Fugitive Pursuit

Jamie shifted back. “You aren’t going to tell me anything. Don’t touch me.”

  God, take away my aggravation and give me strength to be patient here.

  Charlotte tore herself from Jamie’s arms. One elephant ear hung crooked as she ran from the room, crying all the way.

  He walked toward the hallway, then stopped. Should he go talk to Charlotte or stay to reason with Jamie? Something tightened in his chest.

  “I’ll go talk to her.” Jamie took a step toward him, but Greta stood in her way.

  “No, I’ll go,” Zack said, but he still didn’t move. Which choice meant more?

  “She needs me, not you.” Jamie’s words stuck in him like a craw.

  “I have to make things right with her.” Zack walked toward the bedrooms. Greta’s words shifted to mumbles as Charlotte’s sniffles got louder. He stood in the doorway of her room with his hands on his hips. The kid had squished herself between the bed and the nightstand, then pulled her knees to her chest with the elephant stuffed in between.

  What was he supposed to do now? He didn’t know how best to stop the little one from crying. What if his attempt made her cry even harder? Yes, he’d been able to keep Jamie and Charlotte happy with his efforts to protect them, but them both losing faith in him tossed him into uncharted territory. Should he make Charlotte laugh or should he talk seriously to her? And would it still be possible for her to like him?

  This was exactly why he had no business allowing his feelings to get mixed in with his duty.

  But he had to do something right now.

  “Charlotte?” He slipped inside the room.

  “I’m sorry. I won’t hit you again.” Panic flooded her face with each step closer he took. “I’ll be good. I promise.”

  A sickening feeling lodged in the center of his chest. The reality of what had been happening in the Timmins house slugged into his gut. He clenched his jaw, closed his fists.

  Charlotte’s eyes widened, then clamped shut. “I said I was sorry. I really am.” Tears sprang loose again and dripped down her cheeks.

  As he crouched down in front of her, he forced a deep breath through his system. He raised his hand, but should he touch her? Or would the feel of his fingers only scare her more? “Sweet pea, open your eyes for me.” He kept his hands to himself for the time being. When she did as he asked, she hiccupped. “Did your daddy ever hit you when you did something wrong?”

  She wrapped herself tighter. “Only once, but he’d say stuff and yell and hit my mom a lot.”

  Zack fought the rage growing stronger inside him. But he had to let it go. God would judge Timmins. Zack’s job was to stand up for the law. To reach that goal, tonight’s assignment entailed making sure the girls, both Jamie and Charlotte, felt safe.

  Yes, they were an assignment. Not friends, not family, nothing more than two people he needed to assist.

  He moved his hand. Charlotte’s eyes followed its path. More tears streamed down her cheeks. As he placed his palms on each of her knees, a set of whimpers escaped her mouth. “Can I tell you something?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “I might get mad at your aunt or maybe even you, but I promise I will never hurt either of you.”

  She hiccupped again. “Never ever?”

  He shook his head. “Never ever.”

  “Pinkie promise?” She whispered as she released the hold she had on her legs.

  He leaned closer to her, latched his little finger to hers and smiled. “Absolutely.” Slowly he brushed his thumb across her cheek to wipe away her tears. Should he pick her up? Hug her? Not touch her at all?

  Too many choices and no guarantee which one was the best.

  Once he’d moved back enough for her to get up without feeling intimidated, he held out his hand. “Come on. Let’s go check on your aunt.”

  She crawled out to him, slid her hand in his and they both got to their feet. She glanced up at him with a tiny bit of hope.

  Earlier he’d thought about how great they all were together, how fulfilling it might be to have a family. Clearly, he’d been delusional. Tomorrow they’d go their separate ways. He’d toss all feelings aside and go back to focusing on his bounty hunting duties.

  When they took steps from the middle of the room, something dropped from the elephant. Charlotte looked to the carpet. “Whoa.” She crouched down and picked the item up. “Why would my elephant throw up Mommy’s cell phone?”

  Zack’s nerves tightened as he reached out for it. Bingo. “I think I know what this is. Something from your mom to help us—” nail your father “—prove how scary your dad is.” He joined Charlotte in studying the hole in the elephant’s ear and the ripped stiches in it. “Come on. We need to show your auntie.”

  * * *

  As she and Greta stood by the kitchen, Jamie rubbed her arms. “Yes, you’re right, Greta. I should’ve tried to stay calm before I said anything to Zack.”

  “Aren’t I always right?” Her friend grinned.

  “Most of the time.” Jamie smiled until Zack walked down the hallway with a hard determination in his expression. Guilt crushed her insides even as the intensity of his gaze forced her back a few steps.

  Greta pressed her palm on Jamie’s back and whispered, “Go on.”

  “Zack, I’m sorry.” He’d been nothing but good to her and she’d made him angry by arguing with him because he didn’t agree with her. “I shouldn’t have—”

  “Later.” He held up the phone. “We have work to do.”

  Greta gasped behind her. Jamie’s jaw dropped. “Where did that come from?”

  “My elephant.” Charlotte stood up straight and smiled. “Mommy left us a surprise.”

  “Yes, she did.” Jamie turned to Greta. “Can you...?” She tilted her head toward Charlotte and then to the living room.

  Greta nodded. “Come on, kiddo. Let’s watch TV for a bit.” As Greta and Charlotte moved toward the couch, with Greta promising to sew the elephant’s ear back on later, Jamie followed Zack down the hall.

  “Let’s hope there’s incriminating evidence on here.” He turned the phone on. Of course it had a security screen. “Do you know what your sister’s code is?”

  When they entered Charlotte’s temporary room, she followed Zack to the bed and sat beside him, close enough to smell a hint of his unique scent. “No. That’s not Erin’s phone. Drew wouldn’t let her have one like this. He gave her a flip phone with no internet access just so she could make calls if she needed. It’s got to be Beth’s, and I have no idea what her code would be.” They couldn’t come this close to solving the case and not find answers.

  Zack shrugged. “Or Beth got it for your sister. When she saw it, Charlotte called it ‘Mommy’s cell phone.’ What’s something Erin would use for a password, something you’d easily figure out?”

  “Charlotte’s birthday would be the most logical. October 11.”

  Zack punched in one, zero, one, one. The screen opened up like a gate. “Here we go.”

  “Let’s see the pictures.” Jamie set her hand on his arm, his skin feeling warm against her fingertips.

  Zack scrolled through the photos, but none had to do with Drew or his illegal activities. “Nothing.” He continued going through the photo app and stopped at a picture of her brother-in-law in a video.

  Energy stirred within her. “Wait. Is that Drew in the video?”

  “Yep.” Zack pressed the Play button. Drew and George sat in the backyard with Charlotte giggling as she ran around in the background.

  “I thought when we got rid of my housekeeper, everything would go back to normal.”

  “Why? What’s happening?”

  “Erin’s different, bolder. She’s still asking too many questions and sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  “Daddy, come play with me on the swings.” Charlotte ra
n over to the men and slid her hand into her father’s. The person taking the video sank closer to the ground.

  Drew yanked his arm away. “Didn’t I tell you not to bother me when I’m working?”

  Charlotte’s smile disappeared. In its place was...fear. “I’m sorry, Daddy.” With her thumb in her mouth, she backed several feet away before she turned and ran.

  Jamie’s throat tightened.

  “My wife is becoming too much of a liability for us, especially with Beth dead.”

  “We could plant the crystal meth on her, too. Then people will assume she and your housekeeper were doing drugs together,” George offered.

  “Good idea. That way, if Erin becomes too much of a problem, then I’ll have a plan in motion to get rid of her, too.”

  George nodded.

  The person holding the phone, presumably Erin, gasped and juggled the screen. When Drew glanced her way, she shoved herself even closer to the ground.

  Tears gathered in the corners of Jamie’s eyes.

  Seconds ticked by until Drew looked away from her sister’s direction. Pavement whooshed with plant stems across the screen. Then the video ended.

  “So, it couldn’t have been Beth who took the video,” Zack said. “She was already dead at this point.”

  Moisture threatened to fall from Jamie’s eyes, so she blew out a breath. “The video was taken the day Drew killed Erin. Charlotte was wearing the same dress and she had the same barrette in her hair when I arrived later. Erin must’ve known she’d never get away so she sewed the phone in the elephant hoping someone besides Drew would find it.”

  “You know what this means, right?”

  “Yeah.” She clasped her hands together then dropped them to her lap. “With the information we and your family have found and the video, we have enough proof to put Drew, and George for that matter, behind bars for years.”

  “Exactly.” He nodded. “Plus, this will support your case for taking Charlotte. You won’t be cleared of kidnapping her or of the assault on Timmins because you kind of did do those things, but hopefully the courts will see you were justified.”

  “Good, because I’m all Charlotte has left.”

  “And it sounds like the police will find Beth’s body weighted down deep in Narragansett Bay.”

  “All this time, all our efforts are finally going to pay off.”

  “See?” He held out his hands. “You just need a little faith.”

  “I have to admit, God has come through. It may not have been the way I wanted everything to happen, but He did take care of us.”

  “He has His own plan, but He’ll always be there for you.”

  “As you have been. I’m sorry, Zack, for the way I reacted to you earlier. You were right to make me think first.”

  “I’m sorry, too. After everything you and Charlotte have been through, I should’ve handled the situation differently.”

  “You’ve been nothing but kind and considerate from the day I met you. You’ve played with my niece and supported me.”

  “I’m just a man who wants to see justice done. Don’t make me out to be a hero.”

  “But you are to me. I don’t think I would’ve survived these past few days without you.” Thankfully she’d never have to find out. So much hope swirled through her and her heart warmed. “I’m thankful I have you in my life.” She reached for his hand, inched closer to him and pressed her mouth to his.

  Yes, things would change when they got back to Rhode Island, but she didn’t need to think about that yet. For the moment, he was still beside her, still within her reach, still a bright light pulling her out of the darkness she’d forced herself in. For now, she would enjoy every moment she could.

  But the light died quickly.

  Zack tugged his hand free and gently pushed her back. “Jamie, I don’t think this is a good idea.”

  Heat surged up her neck and flooded her cheeks. He kept his gaze on her, but she couldn’t meet it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to...” She pressed her lips together and tucked her hair behind her ear. Didn’t mean to throw herself at him?

  “It’s just that tomorrow things change.”

  “Of course.” She nodded. “You’ll go back to chasing real criminals and I’ll get busy raising Charlotte.”

  “You’re a wonderful woman with a good heart.”

  Just not the woman for him. She got it. They had different dreams, different roles in God’s plan.

  “You’ll find someone who—”

  “Please don’t.” She already felt foolish. Zack trying to placate her only made it worse. Standing, she brushed moisture from under her eyes. “I’ll leave the phone with you.” Yes, focus on the job at hand. Erase anything personal from their interactions. She rushed toward the doorway.

  “Jamie, wait.”

  But she kept walking. What was the point of stopping?

  The well-known song of a kids show flew through the hallway. Charlotte began singing off-key as Jamie slid into the bathroom and shut the door. The tears fell freely as she sat on the edge of the tub and pressed her hand over her mouth. She’d been humiliated enough. Allowing him or Greta to hear her crying would mortify her.

  Zack had made her feel comfortable, supported and like she mattered. Spending time with him had allowed her to believe in a happy, satisfying future. And he’d kissed her.

  What a fool she’d been to get her hopes up. She’d failed her sister. If Erin couldn’t have her happily-ever-after, then why should Jamie? Her life’s duty had to rest only on Charlotte and in raising her to be someone Erin could be proud of.

  Still, she cried for what she and Zack could’ve been and she cried for all she’d never hold.

  The flow of tears slowed. On the other side of the door, feet blocked the light. Jamie sat up straight. Don’t you knock to check on me. A few more seconds passed and then the light returned. She released a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding.

  Once she stood, she checked herself in the mirror. Red eyes stared back at her. She groaned, then splashed water on her face. She’d be strong. She wouldn’t cry again because God had been by her side and even though she’d be alone, He wouldn’t abandon her. Right? She had her niece, her health, her brother-in-law going to jail. Despite losing Zack tomorrow, Jamie had so much to be thankful for.

  * * *

  The next morning, Zack insisted on an early start for their trip back to the family business. Once he’d parked, he reached into the back seat of the car and picked Charlotte up. Without a sound, she set her head on his shoulder and pressed her tiny palm against his chest. The familiar scent of...kid seeped into his nostrils. He had to admit he’d miss the automatic trust Charlotte had for him once they went their separate ways.

  He’d also miss Jamie. His gaze shifted to the passenger side, where she tossed her backpack over her shoulder and grabbed his duffel bag. After she shut the door and joined him on the sidewalk, he wanted to hold his hand toward her. He already missed the intimacy they’d been sharing. The intimacy he put an end to last night when he gave her the “you’re a great lady” speech.

  But it was the right decision for all of them. She deserved a romance and he had no plan to provide one.

  He kept his hand to himself.

  Light came out of the windows of Second Chance Bail Bonds and the front door was unlocked. Yet there was no sign of his sister when they stepped inside. “Lil?”

  No answer. Her radio softly played some sappy tune.

  “Maybe she’s in the bathroom,” Jamie offered.

  Zack set Charlotte on the couch and covered her little body with the afghan on the arm of the chair nearby. After Jamie placed their bags on the vacant seat, she rubbed her arms and turned to stare outside the window. Zack itched to pull her into his arms. Instead, he planted his hands on his hips. “What are you thinking about?”


  “How ready I am for the day to be over.” She spoke with tension in her voice. Her words felt like a good slap to his ego. Was she that ready to send him off, too? Yes, he’d been the one to terminate their growing relationship, but he hadn’t counted on...still wanting her.

  Zack’s phone rang, cutting into his thoughts.

  Jamie turned to Charlotte, then him. “Don’t wake her.”

  He dug his phone from his pocket and recognized the number. “Hey, Kyle.”

  “Morning,” his brother greeted him. “Logan and I are on the way, but there’s a huge backup on 295. I’m not sure when we’ll get there.”

  “No problem. We’ll be here when you come in.”

  “You’re already at the office?”

  “Yeah, but nobody else is yet.” He scanned the lights on in the office. “Well, Lily’s somewhere.”

  “Okay, I’ll call you when we get going again.”

  “Got it.” As he disconnected the call, he faced Jamie. “Kyle’s on his way with our detective friend, Logan.” He glanced at the time on his phone. “I don’t have a clue where Lil is.”

  He punched his sister’s number into his phone. It rang in his ear...and in the room. Zack and Jamie stared at each other. Dread surfaced within him. “That’s my sister’s phone.” They followed the sound to the desk. He hung up the call. Lily’s handbag sat on its side in her chair with its contents sprawled around the floor. Her keys lay in a puddle of coffee next to a broken mug.

  Knots formed in his gut. His sweet, innocent sister had been taken. “Timmins.”

  For a moment, he froze. What should he do now?

  Jamie placed her hand on his arm. “We’ll find her. I promise.”

  “You can’t promise something like that.” The reality of them finding her safe and unharmed fell apart with every passing second. No, he couldn’t think like that.

  But his mind refused to stop running in circles. He rubbed his hand over his head. “I’ve got to call Kyle back.” And where was Parker?

  Zack’s phone rang. A number he didn’t recognize flashed on his screen, but he accepted the call. “Hello?”

  “Listen to me carefully, Mr. Bounty Hunter. If you ever want to see your sister again, you’ll bring Jamie and my daughter to my building on the waterfront.”