Perilous Pursuit

by Kathleen Tailer

  “Okay, Captain, tell me what you’ve got,” Jake said in a matter-of-fact tone once he had introduced himself and the other deputy marshals.

  “We got a tip that someone is storing stolen goods in that building,” the captain said as Dominic handed Jake a bulletproof vest. “We’ve seen three men go in, including a man named Bryson Taylor, and so far, nobody has come out. No telling how many were in there to start with, though. Once we pegged his identity, we saw that he was on your most-wanted list and gave you a call.”

  “Who’s Bryson Taylor?” Mackenzie asked, pointing the camera in the captain’s direction. The man raised an eyebrow and gave Jake a look, to which Jake shrugged.

  “A thief. A pretty good one, actually, although he did finally get captured in Atlanta,” Jake answered her. “We’ve had an outstanding warrant for him for about six months now. He’s actually a known associate of Beckett’s. That’s why I said there’s a possibility that these cases are related.” He turned his back on the camera and focused again on the captain. “Who owns this building?”

  “A holding company named Lincoln Corp. It’s rented to a man named Josh Simmons. So far, we haven’t found a connection between Simmons and Taylor, but we’re checking.”

  “Did you get an ID for the gents that went in with Taylor?”

  The captain shook his head. “We couldn’t tell if they were carrying, either. This arrest could go without a hitch or it could get ugly really fast.”

  Jake tensed his jaw. “Did you get a warrant to search the place?”

  “We just got it,” Dominic answered. “We called the judge on the way over here. We’re good to go in whenever you’re ready.”

  “Good.” He turned to Mackenzie, his eyes intense. “Stay put. Do you understand?”

  Mackenzie bristled, and Jake could see her spine stiffen. “But...”

  “This is not up for debate.” He glanced around. “I want you over there, out of the way.” He pointed to an area that was well away from the entrance to the building. He wasn’t sure if she could get any good shots from that far away, but he really didn’t care. He wanted her well out of range if this operation went south. “Stay there. Got it?”

  She glared at him but could apparently tell by his expression and posture that he wasn’t going to bend.

  Finally, she put up her hand in mock surrender. “Fine. But after you’ve gotten them in custody, I want to record you taking them out of the building. Deal?”

  Jake considered her words and then nodded. “Deal. I’ll call you on your cell.” He looked over to Dominic. “Let’s move.”

  Dominic nodded and relayed the news to the other deputy marshals at the scene, and then the two men started toward the building.

  Jake followed Dominic to the warehouse door, his weapon drawn and ready. Dominic radioed their position to the other team members and local law enforcement, while Jake examined the security pad that was by the door. It was an older model and linked to a system that he had dealt with several times in the past. He easily disarmed it and entered the building with Dominic. A rush of cool air met them, but it was dark except for a row of security lights that gave off a soft glow from the high ceiling. The room was filled with pallets and metal shelving filled with boxes and crates of various sizes. In most places, they were stacked almost to the ceiling. Jake felt like a mouse going through a maze as they turned several corners, moving cautiously, guns pointed, all senses on high alert. They heard voices, and Dominic signaled that he was stopping to assess the situation.

  “I got too much inventory comin’ and goin’. He’s got to clear some of this stuff out of here to make room for the new,” said a male voice.

  Another man laughed. “Are you gonna tell him that? I’m sure not.”

  “Somebody has to say it. I’m getting heat from all sides.”

  Another voice said something that was unintelligible, but Jake could tell that there were at least three different people up ahead. He signaled to Dominic, who gestured back that he was ready for the confrontation.

  “Freeze! US Marshals!” Jake and Dominic rounded the stack of boxes, completely taking the men by surprise. Two of the men immediately put their hands up, but the third slowly reached behind his back. His dark eyes darted back and forth between the lawmen as if daring them to stop him.

  “The deputy said freeze,” said another voice, and Whitney stepped out of the shadows from the other direction, startling the big man whose hand had been moving. Upon seeing yet another 9 mm pointed at this chest, the goon finally shrugged and put his hands up, as well.

  “Wise move,” Jake said, a hint of irony in his voice. He stepped up behind the hesitant man and cuffed one hand, then another, simultaneously taking the man’s gun, which had been hiding in his waistband. Dominic and Whitney cuffed the other two, but Jake raised an eyebrow as he looked closely at the three men.

  “Where is Bryson Taylor?”

  “Who?” the big man said with a grunt.

  Jake pushed the man up against the wall, getting another grunt for his efforts. “I said I want to know where Bryson Taylor is. We saw him come in this building.”

  “Man, I don’t know who you’re talkin’ about.”

  Jake knew the thug was lying, especially because the man wouldn’t even meet his eyes. He might be able to get some information out of him back at the jail, but for now it wasn’t worth wasting his time. Jake grabbed the guy by the shoulder and pushed him toward the other two. “Whitney, I’m going to get these guys out of here. We’ve got the perimeter covered. You and Dominic start the search for Taylor and clear the building, okay?”

  NINE

  Mackenzie fiddled with the focus button on her camera as she watched two of the deputy marshals communicate on their radios. She had stayed where Jake had asked her to—near the parked cars and well away from the action—but she still wasn’t convinced she would be allowed to get any decent footage of the arrest. A wave of frustration swept over her. Had Jake purposefully put her to the side where she couldn’t get any good shots or was he at least going to let her do her job once they made the arrest? She adjusted her bulletproof vest and stretched out a kink in her neck. The vest was so heavy she was surprised they could actually do their job effectively when they were wearing it. To her, it just seemed to get in the way. She glanced again at the large yellow words emblazoned across the vest: US MARSHAL. Yeah, she wore the uniform, but it sure didn’t make her feel like part of the team.

  Since she had time to spare, she figured now was as good a time as any to text her parents and let them know she was okay. She sent the message and a couple of other work-related texts, thankful that Jake had at least given her a way to continue doing her job. Her phone was her livelihood, and she used it constantly to keep in touch with her customers. Unreturned calls meant lost income. Suddenly her cell phone buzzed with a call. She answered, keeping her eyes on the warehouse door in case Jake emerged with a captive. There was no way she was going to miss out on filming an arrest this time around. Her father’s voice rang out, filled with enthusiasm, but she kept watch on the law enforcement officers, ready to hit the record button as soon as the need arose.

  “Hey, Dad. I’m a bit busy right now. Can I call you later?”

  “Hello, Mackenzie. This will only take a minute. I’m so glad you sent the text with your new number. I just wanted to let you know I ran into Miller again. He said he could fit you in next Thursday for an interview. Does that sound like it will work for you?”

  His words surprised her and forced her to take her focus off her surroundings so she could zero in on the call. “Ah, no, Dad. I already have a job. I’m not interested in applying somewhere else. I thought we already talked about this.”

  She could instantly hear the disappointment filter into her father’s tone. “I thought that fire you mentioned might have changed your mind now that you’ve had some time to think ab
out it. This way you’ll get a great starting salary and won’t have to begin from scratch again with your business. You could still make movies on the side as time allows.”

  Mackenzie instantly decided not to tell her parents about the threats to her life. She’d never hear the end of it if they knew she had been shot at on two separate occasions over the last few days and was in protective custody with a group of deputy marshals.

  She sighed. Would explaining her feelings about her career choices for the hundredth time really change her father’s mind or was it a wasted breath? She decided to take a more forceful approach, hoping she could convince him and quickly get him off the phone at the same time. She needed to be watching the warehouse, not discussing her future via cell phone. “Look, I’m strong. I’m smart. I’ve got a good business plan, and I can run my production company the way I want to. I’m successful, and I’m doing it on my own without any help from anyone else. Those are all good reasons to stay right where I am, doing what I love.”

  “I hear you, Mackenzie, but you could have something more stable that offers security and a retirement program if you take this interview. I’m sure Miller’s job pays a lot better than what you’re making now.”

  “That is probably the case, Dad, but getting rich was never one of my goals.”

  A moment passed, then another. “So, you’re sure then?” he asked, resignation heavy in his voice.

  “Yes. Please tell Miller I won’t be able to see him on Thursday.”

  The cold barrel of the gun pressed against her temple sent a wave of shock down her spine. She froze instantly as the fear coursed through her.

  “Don’t move, princess.” The voice was cold and hard as the man behind her whispered in her ear. She had been so wrapped up in her conversation that she hadn’t even heard him approach. With his empty hand, the man grabbed her phone, turned it off and put it in the back pocket of his jeans.

  “Okay, here’s the plan.” He pushed the gun against her skin even harder. “You’re going to come with me to that green sedan to your right. See it?” He waited for her eyes to follow his motion and then continued. “You’re not gonna give me any trouble. In fact, you’re not gonna scream or make any kind of scene. If anyone takes a look in this direction, you’re not gonna signal to them or look distressed. Got it? If you say a single word or freak out in any way, I’m going to pull the trigger. Do you hear me?”

  She nodded as another surge of fear swept over her from head to toe. The man pulled her into a crouching position behind the cars so that she was barely visible, and then he pushed her forward toward the green sedan. His touch was rough and forceful and made her even more afraid. He obviously didn’t care if he hurt her. They made their way slowly between the cars, leaving Mackenzie’s camera still sitting on the tripod and the rest of her equipment stored in the bag on the ground. For a moment, she was scared that her camera would get stolen, but the thought was quickly replaced with a rush of fear for her life. Her camera was replaceable. Right now, her primary concern was just surviving this latest threat.

  The man’s grip tightened, and the terror shot up her arm. Would anybody even realize she was missing? If so, how long would it take? Jake was wrapped up in his arrest, and she had no idea when or if he would think to include her in his activities. Where was this man taking her? Would she live to see tomorrow? Her contemplations made her stomach turn, and she fought to keep the nausea at bay. She wanted to scream for help, but the man’s words and the gun in his hand kept her silent. She didn’t doubt his threats and didn’t want the last thing she saw in this life to be the white lines painted on the asphalt in the parking lot.

  “Get in, princess,” the man ordered. He opened the door and motioned to the front passenger seat. She followed his directions, her entire body trembling. Once she was seated, he quickly got behind the wheel and started the engine. The next thing she knew, they were driving out of the parking lot. She wondered fleetingly if she could somehow open the door and jump out of the moving car, but the man kept his pistol pointed in her direction. She was afraid to try it. Would it be worse to die from a bullet wound or from the injuries she would sustain from falling out of a moving car? She hung on to the hope that the man would free her when he was far enough from the warehouse to ensure his escape.

  * * *

  Jake scanned the parking lot, keeping his eyes open for anything unusual as he led the men toward the car. They were all handcuffed, but with Taylor still at large, he didn’t want to let down his guard. Normally, he would have preferred to search the building with Dominic and Whitney instead of securing the prisoners, but since he had promised Mackenzie an opportunity to video the arrest, he felt obligated to be the one to take the heat once she realized that she’d missed the action. He hoped that filming him taking the prisoners out of the warehouse would be enough to make her happy. She hadn’t answered her phone when he’d called, and he wondered fleetingly just how angry she was going to be when he emerged and she missed the shot completely. She just had to realize that law enforcement work didn’t follow a schedule that could be stopped and changed just to accommodate a videographer.

  Once outside the building, he noticed her camera was still standing on the tripod where he had told her to go, but there was no sign of Mackenzie. That was odd. He knew the camera was very expensive, and she wouldn’t leave it alone for more than a few seconds. If she had decided to leave the area, he was sure she would have taken the camera off the tripod and taken it with her. A frisson of uneasiness swept up his spine. Something was wrong. Very wrong. He pushed the communication link on his radio.

  “Dominic, Mackenzie isn’t out here in the parking lot where I left her. Did she come in the building?”

  “Negative, Jake. I haven’t seen her.”

  “Chris, any sign of Mackenzie?”

  “Negative, Jake. I’m just coming around the north end of the building. There’s no sign of her.”

  Just then Jake noticed the green sedan driving slowly away from him. He could see two occupants, and one seemed to have long brown hair, but he couldn’t get a good look. “Chris, I’ve got a green sedan coming your direction. Can you ID either the driver or the passenger?”

  While he waited to hear back from Chris, Jake secured the prisoners in the back seat of Dominic’s service vehicle by locking their handcuffs to metal rings in the back of the cruiser. A moment later his radio crackled. “Jake, we have a problem. Taylor is driving, and Mackenzie is the passenger. He’s waving a gun around. I think she’s in trouble.”

  Jake felt a surge of adrenaline at Chris’s words and started running toward his car. “I’m going after them. The prisoners are locked down in Dominic’s car. Come cover them and get Whitney and Dominic to follow me.”

  “Affirmative,” Chris answered.

  Jake slammed his car into gear and then gunned the engine and spun his tires as he peeled after the last place he had seen the green sedan. He caught a glimpse of it ahead and sped up. He couldn’t believe that Mackenzie had been taken hostage. It was entirely his fault that she was in danger. He should never have allowed her to accompany him to the warehouse. There were people out there trying to kill her, and he had let her come to a crime scene to make a movie—and left her unguarded at that. What had he been thinking? He hit the steering wheel as frustration overtook him.

  Taylor must have noticed the tail because Jake suddenly saw the sedan swerve around another car and speed up. Jake followed but was only able to get within fifty feet of his quarry before Taylor’s car made a hard right onto another street, narrowly missing a large black SUV. Jake tapped the brakes and then hit them harder as he skidded around the corner. His body hit the driver’s-side door hard, despite the seat belt, but he quickly adjusted and jammed the gas again, this time being able to pull up closely behind the green sedan. There was no one in the left lane, so he drew up next to the car and then veered hard to the right, trying to
force Taylor off the road. The fenders of the two vehicles crunched as metal scraped against metal, but he slowed down as Taylor pointed his gun at him and took a shot. The bullet shattered the passenger’s-side window and showered bits of glass all over Jake, but he sped up and once again pushed his car against the green sedan. Taylor’s next bullet went wild. As he pulled up close, Jake caught a glimpse of Mackenzie, whose face was filled with fear. She had her hands over her ears and was scrunched against the car door. Suddenly Jake saw Taylor level the pistol and point it directly at his head.

  He hit the brakes and let the green car speed ahead to throw off Taylor’s aim, but it didn’t stop the onslaught. Taylor merely adjusted and started shooting behind him. Another shot rang out, but it also went wild. Jake ducked low enough to make a smaller target but kept high enough to see to drive. The sedan pulled away and turned down another road to the left, which led away from the city and toward the western side of town and the Lake Talquin area. Jake pulled up beside the green car once again, and another shot ran out. He jerked the wheel to the left, swerving to throw off the man’s aim once more. He backed off a bit and pushed the com link on his radio. He called in an update of the situation and his location. Hopefully, some backup would arrive soon, and he could stop being a moving target. He pulled close enough to hit the bumper of the green car and tried once again to push it off the road, but he was hesitant to push too hard because he didn’t want to force the car to crash. He wanted Taylor to stop the car, but he didn’t want Mackenzie hurt or killed in the process. He hit the bumper again but backed off when he saw Taylor turn and raise the pistol over the back seat. The shot both shattered Taylor’s rear window and hit the top right corner of Jake’s windshield. A spider crack instantly spread across the glass.