Fugitive Trackdown

by Sandra Robbins

  His eyes grew wide. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

  “Home.”

  He shook his head. “Oh, no, you’re not. That car that almost ran us down was the same one that chased us into Memphis last night, and I’d say that it was either James or Peter driving it. So you’re still not safe, and I’m not going to let you stay by yourself tonight.”

  She chuckled. “So where do you suggest I stay?”

  He pointed to the house. “Right here. You practically grew up in Jessica’s room, and it is just like she left it. You can stay there. Then in the morning we can start out again. What do you say?”

  She thought about the farmhouse where her father had lived and how isolated it was and then glanced back at the Knight’s two-story brick house on a dead end street in a safe neighborhood. The choice should be a no-brainer. She’d always felt as if Adam’s parents were her second mom and dad, and they would be happy to have her stay overnight again.

  However, here was one big problem. Adam would be there with her in the same house where they’d been six years ago when he’d kissed her and then turned his back on her. Could she put those memories out of her mind?

  She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Tomorrow Jessica would be back, and she could stay with her if need be. Tonight she didn’t have a choice. She would be safer here.

  Safer?

  Maybe from James and Peter, but not from the man who still had the ability to make her heart race when he looked at her. She shook her head and followed Adam to the front door. All she had to do was stay away from him while they were here, and she’d be fine.

  SEVEN

  Adam sat up in bed and swung his feet to the floor— 3:00 a.m. glowed on the bedside clock. He sat still for a moment in case the dizziness he’d felt earlier returned. When nothing happened, he climbed from bed and pulled on his jeans and a sweatshirt. He glanced around his childhood bedroom and smiled. He didn’t come home often enough, he realized, but when he did it really made him feel good.

  He walked to the bedroom door, stepped into the hall and listened for sounds in the house. The door to his parents’ room was closed as was the one to the bedroom his brother had lived in before moving out. He stopped beside the closed door of the room where Claire was sleeping and paused. No sounds came from inside. As tired as she had been, she was probably dead to the world.

  As quietly as possible, he moved down the staircase to the entry. As he walked down the hallway that led to the kitchen, he noticed the glow of a light coming from that direction. He chuckled at the thought that his mother had learned years ago that with two growing boys in the house she needed to leave a light on in case they needed a midnight snack.

  He stopped at the kitchen door and flipped on the overhead light. A surprised squeal followed by a clatter split the nighttime quiet. Instinct kicked in, and he grabbed at the waist of his jeans for his gun. But it wasn’t there.

  Before he could say anything, Claire’s angry voice rang out. “What do you mean, scaring me like that?”

  For a moment he couldn’t speak but could only take in the scene before him. Claire sat at the kitchen table, the cup she’d been drinking from overturned, and cocoa pooling on his mother’s kitchen table.

  He took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart and frowned. “Scaring you? If I’d had my gun with me, I would have shot you. You’re supposed to be asleep.”

  Claire tilted her head to one side and crossed her arms. “So are you. I guess Peter and James aren’t the only ones I have to worry about as far as my safety is concerned.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. She might be grown-up, but she was still the saucy little girl who had always stood her ground with him. He glanced down at the mess in front of her, set the cup back in its saucer and reached for a paper towel. “Let me clean this up for you.”

  To his surprise she didn’t argue but let him wipe up the spill. When he’d finished, she smiled. “Thanks, Adam. I’m sorry if I frightened you. I couldn’t sleep and thought I’d make myself some cocoa.”

  “That sounds good. What if I make us both a cup?”

  Her forehead wrinkled, and for a moment he thought she was going to refuse. Then she shrugged. “Sure. That sounds good.”

  A few minutes later they sat facing each other at the kitchen table as they quietly sipped from their cups. Adam raised his cup to his lips and stared at Claire over the rim. A feeling of déjà vu hit him, and he almost choked.

  Claire didn’t appear to notice, and after a moment he set the cup back in its saucer. “Claire, I hope you’re not uncomfortable being here with me.”

  She paused before she answered. “It does bring up memories of another night.”

  “I know. I’ve tried to explain what was going on with me at that time, but I’m sure it’s not easy to understand.” He sat still as the memories of seeing his buddies killed by roadside bombs and snipers rushed into his head. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against them. “I was so scared the whole time I was home. I didn’t want to go back. I was sure I would never make it home again. Then I found you here, and for the first time I felt like I had someone I could talk to, but I was afraid of that, too. I knew it would be hard enough for my family if I didn’t make it through the war, and I didn’t want to add you to the list.”

  “I wish I had realized,” she murmured.

  He took a deep breath. “It’s okay. If you haven’t experienced combat, you can’t begin to understand what it does to you.” He pushed his cup away and stood. “Anyway, I don’t want to think about that tonight. I want it to stay in the past where it belongs. Now I’d better get back to bed and leave you alone. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She reached out and grabbed his arm before he could walk away from the table. “Wait a minute. I want to say something to you.”

  “What?”

  She swallowed and clenched her hands in her lap. “I wanted to thank you for saving my life at the bank. For some reason, I couldn’t move. If you hadn’t thrown me out of the way, I’d probably be dead. I’m so sorry that you ended up hurt.”

  He smiled. “Aw, don’t worry about me. I’m okay. Besides, I promised you I’d protect you, and I wanted to do that.”

  She nodded. “I know. But when I woke up, I was wedged under the car, and I couldn’t move you off me. I thought you were dead, and I was afraid I’d never have the chance to thank you and to apologize.”

  He frowned. “Apologize for what?”

  She took a deep breath. “For holding a grudge against you all these years. I should have asked God to help me forgive you, but I didn’t. Instead I concentrated on how rejected I’d felt that night you kissed me, and I let my anger against you fester into something ugly.”

  He sat back down at the table and reached his hand across the table. She hesitated a moment before she raised her hand from her lap and laced her fingers with his. Her touch sent a warm rush through him. “I was out of line that night, and there hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t regretted what I said. I think I ruined something that could have been good for both of us.”

  “Maybe so,” she said. “But that’s all in the past now. I want you to know that I have let it all go. I promise you that from now on I’ll treasure your friendship, and I’ll try to be a good friend to you, too.”

  He smiled, and his fingers tightened around hers. “That sounds good to me, Claire. Thank you for telling me.” He squeezed her hand once more before he stood again. “Why don’t you go on to bed? I’ll clean up here, and Mom will never suspect her kitchen had visitors in the middle of the night.”

  She smiled and stood. “Okay. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Sleep well.”

  He watched her go before he picked up the cups and carried them to the sink. He set them down, grabbed the
edge of the counter and closed his eyes. At least she had forgiven him, but all she wanted was to be friends.

  After the way he’d talked to her six years ago, he was lucky to have that much from her. Now all he needed to do was find a way to quit thinking about her every moment they were apart. That wasn’t going to be easy.

  * * *

  To Claire’s surprise, her lack of sleep the night before hadn’t affected her as badly as she’d expected. Maybe it was the fact that after yesterday she was happy to be alive and relieved her ankle was feeling so much better. She hummed a song she’d heard on the radio a few days ago as she descended the staircase and walked toward the kitchen.

  Mrs. Knight, dressed in her nurse’s uniform, stood at the sink drinking a cup of coffee. She smiled when Claire came into the room. “Good morning. I hoped you would wake up before I left.”

  Claire pulled a cup from the cabinet and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I’m glad you’re still here. I wanted to thank you for letting me stay here last night.”

  Mrs. Knight rinsed out her cup and set it in the dishwasher. “You know you’re always welcome here. I wish I had time to sit and talk with you, but I have to be at work in thirty minutes. I think you know where everything is, so help yourself to breakfast.”

  “Thanks,” Claire said as she slid into a chair at the table. “Where is everybody this morning?”

  “Adam has gone to his apartment to shower and put on some clean clothes. His father has gone down to the agency. With Jessica out and Adam working on your case, he thought Lucas might be shorthanded today.”

  Claire frowned. “I hope it hasn’t inconvenienced everyone with Adam helping me out.”

  She waved her hand in dismissal. “Of course it hasn’t. That’s what family is for, to help each other when we’re needed. And that’s what we consider you, Claire. You’re family.”

  “This has always felt like my second home. I’ve missed it since I’ve been in Nashville.”

  Mrs. Knight came around the table and gave her a swift hug. “Well, you’re here now, and we’re all glad. Don’t stay away so long anymore.”

  Claire fought back the tears that stung her eyes. “I won’t.”

  Mrs. Knight picked up her purse and pulled her car keys from inside. She started to walk away but stopped. “Oh, I almost forgot. Jessica left some clothes over here last week, and I laundered them for her. There’s a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt in her closet. Feel free to wear them today. That way you won’t have to use up time going home to change.”

  Claire swallowed the last of her coffee and stood. “Thanks. I hope Jessica and I still wear the same size.”

  “I’m sure you do. The two of you have been wearing each other’s clothes ever since you were in elementary school. I hope you and Adam can get a lead on these men you’re looking for today.”

  “So do I. And thanks again for letting me stay.”

  After putting her dishes in the dishwasher, she hurried back upstairs so she’d be dressed and ready to go when Adam returned. As she climbed the stairs, she couldn’t help remembering the time they had spent together the night before. Then she shook the thought from her head and turned her thoughts to finding Peter Willis and James Lester before they tried again to kill her and Adam.

  When she came downstairs thirty minutes later, Adam sat at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. His gaze swept over her as she entered the room, and her skin warmed. “You look like you’re ready for the day.”

  “I am. What do you think we should do today?”

  “I’ve been trying to decide. Have you talked with Peter’s wife yet?”

  “Yes. I went by there last week, but she had no idea where he could be. She said he hadn’t contacted her since he was released on bond.”

  “Did you think she was telling the truth?”

  Claire thought about that for a moment. “At the time I thought so, but with all that’s happened, I don’t know. She had to know about the cabin in Mississippi, but she didn’t tell me about it. If she had really wanted to help me, I’d think she’d have given me some information about Peter. But she didn’t.”

  Adam pushed up from the table. “Then let’s go see her this morning. Then we can decide what our next step will be.”

  “Let me get my jacket and purse, and I’ll be ready to go.”

  “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

  A few minutes later she walked out the front door and joined Adam in the car. She fastened her seat belt, and he backed out of the driveway. “Which way do I go to get to Peter’s house?”

  “They live in one of those upscale neighborhoods down on Mud Island.”

  Adam’s eyebrows arched, and he gave a low whistle. “The houses down there are really expensive. A bank loan officer must make a lot more money than I thought.”

  “It really is a beautiful home, and the furnishings are out of this world. I could hardly carry on a conversation with Mrs. Willis. All I wanted to do was drool over the way her house was decorated.”

  He chuckled and pulled off their side street into the busy morning traffic. “I can hardly wait to see it.”

  Thirty minutes later they pulled to a stop in front of a rambling two-story house on a shaded lot. A wrought-iron fence separated the lawn from the sidewalk. Jessica glanced over at Adam. “What do you think?”

  He exhaled a long breath. “I definitely had no idea how much Peter must have made at the bank.”

  She laughed and climbed from the car. “Let’s go surprise Mrs. Willis.”

  A flagstone walkway stretched from the fence’s gate to the house, and they strode toward the front porch. At the entrance Adam pushed the button for the doorbell, and they waited.

  It was opened by a young woman in a maid’s uniform. She smiled at them. “May I help you?”

  “We’re here to see Mrs. Willis,” Adam said.

  The woman’s smile didn’t falter. “I’m sorry. Mrs. Willis is working out right now. Could you come back later?”

  Adam shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Please tell her we’re the bounty hunters who are searching for her husband.”

  The maid’s eyes grew large. “Bounty hunters?”

  “Yes, and I imagine the police will be showing up here sometime today to ask her some questions about him, so it would probably be a good idea for her to talk to us first.”

  The woman glanced over her shoulder and then back to them. She stepped back and opened the door wider. “Come in. You can wait in the living room, and I’ll go get her.”

  She ushered Adam and Claire into the room where Claire had sat the last time she’d been here, and they took seats on a brocade sofa. Within minutes Mrs. Willis came storming into the room. She wore a pair of black ankle-length leggings and a matching tank top. A sweatband held her hair back from her face.

  Her eyes flashed when she spotted Claire. “What are you doing here? I told you last week I haven’t heard from my husband. I have no idea where he is, but I suspect he’s left the country by now.”

  “Not unless he left yesterday, Mrs. Willis. He tried to kill me the night before last,” Claire said.

  Her eyes grew large. “Tried to kill you? What are you talking about?”

  As Claire relayed the events of the past two days, Mrs. Willis’s face grew more somber. “So your husband is a vicious killer, and if you know anything about him, you’d better tell us. If we bring him in and then find out you helped protect him, you can be charged with harboring a fugitive.”

  Mrs. Willis leaned forward and glared at Claire. “I don’t know anything about what my husband has been up to. I told the police he was at home the night Lance Morgan was murdered, but they didn’t believe me. They wanted to close that case fast, and they picked my husband to take the fall for it.”

  “You’re quick
to take up for your husband, Mrs. Willis,” Adam said.

  “Of course I am. He’s my husband, and I love him.”

  “And you think he’s innocent?”

  Mrs. Willis straightened her back and frowned. “I know Peter better than anyone does. We’ve been married ten years and during that time he’s been nothing but a good and kind husband.”

  Claire scooted to the edge of her seat and stared at the woman. “Then why do you think he hasn’t contacted you? It seems to me if you were as close as you say, he’d want to talk to you.”

  The woman took a deep breath and stood. “He hasn’t contacted me because he knows I’m being harassed by the police and bounty hunters who are intent on bringing him in.” She narrowed her eyes and took a step toward them. “I’ve heard about people like you. It’s dead or alive, isn’t it? As long as you get your money, you don’t care.”

  Claire jumped to her feet. “When your husband jumped bail, he left my father’s business owing a lot of money to the court, but that’s not the only reason I want him returned to custody. Your husband murdered my father in cold blood, and I intend to see that he pays for it.”

  Mrs. Willis stared at Claire for a moment before she let out a soft chuckle. “You’re crazy if you think my husband would kill anybody. Now I want both of you out of my house.” She turned her head and called out, “Marie, our guests are leaving now. Would you please show them to the door?”

  As if she’d been waiting right outside the doorway, the maid reappeared. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Adam took Claire by the arm, and they followed Marie toward the front door. They were just about to step outside when they heard footsteps on the entry’s hardwood floors. They turned to see Mrs. Willis standing a few feet behind the maid.

  “Marie, in the future if these two come back here, they are not to be invited in. Do you understand?”

  The maid bobbed her head up and down. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Claire bristled and was about to offer a retort, but Adam tightened his grip on her arm and propelled her out the front door. Once outside, Marie closed the door.