Against the Tide Read Free Page B

knee-space, she listened as a scuffle ensued. She wished she had her phone, but her purse was still on Barb’s desk. And she wondered about her rescuer. Who was he? And how could she help him?
    As she felt around the top of the desk, hoping for a paperweight or something to use as a weapon, she heard the sounds of running footsteps and spied both men racing toward the back of the building, followed by the slamming of the back door—then silence.
    Still shaking from head to toe, she could barely think straight. What had just happened? And why? As she hurried up front to get her purse and phone, she begged God to help whoever it was that had suddenly jumped into the fray. She’d just reached the front of the building when she heard footsteps in the rear—running toward her.
    â€œHello?” a male voice yelled. “Where are you?”
    Megan was afraid to answer as she ducked behind Barb’s big reception desk, wishing she’d grabbed her phone. Who was it? The man who wanted to slit her throat? Or the one who’d chased him away? Or could it be someone else? Someone connected to her attacker? Hadn’t he texted someone, a cohort perhaps?
    â€œMegan?” the man yelled from the center of the building. “Are you okay?”
    Still feeling shocked and confused, Megan tried to think. Who was calling for her by name?
    â€œIt’s Garret Larsson,” the voice declared. “Are you still here, Megan?”
    She barely poked her head above the desk, peeking over the edge to be certain it was Garret. “It’s you!” She stood in relief, trying to control her shaking knees.
    â€œAre you okay?” Garret hurried toward her.
    â€œYeah, I guess, just shaken.” She brushed the dust from the front of her shirt and pants as she looked at him. “What happened?”
    â€œThat’s what I want to know.” He took her hand, leading her to a chair by the front door, helping her to sit down.
    â€œWhat happened to that— that guy?” She heard the tremor in her voice.
    â€œI chased him, nearly caught him.” He paused for a breath. “But I lost him after a couple blocks. I just called 911. Police are on their way.” He sat next to her, looking intently into her face. “What happened? Tell me.”
    She took in a steadying breath, trying to appear calm, but knowing that she was close to breaking. “I heard someone in here. I thought it was Arthur. He cleans the press at night sometimes. I went to see.” She shuddered. “And then this—this guy jumped me, pinned me down. He—he had a knife.” She felt herself shaking uncontrollably as she remembered that feeling of total helplessness.
    â€œYou’re probably in shock.” Garret removed his fleece jacket, slipping it over her shoulders. “Just take some slow, deep breaths.”
    â€œThanks,” she muttered, comforted by the warmth and his words. And taking his advice, she breathed slowly and deeply, reminding herself she was a strong woman. “It all happened so fast. So frightening. I just don’t understand. Why did he want to kill me?”
    â€œI don’t know.” Garret shook his head with a serious expression.
    She studied him more closely now. In the bright light of the office, she could see that his dark brown hair was wavy and long enough to curl around his ears. And his eyes, a rich shade of teal-blue, looked very concerned.
    â€œI’m so thankful you came when you did.” She shuddered to think what might’ve happened if he hadn’t shown up right then. “What made you come back here?”
    â€œA friend mentioned seeing the back door open. It didn’t sound right to me. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    â€œTh-thank you.” Her voice cracked with emotion. “I—I don’t know what I’d have done if you—if you—” It felt like the dam had broken as she crumbled into