Risk Everything (The Risk Series: Bree & Tanner Book 4)

by Janie Crouch

  Five minutes later shots rang out again.

  “Freckles, wake up.”

  “I don’t want any more beans,” she muttered, not opening her eyes.

  “We’ve got to get moving.”

  Now those green eyes popped open. “Did they find us?”

  “Not the hunters.” He forced himself to stand, bent over because of the low ceiling and, tucking the gun inside the waistband of his pants, took a look outside.

  No more rain.

  Two more shots.

  “Was that a gun?” She joined him at the door.

  “Yes, a signal from Noah.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. The double shot, just like how we used the flare gun. He’s signaling to let me know where he is.”

  “Won’t that let the hunters know where he is too?”

  Tanner nodded. “He wouldn’t do it if he wasn’t sure it was safe. I’m assuming he has backup. Normally I would use our gun to fire two shots in response, but I’d rather save those last two bullets in case we need them.”

  * * *

  WHEN THEY FOUND Noah two hours later, he had more than enough backup. Sheriff Duggan, Whitaker and half the Grand County Police Department was with him. Not to mention two forest rangers and four citizens from Risk Peak who had exceptional experience in these woods, including old Mr. Henrikson.

  And thankfully, a paramedic. Tanner’s shoulder was the first line of business. There were things he still needed to do here before he could leave and go back into town.

  Bree sat across from him, holding his good hand like they were about to arm wrestle, keeping his eyes pinned with hers as the paramedic rolled the swollen joint back into place.

  Tanner’s curse was low and ugly, but his eyes never left Bree’s and she never flinched.

  His shoulder immediately felt better, and he let go of her hand.

  “I’m going to read up on how to do that,” she said. “That’s a good skill to have.”

  “And I hope one you’ll never actually need to use.”

  Somebody offered him some ibuprofen and he took double the recommended dosage. His jacket would have to continue to second as a sling until he could see a regular doctor. But first there were things he needed to do here.

  Noah looked almost as rough as Tanner felt when Tanner found him talking to Whitaker.

  “Marilyn and the kids safe?”

  “Yes. Ronnie Kitchens is keeping them in protective custody until we can prove who’s behind this. I got her and the kids to Henrikson’s house. Cass—I have to admit, I love our sister—had already sent somebody up there when Barb and Francis arrived and told her about the raft and the bridge being out.”

  “That was smart.”

  “At that point Cass still thought it was regular wilderness camping snafus but knew we’d head for Henrikson’s house if we got in trouble. So she sent a phone with him, and once Marilyn was there, she sounded the alarm.”

  Tanner took a closer look at his brother. “You’re looking a little bruised up. Run into a tree?”

  Noah led Tanner off to the side where they could talk privately.

  “I immediately came back out here to see if I could help you and Bree. Ran into a hunter who thought that his knife and my lack of one gave him an advantage. I’ll be needing to take you to that body so you can do whatever cop paperwork is involved. I haven’t mentioned it to anyone else because...”

  Because Noah hadn’t been sure how Tanner wanted to handle this. Because Noah still thought as a warrior; he’d never thought as a cop. And if Tanner just wanted these bodies to disappear, Noah would be willing to make that happen and never speak of it again.

  “I’m going to have my own cop paperwork involved with the death of Paul Wyn, the guy Bree shot. Ends up he was in Risk Peak the night of the fire. So we’ll report them both to Whitaker and process them officially.”

  “I didn’t get a positive ID on my guy,” Noah said. “But I’m sure it was another one of Jared’s posse. You know he’s behind all this.”

  Tanner ran his good hand over his face. “Yeah, but proving it won’t be as easy.”

  After convincing Bree to let someone take her back to town so she could reassure Marilyn and the kids that everything was all right, Noah and Sheriff Duggan headed toward one body and Tanner and Whitaker headed for Paul Wyn, finding him washed up downstream not far from where Bree had shot him.

  Since he’d been involved with the situation, Tanner stayed to the side as Whitaker inspected the body, giving Whitaker the short version of everything that had happened.

  “I sort of wish fewer of my murder cases involved you, Dempsey.”

  “At least you’re not trying to arrest me for this one.”

  Whitaker looked up from where he was crouched over the body and gave him a smirk. “Not yet.”

  The man had been sure Tanner was involved in a series of murders a few months ago. But Tanner couldn’t really blame him for that since someone had been going out of his way to frame Tanner.

  Night was falling once again by the time both bodies were ready to be escorted back into town. Given the circumstances, and the number of witnesses involved, there wouldn’t be any charges filed against Bree or Noah.

  And given that the second body was George Pearson, also someone tied to Jared Ellis, Sheriff Duggan had ordered around-the-clock protection for Marilyn. Although Tanner suspected Noah would be providing that also.

  Ronnie already had a report for Tanner and Sheriff Duggan when they stepped into the office. Jared’s ankle monitor had not shown any unusual activity. Denver PD had already been to question Jared. Evidently he, Oscar Stobbart and Marius Nixon, the friend who had paid Jared’s bail, had all been together for the past forty-eight hours, working on a business plan.

  Willing to vouch for one another’s whereabouts 100 percent.

  The next day Tanner and Sheriff Duggan called in every favor they could and finally got a judge who was willing to have an emergency in-chambers session to hear the details that afternoon.

  With one signature, Judge Osborne could require Jared to remain in jail until his trial, set for four months from now. Tanner was already sitting in the judge’s chamber when Jared and Oscar Stobbart arrived.

  And really wasn’t surprised when he saw Oscar’s hands had all sorts of cuts and abrasions on them, just like Tanner’s.

  Colorado wilderness can be a real bitch, can’t it?

  The judge entered and asked for Tanner to provide a summary of what had happened and what he was requesting. Tanner had already provided this to the judge in written form but forced himself to stay calm and focused as he reiterated the events.

  What had happened in the wilderness. The two dead bodies lying in the morgue.

  When Tanner was done, Judge Osborne asked Oscar for Jared’s rebuttal.

  Oscar’s voice was solemn. “We are terribly sorry to hear about these awful events, Your Honor. But, respectfully, what does this have to do with my client?”

  Ellis shot Tanner a smirk while the judge wasn’t looking.

  “Your Honor, both Paul Wyn and George Pearson are known associates—recent known associates—of Mr. Ellis’s. And, as I mentioned in my report, I overheard two men talking who mentioned Jared by name, and that he wanted possession of the children.”

  Tanner wanted to mention the fact that one of the men talking had been Oscar but knew that that would derail the situation in a heartbeat, since Tanner hadn’t actually seen him and couldn’t prove it. He had to pick his battles.

  “Again, respectfully, Your Honor,” Oscar said, “Captain Dempsey has been through quite an ordeal. Could it be possible that he misheard, or misunderstood the conversation? Nor, as I’m sure you realized, has Captain Dempsey identified the speakers. We’re not even sure that the two men he overheard mentioning the childr
en were George Pearson and Paul Wyn, since Captain Dempsey never actually saw them. Beyond that, my client can speak only to his own whereabouts and intents.”

  “The two dead men are not just passing acquaintances of Mr. Ellis.” Tanner took out a folder that contained pictures of Jared with the two men he had taken last week with Noah. “Here they were together just last week. They’ve known one another for years—they were some of Jared Ellis’s closest friends. These were the men hunting Marilyn Ellis and her children.”

  Oscar let out a disappointed scoff. “Surveillance, Your Honor? It seems as if Officer Dempsey has a personal vendetta against my client. This is borderline harassment and it’s part of a pattern. I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, but last week Officer Dempsey also brought in a civilian to study Mr. Ellis’s ankle monitor.”

  “A civilian, but a renowned computer expert who has been utilized by law enforcement in the past,” Tanner put in.

  Oscar barely let him finish. “Officer Dempsey is determined to write Mr. Ellis’s narrative the way he deems fit, not necessarily as the truth.”

  Tanner had been prepared for this.

  “This is the only thing I’m interested in rewriting.” Tanner slid another picture across the desk. “This is what Mrs. Ellis looked like during her last trip to the hospital. Jared Ellis gets his day in court for what he’s been accused of. That’s fine. But there was more than enough evidence to get a restraining order against him. The most important thing is keeping Marilyn Ellis and her children safe. And keeping Jared Ellis from doing something like this again.”

  “Allegedly, Judge.” Oscar’s voice was almost bored.

  The judge turned to Tanner. “Did you see Jared in the woods? Do we have any reason to believe the ankle monitor is not working properly? You tell me that’s the case and I’ll sign the incarceration paperwork right now.”

  “Your Honor—” Oscar started until the judge held up his hand.

  Tanner wanted to lie. More than any other time in his life he wanted to tell the judge there was reason to suspect Ellis could get out of the monitor. But he couldn’t do it.

  “Not specifically with Jared Ellis. But we can all admit that these monitors are not perfect.”

  “Actually, Your Honor, there has never been a reported case of this particular monitor being hacked or removed without intention. One hundred percent of the people who have attempted to remove this type of monitor had law enforcement at their location within minutes and were immediately apprehended.”

  The judge studied the reports on the technology Oscar handed him. Tanner knew the information was impressive. Hell, even Bree hadn’t been able to figure out a way to easily hack it.

  “Based on this data, I’m not going to put Mr. Ellis back in jail to await trial.”

  “Thank you, Your Honor,” Oscar and Jared both answered in unison. Jared had obviously been coached not to say anything during this meeting.

  “But if there is so much as a hint of any of Mr. Ellis’s other known acquaintances creeping around Mrs. Ellis or the children, then you can expect to be spending the rest of your time in holding. Got that, Mr. Ellis?”

  Oscar immediately broke into protest. “Your Honor, I highly object to holding my client accountable for others’ actions.”

  Judge Osborne very calmly turned the picture of Marilyn’s battered body back around on his desk, pushing it to the edge.

  “Save your objections for the court, Counselor. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”

  The judge turned to Tanner. “Captain Dempsey, I will request that the Denver marshals’ office send officers over daily to make sure Mr. Ellis isn’t having any difficulties with his monitor.”

  “Your Honor!” Oscar protested again.

  “Your client is getting to stay out of jail. I’d be happy with that and concentrate on how you plan to convince a jury he deserves to stay that way.”

  Oscar grumbled under his breath, but it was Jared who spoke.

  “That’s fine, Your Honor. I just want to get this whole misunderstanding behind me. I look forward to my chance in court to show what really happened.”

  The judge nodded, lips pursed. “Yes, I’m sure you do.”

  Oscar and Ellis left, and Tanner thanked the judge for his time. On his way back out of town, Tanner stopped by the Denver marshals’ office himself. These were the ones who would be first on the scene if anything so much as beeped concerning Jared.

  They had already heard what had happened over the past two days and took his concerns seriously. Jared’s whereabouts were a top priority for them.

  They even took the time to double-check the monitoring system, bringing Tanner to the room where Bree had worked last week. While Tanner watched, they got the coordinates of Jared’s location, then sent an officer out to make sure that was correct.

  It was.

  By the time Tanner left, he wasn’t thrilled that Jared wasn’t back behind bars, but at least he knew the people here cared what happened. It wouldn’t be long before that bastard was behind bars for good.

  Chapter Twenty

  “It really is a beautiful dress, Bree. Tomorrow is going to be amazing.”

  Bree took a sip of her wine. She, Cassandra and Marilyn were sitting in her apartment, in three chairs across from the couch where her wedding dress was laid out carefully.

  The rehearsal dinner had gone without a scratch. Yes, half the town had been there, but Bree had just been able to relax and enjoy it. After everything she and Tanner had been through, she didn’t want her own wedding to stress her out. Like Cassandra had told her, if you did it right, you only got married once.

  Looking over at Tanner tonight as he walked around the Sunrise Diner, where they’d decided to hold their rehearsal dinner, talking and joking with all their family and friends, Bree knew she was doing it right.

  Tomorrow morning, she would become Mrs. Tanner Dempsey. Bree Dempsey.

  When she’d first heard that unexpected knock on her door in her nearly empty apartment in Kansas City, she’d never dreamed it would lead her here. To this place. To this moment.

  But how thankful she was that it had.

  Everything; the danger, the pain, the fear... It was all worth it because it had made them the Bree and Tanner they were now.

  All those variables.

  “What’s that little smile?” Cassandra asked, taking another sip of wine.

  It was after 10:00 p.m., the wedding was in the morning and her two best friends were here for a few more minutes. Tonight was her last night in this apartment. Bree doubted she would sleep very much, but that was okay.

  “I’m ready,” she said. “In every way that someone can be ready to marry someone else, I’m ready. It’s time for Tanner and I to start our forever.”

  Cassandra let out a string of curses that would make a sailor blush, then burst into tears. “That’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. And I love it even more that my brother feels the exact same way.”

  Marilyn smiled too. “It’s going to be an amazing day.” She turned back to the dress. “And that dress is just so...”

  “Ornate?”

  Marilyn chuckled. “It is ornate. It’s beautiful, Bree. Of course, I got married in a denim skirt, so I’m probably a little bit partial to big, beautiful wedding dresses.”

  It still wasn’t the dress Bree would’ve picked out if she’d gone with her heart. But there was no doubt the dress was beautiful, and it would be beautiful tomorrow when she wore it down the aisle.

  She was about to say so when a distinct beeping noise began shrieking from her computer. It took her a moment to realize exactly what it was.

  Jared Ellis’s ankle monitor had just gone off.

  She scrambled over to her laptop and began typing in information. Not ten seconds later everybody’s phones began beeping—they wer
e all receiving the alarm she’d set up as an app on their phones.

  Bree’s phone rang and she lifted it to her ear as she continued typing.

  “Are you looking up the details on Jared?”

  She loved that Tanner knew her well enough to cut straight to the chase, even the night before their wedding, not wasting time with greetings.

  “Yes. It looks like he’s still at his apartment. So if it went off, it was because he was trying to remove it from his body.”

  “I’m calling the Denver marshals. Noah is on his way to your place already. I’ll make the call and be right behind him.”

  Bree disconnected the call and looked over at Marilyn. Every bit of color in the other woman’s face had leached out.

  Cassandra rushed over to her, grabbing her hands.

  Bree brought the laptop over so Marilyn could see it. “Look, the monitor is still on, and still in his apartment. I won’t say there’s no cause to be alarmed, but let’s get all the information before we panic.”

  Marilyn nodded. “I need to get to the kids. They’re asleep at New Journeys.”

  Cassandra nodded. “I’m going to call Barb right now and have her put the building on lockdown, okay? There’s absolutely no way Jared could get in that building. Hell, the kids will be safer than we are.”

  Marilyn nodded and Cassandra got on the phone.

  When the alarm on her laptop screeched again, Bree opened the program to see what new data had come in.

  Jared’s monitor was now offline altogether.

  Before Bree could even give anyone the bad news, Noah walked through the door. He went straight over to Marilyn and pulled her against his chest.

  “We’ve already got Ronnie standing guard over at New Journeys,” he said. “The kids are safe.”

  “Jared’s tracker just went offline,” Bree told him.

  “What does that mean, exactly?” Noah asked.