Page 63 of Jep

“I don’t know. Your arm’s holding me pretty tight.”

He hadn’t seen Pearce enter the park yet, but when his look passed Bailey, the other agent was looking at him.

“Slow down,” Jep whispered as he watched the agent give him a barely perceptible nod before looking north.

Jep slowly turned his head and saw a man and a woman in bulky overcoats. It was cool outside, but not cold.

“Em, can you do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“I want you to go back to the car. Forget the bench. Forget the slap. Move like you forgot something and wait for me there.”

“What have you seen?”

“Stay calm. We’re still in character.”

“Where?” She tensed when she spotted the two figures.

Jep pulled at her. “Stop looking that way.” He tugged her around so they were walking back the way they’d come. “Go to the car. Now.”

“Wait—” She craned to look again, but he yanked her around and pulled her into him, brushing his mouth close to her ear.

“You can’t look at them,” he whispered. '“We can’t alert them to anything.”

“I know, but?—”

“No. I don’t have time to argue. And whatever you do, don’t turn that way again. Walk to the exit as casually as you can and wait at the car. Nod if you understand.”

She nodded, and he kissed her cheek to keep up the ruse. He couldn’t let them get wind of anything before Em was clear.

His hand dropped slowly from hers, as though he was reluctant to let her go. “I’ll see you soon.”

He turned, tucking his hands into his pockets as he made his way toward Bailey until he was out of the suspects’ line of sight. Then he contacted his team.

“Pearce, are you in the park yet?”

“Almost there,” Pearce said.

“We have a code orange, but don’t rush. I think we’re still incognito. Emery is on her way out of the park. We won’t make a move till she’s clear, so hold—” He cast a glance over his shoulder to check her progress but saw she was hurrying toward the two suspects. “What is she doing— Be advised we now have a code red. I repeat, code red. We have a friendly in imminent danger. Emery is twenty yards from the suspects and closing. I’m going in.”

He darted sideways to remain out of the vision of the suspects. He signaled toward Bailey and Cramer, who moved into position until Jep spotted a couple who’d been having a picnic on a blanket. They’d jumped to their feet.

“Bailey, Cramer,” Jep said into his earpiece. “You’ve got hostiles on your six. Pearce, we need backup now!”

Pearce came running with his team as Bailey and Cramer turned to face their attackers. Everyone was armed.

Jep sprinted toward the overcoats, focusing on Emery, who had the full attention of the two she was approaching at a jog.

The female suspect had her hand out as if to stop Emery from coming closer, while her other hand held her coat closed.

He could hear the shouts of “FBI” from his team, then shots were fired, and Em dropped to the ground.

Chapter 14

Jep hadhis weapon out as he picked up speed to reach Emery, trying to figure where the shots had come from and whether or not she had been hit.

“FBI!” he shouted when he was close enough. “Don’t move. Put your hands in the air.” The man in the overcoat pulled a gun, but before Jep could fire, another weapon discharged, and the man fell.

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