Witness Protection

by Barb Han

  Grimes needed to be behind bars. Jamison especially needed to be in a cell. And there were a few things he wanted to do to the both of them first that he was sure the agency wouldn’t approve. And, yet, if he got his bare hands near them, he’d make sure they knew he’d been there.

  He needed to tuck Sadie away until they found Jamison and made sure he couldn’t hurt anyone again.

  Sadie was quiet on the drive back to the safe house. Nick could feel fear radiating from her. He occasionally reached over to squeeze her hand, to reassure her.

  He told her everything would be okay and that they’d find them first.

  What he refused to tell her was that this had just become a high stakes game of hide-and-seek...and both of their lives depended on not being found first.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nick pulled onto the parking pad with the ever-present feeling of eyes watching him. His instincts didn’t normally lead him down the wrong path, so he didn’t ignore them.

  Yet, scanning the houses, yards and vehicles parked on the street didn’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. Kids were still in school, so the streets were quiet.

  The winds had kicked up, typical late-November weather. It was noon but the clouds rolling in covered the sun, making it feel more like nightfall. In six hours, the sky would already be dark this time of year.

  “Think it’s going to rain?”

  He shrugged as he exited the cab. “Never can be sure with Texas weather.”

  “One minute the sun’s shining, the next it can be raining. I’d heard about the storms that come this time of year and how the wide skies open up and pour rain. The thunder that cracks right in your ear.”

  “I never minded a big storm. We can always use the rain.” He caught a glimpse of something moving out of the corner of his eyes. He quickly moved next to Sadie, and realized, for the first time, she was trembling. Anger hit him faster than a bolt of lightning.

  He put his body between her and whatever had moved. Might be nothing, but he knew better than to take chances.

  Unlocking the front door, he urged Sadie inside. If someone knew where the safe house was, they could be waiting inside. He thought about the blue sport-utility that had been parked a few doors down earlier. He glanced over his shoulder in the general direction where it had been parked. The vehicle was gone.

  Was it a coincidence?

  Instinct told him not to take anything for granted.

  Once inside, he hauled Sadie behind him and drew his gun. He leveled his weapon in front of him.

  The lights were off. Without sunlight filtering in through the windows, the place was dark.

  He had to take into account the possibility that Paul’s relatives had come home early. The scenario was unlikely but had to be considered. “This is Marshal Campbell.”

  No one responded.

  If someone was in the house, they didn’t want to be found. Not yet.

  Sadie’s body shook from fear and probably cold, since the temperature had dropped twenty degrees in the past hour, and they didn’t have coats.

  With her pressed against his back, he felt every rigid muscle in her body. Everything in him wanted to take away that feeling for her. Make it go away forever.

  From his vantage point at the front door, he could see the living room, kitchen and dining room. He swept the area. No surprises there.

  The bathroom and pair of bedrooms yielded similar results. The laundry room in the hallway was clear.

  Now to assess any threat outside.

  He could leave Sadie inside where he was relatively sure she’d be safe. Or risk taking her outside with him. Leaving her alone could be exactly what Jamison or Grimes would want. Could someone be setting a trap?

  On balance, bringing Sadie was a risk he had to take.

  Nick moved to the big window in the living room, leaving the lights off.

  He peered outside and waited. Patience.

  A text came through. Everyone had checked in but Lucy.

  Movement around the back of Luke’s truck caught his attention.

  This was no coincidence.

  “Stay behind me. Don’t move unless I do.”

  Her eyes were wide, but she nodded.

  He moved to the door leading to the small backyard. There was enough of a glow from the lamps across the alley for him to see lines for clothes and winter melon plantings that led from the house to the back fence. The gate was on the opposite side of the house as the parking pad. Nick slid outside with Sadie practically glued to his back.

  Gusts of winds blasted, sending leaves thrashing through the air. Tree branches bent and snapped. A big storm was brewing.

  Nick dropped down on all fours and crawled toward the front of the house, his shoulder scraping against the building as he moved, urging Sadie to follow along. He stopped at the corner, checking the building next to them, across the street and then behind them.

  Rain pelted his face and made it hard to see clearly.

  Wind whipped sideways, and a cracking noise split the air. Thunder.

  Nick needed to get a visual of the front of the building and see what was going on. With his weapon drawn, he peeked around the building. He was greeted with a spray of bullets.

  He planted on his chest, dropping flat on his stomach with Sadie on his heels. He fired a shot toward the figure moving behind the truck as the guy backed away, using the building as cover. His bullet went a little wide and to the right. Between the darkness and the wind, he’d have a difficult time getting off a good shot. Patience.

  The rustle of someone running toward them came from the yard behind. Stay put and they’d be trapped.

  “Listen to me carefully. We’re going to have to make a run for it.”

  Sadie’s mouth moved to speak but no words came out. She had been freezing just walking in the house. She had to be in bad shape by now. She’d warm up when she got her blood pumping again. He needed her to move when he gave the signal.

  He also knew exactly what she was thinking. “I want you to go first so I can cover you. Once you pop up and get your footing, don’t stop running. Got it?”

  “Run where?” Panic brought her voice up an octave. To her credit, she fixed her gaze in the direction he pointed.

  “Away from the sound of fire.”

  She nodded.

  “On my count. One. Two. Three.”

  By the time he said the last number, she was to her feet and sprinting across the neighbor’s yard.

  He covered her, firing a warning shot directly toward the location where bullets had come from.

  A figure moved behind the truck, firing one shot after the other. He had to be using a Glock or Beretta or a Sig—there were lots of choices for an automatic—as he dashed toward the tree in the front yard, ducking and rolling to avoid Nick’s shot. The guy knew what he was doing. Could it be Jamison?

  If so, maybe Nick could end this right there. Arrest him. Put the bastard in jail where he belonged.

  Not a chance, a little voice in the back of his head said. Jamison was in too deep. He wouldn’t go out willingly. Not after coming this far or going to these lengths to protect his investments. If the supervisor was around, he was there for one purpose. Erase Nick and Sadie.

  Nick discharged his weapon again.

  The male form used the tree in the front yard as cover. He wasn’t running away from anyone, so much as he was running toward Sadie.

  Nick heard voices in the backyard. Two, maybe three men were coming from behind. There were too many for Nick to fight off for long, even with his second clip. He was in over his head. He needed to send out a distress call.

  Nick fished his phone out of his pocket to call for backup at the same time he heard a shot. Shock overwhelmed him. Was he hit? />
  He glanced down and saw blood. He made a move to stand, but everything went blurry.

  Someone yelled, “Got him!”

  Sirens blared.

  Could he hide? He belly-crawled toward the vegetable bin he’d spotted earlier. His limbs were weak. His head spun. Where was Sadie? She’d disappeared after she turned the corner around the neighbor’s house. Was someone there? Waiting?

  No. Couldn’t be. She would have screamed. She didn’t. And that meant she’d made it to the shops. She could hide there until Nick could find her.

  He hauled his heavy frame inside the bin, closing the lid as he heard footsteps nearing. Another flash of light followed by a crack of thunder sounded overhead.

  It was only a matter of time before they would find Nick. He’d left a trail of blood, leading to the bin.

  “I saw her turn this way,” one of the bastards said. He couldn’t be more than five feet from Nick.

  His muscles tensed, ready for a fight, then everything went black.

  * * *

  SADIE RAN. HER thighs burned and her lungs clawed for air, but she dragged in another deep breath and pushed forward.

  Footsteps were close, closing in, and she had no way to defend herself if the attacker caught up.

  Every gunshot blast sent her pulse rocketing into the stratosphere.

  “Please, God, let it be Nick behind me.” She knew he wasn’t there but repeated the prayer, anyway.

  There were too many men for Nick to take on by himself.

  Thunder cracked, and Sadie let out a yelp before she could squash it.

  If someone was behind her, chasing her, wouldn’t that mean they’d stopped Nick?

  Her mind screamed, “No!”

  She expected fear to grip her, to paralyze her. Instead, white-hot anger roared through her veins.

  If they did anything to Nick, hurt him because they were looking for her...

  She wanted to scream.

  Maybe she could make it to the strip mall, ditch them and circle back to Nick. The possibility of him lying on the sidewalk, alone, in a pool of his own blood sent anger licking through her veins. If she could get to him—get help—surely paramedics could save him. Cling to positive thoughts, she reminded herself. Nick was good at his job. He knew how to handle men like these. He would survive.

  She dashed behind one of the houses that backed up to the lot and scrambled up the brick wall separating the neighborhood from retailers.

  Nothing bad could happen to Nick. She couldn’t allow herself to go there mentally...he would be fine, and they would be together.

  If she could get inside one of the stores, she could hide. She still had her cell phone. She could get a message to Smith. He’d send reinforcements. Stay alive, Nick.

  The reality of him staying back there, alone, to give her a chance to escape pressed down on her chest, making breathing even more difficult. His act of valiance was commendable. Except she couldn’t face losing the only man she’d ever loved. Love?

  Yeah. Love.

  No man had ever made her feel the way he did.

  She pushed on.

  Rounding the corner to the strip mall, she glanced back in time to see a large man hopping over the brick wall. Not a good sign that he’d gotten past Nick.

  Did that mean...?

  No.

  She refused to think negative thoughts or let fear overtake her. She needed a clear head.

  Sadie kept her feet moving forward even though her heart wanted to turn around and find him. He’d said run. He’d told her not to look back. He’d saved her life.

  She wouldn’t repay him by getting caught if she had anything to say about it.

  Turning the last bend to the storefronts, she glanced across the parking lot. The terra-cotta warriors standing sentinel had men ducking behind them.

  She checked behind her. Another minute and the man chasing her would catch up.

  Sadie couldn’t allow that to happen.

  In a sea of black-haired people, she was grateful for the wig. The fact she was a few inches taller than almost everyone else made her easy to spot...not so good.

  Luckily, there were lots of shoppers. She pushed through them, keeping as low a profile as she could. When she’d made it past a barbershop and a restaurant, she spotted a supermarket. Perfect.

  It was in the middle of the shopping center, but if she could make it there, she could disappear in the aisles. Maybe even slip out the back door, which would lead to the loading dock. She could circle her way back to Nick. He was alive. She refused to think otherwise. He had to be worried about her by now.

  Nick was fine. She would find him. They’d get through this.

  She’d testify again in a heartbeat if it meant she and Nick could live out the rest of their lives in peace. Maybe even together?

  A chest pain so strong it nearly brought her to her knees pierced her.

  For a split second, she almost thought she’d been hit by a bullet.

  The agony in her chest, she realized, came from knowing deep down that something had happened to Nick.

  Otherwise he would be coming for her.

  She had to know what happened. What if he lay there, bleeding, and she could help him? Could she get to him in time?

  Sirens wailed and her heart stuttered as she made it to the grocery store.

  She pulled the cell Nick had given her in Creek Bend from her back pocket. The one she was only supposed to use if he wasn’t there—the one she wasn’t supposed to need—and hit the only other name in the contacts as she bolted toward the stockroom.

  Smith’s phone ran into voice mail. “This is Sadie Brooks. We’re in trouble...”

  A few more steps and she would be able to hide among the boxes of food waiting to be stocked.

  A few more steps and she had options.

  A few more steps and she could make it to freedom.

  Sadie pushed her legs, full force, ignoring the cramp in her calf.

  The set of double doors was in reach.

  They both flew open at exactly the same time.

  There stood Burly.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Instinct kicked in the moment Burly clamped her in his meaty grip. Sadie wheeled around, trying to break free.

  He grinned and tightened his hold on her, forcing her to face him.

  She grabbed two fists full of his shirt at chest level, screamed and pivoted her body, sticking her leg out to trip him using his own body weight against him.

  He broke into a laugh as he widened his stance. “You think a little thing like you can take me down?”

  The leg wheel technique had failed against his two-hundred-plus pounds.

  “Help me, somebody,” she pleaded.

  The small crowd of Asian onlookers dispersed quickly, diverting their gazes away from Sadie.

  No one would make eye contact.

  Burly hauled her into the stockroom before she could get her mental bearings again. Fists like pit bull jaws locked around her upper arms.

  She bent as low as she could, fisted her hands and in one quick motion burst toward the ceiling, breaking free from his hold.

  Before he could snatch her again, Sadie wheeled around and exploded toward the metal doors, toward freedom.

  Certain she could outrun Burly, hope ballooned in her chest. If she could escape, she could find Nick.

  Just shy of reaching the doors, they sprang open.

  Steroids.

  Sadie screamed a curse as her forward momentum forced her to run smack into his chest. Hopelessness clawed at her. Not happening. Not again.

  They’d taken away her life before. She’d had to separate from Boomer because of them. They may have killed Nick. She would
not go down without a fight.

  Rage, not fear, burned hot through her veins.

  “In a hurry?” Steroids coughed, closing his arms around her as she kicked and screamed.

  This time, she would fight back.

  Burly must’ve drawn his gun. Cold metal pressed to the side of her head, and her arms went limp at the memory of what had happened before.

  Give up and they win.

  Those bastards wouldn’t get the satisfaction. She leaned forward and bit Steroids in the chest as hard as she could.

  “Bitch!” He pushed her back a step until she slammed into Burly, whirled her around and tied her hands behind her back.

  Sirens grew louder. Thank God, someone had called the police.

  Maybe she could stall long enough for the cops to save her?

  They dragged her a few steps toward the back door. She made her body go limp.

  A blow below her left cheek made her eye feel as if it might pop out of its socket. She spit blood.

  Tires squealed out back.

  The cops?

  No. Couldn’t be. There’d be sirens.

  Realization crashed down on her, squeezing her lungs. Her heart sank.

  The getaway vehicle had just arrived.

  Let them take her out of that market, and she may as well be dead.

  Sadie kicked and screamed, but they hauled her hands tighter and kept dragging her.

  Steroids stuffed a piece of cloth in her mouth, muffling her cries.

  Tears burned down her cheeks as fury detonated inside her.

  Another ten feet and they could take her anywhere they wanted, do anything they wanted to her. The ICU would be a gift this time. She knew with everything inside her if they got her out the door this time, she’d end up in the morgue.

  Her body railed against the bindings on her wrists.

  Instead of feeling fear, she felt...resolve.

  They could take away her body. They could do anything they wanted to her physically. They could end her life and erase her existence. But while she had breath in her lungs, they would not control her mind.