Pure Dynamite by Lauren Bach Page B

call, maybe he did intend to leave her unharmed.
    It wasn't quite eleven o'clock, so the credits for one of the popular reality series scrolled. Trying to calm her nerves, she sank deeper into the chair.
    The headache she'd tried to ward off earlier had landed like a Harrier jet, and throbbed with each beat of her heart. I have to get away. She peeked toward the front door, wondered how many steps to reach it? How long it would take to get it open?
    She glanced toward Adam, wondering if at any point she would be left alone. Ten seconds was all she needed.
    Just then the news came on, the screen emblazoned with the words PRISON ESCAPE. Beneath it were two mug shots. It felt as if she were being smothered as the camera panned from the mug shots to the serious-faced anchorman.
    "A door-to-door search is underway in Durham County as police search for two armed and dangerous convicts."

Chapter Four

    Renata stared at the mug shots, recognizing the injured man immediately. Lyle McEdwin. The name rang a bell.
    But she had to look twice at the second photo. It barely resembled Adam. The photo showed him with a full beard and shorter hair, which made him look sinister. Ruthless.
    "Four prisoners fled a road gang earlier today, after overpowering guards in a daring escape," the anchorman continued. "Police in Alamance County quickly apprehended two of the inmates but the other two remain at large."
    Renata recalled Janet reassuring Mrs. Bolton the prisoners had been captured. Clearly she hadn't realized not all had been caught.
    The screen blinked as they replayed the video of an earlier Department of Corrections news conference. "Inmate Adam Duval was serving a five-year sentence for possession of stolen property. The second man, Lyle McEdwin, was serving time for armed robbery and assault."
    Renata felt a shudder creep up her side. It wasn't hard to imagine Lyle assaulting someone. By comparison, Adam's crime seemed tame. Except... he was the one who kept flashing the gun.
    "McEdwin is the youngest son of Willy McEdwin, who is wanted by the FBI in connection with bombings in Omaha, Chicago, and Des Moines."
    Hope faded as she realized why Lyle's name had sounded familiar. The McEdwins were notorious criminals.
    Like most of the country, she could recall their saga. Years ago, Willy McEdwin had joined an antigovernment group after losing his farm. He ended up imprisoned for the murder of his own wife—who died in an explosion prosecutors claimed Willy had rigged to take out a federal marshal serving a warrant.
    In a shameful twist, Willy's sentence was overturned ten years later when new evidence surfaced proving two police officers had actually rigged the explosives in an attempt to prevent him from testifying in court. Willy and his wife had both been victims.
    Once his name had been cleared, Willy was released from prison and eventually realized millions from wrongful death and false imprisonment suits. He was lauded as a folk hero when he promised to testify about government extortion regarding farmlands, but then he and his three eldest sons disappeared.
    Overnight, the public's sympathy turned to outrage as a string of explosions in the Midwest were linked to the McEdwins.
    Renata's hands trembled as she continued to watch the grim television report.
    "There are unconfirmed reports that one of the prison guards was taken hostage. And in what may be a related case, Durham police are investigating a shooting that occurred this evening involving an off- duty deputy."
    The deputy's photo flashed on the screen. "Sheriff's Deputy Jim Acton is currently in surgery at Duke Medical Center. No word on his condition. It is believed Acton was shot at a commercial storage facility trying to apprehend the two fugitives. Police are mounting a massive manhunt—"
    She lurched to her feet. "Oh, God! Not Jim."
    "A friend of yours?"
    She barely nodded. "He's engaged to one of the nurses at the hospital." She covered her mouth. "Poor