by Laura Scott
For a long moment neither of them spoke. She found herself concentrating on the familiar sound of crickets and the low belch of bullfrogs while the adrenaline that had fueled her initial reaction abruptly faded, leaving her feeling weak and shaky.
Brody reached out and wrapped his big, muscular arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She didn’t resist, holding onto him as her knees threatened to give way.
She was strong and had been in difficult spots before, but having Brody’s life in jeopardy had a huge impact on her psyche, something she hadn’t fully appreciated until now. Despite all the hurt they’d caused each other, he still meant so much to her and she drew strength in having him near.
“Brody.” She whispered his name in the darkness and he folded her close, ducked his head and kissed her.
* * *
Brody knew his timing was awful, but he couldn’t resist. Julianne had been great back there, fighting alongside him without hesitation, but the thought of anything happening to her filled him with horror and dread.
He’d do anything to keep her safe from harm.
When Julianne kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, the years fell away as if they’d never been apart. He’d loved her so much. And at the moment, those old feelings resurged, slamming into him with a tsunami force.
Why hadn’t he gone along with her theory about Nate possibly being responsible for Lilly’s disappearance? Why had he felt the need to prove her wrong?
Why in the world had he let her go?
She finally broke off from the kiss, and buried her head against his chest. He could feel Thunder crowding close, as if wanting to be included in the embrace. The thought made him chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” she asked softly.
“Thunder is feeling left out,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to a spot beneath her ear. “I think he’s looking for a group hug.”
A joyous laugh escaped and he thought he’d never heard a sweeter sound.
“I’ve missed you,” Julianne said, her tone wistful.
His heart thudded erratically. “I missed you, too.”
Long moments passed as they held each other close, clinging to what they’d once shared. But it wasn’t long before his phone vibrated with an incoming call.
Regretfully, he reached for the device. Julianne dropped her arms and moved away, giving him room.
He kept one arm anchored around her waist as he answered the call from Deputy Meyer. “Kenner.”
“Boss? I’m pulling into the Thoroughbred Inn now, where are you?”
“In the woods. Drive around to the back, but keep away from my vehicle. We have reason to believe there may be a bomb planted in there. Eddie our retired bomb expert is also on his way.”
“A bomb?” Rick’s tone was incredulous. “What’s going on around here?”
Nate, Brody thought grimly. Nate had created a human trafficking ring, dealing drugs and for all he knew was selling illegal guns. And the fact that he was using weapons like bombs and grenades was probably aimed at mocking Brody’s time in the service.
The days of Clover County being a quiet and peaceful place to live were long gone.
“Be careful,” he advised. “We’ll watch for you.”
“I take it our ride is here,” Julianne said. And just that quickly, the past evaporated, leaving them firmly rooted in the present.
“Yeah.” He didn’t want to let go, but forced himself to drop his arm from her shoulders.
Less than thirty seconds later, twin headlights bounced around the corner. Meyer rolled over to the wooded area before coming to a stop.
“Let’s go.” Brody urged Julianne forward. She opened the door to the passenger seat and let Thunder go first before sliding in after him.
Brody climbed into the passenger seat. “We need to stay here until Eddie arrives.”
Julianne craned her neck. “Those headlights are probably his now.”
Brody tensed, hoping she was right. The possibility that the gunman might return filled him with dread. But when Eddie climbed out of his truck, he breathed a sigh of relief and went out to meet with the retired cop.
Eddie donned his bomb gear, looking like a dark chocolate Michelin man as he cautiously approached the SUV. Brody wanted to follow, but stayed back out of the way of Rick’s headlights illuminating the vehicle. Brody found himself holding his breath as Eddie examined the space beneath the rear bumper.
“Found it,” Eddie called out. “Bring me the box.”
Brody pulled the steel box out from the back of Eddie’s truck and carried it over. Eddie waited until Brody backed away before carefully dismantling the device, placing it inside the steel container.
Once the threat was neutralized, Brody assisted Eddie in placing the box containing the device in the truck bed. Then he crossed and returned to where Rick and Julianne were waiting. “We need to sweep the motel, make sure there aren’t any casualties.”
The three of them, along with Julianne’s K-9 partner, walked over the crime scene. The front desk clerk and a few other patrons were still huddled together near the lobby doors, where Brody had instructed them to go.
Amazingly, no one else had been injured, although the same couldn’t be said for the structure. Brody gave the clerk his name and information so the owner could contact him, before rejoining Rick and Julianne.
“Let’s head back to the sheriff’s department,” he told Rick.
“Okay.” Meyer shot him a concerned glance as they returned to the vehicle. “It looks like a war zone back there.”
“The gunman is getting impatient,” Brody agreed. Rick put the truck in gear and headed away from the bullet-ridden Thoroughbred Inn. “He pretty much emptied his clip.”
“It’s amazing you both managed to get away unharmed,” Rick said with a dark frown.
“And the other motel guests, too.” Brody glanced back at Julianne and Thunder. “They all stayed out of our way. Thankfully, we were able to improvise.”
“The FBI academy must have some amazing training,” Meyer said, using the rearview mirror to smile at Julianne. Brody had to tamp down the urge to tell his deputy to keep his eyes on the road.
“I need to check in with Max,” she murmured.
Brody glanced at his watch. “It’s four in the morning, you may want to wait until sunrise.”
She shrugged and nodded. “You’re right, it’s not as if we have any additional evidence.”
“I picked up one shell casing,” Brody said. “But we’ll need that Houston evidence team to go through the motel to get the rest of the bullet fragments and casings.”
“They will,” she assured him.
Meyer dropped them off in front of the sheriff’s department. Julianne and Thunder immediately headed toward the shiny SUV. One, he was glad to see, that wasn’t marked as belonging to the FBI.
“You want to drive?” Julianne asked, tossing him the keys she’d found under the mat.
He caught them with one hand. “Sure.” He was surprised she’d offered, Julianne usually preferred to be behind the wheel, but then again, he knew this area better than she did.
“Where to?” she asked with a weary sigh.
“Food first.” They went to a local fast-food chain to get breakfast and coffee, eating everything in the car, although Julianne also made sure to provide food and water for Thunder, too. When they’d finished, her phone jangled loudly.
She answered the phone, putting it on speaker so he could hear, too. “What’s up, Max?”
“We have a lead on the Dupree guard’s brother. It’s possible he may have been at the compound but managed to get away.”
“What makes you think that?” Julianne asked.
“A fisherman on the Clover River reported suspicious activi
ty at an isolated cabin in the woods. He noticed a guy entering the cabin, wearing a camouflage uniform that sounds exactly like the type all the other guards were wearing. Could be a fourth guard that ran off rather than fighting us. He could also be the one who shot the other guard in the head so he wouldn’t talk.”
“Unbelievable,” she murmured.
“The witness claims the guy appeared to be injured. He was favoring his left leg and holding his arm close to his chest. The fisherman didn’t go inside, but it wasn’t long when three additional men dressed in dark clothes and wearing sunglasses arrived on the scene. Our caller hightailed it out of there, but is willing to take us back to where he was when this went down.”
Brody tightened his grip on the steering wheel. A witness! This was the best news, yet.
Four attempts to kill them was four too many. They needed to turn this investigation around, rather than continue running from the shooter.
EIGHT
“That’s a great break for us,” Julianne said, her previous weariness replaced by a surge of anticipation. Was it possible these guys might lead them to Jake? “Tell me where we should meet you.”
Max described the location and she glanced at Brody, who nodded as if he knew exactly where to go. “I know it,” he said loud enough for Max to hear. “We should be able to be there in thirty to forty minutes.”
“Make sure you bring the evidence bag with Jake’s shirt,” Max instructed. “Just in case.”
“Of course,” she responded, glad she’d remembered to grab her backpack as they’d left the motel. After disconnecting the line, she sat back in her seat, thinking about how the second cabin was located near water and wondering just how far it was from the Dupree house hidden deep in the woods.
“What’s wrong?” Brody asked, breaking the silence.
She shook her head. “Nothing, I’m just putting the pieces together. It could be that this second cabin is being used as a staging area, and they use boats to escape along the river.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Possible. We’ll know more if Thunder finds Jake’s scent.”
“Yes.” Julianne glanced back at Thunder stretched out in the caged area of the SUV. “But if they truly did leave via the river, there’s no way Thunder will be able to continue tracking him. The trail will end at the water’s edge.”
A grim silence fell between them. The thought of losing Jake Morrow’s trail for good was sobering. Especially when they’d already gotten so close. They’d even found his watch at the Dupree compound.
“Hey, what about Nate?” Julianne abruptly asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Isn’t it possible that Nate and the gunman may have also escaped via the water?” She pulled Dylan’s map from her pocket and found the river. It snaked through Clover County, heading east toward the Mississippi.
“Anything is possible,” Brody admitted, his tone full of frustration. “But I’m hoping they’re still hiding somewhere, rather than risk being seen. It’s not as if the river is fail-safe. There are homes located sporadically along the riverbank.”
“Yes, but if Dupree is using it as an escape route, it’s likely others will, too.” She stared out the window for a moment, watching the Texas scenery fly by. She appreciated Brody’s intent of making good time.
“That’s true.” Brody tapped his finger on the steering wheel, an old habit that reminded her of their college days. The time before Lilly had disappeared.
The latter half of their senior year at college had been strained by their friend’s disappearance and her suspicions of Nate Otwell. The day Brody told her he was certain Lilly had run away, was the day she knew he couldn’t possibly care for her the same way she loved him. Her decision to join the FBI and Brody’s refusal to join her had been the final breaking point.
Yet back in the woods behind the Thoroughbred Inn, being held in his arms had felt wonderful. Like coming home.
Was she really so foolish as to open her heart to Brody Kenner once again?
No, of course not. She hardened her resolve, reminding herself that whatever they once had was over and done, lost forever.
But that didn’t stop her from lifting her fingers to her lips, remembering the thrilling intensity of his kiss.
She forced herself to push her personal feelings aside. She had a job to do. Allowing Brody to distract her wasn’t part of her mission.
Her goal was to find Jake Morrow, Nathan Otwell and the mysterious gunman. Once she’d accomplished that, she’d join Max in continuing their manhunt in bringing Angus Dupree to justice.
Leaving Clover County Sheriff Brody Kenner behind.
Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest, but she did her best to ignore it. As promised, Brody pulled off to the side of the road where there was a narrow dirt road leading into the woods. Max, Opal, Zeke and Cheetah were already waiting, and there was an older skinny man with a scruffy gray beard and a green fishing hat standing beside them.
Their witness.
She quickly climbed out of the SUV and went around back to let Thunder out. She put him on leash, thinking she’d take him off when they had the cabin in sight.
“We’re ready,” Julianne said, as she and Thunder approached.
“Mr. Pickens, this is Special Agent Julianne Martinez and Sheriff Brody Kenner,” Max introduced them to the fisherman.
“Nice ta meetcha,” Mr. Pickens said with a nod. “But nobody calls me mister anything, I’m Frank. Just Frank.”
“Okay, Frank, first I’d like to show you a photograph, see if you recognize this man.” Max held out a photograph of Jake Morrow. Julianne noticed that Zeke swallowed hard, and looked away, as if seeing his half brother’s smile was too painful.
Frank squinted at the photo for a long moment, then scratched at his beard. “I’m sorry, but he doesn’t look familiar. The men were all wearing sunglasses.”
Zeke scowled and blew out a heavy breath. Max simply nodded and returned the photo to his pocket. “It’s okay, Frank. Now, if you wouldn’t mind showing us the way to the cabin?”
“Sure thing.” Frank Pickens spit a wad of chewing tobacco off to the side of the road, then hitched his baggy jeans up over his skinny hips before heading down the narrow dirt road.
Max and Zeke remained on either side of Frank, positioned to protect him as needed. The moment the cabin became visible, Max put out his hand to stop Frank.
“This is far enough, Frank,” Max said in a quiet voice. “We’ll take it from here, okay? Thanks again for your help.”
Frank’s expression turned to dismay. “But, I gotta show you where my boat was in the water,” he protested.
“Go back to the vehicles and wait for us there,” Max told him firmly. “We’ll come find you once we’ve cleared the area.”
The old man didn’t look happy, but turned around and walked back toward the road. Julianne took off Thunder’s leash, and pulled out her 9 mm. Thankfully they were wearing protective gear in case things got dicey.
Nobody spoke as they continued making their way toward the cabin. Julianne watched carefully for any signs of life, but there was nothing. Oddly, the windows weren’t covered by heavy shades or drapes, and there didn’t appear to be anyone moving around inside.
Of course, the occupants could be hiding, waiting to mount an ambush.
“Split up,” Max whispered. He tapped Zeke and pointed to the left side of the cabin, gesturing for her and Brody to go in on the right. “Julianne, you and Brody cover us as we approach the cabin.”
Julianne nodded, glancing over at Brody who also bobbed his head in agreement. Thunder followed close at her side as they veered away from the rough driveway. Through the trees, she could see the glistening of the sun reflecting off the water. Seeing the river helped to orient her to their location.
Watching and waiting for Max and Zeke to make their way around the cabin was excruciating. Patience had never been her strongest trait. They finally came around the front, sneaking up to bracket the front door on either side. Max kicked it open and they entered, gun held at the ready. After what was only a few minutes but seemed like an hour, they emerged and gestured for Julianne and Brody to come join them.
They hastened over. “The place is empty,” Max announced. “But we found a bloody shirt in the corner of the cabin. We need Thunder to check for Jake’s scent.”
“On it,” Julianne said, turning quickly to head outside. She opened the bag containing Jake’s shirt and offered it to Thunder, who buried his nose deep in Jake’s scent.
“Find, Thunder. Find!”
Eager to please, Thunder immediately dropped his nose to the ground and went to work. Almost immediately he alerted on Jake’s scent on a spot outside the cabin door. He continued inside the cabin leaving Julianne to follow. He alerted on several rooms, but his strongest reaction was when he came upon the bloody shirt.
Julianne caught Max’s gaze. “Jake was here.”
“Yeah,” Max agreed. “But not anymore.”
Zeke’s face twisted with anguish. “So where is he? Where’s my brother?”
Julianne shook her head, feeling helpless as Zeke railed at yet another roadblock in their mission to find Jake. Once again, the trail leading to the missing FBI agent had gone cold.
And they were fresh out of new leads.
* * *
Brody stepped away from Julianne in order to go through the cabin again, making sure they hadn’t missed anything. It was clear Julianne’s theory was right: this cabin must have been used as a staging area, either bringing people up the river to the Dupree compound, or the other way around. In the kitchen area of the cabin, he frowned as he noticed several scuff marks on the floor. There was even a distinct heel print, as if the man had walked through mud before coming inside.