Witness in Hiding

by Lisa Phillips

  Alan said, “You will accompany me to the car. When you are inside, I will release your son. He can run off, but you will remain.”

  “Bring him out here.”

  “No. He stays in the car. No interference from the Secret Service agents I know you have all around us.” He looked both ways, like he knew there were task force agents stationed all over the park and neighboring streets. Which there were.

  In fact, the van where they were running surveillance was parked across the street on the side Alan had walked over from. Had he noticed them there? Would they intercept her when she went that way with this man? She would go. Despite her argument, Zoe was going to do what she needed to in order to save her son.

  Even if that meant making the ultimate sacrifice.

  “Walk toward me, slowly. Now.”

  She nearly jumped at his tone, but started toward him as instructed. When she was close enough, his arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist. He held the gun to her side, just above where the vest ended under her arm. Right against her skin. She choked out a breath and tried to think.

  Where was Jude? Did he have Tyler; was her son safe? She could pray this would all be over before it even started, but was it too late for that? Alan would kill her if anyone came near them.

  Zoe watched the bushes for agents, hiding and watching. Where were they? Maybe they were so good she couldn’t see them, but how was that supposed to be reassuring?

  Alan walked her to the sidewalk that ran down the length of the street and he twisted her body. Passersby had been cleared, but cars still drove down the street even this early. None could see the gun, though. Not from this angle.

  One of the cars parked on the street had its driver’s door open. Was that where they were headed? And where was Tyler?

  * * *

  Jude said, “Give him to me.”

  “Back up!” Beatrice Reskin—he’d been right about her identity when the car pulled up—waved the gun around like she had no idea how to use it, which was more dangerous than someone who’d taken a class in weapons.

  “No way.” She pulled Tyler in front of her, motioning to Jude. “Back away from the car.”

  Agents emerged from the shadows and out from behind trees. At least four men, though there were likely more she could see behind him.

  Beatrice didn’t even seem to notice.

  “Don’t hurt him.” He had to say it. That was a very real possibility right now. As soon as he’d announced himself, stood right beside her open window, she’d turned almost feral and screamed at him to get back. The woman was prepared to fight to defend herself from whatever it was she’d gotten into, and Jude wasn’t prepared to risk Tyler. He’d backed off, but she’d seen the approaching agents and was now using Tyler as a shield.

  “Just let him go—he’s innocent.” As he said it, his eyes locked on Tyler’s. The spitting image of his mom’s, the same wide gaze that made Jude want to hang up everything and swoop the kid away to safety. He would give up the career he’d built all these years. His parents. His ministry. All of it meant nothing if Tyler and Zoe weren’t in his life.

  Beatrice turned back to the car and saw armed agents between her and the vehicle.

  The boy whimpered, but Beatrice simply dragged him closer to where Jude had been hiding instead. Into the park. Was she waiting for Alan to return? No one had even announced the fact that Alan had shown up to meet Zoe.

  Jude squared his aim. “Unless you let that boy go and put the gun down, you will die here.”

  “You can’t kill me!” She screamed. “I’m Beatrice Reskin!”

  What did her identity have to do with it? “Let the boy go, and I’ll see about not adding attempted murder to the charges. Just kidnapping, along with the rest of it.”

  “I only did what was necessary. And it’s over now. I’ve taken care of everything.” Her determination, her certainty, caused more fear to spring to life inside him. She was holding a gun on a child, and still seemed convinced she hadn’t done anything wrong. There was no reasoning with someone like that. And it would be no easy task to talk her down.

  She waved the gun around some more. “The mayor and the district attorney will be hearing about this injustice!”

  Her eyes widened, and he figured she’d noticed the arrival of yet more backup.

  Jude said, “You thought we’d send Zoe alone?”

  She opened her mouth, but a man yelled, “Beatrice!” Alan strode into view on the sidewalk where their car was parked, Zoe pressed against his side. From where he was positioned, Jude could see the gun pointed at Zoe’s side. But Alan was paying no attention to her. He stared at Beatrice like the woman was crazy and he had no idea what she was doing. “Shouldn’t we go?”

  “I make the calls. Not you.”

  “It’s time to leave!” Alan yelled.

  Beatrice moved with Tyler back to where Alan held on to Zoe. They were going to take both of them? He needed to stop them—but he couldn’t get a shot.

  “Does anyone have an angle?” Pretense was out the window now. He wanted this done.

  “No shot.”

  “No shot.”

  Beatrice was using Tyler’s body as cover, and no one had a good angle that wouldn’t risk the boy’s life.

  Beatrice fired toward Jude. It was so erratic, it missed anything vital. The second shot didn’t, though, and he heard a scream. Pain sliced across the right side of Jude’s neck and he fell back with the force of it. He brought his gun up, uncaring about the sting or the fact that he was likely bleeding a scary amount. Tyler was in the way still. He couldn’t get a shot off without Zoe or her son getting hit in the process.

  Tyler yelled. Zoe screamed, and the boy ran toward Jude.

  “Leave him!” Alan shoved Zoe into the car and Beatrice flung her door open.

  A shot rang out.

  Tyler collided with him, his knees slamming into Jude’s chest as the boy reached where he lay.

  “I winged her.” That was Milsner.

  Jude was just glad no one had shot Zoe by accident. He grasped Tyler’s hand, but could do nothing except watch as Zoe was driven away by the two criminals. Half the task force raced to get their cars and follow Alan and Beatrice.

  The rest of the task force were headed his way, judging by the noise of boots racing toward Jude and Tyler. But he didn’t care about who or why. Zoe was gone, and Jude was mad. He hadn’t been able to protect her, and neither had any of his colleagues. Jude turned the full force of his ire on the men who should have protected him and his family.

  Yes, they were his family.

  “We’re—”

  It didn’t matter what Milsner was about to say. Jude didn’t need reassurance; he needed Zoe.

  “Go get her back.”

  TWENTY

  Zoe sat up from where they’d tossed her onto the backseat and hugged her middle. Alan Reskin had thrown her back here just like he’d done to that body���the not-actually-dead body of the woman who now sat beside him in the front seat. She could hardly believe it. Jude had said Beatrice was alive, but seeing it for herself was an entirely different thing. She was here. Injured. Mad.

  But it was Alan who said, “No one will find out.” He spewed the words out in a higher-pitched voice than he’d used before. “Once we get rid of her no one will ever know.” His voice switched to what was his normal tone. “That’s what you said, and now the entire Secret Service is going to be after us. They got involved. Like I told you they were going—”

  Beatrice slapped him across the face with a bloody hand. “Shut up.”

  Zoe gasped.

  Beatrice said, “I’m trying to think past this stupid gunshot wound and all your yammering isn’t helping. Just give me some peace. The gall of them. Shooting me. Me!”

 
Zoe pulled at the door handle, her other hand ready to unclip her seat belt. She didn’t care if they were going forty-five, winding between cars through downtown. Road rash was preferable to whatever Beatrice and Alan planned to do with her once they got wherever it was they were going.

  “This whole thing is your fault.”

  Alan sneered. “Your plan. Your fault.”

  “If you hadn’t been so stupid—” Her words were like venom, stealing whatever gave Alan the strength to face her down when he was obviously otherwise a kowtowed husband to this alpha female.

  Beatrice threw her weight around as though she was born entitled to everyone’s respect, but that wasn’t how it was earned. Jude wasn’t the kind of man who demanded respect or assumed it was his just because of his job. He simply acted like the good man he was, and it made her love him for it. No pretense. No manipulation. Everything in her yearned for Jude. His strength. The simple peace he carried with him. Was that because of his faith?

  God, I would like some of that, as well. It had been so long, it felt like starting over. I’d like to know how to be like that, because he is everything so naturally. He just possesses it somehow and I want it, too.

  There was no audible voice in reply, but Zoe felt better all the same. She had to believe God was on her side because that was what faith was. She knew as much, despite what had happened these past few weeks. Sometimes seeing was believing, but it was far more powerful knowing the hope driving her was born of what she couldn’t see. Couldn’t touch or feel. She just had to trust. And she would.

  Alan shrank in his seat, even as he drove them through the city. Beatrice yammered on and on about how everything was his fault, even though she’d told him to be quiet so she could think. In the end she let out a cry of frustration and slumped back into her seat.

  “The virus took care of the files. Now all we have to do is get rid of her.” Beatrice jabbed between the seats with her thumb extended.

  Great. They were going to kill Zoe? Surely Jude was right behind them, following. Ready to rescue her.

  Zoe turned in the seat, ignoring the pull of the stitches in her shoulder. There were cars behind, but no SUVs she recognized. Wasn’t he coming? Despair threatened her faith that God would send Jude to rescue her. What if he was too badly hurt and couldn’t come? Tyler could be hurt, though she hadn’t seen it happen. Zoe didn’t want to think about either of them being injured, but there had to be a reason he wasn’t behind her.

  There had to be.

  “What about the Secret Service?” Alan asked. “They have to know about the money.”

  “Eventually maybe, but before then you’ll already be on your way to the White House. There will be nothing to stop our rise to the top.” Beatrice fisted her hand and lifted it to shoulder height, punching the air. “We will be the most powerful couple in the world and no one will be able to do anything.”

  The woman was certifiable. Zoe couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “You’re going to run for president?”

  Beatrice shifted. “Not me.” She motioned to her husband with a dismissive wave. “Him.”

  Alan didn’t react. Zoe figured he was used to being dismissed. She almost felt sorry for him, living with a woman who was not only nuts but dragged everyone with her in it. He’d told Tyler in the tree house that he wanted out. The Secret Service would have probably helped him if he’d turned himself in, right? Yet he hadn’t; he’d kidnapped Tyler and now Reskin was going along with the plan to kill Zoe just to pacify his insane and overbearing wife.

  The brief surge of sympathy she had for him was short-lived. He was in charge of his own life, and yet he’d given his power to a wife who bullied him at every turn.

  “I’ll take care of the Secret Service,” Beatrice said. “Don’t worry about that.” She patted her husband’s arm, and Zoe saw the muscle twitch in his jaw that said Alan didn’t welcome the contact. “I have everything in hand. You were wearing a mask. No one saw me hit that old man, or set that house on fire. The DA will believe anything I say.”

  “Except for the part where I have no intention of being the president.” Alan’s words were hard, but had no strength.

  “So you said. As well as hitting me so I fell onto that dirty parking lot ground.” Beatrice shook her head. “Disgusting.”

  “I told you I’m sorry about that,” he said. “I was just so mad.”

  Zoe gaped. This man deferred to her without even thinking. He was apologizing for getting mad and punching her when she felt she could freely strike him with no recourse. Both of them needed counseling.

  Beatrice huffed. “You’re the biggest imbecile I’ve ever seen. Putting me in the back of the car. She thought I was dead! No wonder I had to send my cousin to find out what she was going to do.”

  “You could have gone yourself,” Alan muttered. “But that would have involved lifting a finger.”

  She continued like he hadn’t even spoken. “That idiot drew way too much attention to himself. Then your man fails to kill her while we’re taking the kid. Plans. Insurance. I have to outthink them and you. Then it turns out they’re all as much of an imbecile as you are. It’s a wonder I get anything done.”

  Alan shrank further. Zoe didn’t want to feel sorry for him. He was as much at fault, not standing up for himself, but Beatrice was horrible. Theirs was nowhere close to a healthy relationship. They were both crazy, but the woman might actually be certifiable. She thought she could bully her husband into running for president just because she wanted power? Did she think she could bully voters, as well? And the Secret Service, along with the district attorney and the mayor?

  Apparently she was intent on getting started with that now.

  “It takes money to run a candidacy—you know that. It’s why we had to bring the cartel in. Only by laundering their money for a fee did we have the chance for enough cash to fund all my plans. And now it’s all ruined.” Beatrice let out a bark of frustration. “But no matter. I’ll fix it. I will. I can do this.”

  More than ever, Zoe wanted to unbuckle and jump from the moving car. But the door wouldn’t open. The child locks had to be on. From when they’d kidnapped Tyler?

  A sob moved up in her chest, and she felt the raw emotion trail down her cheeks in hot wet streams. They were going to take her wherever they wanted to, and they were going to kill her. Then they were going to move on with their lives like nothing was amiss.

  Would the Secret Service let them do it? She couldn’t imagine Jude letting this go, but Beatrice implied she had powerful connections. Maybe she’d go over Jude’s head, and the Secret Service would be forced to back off. Beatrice had said she had everything “in hand.” Whatever that meant, it didn’t sound good.

  “Take a left,” Beatrice ordered.

  Alan said nothing, but complied, turning left. Another mile closer to their destination.

  Where was Jude?

  * * *

  Jude held the door handle while Milsner took the corner. Tyler let out a squeal, which Jude wasn’t sure was fear or excitement. Maybe both. Tyler held his other hand, but all Jude’s attention was on the car where Zoe was. Several other vehicles had been between them, but they’d stayed far enough out of sight that neither Alan nor his wife would know they were being followed.

  By an entire convoy of federal agents.

  Now they’d taken a side street, as Milsner intended to cut them off. The task force was determined to bring them down. It was a point of honor that they apprehend the couple and get Zoe back. For Jude, they said. He’d never appreciated his teammates more than he did today.

  “The team is in place,” Agent Carnes said through the car speakers.

  “Copy that.” Milsner hung up the call. They tore down a side street and he pulled up sharply at the corner of the road. Two other SUVs were on the opposite side, the main
street between them four lanes of pretty busy traffic.

  Jude prayed that with what they were planning, no one else got hurt.

  “Wait here.” Milsner got out, as did Agent Carnes from the passenger seat. He hadn’t needed to say it. Jude wasn’t about to let Tyler out of his sight, or put the child in the path of danger again. He trusted the team to save Zoe, and they would.

  It wouldn’t be long now.

  “What are they doing?” Tyler’s voice was small, and Jude unbuckled them both to pull the boy to his side.

  “Watch.”

  All the men braced on both sides of the street. The agent from the passenger seat handed a latticed bundle of metal to Milsner. He moved, like a sprinter ready to set off from the starting line.

  The agent with him gave a shout Jude couldn’t hear, and Milsner threw the bundle in his hands onto the street while he held on to one end.

  The spike strip shot out across the asphalt, another coming from the far side of the street. They met in the middle, overlapping. There was nowhere for Alan and Beatrice to go now without driving over the spikes that would wreck their tires and make them unable to continue.

  Two seconds later Alan ran over it. Tires popped and the car careened out of sight.

  “Come on.”

  Jude tugged Tyler from the car and kept his hold on the boy’s hand as they ran to the corner. Milsner and the other agents surrounded the car. They deflated airbags with their knives and pulled Alan and his wife from the vehicle and hauled them away. Both were injured and out cold, but an ambulance was on its way.

  When they were clear, Milsner gave him a nod. Jude and Tyler raced to the car. He opened the back door while the boy stepped from foot to foot. Jude prayed she was okay.

  “Mom?”

  Jude saw the seat belt and released some of the tension from holding his breath. “She was buckled in.”

  “She always tells me to.”

  Jude leaned her back, so she rested her head on the seat. She was out cold. “Zoe?” He checked her over for injuries but couldn’t see any new ones. Then he tapped her cheek. “Wake up, beautiful. The sun is just coming up, and there are two men right here who want to see those pretty green eyes of yours.”