by Lisa Harris
“I will be. I promise.”
They stepped out into the humid Houston air to the pickup area. Jonas moved to the side like he was waiting for a ride, but stayed close enough to see the pickup.
A black sedan pulled up beside Madison and the driver rolled down the window.
“You’re Tyler?” Madison asked.
“Yes.”
“Thanks for picking me up. Sorry I’m late. I had some baggage issues.”
“That’s fine. Can I help you with the bags?”
She shook her head, picked up Bianca’s suitcase, and opened the back door. “How far is the other airport?”
“A little more than thirty minutes away, depending on traffic. Don’t worry. Your boyfriend arranged everything. You’re in good hands.”
Thirty-Two
The plan was simple, in theory. Madison would pose as Bianca, luggage and all, with Bianca’s driver. Jonas and one of the officers who worked at the airport, Sergeant O’Conner, would follow her from a distance, with a second unmarked car following close behind. Madison’s phone was being tracked along with the additional backup tracker they’d placed in her shoe. On top of that, there were a dozen agents on their way to the Hobby airport who would be there as backup in case Barrick decided to put up a fight. The noose was slowly tightening.
So why did he feel so on edge?
Jonas blew out a sharp breath. He trusted Madison. There was no doubt about that. But he also knew they couldn’t trust Bianca. She was being held at the airport so she would have no chance to communicate with Barrick. He might believe the information they’d given her had shaken her, but he wasn’t convinced her loyalty didn’t outweigh anything new that she learned. And they couldn’t take a chance of their plan changing.
He glanced at his watch, knowing time was running out. In a few short hours, if they didn’t find him, there was a good chance that Barrick would be across the border and long gone with or without Bianca’s money. Something they couldn’t afford to let happen.
They headed down the highway, three cars behind the driver, making sure they stayed far enough back that they weren’t made, and yet close enough to keep them in their sights.
“I’m surprised Barrick doesn’t just try to cross the border into Mexico,” O’Conner said.
“He knows we’re after him,” Jonas said. “He probably also knows that we have a field office in Mexico. The chances of him getting through are slim to none.”
Jonas reached up and tried to rub the knots out of the back of his neck. After nearly a week of hunting Barrick and always being a step behind him, he was ready to put an end to this.
“Stay closer on his tail. I don’t want to lose her.”
“Relax. If I’m not careful, he’s going to spot us following him. Besides, we’re tracking her phone and she’s got a tracker on her. We’ve got them.”
Jonas frowned, still uncomfortable with the situation. He should have insisted on driving. He might not know Houston like O’Conner did, but sitting in the passenger seat only made him feel less in control. He drummed his fingers against the armrest, keeping his eyes focused on the black sedan ahead of them. One thing he did remember about the handful of times he’d been in Houston was that rush hour wasn’t limited to morning and evening hours. Even at midday, the multilane highway felt congested. But O’Conner was right. Even if they lost sight of the car, they could still track her. Worrying was only going to eat him up.
“Are you usually this keyed up during a case?” O’Conner asked.
Jonas pulled his hands into his lap and folded them. “Let’s just say it’s been a difficult few days.”
“I skimmed through the report. You guys have had it rough.”
“I guess a few missed nights of sleep will be worth it in the end.”
“So what’s up between you and your partner?” O’Conner asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I got the impression you were . . . I don’t know. Maybe more than friends.”
Jonas sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was defend his relationship with Madison. “I met her back in Nashville for some field training and now we’re working this case, but just as partners.”
“So is she single?”
Jonas frowned at the probing questions. “Widowed.”
“Same thing. Does she date?”
“I wouldn’t know. You’d have to ask her that.”
A wave of overprotectiveness shot through him. Madison wasn’t exactly helpless and didn’t need him acting in her defense, but still the move rubbed him wrong.
Because you wouldn’t mind dating her yourself.
The thought tripped him. He had no desire to date Madison or any other woman he knew at the moment, because he was, in fact, perfectly happy with his life. Moving to Seattle wasn’t a sign that he was burnt-out. It was simply that he wanted to move in a different direction. Change didn’t have to equal running from something.
He frowned, realizing his focus was off. If he was going to ensure Madison’s safety, there was no time for distractions.
His phone rang, and Jonas pulled it out of his pocket. “What have you got, Patterson?”
“Something you might to like to hear. Local PD just found Yuri. And let’s say, he had no problem ratting out Barrick if it will keep him out of jail. He gave us the fake name he used for Barrick’s passport. Sean Montgomery. He was on a flight from Denver to Houston.”
“Anything out of Houston now?”
“He’s got a ticket out of Hobby for South America,” Patterson said. “Leaves in two hours.”
“Good work, Patterson. We’ll stick to the plan and pick him up at the airport. Make sure our backup teams are watching for any sign of him at Hobby.”
He hung up the phone as a semi pulled in front of them, blocking his view.
Jonas leaned forward. “Pull around the semi in front of us.”
The truck finally pulled into the right lane, but Madison’s car had disappeared.
“Where is she?” he asked.
“They should be three cars ahead.”
Should be, but she wasn’t. He drew in a deep breath. Not that he was worried. Not only could they track her, they now had confirmation where she was headed.
Jonas grabbed his phone and sent Madison a text.
Where are you?
Avoiding traffic. Turned off onto 45.
“Take the 45 exit,” Jonas said. “They just took the turnoff.”
we’re right behind you.
“I’m on it,” O’Conner said.
They crossed a few lanes to take the next exit. He caught sight of the vehicle again and blew out a sharp huff of air. O’Conner was right. He was too on edge. Too jumpy. This was exactly why he refused to get involved with people he worked with. Putting his life on the line and watching each other’s back was one thing but putting his heart out there . . . He’d already learned that lesson.
Before long, the city turned into farm roads and fields of cattle south of Houston.
“Where are they going?” Jonas asked.
“I don’t know,” O’Conner said. “They’re heading west now. This isn’t the right route.”
“She said he’s avoiding traffic.” Jonas studied his Google map. “You know the area. What would you do?”
“This isn’t avoiding traffic.”
Jonas pounded out another text, knowing he shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but he already had.
you’re not going the right way.
He stared at the phone, waiting for a response.
“Can you still see her?” Jonas asked.
“They’re still three cars ahead.”
give me an update.
He stared at the phone as if that was going to make her answer. Irritation mushroomed. She was a seasoned marshal who knew what she was doing, but that didn’t change the fact that they were after a man desperate enough to kill to ensure his escape route.
i can’t see you.
She’d be
en there a second ago.
driver heard from barrick. plans changed. taking me to south. think he’s spooked.
where?
driver doesn’t know. giving directions as we go.
This was what he’d been afraid of. Barrick had managed to stay one step ahead of them, and now he was switching routes again. And if he thought Bianca was leading him into a trap—like she was—the man was going to run.
“What’s the plan now?” O’Conner said.
“We keep following her, but we need to find out where they’re meeting.”
But that was impossible at the moment. Barrick could be planning to meet and drive to a dozen different airports in order to leave the country. Unless he was trying to take Bianca out of the equation.
“What if he’s planning to leave Bianca behind?” Jonas asked O’Conner.
“I don’t know. Six million dollars is a powerful motivator, but I don’t see them anymore.”
where are you?
No answer.
Jonas grit his teeth. “Something’s wrong.” And this time it wasn’t just his worrying. “She’s not answering.”
Suddenly his phone was ringing. His heart sank as he answered, putting the call on speaker. “Where is she, Patterson?”
“I’ve lost both tracking devices.”
“You’ve got to find her.”
“Give me a second.”
“We don’t have a second,” Jonas said. “She’s on her own. I need something.”
“I’ll find her.” Patterson ended the call.
Jonas slammed his hand into the dashboard. “Stop the car.”
He jumped out and stood along the side of the road, trying to spot the car, but all he could see was fields.
“Okay,” Patterson said. “I’ve got a signal.”
Jonas leaped into the passenger seat, while Patterson gave him directions. “Go back to the last road and take the next farm road to the left. Looks like she’s a quarter of a mile ahead. You’re right behind her.”
“Are you sure?” O’Conner asked.
“Positive. Both GPS markers are back online. She must have gone through a dead zone.”
O’Conner pushed on the gas as they flew down the deserted two-lane road. Here, beyond the city, there was nothing but cattle and open fields and a sprinkling of trees. She had to be out here. And Jonas was convinced Barrick was as well. They had agents ready to intercept the man at both airports in case he did decide to escape, but as far as he was concerned, six million was too big a pull to give up on so easily.
Jonas focused his eyes on the path ahead of them. There was no way they’d come this far to lose Barrick.
Or to lose Madison.
His gut twisted and dragged him back to a place he didn’t want to go.
They’d stood ready for the point man to initiate the raid. Something they’d already done three times that morning. Nothing was left to chance. Every decision was planned down to the minute detail of what could go wrong. But until they actually stepped into that house, they never knew for sure if the suspect was holding a gun or if there were hostages. A split-second decision was made. They were trained to avoid confrontation to avoid fatal mistakes.
Felicia hadn’t died that day, but everything she’d known was ripped out from under her and she was never the same. She lost her leg and he ended up losing her.
And now Madison . . .
I don’t want to lose her, God.
His knuckles whitened as his fingers formed into fists, every muscle on alert. Every action they took was a risk. It was why they trained and prepared. But sometimes, even the most thought-out plan went wrong.
His gut gnawed at him. He’d somehow managed to make this too personal and wasn’t thinking clearly. He couldn’t afford clouded judgment. He needed to focus on finding her—safe—and then he’d deal with whatever was messing with his head when all of this was over.
Barrick was a target.
Madison was the victim.
That was all. Nothing more.
O’Conner had slowed down. He looked down a gravel road that led to a farmhouse and barn, but the place looked quiet with no sign of the car.
“Tell me what to do, Patterson,” Jonas said.
“You’ve still got another couple dozen yards.”
“Pick up your speed, O’Conner.”
“She should be near the road,” Patterson said. “Not more than twenty feet.”
“Stop! There’s the car!”
O’Conner slammed on the brakes. Jonas jumped out before they’d come to a complete stop. He ran toward the black car. The driver’s side door was open as well as the passenger’s.
Madison’s bag was still in the back, but she and her driver were gone.
“Where is she?” O’Conner asked, running up beside Jonas.
“I don’t know.” He stepped around the side of the car and something caught his eye. Madison’s phone was on the ground, smashed into a dozen pieces. His stomach reeled. Had the driver found out he’d picked up the wrong woman? He shoved back the panic. No. She had to be safe. He couldn’t lose her.
Madison ducked behind the tractor as Tyler fired off two quick shots. Their plan had backfired. From the one-sided conversation she’d overheard in the car, Barrick’s uneasiness prompted him to ask one too many questions. Maybe six million dollars sitting in Bianca’s account wasn’t enough motivation to drag her along, or maybe he’d found a way to access the money without her. Either way, the man must have sensed that he’d been compromised and decided to run.
From her vantage point behind the tractor, Madison eyed the partially open door into the barn. Beyond the two-story wooden structure was an open field that would give her no cover. Her team might not be able to track her phone anymore, but she still had the GPS device in her shoe. Jonas couldn’t have been that far behind her, and she needed a place to hide until he got here. Decision made, she ran as fast as she could for the door. She could hear her pursuer swearing as he stumbled after her. As soon as she stepped inside, she slammed the sliding door shut behind her.
It was dark inside the large, open barn, with only a few narrow streams of light filtering through holes in the wood. Madison bowed behind a wall of hay bales as Tyler slid open the door and fired another shot in her direction. Heart hammering, she kept moving, knowing that getting trapped inside was a possibility.
Where was Jonas?
“It’s over!” Tyler shouted from the middle of the barn. “There’s nowhere to run. I know you’re not Bianca, so who are you? FBI? Houston PD?”
She crouched in the far corner of the room, ready to spring into action if needed.
“It doesn’t matter. I have my instructions.” From the sound of his voice, Tyler was making his way around the barn in a large circle, trying to figure out where she was. “What’s funny is that you’re both going to disappear. Except while he’s getting ready to fly off to some tropical paradise, you’ll just disappear.”
She scooted another couple feet along the wall, needing to make sure he couldn’t see her. But with nowhere to run, it would be hard to stay hidden for long. She glanced around her. To her left was a row of tools hanging on the barn wall. They might not be guns, but they might be enough to hold him off until Jonas came.
She inched over, then pulled a long-handled shovel slowly off its perch, trying not to make any sound. A floorboard beneath her creaked as she took a step away from the wall. She froze, but the scuffling of feet told her she wasn’t the only one who had heard the noise.
She gripped the shovel in her hands, trying to stay hidden behind the hay as long as she could, gauging when she needed to move by the sound of his movements. He rounded the corner of one of the bales. She leapt forward and swung the shovel with all her might, hitting him directly in the chest. She was fast, but he was stronger. He pushed her over, knocking her off her feet before slamming her onto the hard, wooden flooring. Her head ached from the impact. She had no idea where his gun was now, but his ha
nds were wrapped around her neck. She fought to shove him away. Fought to breathe. Fought to get out from under him.
She managed to fling her hand behind her, reaching for the shovel that had fallen. Where was it? Panic set in. Her lungs were burning. She was desperate for air. She heard voices. Jonas was here. Tyler looked toward the barn door, momentarily loosening his grip and giving her the distraction she needed. She found the metal bar and wrapped her fingers around it. With a grunt, she managed to shove him away and stumble to her feet. He lunged for her again, but this time she was ready. Madison swung the iron handle as hard as she could and heard the sickening crack of his skull. Tyler slumped to the ground.
Her own chest heaved from exhaustion as she stumbled backward.
Thirty-Three
Madison?” Jonas called out to her.
“I’m here.” She stumbled away from the downed man, toward the light streaming from the open door.
Jonas ran over, quickly checking the man’s pulse. “He’s dead.”
She nodded, allowing some of the emotions of her escape to wash over her. She’d served dozens of arrest warrants for her job and had been shot at more than once. She’d been in raids where a fleeing suspect was killed and twice where a fellow marshal had been fatally wounded next to her. She’d been trained in tactical formations, as well as taking every precaution possible to ensure both the officers involved and the fugitives got out alive in every single case. But this time . . . a few more seconds and she wouldn’t have made it out alive.
Jonas’s gaze surveyed her body. “Did he hurt you?”
“He tried. He would have killed me if you hadn’t shown up.”
“You’re bleeding. Your forehead.”
She touched her head and winced. “I must have hit it when I fell.”
He brought her outside into the light, shouting for O’Conner to find something to clean her up. She could tell he was trying to hide his worry as he helped her sit down.