Outrunning Danger, page 5
Before she could process her thoughts, Stella’s voice caromed around the interior of the van. “Beckett and I have just pulled out. He’s heading east on Green Avenue and I’m heading west.”
“A black sedan just pulled in behind me, following close,” Beckett responded. “I’ll make some turns and see if he follows.”
Tara glanced at Tucker. His fingers flexed open and closed on the steering wheel and his mouth was a firm line.
“This guy is shadowing me, move for move,” Beckett said over the radio.
“I’m going to see if I can cut him off,” Stella said. “There’s no one suspicious behind me. Tucker, are you on the move?”
“Just getting ready to pull out,” Tucker responded.
He brought the van to a stop at the street level, and the bright sunlight blinded Tara for a moment after the darkness of the parking garage. A couple cars whizzed by, and Tucker paused before leaving the garage. “Tara, lay down on the seat, just until I’m sure we’re in the clear.”
She nodded and slipped out of the shoulder harness on the seat belt to lie on the bench seat. She felt the vehicle jostle as the van pulled out onto the street, then the thrum of the engine sounded as they began to pick up speed.
“We’re on the road,” Tucker said into the radio. “So far, nothing suspicious.”
“I’m behind you about four cars back,” Katie reported. “I second Tucker. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“I just cut that sedan off at a light. Beckett, you should be in the clear,” Stella responded.
“Status quo everyone, no changes until Tucker gets farther out of town and we’re sure he hasn’t picked up a tail,” Marcus instructed.
Tara felt the van slow to a stop, and she peered up to see Tucker glancing left and right then pulling forward. Without warning Tucker slammed his foot on the brake, and Tara jolted toward the edge of the seat. In a split second he reached out and grabbed her, keeping her from tumbling to the floorboard.
“A blue Jeep, older model, just came out of nowhere, pulled in front of me and stomped on the brake, like he wanted me to rear-end him. He’s moving forward now, and pulling away in a hurry.”
“I’m going to circle around and see if I can get a look at the driver,” Stella said.
“I wish I could see what’s going on,” Tara said. “I’m missing the action.”
Tucker glanced down and smiled. “We’re trying to avoid the action, pretty lady.”
Tara’s already elevated blood pressure rocketed to another level. Pretty lady? She tilted her head to see his face. From her position she could see the sharp angle of his jaw covered with a shadow of facial hair. The muscles moved in the column of his throat as he turned his head, his gaze traveling back and forth, taking in everything surrounding them. Tara said a quick prayer of thanks to God for bringing this brave, relentless man to her rescue.
“Tucker, I’m coming up on your right,” Stella reported. “I see the Jeep.”
“There’s been no further erratic movement from him,” Tucker replied, “but he’s traveling below the speed limit now. I wonder if he’s trying to bait me into passing him?”
Tucker nodded out the window, and Tara guessed Stella had just passed by.
A moment later, the female officer’s voice filled the van. “He’s wearing a baseball cap and talking on his cell phone, and it’s blocking me from seeing his face. Looks like he has short, dark hair. He didn’t look over.”
“I’m going to pass him to see if he does anything,” Tucker said.
A moment later, Tara could feel the shift in direction as the van moved around the Jeep and began to accelerate.
“I’m in front of him and have picked up speed. He’s making no attempt to catch up,” Tucker informed everyone.
“Sounds like a careless, irresponsible driver paying more attention to his phone call than the road.” Marcus joined in. “Try and out distance him Tucker, but I think you might be in the clear.”
“Tucker, can I sit up?” Tara could see blue sky out the window but nothing else.
“Not yet,” he said as he reached out and gave her arm a gentle pat. “Just sit tight a little longer.”
Tara felt her eyes close as the rhythm of the wheels on pavement created a soothing sound that enveloped her. Before she knew it, she’d fallen asleep, snuggled next to Tucker and momentarily free from danger.
* * *
Tucker glanced again in the rearview mirror, relieved to see nothing suspicious behind them. He stretched his neck left and right, allowing his body to relax. They were miles out of Houston on the way to Galveston Bay, and he was beginning to feel like they had dodged a bullet.
Tucker glanced down and he smiled as warmth spread through him like warm molasses. Tara snuggled against him, her feet tucked under her on the seat. The soft sound of her steady breathing next to him was like a balm to his soul.
After Deacon’s death he wouldn’t allow feelings to surface and preferred to operate with a laser-sharp focus. But Tara was throwing him off his game. As much as her presence touched something he’d buried down deep, his lack of focus could be fatal. Soft little squeaks drifted from her lips as she stretched, and it took all his willpower to block out the sweet sounds and concentrate on their surroundings and the other drivers on the road.
Tara’s entire body jerked and she sat up, scrubbing dark hair off her face. Shocked green eyes turned to him, and he could see the confusion as reality settled over her. She turned her head to look out the window, then glanced back at him.
“Where are we? What happened to the blue Jeep? How long have I been asleep?”
Tucker laughed. “Okay, let’s see. On the highway to Galveston Bay. The Jeep turned out to be harmless. You’ve been asleep for about an hour.”
She sucked in several deep breaths before twisting her torso and leaning back against the seat. “Not as comfortable as Stella’s couch,” she said, patting the fake leather she sat on. “But it works in a pinch. I tossed and turned in Stella’s office all night. My mind was on a treadmill and wouldn’t get off.”
“The good news is we should be there in about an hour. We’re taking a circuitous route just to make sure we aren’t followed. I don’t want to lead anyone to our doorstep,” he informed her. “You can take a good nap when we get there. Scout and I will be on guard.”
Tara’s forehead wrinkled. “I appreciate you wanting to be the superhero in all this, but you have to get some sleep too. Give me a gun, and I’ll take a shift standing guard.”
Laughter erupted before he could stop it and Tara turned in her seat, her arms folded across her chest and her head cocked to the side. “I told you I could shoot a gun. And if worse comes to worst, I can scream like a banshee. I guarantee you’ll be up in an instant.”
“That’s an appealing offer.” He bit his lips together to stop another burst of laughter. “I can’t take you up on it. My job is to keep you safe, not sleep while you stand guard. I’ll be fine. I went for several days at a time without sleeping when I was in Iraq.”
Tara raised a dark eyebrow. “I didn’t realize you were in Iraq. Army?”
He nodded, wishing he’d never mentioned it. “I flew choppers.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s an amazing skill. Why don’t you still fly helicopters? What led you to being a K9 officer instead?”
Acid trickled into Tucker’s stomach. He didn’t discuss this with anyone except on rare occasions with Cade, who had his own scars from Afghanistan. He wasn’t about to dump the guilt and remorse of what had led to Deacon’s death right into Tara’s lap.
“Let’s just say I found something better suited to me. I get to work with an amazing dog like Scout, and we put bad guys behind bars. It’s a winning situation.” He glanced at her and she nibbled at her lower lip but didn’t say anything further.
“Look, there’s a little mom-and-pop restaurant at the next exit. Why don’t we stop and get a couple burgers, and I can let Scout take a bathroom break and stretch his legs.”
Tara nodded but kept her gaze on him. Her long lashes fluttered several times before she turned and glanced out the window. He felt as if she could see through to his soul, and if he had to speak to anyone about Deacon, it shocked him to realize he would want it to be her. What had gotten into him? He shook his head to clear it. He had to get these wayward thoughts under control.
Ingrained habits from his military and police experience never died, and Tucker parked the van in a slot parallel to the restaurant so they could pull forward without having to back up. He put Scout on a leash and let him sniff in the grass for a few minutes to do his business while Tara poured water into a bowl for him. Once his partner was settled back in his kennel with a small portable fan trained on him for air, they headed toward the restaurant.
Without thinking Tucker grabbed Tara’s hand and his steps faltered. Her fingers closed around his. “Let’s go, Officer Dawson. I’m hungry,” she laughed, and pulled him toward the door. What was it with this girl? She’d been shot at, almost blown up, and just about flattened by a semitruck and she was still warm and personable. She tugged at him like no one else ever had, not even his ex, Rachel. It would take all his willpower to keep Tara at a distance, but he would not risk his heart. He’d survived that betrayal once. Never again.
She pulled him across the threshold into a brightly lit restaurant with stools at a linoleum topped counter and fresh baked pies in a refrigerated case. The sign at the entrance of the dining area said to wait to be seated, but Tucker had no intention of making them vulnerable by sitting in the middle of a restaurant, no matter how unthreatening it felt. Tara pulled her hand free and wandered over to a shelf that displayed homemade jams and jellies while Tucker placed their to-go order.
He glanced around the room as he pocketed his change, noting the fishing poles on the walls and pictures of men and women holding redfish, black drum and speckled trout from nearby lakes and streams. When he’d return to Galveston Bay from Iraq, he’d often leave his boat behind and take his kayak out, threading in among the marsh grass and throwing his line in. Dinner would be whatever he caught. The solitude had been healing. There would be none of that on this trip though. He didn’t plan on leaving Tara alone for a minute.
Tucker turned to find her watching him, and she smiled and walked toward him. His heart thumped harder the closer she got. She placed a gentle hand on his forearm. “Do you like to fish? I saw you staring at those fishing poles with love in your eyes.” She giggled and he sucked in a breath. The way she teased him made him feel like he’d known her forever.
“I do like to fish,” he managed to get out. “I don’t think we’ll be able to do any of that on this trip.”
Her lips lifted in a half smile. “Maybe some other time you can teach me.”
Tucker swallowed a gulp, words trapped by a throat suddenly as dry as the Sahara. All he could do was nod before the waitress approached with their bag of burgers and fries.
Tucker’s phone pinged and he placed the bag on a table and pulled it out of his pocket. “Marcus wants an update,” he said as he texted a message to the chief. “We should be at the cabin in less than an hour,” he told her as he pocketed the phone and retrieved the bag.
Tara gave him a thumbs-up and shoved the door open.
“Wait—” he began. He didn’t want her leaving until he’d made sure everything outside was clear. He tossed a nod of thanks to the waitress as he hurried out the door. Tara had stopped short, and he pummeled into the back of her. He grabbed her shoulders to keep from knocking her forward. She remained rooted to the spot and he turned, following her gaze.
A blue Jeep pulled off the road, taking its time and coming to a stop at the far-right corner of the parking lot. Tucker jerked in a breath and his adrenaline spiked from zero to a hundred.
“Is it the same one?” she whispered. He could feel tremors rippling through her body.
“It’s the same color, and an older model like the other one.” He choked back the shock that rose like fire out of his gut. “I don’t think this is a coincidence.”
He noted with relief that at least the van was parked facing away from the Jeep. They were going to have to test that power the Houston PD said was under the hood.
“We have to get to the van. On three, you run. Get in on the driver’s side. I’ll cover you, and I’ll be right on your heels.” She nodded. Determination flared in her eyes.
Tucker whispered, “One…two—”
Tara gasped as a massive RV pulled into view and began a slow turn into the lot.
“Go!” Tucker said as the giant vehicle momentarily blocked them from the Jeep. Tara flew to the van, flinging the door open and diving across the seat. Tucker jumped in and started the ignition, throwing the vehicle in Drive and slamming the gas pedal to the floor. The engine hesitated for a moment, then shot forward with a squeal of tires. He expected the sound of bullets to ring off the van at any moment. Instead, the Jeep pulled out in no hurry, failing to keep up and disappearing into the distance as they left it behind.
Tucker glanced in the rearview mirror as he maneuvered down a side street to get back to the highway. “Where did he go?”
“Do you think we were wrong about him?” Tara asked, eyes focused on her side mirror for any sign of the Jeep.
Tucker shook his head. Every warning bell in his arsenal was blaring. Something was not right. There was still no sign of the Jeep, and Tucker breathed in a lungful of air as the exit to the highway loomed ahead. “I don’t think we’re wrong, but I can’t figure out what game he’s playing. I hope this guy doesn’t have a partner we’re going to meet up with once we get on the highway.”
He glanced over as Tara grabbed the takeout bag where it had landed at her feet and stuffed it behind her seat.
“Maybe we lost him,” she murmured.
Tucker was about to reassure her when he noticed a dark vehicle behind them closing fast. He recognized the Jeep right away.
Tara glanced at him then jerked her head to the side mirror. “Tucker?” Her voice rose in alarm.
“Hang on!” Tucker swerved the van into the fast lane and hit the gas. The Jeep followed suit, gaining on them.
“How does he keep showing up?” she said with a shriek. Little threads of panic were woven through her voice.
He shook his head. “Million-dollar question. Tara, call 911. We’re going to need assistance here.”
Tara grabbed her phone to make the call. She put it on speaker and the emergency operator answered.
“We need help. We’re being chased by some guy in a blue Jeep,” Tara spluttered.
“Where are you located?” the woman asked.
“We’re on Interstate 45 nearing exit 5,” she said as Tucker pushed harder on the accelerator. The Jeep continued to inch closer.
The operator’s next question was drowned out by a loud explosion of bullets ricocheting off the back of the van.
Six
“Get down!” Tucker shouted, as he veered back to the outside lane. Tara crouched low in the seat, whispering a prayer to God to keep them safe.
“What was that popping noise?” A voice sounded through the speaker. Tara had almost forgotten the emergency operator was still on the line.
“He’s shooting at us, please hurry! We’re in an electric company van. He’s driving a blue Jeep.” Tara glanced at her side-view mirror just as the Jeep swerved into the lane behind them.
“I’ll get law enforcement to your location,” the operator responded.
Another round of bullets hit the small window in the back of the van, shattering it, as Scout yelped.
Tara glanced back. Scout was on his feet in his kennel, shaking shiny pieces of safety glass off his coat. “Scout, sit,” Tucker instructed, and the dog hunkered down.
Tara leaned back and closed her eyes, willing a calmness to settle over her despite the fear stampeding through her body. Drawing in a deep breath, she turned to Tucker. “Let me see your gun.” His eyes held hers for a beat before he pulled it from the holster at his side. Her fingers closed around the Glock, testing the weight of the gun in her hand before rolling her window down. Tara’s hair whipped into her eyes and she shoved it back, checking for other vehicles. She couldn’t allow someone innocent to get caught in the cross fire.
“He’s directly behind us,” she shouted over her shoulder. “Ease to the left.” Tucker moved the van over, and Tara leaned out the window and fired three shots at the Jeep, aiming for the right front tire. She jerked back inside. “I missed,” she ground out in frustration.
Tucker reached for her arm. “Tara, it’s too dangerous—” With a grunt she pulled away and leaned once more out the window, taking aim and firing again.
This time there was a squeal of tires and the Jeep twisted sideways. It spun several times before sliding off the road and coming to an abrupt stop, nose down in the ditch.
Tucker pumped a fist in the air and kept the gas pedal pressed to the floor. “That’s my girl. Great shot!”
Tara leaned back into the seat as Tucker stabbed at a button on the radio to call the chief. The adrenaline rush was fading, but Tara’s heart continued to pound out of her chest. My girl. It was just an expression. The last thing she wanted or needed was to be “the girl” of an undercover cop.
“Marcus, we’ve had some unwanted excitement,” Tucker stated, briefing his superior on the events at the diner and ending with the perp spinning into a ditch. Marcus advised he’d contact the local authorities to get an ID on the suspect.
“I don’t like that he knows what vehicle you’re in,” Marcus said. “We’ve seen more than one assailant throughout. He could have passed the information along to anyone.”
“Agreed,” Tucker responded. “I’m going to pull off at the next exit and do a search of our vehicle for anything suspicious. I could have sworn we’d left him in our rearview mirror when we departed Houston. We didn’t take a direct route. How did he just show up in the parking lot where we stopped for food?”
The silence lengthened and Tara glanced at Tucker, wondering if the call had been dropped. Marcus spoke at last. “We all knew where you were heading. Maybe not the exact address, but the location of your cabin. There’s not a soul on this team I don’t trust, but…”
