by Angi Morgan
“I’m not taking you to division headquarters.”
“But—”
“Not yet. Let’s find out what the hell’s going on. That okay with you?”
“That would be my first choice, yes.”
“Where is your friend located? The one who called you and said the police couldn’t be trusted?” He kept to the side streets, a mixture of residential and small business. He wanted to get out of the Austin suburbs as soon as he could but slowed and kept searching for dark SUVs.
“Dallas. Is that where your partner is?”
“Supposedly. He didn’t go into many details.” Damn his hide. What had Wade gotten them mixed up with?
“Are you thinking about driving there?”
“Right now I’m thinking about lying low until we have contact with either of them. As much as I hate it, I think we should switch vehicles.”
“What are our options?”
“Well, I can’t leave this custom truck just anywhere. Liberty Hill is my first choice.”
“May I ask why?”
“Did you notice the built-in compartments?” The compartments that had been customized and cost a fortune. “One’s a gun safe. I travel with them secured. But several are at my family’s home safe since I was in Liberty Hill. If we head back there, I can collect them.”
“Right now I’d feel better if they were with us.”
“Agreed.”
The last thing he wanted to do was face his father. There was no time to have the “I’m not following in your footsteps, hope you can get over it” conversation. But it was the one place he knew he could get a vehicle that wouldn’t be traced back to him. No more hiding out at his grandmother’s old house.
“He’s going to be madder than hell.”
“Excuse me?”
“My dad.” Shoot. He’d finally felt comfortable enough to release his handgun and began thinking about Jack Sr. All the tension slammed his body again.
“Not to state the obvious, but you’re a grown man who’s sort of acting like you’re more scared of your father than those SUV guys with guns. I know you’re a part of the elite Rangers. It’s admirable that you respect your father’s opinion.”
“Wait till you meet the senator.”
“Senator?”
“Newly elected. He’s not sworn in until the beginning of the year, but yeah, he’s a state senator. Didn’t you vote Tuesday? Don’t tell him if you didn’t and for certain don’t tell him if you voted for the other guy.”
He was teasing her. For some reason he couldn’t help himself. Maybe it was because everyone in Liberty Hill revered his father.
“My lips are sealed.”
Talking about his dad seemed to relax her. He noticed her breathing wasn’t as rapid, and her hands weren’t fisted around the water bottle or the armrest any longer. She was also going along with a plan that he didn’t really have.
“He’s not a bad guy, my dad. He was a Liberty Hill cop, then chief, then mayor for the past fifteen years. I guess senator was the next step.”
“And after?”
“I think he has his eye on the governor’s mansion, but he doesn’t talk about that with me. That’s my sister’s job now.”
“I bet that’s the other way around. You don’t want to talk with him.”
“I’m that easy to read?”
“Not really. But I had a father like that. Classic overachiever who wanted me to follow them to England after college. I didn’t. Too wet.” She exaggerated a shiver. “Thanks, by the way.”
“For?”
“Last night. Today. Now. We both know you don’t have to do this.” She gathered her brown hair from across her shoulders and pulled it to one side. “If I could get in touch with Therese or someone she works with, get an idea of who’s after me...”
Back on the familiar road to Liberty Hill, he tucked his weapon into the side pocket of the door. Setting the cruise control to prevent himself from speeding, he rested his free arm across the back of the seat. He could easily reach out and curl a strand of her hair around his finger. If she’d been his girl, he would have. Shoot, if she was his girl, he’d flip the console up and pull her next to his hip.
She wasn’t. She was a... What was a good term? A suspect in protective custody?
“Do you get the feeling you have something these guys want? They blew up your home knowing you weren’t there. They called in a bomb threat to make sure you weren’t close and no one else was, either.”
“But someone was there.”
“We don’t know for certain. It could be a mannequin.”
“But they murdered the county clerk. And last night, whoever drugged me could just as easily have poisoned me to get me out of the way. I agree—we can assume I have something they want.”
“Everything points to Dallas and your last case.”
“That’s logical, too.” She tugged on her seat belt and then crossed her hands in her lap. “We’ll get to your secured location—it is secured, right?”
“Sure.” His family’s ranch? Yeah. Secure. He rechecked the mirrors to verify they weren’t being followed. No one was on the road headed away from Austin—everybody headed into town on Saturday.
“Great. I’ll give you details about my case after we get food and I have a secure IP address. Now that all the excitement has passed, all I can think about is a huge burger with bacon. I’m starving.”
A woman who didn’t freak out when men were chasing her. She got angry when someone drugged her. Tried to escape from protective custody so she could turn herself in. And she could still think about food.
Dammit!
Jack was falling fast and hard. It was the only thing she seemed clueless about.
Chapter Six
Megan’s stomach growled. Again. Louder, practically echoing through the big cab of the truck.
Jack hadn’t said a word in at least twenty miles. If she’d known him better, she might accuse him of acting a bit broody. She wrapped her arms around her middle, trying to quiet her demanding stomach. Then she tugged on the too-tight high-school shirt, absurdly self-conscious that every curve she had was outlined and accentuated.
Well, that thought had come out of nowhere. All right, so it wasn’t completely out of nowhere, like the town of Liberty Hill or the good-looking Texas Ranger sitting behind the wheel. He’d evoked all sorts of feelings and thoughts since she passed out in his arms the night before.
There was no reason for him to go above and beyond to help her. No reason at all. It had been quite a while since someone had been unquestioningly on her side.
Wait. Just wait a minute. She had nothing to do with Jack’s generosity. He’d given his word to someone she didn’t know, for reasons she didn’t know. He was simply keeping a promise. That was what he’d told her. So she couldn’t let herself get all sappy thinking he was a hero rescuing her.
Another growl tore through the truck. This time, there was no doubt that Jack heard. He laughed for a second or two.
“I think we should get you some food. There’s a drive-through not too far from here.”
“Do you think it’s safe?”
“No one’s following. We’re not on a schedule—no one’s expecting us anywhere.”
“Sounds like a road trip. All we need is a local diner.”
“Leander has a couple of those.” He rubbed his chin. Then moved his fingers to the back of his neck, looking like he was deep in thought. “We need to lie low awhile. Why don’t we get a real meal?”
Good idea or not, they did have to eat. “I like the way you think, Jack.”
Ten minutes later, after parking the truck a block away in an empty bank parking lot, they were seated. It was the back booth closest to an emergency door in the Leander Southern Café. Classic red plastic booths, menus with diner f
avorites.
“Meat loaf, chicken-fried steak, eggs and steak, steak fries, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans... Aw, yes, the American cheeseburger. I see a theme.”
“I see extra time at the gym,” Jack said, continuing to study the two plastic-coated pages. “You still getting that burger with bacon?”
“It depends.”
He looked up. The dimple in his chin became more prominent when he looked curiously at her. The unspoken question hung there as he waited on her to finish her thought.
“Can I borrow ten dollars? All I have is plastic.”
“Oh, yeah. Of course. My treat.”
“Thank goodness, because I’m definitely starved. I haven’t eaten since breakfast yesterday.”
The waitress moved slowly across the empty restaurant and looked old enough to have been with the original staff when the doors opened in 1953. She set two glasses of ice water on the table and pulled out a pad and pencil.
“Welcome to Leander. You two ready to order?”
“Can I get bacon on a cheeseburger for here, and then a chicken-fried steak, gravy on the side, to go? Please?” she asked the waitress, but her eyes were pinned on Jack. One side of his lip jerked into a grin. Then he smiled completely.
“I’ll have the same with tea.”
“Sweetened okay?”
“Yes, ma’am—Nelva.” Jack’s eyes had darted to the name tag on the woman’s shoulder.
Nelva smiled herself. “You two haven’t eaten in days, or you plan on driving straight through to somewhere. Did you want a piece of apple pie? Baked fresh and out of the oven about twenty minutes ago.”
Jack raised his brows and turned his hands toward Megan like the decision was hers. Well...
“Two to go, please.”
“All right, then.” The waitress finished writing on her pad and stuck the pencil over her ear. “I’ll get the burgers out to you as soon as they’re ready. The chicken-fried will take a little longer but should be ready by the time you’re finished up.”
“Thanks,” Jack said.
“I couldn’t make up my mind. I must be smelling that pie, and it’s making me even hungrier.”
“Who’s after you, Megan?”
“Whoa. That’s a definite change of subject.”
“I can’t protect you to the best of my ability if I don’t have all the facts.”
“You know everything I know. And you knew it before me, since you greeted me at the airport. This line of conversation is becoming redundant.” She sat back and crossed her arms in front of her. Then, conscious that it made her look closed and defensive—and that he was probably evaluating her like she was him—she deliberately shifted to lean on the wall and put one elbow casually on the table.
“I’m not trying to be antagonistic. If redundancy helps you remember a detail or two, then let’s be redundant.”
“I’d rather move forward with a plan.”
“The only plan I have at the moment—” he leaned forward, halfway across the table “—is to get you someplace safe.”
“What do you do for the Rangers, Jack MacKinnon? Are you an investigator?”
“As a matter of fact, yeah.”
“You’re on vacation. Why did you come home for a week to help your family but stay in a house that you clearly don’t live in? I mean, you said you’re working out of Garland. Right?”
There was the surprised, waiting-for-her-to-finish look again. The man could talk her ear off getting to the point of his question. Or he could ask one easily enough just by shifting his features. He also had the patience to wait on her to finish a thought or get to her real point.
“I’m hungry, Ranger MacKinnon, not delirious. I know all the same tricks you do about interviewing a suspect.” She leaned forward, meeting him in the middle of the table, inches away from that cute dimple that made her smile. “I probably have more training courses under my belt than you. No matter how much—check that—as much as I should investigate, lying low is our best option.”
Another smile that made her wonder if his thoughts had gone to the same place as hers—under their belts. Oh, no. She was smiling and flirting.
“Here you go,” Nelva said. “Easy to get it out fast at this time of day.”
Jack jerked himself against the back of the vinyl seats to make room for their burgers. Both of them had been looking so closely at each other, neither had seen or heard their waitress walk across the room.
That was a lot of seconds considering how long it took Nelva to get places.
“You guys good?”
“It looks delicious. Thanks.” Unable to wait, Megan reached for her burger but grabbed a shoestring sweet-potato fry instead.
“Aren’t you Jack MacKinnon’s kid?” Nelva asked, placing her hands on her hips. Jack nodded. “I’m going to have to Tweet this. Can I take a picture? Well, whataya know. A real, live, honest-to-goodness hero right here in the diner.”
“I wouldn’t say that, ma’am. We’re actually keeping a low profile right now—”
“Carl Ray, get out here and take my picture,” she yelled over her shoulder. “Of course you’re a hero, Little Jack. Your picture was all over the news during the election. And here you are, eating a burger in my restaurant.”
“Who’s here?” A balding man who looked like the typical short-order cook stepped from behind the counter, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Well, I’ll be a vegetarian tamale.”
“So much for a low profile,” Megan said under her breath. She took a very large, amazing bite of her cheeseburger. Either it was truly amazing or she was so hungry her taste buds voluntarily stopped working so she’d put anything in her mouth.
“Go ahead, eat up. We wouldn’t want it to get cold,” Nelva said. “You know, we watched your high-school championship on our TV. Not the one here, but the big one at home.”
“Actually, honey, we didn’t have that one yet. Little Jack’s game was ten years ago. Remember, the kids gave us this one for my sixtieth birthday.” The cook swung two chairs around from the table nearest them. “Man, watching that game again. I knew how it was going to end, but still cheered you on during that last drive.”
“Hon, I think you’ve got your televisions mixed up.”
Nelva and Carl Ray continued their debate about what year the TV arrived. Megan swallowed, wiggled her fingers to get Jack’s attention, then mouthed “eat up” before taking another big bite of her burger.
“I’m honored that you remember Liberty Hill’s state game, and I don’t mean to interrupt, but we’re kind of on a schedule.” Jack pulled cash from his wallet. “Will this take care of our bill?”
“Oh, man, sorry ’bout that.” Carl Ray stood, scooting his chair back under the table. “We should go box up those chicken-frys.”
Nelva took the cash. “I’ll be right back with your change.”
“No need. Mind if we box up the French fries, too? We should probably head out.”
Megan took the last bite of burger and pointed to hers.
“Let me take these in the back and add them to your sack. I’ll throw a couple of teas in there, too.” Nelva put the cash in her apron and picked up the plates.
“I’m going to wash up. Be right back.” Megan slid across the seat. He grabbed her arm as she passed, stopping her next to him. “You don’t have to worry, Little Jack. I doubt Leander has cabs, either. You’re my only way home.”
* * *
JACK REALLY DIDN’T miss his nickname. There was nothing little about him. He was well over six feet without the boots on his feet. He even preferred Junior over Little Jack.
The swinging door hiding the bathrooms swished back and forth along with a giggle. Megan had gotten a kick out of Nelva and Carl Ray. Or maybe it was calling him “little.” Either way, her laughter was welcome.
In fact, th
e whole diner feel and food had been a welcome break. Carl Ray and Nelva reminded him of his parents. He could hear the TV discussion still continuing in the kitchen when the bell above the door rang.
A woman and man entered. Not much to notice unless you looked at the dark glasses they both took off. Or the solid black outfits. Jack took another sip of his iced tea, disguising his eyes searching the parking lot.
Waiting in a parking lot by an insurance company was a black SUV with a third person standing next to an open door. The woman looked straight at him with no acknowledgment.
“Hey, Nelva.” He raised his voice to be heard in the kitchen. “You got a couple of customers out here.”
That drew attention to him, with still no recognition. It wasn’t paranoia or even good old-fashioned gut instinct that made him believe these people were after Megan. They were looking and surprised she wasn’t here.
He dipped his head in a friendly greeting, then headed through the restroom hallway. Luck seemed to be on their side one more time. There was a door that said Employees Only leading to the kitchen. He gently tapped on the ladies’-room door.
No answer.
He turned the knob. No Megan.
“Psst.” Carl Ray waved from the third door. “Back here,” he whispered. “Your partner filled us in that you’re undercover. Nelva and I can stall while you leave out the back.”
“I should leave out the front. Tell her to stay hidden on the way to the car.” He pointedly didn’t say truck in case Carl Ray mistakenly mentioned it. “After they leave, call the police and report some weird characters. Try not to mention us.”
“You got it,” Carl Ray whispered loudly.
Jack didn’t wait for confirmation. He went back to the swinging door but before passing through snapped a picture of the guy’s face, then kept walking to the front. He had to trust Megan’s ability. She might know about these two Men in Black wannabes, but couldn’t see the third guy at their vehicle. Good thing about that was he couldn’t see her at the back of the building, either.
He dipped his chin at Nelva as he passed. Her eyes darted from side to side while looking at a recent picture of Megan. The SUV woman asked questions while her partner stood like a character on TV. Did agents actually stand with their hands covering their crotch?