Expired Game (Last Chance County Book 5)

by Lisa Phillips

  “Donaldson is closest.”

  “Good.” Ted said, “Send Dean as well. Jess is bleeding.”

  Bill’s exclamation made Ted move the phone away from his ear. He winced. Bill said, “What do you mean, bleeding?”

  “I mean bleeding.” Ted saw the corner of Jess’s lips curl up into a smile, but she didn’t look any less frustrated at this situation. She was apparently as happy about this as he was. “She scraped up her arm on a tree. Pretty badly.”

  “This is unbelievable…” Bill’s voice trailed off into muttering Ted couldn’t hear. “…the two of you have been through.”

  “I know.” Ted shoved hair back, but it only fell forward again. Of course he knew. It had been happening to him this whole time. His arm hurt. He was well aware of the danger they’d been in—repeatedly—over the last few days.

  “Who’s the guy?”

  Ted didn’t answer Bill’s question yet. Instead, he said, “Jess, can you roll him back?”

  The man was limp as she turned him.

  Ted took a picture with the phone and then said, “I’m texting you a photo, Bill. Can you run it through our system and see if you can get an ID?”

  “I’ll send it to Mia. One sec.” The line muted.

  Given Bill was the emergency dispatcher, it made sense Ted wasn’t the only one he was helping. What else was Bill doing? Fielding other calls, walking someone else through the worst day of their life? Right now, Ted was having nearly the worst week of his. Except for those couple of moments he’d been with Jess. When the reasons why they shouldn’t be together anymore dissipated, and all he could think about was the attraction between them.

  Which was precisely why Jess wasn’t looking at him, and why she had been so intentionally rough with the man on the ground.

  Now that the guy looked to have passed out, she was sitting back on her heels. Pain catching up with her.

  Ted didn’t wonder that he could read her so well. Jess thought she kept her feelings to herself. And he’d seen her undercover. She’d been a completely different person and it had birthed in him serious respect for her. However, when she was hurt? Different story.

  “Ted?” His name was muffled.

  He put the phone to his ear. “Yeah?”

  “Fire crew is headed to your house.”

  “I heard some nasty stuff explode. They need to be careful with the barn.” He shivered at the idea of firefighters showing up. “What about Dean?”

  “ATV’s. I have his GPS, and he’s about two miles from you.”

  Ted said to Jess, “The cavalry is almost here.” They should be able to hear engines pretty soon. “Then we can get back to town.”

  She nodded but didn’t look at him. “No wallet on this guy. Does Bill know who he is yet?”

  “No.” Bill would have told him. Probably they’d find out later from the lieutenant or Sergeant Basuto. Ted rolled his shoulders. He wanted to sit down and not get up for several hours. But doing that out here wasn’t going to be helpful.

  He blew out a long breath.

  “We’ll probably get nothing from this guy. West has kept his identity secret this whole time. It’s unlikely he’ll mess up now. A guy like this can’t be relied on to keep his mouth shut.”

  Ted switched the phone to his bandaged hand. He set his other on her shoulder, which he squeezed. “You can’t assume we won’t get a lead from this. That’s just exhaustion and pain talking.”

  “It’s also realistic.”

  Nothing he could say here would satisfy her. Besides, she had the right to feel defeated if she wanted to. Ted tried to see the positive side of everything. But even he had to fight the urge to consider all his attempts at proving he was a good guy were for nothing. Or that her grandfather’s faith in him had been misguided.

  In this, he could use his work for the police department to get them a result. It didn’t matter what he’d been into in the past. What his dad had dragged him to participate in. What mattered was finding West and bringing him down.

  Who cared that Ted was nothing but a fraud? Okay, so Ted might care about others’ opinions, but it didn’t need to be relevant right now. Or he was just too tired to worry they’d all find out. That was a problem for tomorrow.

  He needed to focus on what he could do right now. ID this guy. Go through all the evidence they had. He might have only one working arm, but he could use dictation with his computer and type one-handed.

  Ted straightened, satisfied that at least he had the right outlook. Jess would come around. He was sure of it. Probably in time for him to lose faith again, and she’d end up helping him next time. Wasn’t that how relationships worked? One person picked the other up, and they helped each other along.

  Unless there were too many issues to work through, and the relationship failed.

  Or never got started in the first place.

  Ted tilted his head. The sound of ATV engines that belonged to multiple vehicles rumbled their way. He strained to see who it was. How many people. If they had medical equipment to treat Jess’s arm or handcuffs to arrest their attacker. Or both.

  Both would be great.

  “Can they get down here?”

  He said, “I guess we’ll find out.” Though, he’d seen Zander and his team navigate all kinds of terrain. Still, it wasn’t the safest exercise.

  The last thing he wanted was for one of their rescuers to be hurt when they were only trying to help.

  He lifted the phone in his hand to shade his eyes from the afternoon sun now peeking through the trees. Bill had gone silent again, probably dealing with someone else.

  “Dean.” Ellie was behind him, arms around his brother’s waist. Ted spotted a second ATV. “Officer Allen.” Then a third. “Donaldson.”

  They made up the search and rescue team in Last Chance. At least, considering Zander and the guys and Stuart were all gone right now, they were who Ted wanted to come and rescue him from whatever awful situation he was currently in. Especially since he didn’t see Sergeant Basuto and his disapproving stare headed their way.

  The ATVs angled down, tipping toward them as they descended the hill. They sounded like a swarm of mechanical insects headed their way. The sight was slightly mesmerizing.

  Jess let out a cry. He twisted to her and saw her fall back, his gaze snagging on the blood-soaked T-shirt on her arm.

  The definitely fake firefighter launched himself up off the ground. He shoved Ted back before Ted had even realized he’d moved to stop the guy. He landed on his butt and heard someone up the hill yell over the sound of the ATVs.

  Ted glanced at them and saw Dean’s angry face. Then he turned around again.

  The firefighter guy raced to the edge and jumped over, his heavy clothing rustling as he moved. No hesitation. He just launched himself off the edge. His arms and legs pumped in the air, and then he was falling.

  Ted gasped as he disappeared over the edge.

  Bill’s muffled voice came through the phone speaker. Ted swiped it off the ground and held it to his ear. “Bill?”

  “What are you doing here?” Bill’s question sounded taut. And Ted knew instantly the dispatcher wasn’t talking to him.

  A muffled thud followed the question. Ted frowned. “Hello? Bill?”

  There was no answer, only silence.

  “Bill!”

  Seventeen

  “Jess!”

  She didn’t glance over to watch her sister run to her. Jess didn’t have the strength, so she just lay there on the grass on that hillside, staring at the sun. The word, “Ugh,” may have escaped her lips, though she’d deny that later.

  Ellie landed on her knees beside her and touched Jess’s forehead.

  “I don’t have a fever.”

  “No, just a chronic bad attitude.”

  “I do not have a battitude.”

  Ellie snorted. “Sure. Whatever you say.”

  “I’m dying. There’s no other reason you’d be nice to me at a time like this.” She t
urned to her sister and saw the worry etched into every line of Ellie’s face. “This is the end, isn’t it?”

  “Sarcasm does not become you.”

  Ted’s voice cut across their conversation. “...find out what’s happening!”

  Jess rolled slightly on the grass to see Dean and Ted in intense conversation. “What’s going on?”

  They looked at her, laying on the grass, staring up at them. Dean said, “Ted thinks something might’ve happened at the police station.”

  “Bill’s voice cut off.” Ted’s face was pale, his eyes dark. He needed two good nights of sleep and the requisite amount of full meals.

  The fact he also looked like he needed a hug wasn’t something she would allow herself to dwell on right now. Jess had to push those thoughts from her mind while Ellie took her hand and held it. She figured that meant she looked like she could use a hug also.

  Jess squeezed her sister’s hand but didn’t let go. “Did you call in?”

  Ted said, “My call to Bill is still open. I’m going to hang up and call Mia.” He turned away.

  Dean watched for a second, then came to her. “Can you sit up?” He deposited a backpack by her hip and sat down while her sister helped her up. He unwound the T-shirt around her forearm that covered her open wounds and didn’t manage to hide the wince.

  “Yeah.”

  He glanced at Ellie and started to speak.

  “Don’t send me on some pointless and benign errand just because you don’t want me to see this.”

  Jess glanced at her in time to see her sister lift her chin.

  Ellie said, “Besides, it’s too late.”

  Jess wanted to laugh. If she did, she would probably start crying instead, because she really did feel awful. Her arm hurt in a blinding way that made her want to throw up. All the rage she’d entertained earlier was gone now. It had dissipated after she lost her cool and punched that guy in the face.

  She was going to have to include that in her report. She wasn’t prepared for it to come out later, probably when the guy complained that the cop he’d been trying to kidnap and kill had fought back.

  Jess sighed.

  “You okay?” Dean waited for a second, then squirted her arm with a white bottle.

  She hissed. “That’s cold.”

  “It’ll numb your arm, but I still want you to be seen by a doctor. You could get an infection all too easily.”

  “That would be some nice frosting on the awful-tasting cake that has been the last few days.”

  Ellie squeezed her other arm. “At least you and Ted are safe now.”

  “For the moment. Seems like every time we’re by ourselves, someone tries to kill us. Or kidnap us?” Jess shook her head. “I’m not even sure what they’re trying to do. Maybe frustrate us to death or something.”

  Dean’s lips twitched.

  Ellie huffed. “There is nothing funny about this. The founders are at it again, and West is threatening Jess’s life.”

  To his credit, he frowned. “Who do you think it is? Ted identified everyone in that photo of those guys from Vietnam. So which one is it, the mayor or the fire chief are the only ones left. Right?”

  Jess’s brain stuttered. “Did I miss something?”

  No. There was no way. She had to have misheard him. Ted had identified them all? And he hadn’t told her?

  Jess shoved away Dean’s handful of bandages and got up. She strode to Ted, ignoring Donaldson’s, “Hey.”

  She got right in his face. “You know who the founders are?”

  Donaldson gaped.

  Ted hung up the phone. “I don’t have time for this.”

  He started to walk by her. Jess reached out on a reflex, and her forearm touched his shirt. She didn’t know if she hit him, or if he walked into her raised arm. Either way didn’t matter. Same result.

  Jess cried out.

  Ted spun to her, but she backed up two steps. Stumbled. Turned away from them all and bent double while tears streamed down her face. She sucked in a breath, forcing down the bile that rose.

  “We need to go.” It was like Ted didn’t even care that he’d withheld serious information from her. He said, “Bill might be in trouble. I can’t get ahold of Mia, and no one is answering the phone at the office.”

  She straightened and turned.

  Ted twisted to face her. “We can talk about whatever your problem is later on.”

  Then he walked away. Donaldson frowned after him, then said, “Come on. You can ride with me.”

  “Thanks.”

  Dean jogged after them, Ellie beside him. “Your arm still needs bandaging.”

  “I know.” She winced. Dean had her sit on the ATV seat and wait while he wrapped the scratches and gouges on her arm. The inside of her forearm was basically shredded, but after a one second glance, she didn’t look at it again. Not until it was covered with the white bandage.

  “It still hurts.”

  Dean’s lips twitched again. “I’ll call ahead so the new doctor is expecting you.”

  Ellie stiffened. Given her encounter with the previous doctor, that was understandable. The man had tried to kill her. The new doctor was a woman, but Jess had never met her. She’d been off shift when Jess was admitted after Ted’s kidnapping.

  “You okay?”

  She blinked and realized she’d zoned out. “We should go.”

  Jess was as ready as any of them to get out of there. Ted had already jumped on an ATV and powered it up the hill with Officer Allen sitting on the back. She heard the cop say something but couldn’t make out what it was.

  “Let’s go.”

  Jess climbed on behind Donaldson. They rode across the mountains to town, Ted speeding up ahead. A long twenty minutes later, the first ATV crossed the main street. Someone honked their horn, and Jess spotted Mia barreling down the road toward them in a car Jess had never seen before.

  She flashed her lights, coming fast.

  Jess patted Donaldson’s arm. He twisted to see and called out, “Lieutenant, whoa!” and hit the brakes.

  Mia did the same, screeching to a stop just as Ted, ahead of them, passed in front of her bumper and jumped the curb into the parking lot. The lieutenant stared over the steering wheel as they all convoyed into the parking lot.

  As Donaldson pulled up beside Ted, he glanced over and seemed surprised to see her there. She could see the moment the realization hit him that she was behind the rookie officer.

  A big part of her wanted to rub it in his face that she was sitting with a handsome good guy who most definitely wasn’t him. But Jess didn’t have it in her to follow through. Not only did she not want to hurt his feelings that way, especially when things were so complicated between them, but she also didn’t have the energy to be petty. Or spiteful. Right now, at least.

  Ugh. She was a horrible person sometimes.

  She patted Donaldson’s arm. “Go.” He swung his leg off the ATV and glanced at her. She said, “Please help Ted.” He was younger than her, though only by a couple of years. Donaldson was a good cop, and a good guy, but still pretty green.

  Dean went inside with them as well, while Ellie came over to Jess. Her sister said, “We should stay outside until they clear the building.”

  Mia came over from the car carrying four bulky white paper bags with handles. She’d been to the diner and brought back a bunch of food for everyone. Something she did regularly, considering her past injuries confined her to a desk—for the most part. “Care to explain what’s going on, Officer Ridgeman?”

  Jess said, “Is it Friday already?” That was when she usually grabbed lunch.

  Mia sent her a compassionate smile. “It’s Wednesday, Jess. I just thought I’d mix it up a little.”

  Jess made an, “eek” face. Mia out of her routine? What on earth was happening in the world? “I think I need to sit down. I’m having the vapors.”

  “You already are sitting down.” Ellie frowned. She grabbed two of the bags from Mia. “I think it�
��s clear.”

  Dean stood at the front door of the police station, his dark brows pulling together.

  “Did we really just let our men go in there and play hero for us?” Jess glanced at her sister and saw this was not the right audience. A history professor? The lieutenant, she could understand.

  Jess shook her head. She shouldn’t have let the rest of them, let alone Ted, go in there alone. Without her.

  “Jess—”

  Before her sister could argue with whatever Jess had been trying to get across, she led the way to the door. “What’s going on?” If she’d had her gun and full use of her faculties, she’d have helped. Dean knew that.

  “Find a seat. We’ll explain over lunch.”

  She stepped in and saw Ted leading Bill out into the main office area. Across the counter she yelled, “Bill!”

  He waved her off, but she wasn’t going to accept that. Jess headed through the door beside the counter and moved right to him as he sat in Savannah’s chair. She crouched in front of him. “What happened?”

  “Clocked me over the head.” Bill winced, and his craggy face shifted like two landmasses colliding.

  Donaldson strode in from the hall that led down to the basement level where the holding cells were located. “Call Conroy.”

  “On it.” Mia pulled her chair up to her desk. “What’s going on?”

  “Sally Peters is dead in her cell.” Donaldson reached up to grasp the back of his neck. “By the look of it, she’s been shot.”

  Jess turned to the dispatcher. “You were the only one here?”

  Bill nodded. She could see the pain in his eyes, but before she figured out what to do, Dean handed him an ice pack. Bill held it to the back of his head. “Lieutenant Tathers was headed back, and Basuto was supposed to be here, but he had a call across town.”

  Jess frowned. “And the officer over the holding cells?”

  Donaldson approached. “No sign of him. I’m going to search outside.”

  Jess was about to wobble over on her heels and fall out of her crouch, so she stood up. But her legs shook anyway, and she started to over-balance.