Chapter 7 - The Chase in the Storm
Outside, the rain was coming down in thick, blinding sheets, transforming the paved parking lot and surrounding lawns of the Oakridge Funeral Home into a sea of black mud and standing water.
Arthur stumbled down the slippery granite steps of the porch, his wool jacket soaking up water instantly, making it heavy and cold against his frame. He reached into his pants pocket, his trembling fingers searching frantically for his car keys.
Behind him, the chapel doors flew open again. Julian, Dr. Vance, and three other guests surged out onto the porch, their voices shouting over the thunder.
"CALL THE POLICE! CALL AN AMBULANCE!" Dr. Vance yelled back toward the chapel interior, while Julian leaped down the steps into the storm, giving chase to his brother.
Arthur hit the lock button on his key fob. Fifty yards away, the headlights of his black luxury sedan flashed twice in the darkness.
He sprinted across the gravel driveway, his heart hammering against his ribs like a sledgehammer. His mind was a chaotic blur of panicked calculations. The offshore accounts. The passport in the wall safe at the house. If I can get to the highway, I have two hours before they set up roadblocks—
His boot caught on a raised wooden curb framing the flowerbed.
Arthur went flying forward, hitting the wet asphalt with a sickening THUD.
His hands scraped against the sharp gravel, blood blooming instantly across his palms. His key fob slipped from his fingers, bouncing across the wet pavement and disappearing down a metal storm drain with a soft PLINK.
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"NO!" Arthur screamed, scrambling to his knees, thrusting his hand down the iron grate of the drain, but his fingers met only rushing, muddy rain water.
He looked up just as Julian and the two farmers surrounded him in the pouring rain.
