Fugitive at Large

by Sandra Robbins

  “Plus the fact,” Jessica said, “that he’s a young, good-looking man with an outgoing personality. He’s running on his war record and promises to bring our troops home from overseas and put an end to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.”

  Ryan nodded. “On the other hand, we have Senator Mitchum, who has been in office for twelve years and is highly respected in Washington. He’s on the Armed Services Committee that deals with matters related to the common defense. He has a great record in the Senate. From what I’ve read, though, neither of the candidates cares for the other one. I saw their debate last week on TV. They had some heated exchanges.”

  “That’s the debate Jamie attended, and that’s what he said,” Ellie added. “It seemed that accusations were thrown out on both sides, and neither could prove what they were saying.” Ellie took a deep breath and leaned forward. “But something else happened that night.”

  Ryan’s eyebrows arched. “What?”

  “When Jamie was leaving the debate, he saw a man in the parking lot whose car wouldn’t start. Jamie went over to see if he could help, and the man said he thought it was his battery. Jamie had some jumper cables in his car, and he helped the man get his car started. Then the guy asked Jamie to go for coffee as a thank-you for helping him. They ended up at an all-night restaurant and talked until the wee hours.”

  Ryan darted a glance at Jessica and then back to Ellie. “Did he say who this guy was?”

  “Yes. He said the man claimed to be an investigative reporter and that he was working on a story, but somehow Jamie didn’t believe him. He couldn’t quite figure out why, but he thought the reporter label was just a cover.”

  “Cover for what?”

  Ellie shrugged. “He didn’t know, but he said the guy was friendly and talked a lot about stories he’d written over the years. Jamie hadn’t heard of any of them and had decided the man was making up a lot of it. But he listened until he finally decided it was time to go. As he stood to leave, he reached across the table to shake hands and accidentally knocked the man’s briefcase to the floor. It opened, and papers fell out everywhere. Jamie was so embarrassed, and he squatted down and began picking up papers. Then he saw one that made him pause.”

  “What was it?” Ryan asked.

  “There were some pages stapled together with a newspaper clipping about the murders of Cal and Susan Harvey.”

  “Cal and Susan Harvey?” Ryan and Jessica said at the same time.

  “Yes. Jamie thought the names were familiar, and he picked the papers up and asked the man if that was the story he was working on. Jamie said the guy became really agitated and jerked the papers out of his hand. Then he stuffed everything into his briefcase and said he had to go. Jamie couldn’t get the names out of his mind, and when he got home, he started searching the internet. That’s when he found out that you, Ryan, had investigated that case.”

  Ryan sat up straighter and frowned. “But he didn’t mention it to me.”

  “I know. He was going to, but then a few days later he read in the paper that there had been a body found in a riverfront parking lot. There was a picture of the victim, and Jamie recognized him. It was Gerald Price, the man he’d had coffee with. He knew there was a story there, and he decided to find out what it was.”

  Ryan raked his hand through his hair. “That crazy kid. Why didn’t he tell me all this?”

  “I told him to do that, but he said you’d be upset with him. He wanted to prove he could do something on his own. And when he told me he was going to Nashville last Saturday to do some research on his story, I begged him to tell you, but he wouldn’t.”

  “Do you know where he went in Nashville?”

  Ellie shook her head. “He was very secretive when he came back, but he seemed to be brooding about something. Then on Wednesday he told me he was going to go to both candidates’ campaign offices and see if he could get interviews.”

  “And did he?” Ryan asked.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t hear from him again until yesterday, when he came by here before he headed to the computer store to work. He said he’d found out something that changed everything.”

  “What was it?” Jessica asked.

  “I asked him that, and he said he didn’t want to say anything else until he was certain. Then he said he had to get to work, and he left. Later he came by my apartment to tell me what happened at the convenience store and that he was going out of town for a few days. He asked me to cover for him at the paper.”

  “And he didn’t tell you where he was going?” Ryan asked again.

  Tears pooled in Ellie’s eyes. “No, and I’m worried sick about him. I haven’t heard a word. I’ve been leaving messages for him, but he hasn’t returned any of my calls.” She paused for a moment and brushed at the tears that were spilling down her cheeks. “Do you have any idea where he could be, Ryan?”

  Ryan exhaled a long breath and pushed to his feet. “I don’t know, but if I hear from him, I’ll let you know.” He reached in his pocket, pulled out his card and handed it to Ellie. “Here’s my number. If you hear anything, you let me know right away. Okay?”

  Ellie took the card, sniffed and stood. “I will.”

  Ryan glanced around at Jessica, who was standing beside him. “I think we’d better go now and see if we can figure out what’s going on with that brother of mine.” He turned back to Ellie and grasped her hand. “It’s good to meet you, Ellie. When Jamie gets back, I’m going to let him have it for keeping you a secret from me.”

  She smiled, and her eyes sparkled with tears. “Thank you, Ryan. It was great meeting you.” She nodded to Jessica. “And you, too.”

  Jessica reached out and touched Ellie’s arm. “Don’t worry. Jamie will be fine.”

  “I hope you’re right,” she said.

  A few minutes later, Ryan and Jessica emerged from the building into the sunshine, and he stopped to face her. “Can you believe this? Jamie has gotten himself involved in something that has to do with the Cal and Susan Harvey case.”

  Jessica nodded. “I know. I wonder if he remembered the victims’ names because he heard you talk about them.”

  “I don’t know. But there’s one thing I do know. I never felt good about Tommie Oakes being convicted of that crime. It’s beginning to look like there may have been more to it after all.”

  Jessica didn’t say anything for a moment but seemed to be lost in thought. After a moment, she took a breath. “What should we do now?”

  “You mentioned that you thought the clerk at the store might have been in on the attempt on Jamie’s life. Why don’t we go talk to him.”

  “Okay. Are we going to the store or to his place?”

  Ryan pulled out his phone. “I’ll call the station and get the numbers for both, and the guy’s home address from the police report.”

  A few minutes later, they were back at the car. Ryan had made the call to the convenience store, but the clerk wasn’t working today. “Let’s drop by his house and see if he’s home.”

  As Ryan guided the car away from the curb, he gripped the steering wheel harder to steady his shaking fingers. He couldn’t help feeling frightened for his brother. If Jamie had become involved in a murder case where justice had not been served, then that meant the Harveys’ killer was still at large. He’d killed two seasoned investigative reporters and he certainly wouldn’t stop at doing the same to a young college-newspaper reporter.

  Ryan had to find Jamie, and fast.

  FIVE

  When they stopped outside the apartment building where Richard Parker lived, Jessica glanced over at Ryan. He hadn’t said much on the ride here from the college, and she wondered if the conversation with Ellie had upset him.

  His hands still rested on the steering wheel, and she reached over and grasped his arm. “
Are you okay, Ryan?”

  He glanced down at her hand before he looked up into her face and smiled. His eyes, however, still held the troubled look she remembered when he would be concerned over a case they were working. “I’m scared of what Jamie’s gotten himself into and a bit surprised that he kept his relationship with Ellie a secret from me. But then, I never have been able to figure that kid out. He jumps into things before he has time to think.”

  “Not like his big brother, who has to study every little detail before he makes a decision.” She couldn’t help but smile at the surprised look that flashed across his face.

  “Is that what I do? I thought I was just being careful, always trying to do the right thing.” His eyebrows pulled together in a frown. “I made the wrong decision when it came to our relationship, though, didn’t I? I decided to act alone instead of talking it out with you and telling you how I was really feeling. I’m sorry now I didn’t do that.”

  Jessica cleared her throat and reached to unfasten her seat belt. “Maybe you’ve learned from that, Ryan. From the short time I talked with Jamie yesterday, I found him to be a sensible young man. That didn’t just happen. You helped him develop into the person he is. I’m sure he’s learned enough from you that he’ll be careful no matter where he is or what he’s doing.”

  “I hope you’re right.” He looked past her to the apartment building. “This is the address Mac gave me from the police report. Are you ready to go and question Richard?”

  “I am.”

  As they walked toward the entrance, Jessica couldn’t help but have a feeling of déjà vu. How many times in the past had she and Ryan walked side by side on their way to question a suspect or a witness to a crime?

  Being a bounty hunter at times could be a lonely job and it could be dangerous if a fugitive was approached in the wrong way, especially if there was no backup. But she and Ryan had always worked well together, and she had to admit it felt right, comfortable to be back with him now.

  They walked into the lobby of the apartment building, and Ryan pointed to the elevator. “Mac said he’s in apartment 201. That’s on the second floor.”

  Jessica cast a teasing look at him. “Getting too soft for the stairs, Spencer?”

  He grinned at the ongoing joke they had enjoyed when they worked together and shook his head. “I can still keep up with you any day, Knight.”

  They both laughed and headed for the stairs. As they climbed up to the second-floor landing, Jessica smiled to herself. Maybe she and Ryan could find their way to being friends after all.

  They stepped into the hallway of the second floor and stared at the doors that lined each side. About halfway down, Jessica spotted a young man knocking on an apartment door. As they approached, she could see that a frown covered his face. He pounded on the door again and yelled out. “Hey, Parker, are you in there?”

  She and Ryan stopped beside him, outside apartment 201, and Ryan pulled his badge from his pocket. “I’m Detective Ryan Spencer. We’re looking for Richard Parker.”

  The young man’s eyes grew wide as he stared at the badge and then he nodded. “This is his apartment. He’s supposed to drive me to work, but I can’t get him to answer the door.”

  “Have you spoken with him today?” Ryan asked.

  “Yes, about eight this morning. I told him I was having car trouble, and he said it was no problem for him to drive me. But now I can’t get him to answer the door or the phone. I thought maybe he had gone out, but I checked and his car is in the parking lot.”

  Ryan stepped around the young man. “Let me try.” He raised his hand and banged on the door. “Richard, this is Detective Ryan Spencer. If you’re in there, open the door for us.”

  No sound came from behind the door.

  Jessica moved to stand beside Ryan. “Do you think we need to try to get in?”

  “I think so.” He turned to the young man. “Can you go and get the superintendent to open this door. It’s possible that Richard is sick or hurt. We need to get in and check on him.”

  He was turning and running down the hall before Ryan had finished speaking. He looked over his shoulder and called out, “I’ll be right back.”

  Jessica watched him go before she looked back at Ryan. “I don’t like this.”

  Ryan’s mouth puckered in a grim line. “Neither do I.”

  Within minutes, the young neighbor reappeared with the building superintendent right behind. The man wore a work belt with various tools hanging from it, and he reached for a big ring of keys that jangled against his leg.

  He stopped in front of Ryan and stared at him. “I’m the super here. Are you the police officer wanting to get into Richard’s apartment?”

  Ryan nodded and pulled his jacket back to reveal his badge at his belt. “I’m Detective Ryan Spencer, and this is Jessica Knight. We’re trying to locate a missing person and need to talk to Richard. He hasn’t come to the door and his friend here tells me he’s not answering his phone. We need to make sure he’s okay.”

  The man nodded, inserted the key in the door and pushed it open. He took a half step inside the apartment. “Richard, are you in here?”

  There was no answer.

  His senses no doubt on alert, Ryan moved around the superintendent, pulled his gun and held it in front of him as he stepped into a small hallway that led into a room at the far end. Jessica followed close behind. She strained to hear a sound, any sound, but there was only silence.

  Ahead of her, Ryan reached the end of the hall and turned toward the left and the room that lay beyond. Suddenly he stopped, and she’d been following so closely she bumped into his back. She heard Ryan’s sharp inhalation of breath.

  “What is it?” she whispered.

  “It’s Richard Parker.”

  He moved aside enough so that Jessica could step up beside him. Her eyes grew wide, and she gasped at the sight before her. Richard Parker, his open and unseeing eyes staring upward, lay in a pool of blood on his living room floor.

  Jessica pulled her gun and glanced at Ryan. “What do you want me to do?” she whispered.

  He nodded toward his left. “Stay here while I search the apartment.”

  Jessica started to protest but thought better of it. She was no longer a police officer, and she needed to let Ryan take the lead in this situation.

  Within minutes, he was back. He stopped beside her and holstered his gun. “There’s nobody here.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief and slipped her gun back into its holster. Then she directed her gaze to the body of the young man lying on the floor.

  She’d never liked this part of being a police officer, arriving at a murder scene and looking down at the victim for the first time. During the years she was on the force, she’d had to work hard not to let her fellow officers know just how badly a death scene affected her. And this one was no different.

  The air in the apartment seemed to suddenly grow hot, and her stomach roiled at the lingering smells of cooked food and stale cigarettes. Bile rose in her throat, but she swallowed it back as she pulled a pair of latex gloves from her jacket pocket and put them on. Now for the second-hardest thing. She squatted beside the body and felt for a pulse in the neck. No heartbeat, as she’d suspected. Sadness welled up in her at the memory of Richard behind the counter at the store the day before. Had he really been involved in the plan to kill Jamie, or was he a victim of circumstances by being there at the same time? Either way, it grieved her to see a young life cut short.

  After a moment, she looked up at Ryan and shook her head. “He’s dead. You’d better call it in.”

  Ryan’s gaze fastened on her hands. “You still carry latex gloves?”

  She nodded. “Yeah, even in the bounty-hunter business, you never know when you’re going to have to handle evidence. I try to be prepared.”


  Jessica pushed to her feet and tried to shake off the nauseous feeling that assaulted her.

  Ryan pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched in 911. After the call was completed, he turned to the superintendent and the young neighbor. “The police are on their way here. They’ll want to talk to each of you, so stay around.”

  The two men nodded and then turned and walked out into the hall, leaving Jessica and Ryan alone with Richard. Jessica turned away from the still body and walked halfway back up the apartment’s hallway before she stopped and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to control the shaking that seemed to start at her toes and extend upward through her body.

  A moment later, she felt the comforting touch of Ryan’s hand on her shoulder. She straightened and turned her head toward him. His dark eyes held a troubled look. “Are you okay, Jessica?”

  “I’m fine.” She inhaled deeply and nodded. “I suppose it’s seeing the body of a young man I spoke with just hours before. It’s such a loss when a victim is a young person. I don’t understand killers who have such little regard for the gift of life.”

  “Neither do I,” he said as he rubbed her shoulder. “I’ve missed having you at the crime scenes with me. You always helped me get through the rough part of it.”

  She laid her hand on top of his on her shoulder. “I think we helped each other.” Then, in an effort to divert the conversation before it became too personal, she took a step away from him, but she stopped as a sudden thought popped into her head. “The door was locked when we got here.”

  “Yes,” Ryan said.

  She turned and faced him. “Then how did the killer leave?”

  Ryan’s eyebrows arched, and he nodded. “Good question. Let’s check the back door and see if it’s locked.”

  Jessica averted her gaze from Richard’s body as they stepped into the living room and through the entrance into a small kitchen. They stopped just inside the door, and she let her gaze drift over the sink piled high with dirty dishes, the counters cluttered with empty tin cans, the floor stacked with garbage. Then her eyes lit on the back door that stood slightly ajar.