CHAPTER 1

RUNNING IN THE STORM

It was no later than nine in the evening during one of the decade s worst snowstorms. All the townspeople had gathered their groceries and hunkered down in their homes. The snow, after all, was some of the most eventful action they got in the tiny town of Hyde Cove. Snowplows were the only presence on the road as Jay Kirk strolled down the street to stop at a corner store. Wandering eyes peered out their windows, and Jay was unsure if they were in awe of the storm or in disgust of their town s pariah. A pack of smokes later, he made his way into the center of town with his crowbar ready. He stood outside of the bank, contemplating his next move. A move that would surely send him to County if he got caught doing something stupid again. Still, he knew he would have extra time if the roads were bad enough for the sheriff to leave early and head home. The storm was getting worse by the minute, and he d been the only brave soul taking a chance outside.

Jay walked toward the entrance, slowly swinging the crowbar in his hand. He placed the tool between the two doors and pried, cracking the lock instantly. He didn t expect such ease with this move. Pushing the door open, he looked inside. He locked on to the blinking alarm and quickly played out his game plan in his head rush the counter, empty any available cash, crack a few drawers, and then leave. Any mess-ups would void the extra time the snow bought him.

Jay took a breath and swung at the glass. The screeching alarm hardly slowed him as he reached in to unlock the door. He rushed to the counter and jumped over, immediately popping drawers open to grab anything available. He threw all the cash in a small drawstring bag draped around his shoulders and made his way to the exit. Jay glanced back to observe the fruition of the heist that he d so carefully planned for several months. In fact, it was the last time he would see Hyde Cove. This money was for his new life.

Early in the previous year, Jay s dad Jerrod was caught wit