Page 56 of Risk of a Lifetime
But in that case, why hadn’t Landon been targeted? Wouldn’t they think JB’d tell his new sometimes-partner his concerns from past cases? None of this made sense.
Why make it so personal? Why hadn’t they finished him off right away, instead of torturing him for days and risking the FBI coming to his rescue, as they had? Why toy with them now, instead of just shooting to kill? He raised his shoulder and stretched his side enough to loosen the kink grabbing the bruise from the building blast. “What did the note say?”
“The one in the living room looked like it had been scribbled fast. Said he heard you say you knew the woods like the back of your hand. That he’d like a good chase. Go for it.” The sheriff stopped. “That’s all on that one.”
JB thought back. Exactly when had he said that? “What does— Wait, I said that in the truck. That means he’s really got some heavy-powered listening device somewhere in that yard.”
Also meant this was a game to the guy. A hunt. Somewhere behind them was a killer. Right now, they were ahead, because JB had expertly crisscrossed his and Marcy’s path in the woods. The man was probably lost about now. Lost and mad. Getting madder by the minute.
“We’ll check.”
“Also, means he knows this was a set-up. Read the other note.”
“Is Marcy listening?” the sheriff asked.
“No.” He braced for bad…real bad. “Go ahead. Read it word for word.”
“To the lovely couple. Sorry I missed you. Hope she didn’t hurt herself when she stumbled. See you soon.” Sheriff Davis sucked in a breath. “Would have loved to hear the ending to what you started in the kitchen. Marcy sounded hot. I like my women hot.”
JB’s eyelids flew open, and he ground his fist into the seat beside him. He stilled, then rested his hand on the knife strapped to his thigh. The sonofabitch was gonna pay. Fast or slow, didn’t matter. He pulled himself back from where he’d mentally gone. He needed to focus.
Reactively, he reached for Marcy, and she scrambled across the floor bed into his arms. His arm engulfed her as she huddled against him, her fingers unconsciously stroking his jaw line. Even though she didn’t know what was wrong, she was scared. Scared because he’d let his anger rage. He willed himself to relax enough so she wouldn’t be afraid.
“You okay?” Sheriff Davis asked.
“Yeah. We’re okay.” He clutched his wife against him. “We’ll keep the plan in place. Let me know if you get anything else.”
“Sure thing.”
“I’m gonna hand the phone over to Cain. Read him the notes before you hang up.” JB passed the phone forward to the driver.
Marcy’s hand found his. “Did they catch him?”
“No, he was already gone when the sheriff went in.”
“You said something about a note. What did it say?”
“Just something about hearing us inside the house earlier. He thinks he can outsmart the rest of us.” He eased her away, patting the seat. No way would he tell her what the second note said, but she needed to know the guy was hunting them. “Marcy, whoever is after us is sadistic. I think he may be involved with the hit men who branded me with my shield. This is all a game for him. Back at the house, he left a note saying he’d enjoy chasing us through the woods.”
Her eyes narrowed with righteous indignation. “Means that was him outside the house. He watched us leave.”
JB nodded. He heard Cain click the phone off and knew he was taking everything in from the front seat. Maybe he’d have some suggestions once she dozed off.
“We made it to the get-away truck, so that means we lost him.”
“For the moment.” How should he word what he wanted to say next? Straight and to the point. “I gave you the gun for a reason. Promise me you’ll pull the trigger if our lives depend on it.” What a thing to tell his wife to promise. But better prepared than surprised.
She nodded. “I promise. He won’t take either one of us if I can help it.”
Good. He knew he could count on her. “For now, I want you to lie down and get some sleep. We need to get some rest before the next leg of the plan.”
She stretched out on the leather as he covered her with the blanket. “Will he?”
“Will who what?” He knew damn well what she meant.
Scrunching her hat and gloves under her head for a pillow, her cheek rested gently on the softness, her eyes boring into his. “Will the man outsmart all of you?”
“No, Marcy. He won’t. I told you before, I’m not gonna let anything happen to you.” Stroking her hair, he kissed her lips, then leaned back, gave her a smile. Her eyes closed along with her small return smile. “Get some sleep.”
