On The Run Read Online Free

North wasn’t going to handle this hot potato by himself. Wake the wonder boy up and make him see what he could do with Kilmer.
    He quickly dialed the number and waited with malicious satisfaction for the ringing to jar Crane from sleep.

2
                                                                                                                                       
    T he tires of Charlie’s truck rattled the loose wooden slats of the old bridge as he started across the river. He’d been meaning to fix those slats. . . .
    Almost home.
    Charlie turned the radio up as a Reba McEntire song came on. He’d always liked her. Pretty lady. Pretty voice. Maybe country music wasn’t as deep as the stuff Frankie wrote, but it made him feel comfortable. No reason why he couldn’t like both.
    The rain was splashing hard against the windshield and he turned the wipers on full blast. He didn’t need to cope with rain as well as being tipsy. Getting old sucked. Two drinks and he was woozy. He used to be able to drink all his buddies under the table and still be clearheaded enough to—
    His cell phone rang, and it took a minute to get it out of his pocket. Robert. He shook his head and smiled as he punched the button. “I’m fine. I’m almost home and I’ll thank you to not treat me like a doddering—”
    Something was on the road directly ahead.
    Light!
             
    G race was still not sleeping when her cell phone rang on the bedside table.
    Charlie? She hadn’t heard his truck and he sometimes stayed with Robert if he drank too much.
    “Mom?” Frankie murmured drowsily.
    “Shh, baby. It’s okay.” She reached over her daughter and picked up the phone. “Charlie?”
    “Get out of there, Grace.”
    Robert.
    She sat bolt upright in bed. “What’s wrong?”
    “I don’t know. And there’s no time to explain. North told me to come out there, and I’m on my way. But I might be too late. Get out of there.”
    “Charlie?”
    He was silent a moment. “He was on his way home. I talked to him a few minutes ago. I lost him. I think something happened.”
    “What? Then I have to go find—”
    “I’ll find him. You get yourself and Frankie out of there.”
    “What’s wrong?” Frankie was sitting up in bed. “Is Charlie okay?”
    Oh, God, she hoped so, but she had to trust Robert. She had to take care of Frankie. “You find him, Robert. And if you’re having me take Frankie out in this storm for no reason, I’m going to strangle you.”
    “I hope there’s no reason. Keep in touch.” Robert hung up.
    “Charlie?” Frankie whispered.
    “I don’t know, baby.” She flung off the covers. “Go to your room and get your tennis shoes. Don’t turn on the light and don’t bother getting dressed. We’ll grab a rain poncho in the mudroom downstairs.”
    “Why am I—”
    “Frankie, don’t ask questions. We don’t have time. Just trust me and do what I tell you. Okay?”
    Frankie hesitated. “Okay.” She jumped out of bed and ran out of the room. “I’ll be quick.”
    Bless her. Most kids jarred from sleep in the middle of the night would have been too scared to even function.
    Grace went to the closet and pulled out her knapsack from the top shelf. She’d packed this knapsack eight years ago and updated the contents periodically. She hoped the clothes she’d packed for Frankie would still fit. . . .
    She was unfastening the lockbox she’d put in the knapsack when Frankie ran back in the room. “Good. You were very quick. Go to the window and see if it’s still raining so hard.”
    While Frankie was crossing the room, Grace took out the gun and dagger. She quickly stuffed them and the papers she’d placed in the box eight years ago in the front pocket of the knapsack, where they were readily available.
    “Maybe the rain’s a little lighter.” Frankie was