Page 49 of Last Chance

“A lot can happen in fifteen minutes. Want to make a run for it?”

“Not yet,” he said, watching the rearview mirror. “Watch him. If he moves up again, we’ll go. I'll alert Fortress. We may have someone in the area who can run interference.”

“Copy that.” Jesse ended the call.

“What’s going on?” Janie asked.

“We picked up a tail.”

“Are you sure?”

“Ninety percent. I might be wrong.” But he didn’t think so.

Sawyer called the Fortress comm center.

“Yeah, Murphy.”

“It’s Sawyer. We’ve got a problem.”

“Talk to me.”

“Jesse and I are bringing Janie into headquarters to work with Ian. We’ve picked up a tail.”

“Location?” The sound of Zane’s fingers clicking on the keyboard filled the cabin of the SUV.

Sawyer gave their position. “Do we have anyone close who can run interference?”

“Hold.” Seconds later, Zane said, “No operatives are close enough to give you a hand.”

“Copy. We’ll take care of it ourselves if the driver becomes too aggressive.”

“Description of the tailing vehicle?”

“Late model panel van, white. Two occupants. No license plate to report. They’ve been behind us the whole time.”

A pause, then, “When did you pick up the tail?”

“I noticed the van five minutes ago. The driver has been leapfrogging to maneuver closer. They’re two cars back now. One more maneuver will put them behind Jesse unless they decide to make their move on us.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t pick them up sooner.”

Sawyer’s cheeks burned. Yeah, he should have. Just showed how distracted he was. He needed to focus on his job, not on his growing personal connection to Janie. “Alert the security staff at headquarters. We might come in hot.”

“Copy that.” Zane ended the call just as the driver of the white van shifted into position behind Jesse.

Sawyer’s phone rang a moment later. “I see them, Jesse.”

“Orders?”

“We need some distance between us and them. Fortress doesn’t have anyone close. We’re on our own.”

“No problem. Go when you’re ready.”

“Keep the call open.”

“Copy that.”

Sawyer glanced at Janie, making sure she had her seatbelt fastened. “You ready, sweetheart?”

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