Fugitive Pursuit

by Christa Sinclair

For his sister and Jamie, Zack needed to focus on the rescue. The women expected him to be smart. Put his emotions in a box. Focus on the job. Professional. Cold. Nothing else.

  Together, he and Jamie entered the building. Two of the lights closer to the back of the room flickered. A musty odor hit him as soon as they walked in. Squeaking noises echoed through the room. Mice, most likely.

  Zack led Jamie farther into the room, then stopped a few feet behind a set of four crates with tiny labels. They only reached his waist. Where were the huge boxes they’d used for cover a few days ago?

  Fear reared its ugly head as he imagined all the things that could go wrong.

  Put. It. In. The. Box.

  The sound of slow, deliberate footsteps floated across the floor. Linden stopped beside another set of crates a few yards away, his weapon by his side. Charlie stepped out from behind another wall of crates and dragged Lily by the arm along with him.

  Immediately, Zack’s heart loosened. No, his sister wasn’t out of danger yet, but she was alive. Maybe he could get them all out safely. “You all right?”

  Lil gave him a weak grin. “Of course. After putting up with you boys my whole life, this was nothing.” Her words were meant to be strong, but the disheveled clothes and weary face weakened her message. No visible injuries, though. Praise God.

  “I’m glad you made the right decision, Jamie,” the deputy’s voice boomed as he brandished his weapon.

  “I’m not going to let an innocent woman suffer any longer if I can help it.” Jamie stood alert, glancing around the room as though gathering intel like a seasoned soldier. Pride filled him. What an amazing woman he’d chosen to...love. He may have tried to ignore it, but he’d grown to love her and everything about her. And he wanted a chance to see what life could be like for the two of them together.

  “What about the kid?”

  “She’s not here,” Jamie stated. “You’ll have to settle for me.”

  Zack curled his fingers. Where in the world were Kyle and Logan? The traffic jam had to be over by now. And what about Timmins? He’d been the one to call Zack about this meeting.

  “That wasn’t the deal.” Linden turned to the other man. “Charlie?”

  Charlie aimed his weapon at Lily’s head.

  Lil closed her eyes. With her lips moving, she was probably praying.

  Zack raised his weapon. “Don’t do it!” He’d been a good shot since he was nine, when Kyle and Parker first took him hunting. Both of them had called him a natural.

  Never had his sister been in the line of fire, though. Would he be able to shoot straight with Lily so close?

  Charlie pulled Lil in front of him, eliminating most of Zack’s shot.

  “Shoot him, Z!” Lily cried.

  “Yeah, go ahead.” Charlie snickered. “See what happens.”

  But he couldn’t. Not yet.

  Linden aimed at Zack. “There’s no way out. If you shoot at either of us, I’ll shoot you.”

  “Then I’ll never tell you where Charlotte is,” Zack said.

  With each passing second, tension rose higher. Soon someone would fire.

  It’s going to be me.

  Zack shifted his position. Shoved Jamie toward cover. Aimed for Charlie. Squeezed the trigger. Charlie dropped. His gun clacked on the floor and his mouth spouted off a load of swear words. Zack had shot him in the shoulder. One down. One to go.

  Linden shot at Zack. The bullet slammed into the metal wall behind him. Then he aimed for Lily.

  He had to give his sister time to reach cover. As Zack shot a barrage of bullets in Linden’s direction, the deputy ducked. Lily scrambled away from the deputies. She crawled in front of the crate Linden used for cover and curled into a ball.

  “Turn yourself in, Linden. It’ll go easier.” Zack scanned the building again. “And get your boss out here.” Each moment without Timmins tightened Zack’s gut.

  “It’s over, George.” Jamie peeked around the other end of their crate. “The police are on the way.”

  “We are law enforcement. I’m a deputy, remember?”

  Charlie struggled to move near Linden. Blood flooded the skin of his arm and the short-sleeved shirt he wore.

  “No, you’re just a thug following orders, committing crimes and thinking you’re invincible.” While he spoke, Zack pressed his back to the crate. “With the evidence we have, you guys won’t be representing the law much longer.” He glanced at his watch. They were sitting ducks if they didn’t move. Zack stood, aimed for the deputy’s hiding space. “Think long and hard about what you do next, Linden.”

  The lawman’s arms sailed over his head, his handgun still wrapped in his fingers. “Don’t shoot.” Slowly he stood.

  “Smart decision.” Zack moved a few paces forward. He kept his finger on the trigger just in case Linden tried something. “Now, where’s Timmins?” Was the man too afraid participating in the exchange would risk his “model sheriff” status?

  The deputy grinned. With his free hand, Linden pointed in Jamie’s direction. “Right there.”

  A whimper escaped Jamie’s lips. Zack whirled around so he could see both lawmen.

  “Take them out.” With his arm tight across Jamie’s shoulders, the crooked sheriff pressed a knife to her throat. “I’ve got what I came for.”

  Dread rocked inside his gut. His sister huddled by a box to his right. The woman he’d grown to love to his left. Both in danger of dying. If he shot at Timmins, he risked Jamie getting caught or stabbed and Linden shooting Lily. If he shot at Linden first, Timmins would escape with Jamie. Zack stood still, paralyzed.

  “Can we hold on to the sister for a little longer?” Linden smiled. “I kind of like her.”

  “I don’t care what you do. Just make sure she dies when you’re done with her.” Timmins moved the knife up and down. Jamie remained silent, but her eyes sent a message of love to Zack.

  “No!”

  Lily’s holler grabbed Zack’s attention. Charlie reached for his ankle. Linden raised his weapon. Zack scrambled out of the guys’ line of fire. The deputy fired.

  Zack crouched low behind the boxes. A loud bang rattled one wall. He scanned the room. Jamie and Timmins were nowhere to be seen. Another shot rang out.

  His blood pumped heavier, his heart rate soaring. “Lily?” Please, God, let my sister be all right.

  “I’m coming to you.”

  Zack popped up and laid down cover until Lil slid behind him. Charlie leaned to the side of his crate and shot. Bullets grazed the wood of the box they used for cover. Zack inched backward, twisted his body and covered his sister.

  “It’s over, Owen. You and your sister have no way out. And your girlfriend is probably already in the bay. If you surrender, I promise I’ll make your deaths quick.”

  “There will be no deaths today,” he hollered. “Not if I can help it,” he added under his breath. But Jamie and Timmins had rushed out to the parking lot.

  His duty was to bring criminals in to face their consequences and to protect the innocent whenever possible. God, please guide me so I can protect Lil and save Jamie. They were counting on him and he needed to be there for both of them.

  Feet scuffled over the floor. Zack popped up. Squeezed the trigger. Hit Linden. The man’s body jerked backward as his howl surged through the building. While blood stained his shirtsleeve, Linden shot toward Zack again.

  The opposite door crashed open. Zack covered Lily.

  “Police, stop!”

  Lily and Zack glanced at each other.

  “Zack? Lil?” Kyle’s voice echoed off the walls.

  “Over here!” Zack stood. Energy set his nerves on fire. “Lil’s here. Timmins took Jamie.”

  “Go, go!” Lily pushed him toward the door.

  Technically he could stay with his sister and let the police handle Timmi
ns. Zack might’ve done that...a week ago. But a feisty, stubborn, adorable woman had crashed right into his heart. And a little girl somewhere else in the state was also counting on him to keep his promise to get them back together as soon as possible. He wanted to be the man Jamie and Charlotte could depend on.

  Zack ran out the door.

  * * *

  Tears stung the corners of Jamie’s eyes. The adrenaline began to take its toll. Her limbs felt like cooked spaghetti. She was so tired of being scared, for her niece, for herself, for Zack. She reached out to a nearby car to steady herself. If she could slow her and Drew’s pace, Zack might have enough time to come for her.

  “Keep moving.” Drew guided her toward the bay. He’d lowered his knife but no doubt he still held it close. His hold on the back of her neck remained tight. But the pain, she knew, was nothing like what she’d experience if she couldn’t come up with a way out of this.

  “You won’t get away with this.” At least she hoped not. Jamie’s stomach roiled. Don’t throw up. “Even if you kill me, Zack and the others will make sure you pay.” A pair of seagulls squawked overhead.

  “Are you kidding?” he snickered. “I’m the sheriff. I can get away with anything I want.”

  A short wave of panic whooshed through her body. The knife Drew held returned to her neck, poked slightly into her skin.

  She forced a slow breath and listened to the rhythm of the waves. Too many positives reigned over her life now. God couldn’t take all that away. He wouldn’t.

  Faith.

  “Wait. Are you praying?” Drew sneered.

  I know You’re with me.

  Something shifted behind them.

  “God’s not on your side, Jamie.”

  “But I am.” Zack’s hardened voice drifted over Drew’s shoulders. The sharp tone had never sounded so sweet.

  Jamie closed her eyes and smiled. Her Zack, so calm, confident.

  Drew whirled around. The hand with the knife remained by her neck. The other pinned her shoulders to his chest. “How did you...?”

  “The police are here. Your deputies are already wearing cuffs.” Zack took two steps toward them, a handgun wrapped in his fingers. “And we’ve got evidence to prove you’re not the lawman you’re supposed to be.”

  Drew continued to move away. His hand had the tiniest shiver, just enough for the blade to scrape along her neck. “Turn around, walk away and I’ll consider not killing her.”

  “You know I can’t.” Zack took another step forward. “I won’t let you hurt her anymore.”

  “You don’t get it. I’m in charge here.” Drew’s breath slipped through her hair. He inched farther back. “Put your weapon on the ground or I’ll cut a hole in her neck.”

  Jamie held her breath.

  “Do it!” Drew scraped the blade across part of her neck, not too deep but enough to draw blood. She couldn’t stop the sobs coming from her mouth.

  Zack set his gun on the ground, then took another couple of confident steps toward them. “Your life’s over, Timmins. Drugs, your wife, Beth McKutchen’s body. We’ve got enough evidence to put you away for a long time.”

  Drew’s hold on her faltered. The urge to move surged through her. Should she make an effort, shove her elbow into him? Or did Zack have his own plan?

  “Trust.” Zack opened and closed his fists.

  “I do.” She nodded. “You and God.”

  The building’s door crashed open. Within seconds, Kyle stood to their left with his gun at the ready. To her right, Zack still moved toward them. Her brother-in-law’s hold crushed her shoulders even more. His knife, though, shifted between the Owen brothers.

  Now or never. Jamie bit down on Drew’s forearm as hard as she could. He growled like a pit bull and released a string of swear words. She shoved his arms away. Adrenaline whooshed through her. She scrambled toward Zack. She needed to have his arms around her so much.

  Zack passed her.

  Fingers gripped around her shoe.

  “No!” She kicked.

  As quickly as the hold came, it disappeared. Something behind her thumped to the ground. Kyle ran forward, grabbed her arm and yanked her away from the others.

  She swallowed the bile threatening to rise through her esophagus. Zack and Drew fought each other on the rubble pavement. With a solid grip on Drew’s wrist, Zack slammed Drew’s arm against the ground. The knife fell from his fingers, but the fight continued and they rolled closer to the bay.

  Sirens screamed. Cars swerved somewhere in the parking lot.

  “Do something!” she yelled to Kyle.

  When she took a step forward, Zack’s oldest brother shoved her toward the building. “Stay here,” Kyle ordered.

  Behind him, the scene slowed. Her hearing disappeared. Drew flipped Zack over.

  Picked up the knife.

  Raised it above Zack.

  “Help him!” She pointed to the fight.

  The scene in front of her whirled in different directions. Her heart thumped faster.

  Kyle whipped around.

  Zack grabbed Drew’s wrist. Twisted. Fought.

  Kyle lifted his weapon, but couldn’t fire without the possibility of hitting his brother.

  The knife disappeared from Jamie’s vision. Both men stilled. Drew fell on top of Zack.

  “Please, no.” Who’d been stabbed?

  “Zack?” Kyle’s voice held as much panic as hers had. She followed him toward the fighters.

  “I’m good.” Zack shoved Drew off him.

  Jamie’s body threatened to collapse. She clasped her hands together. Bloodstains dotted his clothes and he moved a bit slowly, but her hero had survived.

  As for her brother-in-law, blood spread across his shirt under the shoulder at an alarming rate. His eyes clenched.

  Kyle kicked the knife away, crouched beside Drew, then flipped him over. “I’ve got him, little brother.”

  Zack closed the distance between himself and Jamie, planted his palms on her cheeks and pressed his mouth to hers. The kiss was desperate, filled with a need to connect. Her heart expanded, welcoming the emotion he poured into her. She dropped her hands on his arms. He leaned his forehead against hers. “I thought I was going to lose you.”

  “Never.” And he wouldn’t, if she had any say in the matter. In less than a week, he’d become so important in her world. “I can’t imagine facing the future without you—your strength, your counsel, your lo—” Uh-oh. She raked her teeth over her lip. Heat crept into her cheeks. Zack might not be ready to hear the four-letter l word.

  “You can say it.” He smiled. “Because I love you, Jamie.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, picked her up and spun her around.

  As she laughed, she tightened her hold on his shoulders. “All right. I am deliriously in love with you, Zack Owen.”

  He set her down and kissed her again. Oh, she’d never get tired of his affections. She softly set her palm on the side of his face, under a bruise forming near his eye. He had a ripped shirt spotted with drops of blood, a slice through his forearm, too. “You’re hurt.”

  “Not a big deal. I have you by my side and you’re safe. That’s all that matters.” He kissed her temple. Zack’s gentle words brought tears to her eyes. Her body still shook. Don’t cry. Stay strong.

  He tugged her into his arms, pulling her against his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder. The pounding of his heart slowed, almost as though her presence calmed him. Someone close by cleared a throat. Too soon, Zack released her.

  “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and escorted her toward the building. A variety of lights flashed from around the parking lot. A man stood behind one of the cop cars. “Jamie Carter, this is Detective Logan Phillips.”

  Jamie assessed the man as she shook his hand.
Handsome with a standard police haircut. He stood taller than everyone else, almost as tall as Parker, and with not an ounce of fat on him. “Ms. Carter, you’ve got a very interesting story. I look forward to hearing your side.”

  “I look forward to people actually listening to me.”

  With a sneaky sparkle to his eyes, Zack frowned. “What have I been doing since the moment I broke you out of jail?”

  “Everything you could for me.” She slid her arm around his waist and leaned on him again.

  Detective Phillips smiled before he walked toward the officers waiting for him.

  While the paramedics talked to his sister, Kyle marched right up to Zack and pulled his brother into a hug. “You’ve got to stop putting yourself in harm’s way, you hear me?”

  Jamie’s eyes filled. What a strong bond the Owen family members had. Despite Kyle being leery of her, despite his refusal to assist them when Zack first brought her to the office, Kyle had come through. Maybe he wasn’t as tough as he wanted the world to believe.

  Once the brothers separated, Kyle stared at her. Jamie scratched her temple. After a few more seconds, he awkwardly hugged her. Um, okay. She accepted his kindness and patted him on the back.

  “I’m glad you’re all right, too. Thanks for taking care of my little brother.” Without another word, he went back to Lily, who was arguing with the paramedics. She was fine, she insisted. Kyle wrapped a hand around her shoulders, spoke quietly to her and steered her into one of the ambulances.

  “Wow. You’ve just received the Kyle Owen stamp of approval.” Zack tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Should I be flattered?”

  “Absolutely.” He crossed his arms and kept his gaze on the gurney transporting Timmins toward the ambulance. The sheriff barked out swears and orders, but no one appeared to be listening. “Don’t get too attached to Kyle, though, okay?” Zack cracked a smile.

  “Don’t worry. My heart belongs to someone else.”

  A soft breeze swept across her face. God’s touch? Perhaps. She’d like to think so.

  In the distance, another siren sprang to life. She pressed her palms against Zack’s chest. “It’s finally over, isn’t it?”

  He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Yes. You’ll have to face the courts for taking Charlotte, but we can probably work out a deal for you.”