by Jamie Hill
Olivia took Addie in her Murano, and Jordan followed in her Jeep. They drove around the requisite fifteen minutes before Olivia headed to the safe house where she’d stay with Addie. Another ranch style home in a different neighborhood. Jordan saw them in safely, made sure there was nothing they needed, then left.
“Choose your room,” the marshal motioned between the three bedrooms. “I probably won’t sleep in the bed, but I’ll drop my stuff in the room you don’t want.”
Addie set her bag and briefcase in the nearest room. “I know. Marshals never sleep, right?”
Olivia smiled. “Let’s just say we sleep with one eye open. Until Ben gets back, I’ll have to sleep some. I’m pretty useless when I’m dog tired.”
“I would be, too. I really need to phone my parents. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to check in with them.”
“Okay, but make sure you don’t mention where you are or what’s happened. They can’t know anything about it.”
Addie shook her head. “How do you live like that? I mean, your parents really don’t know what you do for a living?”
Olivia shrugged. “They know that I work for the marshal service, and that my job requires security clearance. We have an understanding. I tell them who I’m dating and they don’t ask what I do during the day.”
“And they’re fine with that?”
“As fine as they can be. They trust me. They know I’m doing something good, and important. That’s enough.”
Addie thought about that and nodded. “I guess maybe it is. Excuse me while I make my call.”
“Of course. I’ll just go see what there is to eat in the kitchen.”
“Thanks, Olivia.” Addie sat on the bed and punched the button for her mother’s cell.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Mom! How are you?”
“Addie! Thank goodness. Your dad and I have been so worried. Are you okay?”
“Well, sure. My boss said he was going to call and let you know about the case I’ve been working on. He did, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he called. That’s not what I was talking about. It’s Cole. He showed up here, well not exactly here, but in town. He said he wasn’t here looking for you, but your dad and I didn’t believe him.”
Addie’s breath caught in her chest. “Cole was there?”
“Yes. We ran into him at a restaurant in town. Addie, he was as smug and arrogant as ever. I had to hold your father back from smacking him.”
“Oh, good grief! What did he say?”
“Nothing that could technically be considered a threat, but he made some remarks. He said he was looking forward to seeing you again soon. That kind of stuff.”
She gulped. “Do you think he knows where I am?”
“Can’t say for sure, but I’m afraid so. We were worried this would happen. You’re not exactly living under a rock, sweetie. You have a high profile job and your name is going to start being mentioned in news articles as your caseload increases.”
“So you’d rather I was a carhop at Sonic, or something a little less conspicuous?”
“No…but I think you should have taken the police up on that offer to go into the witness protection program.”
Addie smiled. If you only knew, Mom. “Yeah, I know you thought that was a good idea after I testified against him. But it meant I couldn’t see you or daddy again. I wasn’t willing to do that.”
“And now he’s out of prison and looking for you.”
Her blood ran cold. Could Cole have been the one to ransack the condo? Maybe it had nothing to do with Mitzi’s case at all. “He was fishing, Mom. Trying to get a rise out of you. Cole has always been like that.”
“Your dad and I talked about it. We don’t like this, honey. You aren’t safe.”
“Damn it!” Addie couldn’t shake the feeling that this just wasn’t her day.
* * *
Ben glanced at Mitzi and Nick, then opened the door just a crack. Gray smoke billowed into the room. He closed the door just as quickly. “Nobody panic. Mitzi, is there a different way out?”
She nodded. “There’s another set of stairs in the back. Take a left in the hall and go past the private rooms, five doors on each side. You’ll see a door at the end. That leads to a stairwell.”
He turned to Nick. “We should go, now.”
“Agreed. No screen door’s going to smack me on the way out.” He opened the door just enough to slip through then pointed his light at the floor and headed out.
Mitzi went next, shining her light around the hall. “I can’t see shit.”
“Shhh.” Ben pushed her hand down.
A shot rang out, echoing through the hallway.
“Damn it!” Nick opened the closest door and dragged Mitzi into the room.
A second shot whizzed past Ben’s head. He dove into the room, rolling on the floor as he landed.
More gunshots pelted the door and Ben kicked it shut with his feet. He crawled behind the large bed, which offered the only cover they had without hiding in a closet. He’d done that before but hated not being able to see what was coming.
“The smoke’s getting worse,” Mitzi sputtered, coughing.
Ben passed her his phone. “Call nine-one-one. Tell them the address, and that the building seems to be on fire. Make sure they know which room the three of us are in, and that someone’s shooting at us from downstairs.”
Nick grabbed Ben’s shoulder. “If you tell them that, the firemen won’t come in until the police have cleared the scene. I’m not sure we have that much time.”
“We can’t let the fireman come in unaware. They could be killed.”
“Are the assholes downstairs really going to hang around once the blaze takes off? They’ll hightail it outta here.”
“We don’t know that.” Ben looked at Mitzi. “Call them! Tell them it’s two US Marshals and a witness. That might hurry them up.”
“Or slow them down.” Nick frowned. “Some cops are assholes.”
Ben shook off his grasp. “So are some marshals.” He crawled back to the door and opened it enough to peer out. Smoke filled the hall and he could hear the crackle of fire. A few peeks of orange flames appeared through the fog.
He glanced at the far staircase and could tell it was already engulfed. Closing the door quickly, he sat with his back against it. “We’re definitely not getting out by the stairs. Both ends of the hall are on fire.”
“Please, hurry,” Mitzi spoke into the phone. “Yes, okay.” She looked at Ben. “Stuff some towels or something under that door. Bathroom’s over there.” She pointed.
“I’ll do it.” Nick fumbled his way to the bath and came back with some towels. “Water’s been shut off.”
“Great.” Ben went to one of the two windows and tried to open it.
“They don’t open,” Mitzi informed him. “We couldn’t have anyone messing around, or trying to get out that way.”
“No, in case of a fire we sure wouldn’t want that.”
“Oh!” Mitzi pointed. “I just remembered. In one of the dresser drawers there should be a rope ladder. The fire marshal insisted all the rooms have one for emergencies.”
Nick grumbled, “Why didn’t you say so?”
“I said I just remembered.” She returned to the phone. “You really need to hurry. Things are getting tense, here. No, I don’t hear sirens yet.”
He found the rolled rope ladder and held it up. “This doesn’t look very long. This is a tall building. Even with this short ladder, it’d be one hell of a drop onto concrete.”
Ben found the light switch on the wall and tapped it. Nothing happened. “Electricity’s been shut off, too. I was hoping to get a better look at that thing before we trust our lives to it.”
Nick moved in front of the window. “We’re going to have to break the glass.”
“Should we let the firemen do that?” Mitzi asked him, and then asked the dispatcher on the other end of the phone call, “Should we break the window?�
�� She looked at Nick. “She says to let them do that.”
“Then tell them to hurry up and get here,” he replied.
She made a face at him and spoke into the phone, “Please hurry.”
Ben finally heard the sirens and breathed a quick sigh of relief. Breathing at all was getting difficult, as smoke filtered in around the cracks of the door. He stood beside Nick and said, “Flash your phone light at them. Make sure they see us.”
Nick did as directed.
Mitzi did the same with her cell phone, while still speaking into Ben’s. “Okay, they see us.” She told them. “The dispatcher says the firemen see us. They’re going to see if the stairs are passable before sending up the ladder.”
“Okay.” Ben nodded, exchanging glances with Nick.
Nick nodded and coughed.
A few minutes later Mitzi told the person on the other end of the call, “All right. We will. Thank you. Thanks so much for your help. We appreciate it.” She ended the call and handed the phone back. “The stairs are impassable. They’ll be sending up a fireman on a ladder for us.”
“Did they mention seeing anyone downstairs?” Ben asked.
She shook her head.
He chewed his bottom lip. “I suspect they’re out of here. I’m not sure if setting the fire means they found what they were looking for or not.”
Nick coughed again. “Who cares right now? I’ll be a lot more interested when we’re down on the ground and out of the burning building.”
Tears streamed Mitzi’s face.
Ben drew her into a hug. “We’re gonna make it. Look, you can see the firetruck on the ground below us.”
“I know,” she sniffled. “I just can’t believe the palace is gone. It felt like I had options before. Now, I have nothing.”
“There’s always Atlanta. You said it wasn’t so bad there.”
“Bo-ring.”
He stepped back and squeezed her shoulder. “Maybe, if you know you’re going to be staying there, it’s time to do something about that.”
“Maybe.”
A fireman’s face appeared on the other side of the window. The man motioned for them to move away, and he proceeded to break the glass.
Mitzi clung to Ben as the wall shattered, glass exploding inside and out. They watched as the man ran a gloved hand over the frame to knock out the shards they’d have to cross to get out. “Watch your step,” the fireman instructed. “Do you need harnesses or do you think you can climb down?”
Mitzi glanced at Ben and nodded. “I can climb.”
He agreed. “Ladies first.” He led her to the window, stepping over the glass carefully.
The fireman shifted so she could climb onto the ladder. He then moved behind her, his arms on either side of the ladder. “We’ll go down together.”
“Thank you.” Mitzi caught Ben’s eye. “You’re coming, right?”
He smiled. “We’ll meet you down there.”
The smoke had turned black and acrid. Ben wasn’t prepared to wait for the fireman to return. Glancing at Nick, he said, “You’re next.”
“Like hell. You’re going next, and we’re not waiting for Fireman Freddy to come back and hold our hands.”
Ben grinned. “We agree on that, at least. Let’s get the hell out of here.” He stepped out onto the ladder, happy for the rush of fresh air that hit him. The ladder felt shaky but he suspected that was him, more than anything. One step at a time he lowered himself until he was just above the ground and two firemen grabbed him and escorted him away.
“You okay?” An EMT wrapped a blanket around his shoulders and looked Ben in the eye.
“I’m fine.” He covered his mouth when he coughed and realized his skin was darkened from the smudge. Ben glanced back at the ladder. “Is my partner okay?”
A police officer led Nick over to him. “He’s fine. Damn feds never do what you’re told to do.”
Window glass popped and shattered as flames shot out of the room they had just occupied. Ben looked up, his heart pounding. “We were a tad anxious to get out. Can you blame us?”
The officer studied the fire then turned back to Ben and smiled. “No, I guess I can’t. You people are lucky.”
Ben looked around for Mitzi, who was being treated by an EMT. She was as soot-covered as he and Nick, but seemed to be all right. And none of them had any bullet holes. “We were lucky,” he agreed, and caught Nick’s eye.
Nick shook his head, and then gave a small smile. “That’s us. Lucky sons of bitches.”
Chapter Seven
Topeka, Kansas
Cole Jessup scrolled through the headlines on his smartphone as he reclined on his hotel bed. Looking for news about Ryan North’s trial, he’d been disappointed to discover the perp had been killed and the trial was off. The thought of watching Addie in the courtroom had buoyed him all week.
The last time he’d seen her had been in a courtroom as well, when she testified against him for domestic abuse. He’d been so sure she wouldn’t go through with it. With encouragement from her parents she had, and he’d been sentenced to three years. His lawyer had managed to get him into a medium security facility but it still sucked worse than anything he’d ever experienced in his life. With time off for good behavior, he was released in eighteen months. It had felt like an eternity.
The last couple months had been a blur, though. He’d moved to San Antonio after discovering there was nothing left for him in Dallas. The law firm he’d worked for had dropped him like a hot potato, not that he could practice anymore. He’d done the research, some people managed to pull it off, but it usually required a five year wait after his probation ended, which would be another two years. Then the requesting felon had to prove good moral character to be allowed to practice again.
Cole smirked. If he’d ever had good moral character, spending a year and a half in prison had taken care of that. Right now the only thing he had was a burning need in the pit of his stomach. A need for justice, a need for revenge, a need to see Addie again and tell her how much what she’d done had hurt him. He was anxious to talk to her. Among other things. He’d need time when he did get to see her again. Plenty of time.
And after he’d dealt with Addie, he’d focus his attention on her parents. They were easy to find. Not that his PI had much trouble tracking Addie down. She didn’t use his name anymore, even though she’d graduated from law school as Addison Jessup.
He recalled the day she’d received her diploma, could still see her wearing that black cap and gown. They’d all been so happy back then. Her parents liked him, treated him like a son. Her little sister Katie was the sibling he’d never had. They’d thrown a party for Addie and her classmates. Everyone had had a good time celebrating.
Then he and Addie went home to their small apartment where he’d beaten the crap out of her for hanging on and hugging all her male fellow graduates. She’d known he hated that kind of behavior. She’d known how it made him feel. She’d always known what her consequences would be, yet she’d done it anyway. So basically, it was Addie’s fault.
He closed his eyes, nodding to himself. It had definitely been her fault.
* * *
Lawrence, Kansas
Ben glanced at the clock on the dash of Nick’s truck. Six-thirty a.m. He yawned and leaned his head back.
“No sleeping,” Nick snapped from the driver’s seat. “We all agreed that we just wanted to get home. But now Mitzi’s snoring in the back seat and you can’t keep your eyes open.”
“I’m awake. When we left the hospital we were all so keyed up, none of us thought we’d ever sleep again.”
Nick glanced at him sideways. “We were lucky, nothing but a little smoke inhalation. It could have gone much worse, Benji.”
“I know.” Ben turned around to look at Mitzi. She was indeed sleeping, and he was glad. She’d been upset as they’d stood outside and watched her ‘palace’ go up in flames. Later, at the hospital, a fireman told them the building had been totaled
. Mitzi was inconsolable. She’d adjust to the loss eventually, but for now, sleep was her only respite.
He turned back to Nick. “If DeMarcus ordered the place burned to the ground, do we think he found what he was after—or just got tired of looking?”
“We have no way of knowing. We’ll have to put some feelers out and see if they’re still looking for Mitzi.”
Ben sighed. “Other than the satisfaction of knowing, I’m not sure how much it matters. Either way, she’s staying in Witsec. I think she’s finally resigned to that fact.”
“Resigned, maybe. Happy, no.” Nick stared out the front window. “It’s times like this I wish that I still smoked.”
Chuckling, Ben shook his head. “Don’t do anything drastic, man. I’ll drive a while if that’ll help.”
“Nah, I’m good. We just went through Lawrence. It’s only another half hour.”
“All right, then.” Ben pulled his phone out and wondered if it was too early to text Addie. She had to be getting up soon, preparing to go in to the office. He typed a message. Good morning. Getting ready for work?
The reply came back quickly. Actually I’m lying in bed thinking of you. Decided not to go to work today.
He blinked. She’d been anxious to get back to the office. Something wasn’t right. What’s wrong?
She replied, Too much info to text. Can you come here? I’m staying at a safe house with Olivia. Someone in your department could tell you which one.
Ben read out loud. “Addie’s at a safe house with Olivia? What the hell?”
Nick glanced at him. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know. She said it was too much to text and asked if I could come there.”
“Tell her yes, we’ll be there in forty-five minutes or so. Mitzi needs a place to hang anyway, until we get this all sorted out.”
“Ok, thanks.” Ben texted back. We’ll be there in about forty-five minutes. He hesitated, then added, Are you okay?
Addie texted back, I’m fine. Guess I should get up and out of bed, then.
