No Greater Hell (Lost and Found, Inc. Book 4)

by Jerrie Alexander

  “Have you talked to the crew back at Lost and Found?” Jake had been putting off mentioning them, expecting an ass chewing for dropping off the radar altogether.

  “Not since I left. Probably should give Kay a call. I’ll catch hell if I don’t.”

  “Now you know why Ty started calling her Little Mama back when we were in college. She’s a natural-born worrier.” Jake laughed at the memory. He thought about his friends often. His finger had hovered over the call button many times, but he’d always pulled back. They needed to move on, without Jake’s baggage haunting them.

  “So you remember that?”

  “I remember a few pieces of things that happened before I was shot down.” Jake decided to clear the air. “The doctors said the tumor had probably been growing for years. The helo crash caused trauma to that part of my brain, waking it up, so to speak, and wiping out my memory bank. But it’s possible everything will come back—or not.”

  “So removing the tumor saved your life but at a great cost.”

  “I’m hoping it will all come back eventually,” Jake said, hoping that he was right.

  “I get why you needed a fresh start, but Nate and Marcus worry about you. Occasionally, they talk about hunting you down. Of course, they use Kay as an excuse. How long since you were in Dallas?”

  “Two years this month. I wasn’t the only one who needed a fresh start. Holly had almost stopped coming around after I got square with the law for my crimes as Johnny and government for being AWOL.” He spotted a couple of restaurants and a bar ahead, and slowed the pickup down. “Pick a spot.”

  “How about O’Neill’s Bar and Grille? I could use a beer and a burger.”

  “Works for me.” He hoped Dalton had dropped the subject. Jake turned on the blinker and then stopped in the turn lane at the red light.

  He remembered pieces of his college days and Wolfe’s Pack. How they’d stuck together like a band of thieves through four years of school. Or maybe he’d heard the story so many times that he just believed he’d pulled them from his subconscious mind. It didn’t matter how he knew they had a history. The fact was he owed them his life. Wolfe’s Pack had stood by him even after they’d learned the horrible things he’d done. They’d blamed his illegal actions on the tumor in his brain. And Jake’s doctors had testified that he shouldn’t be held accountable.

  Ah, but there was the rub. He should have been held accountable. The government had given him a medical discharge. The Feds, thanks mostly to Dalton, had bowed to the medical findings, and everything was settled with two years probation. Nate Wolfe stepped up and took responsibility for Jake, promising to keep an eye on Jake during that period.

  A horn honked, pulling Jake out of his thoughts. He’d sat through the light, and Dalton hadn’t said a word. “Sorry. My mind wandered.”

  “How are you, really?”

  “I’m good. Don’t know that I’ve remembered anything else. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish between what I really remember and what I’ve been told.”

  “Well, that may be for the best. Don’t you think?”

  The light changed, and Jake made sure he took his turn, freeing the cars waiting in line behind him. He drove into the parking lot and turned off the engine. “I wish I knew.”

  ****

  “You stupid fuck.” RG swallowed the urge to hit Angel. “You can’t even follow simple instructions. Helena wouldn’t have gotten away if you’d killed her when I said!”

  A flurry of emotions raced across Angel’s face. His whole body trembled. “She was mine, and I wasn’t done with her.”

  RG closed his eyes for a second and pulled himself together. He’d gone too close to the edge, too close to forgetting he’d promised Ivan Garza that Angel would be safe. The dummy had no idea how badly he’d fucked up.

  “Angel, tell me exactly what happened.”

  “She belonged to me.” Angel just stood there staring, clenching and unclenching his fists. “She heard what you said, so she ran. What’d you think she was gonna do?”

  Angel could be violent when pissed, but RG hadn’t seen this level of fury. He tried to remain calm. “Think back. You chased Helena around the building and then what?”

  Angel scowled. “I caught up with her when she fell.”

  “And then you killed her?” RG needed the right answer. “Yes?”

  The big dummy shrugged his shoulders. “She’d hit her head and was bleeding, but she was alive. That lady yelled—”

  “What lady?” RG’s blood pressure shot through the roof.

  “I don’t know. A nurse!” Angel’s voice had shot up an octave. “You called and I came running.”

  “Awww, fuck me. There was a witness?”

  The rigid lines on Angel’s face drooped. At last, he understood. “I want that nurse.”

  RG jumped to his feet. “No, you stay away from that clinic.” He wasn’t doing time because of this bastard. “Oh man, that’s just great, now I have to clean up your mess.” A jackhammer had taken residence inside his brain.

  “I don’t think so.”

  RG’s fingers coiled around a large bottle of benzos sitting on a table. No. He wouldn’t give in to temptation. He’d come to Connersville with a purpose. When the trailer in the barn was full, they’d go home to Houston. The take he’d raked in from just two drugstores would bring a nice chunk of change, and that money would help him get established in Chicago.

  “Now I have to find that junkie bitch and the nurse. Shit, I’ll have to kill them both.”

  “No.” Angel’s head swung from side to side. “That nurse is mine.” Angel’s lips curved down at the sides. “I’ll kill her when I’m ready.”

  RG blew out a breath. “You can’t have a new one right now. Look, you need to go make sure Lavon is packing last night’s haul into the trailer nice and tight.” Lavon had come along for the ride. He took orders okay. If he kept it up, he might get to be RG’s wingman.

  Angel troubled RG. Ivan would go nuts if his brother fucked up and got arrested. They’d have to keep Angel on the ranch and out of town. RG picked up the remote and turned on the TV. He’d watch the local news and see what he could learn. Dead or alive, Helena had probably made the headlines.

  A few punches on the remote and he found local news. The abandoned school filled the screen. A hot redhead held the microphone in front of her mouth while pointing to a trailer. Angel had helped Lavon and RG rip the side door off its hinges.

  His fucking head hurt just thinking about how close they’d been to getting busted. The “lady” must have called the cops. How else would they have shown up so fast?

  Then there was Angel, who hadn’t killed Helena when he was told. He’d nearly blown the entire setup.

  RG leaned forward. The chick on TV was telling everyone about the heroic nurse who’d tried to save the life of the unidentified woman.

  The nurse and the old couple posed a problem. Had all three seen Angel? At least, Helena was dead.

  Finally, some good news.

  CHAPTER 7

  Like most sports bars, O’Neill’s Bar and Grille had TVs on every wall and above the bar. Thanks to the local news station, anyone with a set knew about the doctor’s murder and the nurse who’d tried to save the dead woman. No names were given, but Jake wasn’t taking chances with Holly’s safety. She’d been through enough.

  He shifted in his seat, stretching his long legs across to the passenger side. After they had eaten, he dropped Dalton off at his car. Then Jake drove to the police station and parked across the street.

  Minutes turned into hours, and still he waited. Finally, fear that she’d somehow left and he’d missed her was too much. He had to know, so he got out and walked across the parking lot.

  Just as he stepped onto the sidewalk, pain slammed into his right temple. White light filled his vision, blinding him as wave after wave of nausea washed over him. He staggered forward, slamming his shoulder into an object that didn’t move. He wrapped his arms aro
und it, clung tightly, taking deep breaths, willing the headache to ease. It didn’t help. Sweat ran in rivulets down his face, but Jake didn’t release his grip to wipe his cheeks.

  He must have looked like a fool hanging on to the immobile object like it was a long-lost lover. Slowly, the pain subsided and his vision started to clear.

  A hand clamped down on his shoulder.

  “What’s wrong, buster? You have too much to drink?” an officer in uniform asked.

  “No. A blinding headache.”

  “Right. Then you won’t object to a breathalyzer test.”

  “I know this must look bad.” Jake pushed away from the telephone pole. “But I’m not drunk.” He frowned as he tried to size up the cop standing in front of him. Jesus, he couldn’t have been over twenty-two.

  “Jake?” Holly’s voice had him turning on his heel.

  She stood next to a female officer, who was looking back and forth between him and Holly as if she were watching a tennis match.

  “I...” Words caught in his throat. He hadn’t planned on coming face-to-face with her.

  “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” She turned to the officer escorting her. “He’s my ride to the motel.”

  “You didn’t mention that someone was picking you up,” the woman said. Her eyes narrowed as her gaze slid up and then down his frame.

  “I wasn’t sure he’d be able to make it.”

  “I’m not sure he’s capable of driving anybody anywhere,” the young cop said.

  Holly came forward and looked Jake right in his eyes. “He’s not drunk if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said to the cop with his hand on Jake’s shoulder. “If it will help the situation, I’ll drive.”

  Jake was stone-cold speechless.

  Holly glanced at the female officer. “This will save you a trip.”

  “It’s all right, Phil,” the woman said. “Ms. Hoffman is vouching for him.”

  Holly thanked the officers and took Jake’s arm. “Can you walk?” she whispered.

  He nodded. His headache had been replaced by total confusion.

  “Where are we parked?”

  “Across the street.”

  They turned away from the cops and walked to his pickup as if they were old friends. Why? Why would she stand up for him? Why hadn’t she let them haul him inside? He stopped at the hood of the truck.

  She held out her hand, palm up. “Keys.”

  “I can drive.”

  “They’re watching. Give them to me.”

  Jake scrubbed his hands over his eyes. His headache was almost gone, but much more of this weirdness and he was afraid it might come back. He handed her his keys, held the door for her, and then went around and got in on the passenger side.

  “I’m sorry that I put you in an uncomfortable spot.” His brain scrambled for a sane explanation as to why he was even at the police station. Finding none, he tried the truth. “I just wanted to be sure you got back to your motel safely.”

  “How long have you been out here waiting?”

  “Not long.”

  “That sounds kind of stalker-ish, doesn’t it?” She started his pickup, dropped it in gear, and then drove away like it was something she did every day.

  “It does when you say it out loud.”

  “You didn’t think I was safe with the police?”

  What did she want from him? Why was she digging? “You were on the news.”

  “I was?”

  “Not by name but the story is out there. How did the drawing come out?”

  “The forensic artist was amazing. The chief said his officers will get a copy as will the media.”

  “Did this guy get as good of a look at you?”

  “He must have.” She glanced at Jake. “I’m sure he did.” Her breath caught. “Wait, you think he’ll come after me?”

  “I think you should take precautions.”

  “Like what?”

  “Well, for one, you shouldn’t be alone.” This time, when she glanced at him, he saw a spot of fear in her eyes. “Maybe Dalton can drive you back and forth to work until these thugs are caught.”

  Holly took the exit to the freeway and headed north. “That’s not necessary. I ride in the van with the other nurses. I share a room with one of the nurses, so I’m never alone.”

  “You were alone today.”

  “I stayed behind today because of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes. It was a fluke that I was at the school when those looters showed up.”

  Jake mulled that over for a few miles. He wasn’t convinced a van full of nurses constituted a safe place, but at least she’d be in a group.

  “I appreciate you worrying about my safety.” She parked in front of one of the nicer hotels in the section of town that had escaped damage. “But I think you’re suffering from some kind of guilt. You need to get over the past.”

  “Nothing I’ve done negates the fact that I kidnapped you.” Jake dragged his hands through his hair. Getting over his past wasn’t an option.

  “Not even the fact you saved my life twice?”

  “Not even.” What was she looking for? Of course, as a nurse, she’d want to help him heal. Whatever she had in mind, he wanted no part of becoming her patient.

  “Then maybe we could talk about why you were holding on to the telephone pole at the police station.”

  “Nothing happened.” Jesus, why was this woman so curious? She should hate his guts.

  “It wasn’t alcohol. You’re not drunk.”

  “I had a headache.” He held up his hands in the time-out sign. “It’s no big deal. I haven’t had one in a long time. They usually produce a flash of memory, but this one brought nothing.”

  The motel marquee lights cast off a glow and played with the angles of her face, highlighting her creamy soft skin, high cheek bones, and cupid’s lips. Her blue eyes always seemed to sparkle as if she was on the verge of laughter. The past couple of years had been more than kind—Holly was even more beautiful.

  “Do you mind me asking how much you remember?”

  “Enough. Let’s leave it at that.” Jake got out, walked around his pickup, and opened the door for her. “Holly, look. Just….in case this gang decides a dead witness is a good witness, please stay with the group. Don’t venture off alone.”

  “I won’t.” She slid off the seat and looked up at him. A faint hint of citrus drifted from her hair and slammed into his senses. “I appreciate you coming to the school and the station.”

  God, he was so attracted to her, but knew he couldn’t allow himself to enjoy her standing this close. She’d dealt with fear before, and he’d been responsible for the lion’s share. He stepped back and waited for her to go inside.

  “No problem.”

  She didn’t walk to her room. In fact, she seemed to be waiting for something.

  Jake scanned the parking lot. “Want me to walk you to your room?”

  “That’s not necessary.” She gripped his arms, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him on the cheek. “Let go of the past, Jake. I have.”

  Color him speechless, dumbfounded and confused. Every emotion in the book raced through his mind. He stared down at her and could not manage to force a single syllable out of his mouth. While he struggled to connect his brain with his tongue, she walked across the parking lot, unlocked the door to her room, and closed it without looking back.

  Jake got in his pickup and started the long drive back to the motel. He touched his cheek, and realized that he could still feel the warmth of her lips on his skin. He quickly shook off the tenderness rising in his heart. He couldn’t handle her forgiveness.

  His motel sat off a long, dark stretch of road outside of a tiny spot in the road named Tipton. There was no red light to slow down travelers, no post office, and no police station. A hometown breakfast joint attached to the only gas station were the only things open late at night.

  Jake drove past them and into the motel parking lot. The stray was lying in front of his door. He
should have known better than to give the mutt something to eat and drink. He went inside, filled a paper cup with water from the bathroom faucet, and gave it to the dog. A trip to the snack machine and two bucks bought another package of peanut butter crackers. Jake ripped open the package and placed it next to the cup. The food was gone before he’d inserted the key into the lock.

  He closed the door behind him, ready for some peace and quiet. His eyelids were heavy and energy was seeping from his body fast. He shucked his boots and stretched out on the bed.

  ****

  Jake’s eyes popped open. Had he dreamed the sound? He glanced at the clock. It had barely been an hour since he’d dozed off. A high-pitched cry had him out of bed. He stuffed his feet into his boots, crossed the room, and threw open the door.

  A stranger was approaching the cowering dog. He drew his leg back, ready to kick the animal. Jake stepped out into the parking lot.

  “Hey,” he yelled. “Cut that shit out.” He snapped his fingers and the dog ran to him. The poor thing leaned against his leg.

  “The son of a bitch growled at me.” The man walked toward Jake. “Ain’t no mongrel going to get away with that.”

  “You feel like kicking somebody, try me.” Jake walked closer. “It takes a sorry bastard to kick a helpless animal.”

  “Just keep your fucking mutt away from me.” The asshole staggered off to one of the rooms.

  Jake squatted down, stroking the frightened animal’s back. Its coat was a mottled mixture of dirt and short brown hair. It stared up at him, and the trust in those sad eyes sealed the deal. “It’s hotter than hell out here. You can come inside, but you’re getting a bath. Got it?”

  He opened the door, and the mutt followed him inside. They went straight to the bathroom, where Jake stripped down to his underwear and drew a bath. He lifted the dog into the warm water, realizing it was female. “So were you separated from your owners because of the storms, huh?”

  She stood patiently and allowed Jake to scrub her with the tiny bar of soap the motel had provided. He found only a couple of fleas, which he caught and killed. Then he tenderly rinsed and dried her before setting her on the floor.