by Layne, Lyssa
“Damn it!” He slammed the car into drive and raced down the narrow back alley like the devil was on his tail. He fishtailed out of the alley onto Cimarron and slammed on his brakes. He felt a hitch in his shoulder, a stinging pain as he'd come close to cutting off the fire truck and two police cars as they arrived.
The car screeched to a halt in front of Brad and Joe.
They both turned and caught sight of the sedan speeding off in the opposite direction.
Christine breathed a sigh of relief and squeezed Jared's hand. “You did good, my friend. Where did you learn to drive like that?”
He grinned. “Didn't I tell you about my training? Got my license at ACME Driving School.”
She laughed. “Well, at least we stand a better chance of staying alive now.” She nodded her chin toward the police and Joe's car.
Jared jumped out of the car, grabbed the backpacks then held a hand out to help her out.
She looked up in time to catch the puzzled frown cross his face.
He shook his head and began to shake. His face blanched and his eyes rolled back in the head. The backpacks fell to the ground. He teetered in slow motion towards the car.
“Jared?” She grabbed for him as his knees buckled. Her heart thudded against her ribs as she saw blood oozing from his shoulder, turning his pristine white shirt crimson.
“No!” She screamed and wrapped her arms around his waist in an attempt to hold him up. Brad reached them and lowered Jared's body to the ground.
“Oh, my God! Brad—” Her eyes riveted at him, then back at Jared. “The SOB shot Jared.”
“No problem, love. Just burns a little,” Jared words were slurred. He turned his pale face to her and tried to smile, but it was weak at best.
Brad unbuttoned Jared's shirt while Joe waved over the paramedics.
“Hang in there. Don't even think about leaving me.” Christine pulled his upper body into her lap.
He snickered. “Remember the little burn I told you about?”
Christine nodded. “Don't talk.”
“Well, seems it's turning out to be that little discomfort the dentist always tells you about.”
“You're delirious,” She said.
“No. Just in excruciating pain.” He passed out.
Christine reluctantly relinquished her hold on her best friend and let the paramedics have him. She stood on wobbly legs aware of Brad's arm encircling her waist, lending his strength to keep her upright.
“He's lost some blood, but the wound isn't life threatening.” She heard the paramedic speaking to Brad as if she were in a barrel with the lid on top.
Brad escorted Christine to Joe's car. “Come on. Let's get to the hospital.” Once she was seat belted in the vehicle, he turn to Joe. “Don't leave that operating area. I want the bullet taken to the lab as soon as possible, any other lab but ours. Got it!”
Joe nodded understanding, got into his car, and fired up the engine.
Christine gave him what had to be a poor example of a grateful smile, then leaned her head against Brad's shoulder. She loved him, but Jared was her best friend and she loved him too.
A short while later they were at a hospital waiting for a update from the hospital, Brad sent a text to Captain Roberts telling him what happened and where they were.
“Christine, can you tell me what happened?” He tightened his hold on her while she reiterated the events. He shouldn't have let her out of his sight. Either of them. He should have gone with them. Seeing Chris on the ground beside Jared had knocked the breath out of his chest. If she'd been shot, too—Hell!
Brad groaned, he leaned back against the cold vinyl chairs and covered his eyes with his hand. Yet again, he was responsible for someone getting hurt. By sheer luck, he and Joe had narrowed down the search to three ex-cons.
After Christine called to say they were in danger, he'd called Captain Roberts, given him a brief account of what they’d found in the files. The captain was going to the office to do a more in depth search to relay even more information on the suspects.
Brad sat up as Joe came out of the operating room with their prize in a small plastic bag and a smile that lit his face.
“Got it!” Joe wiggled the bag under Brad's nose. He dropped his voice to a whisper when he neared them. “I'm headed to the lab in East L.A. Are you be staying here?”
“Yeah. Christine needs to see him for herself before we drop out of sight.”
Joe nodded. He quickly walked away and disappeared around the corner.
Brad leaned back into the uncomfortable chair and glanced at Christine. The frown on her face told him she was not very happy. Who in the hell could be after what happened to Jared. He blew out a breath and settled in for what would most likely be a long wait.
Joe had only been gone for a short time when Brad received a text message from him.
Get the hell out of town, but keep in touch. I’ll explain later.
“Damn.” Brad showed Chris the message.
Brad managed to convince the ER nurse to let Chris see Jared.
Moments later Brad forced Christine away from Jared's bedside. He won't be awake for hours and we need to get the heck out of town before we wind up in the hospital. Or dead.
Christine grumbled as they slipped out a side door, jumped into Jared’s car, and sped away. After a series of route changes, to make sure they weren’t followed Brad pulled up behind the bike shop. “You stay here and stay down,” he said before taking a cursory look around, then hopped the fence and dashed though the back door.
He was back in a flash unlocking the gate and told Christine to pull the car in the garage. Brad grabbed the backpacks and ushered her from the vehicle.
A tall thin man next to the entrance slammed the large round button and the door made its grinding way to the floor closing them off from the outside world.
Brad turned to the man beside him. “Listen Nick, keep this car out of sight from anyone except Joe. No one else! And if anyone asks, pull the Sergeant Schultz routine. You know nothing, you’ve seen nothing, and you have no idea who the hell I am.”
“Gotcha. Now get outta here.”
“Chris, is my jacket in the car?
“No, Jared had it on.”
“Shit.”
Nick snagged a jacket off a hook. “Take mine. If nothing else, the Los Nortes monogram on the back will keep you safe for a while.”
“Let's hope it doesn't attract some gang member trying to make a name for himself. I'd hate getting my ass shot off about now.” Brad grinned and slid into the offered jacket.
“Thanks cousin. I owe you.”
“Pay me back by keeping the two of you alive. You headed home?”
“I hadn’t planned on it, but that’s not a bad idea.” Not many people were aware of the connection between them. They’d grown up together, weathered many a bad time and twice as many good times watching each other’s back.
“Say hello to the old man for me when you see him.” Nick grunted and gave them a lop-sided grin.
Worry filled Nick's dark eyes.
“Will do. Stay out of hot water, bro, you'll scorch your kidneys.” Brad was happy to get a laugh out of his cousin, with an old standby they used many times, slapped his shoulder then turned to Christine.
“And if you need anything, just call. No one knows about us. That's got to be a plus about now. You’ll be safe.” Brad glanced over his shoulder and gave Nick the okay sign.
He noted the puzzled expression on Christine's face. No time to explain. He'd do that once they got to the old man's place.
Brad handed her a helmet. “We have to go, sweetheart. Get it strapped on.” He pointed to the helmet and backpack as he straddled the motorcycle and kick started it. Christine shoulder the pack, fastened the helmet, and clambered on behind Brad.
She yelled in his ear. “If loud means fast, we should be where we're going in the next five minutes.”
Brad grinned, shook his head and charged out of the garag
e as soon as the door allowed full clearance.
He and Chris had agreed their first stop was to the old diner where Christine used to work, he didn’t take a relaxing breath until they pulled and parked among the other bikes.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Joe paced at the foot of Jared's bed, hands clasped behind his back, aware of the wounded man's dazed look following his every move. Did Brad and Christine make it out of town? The waiting was going to give him an ulcer if it didn't kill him first. He eased into a chair near the bed, picked up the hospital phone and called the captain. He relayed most of the story, then sat back and waited for his boss to show up while Jared drifted in and out of a drug induced sleep. He didn’t dare leave the room until the captain put a guard on the door.
Joe was holding a cup of water for Jared to sip as the captain entered.
Still groggy, Jared managed to recount the story from the time they left his place until he passed out on the scene.
Captain Roberts stood at the window his back to them as he listened, then he filled Joe in on his investigation.
“Of the three names you gave us, we’ve narrowed it down to one name. Cal Tripp is in Folsom. Manny Rojas was killed last month in a bar room brawl. That leaves Jaime Geiger. We’re still looking for him.”
“Who is we? I’m not sure who I trust anymore,” Joe muttered.
“I called my old partner from right out of the academy who is in a different precinct now, to do some digging.” The captain glanced over his shoulder and eyed Joe. “Where are Brad and Christine?”
The question sounded more like an order to Joe than a simple request.
Joe and Jared shared a fleeting moment of ‘Here we go’, before Joe responded. He made sure his voice imparted full confidence in the decision they'd made earlier. His head might roll, but his friends would be safe.
“Look Vince, you’re not going to like this, but I told Brad and Christine to get out of town before they end up dead. They’re just not safe around here.”
Vince’s face turned mottled red. “Tell me you’re kidding.” He turned to face Joe head-on. “Listen to me, Gallagher, in case you've forgotten, Maxwell is the chief suspect in a murder case, at least according to IA. I told him myself that he was not to leave town.” Vince shook his head slammed a fist on the frame of the bed.
Jared winced, held his breath then interjected with a slurred voice. “You know he's innocent.”
Joe nodded agreement, adding, “I realize you're under a great deal of pressure from the brass, but where’s your belief in one of your own men?
The captain ticked off events on his fingers. “Marty was killed. Christine was shot, her car blown up, and place of business destroyed.” He jabbed a bony finger in Joe's direction. “Don't forget the threatening phone calls. Not only that, one more innocent victim was hurt today. And all these things appear to be connected to Marty's death, even if Brad has alibis for them all.”
“Yeah, but don’t you get it? Brad’s been hurt too. He lost his best friend. And now, thanks to you and your lack of conviction regarding his innocence, and the entire force believes it as well. Between the media and newspaper reporters he's as good as tried and convicted in the eyes of the public.”
The captain had begun to pace again, but stopped abruptly and expelled a deep breath. “Running away isn't going to help.” He glared at Joe.
Joe refused to look away from his boss' beady-eyed stare. “Running away? Are you out of your mind? Whoever killed Marty is after Brad and Christine. Sticking around will get them dead. What don't you understand? This is for the best.” Joe reined in his anger and squelched the urge to poke a finger in the captain's chest. He had to make Vince had to understand that right now, by-the-book was not a good idea.
“What I see is that a murder suspect has left the area against direct orders. Do you realize what you two have done? I have no alternative but to put an APB out on him.”
“You can't—” Jared winced as he tried to sit up. His head fell back to the pillow. “I guess I'm going to leave you to fight this out.” He closed his eyes and succumbed to the pain, as the drugs kicked in.
Joe checked Jared then refocused his attention on Vince. “He’s right. You can't do this.”
“Don't you get it? I'm Detective Rodriquez's Commanding Officer, as well as yours and Maxwell's. I have to abide by the law. I took the same oath to protect and defend. I have to follow procedure if he's going to have any kind of chance to be proven innocent.”
“I thought the law said 'innocent until proven guilty', Cap.” Joe waited for that to sink in before moving on. “If you put out an APB, there's no way he'll ever get a fair trial. The guys in the office will flat out quit trying to find the real killer. You can't.”
“I have to do my job. And by the way Detective Gallagher, I'll be taking your service revolver and badge. You're on leave pending investigation for aiding and abetting a suspected killer.”
Joe stared at the captain's outstretched hand. Ignoramus. Idiotic fool. No wonder Brad had been in such bad shape since Marty’s death. Their boss claimed to be on Brad's side, but his actions said otherwise. Could this day get any worse? God, he hoped not. Joe rubbed at the achy spot on his stomach. He narrowed his eyes and gave the captain an evil eye.
***
Christine had barely stepped into the diner when she was pulled into a bear hug by her former boss. She'd worked for Harry Jackson during her college years. Being here was like coming home, because she’d never been welcome in her own home. Henry was the first person she connected with. Smiling wide, he let her go and gave her his best gap-toothed grin. Harry's rough exterior belied the gentleness of the man in the white apron.
“Hey Cinderella, what are you doing around here—slumming?”
“Who’s slumming? This was my first real home.” Christine returned the welcoming hug, and then scanned her surroundings. “Same old place, same smells of cinnamon and apples and good hot coffee, Harry. Nothing changes, including you.” She slipped a hand into Brad's, secure in his touch, the subtle comforting squeeze.
“Harry, this is Brad. Brad, Harry.”
Brad and Harry exchanged speculative glances, each cautiously assessing the other like ruffle-tailed, banty roosters ready to spar for a sleek chicken.
“Would you two knock it off? Harry’s the favorite Uncle I never had and Brad’s a cop. Now does that make any difference to you two testosterone-filled males?” She dropped Brad's hand aware of his reluctance to let go.
“Well, as the old saying goes, any friend of Christine's is a friend of mine.” Harry grunted, stuck out a beefy paw and shook Brad's hand. “Come on, sit down and have a bit to eat.” He rounded the counter and poured two cups of coffee. “What'll y'all have?” He chucked a forefinger under Christine's chin. Behind him, the television blared the noon news. The three stared at the tube, then at each other after the newscaster announced there were warrants for Brad and Christine's arrest.
“What the—why is there a warrant for you?” Brad whispered staring at her.
She shrugged a shoulder and shook her head in dismay.
Harry waggled a sausage finger at them, growling out another, “Okay you two, in the kitchen. Now!” He flipped the channel and pushed them in ahead of him, before anyone in the place could recognize them.
“What the hell is going on? What have you got my girl involved in?” Harry slapped a chunky fist on his hip, the other on the counter.
Brad took her hand.
She leaned into him for strength.
“Hold on Harry, it’s not what you think. Brad is a good cop, getting a bum rap for something he didn’t do. We have no idea who’s behind this, but I got involved when I asked Brad to escort me to my opening.” She squeezed Brad’s hand to reassure him she was along for the ride, no matter what.
“Okay, so what happened that you two are wanted by the law now?”
Christine relay all that they’d discovered since their meeting. “—and that's the w
hole story.” Christine bit the inside of her cheek, begged Harry with her eyes to understand.
“Girl, you do know how to get into trouble. Didn’t you learn anything from that rat, Ray?”
“Brad’s not Ray.”
“Yeah, and the next thing you’ll be telling me is that you love the bum.”
“I do, but that’s neither here nor there, so be nice.” Christine smiled up at Brad, unable to hide the look of love in her eyes.
Brad stole his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Me too. I don't want anything to happen to her, and right now we're not safe. Until we find out who's doing this we're in grave danger.”
Christine tucked into his chest. Warmth sluiced through her and pooled in her very center. He loved her. He'd admitted it, well sort of, unless he was just saying it for her benefit. Good thing he had his arm around her or she'd float to the ceiling.
“Okay then. Do you need any money or a vehicle?” Harry offered.
“Just like that you accept what we’re saying, no other questions?” Brad snapped his fingers.
“Brad—right? Chris would never lie to me or any of her family here. She knows we'll do our best to protect her. If she says she loves you, so you'd best believe it.” Harry poked a finger inches from Brad's chest.
“In that case, if I write you a check can I get some cash? But, I need you to not put that check through until this is over. If it goes through now, they’ll be able to track us.”
“Forget the check.” Harry moved to his desk, opened the top drawer, and pulled out a wad of bills. He handed Brad three thousand dollars. “If you need more, just call. I’ll meet you anywhere.”
“Just like that?” Brad asked.
“Just like that!” Harry snapped his fingers. “Do you have a place to stay for the night?”
Brad and Christine looked at each other than down at their interlocked fingers.
