Page 4 of Fear for Her Life

It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop with Jenna. She acted as if this happened on a daily basis. How long before the shock set in? Troubled, he gave her a long assessing look and shrugged. “I’ll fix it when we get home but I’ll need to order glass for the window.”

He used flexicuffs to secure the men, and after checking the gunshot wound, he dragged them onto the side of the highway. The men moaned, cried, and pleaded with him. He stared at them with disgust. “I wanted to kill you, so you’ve gotten off easy.”

“We’ll give you a cut of the Mustang money if you let us go.” The man with the knife wiped blood from small cuts on his cheek with his shoulder. “We have a guy waiting with cash at the Triple Z Roadhouse.”

Resting one hand on his weapon, Kane stared into space for a second as if considering their offer, but he’d use the information to take down a carjacking organization. “That’s good to know.” He bent down low and eyeballed them. “Sheriff’s department, and that woman you kidnapped is Sheriff Alton—and my wife. You know, I must be getting soft. When someone pulls a weapon on me, I usually take them down. It must be your lucky day.” He asked them their names and then read them their rights. As he headed for the Mustang, he turned to look at them over one shoulder. “Move a muscle and I’ll shoot off your kneecaps.”

Jenna leaned against the door, her face sheet-white, but the smile she gave him made his heart leap. He gathered her in his arms and buried his face in her hair, inhaling her honeysuckle fragrance like a starving man at a smorgasbord. She trembled in his arms, but as she pressed against him, the baby kicked hard, as if sending him a message all was well.

“When I saw your expression, I figured you’d kill them.” Jenna looked up into his face. “When that guy drew the shotgun, my heart stopped.” She cupped the back of his neck. “I’ve never seen you draw so fast.”

He’d been in control and the order to shoot to kill hadn’t been issued. His training had kicked in, and the men hadn’t met the lethal machine; they’d met Deputy Kane. He shrugged. “Drawing fast and firing under pressure is the difference between death and survival. I keep in practice, is all.” He tapped his chest. “In here, after hearing that scum running his mouth, I wanted to kill him, but in here”—he tapped his head—“I knew there would be way too much paperwork.” He turned to make sure the prisoners were right where he’d left them. “We have the chance of bringing down a carjacking racket. Some guy is waiting to buy your Mustang at the Triple Z Roadhouse. I figure we go and meet him.”

“They’ll recognize the Beast and us the moment we arrive.” Jenna frowned. “I hear sirens, the team is coming. We’ll need to work something out real fast. That guy who held the knife on me will need to be in the Mustang or the perp will run.”

Three trucks slowed and turned across the highway to stop either side of them, lights flashing. Vehicles going by slowed down to see what was happening, and immediately Rowley sprang into action and waved them on. Wolfe climbed out of his white SUV with Emily and headed his way. Rio climbed out of his sheriff’s department truck, went to Jenna’s side. Kane smiled at them. “Well, now we know the trackers work. Thanks for coming.”

“I’m glad you kept your anger under control.” Wolfe took him to one side. “By the way, Jenna is still transmitting. Emily said she’d take Jenna’s place, but she wants someone in the back seat in case the drug addict goes postal.”

Kane rubbed his chin. “I’ll do it, but who do you figure is gonna drive the Beast into town? Jenna is under enough stress already.”

“You’re driving—and I’m fine, just a little shaken. I’ll drive the Mustang.” Jenna walked to his side and pressed her ring to disconnect. “We’ll stop alongside of the highway before the Triple Z Roadhouse and change vehicles. We’ll leave the Beast alongside of the highway. It’s not as if anyone can steal it. The buyer will be concentrating on the Mustang, not who is following behind. Wolfe can follow. No one will take notice of him wearing sunglasses. As soon as the guy shows, hit your tracker and we’ll all move in.”

Nodding, Kane smiled at her. “That sounds like a plan.” He glanced over at the prisoners. “Now I just need to convince Don Riley over there to cooperate. I figure he will. He’s kinda desperate right now.”

“I’ll tend to his friend and we’ll talk to them.” Wolfe nodded slowly. “I’m sure we’ll be able to persuade Riley to cooperate.”

Twenty minutes later they arrived at the Triple Z Roadhouse and put the plan into action. They would be meeting a man by the name of Tom Little. As Emily pulled the Mustang to the pump Riley buzzed the passenger window down and Kane pressed his pistol into the man’s side. “Act normal and complete the transaction. You ready, Em?”

“Yeah, my phone’s recording.” She turned her head to look at the roadhouse. “Someone is heading this way now.”

“Don. Nice to see you, man.” A young man, with brown hair wearing a cowboy hat, T-shirt with an obscure band on the front, and Levi’s bent to peer in the Mustang’s window. “Nice ride. Does the girl come with the car? I’m happy to throw in a few extra bucks.”

“No, just give me the money, Tom. I need to be someplace else. The keys are in the console.” Riley held out his hand.

“Sure, sure.” Little handed a brown paper take-out bag to him. “Five grand. Don’t shoot it all up your arm at once.”

“Get out of the car.” Riley glared at Emily. “I know where you live and I’ll kill your family if you open your mouth.”

As Riley climbed from the vehicle and Little slipped behind the wheel of the Mustang, Rio’s and Rowley’s sirens blared as they blocked in the Mustang from front and back. Relieved everything went as planned, Kane sat up from the back seat and pressed the muzzle of his M18 pistol into the back of the man’s head. “Big mistake. This vehicle belongs to the sheriff of Black Rock Falls.”

THREE

BLACK ROCK FALLS

Monday

After tossing and turning all night, plagued by dreams of knives and blood, Jenna overslept. She’d woken at seven, hurriedly showered, and dressed before heading for the kitchen. The previous day had turned out to be the opposite to the nice restful day out she’d envisaged, but hopefully some good would come out of it. Although all of the men involved in the carjacking would do time, the DA had informed her they’d roll over on another criminal for a deal, likely wanting a lesser sentence and a drug rehabilitation program. She’d be interested in discovering the details when everything was finalized.If only serial killer cases were as easy.

Pushing away the cobwebs that came with sleep, Jenna walked into the kitchen. Tauri sat at the table, eager to be heading for kindergarten to finish a project the class was working on. His happy chatter filled the room as he switched between his native tongue and Spanish, as Kane prepared breakfast. “You’re up already.” She bent to kiss Tauri on the cheek.

“I’m helping Daddy make pancakes.” Tauri adjusted the dish towel tied around his neck to protect his clothes. “I added the flour.” He grinned.

Jenna noticed the dusting of flour on his gold-streaked hair. “So I see. I’m looking forward to trying them.” She sat down and took the cup of decaffeinated coffee Kane slid across the table to her.

“You okay?” Kane’s gaze traveled over her. “Bad dreams?”

Nodding, they exchanged a knowing look. “But I’m awake now.”

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