Fugitive Pursuit Read online

  “Why not? She might even have some information that could help us.”

  She shook her head. “Forget it, Zack.”

  “But if—”

  “No.”

  Silence crept through the Jeep. He stared out the front window. “You don’t trust me. Of course not, even after all I’ve been doing for you. Paint the big red sucker sign on my forehead.”

  Jamie winced. “I’m learning to trust you with my life, but I have to keep her safe. If anything happens to her, I’ll never be able to forgive myself.” She’d already failed her sister. “I’m sorry.”

  “Good to know where I stand.” He clenched his teeth and shook his head. He refused to look at her and his fingers remained tight around the steering wheel.

  A few times, she opened her mouth to cut through the tension, but what could she say? As good of a man as he appeared to be, she couldn’t give him what he wanted.

  They rode through the busy streets of Gilliam, getting caught behind too many red lights. Neither of them spoke, but she could still feel the tension drifting off Zack. Knowing she was the cause added another layer of guilt to her heart. Didn’t she already have enough?

  Zack pulled into the parking lot of an apartment building and parked by the door.

  “Where are we?” she asked.

  “My place, but only for a few minutes.” He scanned the surroundings before turning the vehicle off. “We need to get out of here as soon as possible.”

  Jamie followed him to the front door. “Do you think Drew or George will come here?”

  “Absolutely.” He held the door open for her, then climbed the stairs in front of them. “It’s the first place I’d check. As bounty hunters, we visit anyone and any place remotely related to the fugitive.”

  “But you’re not wanted.”

  “To your brother-in-law I am.”

  Jamie followed him into the farthest apartment on the second floor and closed the door. Zack tossed his sister’s keys onto his kitchen table. “Use the restroom down the hall if you need to but make it quick.” Without another word, he disappeared into one of the other rooms.

  Jamie stayed put in the center of the living room studying Zack’s home. Rich, dark colors covered the mismatched furniture. A bookcase stood under the double window. On one shelf, he’d tucked away books about sports figures. On the lower shelf, a variety of classic tales stood next to faith-based books. Above the couch hung a picture of the Owen family. In it, Zack couldn’t have been more than fourteen. Jamie smiled. If they’d gone to school together, she definitely would’ve had a crush on him. Even now she sometimes found it difficult to resist his charm.

  But she had to. No sense mistaking his kindness for the offer of genuine friendship. Or something more. Ultimately, they’d go their separate ways.

  The thought brought pressure around her heart.

  A bland white valance above the kitchen window matched the generic table and appliances. Jamie leaned her hip against the kitchen sink. Three other cars sat in the parking lot outside.

  When Zack returned to the kitchen, he tossed various items onto the table and began to shove them into a duffel bag. A first-aid kit, a small laptop along with its cords, a wad of cash, a leather packet with what looked like lock-picking tools, a bulletproof vest and a few other items she couldn’t identify.

  “Is all that necessary?” She hated how weak her voice sounded.

  When he glanced over at her, his features softened to the way they were before she’d argued with him about where she’d hidden Charlotte. Once he picked up his duffel bag, he shifted around the chairs to stand beside her. “Despite our differences, I still want to protect you.” He raised his hand and brushed his thumb along her cheek. “And I’ll do whatever is necessary to keep you safe.”

  She reached up for his arm. “Why?”

  “Because you are worth it.” When he looked at her like he was right now, she thought for sure he could see straight into her soul. That scared her on a whole different level, one she wasn’t ready to examine.

  She shifted her gaze to his mouth. Bad idea. His lips parted, tempted her. What would they feel like on hers? Would their first kiss be gentle, feather-like? Or would his mouth be more demanding, asking for something she wasn’t sure she could give?

  He leaned forward. Jamie closed her eyes as butterflies whirled to life within her. His male scent surrounded her. She waited for his kiss...

  “We’ve got to go. Your brother-in-law’s here.”

  “What?” Her eyes flew wide as she turned to glance out the window. In the parking lot, sprawled over two parking spaces, was a Ponahochet County sheriff’s car.

  FOUR

  Jamie swallowed the knot in her throat as she watched both Drew and George exit the vehicle...with guns drawn.

  “Move.” Zack pushed her toward the apartment door. “We’ll go out the back of the building.” After he picked up his sister’s Jeep keys, he added, “Hurry.”

  Every nerve shook inside her. Could they get out in time?

  Outside Zack’s door, he grabbed her hand and tugged her behind him. They ran down the hallway in the opposite direction from the front entrance of his apartment building and rumbled down the carpeted stairs. A slamming sound filled the air. In her head, she pictured Drew kicking in the apartment door. Yelling voices filled the hallways.

  She rushed to keep up with Zack. Please don’t let me fall. Zack’s hold tightened as he shoved the back door open and pulled her toward the side of the building. He picked up his speed. Jamie stumbled over the fresh flower bed.

  When they reached Lily’s vehicle, Jamie slid into the passenger seat and stared at the apartment building’s front door. Would they get away before Drew and George realized their mistake? Beside her, Zack started the Jeep and shifted to Reverse. He took his time getting them across the parking lot. “Hurry, Zack.”

  “If I rush out, they’ll know it’s us. Right now, they’re still in the building and probably tossing my apartment for clues about where I might take you.”

  Neither of them said anything for several minutes. As they joined the traffic, Zack kept glancing into the rearview mirror. Jamie twisted to stare out the back window. No cars rushed toward them and no blue-and-red lights flashed.

  When she turned back around, she released a breath and stroked the cross necklace Erin had given her on her sixteenth birthday. To look at her, one might think she was calling on God, but Jamie had no illusions He would come to her aid. He’d given up on her, for sure. Maybe touching her favorite piece of jewelry, though, would give Jamie the courage she kept losing.

  After another glimpse in the rearview mirror, Zack looked in her direction. “That was too close.”

  “Yeah.” Both Drew’s approach and the kiss. Her heart still worked too hard, but at least its pace had started to slow. How could she be thinking about kissing Zack while there was a price on her head? She was not important right now. She had a job to do: bring down her brother-in-law. Jamie had no right exploring romance.

  They remained quiet for at least a good ten minutes. Zack swerved into a Dave’s Marketplace parking lot, set the Jeep in Park and whipped out his phone.

  “Who are you calling?” she asked as he dialed.

  “Jessa, the woman who works with my brothers and me.” He pressed the phone to his ear.

  “I thought they wouldn’t help us.”

  “I’m thinking she might be willing to, especially after I tell her what happened and she does a little investigation.” The woman must’ve answered because he shifted his focus away from Jamie. “Jessa...Yeah, we’re still together. Listen, I need you to do something for me and I need you to keep it to yourself...Jamie’s brother-in-law just raided my apartment. Can you keep tabs on it? Maybe swing by to see if he or the state police are investigating? If anyone asks, tell them I decided to stay with a f
riend out of town while I recover from my knee injury...No, I’ll call you back...Yeah, you’re right. You call me when you’ve got anything...Thanks.”

  Zack ended the call and dropped his phone in the console. The sound of it hitting the plastic sliced into the tension within the vehicle. Outside, traffic passed by like every other day. Would Jamie’s life ever be normal again?

  “Jamie, where’s your niece?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “I need to speak with her. She might have information about her parents you don’t know about.”

  “You don’t have anywhere else safe you could take us?”

  “I don’t usually get into trouble. Not anymore...not too much. At least none where I need to be sheltered.” After shaking his head, he continued, “I’m a bounty hunter. Of course I can find us places to hide out, but we need to investigate your accusations.” He shifted in his seat and draped his hand over the steering wheel. “I know you don’t want to tell me, but being with your niece right now might be our best choice.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t.” Charlotte was protected, tucked away out of state and living as carefree a life as Jamie and her friend Greta could give her. I promise I’ll keep her protected, Erin. For you.

  “You mean you won’t.” He stared at her with daggers spitting from his eyes. She shifted in her seat. Where did the sensitive man from the apartment kitchen go?

  “I appreciate all you’ve done to help me, but I won’t give up my niece’s location.” Would he refuse to continue assisting her?

  His jaw locked tight. For several more sickening seconds, he glared. She raised her chin and matched his gaze. She would not be bullied.

  Zack yanked the door handle, escaped the vehicle and began pacing along the lines of the parking space.

  * * *

  Every moment Zack spent with Jamie Carter was more maddening than the last. He’d chosen to break her out of Timmins’s jail with the intention of getting his family to find a way to help her. Going on the run with her had not been his plan. Every decision he made caused more confusion.

  And thinking about kissing her? Unacceptable. He was not holding auditions for a new girlfriend. Romance had no business interfering with his job. If he intended to keep her safe, then he better get himself back on track. No attachments and definitely no kissing. Nope. None at all. Yes, he found her attractive and her devotion to her family matched his own, but there could never be anything between them.

  “What now?” He leaned against the rear door and stared up to the sky. Was God trying to send him a message? If He was, Zack had no clue what the Father wanted from him. “I don’t want to hurt her,” he whispered.

  But he’d been sure God wanted him to save Jamie from Timmins. He’d felt the tug on his humanity. Of course, he’d also expected God to guide him to a happy ending. Instead, crooked lawmen chased him, hired muscle shot at him and Jamie wouldn’t cooperate. “I could use a little help here, a little guidance.” Because the lines between his personal and professional worlds were blurring and honestly, he didn’t like it one bit.

  A young kid’s laughter grabbed his attention. When he turned toward the grocery store, his inner angst unraveled. A mother smiled as she played with her child she’d placed in the store cart. Giggles lifted into the sky.

  Jamie and her niece deserved the same freedom to be silly, carefree and safe. Whatever actions he decided on had to lead to justice. He had to trust in his faith and know God would be with him no matter what.

  He glimpsed up at the sky again and smiled. “Thank You, Father.”

  With a lighter heart, he reentered the vehicle. “Okay.”

  “Is this where you tell me to get out because I’m too much trouble?” She grabbed the door handle. “That you don’t want to be bothered anymore?”

  Wait, what? “No. What I want is for you to work with me. Going on the run with you has tossed me into uncharted water. Frankly, I could use a little help.”

  “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not very good at this partner thing.”

  “Oh, yeah, I’ve noticed.” Jamie may talk a good game, act tough and determined, but the wall around her heart wasn’t as strong as she wanted the world to believe.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Let’s agree we’ll both try harder to work together.”

  Tears sparkled in her eyes. “I still won’t take you to Charlotte. I can’t.”

  “I know.” He’d leave the conversation about her niece alone. For now. He started the Jeep. “So, what’s the first stop of our investigation?”

  * * *

  Jamie twisted her fingers in her lap. “I’d planned to go see my grandmother’s best friend, Mrs. Cecily. Erin had mentioned her just before the phone went dead during her last call to my cell.” According to someone else down Mrs. C.’s street, the old woman had been out of town since just before the school year ended. Jamie had been waiting since Erin’s death to get in touch with her. Once Zack turned to her, she continued, “I have no idea what she can tell us, but I have to find out.”

  Zack pulled out of the parking lot and followed her directions to the woman’s neighborhood. Thanks to late beach traffic, their progress was as slow as a turtle. She drummed her fingers on the edge of her seat.

  After another fifteen thousand hours moving at a snail’s pace, Zack pulled up outside Mrs. Cecily’s house and turned off the ignition. He scanned the street. “Let’s make this as quick as possible.”

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “You’re not going without me.”

  She tried to stare him down like she did her obstinate high school students, but her skills had to be rusty. Zack refused to capitulate. “Fine, but let me do the talking.” Once she’d stuffed her backpack under the seat, she slipped from the vehicle and closed the door.

  Together they walked along the path to the front door. Bright summer sun warmed her back. Somewhere down the road, a lawn mower whirred as it trudged along. The scent of flowers brought back a flood of memories. She, Erin and their grandmother used to pick flowers and place them in each room of the house. Sometimes they’d share with Mrs. Cecily before she had her own garden.

  Jamie’s gaze fell on the metal cat statues by the front steps. “Oh.” She stopped and reached for Zack’s arm. “You’re not allergic to cats, are you?”

  “No, why?”

  They continued their walk. “I think at last count she had about fifteen.”

  His eyes widened. “Wow.” A slow grin crossed his face, making him more attractive. With a wink, he leaned close enough for her to inhale the scent of him. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll protect you.”

  Butterflies tickled her insides. For a few precious moments, she was just Jamie Carter. No one was chasing her, no danger surrounded her and she actually smiled.

  Zack pointed at her. “You should do that more often.”

  “What?”

  “Smile. It brings out dimples I didn’t even know you had and makes you even prettier.”

  Heat crept up her neck. “Thank you. You’re not so bad yourself.” Definitely not. With his attractive appearance and his good heart, she’d have a hard time finding a better man.

  For some other woman. While enjoying a vacation, she’d let her sister down. Jamie had no right to be happy.

  “Jamie, is that you?” The screen door squeaked as it opened.

  Mrs. Cecily stood hunched over with age and a hard life. The woman had appeared to be a senior citizen when Jamie rode a bike with training wheels around the cul-de-sac. Now, she had to be nearing one hundred and fifty. She wore a casual muumuu and rust-colored slippers. Two cats stood as sentries and another slipped between Jamie and Zack.

  “Yes, ma’am.” She hugged Mrs. Cecily gingerly.

  “So good to see you, dear!” She stepped back for them to en
ter. Before either of them set foot inside the house, a series of meows welcomed them. Three more cats occupied the kitchen, two playing by the hallway and one sitting pensively by the back door. “And you brought your boyfriend, too.” The older woman’s gaze traveled down and up over Zack as she smoothed out her hair. “How wonderful.”

  “Uh, he’s not... We’re only...” Heat invaded Jamie’s cheeks.

  “We’re friends. I’m Zack.” He held his hand out to the older woman.

  “Nice to meet you, Zack.” Mrs. Cecily clutched his hand, then locked arms with him. “Please come in. It’s so good to see one of these girls with a nice young man.” As though Jamie wasn’t even in the house, the lady led Zack through the hallway to the kitchen. “I was just making some coffee. Would you like some?” Faint meows announced the presence of more cats in other rooms.

  “Uh, no, ma’am. We can’t stay long. Thank you, though.”

  Mrs. Cecily stepped over one of the cats on her way to the counter. After opening a cabinet door, she grabbed more coffee cups. “I’ll just get us some cookies, too.” She opened another cabinet door and reached up for a bag of generic chocolate chip cookies. Her fingers stretched high but missed the bag.

  “Here. Let me get it for you.” Standing close to six feet tall, Zack easily reached the bag.

  Another something Jamie couldn’t peg stirred within her. The man was full of so many layers. Hard as nails when it came to keeping them safe and free, yet kind and careful with those who needed it. His lean frame still overtook the tiny kitchen. Or maybe it was his persona. Jamie had assessed him when he showed up at the internet café, but that had been quick with survival and escape in the center of her mind. Throughout today, she’d witnessed so much more tenderness than she ever thought possible from a man who’d first wanted to put her behind bars.

  With strong hands, he assisted Mrs. Cecily to the kitchen table as gently as a newborn. What would it be like to have her hand latched on to his? How would it feel to have the physical support her body just noticed it missed?

  No. She’d never have a husband. Her niece was all that mattered. Why waste her time considering the joys of a relationship, a partnership, she’d never be good enough to have? Doing so could only bring longing and loneliness.