They turned to her and frowned, as if she was eavesdropping, even though she was standing right there.
She shrugged. “The computer wasn’t password protected. Maybe he just left the store settings on the phone, too. The password is always one, two, three, four. Right?”
Ross narrowed his eyes at Jolie before nodding for Edwards to go ahead and give it a try.
He had to take off his glove to work the touch screen, but the fact that Jolie was right was written all over his face after he’d tapped in the code. When he met her gaze, he said grudgingly, “Pretty smart.”
He glanced at Ross, who gestured vaguely with his head. Edwards nodded, shoving the phone into his pocket. The agents spent a few more minutes searching the contents of the computer, but after not finding much of anything, they turned their focus to Thad’s bunkhouse. They tore it apart, looking for who the hell knew what. Jolie couldn’t watch as they went through the bedroom, opening up the drawer on the nightstand and raising their brows and snickering at the boxes of condoms tucked inside.
Gloria stood beside her, rubbing her back.
“Do the local police know what’s going on?” Dillon asked. “Should we tell our other guests? Maybe everyone should go home.”
Ross turned around and with a stern look said, “The answer to your first question is yes, we’ve alerted the police to our presence.”
“And told them to stay away,” Edwards interjected.
“Why?” Dillon asked.
“It’s our case, our jurisdiction,” Ross said. “And our experience is that the locals always fuck it up. If we need their help, we’ll ask for it. Not the other way around.”
Dillon frowned and glanced at his wife.
“The answer to your second question,” Ross said in a patronizing voice, “is no. No one leaves. Not until we know what’s what. Understood?”
“Is this going to be all over the news?” Gloria asked, her cheeks rosy and her hands clenched tightly in front of her. “You know, media coming out here and invading the ranch? Road closures? Nonstop TV coverage?”
Jo couldn’t tell if this idea made Gloria excited or nervous. Probably both.
“No. This isn’t the movies, Mrs. Cross. If we put everyone on high alert, we’ll never see Lukas again. We need him to believe he’s not being tracked. We need him to get careless, otherwise he’s gone.”
Edwards nodded. “Now, if any of you have any information, you tell us directly. Not the local sheriff, even if he is a friend of yours. We’re your contact, got it?”
“In fact, it’s a federal offense for you to share information with anyone else,” Ross added, glancing meaningfully at Edwards.
“That’s right,” the other agent agreed.
“O...kay,” Dillon said, a small frown tugging on his lips.
“You.” Edwards pointed at Jo. “We need to talk to you. One-on-one.”
“What about the rest of us?” Gloria asked. “We’ve known Thad for years.”
“We’ll sit down with each of you later. But for now?” He indicated the door with his head. “Leave.”
Once the door shut behind the other three, Edwards pulled out the chair for Jo. The men did not sit, however. Oh, no, they stayed standing, leaning against the table, towering over her.
Ross rapped his knuckles against the tabletop. The action meant to startle her. “Tell us everything you know about Lukas Hunter, aka Thaddeus Knight, and don’t leave out one fucking detail.”
* * *
THAD COULD NOT believe his luck, or lack thereof. He’d turned his back on the food sack for two minutes to roll up the sleeping bag and pad, and a badger had stolen it. Or most of it, anyway. He bent to pick up the packets that had spilled out. The opened bag of seeds was probably what had attracted the critter in the first place. He could have shot the thing, too—he was that close—but a rifle shot would be heard from miles away and Thad couldn’t take the chance.
Discovery or food. It wasn’t much of a decision.
The last time he’d been put in that kind of position—shoot or be shot—he’d made the same decision, and he’d do the same thing all over again.
The problem was, he’d lost a week and a half’s worth of dried food and seeds. While he wasn’t half bad at snaring, that wasn’t going to suffice. He needed food to carry. Where the hell was he going to get that out here? He couldn’t very well stroll into the nearest town and pop into the local grocery. Taking the map out of his pack, he sat in the snow and traced the route he’d intended—far away from all habitation. Nothing.
With his finger, he drew a line south of where he figured he was. Silverton. He absently tapped the dot on the map, thoughts of his visit there with Jolie invading his mind: kissing her, reaching up under her parka, making love to her for the first time after they returned...
No.
No more thoughts of Jolie. He had to focus on survival, not on the wonders of Jolie’s killer mouth and sweetly seductive nature.
Focusing on the map again, Thad figured Silverton was about seven miles back, in exactly the wrong direction. But then, how far would he get if he just kept going? Damn, he wished he’d taken one of the snowmobiles from the ranch, but then they’d have known for sure what he was up to.
No, he had to trust that if they were looking for him—and his gut told him they were—then they were still off on a wild goose chase. Only an idiot would stay close to the ranch. Or an idiot who’d had his food stolen by a badger thief. No time to worry about that now. It was the middle of the day, not exactly the best time to travel, but he didn’t have much choice. A man had to do what a man had to do.
* * *
JOLIE SAT AT the desk in her room, staring out at the late-afternoon sky. At least the tears had dried up, but now she just felt hollow. When her phone rang, she frowned, picking it up as if she didn’t know what it was or what to do with it.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Jo. It’s me.”
“Oh, hey, Jacob.”
“You okay?”
“Not really.”
“I’m sorry. I had no idea this stuff was so important to you.”
“Of course it is.” How could finding out your lover was a hardened criminal not be important to her? Seriously. Her family really needed a crash course on emotions. “How’d you find out?”
“I talked to Mom.”
Jo frowned. “How did Mom know?”
Jacob cleared his throat.
“Uh...you told her? You know, I get it. I do. People love Christmas and maybe spending it with strangers gives you a different perspective on things. You were always more creative and carefree than the rest of us. At first I didn’t get why you lied, but...”
Oh, God. Jolie gave her head a shake. She and her brother were on totally different pages.
“...then I remembered something.”
“What?” she asked automatically, even though she was barely listening.
“Remember when we went to Wisconsin to visit Dad’s side of the family? God, you were so excited. I was, too. But you? It was like we were on our way to Disneyland. Anyway, Dad’s family was a gong show—all a bunch of drunks. I don’t think you saw it, though. You were too taken with the tree and presents and stockings.
“What you don’t know is that Granddad was an ass, bad-mouthing Mom, calling her names. I think that was it for Dad. Mom might not be all touchy-feely. She might not like big celebrations because she’s uncomfortable in social settings
, but she’s strong and she’s stable. She’s everything Dad’s family wasn’t. And that counts for... Jo?”
“Huh?”
“Are you there?” he asked.
“Yep.”
He sighed. “Is any of this making sense?”
“Sure.”
He waited. “Okay. Something’s off. What’s really going on?”
Jo rubbed her forehead. “You know that big story I lied about?”
“The one about organized crime?”
“Yeah, well, here’s the crazy thing. It’s actually true.”
“Jesus, Jo. Give it a rest. You don’t need to try to impress me. I don’t care that—”
“Jake. I’m not lying this time. I swear.” Jolie gave her brother the five-minute version of what happened between her and Thad and how he disappeared, what she found on his computer and how she called the FBI.
Her brother was silent for a few moments. Then he said quietly, “Shit. This is serious. You need to get out of there because you do not want to be messing with these kinds of people.”
“I have to stay.”
“No, you don’t.”
“This is my chance,” she insisted. “My big story.”
“I told you, you don’t need to prove anything to us. You’re great just the way you are.” It was probably the nicest thing her brother had ever said to her.
“But I need to do it for me.” Her throat closed up, because it was true. She felt like a failure, not because her family made her feel that way, but because she was the one who compared herself to them and their success. She was the one who told herself she didn’t measure up.
She wasn’t going to do that anymore.
As painful as Thad’s criminal past was, the big break she’d been searching for was staring her in the face. This sort of opportunity only came around once in a lifetime and she wasn’t about to screw it up.
“Listen to me,” Jake said urgently. “You are too close for this. If this guy is who you say he is, he’ll play you as a pawn. That’s what they do. I see these assholes all the time. They have no conscience and no concern for anyone but themselves. You’re not safe.”
“I can handle it, Jake.”
He muttered something beneath his breath before exhaling heavily. “It doesn’t matter what I say, does it? You always do whatever you want anyway, but at least tell me who you’re working with from the agency.”
“Ross and Edwards.”
“Who?”
She repeated the names.
“Hmm. I don’t know them.”
“Yeah, well...” Jo realized that she wasn’t supposed to be discussing the case as her ears picked up the sound of heavy footfall approaching her door. “Look, Jake. I gotta go. I’ll call you later.”
“Be careful.”
17
In the event that the authorities are arrogant bastards, you should still cooperate. Mostly.
Jo Duval
SHE ENDED THE CALL to her brother just as someone pounded on the door, giving her only two seconds before opening it without her permission and entering.
“The phone was a decoy,” Ross said by way of greeting.
“Okay,” Jo said, slowly rising to her feet.
“Did you know?”
“Did I know what?”
“It was left on purpose. To mislead us.” Ross ran a tongue along his top teeth. His expression was suspicious.
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“No?” Edwards asked, stepping forward.
“No.”
“See, Lukas booked a bunch of tickets—planes and buses going in all directions. We’re watching them all but I don’t think he’s on any of them,” Ross said, striding right up to her. “In fact, if I was a betting man, I’d wager he hasn’t gone anywhere.”
“What do you mean?” Jolie asked.
“Why don’t you tell us?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“Start from the beginning.”
“But I’ve already gone through it. Twice.” Jolie looked helplessly from one man to the other. “I haven’t known Thad very long. We just met. I’m the one who called you. Why are you badgering me?”
Cocking his head to one side, Ross said, “Do you feel as if we’re badgering you?”
“Yes.”
He smiled knowingly up at Edwards. “What do we always say?”
“Only the guilty feel attacked.”
“That’s right.”
She gasped. “I’m not lying.” Oh, God. That was probably something else a guilty person would say, and based on the knowing looks the men gave each other, she’d just confirmed their suspicion.
“Tell us about that ghost town again. What was it Thad said? Something about ‘a good place to hide’?”
Jo shook her head. “No. No, I said it was a good place to hide a body.”
Both men arched a brow in unison.
“Are you insinuating that I’m helping Thad in some way?”
“If there’s one thing we know, love makes people do stupid shit.”
She shook her head. “You couldn’t be more wrong. I’m not helping him. I reported him. And...for the record? I am not in love with him.” Though her heart did a weird somersault when she said it.
Ross sucked on his teeth. “Go put on something warm, Ms. Duval. We’re going on a little field trip and we’re leaving in five.”
By the time Jo was dressed and ready, Dillon and the agents were out by the pond, two snowmobiles running. Zak came sprinting out from behind the house, the dogs following close behind, heading straight for them.
“Where you guys going?” he asked Jolie excitedly. “Can I come? I’ve never been on one of those before.” He pointed at the snowmobiles and the men sitting astride one of the sleds wearing heavy parkas and helmets. Even covered up like that, they looked like Feds, not guests.
Simon jogged to catch up to his son. “It’s just adults, Zakie. Let’s go in and get some hot chocolate.”
“Awww...”
Simon tugged him away, and Zak called over his shoulder, “C’mon, Sue!”
Sue had other ideas.
Growling, with the fur standing up at the scruff of her neck, she approached the men slowly, but her growl was drowned out by the rumble of the sleds. When she was only a few feet away, the dog launched herself at the man sitting in front—Jo figured it was Ross because he was shorter—and clamped down on his arm.
The man yelped and Dillon, who was standing between the snowmobiles, jumped into action, grabbing the dog by the scruff and dragging her off.
Agent Ross lifted his visor and scowled. “What the fuck was that?”
“Sorry,” Dillon said, holding the snarling dog as it snapped at the agent, seeming even more feral because it was restrained. “It must be the helmets.” Dragging her off in the other direction, he called, “I’ll put her in the barn before we leave.”
Just when Jo was starting to get used to the dog, it became the rabid beast she’d always feared. The attack, coupled with everything else—the Feds, sleeping with a killer, sledding off at dusk to search for said killer—it was all too much.
A wave of dizziness hit her.
She wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I don’t feel so good...”
Edwards caught her just as her legs gave out. He lifted his visor and said, “Nice try, lady. But I’m not buying this damsel-in-distress
shtick. You know where he is and you’re going to help us find him.”
He pushed another helmet at her midsection. “Put this on. You’ll ride on the other machine with buddy from the ranch.”
She snatched the helmet and put it on, fighting the irrational urge to kick the guy as he sat on the sled. Were all FBI agents this arrogant and rude? She’d thought that was just a stereotype. Obviously not.
All she knew was that the agents suspected her of being in cahoots with Thad and it would probably take finding him for them to believe her. So, she’d help them find him.
Suddenly, the gravity of the situation weighed on her and she dropped onto the back of the other snowmobile. What if they never believed her? What if they didn’t find Thad or, worse, found him and he turned on her? He could tell them she helped him and then what?
He could mention her journal.
Oh, shit.
She could be charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive.
Seriously, this had to be the absolute worst Christmas holiday Jo had ever had.
* * *
THE OLD HOTEL opened up the restaurant for lunch and dinner in the summertime, which meant there were still some canned and dried goods stored in the back of the kitchen. Thad was just in the midst of loading up his backpack when the sound of snowmobile engines echoed between the hills. He couldn’t be sure but he figured they were a couple miles off. Maybe more, maybe less.
Joyriders? It could be but Thad knew, he just knew it was them coming for him.
Dammit. Now he really wished he’d put a bullet in that badger, because he could be miles away with no tracks if not for that thief. The only thing he had going for him was the cover of darkness, which was almost upon him.
The way he figured it, he had about ten minutes before they got to Silverton. He’d covered his tracks as much as possible but... Thad patted the pocket of his jacket where he’d shoved the broken lock from the door of the hotel. Would they notice this door was missing its lock? Maybe, maybe not, but there was no way to get the lock back in place and hightail it out of town before they arrived. When it came down to a race between a snowmobile and snowshoes, the snowmobile would win every time. Really, there were only two options: have a good old-fashioned shoot-out or hide.
A Christmas Seduction Page 17