by Lisa Harris
“You’re sure?”
“She came right up to me and I could tell by her eyes. I remember being surprised. Her eyes . . . they seemed so cold.”
“Do you remember what color they were?” Madison asked.
“Blue, I think. Yes. Definitely blue. I started crying. I didn’t mean to, but I was so scared, and I couldn’t breathe, and then . . .”
Madison remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
“The guard came up to me. He was trying to calm me down. Asking them if he could get my inhaler. I don’t know what happened next. He went to get my purse, and then I heard a shot. Then he was lying on the ground and there was blood everywhere.” She started crying again. “If he dies, it’s my fault.”
“No, Grace.” Madison squeezed the girl’s hand, shaking her head. “That’s not true at all. This wasn’t your fault. None of it.”
A middle-aged man walked toward them, and Grace jumped up and ran into his arms.
“You must be Grace’s dad,” Madison said, standing. “I’m Deputy US Marshal Madison James.”
“Thanks for sitting with her.” He pulled his daughter against him. “I’m just so sorry, sweetheart. And I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. I was doing a job north of the city and got here as quick as I could.”
Grace leaned against her father. “It’s fine, Dad. I’m okay.”
“I want you to tell your father what you told me, Grace,” Madison said. “Will you promise me that?”
Grace nodded.
Madison pulled the girl’s father aside for a moment. “It also would be good for your daughter to talk to someone who deals with trauma.”
The man straightened. “Of course.”
“Remember what I told you.” Madison pulled out one of her contact cards as they returned to Grace. “And if you need someone to talk to, give me a call. Anytime.”
“Thank you.”
Madison was still standing along the curb when Jonas walked up to her a moment later.
“Barton Wells can talk to us now. He’s waiting for us over by the lobby doors,” he said, pointing to the bank entrance. He led the way toward the witness. “How is the girl, by the way?”
Madison blew out a deep breath. “The guard was helping her when he got shot. She’s blaming herself.”
“Wow.” Jonas ran his hand through his hair. “That’s a lot of misplaced guilt for a young girl to carry.”
“It is, but I learned something else from her.” She stopped beside Jonas and caught his gaze. “According to Grace, the fugitive who spoke to her was a woman with blue eyes. Kira has brown.”
“So we’re looking at two men and two women with Kira driving the getaway vehicle,” Jonas said, as they started walking again. “Not exactly a typical date night.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” she said as they walked up to the older man and introduced themselves.
“Call me Bart.” He extended his hand to both of them. “I’ve already given my statement to the police. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around what happened. I understand these people already hit at least a dozen banks over the past few months.”
“We believe this was the same group, yes,” Madison said.
Bart shook his head. “Unbelievable.”
“I understand you’re running for mayor of Seattle.”
“Yes, but trust me, I’d much rather be in the news for my policies than as a hostage in a bank robbery.”
“You weren’t injured, were you?” Madison asked.
“No, though I admit I’m still a bit shaken up. I’ve never had a gun stuck in my face.”
“I know this isn’t easy for anyone involved,” Jonas said.
“I’m just grateful to be alive. I heard the guard was shot.”
“He was.”
“Did he make it?”
“I’m sorry, but we can’t talk about that.”
“I understand.” Bart combed his fingers through his thinning hair. “I just . . . it still all seems so surreal.”
“We understand you spoke directly with one of the bank robbers,” Jonas said.
Bart nodded.
“Can you tell us what happened?”
“Of course. Like I told the other officer, I’d come in to pick something out of my safe-deposit box. An anniversary ring for my wife, actually. We’re celebrating twenty-three years on the fifteenth.”
Madison smiled. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you. Anyway, I was in the room by myself and about to pull out the ring when I heard a loud commotion from the lobby. It startled me. So much so, in fact, that I knocked my cell phone off the table. I reached down to pick it up, but the noise just kept escalating, it unnerved me.”
“What kind of noise?”
“Someone was shouting at people to shut up, and then I heard a couple gunshots. That’s when I knew this had to be a robbery. There was nowhere to go and hide, but I thought if I just stayed quiet, they probably wouldn’t check the room. I decided I should put the box back where it belonged. At least that way, if they found me, they wouldn’t be able to get into my box. But before I could even grab it, one of them walked in the room. He told me to lay down on the floor and not to move, then he started going through the box. I didn’t budge until an officer found me and told me it was safe to get up.”
“Bart, honey!” A petite woman wearing a dark blue pantsuit ran up to them and threw her arms around him. “I just got a text from Clint, who told me what happened. Why didn’t you call me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you, but I’m fine. Just shaken up.” He motioned toward Jonas and Madison. “Trudy, these are US Marshals. I’m giving them my statement.”
“So you’re really not hurt?”
“No, but they did get most of the contents of our lockbox.”
“What?” She pressed her hand against her chest, then shook her head. “I don’t care. All that matters is that you’re okay.”
“Which I am,” he said. “I promise. Let me finish talking to the marshals, and then I’ll let you drive me home. Why don’t you go talk to Clint and tell him what’s going on? I see he’s just arrived.”
Trudy hesitated as if she wasn’t sure she could leave him, then nodded and walked away.
“Who’s Clint?” Jonas asked.
“He’s my campaign manager. We’re in the middle of a pretty tight mayoral race.”
“Do you have a list of what was inside your lockbox?” Madison asked.
“I keep one at the house and can get it to you if you’d like.”
“That would help the police.”
Bart blew out a sharp breath. “There were quite a few sentimental pieces that belonged to Trudy’s mother. That’s what I’m most upset about.”
“The police will do everything they can to find them, but in the meantime, we need to know if there was anything distinguishing about the bank robber you can remember.”
“I don’t know.” Bart shrugged. “It all happened so quickly. He had on a black jacket and a face mask that covered his nose and mouth and hair. I’ve heard they all did.”
“Anything you can think of will help. Tattoos, birthmarks . . .” Madison prodded.
“Yes.” He snapped his fingers. “There was a tattoo. When he grabbed for my box, I noticed a tattoo on his wrist when his sleeve slipped up.”
“Can you describe it?”
Bart pinched the bridge of his nose. “You always think that if something like this happens, you’ll remember so you can pass the details on to the authorities. And while I’ve always been good at remembering details, I also know how memory error can affect eyewitness testimony. All I really have are flashes of memory.”
“That’s okay,” Madison said. “We can start with that.”
“I only saw part of it, but I’m pretty sure it was a compass.”
“A compass?”
Bart nodded. “I remember thinking for someone with a compass on his wrist, he sure had gotten off track with his life
.”
“That helps a lot. Thank you.”
“I wish I could help more.”
“If you think of anything else—”
“I have the officer’s card who took my statement.” Bart glanced across the parking lot. “Can I go see my wife? She’s a strong woman, but I can tell she’s pretty upset.”
“Of course,” Madison said.
As soon as Bart had left, Special Agent Osborne joined the marshals. “Did you find out anything from him that might help?”
“We think we’re looking for a second couple,” Jonas said. “But no IDs for them yet.”
“We’ve got officers keeping an eye on Kira’s houseboat,” Madison said, “but she’d be foolish to return, and I’m sure she knows that. I think they were planning to ride the wave until their luck ran out, but there’s a good chance the four of them are long gone by now.”
“What if the two of us question her brother again?” Jonas asked. “He was living with her. Despite what he told us, even if he wasn’t involved, it makes sense that he’d know something.”
“I agree,” Osborne said. “In the meantime, I just got word that CSU found a receipt to a storage unit in the houseboat. I sent a team in with a warrant. I’m hoping it’s a storage place for the money or some kind of go bag with forged IDs.”
Jonas’s phone rang, and he stepped aside to answer it. Madison watched as he took the call, the frown on his face deepening.
“Jonas?” Madison walked over to him after he hung up. “What’s wrong?”
“I think I might have just found two of our fugitives.”
NINE
I’m sorry.” Jonas pulled the car keys out of his pocket. “We need to go. Now.”
“Jonas, wait.” Madison pressed her hand against his arm. “What’s going on?”
“That was Felicia’s grandmother. They’re at a prosthesis clinic. A couple just walked into the back room where Felicia was seeing one of the doctors. They locked the door behind them. She believes at least one of them was armed.”
“And you think our suspects are involved?” Osborne asked.
“The scenario fits. They need medical help and are desperate.”
Osborne nodded. “Send me the clinic’s name and address, and I’ll send in local PD and tell them to wait for you.”
“Where’s Hazel?” Madison asked, hurrying after Jonas. “Is she safe?”
“She was calling from the restroom. I told her to stay quiet and stay put.”
Madison put her hand out, palm up. “Give me the keys. I’ll drive in case she calls you back.”
Thirty seconds later, Madison was maneuvering as fast as she could through the early afternoon traffic. He sat ramrod straight next to her, praying that this time God would step in and intervene. That this time, despite the panic in his gut, things would turn out differently.
“Hazel could be wrong about the level of danger they’re in,” Madison said, interrupting his thoughts. “We don’t have all the facts.”
“We know one of our fugitives needs medical help. We know that Hazel saw a couple with at least one weapon. What else do we need?”
Jonas shoved back the memories as Madison pulled into the parking lot of the clinic, parking in front of the entrance. Everything between him and Felicia had been over a long time ago, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to do everything in his power to make sure nothing happened to her today.
Madison pulled out her phone and started scrolling through something. “Officer Hartman sent a list of cars that left Pike Place Market while we were there. The license plate on that Toyota Corolla matches.”
He glanced at the car she was pointing to and inhaled sharply. “How far out is backup?”
“Three to five minutes,” Madison said.
“We can’t wait. We need to clear the building and locate our fugitives.”
Before someone gets hurt.
He wasn’t going to let something happen to Felicia again.
A woman carrying a takeaway bag and an oversized purse was trying to unlock the front door.
“Ma’am.” The woman spun around, and Jonas held up his badge as he ran up to her. “I’m Deputy US Marshal Jonas Quinn and this is my partner. Do you work here at the clinic?”
“Yes. I was just returning from a lunch run. The front door’s locked.”
“Is there another way in?” Madison asked.
She held up the large key ring. “I have a key to the side door, but I never use it.”
“I’m going to need you to let us in.”
“Okay.” She motioned for them to follow her around the sidewalk to the other door. “Can you tell me what’s going on? It’s got to be something serious if the marshals are involved.”
“We believe there are hostages inside,” Madison said.
“Hostages?” The woman stopped short in front of the side door. “I don’t understand.”
“We don’t have time to explain, but here’s what we need,” Jonas said. “Can you quickly give us an idea of the layout of the building? Then we’d like you to go next door and wait.”
“Okay.” Her hand shook as she tried the lock. This time the door opened. “In the front there’s a reception area and waiting room. Through this door, there are four exam rooms. Two to your left and two to your right.” She ran a hand down her face, looking deep in thought. “On the far side, past the nurses’ station, there’s a large physical therapy room along with a restroom and a storage closet.”
Jonas nodded as they stepped inside, then shut the door behind them.
Where are they?
He and Madison began to clear the building. The first two exam rooms were empty. They opened the third exam room. Inside were three patients and four employees wearing scrubs, all with their hands zip-tied behind them and gags in their mouths.
“We’re with the US Marshals,” Madison whispered. “I need you all to be as quiet as possible and make your way out the back exit to the building next door. There you should be able to wait for the police in safety. They’ll be here in a couple minutes.”
“Is everyone here?” Jonas asked.
“No.” One of the nurses rubbed her wrists after Madison cut off the zip tie. “There might be someone in the restroom. They grabbed Dr. Phelps and one of our patients. I’m pretty sure they’re in the rehab room.”
Jonas’s heart dropped. Felicia.
“Okay.” Madison snapped the zip tie off the last person. “Go now. Quickly and quietly.”
“We need to find Hazel,” Jonas said. “We can get her to safety, then find Felicia.”
Jonas headed down the hallway toward the other side of the clinic, his worry escalating. Felicia had always been strong. But sometimes life threw things at you that you couldn’t control. And that was what scared him the most about this situation.
On the other side of the clinic, Jonas tried the handle of the restroom. It was locked. Madison watched his back as he knocked quietly. “Hazel? It’s Jonas. I need you to open the door.”
A second later the door clicked open.
“Jonas!” The older woman pulled him into a hug as soon as the door opened, then took a step back. “Did you find Felicia?”
He registered the fear in her eyes, sure the emotion was reflected in his.
“We know where she is, but I want you out of the building—”
“No, not without Felicia. You know how much she’s been through. I can’t face the possibility of losing her again.” Hazel grabbed his arm. “Promise me you won’t let anything happen to her, Jonas. Promise me.”
Jonas sucked in a breath, meeting the older woman’s eyes. “I promise. Please, now go out the side exit and wait next door with the employees. It’s going to be okay.”
He waited until the door had closed behind Hazel before turning to Madison. “I shouldn’t have promised her that this was all going to be okay.”
“She knows you’ll do everything in your power to keep her safe, and that’s enough for the mo
ment.”
Jonas closed his eyes. “And if it isn’t?”
The question hung between them. He shouldn’t have promised. He’d gotten up this morning like he did every morning, praying that there would be no issues serving the warrant. But this . . . this was the last thing he’d expected to happen.
“The rehab room has a small window,” Madison said. “Why don’t you figure out what’s going on inside while I clear the rest of the clinic?”
He nodded. Neither of them wanted surprises.
Jonas peeked through the small window on the door of the rehab room. The space was filled with exercise equipment and stations for mobility training. Ben sat on a table in the far corner while the doctor worked on him, the injured man’s finger on the trigger of a handgun. Felicia sat half a dozen feet away from the two as Kira paced behind her, holding a weapon at her side. A time bomb about to explode.
Jonas quietly stepped away from the door and called Michaels. It was a risky move, but he needed to make sure backup was ready and didn’t want the hostages out of his sights for long. “Madison’s clearing the clinic. I can verify that Ben and Kira are in the rehab room. Two fugitives and two hostages, including a doctor.”
“Backup has just arrived.”
“Keep them outside on standby for the moment,” Jonas whispered as Madison headed back toward him. “Both fugitives are armed.”
“Copy that.”
The door to the rehab room swung open. Kira stood in the doorway, pointing a gun at him and Madison.
“Get them in here. Now.” Ben’s voice bellowed from inside. “Or I will put a bullet into the doctor’s head.”
“Hands up. Both of you,” Kira said, keeping her gun aimed in their direction. “You need to do what he says. He’s not messing around.”
Jonas hesitated for a moment, irritated at the sudden loss of advantage, then stepped into the room with Madison. Through the windows, he could see where three local law enforcement cars had pulled up, more than likely the reason Kira had decided to check the hallway outside their room. Ben still sat on a table, blood soaking his midsection from the bullet hole in his side, while Dr. Phelps hovered over him. But his focus was on the fourth person in the room.