Fugitive Pursuit Read online

  “As long as you don’t destroy it. How about I meet you in the mall parking lot by the food court with my friend’s car and we’ll switch?”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He ended the call and turned to Jamie. She ripped one corner of the well-taped envelope.

  “Let me help.” He reached forward.

  She pulled away and slid one finger inside the package. “I’ve got it.”

  With a tender voice, he said, “Jamie, about my comments to Lily about your...situation...” She expected him to be professional, to stay on her side and he’d decided to let frustration overtake him. “I had no right to be a jerk. I was just—”

  “Forget it.”

  So, she wouldn’t allow him to apologize. Stubborn woman.

  Determined.

  Not afraid to speak her mind. She accepted some help with the dangerous aspect of her situation, but he had no doubt she’d still be strong on her own, too.

  Stop. He had to stay focused on his job, not his feelings about the woman. He had to focus on what really mattered: gathering enough information to help prove Jamie was justified in stealing her niece and going after her brother-in-law.

  * * *

  Jamie turned her sister’s envelope upside down and dumped the contents in her lap. A journal, a couple pieces of paper written in Erin’s handwriting, a set of pictures of Drew and some sleazy-looking men.

  Zack studied the cover of the journal, probably reading the Bible verse on it. “Is this your sister’s?”

  After skimming the first entry, dated March 18, she shook her head. “Nope. It’s not Erin’s handwriting.” Beth McKutchen’s name was on the inside cover. Several pages were written on, but the majority of the journal was blank. “This belonged to Beth, Drew and Erin’s housekeeper until just before—” I left my sister to fend for herself “—Drew killed Erin.”

  “She quit?” Zack shifted in his seat and glanced down at Beth’s book.

  Jamie shrugged. “Or Drew fired her, which is more likely.”

  “Why?”

  “If Beth started asking too many questions or maybe started to get close to my sister, Drew wouldn’t have liked it. He’d do whatever he needed to keep Erin under his control.” She continued to skim the pages. “Why would Beth’s diary be in my sister’s mailbox?”

  “Here’s a list of names.” Zack picked a slip of paper off Jamie’s knee. The touch of his fingers sent a shiver through her. “Do you know any of them?” His close proximity tugged away her concentration.

  She shook her head. Her number one priority was to study the notes in her lap. “Some sound familiar, but I couldn’t tell you where I’d heard them before.”

  Zack unfolded another piece of paper. “This has a Hampton Waterfront address.” He picked up the photos and began showing them to her. “What about these pictures?”

  “I don’t recognize anyone in them except Drew and George.” She grabbed the one he’d just set down on the console. “Oh, wait. That’s Charlie, one of the deputies who tried to grab me in the park.”

  After another glance at all the paperwork in her lap, Jamie sat back and rubbed her eyes. “This opens so many more doors yet I still feel lost.” She’d thought the visit to Brodigan Mail Kingdom would solve the problems Jamie had created for herself by grabbing her niece. Instead, for the moment, they made the quest for the truth harder.

  “Don’t get discouraged. I usually have less information than this on a fugitive and I still find them. We’ve got Beth’s journal, which might give us something, a list of men’s names, pictures of your brother-in-law with various guys and an address down by the waterfront. Now we need to be smart and plan the next steps in our investigation.”

  Jamie stuffed the items into her backpack. “But first, we need to meet your sister.”

  “Right.” Zack headed toward his and Lily’s meeting spot. His sister sat waiting when he pulled up outside the food court entrance. Five minutes later, they’d switched Lily’s Jeep with a sedan and Jamie and Zack watched his sister drive away in her own vehicle.

  “Now, let’s get your arm patched up before we head out again.” He twisted in his seat and grabbed something out of his duffel bag. As Jamie glanced at her bloodied shirt, Zack opened the first-aid kit on his lap.

  Once she’d lifted her sleeve, he got to work cleaning the wound. Again. Zack’s hands remained gentle despite the occasional twinge of discomfort in her skin. She closed her eyes and paid attention to the rhythm of her heartbeat.

  “Am I hurting you?”

  “No. I’m trying to relax.”

  “Are you scared?”

  “About my arm? No.”

  “How about the whole ordeal with Timmins?”

  She hesitated, but why? Zack already knew more about her in the time they’d been together than most people learned over several months. How had that happened?

  “Every day I wonder if I’m strong enough. Can I make Charlotte’s life safe and happy? Will I be able to convince others how evil Drew is? I’m used to attempting to change people’s minds, but it’s a lot different working with teenagers than adults. Add that to my illegal activities... This is all new to me and, if I can be honest, pretty frightening.” And she’d probably have to hunt down a new job after breaking so many laws.

  They remained quiet as he finished up. Once he’d replaced the bandage, he covered the new one carefully with his palm, sending warmth throughout her. “You are strong enough. Have faith.”

  “In God?”

  “Yes, but also in yourself. You’re a smart woman.”

  Knots formed in her stomach. Should she keep her mouth shut? But the words wouldn’t wait. “I know I wasn’t what you bargained for when you got to work, but thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for me.” She covered his hand with her own. “I’m not sure what path I should take, but you replaced the strength I started to lose in my battle with Drew.”

  His deep green eyes sparkled as a flash of surprise crossed his handsome face.

  For a moment, Jamie allowed her thoughts to wander. What would it be like to have a man like Zack in her life? Someone to talk to, someone to back her up, someone to cherish her as much as she cherished him.

  But she had no time for romance, no right to expect a long-lasting, intimate relationship. Her only duties had to be bringing Drew to justice and giving Charlotte a safe and happy life. To do that, she needed to be at the top of her game.

  As proof that she wasn’t, she wrestled with a yawn.

  After a glimpse at her mouth, Zack tucked her free-flying strands of hair behind her ear. A shiver rippled down her spine. Was he aware of the effect his touch had on her? If he was, he kept it to himself. Unlike other points in the day, she couldn’t read him at all.

  “We should stop for the night.” He shifted in the seat, started the engine and slid the car into evening traffic. “We’ll stop to get something to eat then head to a motel my family and I have used before in tracking down fugitives. It’s nothing special, but it is clean. We’ll lay low and get some rest.”

  “Good thinking.” She needed time away from him to bring her focus back where it belonged. “I’ll read Beth’s journal and see if she gives us any information. How about in the morning we go through the names on the list and look them up? Then we can head down to the address on the waterfront.” Tomorrow was soon enough to continue their journey together.

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  * * *

  Jamie sat on the edge of the full-size bed and towel-dried her hair in front of the slightly cracked mirror. Sunshine fell through the windows and made a path across the carpet. Last night, here in a generic motel in downtown South Gilliam, had been her best sleep in ages. How did that happen? Knowing Zack was next door had surely helped. What would it be like to sleep soundly every night? Too often it had felt like she’d never
get the chance again.

  But this morning, excitement rippled through her. After reading the journal last night, she had so much to share with Zack. Yes, the diary was Beth’s, but Erin had written in it, too.

  The excitement, if she were honest with herself, was also due to Zack himself. Her thoughts kept drifting to the kiss they’d almost shared yesterday. As butterflies swirled through her belly, she smiled. Zack had been gentle with his touch so far. Chances were his kisses would be the same. Thoughts of them going on a date to the newest beachside restaurant surfaced in her mind. They could get to know each other more and she’d be able to focus on him, his charming smile, his handsome face and his strong faith. “Wishful thinking,” she whispered to herself. Zack deserved better than her.

  A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. She stilled, stared at her backpack where she’d set it under the table.

  “Jamie, it’s me,” Zack’s muffled voice called from the other side of the door.

  “Hold on.” Once she’d unlocked the two dead bolts and chain, she opened the door to him. Heat and humidity pushed inside.

  “Good morning.” He smiled over several paper bags. The scent of bacon and eggs sailed toward her and her stomach growled.

  “Hi.” She stepped back and motioned him inside the room.

  “I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat so I picked up a bunch of items.” He stood by the table and began pulling wrapped food out of the bags.

  She grabbed a breakfast sandwich. “Anything is good. Thank you.”

  He sat across from her and pointed toward a bag he’d left on the floor. “I also picked up a change of clothes. I wasn’t sure what might fit so I went with as generic as I could.”

  While he set out two coffees, she fished through the bag at her feet. A casual turquoise T-shirt and a hunter green one, along with a travel kit of personal items. “Thank you, Zack. Of course I’ll pay you—” when we’re out of this mess “—at some point.” For now, she needed to keep whatever funds she still had. Using an ATM anywhere would help Drew track her.

  Zack waved her off. “Don’t worry about it.”

  If he kept being so nice to her, he might break down another part of the wall around her heart. She couldn’t let that happen. Believing in fairy tales would only hurt her more in the end.

  “Hey, I’ve got some news.”

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Beth started the journal when she began working at my sister’s. It has the average diary stuff in it at first, but then she talks about being nervous around Drew. She wrote notes about what she saw and heard and she used the journal to keep track of her thoughts and investigating.”

  Zack’s eyes widened. “What investigating did she do?”

  “Remember I told you there were rumors about drugs being sold to teens in Hampton and nearby towns?” He nodded as he took another bite of his sandwich. “Apparently her youngest sister, who’s a junior, told her the rumors were true. So Beth began interviewing some of the kids at the high school for more information. Her last entry was her last day of work.”

  “Wow. It seems we’re on the right path.”

  Jamie set her breakfast sandwich down and wiped her hands. “That’s not all.” She stood, grabbed the journal off the nightstand and handed it to him. “Erin wrote in there. It was more stream of consciousness, but she talks about how Beth had been helping her and how she wonders why Beth left her and Charlotte.”

  “Which reminds me. Why would Beth have the journal at the house if she had information about Timmins? That seems risky and reckless.”

  Jamie shrugged. “Maybe she got tired of working to help Erin and decided to leave it there and wash her hands of the whole thing.”

  Zack shrugged. “It’s something to think about.”

  After another bite of her sandwich, she continued, “Erin also wrote Beth’s address, with a note to visit as soon as she could. Her last entry mentioned how tense everything was in the house and how she intended to continue her and Beth’s work so maybe she could finally get away from Drew. Maybe that’s when she decided to open the account at Brodigan Mail Kingdom.”

  Silence took over as they both continued to eat. After a minute, Zack said, “Our first stop today needs to be Beth’s address.” He took a bite of a hash brown and swallowed. “After I left you last night, I did some research online. I wanted to see what the press thought of your sister’s death, Timmins, you.”

  “I could’ve told you it’s all bad. To the rest of the world, Drew is the good guy distraught over all that’s happened, my sister’s death was tragic and I’m crazy.”

  He opened his mouth to respond but must’ve changed his mind. Instead, he crumbled up one of his wrappers and tossed it toward the trash bin by the dresser. It landed on the floor. “Timmins says you assaulted him once you found out your sister was dead.” Zack fished through a paper bag for another sandwich.

  Jamie nodded while she swallowed a bit of a hash brown. “That part is true. I returned home from a vacation with some friends from school and drove straight over to see my sister—” because Erin had begged for help “—and saw the crime scene tape. By then, she’d been dead three hours and Drew’s office hadn’t bothered to contact me. There were neighbors all over the place, two other sheriff’s department cars were parked in the driveway and a paramedic had Charlotte. I pulled my niece in my arms and held her until Drew tried to take her away. I kind of went crazy then and lashed out at him. I started blaming him and hollering to anyone who’d listen that he should be investigated because the circumstances surrounding Erin’s death were a little too suspicious.”

  “Why’d he arrest you?”

  Heat rose to her cheeks. This part of the story she was ashamed of. “I went after him. I grabbed an IV pole from the back of the ambulance, ran up to him and swung. He shoved me from the front and I had another man grabbing me from behind. I hit him, too, but he kept his hold on me. A female deputy grabbed the pole, then tried to check out Drew’s injury, but he shoved her away, too. Next thing I know I’ve got cuffs on and I’m locked in the back seat of a sheriff’s car.”

  “Your brother-in-law says he’s worried about your niece’s safety.”

  Rolling her eyes, she finished chewing. “He knows I’d never do anything to hurt her.”

  “He claims if you brought Charlotte back he’d be willing to drop the charges against you.”

  “I wouldn’t believe anything he says.” Jamie took a sip of coffee. “Did you call your partner, the one looking into Drew’s invasion of your apartment?”

  He nodded. “She got there and one of my neighbors told her the place had been tossed but the police were looking into it. The neighbor had seen the sheriff’s car and probably assumed they were taking care of it. Jessa went into my apartment, but she couldn’t tell if anything had been taken.”

  “But you don’t live in Drew’s jurisdiction. Wouldn’t your neighbor question why the Ponahochet County sheriff would be investigating?”

  “Most people don’t understand how law enforcement works.”

  “True. Until my sister’s death, I had no idea what it entailed.”

  “I also asked Jessa to look into drug use and arrests within the schools in and around Hampton. She’ll get back to me when she’s got something to report.” Zack crumpled another set of wrappers. “What’s the connection between Timmins and Deputy Linden?”

  “They’ve been friends since middle school, both on the football and wrestling teams. They got into a lot of trouble together in high school, then got respectable jobs and supposedly became respectable men. They’re still pretty close, like brothers.” Jamie gathered her wrappers, rose and dropped the trash into the bin. “A couple of his other deputies are friends from school, too.”

  Zack crumpled the rest of the wrappers on the table and pitched them one by one toward the can across the room.
Several bounced off the rim and landed at Jamie’s feet. She smiled as she reached down for them. “Great shots.”

  Zack kept his gaze on her, a lazy grin of his own twisting his lips. “What can I say? Basketball was never my sport.”

  Once she threw out his trash, she moved toward the mirror and ran her fingers through her still-wet hair. “What sport did you play?”

  “Football mostly, baseball when I got to high school. How about you? Did you play anything?”

  Settling across from him once again, she folded her arms on the table and chuckled. “No, I was never coordinated enough.”

  He narrowed his gaze on her as though focusing. “Choir?”

  As she smiled wider, she shook her head. “Can’t hold a note.”

  “Band?”

  “Nope.”

  After a few seconds, he pointed toward her. “Checkers.”

  “Sorry.”

  “So, what did you do for an extracurricular activity in high school?”

  She clasped her fingers and tucked them under her chin to keep from covering her face.

  “Come on, you know you want to tell me.”

  He was right. Talking to him was easier with each moment they spent together. “I was on the debate team and I was president of the math club.”

  His eyes crinkled at the corners as he burst into laughter.

  “Stop laughing at me.” She playfully slapped his forearm.

  A comfortable silence settled into the room. Sharing the silly conversation made her feel normal, less afraid.

  He took hold of her hand and rubbed his thumb along the back of it. With each swipe, a bit more ease took over her heart. “I’m glad you took my advice.”

  “Which was?”

  “To smile more.”

  Remembering his compliment outside Mrs. C.’s house about how pretty she was made heat travel up her neck. Zack can’t be a romantic interest, remember? How could she be allowed to have a happy ending when she’d failed her sister? She slid her hand free of his and instantly felt the loss of his touch. Foolish to allow herself to remember she was a woman first.