adds.
I feel my chest flush, like my heart could burst.
“She does, huh?” I ask, swallowing a dry lump. “I wished I could’ve been there for her, for her graduation I mean,” I say again.
“She understood, Ben. You had those hikers to rescue. You’re her hero, Ben. She was a little upset but wouldn’t stop talking about you when we saw you on the late news.”
“She wouldn’t huh?” I ask, smiling. Feeling that familiar pulse in my pants again before I snap myself to attention.
“Just find her Ben, then let me know she’s safe. Keep her safe until we work out a way to get her home.” Her dad tells me.
“I’ll find her, Greg. And I’ll keep her safe. Promise.”
“Call me as soon as you know anything,” he adds quickly, and I ask him to do the same.
Before I can hang up, his call drops out. There’s a huge flash of lightning and another sickening crash of thunder.
I bow my head to check out the sky above. It’s a menacing looking storm cell rolling in, and fast.
Just stay where are you, Stacey. I’m coming to get you.
Chapter Three
Stacey
I try to think of how many cars I must’ve passed or had passed me on the highway before I stopped.
It was more than a few, but it feels like the whole world’s stopped since the car did and not having a working phone feels a lot like losing a limb.
Worse though when I need it so much now.
Mechanics were never my thing, and an all-electric car that has no power quickly reminds me how royally screwed I am.