Fugitive Pursuit Read online

  Realistically there could be a bunch of reasons Jamie hadn’t been transferred. “Not my problem.”

  When Zack first started out in the family business, he’d had a steady girlfriend who developed multiple sclerosis. Because he was so worried about her, he neglected his duty on a fugitive hunt and as a result, an innocent gas station cashier got hurt. Kyle had let him have it, with threats of probation and even firing. In the time since, Zack had been successful in keeping emotion of any kind out of his business.

  Until Jamie.

  He shook his head and opened the top folder. “Think with practical sense, not sappy feelings.” Stay out of it.

  But the deputy had said Timmins would be back from his conference this morning. Maybe the second in command had decided to keep his prisoner for the sheriff’s return.

  Zack could drive to Ponahochet to check on Jamie, make sure her sister’s husband and his deputy hadn’t done anything to hurt her. No harm in that, right?

  Lily popped into his line of sight and leaned against the doorjamb with her arms crossed. “What are you going to do?”

  “What do you mean?” He shifted his chair closer to the desk, avoided her gaze.

  “Don’t play dumb, Z. We both know the woman’s story affected you.”

  Picking up a pen, he shook his head. “No, you’ve got—”

  “Don’t try to deny it. I’m older and wiser. Besides, you’re easy to read.”

  “What’s the point? I can’t do anything to change her situation. She has to face the consequences of her actions.” He flipped through the pages in front of him. “Besides, it’s none of my business.”

  “There’s no harm in showing a little compassion. The woman’s probably scared about what she’s facing. You could help her through it, explain the process, answer any questions, maybe help her little niece.”

  Several moments ticked by. Zack couldn’t be that guy, not even for this woman. Following through with any of Lily’s suggestions would make him too invested in Jamie. He’d been invested in his former girlfriend and had caused an amazing amount of pain as a result for everyone involved. Zack couldn’t go through that again.

  On the other hand, Jamie could use a friend, and hadn’t he promised to help strangers in need? He rubbed his eyes.

  Lily chucked his truck keys to him. “Go check on her. Then you’ll be able to concentrate on your paperwork afterward. I promise I won’t say a thing to the others.” Without giving him a chance to argue anymore, she wandered back to her desk.

  He blew out a heavy breath. Too many questions surrounded the attractive teacher with no definitive answers. He gripped the keys tighter. Heading to Ponahochet could only stir up a load of trouble. But if he did nothing and an innocent woman got hurt again, would he ever be able to forgive himself?

  His decision didn’t really hold so much weight. Either way something would go wrong. Might as well follow his conscience, just this time.

  * * *

  Zack marched through the doors of the Ponahochet County Sheriff’s Office with a folder of fake rebonding forms in his hand. He didn’t like the idea of using them, but he’d planned ahead in case he needed to remove Jamie from a dangerous situation. At once, the stink of burned popcorn surrounded him. Sappy love songs played through a speaker somewhere above him.

  Sharon sat in her same spot as his first visit, behind the counter, this time with her hand stuck in a bowl full of the snack food. “Morning, Mr. Owen.” She moved her glasses to the edge of her nose. “What can I do for you?”

  “Morning.” Zack set his arms on the counter. “Is the sheriff or Deputy Linden in?”

  “Nope. Deputy Linden’s off to pick the sheriff up at the airport.”

  Relief spread through him with the news. Both men missing from the office? One less difficulty. All that was left was his conscience. “I need to take Ms. Carter with me.”

  Sharon stopped mid-chew. “What?”

  “She’s been rebonded out of Stenness County. I didn’t find out until I got to the office this morning.”

  She tapped her pen against her chin. “I don’t know. I’ll have to clear it with the deputy first.”

  God, forgive me. “I’ve got the forms.” He pushed the folder toward her, leaned a little closer and grinned. “I messed up bringing her here yesterday. I need your help fixing it, Sharon. Please tell me I can count on you.” For added measure, he also gave her a wink.

  A smile emerged as her cheeks reddened. “Well...” She pulled the folder to her desk and glanced over the paperwork. When she stood, she grabbed a set of keys hanging by the hallway and waved him along. “Come on, then.”

  He followed her down the hallway. On the left, two empty cells flanked another hallway with several other doors. Probably restrooms, the processing room, maybe a break room. To his right were two more cells. He and Sharon stopped in front of the second one.

  “Ms. Carter, you’ve got company.” Jingling the keys, Sharon continued, “Sweetie, come on up here.”

  Zack scanned Jamie’s jail cell. A hard, metal bed, if you could call it that, hung from the far wall. No chair, no blanket, no pillow. A barred window allowed in little light.

  Jamie sat diagonally away from him with her knees pulled up to her chest and her head down. Yikes. He’d thought she looked small and fragile before.

  “Leave me alone,” she mumbled.

  “Let’s go, Jamie. You’re being rebonded.” Would his voice bring her comfort or more suspicion?

  She lifted her head slowly. Wide eyes met his gaze as her shoulders drooped. The receptionist turned the key and pulled the cell door open. “I’ll finish up the paperwork.”

  “Thank you.” Zack shifted into the tiny room.

  Sharon nodded, then disappeared toward the lobby.

  “What are you doing here?” Jamie hadn’t moved from her spot. “And what’s this about rebonding?” She still wore the cropped jeans she’d worn when he picked her up, but the T-shirt was different. And yet, there were specks of red on the sleeve over her injury.

  “I...” Was concerned? No, he wouldn’t want her to get the wrong idea about his visit. He was here to make sure the sheriff’s office followed the law, not because he longed for her. Zack Owen refused to long for any woman.

  Yet, Jamie had already found a way to tuck herself somewhere inside him.

  He closed the distance between them and crouched before her. “I just told Sharon about you being rebonded so I could get you out of here.”

  Hope swam in her hazel eyes. “You mean you believe me now?”

  “I don’t know what I believe.” He saw it then, a dark purple mark around the corner of her eye. His gut clenched as he reached forward. His fingertips carefully brushed the silky strands of her hair away from the bruise so he could examine it more closely. “Did Linden do this?”

  She flinched. “I told you he was bad news. He started the interrogation yesterday, asking me where my niece, Charlotte, is and I refused to turn her over. He’ll be back with Drew soon and the two of them will push me even harder.” Her piercing gaze hit him, as though he were the cause of her newest bruise.

  Wasn’t he?

  He glanced toward the front of the building even though Linden wasn’t there. The lawman who was supposed to protect people. The deputy who hadn’t followed through with his duty.

  Closing his fist, Zack stood. Once he occupied the doorway, he called out, “Sharon?”

  “Yes?” The older woman moved into his line of vision but remained by her desk area.

  “How’d Ms. Carter get hurt?”

  “Deputy Linden said she fell against the bed when she was struggling to get away from him.”

  “You didn’t see it happen?”

  “No, I’d already left for the day.” She returned to her seat and began singing off-key to the tune on the radio.
>
  Zack turned his attention back to Jamie. The urge to fold his arms around her almost overwhelmed him. She needed protection, an ally.

  “So, do you believe my story now?”

  Unfortunately, he did believe her, and with the acknowledgment, a huge weight dropped onto his shoulders. If Zack walked away, the woman, and possibly a helpless child, would suffer. Staying with Jamie would put him in the direct line of fire. Either decision would bring a truckload of trouble.

  Guilt would claw at him if he left her. His siblings might explode if he didn’t.

  Once again, his gaze shifted from Jamie to the lobby, then back to Jamie. Adrenaline pumped through him. He folded and unfolded his fingers.

  Walk away...be consumed with guilt.

  Take another step for Jamie...possibly put her in more danger.

  Possibly.

  As a child of God, he had no choice. “Come on.” He stalked toward her, took her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Hopefully we’ll get out of here before Linden and your brother-in-law get back.” He grabbed his handcuffs from his belt and clamped them on her wrists.

  “Zack, are you sure?”

  No, he wasn’t. He pulled her close enough to see the mix of colors in her eyes. “Please trust me.”

  She stared at him with such vulnerability, and yet weak wasn’t a word he’d ever use to describe this woman he barely knew.

  After what felt like forever, she nodded. With her consent, he urged her into the hallway. No turning back now.

  THREE

  Jamie’s brain swirled with a ton of thoughts. She’d trusted Zack yesterday and landed in a jail cell. Why should she put her faith in him now?

  On the other hand, leaving with this man had to be better than facing Drew when George brought him back from the airport.

  Her body filled with nervous energy as they reached the lobby. Zack held the swing gate for her to pass through, then shifted to the counter without ever letting go of Jamie’s uninjured arm.

  Sharon’s fingers flew over the computer keyboard, then the printer kicked on. “Almost ready.”

  “You are a lifesaver. I’m already in so much trouble with my coworkers about this mix-up. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your cooperation.” A charming smile stretched across his lips.

  A handsome face, an easygoing personality—he had the characteristics of all Hollywood’s leading men combined. The sparkle in his eye even managed to bump a few butterflies to life in Jamie’s own stomach. With him, she could easily forget she was a wanted criminal and just focus on being...a woman.

  But he was still dangerous on so many levels. She had to stay focused on bringing Drew down. That was all that mattered. Getting caught up in her romantic thoughts about a man she only met a few days ago would not help her right the wrong she’d committed by ignoring her sister’s final call for help.

  Sharon grabbed papers off the printer, stuck them in a folder and held it out. “All set. I’ll let the sheriff know what happened.”

  “Thanks so much. You’ve come to my rescue.” His words and his stature both exuded confidence. He pushed off the counter, then winked at the older woman.

  Her smile widened. “Oh, go on.” She waved him away.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Quickly he urged Jamie out the front door. The sunshine blinded her. When she lifted her hands to shield her eyes, Zack wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “This way.”

  “You’re really letting me escape?” It couldn’t be this easy. He’d want something for his kindness. Most men did.

  “No, but I’m not letting you get sacrificed, either.” He opened the passenger-side door of a white pickup. “Hop in.”

  Jamie gathered her nerves and lifted her chin. “Can you at least take these off?” She jingled the metal bracelets still on her wrists.

  “We need to get out of here before your brother-in-law and his driver show up or one of his other deputies who hates you gets here. Get in the truck.”

  She slid a glance along the road, then met Zack’s gaze. He waited for her to comply. Impatience caused his fingers to tap against the door frame. Yes, the unknown she’d face with Zack unnerved her. But she’d experienced the dangerous road with George and she knew how vicious Drew could be. Right now, going with Zack was the best decision for her.

  * * *

  Zack pulled into the parking lot of the plaza that housed Second Chance Bail Bonds, turned off the engine and stared at the back door of the office. Jamie sat next to him, as silent as she’d been since he’d unlocked her handcuffs shortly after leaving Timmins’s office. He folded his fingers into a tight fist.

  Jamie fidgeted and glanced out of the windows. “Why are we here?”

  Taking her away from the abusive sheriff’s department had been a good moral decision. Now he needed his brothers to brainstorm the next move. He already had one idea—drop her off at the state police station—but in his gut, he felt he needed to support her. It seemed no one else wanted to believe her. “I need an objective opinion.” He pulled the door handle. “Come on.”

  “Wait.” Cool, soft fingers settled on his forearm. As a chill wrestled through his arm, Zack turned to her. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

  There was the vulnerability again, leaking out of her soft eyes. He cupped his hand around her cheek and brushed his thumb beneath the bruise by her eye. “Truthfully? No, but at the moment we don’t have another choice. I’m used to being one of the good guys and you’re running out of places to hide.”

  Jamie tilted her head into his hand and closed her eyes, as though surrendering some power to him. The tiny bit of trust tugged on his heartstrings.

  But he couldn’t get wrapped up in her situation, in her. He released her and exited the vehicle. As she joined him by the back door, he shoved his truck keys into his front pocket.

  “Wait. Where’s my backpack?” she asked.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I left it in the SUV yesterday.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think it’s there. No one brought it into the office. Maybe you left it in the park.”

  “No.” She stalked toward the red vehicle with him right behind. “I stuffed it between my seat and the door. I couldn’t bring it into George and Drew’s office. You were the lesser of two evils.”

  Zack pulled the vehicle’s door open. The plaid backpack fell to the ground.

  Jamie caught it. “Thank you,” she whispered as she clutched the bag with both arms. Was she speaking to him or to God? “Okay, I’m ready.”

  Once they entered the back door of the office, Jamie slowed and turned to him. Lily’s radio played from the lobby. Zack wrapped one arm around Jamie’s back. Although touching her wasn’t necessary to reassure her, he wanted to. “It’s okay.” After guiding her farther into the building, he stopped by the conference room. “Wait in here.” Again, her gaze met his with a thousand questions he couldn’t answer. “Go on. I’ll be right back.”

  With his partner in crime stowed away, he continued walking to the front of the building. His sister sat dancing at her desk with a stack of folders in front of her. “Hey, Lil.” From the couch, Jessa lowered her magazine. “Jessa.”

  Lily glanced in his direction. “Everything work out?” she whispered.

  “Not exactly.” He passed behind her and stopped in the doorway of the office he shared with the others. His brothers sat at their desks, Parker doing some paperwork and Kyle typing on his computer.

  “How are those reports comin’?” Kyle didn’t glance Zack’s way or stop typing.

  Here goes nothing. “Guys, I did something stupid.”

  Lily’s chair creaked, then she popped up and stood beside him.

  “Yeah, Lily already told us you went back to Ponahochet to check on the woman from yesterday.” Parker flipped a folder closed. “It�
�s okay.”

  “I didn’t just go back to check on her.”

  Kyle’s fingers hung just above the computer keys. “What do you mean?”

  I broke the law I’ve been sworn to protect.

  Too many seconds ticked by with only the chorus of a classic rock tune floating through the room. “Zack, what did you do?” Kyle crossed his arms on the edge of the desk.

  “Come see.” He waved them out of the room. Parker and Kyle practically jumped from their seats and followed Lily and him.

  Jessa joined them, too. “What are we doing?”

  Zack guided them to the conference room and stepped through the doorway. On the far side, with her back to the door and the backpack over her shoulder, stood Jamie. She whirled around with her chin held high. Sunlight draped over her shoulders, as though highlighting her strength and confidence. Pride filled him and he couldn’t help but smile.

  “Uh-oh,” Lil said at the same moment as Jessa.

  Parker asked, “What is she doing here?”

  Right. She wasn’t the girlfriend he was introducing to his family. She was a wanted criminal. “I had to get her out. She was absolutely terrified.”

  She propped her hands on her hips. “I wouldn’t say terrified.”

  Kyle grabbed the door handle and pinned Jamie with his signature death stare. “Don’t move from this room,” he ordered before pulling the door shut. “Zack, are you insane? You broke the woman out of jail. Technically, we could escort you to the sheriff’s office right alongside her.”

  Kyle didn’t tell him anything he hadn’t already thought about on his own. “I know, but, guys, she has a black eye. I know for a fact none of us gave it to her yesterday, so it had to be the deputy.”

  “What was his explanation?” Lily moved back to her desk.

  “He wasn’t there. Just the secretary.”

  “She let you walk out together?” Parker asked. Jessa kept quiet and reclaimed her spot on the couch. She was the smart one. She almost always kept her mouth closed when any of the siblings argued.

  “Not exactly.” Zack leaned his head to one side.