Witness in Hiding

by Lisa Phillips

  “I’m serious, Jude. You don’t have to worry about us.”

  “You can say it as much as you want, but so far tonight a man almost shot you. He did shoot two other people. And your house burned down.”

  Tyler gripped her hand harder, and she circled him with her arms again. To make her feel better, or him?

  Did it matter? Comfort was comfort, and they were a team.

  Jude ran his hands through his hair. He let his hands drop to his sides. “You aren’t going to let me help you?”

  “Why do you want to?”

  “What?”

  “Why do you want to take care of me?”

  “Because—”

  Across the street a man stood, glaring at them. The man from the Laundromat. Same lifeless eyes, same bulky jacket. Did he have the gun he’d used to kill Moose hidden in there?

  Zoe gasped. “That’s him. That’s the—” Jude was already running across the street, chasing down the man. What did he want with her? Whatever it was, Tyler would be caught in the crossfire. “Come on.”

  She didn’t need that duffel. Zoe would find the money to get by somewhere else. She had no idea where but that wasn’t the point. She couldn’t stay here right now.

  Anywhere else would be safer than this.

  FOUR

  Jude raced after the man. Anger coursed through him, a burst of energy to his fatigued muscles. The long day. The shooting. The fire. All of it he left behind with every step he took as he sprinted across the street like it was six in the morning on the trail and he was freshly rested from a full night of sleep. Thank You, Lord.

  He’d seen the moment recognition sparked in the man’s eyes—the only sign of life he’d noticed since that poor attempt at humor in the Laundromat. This man wasn’t going to hurt anyone else. Not if Jude could do something about it.

  One of the cops yelled, but Jude couldn’t explain. He just called after the man, “Secret Service. Stop!”

  He didn’t. This guy clearly cared more about the freedom to do whatever he wanted than the law. And the fact that he’d placed himself firmly on the wrong side of it.

  Seconds later, Jude got within touching distance. He grabbed the man’s arm and got a handful of jacket before his fingers lost grip. More speed. The corner at the end of the street was coming up. Jude could cut it slightly, and try to tackle the man. He kept pumping his arms and legs as best he could in the suit.

  The man pivoted at the corner and before Jude could figure out the move, his elbow came up. Pain burst through Jude’s skull and light flashed behind his eyes, but he didn’t go down. He grasped on to the jacket again, but the man shrugged out of it and raced away, leaving Jude with his jacket and nothing else. Jude took off after him, but only got two steps before he weaved with dizziness and collided with a fence. Splinters raked his arm and he hissed.

  The cops ran up. One said, “What—”

  There wasn’t time to let him finish; the gunman was getting away. “Murder suspect.” Jude sucked in a breath and hung his head. It hurt. He’d probably have a headache for days. He reached up and gently felt his forehead. There was a knot already.

  One cop took off after the suspect. The other stood with Jude. “You all right?”

  He felt around the jacket. It smelled like gasoline. Had he set the fire, or simply been close enough to it that the scent of accelerant was on his clothes? There was nothing in the bottom pockets, but the inside pocket held something bulky. He found a wallet and opened it. Two hundred in cash was folded up along with a pharmacy receipt for Oxycodone and a driver’s license.

  “Want me to take that?”

  Jude took a photo of both sides of the license so he could look it up later, then handed it over to the cop, who could add it to evidence. “It’s probably a fake so he can get his meds.” He gave the officer the name of the detectives investigating the Laundromat shooting.

  The officer nodded. “I’ll get this squared away for ya.”

  Jude pushed off the wall and headed back to the now smoldering house. Only the smell of the fire remained. Even Zoe and Tyler were gone. He searched up and down the street for them. She’d done it again, ditched him even though her duffel was locked in his Suburban.

  He knew she didn’t trust him. That went both ways. But why did it bother him so much? It wasn’t like they knew each other.

  Part of him wanted to stick with her—to convince her that she should trust him with what was happening to her. Sure, if he got answers that helped him with his case at the same time, then great. Moose was dead, but Zoe might know something about the man’s business.

  In return, he could help her be safe, even find whoever was targeting her. So long as he didn’t have to chase anybody else. The way he was feeling right now, they would probably get away, as the gunman had.

  Jude blew out a breath. Why was he messing this up at every turn? He was supposed to be on the right path now, doing the right thing. Career first, and then personal life. Yet it still seemed as though he couldn’t get his life right. No wonder she didn’t trust him. She was probably right to simply rely on herself and not invite him to assist.

  But whether she was willing to ask for his help or not, it was obvious that she needed it. The fact that Tyler was in the picture wasn’t a negative, but it had to be taken into account. They were both clearly in danger.

  Zoe and her family had been targeted separately.

  Jude sighed again, and started toward the park. Maybe they’d headed to the SUV as a safe haven and were waiting for him there. Twice tonight the same guy had shown up. Why did he want Zoe, but not seem to want her dead? The fire might have been a statement, but had the killer gone out of his way to do that so Zoe would find it? That seemed overly elaborate.

  It made more sense that they were all in danger. With her son’s life being used to threaten Zoe.

  Jude couldn’t ask her what the man wanted with her because she wasn’t around that he could see. He clicked the locks and opened the back door. The black duffel lay on the seat, and he pulled the zipper back. His eyes widened. Inside were rolls of twenties, secured by rubber bands. Tens of thousands of dollars by the look of it. He whistled.

  “You need to give that to me.”

  He spun around, half expecting her to be holding a weapon on him, given her threatening tone of voice. There was no gun in her hand, but the determination in her expression made it clear she wouldn’t be backing down.

  “Maybe you don’t need my help after all,” he said. “Looks like you have the means to go anywhere you want. Is that what you were looking for in Moose’s office, new ID’s? Passports, maybe?”

  Her eyes flared. Bingo.

  “You could flee the country. Except they’ll likely come after you still. Which means you and Tyler will live the rest of your lives with targets on your backs, never knowing which day will be the one they’ll find you.”

  She paled, but didn’t say anything. Tyler looked more mad than scared.

  “Purchasing fake identification is a crime.”

  Zoe lifted her chin at that. “I didn’t purchase anything. Not yet anyway.”

  He was almost proud of her for the way she stood her ground. The woman had backbone—she had to or she’d have crumbled long before now. She likely would have purchased the ID had Moose not been killed. What had pushed her to such lengths? Her house had burned down after that decision had been made. After the man left her alive.

  Jude was fine being the one responsible for the fact that she was alive, unharmed and with her son. If Jude was going to help then he needed to know why she was being threatened.

  He just couldn’t help the errant thought that the attempt to buy fake ID’s wasn’t her only foray into the wrong side of the law. Dangerous men were after her—and her unwillingness to trust the authorities sent up
red flags.

  “Did you...do something?” He didn’t want to talk plainly in front of Tyler, not knowing what the boy was aware of and what he wasn’t. “Is that why you won’t talk to the police?” Perhaps he should simply load them both into the SUV and drive them to his office to explain it all.

  “You think I did something?” She looked almost as though he’d betrayed her, which helped reassure him. “I know it looks bad, but I’m not the criminal here.”

  The boy spoke then. “My mom hasn’t done anything wrong!”

  “Tyler.” She admonished him with just his name.

  Jude held up one hand. “I’m a cop, Tyler. I have to ask every question, even the hard ones.”

  * * *

  Zoe turned to Tyler. “Why don’t you sit in the car?” She didn’t give him an option; she simply steered him to the open door. “Don’t worry about Jude, okay? I can handle him.” Tyler climbed over the duffel and lay down, and Zoe shut the door.

  What could she say to Jude to explain this whole mess? She was so tired and frazzled from the whole exhausting day she didn’t even know where to begin.

  She shook her head and realized her hair was still pinned from being under the wig. She reached up and started to pull out the clips.

  He stared at her.

  “What?” Maybe she was more tired than she’d thought because Jude Brauer was watching her as if he might be interested. That didn’t make sense, did it? He thought she was a criminal. And even if she could understand why he might think that way, the accusation still hurt. She hadn’t done anything but try to be a good mother and provide for her son.

  “You look...” His voice trailed off.

  “Like I was in a fire?” She cocked her head to the side, pulling out the last pin and letting her chin-length brown hair hang loose.

  “You know what I mean.”

  Yes, she did. Unfortunately. She was totally wrong about his interest, of course—the man thought she looked like a bedraggled waif. Lovely. “You could take us to a motel, I guess. Unless you have a better idea.”

  He studied her, then said, “I might.”

  Zoe lifted her arms, then let them fall back to her sides. “I’m open to suggestions. But only because it’s been a long day and I’m exhausted, my son is exhausted and he’s been through a traumatic experience.”

  Zoe wiped a stray tear from her cheek and shut her eyes. “I have no idea where we’re going to go now, or what we’re going to do.” When she opened them his face was soft, his eyes warm. Compassion had been in short supply lately. She didn’t want to soak it up now, especially from a man she wasn’t sure she could trust, but it was like an unexpected present.

  “I can help you, Zoe.” His voice was soft. “I want to help you and Tyler be safe.”

  “But only if I tell you everything?”

  “I know you don’t trust me, but you can trust the cops.”

  “The first one I talked to was killed the same day. I told you. And I doubt it was simply a coincidence, given there have been a whole lot of seemingly unrelated coincidences happening to me lately.”

  “Because of something you saw?”

  She’d let that slip before, and apparently he hadn’t forgotten it. Zoe nodded. “Yes.”

  “So you’re a witness.”

  “And Tyler and I are in danger because of it.” She clutched two handfuls of her hair and tugged, but it didn’t relieve her frustration. “I tried to do the right thing, Jude. I really did. But I feel like the world is against me, and I can’t get out in front of it long enough for something to go right.” She took a breath. “Now Ember is in the hospital, and I don’t even know if she’s going to make it. But I’m too scared I’ll put her in danger if I go and see her.”

  He stepped closer. “I can’t promise you everything will be okay. I don’t have the kind of power to guarantee that. I will pray, and I’m not going to stop praying for you until all this has been resolved. Until you and Tyler have nothing to worry about except him getting to soccer practice on time.”

  “He plays football.”

  Jude said, “You know what I mean.”

  “I do. And thank you. You’ve done so much, I feel guilty asking you for more.”

  “Don’t.” He shook his head. “It’s my pleasure to help you.”

  She thought for a second he might hug her, but instead he stepped back and motioned to the car.

  “Get in. I’ll find you somewhere safe you can clean up and get some rest. In the morning we can make a plan to get you and Tyler safe permanently.”

  She climbed in the back, tired enough to just hand him her whole life and ask him to fix it. But she had to hold back. No man had ever proved to her that was a good move. Every time she thought she’d found the exception, she’d just get her heart broken again.

  Zoe only knew one way to trust and that was all in, no holds barred. It had gotten her in trouble in nearly every relationship. Now she saw the same traits in Tyler. Ever since Nathan had left, she’d been so careful in the influences she allowed around her son, not wanting him to get attached to anyone who might hurt him. If they let Jude into their lives it would end badly for both of them.

  Sure, Jude would probably fix her problems regardless. She could see he was capable, even though he hadn’t said whether he’d caught that man or not. She figured it meant he hadn’t. But even with the gunman still on the loose, Jude wasn’t any less of a hero to her. He’d stuck by her side.

  She just wished she could believe it would continue. That he’d never leave, or fail her. But that was human nature. It was better to simply rely on herself. She understood her own weaknesses. Jude could help, but she wouldn’t give him control of her life. And she wasn’t going to count on him—not completely.

  He had a job to do after all, as well as a personal life of his own. One he wouldn’t want clogged up by her and her son. Men didn’t like that; they liked their space. “Aren’t you going to fix Mrs. McAffrey’s sink tomorrow?”

  He pulled up at a red light and glanced back to flash her a grin in the dark of the car. “I guess I did say I was going to do that.”

  She nodded, though she wasn’t sure he could see her. Zoe adjusted her hold on her son, trying not to let the middle seat belt dig into his tummy too much. “I’m sure Tyler and I will be okay.” They’d need clothes, a backpack. Her son would need books or games to occupy him when he got restless. The list of things flitted through her mind, overwhelming her.

  Zoe glanced at the roadside speeding past and tried to pray, as Jude had suggested he would. It seemed so false. How had God helped her so far? She was too tired to figure out the answer.

  Half an hour later Jude pulled into the parking lot of a church.

  “Uh...” Had God been listening? Maybe He thought she needed to really seek Him, so He’d directed Jude to bring her to a church. Busted. Okay, so they hadn’t exactly been on the same page lately, but really? “Is there something you’re trying to tell me?”

  Jude put the car in park and turned to her. “What’s that?”

  “Nothing.” She shook her head, not ready to share this, either. Jude didn’t need to know that she and God weren’t exactly on speaking terms. It was enough of a struggle to convince herself to tell him exactly what was going on, let alone adding her spiritual problems.

  “Want me to get Tyler?”

  He wanted to carry her son? “Sure. Thanks.” Why was it so easy to say that? She was exhausted enough she could accept the help, but didn’t think it was the real reason she was so comfortable with him.

  He strode around to a side door of the church like he was arriving home after a long day of work. At the door, he handed her his keys. “The gold one.”

  Zoe let them in, and Jude flicked the light on to reveal a long hall. “There are some rooms back h
ere—one has a set of bunk beds you guys can use, bathroom is attached. The room is between two exits.” He motioned up and down the hall. “In case something happens, you can get out easily.”

  Zoe nodded. “I really appreciate—” she hardly knew where to start “—all of this.” The duffel was heavy on her shoulder, and the quicker they got to sleep the quicker they could get up and get out of here. Jude wouldn’t need to worry then.

  A man cleared his throat. But not Jude. Zoe spun around to find an older man in pajamas and slippers. His bald head reflected the overhead light. He almost looked like—

  The old man shifted. “I guess you have some things to explain, considering y’all smell like smoke and look like you’re still in shock.” He paused. “Not exactly the normal scenario for when your son brings a woman and child home to meet you.”

  FIVE

  The next morning Jude sat at the kitchen table the way he had every morning his entire childhood. The only thing that had changed was the oven���the old one had finally died a few years ago. The new one looked as out of place there as Jude felt. Dressed in the gym clothes he kept in the SUV’s trunk, he took a sip of the strong coffee his father had made. The man got up earlier than anyone he’d ever met—a throwback to the old days as a marine. Jude didn’t mind early mornings, but he needed time to wake up.

  His mom walked by and squeezed his shoulder, then leaned down and kissed the top of his head like he was still six.

  “Mornin’.”

  She chuckled. “Good morning, darling.”

  Leanne Brauer was a stocky woman who’d given him her height and her blond hair, though his was darker. In comparison, his father had brown hair and was slender except for his round middle. His mom bustled about the kitchen, getting out flour and sugar. Pancakes? Jude sat a little straighter in his chair.

  “I checked on Zoe and Tyler. They’re still resting.” She got the blueberries out of the fridge.

  He grinned to himself and took another sip.