Fugitive Pursuit Page 3

  Bingo!

  She scrambled to reach the bat Zack had tossed aside. Panic flushed through her. Ben yanked on the back of her shirt. “Get over here.”

  She grabbed the wooden bat, whirled around and bashed it on his arm. The vibration numbed her fingers, her forearms.

  The man howled. He cradled his arm close to his chest, then glared at her with fire in his eyes. “You little...” Ben grabbed her again.

  Behind them, one of the men thumped to the ground.

  Please not the bounty hunter. Jamie struggled to turn around. Relief flooded her. Zack moved toward Ben, took hold of the man’s injured arm and shoved him to the ground. Another howl.

  Charlie reached behind him, tugged something free and...aimed a gun at Zack’s back.

  She released the bat. “Look out!” Jamie knocked her bounty hunter down.

  The gun went off.

  * * *

  Zack used his hands to break his fall. Guns? No, this definitely wasn’t good. This bounty was a lot more complicated than he’d ever imagined. He should’ve handed the woman over, but because he cared about the fear he’d seen in her eyes, he was now between a rock and a hard place. With weapons.

  Emotions had no business here. He had to think exclusively like a bounty hunter and not as an affronted citizen.

  Amid screams and hollers from other parts of the campsite, he pushed himself back up, grabbed the bat and smacked it down on the big guy’s hand as he aimed his weapon for Jamie, who remained on the ground. The gun tumbled across the dirt away from the two lawmen. Both deputies scrambled for the weapon.

  Zack yanked the woman’s arm and got her to her feet. “Go!” She teetered for a moment, then ran to the tent. What was she doing? “Come on, Carter!” It took her only seconds to grab a small, plaid backpack. Then they slid in between the trees, deeper into the brush.

  “Get after them!” one of the men yelled from behind.

  No shots followed. Each second passing without another threat made Zack more nervous. Could he keep himself and Jamie safe?

  She shoved a tree branch out of her face as they rushed toward a cabin standing not fifty feet from them. A shot rang through the air. Instinct had him ducking. God, please guide us to safety. He hadn’t brought his own weapon because he didn’t think he’d need it to capture Jamie.

  “We’re not hiding in there,” he said matter-of-factly when they reached the cabin.

  “No. Come this way.” She rushed around the building and guided him into a denser part of the forest.

  “Where’d they go?” hollered either Charlie or the other man from far behind them.

  “Head that way!” demanded the other.

  Jamie twisted around for a second. Sirens whirred to life in the distance. Fear skidded through her striking hazel eyes. Her skin took on a pasty white color, as though all her blood had dropped to her feet.

  He set his palm on her shoulder. “It’s okay. We’ll get out.”

  Doubts plagued his mind. Options warred within him. His head said to focus on getting her to the proper police and completing his duty, but his gut demanded he keep the determined woman on the run for her safety. Which was the right decision?

  He could turn her over now, but something wasn’t right if a couple of off-duty lawmen were ready to shoot first and ask questions later.

  Jamie charged along the path laden with trees as though she’d come through here before. But where was she leading him? And how would they get back to his truck?

  She stopped. After a heavy breath and a brief moment with her eyes closed, she continued on their trek. He tugged the backpack. “Wait a minute.” He leaned against a tree trunk.

  Jamie stared at him with her milky white face and a little less confidence. He had the urge to pull her into his arms and be the rock she clearly needed.

  Temporarily, of course. Like he’d do for any friend.

  A dark red stain on her shirt caught his eye. Blood dripped off the edge of her sleeve.

  What?

  “You’re bleeding?” Zack lifted her shirtsleeve. Dark red blood gathered at a gash along her arm. More blood dribbled along her skin. If he hadn’t moved when the man had aimed for him by the tent, he’d be bleeding out. If Jamie hadn’t pushed him down... She’d taken a hit...for him. For a moment, he was paralyzed.

  “I’ll be fine.” She tugged herself free. “I’ve had worse.” Her gaze avoided him.

  Why didn’t he believe her? Sickness rumbled through his gut. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d been hit?”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s just a scratch. Can we discuss this later? I’d like to get away without any more injuries.” She glanced behind them, then forward. “There’s another playground not far from here. You’ll be able to take a bus back to your vehicle.”

  He didn’t miss the fact that she skipped talking about herself. She kept her gaze locked with his, as if daring him to argue.

  So often his job was black-and-white, right or wrong. After the incidents at her camping site, things had never looked grayer, which was the absolute last place he wanted to be. Emotions led to indecision, which led to vulnerability. He’d successfully avoided that for five years. What was he supposed to do now?

  He reached forward to pull a few strands of hair from the corner of her mouth.

  She slapped his hand away. Gone from her eyes was any ounce of fear. Survival guided her movements.

  He wanted to apologize and yet...he didn’t. Instead, he raised his hands in a surrender motion. “If your brother-in-law is such a bad guy, why haven’t you gone to the state police?”

  “He’s got everyone fooled that he’s the perfect sheriff, so no one questions him. By the time we realized what was happening in my sister’s marriage, it was too late. Things kept getting worse. Erin was convinced to try to make the marriage work, especially when my niece came along. Until...”

  “Until what?”

  “Before she died, Erin had left me a message. She started telling me stuff.”

  “About what?”

  Jamie shook her head. “I don’t know.” She returned to their path.

  Oh, she was definitely a bad liar. But getting the truth out of her would have to wait. Escape first.

  As they silently followed the path through the wooded grounds, Zack’s mind whirled with too many thoughts. None of them made sense. God, I know this bounty run has fallen apart, but I trust in Your guidance. If anyone could get Zack out of this mess, He could. Hopefully without Zack having to call in his siblings. Because the latest events would not go over great.

  Birds chirped as though nothing was wrong. A soft breeze took the edge off the heated afternoon. The scent of barbeque reminded him that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

  The last copse of trees opened to a large park. An area with slides and jungle gyms sat in the center of a bike and walking trail. Children’s laughter drifted toward them along with a puppy’s bark.

  “Hold up.” He bent over with his hands on his thighs. If his sense of direction was right, they were still in Champlain Park, the Ponahochet County side, nowhere near his truck. Thankfully his knee had held up in the escape, although a twinge of an ache from his surfing accident remained.

  Beside him, Jamie planted one hand on her waist. The other, the one with the injury, hung motionless. The backpack remained slung over her shoulder. Blood continued to drip from under her shirtsleeve. The stain on her shirt had morphed into a mini-explosive pattern. “We need to look at your arm.”

  Should he apologize for getting her shot?

  “Don’t worry about it.” A hint of blond peeked through the strands of her hair.

  “You’re bleeding. You look as white as a glass of milk. I’m waiting for you to pass out on me.” He pinched her shirt fabric.

  She jerked away. “Don’t.” The word bolted out of her
mouth with as much force as the steel in her gaze.

  He froze, his fingers a few inches from her. For several moments, they stood at a standstill, but then her gaze softened. “I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to help and I do appreciate it.”

  For the first time, he truly saw the vulnerability of the woman standing before him. The difficulties of being on the run lay across her body, in her choices, through her movements. The bounty hunter in him wanted nothing more than to turn her in. The man in him wanted to tuck her under his arm and whisper everything would be all right.

  No caring allowed. Keep your mind on business. “Head for the bench over there and I’ll take a peek at your wound.”

  After a glance in the direction of the seat, she scanned the park. She remained rooted to her spot.

  “If you run, Jamie, I will catch you.”

  She brushed her fingers against her temple. He almost had her cooperation. He could feel it in his gut. But why was it so important to him?

  “All right.” She nodded and walked by his side to the wooden seat. The backpack came off her shoulder, but she kept a tight grip on it. Once she sat, he crouched down beside her and lifted her sleeve. Closing her eyes, she breathed out slowly. Blood had gathered along a gash about two inches long. “It doesn’t look too bad.” Seared flesh, but no hole. “The bullet grazed your arm. It’s not too deep and it’s not bleeding anymore. How does it feel?”

  “Like someone’s stuck me with a hot poker.”

  He gingerly touched his knuckle to the skin around her wound. She hissed, jerked upright. “Sorry.”

  “Do you have any tissues in your backpack or something to wipe your arm?” No way would he leave her side to grab paper towels from the restroom close by. He had no doubt she’d be gone before he returned.

  “No.” She tugged the backpack closer to her, one arm over it protectively.

  “What do you have in there? Gold? A wad of bills? Weapons?”

  “Some clothes.” Helplessness brought moisture to her eyes. “And things more important to me,” she whispered.

  He almost set his hand on her knee. Almost. “Like what?”

  “Pictures of my family, gifts my sister gave me as we grew up, her and my journals from when we were teenagers, things like that.” She sniffled and swiped her fingers beneath her eyes. “So, what’s the verdict on my arm?”

  “You’ll live.” He released the fabric and stood. “But from the actions of those two guys at your campsite, you’re in a lot more trouble than you realize. Definitely more than I thought.” After he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, he slapped it in his palm while he paced in front of her. No, he didn’t want to call his brothers. They’d probably tell him how foolish he was being, but he needed a clearheaded response.

  * * *

  Jamie’s world had shifted upside down, becoming more dangerous than she’d ever expected. “I’m not strong enough,” she whispered. She glanced at the red marks on her sleeve, then gently lifted the cloth away from her injury. The skin burned. Like Zack said, she hadn’t been shot, but it looked like the piece of metal had singed right past her on its way to a tree trunk. Her brain still shook with the reality of being so close to dying, to breaking her promise to her sister.

  The urge to hug her niece, to hold her close, took life within her. Did Charlotte wonder where Jamie was? It had been two and a half weeks since she’d left the child in another state with someone Charlotte had never met. Did she wish her aunt instead of Jamie’s best friend from elementary school was the one reading her stories as she drifted off to sleep?

  Jamie had expected life alone on the run to be challenging, but never had she expected bullets to be grazing her skin, or an attractive bounty hunter to be deciding what to do with her. He was comforting, with his quiet voice and his gentle touch. If she let them, thousands of thoughts could easily overwhelm—

  No. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and shook her head. He wasn’t her friend or a possible date. He was with her only because he wanted to collect the money he’d get for bringing her in to the authorities.

  Still, trusting him was a risk, but at the moment, she had no choice. Her ability to make sound decisions in such danger had grown weaker with each day.

  “Lil, I need to talk to Parker.” Zack stood before her with his phone stuck to his ear, his tone tense, his gaze scanning their surroundings. Seconds ticked by. “Hey, listen...Yes, I know, but I need you to stop for a minute. I need one of you to come pick me up on the Ponahochet side of Champlain Park...No, there’s no time to explain. You just need to make it as fast as you can...Parker, please. It’s important.” With a glance her way, he added, “And bring the first-aid kit.”

  He got off the phone and tucked it into his pocket. “They’ll be here soon.”

  With a push off the bench, she got to her feet and slung the backpack over her shoulder.

  Zack held his hand out toward her waist. “Where are you going?”

  She shook her head. “I can’t risk you getting into trouble for me.”

  He rolled his eyes. “You just saved my life. I’m thinking I still owe you.”

  “I can’t go to jail, either.”

  “What exactly do you think your sister’s husband has done that makes him such a menace?” A hint of disbelief still threaded through his expression.

  He killed my sister. She lowered her gaze to the bloodied sleeve. “Too much.”

  “Those guys we just ran into might be deputies, as you say, but they aren’t on my side of the justice fence. Clearly, you’re in over your head. Going into a state police station might be best.”

  “No.” She scanned the park. “I’ve made my decision. I’m not going.” She took a few steps in the direction of the park entrance. Two little girls giggled from their upside-down positions on the monkey bars, one wobbling back and forth, the other with big pigtails dangling next to her ears.

  Memories rushed forward to a time when she and Erin had been cared for, loved, cherished. Thoughts of the last time she and Erin had brought Charlotte for a playdate sprang to mind, as well. That day, Erin had insisted Drew needed her to bring him back to God. And for doing her duty as a child of God, Drew had killed her.

  “Where will you go?” Zack’s voice brought her back to the present. “Where you have the kid stashed? You can’t go back to the camping area I just found you in. Or your apartment across town. If the goon squad found you once, they’ll find you again. Are you planning to fight the next round while you’re less than one hundred percent?”

  She stepped around him. But he was right. At the moment, depending on him might not be the wisest choice, but she had no one else. Not even God would give her a break.

  When she turned back, Zack stood there, his eyes pleading for her trust. Several moments filled with tension ticked by. “Jamie, let me help you figure out what’s next.”

  Her head grew dizzy, but from the loss of blood, the adrenaline-charged events or as a result of his offer to help, she couldn’t be sure. Could she afford to accept his assistance?

  Could she afford not to?

  TWO

  “Come on.” Zack waved her toward his side of the bench. As the children continued to laugh, he watched them play.

  Such an odd man. With his taut muscle and healthy body, Zack could definitely force her to do what he wanted. Instead, he walked away, allowing her to feel like she was choosing to stay with him. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure how to interpret his behavior.

  She retreated to the bench, lowered her backpack and sat beside him. The reality was she needed another level head to decipher all that had happened, someone not directly involved. She also needed to rest—her arm, her mind, her heart. Running took its toll and today it felt like she was on the verge of being completely defeated.

  A red SUV hurried through the gates on the other side of the park. “The
y’re here.” Zack took hold of her good arm and guided her toward the road. As the vehicle screeched to a halt in front of them, the side door slid open. A different woman than the one at the internet café hunched down and kept her hand on the ceiling grip. She reached out to Jamie with her other hand.

  “Go ahead,” Zack said quietly.

  She struggled to climb into the vehicle. Why did her legs feel like cooked noodles?

  “Sit there,” the woman ordered as she pointed to the seat behind the driver. A long ponytail of dark chocolate-colored hair waved behind her.

  As Zack hopped in and closed the door behind him, the woman moved to the back of the vehicle. Jamie pushed her backpack between her seat and the door and glanced around. Two men sat in the front, one with hair as dark as Zack’s but a bit longer and one with shorter, dark brown hair. The one with the long hair sat cramped in the front passenger seat.

  Once the vehicle headed out of the park, the woman grabbed something from the floor. “Which one of you needs the first-aid kit?”

  “She does.” Zack pointed. “Give it here.”

  The woman handed it over.

  “What’ve you gotten yourself into now?” The driver’s sharp tone sliced into Jamie’s already frayed nerves.

  “We ran into some trouble.” Zack fished through the kit for items to clean and bandage her arm.

  “Obviously.” The guy in the passenger seat glared their way.

  “Do we need to go to the ER?” The driver glanced into the rearview mirror.

  “No,” she and Zack answered simultaneously. Emergency rooms were required to contact police about shootings. If there was any question about a bullet singeing her skin, Jamie would be forced to kiss her freedom and her chance of investigating her brother-in-law goodbye.

  If she hadn’t already.

  The two men in the front exchanged looks, then the passenger and the woman did. A thousand ideas about what kind of people they were raced through Jamie’s head, enough to start a headache. Three more people who may or may not believe her. Three more people who could potentially ruin her rush toward her next goal—stopping by Mrs. Cecily’s house. She should’ve tried to run while she and Zack waited in the park. On a regular day, she would have, but being around Zack messed with her head.