Expired Game (Last Chance County Book 5)

by Lisa Phillips

  So that was it.

  Jess wasn’t the one who’d resisted a conversation. Dean and Ellie were the ones who said Ted didn’t want to talk to her in the hospital.

  She swallowed her bite and forgot everything. “So good.”

  He chuckled.

  “How’d you sleep?”

  “Not great.” He lifted his hand. “This thing is kind of uncomfortable.”

  “Is that just a fabric bandage? I thought they might put a cast on.”

  “They’re supposed to check again in a few days after the swelling goes down.”

  “Oh.” She handed him a buttered slice of bread.

  “How’s your head?”

  Jess touched the spot where they’d stapled her and winced. “Hurts, but no permanent damage.”

  He didn’t look super convinced.

  “I’m headed to work this afternoon. Conroy’s letting me interview Sally Peters, since everyone else is busy with the bank robbers and the kidnapper that we arrested.”

  His expression was guarded. He took a bite, then said, “Yeah?”

  She nodded. It hurt. “Anything you think I can use to get her to flip on West?”

  “He wanted her out. Surely you can appeal to her ego, as it were, considering he dropped her like a hot potato.”

  “I guess when you work with people like that, you have to expect betrayal.”

  “You really do.”

  She tried not to react. “Sounds like you might know something about that.”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “I lived it. Watched my dad do it to others, and to Dean. When my brother left for the Navy, it was like he was dead to my dad.”

  “That had to have been hard. Feeling alone.”

  “It was.” He dipped buttered bread in his soup and stuffed it in his mouth.

  Jess bit back the urge to jump on the line of conversation and make him talk when he was chewing. She concentrated on her soup, chasing chunks of chicken around the bowl with her spoon.

  If he was going to open up, finally give her some clue as to what went on inside that head of his, not to mention act as though he trusted her, well, then, Jess was going to have to open up to him.

  It was the last thing she wanted. Vulnerability was uncomfortable, to say the least. But if it got her information on West’s operation in the process? Maybe even a lead on where his dad might be—that would be a win for her, considering it would mean she’d helped a federal investigation.

  A win-win as far as she could see.

  Not to mention they’d be in a place where they trusted each other more. Right now, she had to focus on this case since they were in the middle of something serious. But if they came out of it closer and stronger, then how could that be a bad thing?

  Jess shifted the handle of her spoon in her fingertips, twirling it in the bowl. “You know, I was NYPD before I came here.”

  It hadn’t been a question, but Ted nodded anyway.

  “About a year into my time there, I worked undercover with a major crimes unit. They were trying to bring down three guys who ran what was essentially a high-end prostitution ring. Like making it shiny and classy changed what they were doing.” She made a face. “Destroying lives.”

  “You were undercover?”

  “We knew of a couple of girls that went missing, ones who fit the profile we had on them. They got me inside in a way I caught the attention of one of the men. Pretended I was down on my luck, just got fired. Couldn’t pay my rent. Not hard to believe. Just enough I was able to tell the lieutenant where the meet would take place. The hotel they worked out of.” The more she spoke, the more choked up she got.

  Ted twisted to put his good hand on hers. “What happened?”

  “Somehow they knew. I showed up, and there was a dead woman in the hotel room.”

  “Did they catch the murderer?”

  “It was hired out to a local mob guy, and he never said who hired him. Cash. Untraceable. No record anywhere. The guy I connected with—the one who was part of the operation—turned out to be a front. Just someone they used to make the initial contact. He knew nothing.” She paused. “Major crimes...I figured they laid low for a while and kept operating.”

  “So it was a bust.”

  “A dead girl, all for nothing.”

  “You know they were probably going to kill her anyway,” Ted said. “Otherwise it would have been someone else. Someone expendable.”

  “I’m surprised they didn’t try to kill me.” She didn’t even want to think about the fact that girl had been dead either way. Especially not considering the level of cynicism in Ted’s tone. She hadn’t known he was that much of a realist. Usually he was all about what they could learn, how they could grow. Do better next time.

  “No matter what,” she said, “I failed. A girl was dead. The detective in charge of the case asked me out. He thought that since the case was over, I’d want to get together.” She shook her head, still not able to believe he’d dismissed her grief and shock at having discovered that girl. So severely beaten and murdered.

  Jess hadn’t had a romantic relationship since. And she hadn’t entertained those feelings again—not until she got to know Ted.

  “Her death wasn’t about you,” he offered. “It was simply convenient, and it had the desired effect if it meant they could send a message and carry on unheeded.”

  “I got an email a month ago from the lieutenant. He’s a captain now.” She felt a small smile curl up the corners of her lips. “They took down the whole operation.”

  Not only had she not been there to see it, but she also hadn’t assisted in any part of it the last three years the case had been ongoing.

  “That’s good.” Ted stacked their bowls but didn’t get up.

  “I know it’s a good thing.” She ran her thumbnail along the edge of the counter. “I just wanted to be there when they were arrested.”

  “Like with interviewing Sally Peters? Seeing it through to the end. Being there when we ID West and bring him in.”

  She shrugged one shoulder. “At least making sure no one innocent is hurt just to send us a message.”

  “So far he’s just been messing with us,” Ted said. “Or at least, that’s what it feels like.”

  She nodded. This was supposed to have been about getting him to open up. Would he reciprocate now that she’d told him the worst there was in her past?

  When he said nothing, she asked, “Are you doing okay with the workload you have on this?”

  “I’m supposed to be behind the scenes, and yet I seem to be targeted every time I turn around.”

  She nodded. “I know how that feels.”

  “We’ll get there.” With one hand he brushed back hair that had fallen over his forehead. “I could do without having to worry my dad could show up anytime I turn around though.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s crazy he escaped custody.”

  Ted nodded. “Right? I have a video call with the agent in charge at six, and I’m supposed to give them all the intel I have on him.” He blew out a breath. “One day I should just write it all down, then people can stop asking me.”

  “A memoir.” She nudged his good hand. “Hey, maybe Ellie will ghostwrite it for you.”

  He chuckled. “Dean said the same thing about an idea he had.” She smiled, enjoying the moment. It wasn’t long before Ted frowned. He turned to the front window. “Do you smell smoke?”

  “I—” Before she could say she didn’t, Jess realized she did. “Yeah.” She hopped off the stool and drew her weapon.

  “Are you going to shoot the fire out?”

  “Maybe.” She grinned. “But I’m not taking any chances, considering.”

  “Fair enough.”

  The doorbell rang.

  She followed Ted to the screen where he tapped a button. No bigger than an iPad Mini, the tablet illuminated with the image from the front-door camera.

  Two firefighters in full gear stood on the doorstep.

  “Open up!
” One pounded on the front door with a gloved fist. “You need to evacuate immediately!”

  Ted stepped toward the door.

  Jess’s instincts fired. “Wait!”

  But it was too late. He’d already turned the handle. The door swung in at him.

  Fourteen

  Ted narrowly dodged the door before it hit him. Two firefighters in full gear barreled through the door.

  “Whoa. What are you guys doing?” The smell of smoke filled his nostrils. Especially now that the door was open. What was burning?

  Ted figured half the police department was already on their way here. The huge house was on the outskirts of town, tucked back in the trees in the foothills. The only other structure was the barn next to it.

  He frowned. “Is the barn on fire?”

  Jess still hadn’t raised her gun. But neither had she put it away.

  “Guys.”

  The one closest to him turned. “Wheys da flush dry?”

  Given the breathing mask that covered his face, his voice sounded muffled. Ted couldn’t recognize the voice or face, so he didn’t know which of the town’s fire department first responders his voice belonged to. Or even what he was saying.

  The man closed in on him.

  Jess said, “Easy.”

  The man pushed his masked face into Ted’s, enunciating his words this time. “Where is the flash drive?”

  “Wha—” Ted realized what he was talking about. This man wasn’t here to put out any fires. He worked for West. “The one from the bank? I don’t have it. You guys do.”

  He’d left it on the coffee table in the house he’d been taken to after being kidnapped. Had the police retrieved everything after they arrested the kidnapper? His kidnapper was in the hospital. Was the guy awake?

  This was getting to be just too much.

  “Back up.” He lifted his good hand, palm out. “And get out of my house.”

  Since Jess had her weapon still loose in her hands, he turned to the alarm panel. He’d never actually used the “in distress” function but knew how to do it. The signal would alert everyone who lived here via their cell phone. At the same time, it would contact emergency services, and help would come in less than five minutes.

  Assuming they had that long.

  The firefighter after the flash drive shoved Ted in the back, causing his finger to glance off the alarm panel before he could press the emergency button. Then he slammed Ted backward, pinning his sprained arm between his body and the wall.

  Ted cried out.

  Jess’s gun went off. He twisted to see her fire again before he could say or do anything. The man behind him jerked back and fell against the wall.

  “Go!” she yelled. “Let’s go!”

  Ted’s brain caught up to what was going on. He ran through the house, down the hall, and around the corner toward the back door. Zander had a mirror hung up in the corner to nullify the blind bend.

  Ted stopped around the corner and leaned against the wall.

  Jess raced around, nearly colliding with him. “Come on!” She tried to reach for him as she moved, but he shook off her hold on his good arm and studied the angled mirror. The fish-eye view of the front door was clear.

  “They’re down.”

  “No blood.” She tugged on his arm. “They’re not down. Come on.”

  “I need my phone.” They had to call for help.

  “I have mine.”

  He saw them at that moment. The first firefighter jogged down the hall. Ted turned to Jess, ushering her along. “Come on.”

  She huffed.

  He figured that was a pretty good reaction since they were both injured. Anytime either one of them was over tired, or in pain, they tended to snip at each other. Who didn’t? And who, on realizing they did it, didn’t try to work on that tendency within themselves?

  He sure did. It was part of being the man Chief Ridgeman had thought he was.

  All his attempts at growth were to live up to his expectations.

  Jess shoved the door handle and held it open, her gun trained past him as he raced through it. Outside now, he tried to figure out where they should go.

  The guys had drilled him on emergency procedures. Evacuation plans. He knew they were still working on the idea of a panic room in the house, but all they’d done so far was ask him to figure out how to get satellite TV in there. They hadn’t built anything yet.

  He headed for the warehouse, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure she was with him.

  Jess hauled a two-by-four leaning against the house over to the door and wedged it under the handle.

  He slowed. “Good thinking. Now come on.”

  The smoke was worse out here. Ted rounded the corner of the house and saw the warehouse. His cry was audible.

  “What?” She nearly bumped into him but managed to stall her momentum before colliding with him. “What is…oh, no.”

  “They’d just renovated the inside.” He wanted to collapse and cry over all Zander and his team’s hard work. Lost now.

  “That’s what you’re worried about?” A bang on the interior of the back door distracted him from her ire for a second. Then she continued, “They probably set that fire to draw us out, knowing we were alone in the house. Only we never smelled it, so they got impatient and knocked on the door.”

  The back door she’d wedged shut splintered as the firefighter inside the house kicked it open. His boot stuck in the door.

  Ted nudged her. “Save the debrief for after this is done. Go!”

  The firefighter shoved the rest of the door open and stepped out, a gun in his hands. Ted raced toward the warehouse. It would be dangerous and there was a lot of smoke, but he figured it could give them cover as they circled around.

  Why hadn’t he worn his watch today?

  Okay, he knew why, considering he’d been inside at home with the alarm on. He didn’t wear it twenty-four seven.

  “Give me your phone.”

  Before she could dig it out of her back pocket where she kept it, a firefighter rounded the warehouse. The other one. Coming from the direction of the house.

  “Go!” He jerked on her arm with his good hand. They raced for the carport, under which Zander had parked his rusty broken-down truck. The one that didn’t run. And no one except him was allowed to touch.

  What sounded like a mortar detonated inside the warehouse, immediately followed by a steady pop-pop.

  “His ammo stash.”

  Zander kept his ammunition locked away. Had it not all been in a fireproof safe, or was it something else entirely that was exploding now? The heat of the fire drew beads of sweat down Ted’s back as he ran.

  Right behind him, Jess coughed.

  She slowed, and he saw her glance back. “They’re coming. They saw us.” She dug her phone out as she ran, fumbling between the gun and the cell. Trying to slide her thumb across the home button.

  “Make an emergency call.”

  She nearly ran into a tree.

  “Watch out.”

  “Take it.” She shoved the phone at him. “And go.”

  What was… Ted had no time to even finish thinking the question in his head before she half-shoved-half-threw the phone toward his hands and reached back with her gun. She squeezed off a shot at the firefighter closest to them.

  Dirt kicked up beside his foot.

  The man never slowed, only lifted a gun of his own. A revolver. The muzzle flashed.

  A tree beside him exploded. Ted fumbled and dropped the phone. He slowed to go back.

  “Don’t!” She practically shoved him over. “Go. Go.”

  He’s shooting at me.

  For some reason, it irritated him that she’d fired and the guy’s return shot was aimed at him. Now he’d lost the phone. Where were they going to go? There was nowhere to hide out here. And fewer places than that where they could call for help. “They probably followed you right to my doorstep.”

  It wasn’t like they gave out their addre
ss. The guys were super picky about security. He doubted West—or his dad, for that matter—knew where he was. And that was the way he liked it.

  “You think this is my fault?” Another shot rang out, and she ducked her head. “They’re after your flash drive.”

  “The one I don’t have?” He shot her a look but dropped the conversation.

  The last thing they needed to do was find a spot to hide out here and give away their position by arguing.

  “Why do you guys live so far from town, anyway? We’ll probably be dead or captured before help gets here.” She huffed out a breathy sigh. “I can’t believe this is happening again.”

  He’d rather figure out the why of it after they were away from two firefighters with guns currently chasing them. “Does it matter? Just go.”

  “No one is coming. No one even knows we’re in trouble.”

  He said, “So give me the gun. I’ll distract them, and you go for help.”

  “So they can kill you?” She shot him a look.

  Ted kept tromping through the brush, even though he wanted to quit. His arm hurt. “Who cares? You get help, and you’ll have more leads to find West.”

  “My grandfather didn’t give you a job so you could martyr yourself for the police department in some misguided attempt at a thank you.”

  He shot her a look that time. “That’s not what—”

  Crack. Splintered bark from a tree stung his cheek.

  Jess fired two more shots. “I’m nearly out of bullets. But with any luck, so is he.”

  “Do you even believe in luck?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Did he? Ted wasn’t even sure. He slowed. Mostly because he had to.

  “Come on.”

  “I can’t.” He shook his head, unable to believe she was still moving.

  “My grandfather believed in you. And you’re just going to quit now?”

  If this was her idea of a pep talk, it was awful, and she should not quit her day job. Ted slowed, headed for a downed tree at a jogging pace, and didn’t bother answering her. That would take energy he didn’t have. Mental headspace he needed to pour into figuring out how to get them out of here.