The Chase

by Lisa Harris

“No,” Jonas said. “I’m a Deputy US Marshal. And I’m giving you to the count of three to do as you were told.”

  He started counting. At two they glanced at each other. At three the leader set the gun on the ground, and they started dropping to their knees.

  “Sorry,” Baxter said. “We didn’t know who you were.”

  Jonas motioned for the tallest to hand over his bandana. He laid it on the ground in front of them. “Shouldn’t matter who I am. Put your cell phones and any other weapons on the ground. Now.”

  “Forget it, man—” Baxter said.

  “My earlier offer’s still open . . .”

  They exchanged glances, then started complying. “Fine.”

  “Now you’re all going to walk away.” He picked up the bandana full of weapons and phones. “You can retrieve your belongings at the district office on Eighth and Stewart.”

  “What?”

  Jonas ignored the protests and walked into the diner. Except for the music playing too loud, inside was fairly quiet for a weeknight. It took him about five seconds to eliminate everyone in the room except a twentysomething who was nursing a cup of coffee at a table by himself.

  Jonas walked to the back of the room, ignoring the feeling that everyone was staring at him. “Sam Spade?”

  The young man nodded, and Jonas dumped the bandana on the seat, then slid into the booth. “I wasn’t sure you were going to show up,” Jonas said.

  “I almost didn’t, but I don’t know.” He shrugged. “It seemed like the right thing to do.”

  “It was.”

  Sam glanced at the rest of the tables. “The whole restaurant saw what you just did out the window.”

  Great.

  “Just doing my job.”

  “No, man . . . that’s not just a job. You’re like . . . you’re like a superhero. I grew up with those guys. They’re always causing trouble. They’ve been plaguing this neighborhood for as long as I can remember.”

  Jonas shrugged off the compliment. “Superhero might be taking it a bit too far.”

  Felicia had called him that once. Her superhero. They’d laughed at the time. Then he’d learned that even a superhero couldn’t always fix things.

  “I’m going to assume that Sam Spade isn’t your real name,” he said.

  “My mom’s big on old detective movies. It was the first thing that came to my mind. My name’s really Matt. I’m sorry.”

  “Well, I appreciate your agreeing to meet me anyway.” Jonas dropped the photo from the security footage on the table in front of them. “So you recognize this man?”

  Matt took a sip of his coffee, then picked the photo up. “That’s definitely him. Jesse Archer.”

  “Okay . . . and you said you knew him from school?”

  “From high school. We were both on the football team. Used to hang out some.”

  “What can you tell me about him?”

  Matt stared down at his coffee. “He was always cocky. Loud. Popular, and surprisingly did well in school, though I know he didn’t want people to know he cared. After school we went our separate ways.”

  “Have you seen him since then?”

  “A few weeks ago, he was back here in this neighborhood for his grandmother’s funeral. He hadn’t changed at all. He’s still loud and obnoxious.”

  “Do you know where he works?”

  “No.” Matt’s gaze shifted. “I did hear a rumor or two after the funeral.”

  Jonas leaned forward. “What kind of rumors?”

  “Rumors that he’d been bragging about something big he was involved in.”

  “Like a bank robbery?”

  Matt moved his head from side to side for a second. “That wouldn’t have been my first thought, but it’s possible.”

  The fact that Jesse Archer was having a hard time keeping things quiet didn’t surprise Jonas. Whoever was behind the robberies had gotten away with thousands of dollars of cash and, until today, hadn’t gotten caught. At some point, they were going to have a hard time keeping this winning streak a secret. Especially if it was a game to them.

  Jonas looked at the kid. He seemed conflicted and Jonas needed more out of him. Maybe he’d give up more info if he felt comfortable? “Why did you hesitate to talk to me?”

  “I keep asking myself that same question, and honestly I don’t know. Jesse always had this cocky attitude that annoyed me. Always thought he was better than anyone. Back in high school, he was a bully and got away with it. He wasn’t someone you wanted to cross. At least back then.”

  “So this is personal?”

  “I don’t know if I’d call it personal.” Matt rolled his shoulders forward. “I honestly haven’t thought about the guy for years. But I also wouldn’t mind it if he finally got what was coming to him. Especially since two people are dead. I figure I’m probably not the only one who recognized him, but what if I was the only one who actually called in?”

  “And you said you didn’t know who he was with?”

  “I’m sure it’s him, but no . . . I’m not sure.”

  “Do you know if he’s dating anyone?”

  “I met his girlfriend when he was in town for the funeral. Nadine . . . No. I think it was Nadia. Yeah, that’s right.” He picked up the photo again. “It could be her, but the photo’s just too grainy to recognize who he’s with.”

  “That’s okay.” Jonas had one last question before he left. “Can you tell me where you were this morning around nine o’clock?”

  “Sure. I’m a bicycle messenger. I clocked in to work at eight and went out for my first delivery and was back at the office for a second pickup about nine. I can give you my boss’s number.”

  “Thanks. I’ll check it out.”

  He knew the fugitives were risk-takers, so he hadn’t dismissed the thought that one of them had called in a tip in an attempt to figure out exactly what the police knew.

  Jonas handed Matt his card. “If you think of anything else, or if you happen to hear from Jesse, give me a call.”

  FIFTEEN

  Madison woke with a start from a bad dream, then rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Perspiration beaded across her forehead as details of yesterday—worse than the dream she’d just awoken from—hit her like a punch to the gut. How could so much have gone wrong in the first twenty-four hours back on the job?

  She grabbed for her phone on the bedside table and glanced at the time. Four forty-five. And still no messages from Jonas or any hits on their BOLO. She drew in a deep breath, trying to push away the anxiety. Exhaustion weighed her down. She’d tossed and turned all night while her mind refused to stop racing, but she’d never get back to sleep now.

  She stared at the screen of her phone, debating whether she should call Jonas. She knew he’d be okay. He was strong, and Danielle was right. When he was ready, he would call her. And if she were honest with herself, she couldn’t blame him for needing to deal with things on his own first. Hadn’t she spent the past five years doing just that? Letting people help her deal with the pain had always been a struggle for her. For now, she was going to have to take her own advice, pray, and let God do the rest. Which wasn’t easy for someone used to diving in and finding the solution on her own.

  She clicked on the bedside lamp, then sat up and pulled her computer off the nightstand. She’d ended up staying awake well past midnight, going through the Facebook friends Piper had compiled from Ben’s and Kira’s profiles, then systematically eliminating as many as she could. She’d whittled the list down so that it only included friends currently living in Seattle and those who’d gone to school with Ben and Kira. The grainy photo they’d pulled would help narrow the list even further.

  She typed in another name. It always seemed foolish to her, but social media had become more and more crucial to their investigations over the past few years. And with Kira still refusing to divulge names, and Ben in the ICU, they were going to have to search for the answers they needed outside the box.

  T
he About page on this woman’s profile listed work and education, places she’d lived, and details about family and relationships. College education matched Ben and Kira’s, but a quick look at the time line showed that she was currently in Portland visiting her sister, who’d just had a baby. The fact that Madison discovered all of that information in a span of sixty seconds was frightening. But at least she was able to cross another name off the list.

  She moved on to the next person. Their window of opportunity to find the remaining fugitives was quickly closing. They were already looking at an eighteen-hour lead. Forged passports could have taken them across the border, or they could have gone into hiding. How hard would it be to disappear in a city with a population of over three million if you’d planned ahead?

  She skimmed through the next Facebook page, looking for clues that might connect the woman to the robberies. The team they had put together was smart. There was no doubt about that. But there was something else that had Madison worried. All four were adrenaline junkies. They had defied the odds of getting caught and continued robbing banks across the state. In turn, it had left them feeling invincible.

  But despite that belief, they’d also prepared for a worst-case scenario. A scenario they’d had to play out the day before. In case the cops showed up, they had a well-thought-out exit plan that included smoke bombs and taking hostages, and they clearly weren’t afraid to use their weapons. If they’d risked everything to escape the bank, how much would they risk to ensure they didn’t get caught? For Ben, it had meant taking another hostage at the clinic and shooting someone in the process. For Kira, it had meant refusing to tell them who her other teammates were. They were cocky and reckless but also determined to win at all costs. Something Jonas and she better remember as they hunted them down.

  Questions continued to pile up as she continued down the list. What motivated these four to risk everything when the cost of failure was so high? Could it really be all for the shot of adrenaline that came with seeing how far they could go?

  A noise coming from the main part of the house shifted her attention momentarily. More than likely, Danielle was up with the baby. Either way, Madison needed coffee if she was going to make it through another day. She slipped on a pair of house shoes sitting next to the bed, then headed for the kitchen.

  Her father stood by the counter with a cup of tea steeping beside him. His look of confusion at seeing Madison in Danielle’s house was quickly replaced by a warm smile.

  “You spent the night?” he asked.

  She nodded as she crossed the kitchen. “What are you doing up so early?”

  “I couldn’t sleep, but it looks like I’m not the only one.”

  She hugged him tightly and breathed in the familiar scent of Old Spice. Knowing he had Alzheimer’s was hard for her to accept, but life moved forward with the seasons. He’d always been the one who was there for her, supportive and encouraging no matter what life threw at her. Now their roles had shifted, and she was the one sharing the role of parent with her sister.

  “Danielle said you went back to work yesterday,” he said, pulling the honey out of the cupboard before squeezing it into his tea. “I’m going to miss you spending time here.”

  “I promise I’ll still come by as much as I can.” She was surprised he remembered. Surprised how much it hurt her heart that he was slowly forgetting threads of his life and eventually he would be unable to remember who she was.

  “How was your first day back?” he asked, stirring his tea. “I went to bed early last night. I didn’t know you were coming over, or I would have stayed up.”

  She grabbed a coffee pod out of the drawer, then checked to make sure the water in the machine was full and a mug was centered before popping it in and pushing start. “We’re in the middle of a case and things aren’t going too well.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, patting her hand on the counter.

  “Me too. My partner lost a close friend yesterday, and now he’s not responding to my messages.”

  “That’s why you spent the night here?”

  She nodded. She felt guilty about dumping her problems onto her father, who didn’t need to be bogged down with extra stress. At least he probably wouldn’t remember it tomorrow.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “It’s hard to lose someone you love. I know.”

  “You mean Mama?”

  He nodded. “My biggest fear is that I’m going to forget her. I don’t want to forget her.”

  “I know.” She squeezed her father’s hand. “Remember I told you she will always be in your heart. The two of you were so close. That won’t go away.”

  “I’m trying to hold on to that,” he said. “And when I can’t remember what her face looks like, I look at her picture.”

  He sighed, then looked at his youngest daughter. “You know what it’s like to lose someone you love. It’s like a piece of you is missing, isn’t it?”

  She leaned against the counter while the coffee maker gurgled in the background. “Yes, and I know it always will. But just like you, I’m trying to keep moving forward. It’s just hard sometimes.”

  “Maybe moving forward isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” he said.

  Madison scrunched her brows together. “How so?”

  Her father took a moment to dump his tea bag into the trash, then took a sip from his mug. “A year or so after your mother died, everyone started telling me it was time to move forward. It was as if I was supposed to leave her and everything we had been together, and simply walk away. But I realized that grief and healing didn’t mean hiding that part of my life away in a box and moving on to a place where it didn’t affect me anymore.”

  Madison grabbed the cream out of the fridge and poured some into her coffee. “Because that part of your life can’t just be packed up and stored away.”

  “Exactly. Your mother was an integral part of my life, and she made me who I am today. It’s no different with you and Luke. You can’t just take off that part of your life, put it in a box, and move on. Life doesn’t work that way. Luke will always be a part of the fabric of who you are, and that’s okay.” He moved slowly toward the kitchen table, mug in hand. “You will never be able to move on like it didn’t happen. But it doesn’t mean you can’t fall in love again.”

  She smiled, wanting to grab on to these moments of clarity when she could almost forget the diagnosis that had changed the way she viewed her father’s strength. “I think I’m beginning to see that I can move ahead without him, knowing he will always be a part of me, and that’s okay.”

  “Exactly.” Her father set his drink on the table and sat down. “And there is one other thing. You are not your sister. I want you to remember that.”

  Madison sat down across from him. “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve seen you interact with your sister and her kids. Sometimes I think you look at her and wish you had what she had. A husband, children, a house full of noise.” He let out a low laugh. “Maybe not the noise part, but someone to come home to at night when you get off work.”

  She frowned, not sure she wanted to go in the direction he was steering the conversation. “I’m not sure that will ever happen again, and I think I’m okay with that. At least most of the time I am. Moving on also doesn’t mean that I have to get married again to be happy, Daddy.”

  “The funny thing is that I think Danielle sometimes wishes she had what you have. A career that challenges and pushes her. Instead she spends her days cleaning toilets and wiping noses. I’m not saying she doesn’t love those grandbabies of mine or that what she does isn’t important, because it is. I just know how easy it is to believe that the grass really is greener—and easier to manage—on the other side. Truth is, it isn’t.”

  “Maybe. I don’t know that I ever really took the time to think about it.”

  “The two of you have always been different. She was more of a nurturer with her dolls and stuffed animals, and you always wanted to be in on the action, n
o matter if it was a bike race around the block or a ski trip up to the mountains.”

  “We had a lot of good times, didn’t we?” Madison took a sip of her coffee.

  “Yes, and while I might be slowing down, I’m not done with life yet.” He grinned before taking another sip of his tea. “I want you to keep believing in yourself. Run the race that the good Lord set out for you to run.”

  A comfortable silence settled between them for a few moments. “But if you did decide to get married again . . .”

  Madison laughed. “Maybe one day, but you were right about my having a different race to run, and I’m just now finding some peace in the place I’m at right now.” She pulled her mug toward her. “And maybe that’s exactly where I need to be. Maybe that’s all I need.”

  “I was married to your mother for forty-seven years. They were some of the best and some of the toughest years of my life, but we did it together.”

  “I just always imagined Luke and I doing life together and growing old together like you and Mama.” She took another sip of her coffee. “But I have good people around me. People I love and care about. You, Danielle, her family, my church family.”

  “Maybe that’s enough for you. I just don’t want you to hold back because of fear.”

  The contents of her stomach soured, swirling chaotically. Fear of losing someone again. It was a legitimate concern that had been reinforced yesterday with Felicia.

  “Did you ever think of marrying again?” she asked.

  “We talked about it once—your mother and I—before she died. She told me she wanted me to be happy and if that meant marrying again, that’s what she wanted for me. But being thirtysomething and sixtysomething is completely different. All I know is that for me, one love was enough.”

  “I know several widows and widowers who married in their eighties and never regretted it.”

  Her father’s smile faded. “Were their minds failing like mine?”

  Madison caught the fear in her father’s eyes. Knowing where he was headed—at least for the moment—was part of what made the disease so frustrating.

  “I’m sorry.”