Fugitive Pursuit

by Christa Sinclair

  “Thank you.”

  “Thank you for being brave enough to fight for justice. And for trusting me.” He kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry about the way this went down. I had hoped we’d all come out of this unharmed.” He brushed his fingers over the knife scrapes on her neck.

  “What are you talking about? Your sister and I are both here, safe because of you.”

  “Yeah but Lily’s bruised and you could’ve been stabbed or tossed in the bay.”

  “Zack.” She set her hands over his heart. “You made the best decisions you could with what you knew. And since Lily and I are both alive and you have my niece protected, I say you made great decisions.” With another smile, she added, “Especially deciding to work with me in the first place.”

  Zack scanned all the activity in the parking lot, then returned his gaze to her. “So what are you saying? You think we make a pretty good team?”

  “The best.”

  EPILOGUE

  Two Years Later

  From under the umbrella, Jamie glanced out over the water. The rhythm of the waves crashing onto the shore eased her heart from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. What a difference two years had made. She started out as a fugitive and ended up with a family. She glanced down at the ring on her left hand. Mrs. Zachary Owen. How could it already be eight months since their wedding?

  She glanced up at the puffy, white clouds of a perfect summer day. God had answered her desperate pleas, just not in the way she’d expected or on the timetable she’d wanted. In the end, He’d given her the patience to wait for His perfect plan to unfold.

  She and Zack dated while Drew and George faced charges, earned guilty verdicts and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Zack had proposed shortly after Jamie left teaching to work at a new Christian youth club. And the wedding, with Teddy Copeland and his family in attendance and Beth’s mom playing the role of mother of the bride at Jamie’s request, had been breathtaking at the beginning of the Christmas season. “Thank You, Father,” she said simply.

  Charlotte’s giggle as she braved the waves on a boogie board caught Jamie’s attention. Zack held the bungee cord and tugged the board over the waves. Charlotte gripped the board and laughed harder. Truth be told, Zack had been a better parental figure in the time he’d been in their lives than Drew had been for the first six years of her niece’s life. Jamie sighed. Butterflies spread through her belly. Or was it movement from her son?

  “You okay, there?” Lily plopped into the foldaway chair next to her.

  Jamie smiled. “Yes, birthday girl.”

  “Don’t remind me. Parker’s handling it fine, but me? My last year before thirty? Yikes.” Lily rolled her eyes and took another drink from her water bottle. “Where is everybody?”

  Jamie buried her toes in the sand. The baby shifted again. “Kyle and Parker are playing volleyball with some friends and Jessa’s taking a walk down to the breachway.”

  “They all left you here alone?”

  “I don’t mind. It gives me a chance to reflect on how awesome my life is with all of you.”

  “Are you kidding? You complete our family.” She patted Jamie’s stomach. “How’s my next niece or nephew today?”

  “Kicking up a storm.” Jamie caressed her swollen belly. “I guess he or she likes the beach.”

  “Still don’t know what you’re having?”

  Jamie grinned. “I do, but Zack doesn’t.”

  “Oh, how cruel. I know he’s been excited to find out for a while.”

  “I only found out this morning. I intend to tell him at some point today.”

  Lily clapped her hands together. “Then you’ll tell us, I assume.” The Owen eye sparkle gleamed. Would Jamie and Zack’s baby inherit the charming trait?

  Another shriek of laughter from her niece grabbed Jamie’s and Lily’s attention. Charlotte ran up the beach toward their blankets and umbrella with Zack on her tail. “Auntie Jamie, help!”

  “Your aunt can’t stop me.” When they reached the umbrella, he grabbed her and tickled her sides. “I always win, sweet pea.”

  “I know ’cause you’re a grown-up.” The words floated out unevenly as a new round of laughter bellied through Charlotte.

  “Not always, he’s not,” Kyle said from behind them.

  “Charlotte, Uncle Kyle and I saw the ice-cream truck coming up the road. Want to be first in line?” Parker asked.

  “Yay!” The little girl, who wasn’t so little anymore, jumped and clapped.

  “Guess that means yes,” Parker said.

  “Yeah, we should all go.” Before she left her chair, Lily winked at Jamie. “Kyle’s buying.”

  “You go and grab me something.” He moved forward toward his own beach chair.

  “No.” Lily grabbed his wallet from one of their beach bags and then his wrist. “We are going to get ice cream and we’ll bring something back for Zack and Jamie.”

  “Come on!” Charlotte grabbed both Kyle and Parker’s hands. “I don’t want to miss him. We could bring something back for Auntie Jessa, too.” Technically Jessa wasn’t an auntie, but she spent so much time with the Owen clan that Charlotte considered her family.

  Parker glanced in the direction Jessa had walked, a hint of indecision whispering across his face. In a flash, he smiled and turned his attention back to Jamie’s niece. “But if she takes too long, then I’ll have her ice cream, too.”

  Charlotte pulled her uncles toward the street. “I think she’d want me to have hers, Uncle Parker.” Lily and the guys laughed.

  Zack dropped beside Jamie and rubbed her belly. “How’s our little one doing?”

  “He’s moving a lot today.” As she brushed her hair away from her temple, she smiled. “We should probably think about signing him up for some sports when he gets to school.”

  Zack stilled. “He?”

  She nodded. “We’re having a boy.”

  His beautiful green eyes widened. “Are you sure? When did you find out?”

  “This morning while you were delivering a fugitive with Parker and Jessa.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you had a doctor’s appointment? I would’ve come with you.” He brushed his knuckles along her jawline.

  “Because I wanted it to be a surprise.” She slid her hand in his.

  With a grin the size of the state, he looked out over the ocean. “A son.”

  “I’m a little overwhelmed. I know it’ll be completely different than raising Charlotte.”

  “Don’t be worried. You’re great with Charlotte and this time you’ll have me by your side right from the beginning.” He planted a kiss on her cheek. “And the next time.”

  “Next time?”

  “Yes.” He kissed her other cheek and urged her down to the blanket. “And the time after that.”

  Drops of the ocean dripped from his body onto her. The touch of his cool skin sent shivers through her. “You’re planning a big family, huh?”

  “Big family, small family. Doesn’t matter as long as I’m with you.” When he stretched out beside her, he rested his hand on her expanded waist. He kissed her mouth then, a true kiss of joy, love and hope.

  * * * * *

  If you liked this book, try these other bounty hunter stories from Love Inspired Suspense:

  HER LAST CHANCE by Terri Reed

  BOUNTY HUNTER GUARDIAN by Diane Burke

  FUGITIVE TRACKDOWN by Sandra Robbins

  BOUNTY HUNTER by Lynette Eason

  Available now from Love Inspired Suspense!

  Find more great reads at www.LoveInspired.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from BOUND BY DUTY by Valerie Hansen.

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  Dear Reader,

  First of all, thank you for taking a chance on Zack, Jamie and me. I’m thrilled to have the chance to share their story with you.

  In Fugitive Pursuit, Zack’s faith never wavers. When in doubt, he prays and asks for God’s guidance. I wish I could be that strong every day. However, in my life I’ve often been more like Jamie. I, too, lost my way after a death in the family. I grew angry with God for not taking away my pain and I eventually abandoned my church. Writing this book became my path back to God. In helping Jamie heal, I learned that even in the most challenging times, God still walks with us.

  I’d love to hear your thoughts about Zack and Jamie’s journey. Feel free to contact me through my website or follow me on Twitter at @writercsinclair. Okay, I’m heading back into my writing cave to work on my next book.

  Take care,

  Christa Sinclair

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense story.

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  Bound by Duty

  by Valerie Hansen

  ONE

  She was being watched. Constantly. Every fiber of her being knew it. Lately, she felt as though she was the defenseless prey and packs of predators were circling her and her helpless little boy, which was why she’d left Freddy at home with a sitter. Were things as bad as they seemed? It was more than possible, and Staff Sergeant Zoe Sullivan shivered despite the warm spring day.

  Scanning the busy parking lot as she left the Canyon Air Force Base Exchange with her purchases, Zoe quickly spotted one of the Security Forces investigators. Her pulse jumped, and hostility took over her usually amiable spirit. The K-9 cop in a blue beret and camo ABU—Airman Battle Uniform—was obviously waiting for her. She bit her lip. Nobody cared how innocent she was. Being the half sister of Boyd Sullivan, the escaped Red Rose Killer, automatically made her a person of interest.

  Zoe clenched her teeth. There was no way she could prove herself, so why bother trying? She squared her slim shoulders under her blue off-duty T-shirt and stepped out, heading straight for the Security Forces man and his imposing K-9, a black-and-rust-colored rottweiler.

  Clearly, he saw her coming because he tensed, feet apart, body braced. In Zoe’s case, five and a half feet was the most height she could muster. The dark-haired tech sergeant she was approaching looked to be quite a bit taller.

  He gave a slight nod as she drew near and greeted her formally. “Sergeant Sullivan.”

  Linc Colson’s firm jaw, broad shoulders and strength of presence were familiar. They had met during a questioning session conducted by Captain Justin Blackwood and Master Sergeant Westley James shortly after her half brother had escaped from prison.

  Zoe stopped and gave the cop an overt once-over. “Can I help you with something, Sergeant Colson?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  A cynical smile teased at one corner of her mouth. “Oh? Then why is it you’re always following me? Don’t you ever get a day off?”

  “Just doing my job, Sergeant.”

  She knew he was right, but it galled her to be the object of futile efforts when base Security Forces could have been using their manpower to figure out who at Canyon Air Force Base was really cooperating with Boyd. How long were they going to continue disrupting her life and work? A wryly humorous thought intruded, and she chuckled.

  Colson stared. The muscular K-9 at his side tensed. “What’s so funny?”

  Zoe waved her hands in dismissal as best she could with the canvas grocery tote handles looped over her forearms. “Relax, Sergeant. I wasn’t laughing at you. I was just picturing you guys trying to track me when I’m giving flying lessons. How are you at piloting a T-38 in close formation?”

  She was relieved to note he was having difficulty containing his own smile. His mouth stayed put, but there was no denying a spark in his green eyes.

  “I’d wait for you on the ground,” he said. “Or outside the simulator.”

  Sobering, Zoe shook her head slowly, her light brown ponytail swinging. “I don’t suppose it would do me any good to take an oath that I haven’t seen Boyd since the last time I visited him in prison.”

  “That’s not for me to say.”

  “No, I don’t suppose it is.” An eyebrow arched above her hazel eyes. “What if it were? Would you be willing to at least give me the benefit of the doubt instead of condemning me outright?”

  To her surprise and disappointment, he said, “No.”

  “So much for the famous air force camaraderie,” Zoe muttered. Louder, she said, “Fine,” shouldered past him and started up the sidewalk toward Base Boulevard.

  He turned slightly as she passed. “Those bags look heavy. Why didn’t you call a cab after you bought so much?”

  “It’s a beautiful spring day in the heart of Texas,” she snapped back. “Walking is a pleasure.”

  “If you say so.”

  Righteous indignation surged, and she picked up her pace. She couldn’t stop the base cops from shadowing her, but she didn’t have to make it easy. If her conscience hadn’t kept kicking up, she would have enjoyed her impromptu plan to ditch this one even more.

  Instead of looking back to see how far ahead she was getting, she checked the reflections in the rear window of a bus that was unloading green recruits, probably for a tour of the impressive shopping facilities at the Base Exchange.

  It looked as if Sergeant Colson was trailing her by at least a hundred yards. Good. Her smile returned. She shouldered her way through the milling group of men and women gathered on the sidewalk, then ducked in front of the idling bus, keeping it between her and the K-9 cop for as long as she could before darting around the far end of the stores in the Exchange and breaking into a run.

  The moment she saw the warehouse complex behind the stores she knew exactly what to do next. She slipped between two of them and paused to catch her breath. Yes, the K-9 could and would track her. But in the meantime, she intended to enjoy thwarting his handler for a few minutes. Let Colson wonder where she was and what she was up to. Base personnel had already painted her as a clever criminal, a person to be avoided and mistrusted. A contrary side to her nature insisted on payback.

  She ducked around a second corner, tried a side door to one of the warehouse buildings, found it unlocked and bolted through, lowering her sacks of groceries to the floor as she pressed her back to the inside of the steel door.

  Breathless, Zoe stared into the darkness of the vast windowless storage area and waited for her night vision to improve.

  This is wrong, her conscience insisted.

  Was she finished playing games? Not quite. Leaving behind her purchases, she flipped the lock on the door to secure it and began to edge past pallets of boxes stacked in row
s, looking for a different exit.

  The sudden whirring of a motor stopped her in her tracks. Somebody was raising the overhead bay doors at the far end. Light crept below the broad edge of the moving panels. Then they stopped, leaving a gap of about three feet between the floor and the base of the door.

  Zoe didn’t move. Hardly breathed. Had Sergeant Colson located her already? Wow, he was good at tracking. Or, at least, his dog was. She was preparing to step forward and reveal herself—until she realized she wasn’t seeing a K-9.

  Instead, a man in camo and combat boots and a woman wearing a skirt and high heels ducked beneath the hanging door. All Zoe could see clearly was their feet and lower legs, but it was obvious she’d given Colson too much credit. He hadn’t found her. This was probably nothing more than a lovers’ tryst.

  Voices reached her but were too muted to understand. She was about to back away and give the couple privacy when she saw a muzzle flash and heard the reverberation of a gunshot.

  Instinct made her duck and cover her ears. Self-preservation kept her down while every hair at the nape of her neck prickled and her body trembled, willing her to run yet keeping her feet leaden. She could barely breathe.

  The female figure was crumpling to the floor. Zoe could see blood spreading across the back of a reddish-haired woman’s light-colored blouse. The shooter bent over her, his gun at the ready, a black ski mask hiding his features.

  Help! She had to get help. Trembling, Zoe pulled her cell phone from the pocket of her PT shorts. Its lit screen and beeps of dialing were her undoing. As the victim lay still, bleeding and perhaps dying, the assailant straightened, wheeled to face the noise and started to move toward Zoe.

  He was coming for her. She was next!

  * * *

  Linc Colson was concentrating, his jaw clenched, every nerve taut, as he followed K-9 Star. The rottweiler was as good as they came, and he trusted her tracking skills implicitly. That was why when she began to bark and paw at a closed warehouse door, he drew his sidearm and immediately tried the handle. Locked. And far too sturdily made to kick open.