by Debra Webb
But the plane had to come down sometime.
Jess stalled at the window and leaned against the frame. She stared out at the dark sky. A week ago she had come back here with her tail tucked between her legs and her entire career crashing down around her. Now, after three tortured hostages and one heinous murder, the Bureau finally had the necessary evidence to clear her with OPR. She wanted to be angry that it had taken all that. But the truth was, Spears wasn’t the typical criminal. Smart with endless financial resources at his disposal and a total malignant narcissist. He had been doing this a long time. Far longer, Jess estimated, that anyone knew. He executed each step carefully and could have numerous associates like Matthew Reed ready to die, if necessary, to protect him.
Yet, Spears hadn’t been quite as brilliant as he’d thought. Otherwise he wouldn’t have taken the risk and showed up here, even if only to give his protégé a pep talk. Recalling the way he’d watched her and that one touch during their interview last month made her shudder with disgust. There was nothing she could do about his twisted obsession. He was gone and if he was half as smart as she believed he was, he wouldn’t be back.
He was the Bureau’s problem now. He had extensive international contacts. He literally could be anywhere. Considered the prime suspect in the murder of Agent Taylor and the attempted murder of Dan, Spears would be a fool to return to the States.
She refused to be a prisoner to what-if. If the Bureau didn’t get him and she doubted they would, she wasn’t looking over her shoulder the rest of her life. Her cell vibrating against the laminate top of the table next to the bed dragged her from her troubled thoughts.
She shuffled over and glanced at the screen. Gant. “Harris.”
“Spears wasn’t on the plane.”
Despite being braced for this news, Jess’s gut wrenched. “The pilot have any idea how or where he went?”
“His instructions were to file a flight plan for Richmond at two. Once in the air he was to divert to a private airfield in Texas. We had agents waiting at the pilot’s home. Apparently he forgot to tell his wife that no one was supposed to know where he landed. He claims he has no idea how Spears planned to leave the Birmingham area.”
Fear trickled inside her. “He wouldn’t still be here.” She glanced at the door. She should have gone with Dan for the MRI but the tech had insisted she would only have to sit in the lobby.
“That’s the next part I regret having to pass along.”
Jess wilted onto the bed. “Get it over with.”
“We had the commercial airlines on alert. But you know how it is, sometimes there’s a failure in the system.”
“Where’s he headed?” Jess rubbed her eyes with her thumb and forefinger. Spears, of course, would travel under an alias. Unfortunately the facial-recognition software didn’t always work as hoped when attempting to catch a fleeing criminal.
“We haven’t pinned down how he got from Birmingham to New York, but he left JFK just before seven this evening headed to Bangkok. We can try to intercept him in Shanghai but you know how that will turn out.”
“Yeah.” She tucked her still damp hair behind her ear. “Well, let’s hope it works better if he tries to come back.”
“We’ll do all we can, Jess.”
Her next thought was almost amusing. “I guess his assistant was right about Bangkok. She was just a few days off on his travel plans.” Knowing Spears he’d told his assistant to say that just so they would look back on it now and wonder.
“Creepy bastard.”
She nodded. “Yeah. Thanks for the newsflash.”
Gant asked about Dan. He was glad to hear that he would be released from the hospital tomorrow. They spoke a moment more but basically there was nothing else to say. Spears was gone.
Jess checked the time on her phone. Dan should be back by now. A soft rap on the door launched her to her feet. “It’s about time.”
A cart burdened with a large Peace Lily squeaked into the room. The person pushing the cart was impossible to see beyond the massive plant. Jess snagged her Glock from the bedside table.
“Sorry this took so long.” A young man wearing scrubs stepped from behind the plant. His jaw dropped and his eyes rounded.
Jess took a breath, lowered her weapon. “Sorry.”
The guy stood there in a kind of shock. Not that she blamed him. It wasn’t everyday a hospital volunteer came face-to-face with the business end of a gun just for delivering a plant. She glanced at his crotch to make sure he hadn’t peed his pants.
“What’s this?” She placed her weapon on the bedside table.
“It came a couple hours ago but none of the girls could pick it up to get it on the cart.” His eyes were still big as saucers but he kept his bladder under control.
“Thanks.”
He nodded, the move jerky.
Before he could get away she figured she’d better explain or she’d be getting a visit from hospital security. “This is the chief of police’s room. I’m one of his deputy chiefs. Jess Harris.” She offered her hand.
He stared at her hand a full ten seconds before he accepted the gesture.
“You can verify that at the nurses’ desk.”
Another jerky nod. “Where do you want this thing?”
He was right. It was huge. “Let’s just leave it on the cart for now. I’ll be sure you get your cart back.”
“Whatever you say.” He glanced at the weapon on the table.
“Do you know which florist made the delivery?”
His head wagged side-to-side. “It was here when I showed up for my shift.”
“Thanks for bringing it up.”
When he was gone, she plucked the card from the plant. Dan’s name was scrawled on the front. The card inside was a preprinted one. Get well soon. Could be from anyone.
Jess stared at the plant. She hated Peace Lilies. Maybe because that was the one thing she remembered about her parents’ funeral. A big, glossy plant just like this one. She shook it off. Dan was the chief of police. He had a lot of friends. His parents had a lot of friends. Lucky for her, they’d dropped by while Jess was visiting Lori. A run-in with Queen Katherine was not the way to end a day like today, especially with Jess looking like hell.
Her cell vibrated again. She jumped. Almost dropped the damned thing. She took a breath and touched the screen to view the message.
Private Number.
The silence in the room suddenly closed in on her. The sound of her heart beating pounded in her ears.
Until next time.
Her heart bumped harder and harder against her sternum. This didn’t mean he had sent the plant. Just a coincidence. He couldn’t know she hated those damned things. Besides the card was addressed to Dan.
The door opened again. Dan sat in the wheelchair looking impatient. Jess tossed her phone onto the table next to her Glock. She scrubbed her sweaty palms over her hips.
“Looks like you survived the fun.” She pushed a smile into place.
The cute young tech with the huge boobs beamed a smile at her. “I think he’s tired.”
Jess imagined the word she was looking for was grumpy. Men didn’t make good patients even when attended to by sweet young things. Jess offered her hand and he scowled at her. Instead of accepting the help, he pushed up from the chair and shuffled to the bed.
The tech and Jess got a glimpse of his cute ass when he climbed into the bed. Damned hospital gowns.
The tech giggled and started maneuvering the wheelchair out of the room. “Goodnight, chief!”
“G’night,” Dan grumbled. “I did not need a wheelchair for that,” he complained to Jess.
“Hospital policy,” she assured him. “Besides, I’m sure the pretty tech still thought you were a big, handsome tough guy whether you were walking or rolling.”
“Right.” He glared at her, then the plant. “Did somebody die?”
Jess flinched. Wished she had rolled it out into the corridor. “It’s for you.”
/>
He rearranged the pillow under his head. “Great. Who’s it from?”
“Dunno. Maybe the department or the mayor sent it.”
He reached for her hand. “Sit with me.”
She took his hand and settled on the edge of the bed. It was hard not to stare at all the bruises and bandages. She’d only get all emotional again if she did. He could have died today. Dammit. She swallowed back the swell of anxiety and other stuff she didn’t want to analyze right now.
“Did you hear from Gant?”
“Yeah. They’re reasonably sure Spears is on his way to Bangkok.”
“He got away? Dammit.”
“That’s pretty much what I said.”
His fingers entwined with hers. “What’re you gonna do about that?”
He was worried she’d leave. “That’s the Bureau’s problem. I’m going to be the best deputy chief in BPD.”
“You sure about that?”
She nodded. “If he wants me, he’ll find me. Doesn’t matter where I run.”
He reached up, touched her cheek and smiled. “I guess you showed me today.”
A frown lined her brow. She rubbed it away. “Showed you what?”
“You saved my life, Jess. Lori’s, too.”
“I did my job.” She made a scoffing sound. “How would it have looked to the department if I’d gotten their chief killed my first week.”
He toyed with her hair. “Not many people, no matter how well-trained, could have reacted with such swift decisiveness in that situation. You did good, Jess.”
Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. “Damn you, Burnett. Now look what you’ve done.” She swiped at her eyes.
She stood, dragged the lounge chair closer to the bed and plopped into it. “Now go to sleep. You need your rest.”
He searched her eyes. “You won’t sneak out while I’m asleep? I’ve got a feeling those pain meds they gave me are going to work really well.”
“I’ll be right here,” she promised. “All night.”
They watched each other until his eyes grew too heavy and he drifted off to sleep. Then Jess watched him. She had never seen him look vulnerable. It terrified her. Tomorrow he would be better, stronger.
And Spears would be a world away.
25
Saturday, July 24th, Howard Johnson’s Inn, 9:00 a.m.
Good thing Jess had bought hangers, too. The hotel only provided six.
She’d tucked her suitcase over to one side and made a nice neat row of shoes on the rest of the floor space in the closet. After a trip to the one-hour cleaners yesterday, that had actually taken three hours, the suits and one dress she’d brought with her when she left Virginia twelve days ago hung in another nice, neat row.
Tomorrow she would have to go shopping for more work clothes and other things she would need.
Jess closed the sliding door and stared at her reflection. Vaguely she wondered if management would be upset if she removed the mirrored doors. She supposed at some point she would come to appreciate them. Mostly they reminded her that she was getting old. Needed to workout.
“Tomorrow,” she promised her reflection.
Her cosmetics were assembled in order of necessity on the bathroom counter. Luckily, it was good-sized with plenty of working room.
She padded to the desk. The handy-dandy shredder she’d picked up had done better than she’d expected. Shredded the photos as well as the papers. Made a mess on the carpet when it overflowed. She should clean that up but she didn’t want to touch anything related to Spears again.
It had been more than forty-eight hours since she’d gotten that text.
Whatever he was doing or planning, she couldn’t live her life wondering if he was coming for her. She had to move on.
She stared at the tiny pieces of the Player’s case scattered on the floor around the shredder. Maybe she’d just let the maid get it.
Jess smiled. She had a maid. The woman didn’t speak a word of English but she smiled a lot. And Jess didn’t have to make the bed or scrub the toilet.
She could get used to that.
Lori had helped her find this place. She’d gone to Dan’s with her, helped her gather her stuff and bring it here. Not that Jess had much stuff. Mostly she’d needed Lori for support. Jess had worried that she would give in if Dan tried to talk her into staying.
She laughed. Lori had been held hostage for two and a half days and she was helping Jess. She and Lori made quite a team.
Jess dropped onto the end of the bed. Dan was disappointed she wouldn’t stay with him or Lori until she found a permanent place. But she needed some space. Last night she’d awakened in a panic. Had to walk it off around the pool. She’d dreamed that Spears had showed up at her door with one of those damned Peace Lilies.
A rap on her door yanked her from the disturbing replay of the dream.
She pushed to her feet and went to the window. Gant. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be on his way back to Quantico.
Jess opened the door. “Morning, Gant.”
“Morning, Harris.”
She nodded. “You headed to the airport?” If so, he’d taken the long way around town.
“Wentworth left yesterday. I stayed for Agent Miller’s memorial service. But it’s time for me to be on my way.”
Jess nodded. “Have a safe trip.”
Gant looked around, hands tucked in his trouser pockets. “I want to apologize to you, Harris. I was wrong to let anyone think you were the reason the Spears case went south. I was wrong and I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. What happened here. . . shouldn’t have.”
“Nothing we can do about that now.” Okay, say the rest. “But, in retrospect, I understand you did what you had to do.”
He nodded. “I’ll keep you briefed on any updates we get on Spears.”
“I appreciate that.”
He looked her in the eye then. “I also wanted you to know that your job is waiting if you ever decide to return to the Bureau.”
Funny, but the offer was in no way appealing. “Thank you but I’ll be staying here. My family is here.” Lily and her husband and kids would be home tomorrow. “This is where I need to be.”
Gant nodded. “I can understand that. Birmingham PD is lucky to have you.” He stuck out his hand. “If you ever need anything, just call.”
Jess took his hand and gave it a shake. “Thank you. I’ll remember that.”
Gant walked away. She watched, grateful that they could be friends again. That was another funny thing. All these years Gant had been the closest thing to a friend she had, but actually they were just work friends. Not personal friends. Jess couldn’t remember when she’d last had a friend like that. Lori was her friend now, on and off the job.
And there was Gina Coleman. She’d helped Jess out considerably with that leak about her resignation. She and Gina could be friends.
Jess considered how gorgeous the woman was and her thing for Dan.
Maybe not.
Jess closed the door and picked up her bag. She had a lot to do today. Check out some apartments, maybe drop by her new office. She’d contacted a realtor yesterday about selling her house in Virginia. She’d mailed the keys and, for a fee, the realtor would have her things packed and put in storage. The furnishings could go with the house. And of course there was the repainting that had to be done in the living room.
The possibility that Spears had touched any of her stuff was reason enough to never want to see it again. The personal belongings she would need to go through at some point.
Just not now.
Eventually she would find a place here. Something small and private. Away from the noise and traffic of downtown. . . away from Dunbrooke Street and Dan.
Her sister was annoyed that Jess wouldn’t move in with her but one good thing had come of this whole ordeal. Lily’s husband had decided that moving to Nashville was out of the question. That would put them an additional three hours away from the colleg
es the kids would be attending and this nightmare had made Blake realize that his family meant more to him than a salary increase.
Maybe two, Jess supposed. She had decided that life was too short to give everything to her career.
From now on, she was taking some time for herself.
The job was no longer going to control her destiny.
She stared at her left hand and the band she still wore. She rubbed it around and around for the last time. Hesitation slowed her, but she slid it off and tossed it into the drawer of the bedside table. She closed the drawer and effectively closed that chapter of her life.
She drew a deep breath. Felt a sense of freedom. From her past. From her regrets. From a lot of things.
Maybe she’d just go shopping today. Why not? She had at least one credit card that wasn’t maxed out.
Just as she reached the door another knock sounded.
She checked out the window. Dan. Her pulse tripped as she opened the door. Her knees went a little weak with the way he stared at her. For a man who’d been stabbed and sliced a couple days ago he looked damned good.
“What brings you to the low-rent district on Saturday morning?”
“I came by to take you to breakfast.” Those blue eyes swept over her, returning to meet hers with something fierce in their depths. Hunger. And not for eggs and pancakes.
The sound of his voice flowed over her senses, made her warm and shivery inside. God, he looked good. Beneath the short-sleeved tan crew neck that muscled chest was marred and bandaged, but that knowledge did nothing to diminish how strong he looked. The jeans were worn soft and well-fitted to his body. The memory of the way he’d kissed her that night in his kitchen made her a little giddy with her own fierce hunger that had nothing to do with breakfast either.
But he was her boss now. She lifted a shoulder, let it fall. “I was going shopping. I need stuff.”
He grinned and leaned against the door frame. “You’d need less stuff if you’d continue staying with me.”