by Debra Webb
“Works for me.” Beggars couldn’t be choosers. She would be thankful for however they escaped the trouble on their heels.
“We should borrow a hat. Maybe a scarf for you.”
“I’ll go upstairs and find what we need.”
“I’ll make sure everything is squared away down here.”
Jax walked through the first floor, ensuring all was as they’d found it. He’d already done this upstairs. He wrote a note to the homeowner and left it by the phone. Since he couldn’t be sure who might come in the house between now and tomorrow, he didn’t sign his name. No one needed to know they had been here until Ali had testified.
He grabbed a couple more bottles of water from the fridge, mentally adding it to his tab. He removed his cell from the bowl of rice and cleaned up the mess he’d made. He used a paper towel to go over the phone to ensure there was no more moisture clinging to it. So far so good. He pressed the button to boot it up and hoped for the best.
When the logo appeared and the screen flickered to life, he breathed a sigh of relief. He tucked it into his hip pocket. Since his jacket was still sodden, he’d opted to forgo the shoulder holster and carry his weapon in his waistband. To that end, he left his shirt untucked.
They would need to pick up clothes for tomorrow. A big supercenter-type store would be the best for the purposes of staying anonymous. He always carried a prepaid credit card with him for moments like this. He would use it at the hotel.
Ali descended the stairs. She’d used a scarf to pull her blond hair back. The way the fabric wrapped around her head, her hair was almost completely covered. She handed him a ball cap with the Bulldogs’ logo.
“Thanks.” He gave her a nod of approval. “Good job on disguising your hair.”
“I’m hoping there are sunglasses in the car.”
“We’re ready then.” He settled the hat into place.
Once they were in the garage, he locked the door leading to the house. Ali settled into the passenger seat and fastened her seat belt. He pulled on his own, as well. She checked the glove box and then the console.
“Aha. Sunglasses for everyone.” She passed him a pair and slid her own into place.
He tucked the sleek-looking pair she’d given him onto his face. “Nothing like traveling incognito.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. He didn’t have to see her eyes behind the dark eyewear. She was afraid. She should be. But he would do all within his power to keep her safe.
“Let’s do this.”
He hit the garage opener and waited while the door slowly slid upward.
Then he backed from the garage, tapped the button again to close the door and then eased out onto the street.
Dusk had fallen, but it wasn’t quite dark enough to give him any extra confidence. All they had to do was roll through the neighborhood without drawing any attention and without running into trouble.
* * *
ALI REMINDED HERSELF to breathe. Every person on the street seemed to be staring at her as they drove past. But she understood it was her imagination. Other cars glided slowly along the street. Residents coming home from work, probably. A suffocating mixture of worry and fear enveloped her as they met each vehicle.
Would this be the one carrying the bad guys?
How many were searching for them now?
Could they possibly hope to survive the night?
Another turn and they were on the main road, Highway 92, moving away from the neighborhood. The suffocating sensation seeped away. She relaxed against the seat and drew in a big breath. The first hurdle was behind them. Now all they had to do was find a decent motel or hotel close enough to the courthouse but still off the beaten path.
Someplace no one would expect to find them.
As they drove across town, traffic was murder. Their timing couldn’t have been worse. Commuters were leaving work, heading home, and everyone wanted to get there first. Patience was less than zero, and aggression was over the top. Ali couldn’t help scanning the faces in the cars jammed beside them, in front of them and behind them.
Her nerves were strumming, her ability to breathe constricted again. She recognized the symptoms. She was barreling toward a panic attack. She’d only ever had a few, but she remembered each one distinctly.
It was the most awful feeling. A sensation of being utterly out of control with an overwhelming sense of doom.
“Breathe slow and deep, Ali.”
His voice was low and soft, comforting. She would love for him to take the next exit and pull over somewhere so she could get out of this stolen car and run around in circles. Anything to work off the excess adrenaline rushing through her veins.
She struggled to do as he said. Slow, deep, deep, deeper breath. Hold it, let it out slowly. She closed her eyes. Could not analyze another face. This was enough. Enough. It wasn’t like they could escape if a car pulled up beside them and the driver or a passenger pointed a weapon at them. There was no place to go in this bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Another slow, deep breath.
Then another.
“We’re almost there,” he said, the deep resonance of his voice softening the sharp edges of her anxiety.
He took an exit.
Thank God.
She leaned forward and noted the street was North Avenue. He merged into traffic on North and headed east. Then another turn onto North Highland. Traffic wasn’t so bad here.
Another slow, steady breath.
A final turn into the parking lot of an inn. He chose a slot far away from the street and shaded by a group of trees and shrubs.
“When we go inside,” he said, “I want you to go into the ladies’ room. There will be one somewhere close to the lobby. I’ll follow you there and ensure there’s no one inside. Go into a stall and lock yourself in. When I have a room key, I’ll knock on the door and say ‘home free.’”
“Okay.”
He stared into her eyes, his showing more worry than she suspected he wanted to. “I don’t want you standing in front of that counter for the amount of time it will take to get checked in. Plus, it’s better if I check in alone. They’ll be looking for a couple. Later, we’ll go someplace and find clothes for tomorrow. We need to wait until it’s quieter on the streets.”
“I understand.”
He leaned across the console and kissed her forehead. “You’re doing great. This has been tough, and you’ve hung in there every step of the way.”
She managed a smile. “Thanks.”
Jax scanned the parking lot as they moved toward the side entrance to the lobby. No need to go through the main entrance since they had no luggage and didn’t need the assistance of a bellman. Two guests were at the counter checking in, so the clerks paid no attention to them crossing the lobby.
The restrooms were only a few feet down the corridor beyond the registration desk. Directly across from the bank of elevators. He waited at the open door while she checked to ensure no one was in the ladies’ room.
“It’s clear.”
“Lock yourself in a stall, and I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”
The door closed with a swoosh, and she inspected the four stalls, deciding on the one at the end. She slid the lock into its slot and closed the toilet lid. She sat down and pulled her knees to her chest. If someone came in, maybe they would think this stall was out of order.
The crack in the door was quite narrow, but if anyone really looked they would see her in here.
Hopefully that wouldn’t happen. Jax wouldn’t be gone that long.
She pressed her chin to her knees and struggled to relax. It was almost over. This time tomorrow she would be out of Atlanta. The AUSA had promised that as soon as she had testified and been cross-examined, she was free to go.
The hydraulic whoosh of the door opening had her he
ad going up. There had been no knock. No code word.
A distinct click, drag and shuffle vibrated in the air.
Ali held her breath. Didn’t dare breathe.
A stall door banged inward.
Click. Drag. Shuffle.
Then another door banged inward.
Why didn’t the woman pick a stall already?
Unless it wasn’t a woman looking for a stall.
The urge to lean down and look beneath the stall wall was overwhelming, but the act would be impossible without dropping her feet to the floor.
The third stall door banged inward. Then another click.
Ali’s gaze glued to the floor and the metal legs of something beyond her stall door...and white leather shoes...
A sharp rap sounded on the door. “I see you in there.”
Ali’s heart thundered. She blinked. Her gaze slid around the stall. Stainless steel safety bar. The door had opened outward rather than inward.
Oh hell. She was in the handicap-accessible stall.
“Sorry. I... I’m finished.”
Ali slid the lock back and cracked open the door. An elderly lady glared at her as she backed up a step with a click and a drag of her walker and a shuffle of her rubber-soled shoes.
“I’m sorry.” Ali slid through the partially opened door. “I was upset and not paying attention.”
Thin gray eyebrows arched high on her wrinkled forehead. “I hope you flushed the toilet.”
A solid knock on the door followed by, “Home free,” saved her from an explanation.
“I did. Sorry.”
Ali rushed to the door, pushed it open enough to see Jax and practically fell into his arms.
“You okay?”
“I am now.”
* * *
THEY ORDERED ROOM service and devoured the food. Somehow, despite the near panic attack she’d had, Ali dozed off on the ultra-soft king-size bed. She hadn’t intended to fall asleep, but she’d crawled onto the down comforter and snuggled into the mound of pillows to wait for Jax to say they were ready, and just like that, she was out.
When she opened her eyes again, it was almost eight. She bolted upright.
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
He grinned. “You were exhausted. I didn’t want to disturb you. You have a big day tomorrow.”
Like she could forget.
She scooted off the bed and hurried to the bathroom. She relieved herself and finger-combed her hair. She was a mess. She desperately needed a hairbrush and a toothbrush.
When she’d made herself as presentable as possible, she rejoined Jax, who waited at the door.
“Let’s go pick up some clothes.”
“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
He checked the security viewfinder and then opened the door. “The stairs are on this end of the corridor. They’ll take us down to that side door.”
Obviously he had done some exploring or research of some sort. The car was parked near that entrance, which would making escaping without being seen far easier.
“Do you know where we’re going?” She knew of several supercenters within a twenty-minute drive. She doubted one was any better than the other.
“The closest place and then back here to hole up for the night.”
Every moment they were out in the open, the more danger they faced.
“Have you spoken to Holloway or anyone?”
“I called him on my cell.” He glanced at her. “It works, but not very well. I managed to get across to him that we would be at the courthouse on time in the morning.
“He said something about an arrest, but I didn’t catch all of it. Too much static. I’m assuming that means whoever leaked information about our whereabouts has been found.”
“That’s good news.”
“Holloway is reporting directly to AUSA Knowles, who passes info along to Keller. But he doesn’t have our location. No one does. Not even Holloway.”
“We should be safe, then,” she said, hopeful.
“We should be, yes.”
Until tomorrow, when they had to walk into that courthouse.
At the supercenter, they moved quickly through the aisles. Toiletries and other essentials were first on Ali’s agenda. Jax grabbed a razor and toiletries of his own. She kind of liked his shadowed jaw. He hadn’t shaved since yesterday morning. It was sexy.
“Why are you smiling?” He nodded to the shampoo she held. “You imagining how luscious it will make your hair feel?”
She shook her head, glanced at his chin. “No. Just thinking how much I like this scruffy look.”
He rubbed his hand over his jaw. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
His grin told her he was flattered. She liked his smile. Always had.
“Clothes,” he said.
“Right.”
The store was more known for its casual wear than for courtroom apparel, but she found a dress that would work. A sweater and shoes plus undergarments and she was good to go.
Jax selected a pair of trousers and a button-down shirt. Socks, shoes and underwear. On second thought he grabbed a belt, too.
Ali’s nerves were jittery until they had paid for their merchandise and made their way back to the borrowed car. She liked to think it was borrowed rather than stolen.
She hoped none of this came back to haunt Jax. If his helping her jeopardized his career somehow, she would be devastated.
Driving back to the inn, he asked, “Are you feeling calmer now?”
“Yes. I am. I feel we’ve made our way over the biggest obstacles and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
“We’ll get through this,” he promised.
The same parking slot was available when they reached the inn. He backed into the space so the license plate wouldn’t be visible to anyone cruising through the lot. They hurried inside and up the stairs. Once they were in the room and Jax had done a thorough search, Ali relaxed.
“You hungry? Room service ends in about an hour. Speak now or you’re out of luck.”
She grabbed the room service menu and perused the offerings. “Cheeseburger, fries and a soft drink.”
He made the call and ordered the same as her. While they waited, they hung up tomorrow’s wardrobe, content to let the silence settle between them. She thought of all they had been through this day, and she couldn’t repress a shudder.
“Jax.”
He turned to her, his expression expectant.
“I want you to know that no matter what happens tomorrow, I am very grateful for all you and Marshal Holloway have done.” She took a big breath. “I’m not sure I can adequately articulate what it means to me to have had the past few days with you. I never imagined we’d find each other again.” She smiled. “Whatever tomorrow brings, this time with you means the world to me.”
He pulled her into a kiss. He said everything she wanted to know with his mouth and hands and then with his body.
Chapter Fifteen
Trial day
Thursday, February 6
“There are four FBI agents, four marshals besides me and a good number of Fulton County deputies watching everyone who enters the building.”
Jax waited for her to catch up with all that he was saying.
Ali looked worried. Worried and scared and yet strong and brave somehow. However terrified she was, she was damned determined to get this done. He was so proud of her.
But he didn’t want to lose her. If there had been any questions whatsoever, those doubts and uncertainties had vanished last night. He had held her against his body and he’d known that she was the part of his life that had been missing all these years. He hadn’t wanted a long-term relationship with anyone else because his heart had always belonged to Ali.
“Do you have a route pla
nned out?” she asked as she stared at the map of downtown Atlanta he had spread across the desk.
“We’re not taking any direct routes.” He pointed to the map. “We’ll take North Highland all the way down to Irwin. Then we’ll zigzag around and head up to Ivan Allen before dropping down to where we need to be.”
“Where will we park?”
“We’ll do the same thing we did in Nashville. Park at some church a few blocks away and call for a driver to take us to the front entrance. Sheriff’s deputies will come out of the woodwork when I give the signal and form a line on either side of the entrance so no one can get to you from the street between exiting the car and gaining entrance.”
“What about some shooter who might be in a neighboring building? Taking aim from some window?” She shook her head. “I’ve probably seen far too many movies, but when I think of how vicious and ruthless Armone is, I know he’s capable of anything.”
“We have that covered. Before we so much as step out of the vehicle, the deputies will cover and surround us, ushering us into the building. Making that shot will be virtually impossible. Inside, the marshals will take over and get us to the courtroom.”
Ali moistened her lips. “Sounds like a good plan.”
“We are prepared to react to anything that occurs.”
“What about a bomb?” She tugged at the neck of the new dress. It was a floral print, and she looked so young and innocent in it.
“Bomb squad is standing by. AUSA Keller isn’t taking any chances.”
She turned to him. He let her look her fill without saying anything. The cheap trousers, shirt and tie would do. The jacket would work to cover his weapon. The clothes were far from spectacular. Yet she stared at him as if he were some celebrity dressed in a thousand-dollar getup.
“You’ll be in the courtroom?”
He smiled. “I will. Security is on high alert. No one is getting into that building with a weapon unless he’s a marshal, FBI agent or sheriff’s deputy.”
It was going to be a long day. Her testimony would take hours, and then there was the cross-examination. As soon as the judge dismissed her, Jax was getting her out of there.