Page 35 of Risk of a Lifetime
“Wilson assigned me to Crayton. I’d hate to have to arrest you for interfering with an FBI investigation.” Landon reared back and smirked with an air of authority.
Marcy watched JB’s veins bulge on his forearms and his jaw work its way into a set as he inhaled loud and deep. She took a few steps back. Her husband walked slow and easy in the man’s direction. Stopped face-to-face, toe-to-toe with the other agent. Not an inch separated the two men.
“If you know what’s good for you, don’t ever threaten me again.” JB pulled out his phone and pressed some numbers.
“Who are you calling?” Landon asked.
“Wilson.”
“You can’t. He’s got a new phone, and you don’t have access.”
“Yeah. Well, he texted me the number as soon as he got it.”
The agent looked perplexed and pursed his mouth to the side.
JB focused on the mouthpiece. “Wilson…you better get your man out of here before I send him to you special delivery… I mean, there’s been an attempt to kill my ex-wife today, and Landon’s overstepped his boundaries with the local police. He’s got no authority in Crayton except the robbery, and thanks to him, Leon’s out on bail.”
Landon grabbed at the phone. “Let me talk to Wilson.”
JB shoved his hand away. When the man reached again, her husband wrapped his fingers around the invading hand, then squeezed as he forced the man aside. “You got a phone. Use it.”
The man backed off, flexing his fingers to get blood flow.
“Wilson,” JB turned his back to the man. “Ends up the shooting, the bombing, today’s attempt… They’ve all been directed at Marcy. The local police will get to the bottom of this. And, since I’m no longer with the FBI, I’m staying in town ‘til this is settled. So, they don’t need Landon. Get him out of here.”
Landon pointed his finger at him. “Too far, JB. I’ve tried to overlook your almighty, I’m-right attitude. No more. You’ve gone too far this time.”
JB pointed right back at him. “We’ll talk about that later. For the moment, get the heck out of here.”
The other man left in a frightening huff, although no one seemed to care.
Like a switch had been thrown, JB dropped his anger and went right back to his investigation. She loved to watch his mind work, along with the force of his body, as he studied the crime scene.
After a bit, she returned to Betsy. The paramedics would head to the hospital with her sister soon. She’d probably request the sirens even though they weren’t needed. After motioning she’d be right back to her sister, Marcy walked over to the car.
A leave-me-alone look flashed as JB turned. The expression disappeared as he stood, replaced by one of concern. Deep-seated concern. Marcy was a little worried herself. What had she done to deserve these attacks?
He wiped what was likely a mascara smudge from beneath her eye, another stain from her cheek. “How you doing?”
“Okay.” She loved the way he kept touching her every time she got within arm’s reach.
“How’s your sister?”
“I’ll tell you how I am.” Betsy’s voice carried loud and clear across the roadway. “I’m bruised. I’m hungry. And they think I’ve got a broken arm.”
JB’s hand pressed against Marcy’s back as he guided her over to the ambulance where an Insta-Splint encircled her sister’s arm.
“Sorry about the break. Could have been worse.” He looked back at the conjoined vehicles. “A lot worse.”
Betsy motioned for the paramedic to incline the stretcher, then motioned the guy away once he complied. Waving JB over as if to share a secret, she flinched with the effort. “I’m not a fool. I know where Marcy and I were headed. Mama’d be missing two of her daughters if it wasn’t for you.”
He grimaced. “Sadie’d make my life a living hell if I let anything happen to one of you.”
“Thank you, JB.” Betsy hugged his neck as her voice broke. “Thank you.”
Nodding, he patted her shoulder.
She leaned back. “You ever tell anyone I hugged you, I’ll call you a liar to your face.”
