Chapter 9
Travis didn’t return the handgun to his pack. Instead, he checked the safety before shoving it into the waistband of his shorts then pulled his T-shirt down over it. To Grace’s semi-educated eye, it looked like a Glock, the same type of weapon her ex-boyfriend, Nolan, had carried when he was on duty. A shiver rippled down her spine. Either Travis expected trouble, or he was overly cautious by nature. She feared it was the former.
“You’re sure there’s someone looking for me?” Sutton adjusted the straps on his pack and eyed Travis with skepticism.
“Hell, yes, I’m sure. I’m not up here because I enjoy getting eaten by mosquitoes. The feds want you out of here now—and not in a body bag.”
“Seems like you’re being a little dramatic. Maybe Joanie let it slip to a couple of people that I was in Alaska—”
“If Joanie’s your girlfriend, she has an even bigger mouth than you do. She blabbed the news at a party. Half of San Francisco probably knows where you’ve been sequestered. By the time we get back to the lodge, there could be a dozen reporters waiting. If we make it back in one piece.”
Grace’s head jerked up, but it wasn’t Travis’s gloom and doom prediction that interested her. “You really think there might be more reporters there by now?”
“More? What do you mean more?” Sutton’s voice rose in a squawk.
She couldn’t hold back a broad smile. “Didn’t I mention I work for the San Francisco Daily News?”
Travis snorted. “Christ, Grace, you look like a shark. Survival is a little more critical than you getting a story.”
“No reason why we can’t multitask. If Casey… Do you mind if I call you Casey? Seems a little silly to be formal, all things considered.”
He shrugged and let out a resigned sigh. “Whatever.”
“If Casey can walk and talk at the same time, we’re golden.” She reached around her pack, unzipped a side pocket and pulled out a notepad and mini recorder without breaking stride. “No time like the present.”
“You really are something.” Travis shot her an irritated look. “I’m pretty certain Fritz wouldn’t approve, but what the hell. Fritz isn’t here, and I’m not in the mood to argue. As long as you don’t compromise the government’s case—”
“I won’t.” She clicked on the recorder, spoke the date and time then skipped a couple of steps to walk alongside Sutton. “Can you tell me what happened on the night of May second? Just start at the beginning and fill in all the details.”
He glanced toward Travis. “Should I talk to her? The feds told me I can’t say anything before the trial.”
“Grace is like Wylie.” He nodded at the dog whose steady gaze focused on her backpack, tongue hanging. “She has a one-track mind, and I sincerely doubt she’ll back off before she has her story. It’s your call.”
“The paper has a bunch of lawyers who make sure nothing is printed that will cause trouble. My editor will see this is done right.” She held her breath and waited.
He rolled his eyes. “What do I care? If he’s right—” He jerked a thumb toward Travis. “—I’m probably going to die out here, anyway.” Casey sighed. “I was partying with a few friends after a Giants’ game, celebrating their victory. It was probably close to midnight when we left the bar.”
“You were with friends?”
“We split up on the street, and the others headed toward their cars. Joanie wanted to stay, but I’d had enough. We got into it a little, and she went back inside.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Now I wish I’d gone after her.” A sigh followed. “Instead, I took a walk. I’d had a few beers, not enough to be drunk, just buzzed. Still, I figured walking it off before driving home was a good idea. The marine layer was pretty thick, and I remember hearing a fog horn blowing. The mournful sound matched my mood.”
Grace scribble notes on the pad, her heart thumping. Sutton told one hell of a good story. She could picture him, shoulders slumped, hands shoved in his pockets as his feet slapped against the pavement with only an occasional streetlight, shrouded in fog, to light his way.
“Then what?”
“I lost track of time, thinking about how Joanie and I had been fighting a lot lately. Next thing I knew, I’d gone nearly a mile, past all the restaurants and bars, down to the shipyards, which should have been deserted at that time of night. I stopped when I heard a couple men speaking in Spanish. They weren’t talking loudly, but their voices carried over the water.”
“Could you understand what they were saying?”
“Sure. I lived in Barcelona for a year after college. My language skills may be a little rusty, but their conversation wasn’t sophisticated. One man said the effing stuff better not be cut or there’d be bloodshed, or something to that effect. The second guy got huffy and told him Estrada was a man of his word and had the best product on the market.”
“There were just the two men?”
“Oh, no. Seven or eight others were standing around, but those two did all the talking. Also, a big, black limo was parked off to the side, idling.”
“Where were you while this conversation took place?”
“I was standing in the shadow of a warehouse. The closest streetlight to me was broken. My shoes had crunched on the glass, but I guess no one heard me. They were all focused on the deal going down. Even from twenty yards away, I could feel the tension. I was scared shitless but too afraid to move.”
“I don’t blame you.” Grace glanced over at Travis. From his intent expression, she knew he was listening to every word, but his eyes constantly scanned the terrain as the sun rose higher in the sky.
“The first guy said he wanted to sample the product. The second man’s gaze darted all around, looking nervous as hell. He said there wasn’t time. One of the bystanders pulled out a cell phone and spoke too quietly for me to hear. Not surprising, since my heart was thumping loud enough to deafen me.”
“Maybe Estrada was cutting the product. Is that why everything went to hell?”
“I wouldn’t know. They were still arguing when a second limo pulled up a couple minutes later. The headlight beams glanced off the dumpster next to me, and I nearly pissed myself. A big, bald dude with a droopy moustache stepped out of the back. He asked if there was a problem. Meanwhile, two of the men standing around jumped to attention and drew their weapons, stepping closer. Kinda like that mutt in protection mode.”
Grace sucked in a sharp breath. “Estrada?”
“I knew he was someone important. The first guy stuttered and postured, assuring him there wasn’t a problem.” He snorted. “If not, then why the hell was he sweating bullets? When Estrada turned away and headed back toward the limo, the shit hit. One of the bystanders yelled, ‘Move, move, move!’ and started shooting and dodging in a zigzag pattern. The bodyguards crouched like you see them do in the movies, with the big man between them. But it was Estrada who fired the shot that dropped the guy. Then he ran to his car and jumped inside. It raced away, knocking over a stack of crates as a half dozen vehicles converged, sirens blaring. The rest of the men scattered, though I think most of them were eventually caught.”
“Yelling, ‘Move! Move!’ seems like a stupid mistake on the part of the undercover agent.” Grace shuddered. “I heard the man bled out at the scene.”
“I tried not to look at him.” Sutton pushed a hand through his hair. “I got the feeling everything happened faster than they were expecting. He had to call in backup when he did or risk Estrada getting away.”
Travis paused for a moment before increasing his pace. “What about the other limo?”
“It got pinned between two FBI cars. They arrested the guy in it along with the driver. I found out later he was the buyer, and I identified Estrada from mug shots.”
“What were you doing during all the action?” Grace scribbled in her notebook, noting Sutton’s expressions, the way his hands shook as he recalled the ordeal.
“Hiding behind the freaking dumpster. I would have stayed t
here until everyone cleared out, but an FBI agent spotted me when he tackled one of the big dudes who’d guarded Estrada. They cuffed me along with everyone else. It took some talking on my part to convince them I was an innocent bystander.”
“Is that when they put you in protective custody?”
“Yeah, but my name was leaked by someone, so Estrada knew I could identify him.”
“That’s quite a story.”
His shoulders rose and fell. “I never wanted to be a hero. The authorities told me they couldn’t protect me if I wouldn’t testify, so here I am.”
“A little unconventional, don’t you think? A fishing lodge in Alaska?” Grace cast over a disbelieving glance. “Who would have thought the feds were so creative.”
Sutton’s lips tightened. “They wanted to stick me in some safe house in Fresno, and I flat out refused. I’d done some research into remote vacation spots, and I picked this one. The guy who brought me up here bailed after a few days, said he’d go effing insane if he had to stay. Then his wife went into labor. I guess his boss decided I was safe enough and didn’t send a replacement. It’s not like anyone would think to look for me here.”
“So they left you on your own?”
“Yeah, with a secure phone to use in an emergency and instructions not to contact a soul.” He sighed. “I was lonely and a little drunk when I caught a ride to Moose Flat and called Joanie. Guess I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“You think?” Travis’s tone was more resigned than accusing.
“I know I blew it. I guess I should be happy the feds care enough to pull me out.”
“Don’t kid yourself it’s personal. They want your testimony and nothing else.”
A sigh shook his thin frame. “Are you sure someone’s following me?”
Travis’s gaze scanned the horizon. “Not following, waiting. We lost him on this little detour, but don’t get your hopes up. He’s still out there.”
Grace cleared her throat. “If we could finish up the interview…”
“I’ve told you everything I remember.”
“Maybe about the actual events. I’d like to learn a little more about you. Background information. What makes Casey Sutton the man he is?”
Sutton scowled. “No one cares who I am.”
“You’re wrong about that. I care, and readers will want to understand what you’ve been going through. Why’d you insist on coming to Alaska? What have the last few weeks been like, knowing you’d have to testify?”
He spoke, haltingly at first, but soon in a rush of words. Grace scribbled furiously to capture his emotions, realizing that spilling his guts was somehow cathartic for the man. Finally, the monologue slowed to a stuttering stop.
She let out a long breath. “What does the future hold for you, Casey?”
“If I make it out of here alive, I’ll testify. Then the feds will put me in the Witness Protection Program. That’s all I’m saying about it.”
It was enough. The best interview she’d ever had. “If you could describe the way you’re feeling right now in one word, what would it be?”
“Screwed.”
With a grin, she clicked off the recorder. “An apt description. Thanks for talking to me. I appreciate your cooperation.”
“As if he had a choice.” Travis stopped and shrugged off his pack. “You would have sicced Wylie on him if he hadn’t.”
“Always an option. There’s a reason I give him half my food.”
“You’re a funny lady.” Sutton’s eyes held a hint of admiration before he glanced at Travis. “Why did we stop here?”
“This spruce grove thins up ahead, and we’ll have to cross some open terrain. I want to do a little recon before we go any farther. Rest and eat something. We’ll be moving fast after I get back.”
Sutton nodded toward Grace. “Look, not to be an ass, but my life is at stake here. Won’t she slow us down?”
Travis’s gaze locked with hers and lit with an appreciative glow. “Chances are you’ll slow her down. The woman runs like a champion.”
“I wasn’t a champ, just the first loser.”
“Huh?”
“My sophomore year in high school. I came in second in the mile at the State Championships. But it was a close second.”
The glow in his eyes deepened. “You’re full of surprises.” One hand touched her cheek before dropping away. “I’ll be back shortly. Stay down while I’m gone.”
“Why would I want to do anything else?”
His reply was a soft snort before the thick forest swallowed him up. When his broad back disappeared between the trees, Grace dropped her pack and sat down next to it. Sutton dug through his supplies and pulled out a pouch of dried fruits and nuts before joining her.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Not really, but I’ll eat anyway.” Retrieving a power bar, she ripped open the wrapper then broke off a chunk for Wylie. The dog gulped it in one bite. After giving him a second piece, she nibbled on what was left.
“I’m surprised Barnett brought you up here with him. He seems like too much of a professional to be influenced by a woman. Even a woman he’s in love with.”
Grace choked and coughed. “He didn’t bring me with him. We met for the first time on the plane flying into Moose Flat. Then I followed him when he hiked out after you.” Her fingers smoothed Wylie’s soft ears. “He begged me to go back, but I wouldn’t listen.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Why would I kid?” She patted the pocket on the pack holding her recorder. “I just got the story that’ll send my career to the next level. Thank you for that, by the way.”
He grimaced. “Glad someone can benefit from my misery, but I meant kidding about just meeting Barnett. I assumed you two were a couple.”
“Why would you think that?”
“The way he looks at you.”
Finishing the bar, she dusted her hands. “Not to sound conceited, but most men look at me that way.”
He munched nuts, his gaze thoughtful. “Not like he wants to rip off your clothes, though I imagine he does. There’s emotion in his eyes when they rest on you, caring and concern.”
Warmth crept through her. Possibly their night together really had been about more than just sex. Not that it would matter in the big picture. Even if Travis did care a little, they’d part ways tomorrow, if all went well. It was as inevitable as the sunset.
“He’s worried, and even though he isn’t responsible for me, he feels the pressure.”
“Maybe.” With a shrug, Sutton stuffed the bag back into his pack. “Joanie never looks at me like that, and we’ve been together for almost a year. If she did, maybe she wouldn’t have talked.” He pushed up off the ground and stood. “I know one thing.”
Grace tilted her chin and squinted into the sun. “What?”
“When the feds put me in Witness Protection, I won’t take Joanie with me. Maybe in my new life I’ll find a woman who looks at me like she cares, like she’d do anything to keep me safe.”
Turning away from the vulnerability in his eyes, Grace plucked a blade of grass and shredded it between her fingers. She’d throw herself on a live grenade to save any one of her nieces or nephews. That’s what you did when you loved someone. Her fingers stilled. If the man hunting them took a shot at Travis, she’d jump into the line of fire. The knowledge clanged in her head like a warning bell. She didn’t want to care, didn’t want to hurt when they returned to the real world.
It was past time to back away. The second they were out of this Godforsaken wilderness, she’d run for civilization and never look back.
Chapter 10
Travis shot a wary look at Grace as they headed down the trail. It had been one hell of a long day, and he feared the worst was yet to come. Still, he couldn’t help wondering what she was thinking.
She’d been quiet after they’d crawled out of the tent as the first hints of dawn lit the sky, dampening his sunny mood after a night of the best sex
he’d ever had in his life. He chalked it up to her not being a morning person, but as the sun peaked then started a downward slide into afternoon, the excuse lost all believability. If anything, she was even more withdrawn since he’d returned from his scouting mission. Thank God there’d been no sign of their tail. Yet.
Obviously, she was regretting their night together, which was exactly what he’d feared when he caved in and accepted what she offered. The whole situation sucked because he really, really liked Grace. Probably more than he should. Beyond the sex, as foreign as that concept was in his life lately. He appreciated her dry humor, her sarcasm, her never-quit attitude, all wrapped up in a package that was impossible to resist. He’d proved that beyond a doubt. Not much he could do about any of it now, but once the nightmare of getting Sutton safely out of Alaska was over, he’d try to repair the damage. Hadn’t he told himself he needed a vacation? San Francisco had just moved to the top of his places to visit list.
“I asked how long you think it’ll take us to get down to the lodge at this pace.”
“Huh?” He jerked his attention back to the present and Sutton’s question. Idiot. Lost in a daydream when a killer could be anywhere. “We’ll reach the main trail in a couple of hours. Heading west on the loop, we should arrive at the lodge by mid-day tomorrow.”
Grace glanced up and met his gaze. “So, only one more night on the trail?”
“If all goes well.”
Sutton looked from him to Grace and back, a touch of fear in his eyes. “And if all doesn’t go well?”
“Let’s not anticipate trouble.”
They walked for a couple of miles in silence. Grace had to be exhausted, yet she showed no sign of giving in to fatigue. Sutton was in decent shape, but his steps were beginning to lag. Travis frowned. They were nearing the stretch at the beginning of the turnoff, the open meadow they’d traversed at a run. By daylight, the danger of being spotted was extreme. If the man hunting Sutton was anywhere in the vicinity with a high-powered rifle, they were all as good as dead. He weighed the risk of waiting until dark, of losing precious hours.
Every Step She Takes (Who's Watching Now Book 2) Page 8