Page 61 of Constant Risk
Pinfield nodded again. “Bree Daniels is in Dallas? That’s an interesting coincidence. I read a lot about her too.”
“Then you can understand why it was important to me to come over here myself and check out the situation. Jeter has a lot of powerful friends. Or did. We’re not entirely certain exactly who or what he has left now.”
“But no matter who it might be, Jeter is much less secure in this hospital than he would be in a prison.” Pinfield finished for Tanner.
Tanner nodded, relieved the older man not only shared Tanner’s concerns, but wasn’t offended or threatened by them. “Bree Daniels has suffered a lot at Jeter’s hands. Much more than what is written in any report. I have no doubt he is still obsessed with her and will do anything to get her back under his control.”
Pinfield gave Tanner a solemn nod. “Well, that’s just one more reason to make sure we don’t let him out of our sight.”
“I’d like to talk to Jeter. I’m taking Bree back to Colorado later this evening. I’d like to be able to tell her I saw Jeter with my own eyes. Reassure her a little bit.”
Pinfield raised an eyebrow. “And I’m sure you might have a couple of things you’d like to say to the man while you’ve got eyes on him.”
Tanner shifted a little bit, uncomfortable. Yeah, he damn well definitely had things he wanted to say to Jeter concerning Bree. “I’m not trying to disrupt your operation in any way—”
Pinfield held out a hand. “I’m not going to stop you from saying anything you have to say. If that bastard had hurt my woman, I’d also want to make sure he understood that wouldn’t be happening again.”
Pinfield pointed down the hall and they began walking. “Well, I can get you in the door to give your message, but the truth is Jeter is not in much shape to hear anything. The burns on his face, neck and chest are pretty severe. We’ve been told by the doctors that this will be a long-term assignment. They expect Jeter to need all sorts of skin grafts and surgeries.”
Tanner winced. “No offense to you or your team, but that’s not the news I wanted. The longer Jeter is out in the open, themore people involved with his recovery, the more of a chance there is somebody working to break him out.”
“No argument here. But we are aware of the situation and we’re going to be on top of it the entire time.”
“I would consider it a personal favor if you would keep me posted concerning any changes or concerns you have. I have friends in law enforcement throughout the country, both state and federal. We are willing to help out any way we can.”
Pinfield reached up and squeezed Tanner’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’m committed to making sure that man spends the rest of his life in prison. That bastard lying in that hospital bed is not going anywhere. I’m going to make damn sure of it.” He then stopped outside the door that had two guards stationed at it.
Tanner nodded and reached for the door. “Thank you.”
“Thank you for getting Jeter here in the first place. I’ll give you a few minutes to say your piece. Like I said, I don’t think he can hear you. But everything in this room is recorded anyway, so I’d be more than happy to play it back for him later.”
Tanner walked into the room and closed the door behind him. Immediately he could see why Pinfield had warned him that Jeter wouldn’t be providing Tanner any sort of discussion.
The man lying in the bed was barely alive. He had so many tubes and monitors attached to his body it was almost impossible to notice the restraints that kept both wrists attached to the bed. Honestly, the cuffs seemed like overkill. The idea that Jeter could inflict harm on others was almost ludicrous. In this state he didn’t look like he could even get out of bed.
Tanner reached into his pocket and pulled out the small fingerprinting kit. Greg Lightfoot said he had watched the officers do it, but Tanner couldn’t see any harm in doing it himself to be sure.
It took him less than a minute to manipulate the fingers of the unconscious Jeter into the formation he needed toget the prints. And less than another minute after that to be comparing them to the set he’d brought with him. He even used a magnifying glass.
It was definitely a match.
Tanner wiped off Jeter’s fingertips and folded the set of prints he’d taken and put it in his back pocket. Maybe they would reassure Bree. In some ways he wished he’d brought her. Seeing Jeter like this—so hopeless and pathetic—might help heal something in her.
Jeter let out a groan like somehow even under all the drugs he was still in pain.
However much pain he was in, it wasn’t enough.
“Did you ever give her anything when she was in pain, you son of a bitch? When you broke her bones or cut her or didn’t let her sleep for days at a time?”
Jeter didn’t answer. Tanner hadn’t expected him to. “I hope part of you can hear me, although I’ll still get Pinfield to deliver the message later just to make sure. Bree—Bethany—she’s not yours anymore. She’ll never be yours.”
Tanner’s hands balled into fists. “She’s not alone and she’ll never be alone again. If you want her, you’ll have to go through me. And that’s not happening. So I hope you live a nice long life in your prison cell. Not for what you did as a terrorist, but for what you did to her.”
He stared at Jeter’s unconscious form for a long minute.
There was more he wanted to say but he realized that he’d rather get back to Bree and start their future than spend time here fighting ghosts of the past.
“I’m going to ask her to marry me,” Tanner whispered. “I’ve got the ring right here. She will never be alone and defenseless again. So remember that if you decide you’re coming for her. People have her back now.”
