Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 40

Elliot was completely caught off guard by Cara's kiss, but his body immediately responded to the familiar sensation that kissing Cara had always brought. His arms went around Cara, and he kissed her back, savoring the feel and taste of her.

So thoroughly was Elliot into kissing Cara that he didn't notice the phone in his pocket vibrating until Cara pulled back and asked, "What is that?"

Coming to his senses, Elliot reached in his pocket and hit the silence button. "Alarm. It reminds me to take my vitamins."

Cara raised an eyebrow. "Really?" She shrugged and looked at the restaurant. Steven was nowhere in sight. "Humph, good." Squeezing Elliot's arm, she said, "I'll see you inside."

Elliot sighed and watched her walk into the restaurant. He went in front of his truck and called Mark back. Before Elliot could say anything, Mark asked, "Where are you?"

"At the restaurant," Elliot answered.

"Is Cara there too?" Mark asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Keep her there, do not let her leave," Mark said urgently. "Someone leaked information to Michael Matthews about the body being found, and he went ballistic." Mark paused. "Elliot, he shot your mom."

Elliot stood there, stunned. Finally finding his voice, he asked, "Is she?"

"No, but she is in intensive care," Mark said. "He's on his way over there. Elliot, he thinks Cara knows where Jenna is."

"Didn't you say you thought he might be tracking her?" Elliot asked and looked back at the restaurant.

"Yes. There's a lot more to it. Dana, our team and I are on our way there. Stay at the restaurant. We're hoping he won't try something at a public place," Mark said.

"Don't count on it," Elliot said. "I've seen what he will do in public. How far away are you?"

"We're just north of Georgetown. We'll be there in about an hour," Mark said. "Keep your phone on and let us know if anything changes. We've alerted the Bath and Rowan County Sheriffs' departments, so they are watching for him."

"Can we trust them?" Elliot asked, always suspicious.

"I hope so," Mark said. "I've been researching them as part of the plan for next week, and everything has come back good. In fact, I was planning on coming down this week to brief them."

"Okay," Elliot said. "I'm going to get inside and start cooking. See you soon."

"There you are," Sandy said when Elliot walked into the restaurant.

A scream came from the dining area. "Watch this food!" Elliot barked at Jason and ran out to the front of the restaurant. Elliot's worst fears were playing out before his eyes.

His father, Michael Matthews, was standing just inside the front door of the restaurant blocking anyone from leaving. He was pointing his nine millimeter Glock at Cara.

Elliot moved closer to Cara. "Don't move motherfucker!" Matthews yelled.

"Let's just calm down," Elliot said in a voice much calmer than he expected to hear come out of himself.

"Shut up, or I'll blow your fucking head off," Matthews shouted. "I'm just here for her." He pointed his gun at Cara, who was holding two full plates.

Elliot inched closer to Cara. "Let me just take the plates from her," Elliot said and reached for the plates.

Matthews seemed to be okay with that. Elliot took both plates from Cara and whispered, "Get ready to run."

Cara just looked at him, but Elliot thought she understood. Elliot took the plate in his right hand and flung it at Matthews like a Frisbee. The plate hit Matthews square in the face eliciting a scream of pain and rage. Elliot did the same with the second plate, hitting Matthews in the bicep of his right arm. Elliot grabbed Cara's hand and ran past Sandy, who seemed to be blocking Steven's path.

There was no time to evaluate that situation. Elliot had to get Cara out of the restaurant. He hit the unlock button on his key fob, opened the passenger door and shoved Cara inside. Racing around the truck, Elliot almost slid on the loose gravel but managed to keep his footing. He hopped in the driver's seat of his truck, turned it on, put it in reverse and pushed the gas pedal to the floor sending gravel flying. It was only when he turned around that he saw Steven coming out of the restaurant with a pistol.