Chasing Joshua

Excerpt:
Beaufort North Carolina

It was three o’clock in the morning, but she had no choice. The drive was painful enough, she felt as if at any moment she could have passed out. Evelyn Blade knocked loudly on the door to Grace McPherson’s home. She tried the knob, and luckily the door was open. Sweet trusting Grace. God bless her. Exhausted and in pain Evelyn could hardly stand. The footsteps coming down the hall toward the stairs were hard and loud. A man’s voice was shouting, “Who’s there?” like thunder. Or was it the thunder? She was drenched from the rain though now it barely drizzled, covered in mud, and God only knows what else, from the storm that seemed to follow her all the way here.
Joshua Young heard the knocking. His eyes opened and he realized the time. Quickly he grabbed his nine millimeter from the nightstand, racked the bullet to the chamber, and headed for the stairs. He heard the door open and footsteps uneven and sluggish crossing the floor. He took the stairs quickly but cautiously. How did I forget to lock the door? Two years in this town had softened him.
“Grace?” A voice cried out, loud yet strained.
“Answer me. Damn it! I’m armed! Identify Yourself!” Joshua rounded the corner aimed at the ready and could barely believe his eyes. It looked like a woman in the shadow. She was slumped against the wall, holding something out to him. He hit the light with his elbow not lowering his weapon. And good thing he didn’t.
“Where’s Grace? If you’ve hurt her, I swear I will kill you.” Evelyn had her own weapon drawn. The nine millimeter pointed at Joshua’s head. If Grace was in this house alive, surely she would have heard her calling out and responded. He must have hurt her. Her dear old friend, it had been years.
“DROP THE WEAPON!” His voice was deep and demanding. His eyes looked over the mess of a woman pointing a gun at him. He could shoot her—it would be justified—but looking at her he wasn’t sure she hadn’t already been shot.
“YOU DROP IT! WHERE IS GRACE?” Evelyn demanded. She was leaning against the wall. She knew this day would come, but never imagined it like this. A man had the drop on her, or so he thought. A man, that was in his underwear, and nothing else. Huh, it looked more like he just woke up, than…No, not possible, Grace would never leave this house.
Joshua’s mind cleared for a moment. He didn’t drop the weapon, but he did realize she was asking for Grace, his cousin Ethan’s wife. This was her house. When Grace moved to New York, Joshua moved in. That was two years ago. Before he came to live in this house, Ethan had been stalked and Grace almost hurt, by a woman.
“How do you know Grace?” His voice was calmer now. He could focus on the woman. She was hurt, exhausted; her every word was labored. This woman was dangerous. At any minute she could collapse and pull the trigger as a reflex. She was built. Damn, it has been a long time since a woman got his attention. Shit. Keep your head in the game, man. She’s pointing a gun at you! He had to remind himself.
“Grace is a friend of mine. We go way back. Tell her I’m here.” Evelyn could feel the sweat dripping off her forehead.
She knew she needed to lie down, knew she could pass out at any moment, but she knew she couldn’t relax until she heard Grace tell her it was okay. The man across from her was impressive tactically, but physically alarming. His black hair in disarray only gave more fire to his green eyes, and Evelyn felt faint form staring. Impossible. Men are scum.
“I can’t.” Joshua stepped slowly toward her. Never lowering his weapon, he was close to the island in the center of the kitchen. He could duck and use it for cover if this turned ugly. And when he heard her cock the hammer he thought it just might.
“Why not?” Evelyn stood straight. Every part of her body screamed out in pain. But if this man had hurt Grace, she would kill him, instantly.
“She doesn’t live here anymore.” Joshua was in awe of this woman, never had he seen fury and pure balls like she had. Her lip was busted, her eye swollen and yet she was going to kill him, over Grace?
“Bullshit, Grace would never leave this house. Everyone knows that.” Evelyn stepped forward closing the gap. If he ducked behind that counter, she would be over it in a flash.
“Let me call her, okay. You know Grace. I know Grace. We can both be in this house. Alive.” Joshua was suspicious, but he didn’t get a feeling this woman was a threat to Grace. At any rate he had to clear this in order to keep from killing her or getting shot himself. That would go over well amongst his second graders. He could see the headlines now. In the woman’s current condition they’d likely attribute that damage to him also.
“Pick up the phone and dial. You call the cops, you’re dead. Are we clear?” Evelyn was breathless. She focused on the man too intently. His green eyes dazzled in the light; her knees felt a little weaker. The pain must be making me delirious, she thought. Exhaustion, that’s it. Stay in the game E.
Joshua dialed the number to Ethan’s loft in New York. He hoped his cousin would answer. His life, and hers depended on it.
“What the hell do you want?” Ethan asked in a surprised tone. He was awake with Gray, his son, who had decided that now was a great time to play.
“Ethan, listen I have to talk to Grace.”
“What the hell is going on Josh?” Ethan’s tone went serious.
“It’s three in the morning and I need to talk to your wife, now! Trust me!” Joshua’s voice roughened and he could feel the sweat drip from his temple. It really was a matter of life and death. He held the phone in one hand and his nine millimeter in the other, never taking his eyes off the threat. She inched closer, quietly, never taking her eyes off his.
“Hello?” Grace’s sleepy voice came through.
“Grace, hi, Josh here. I have a friend of yours in my kitchen right now.” Joshua looked at the woman who held her gun steady, despite the agony on her face, pointed directly at his head. His arm was starting to feel a trickle of burn from the exchange, yet she seemed determined.
“Oh God!” Grace knew of only one person that might show up at three in the morning. “Evelyn!”