by Lise Fuller
Suddenly, the glass in his office window broke. The BAM agent swerved and pulled his pistol.
Jake didn’t question his luck. It was now or never. In a flash, he jumped the man, locked the armed hand with his and pounded the miltiaman’s wrist against the edge of the doorjamb. At the same time, Jake thrust his elbow and nailed the guy in his throat. From the gristly sound, Jake knew he’d partially crushed the man’s windpipe. Jake pressed the stunned body against the door. The BAM agent struggled to suck in air. Jake circled the man’s elbow, locked it out and trapped the armed hand against Jake’s coat. The crunch and the man’s moan let Jake know he’d broken his arm. In moments, the vigilante’s struggle ceased. The BAM man passed out and drifted toward the floor.
When Jake looked up, Pat stood beside him, his gun drawn. “Hurry.” Jake bent over, retrieved the pistol and set it on his desk. “Get him in lock-up. There’s another one outside.”
“But…” Pat stood frozen and wide-eyed. “I think you killed him, Sheriff.”
Jake picked up the man. “He’s not dead yet but he will be if we don’t get the guy outside first. We can’t call the EMTs until we do. It would put them in jeopardy. Now come on. I need help.”
Pat opened the passage to the jail cells and Jake laid the body on a cot. “There’s an SUV in the parking lot. I’ll go out the back and circle around it. Meanwhile, you go outside and pretend to have a smoke. I need the distraction to slip outside unnoticed. When you hear my signal, go back through the building and out the rear door. Circle to the other end. You can cover me from the side of the building.”
“But, Jake, I don’t smoke.”
“Pretend.” Jake stressed as he rushed down the hallway. “Grab a pack from Rosie’s desk. She’s trying to quit anyway.” Jake hopped into his office and reloaded his pistol. Pat followed. When Jake looked up, his deputy stared at him pale-faced. “Hurry. And put a vest under that coat of yours—in case. You can take care of everything else after I leave.”
“But…”
Jake ignored the protest. He turned and eased out the back.
A frigid gust nailed him as he opened the door but Jake’s total focus was on rescuing Marie. He plastered himself along the dark side of the wall until he heard Pat go out the front, then he darted for the cover of the trees that lay forty feet away from him.
As he reached the wood’s edge, he heard Pat clear his throat. Jake slid into the darkness and made his way around the perimeter of the grounds. Closer now, he peered through the trees and into the passenger’s side window, rapidly calculating what he would need to do to get his target. His luck had held. Jake was sorely tempted to take a clean shot. But shooting a suspect without trying to bring him in first would be against his code.
He briefly struggled with his values then faith kicked in. He scanned the area. The man in the vehicle watched his deputy with a pistol drawn and hidden low under the dash. Jake noted Pat’s position and saw the red ash of the cigarette burn as the deputy took a drag then went into a coughing fit.
“Gramps?” Jake’s voice was barely a whisper. He was sure his office window wasn’t broken by accident.
“I’m here.”
Jake’s shoulders sagged with relief when he heard the voice behind him. “Can you give me a distraction?”
“You betcha.”
Jake nodded. Under cover, he eased toward the rear of the vehicle and whistled a birdcall.
Pat exhaled the smoke and dropped the cigarette. He crushed the tobacco under his boot. The deputy strolled into the building. When Jake heard the call sign returned, he knew Pat was in position. He nodded to Gramps.
The old man popped into the car and materialized in front of the BAM man. The militia member yelled loud enough to wake the dead—right before he jumped out of the vehicle. When the militiaman turned, he ran right into Jake’s Colt 45.
“You have the right to remain silent,” Jake said as he pulled the gun out of the man’s shaking hands.
When his rights were read, Pat frisked him then hauled him to a jail cell.
Then Jake dialed Slim.
—
Jake waited on the fort’s grounds for Slim and the others. He had set their staging area near the place where the militiamen had dug. The others were to meet him there.
Jake paced again. They had a plan—a loose one, but it was the best they could do under the circumstances. The FBI wanted the vigilantes alive and given the men, equipment and time constraints the Feds and his men worked under, there was only one reasonable way to do that and protect Marie. Dressed as the BAM men, MacDugal and Carter would be in the SUV when they drove back but Jake would go into the shack alone. The risk was too great to have the others enter the building with him. Outside, the darkness would hide their identity, but inside there was enough light that they would be recognized immediately. If that happened, there would be a scuffle and Marie could get hurt. They would have the same risk if they rushed the building—except the BAM men would be dead. You rushed a place with guns blazing. You don’t expect the bad guys to survive. And Slim was against killing the men outright although at this point, Jake didn’t give a damn. When it came to Marie’s safety, he wouldn’t hesitate.
He pressed his mouth in a thin line and shook his head. There were too many loose ends but it couldn’t be helped. Though Jake had been inside, they had no way of seeing what had happened since he left. There were no windows. The interior was small. If something blew up, the men inside could easily react. Marie was their hostage. Jake didn’t want them to use her to bargain for their freedom. He wouldn’t put her in any more danger than she was already.
A cold gust hit him as he ran the plan through his head. The others would try to lure those left in the building outside. There were three of the perps—Evan, the leader, Cason and that shithead Martin. Hopefully, Evan would send the others out. If not, Slim would have to move quick to help Jake bring them down.
The wind gusted again. The cold air helped to keep him focused. He looked around, restless. “Where the hell are they?” He wanted to get this going. It was less than a mile from the shack. If he didn’t show up there soon, Evan would get suspicious.
The snow crunched several feet behind him. The FBI’s van came into view. Slim stepped out of the vehicle and came to him.
“You ready?” Slim asked.
Jake nodded. “As ready as I’m going to be.”
Slim shook his head. “I don’t like this but I agree with you. I don’t think there’s a better way.”
Jake walked toward the BAM vehicle he’d driven over. Slim followed. “Neither do I but we don’t have any choice. Is MacDugal ready?”
The two agents exited the FBI vehicle. “Almost.” Slim looked at his man. Mac scowled as he stood near the militia’s SUV. When Mac saw them, he walked toward Jake.
“This is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard.” MacDugal was almost exactly the BAM man’s size.
“It’s our best option.” Jake pressed his lips together. He wasn’t about to argue. He’d beat the crap out of the man if he needed to get him to cooperate.
“Dressing up like one of them and going in there is shit. We’re just decoys, sitting there ready to be shot like a bunch of fucking ducks. I won’t do it.”
“You’ll do it.” Jake took a step forward, hands on hips. “Or I’ll beat the tar outta—”
“Mac.” Slim put his hand on Jake’s forearm to stop him. “We don’t have time. It doesn’t matter whether the Taylor woman is guilty or not. We need her for our case and we need to make sure she gets out of there alive.”
Jake tensed. He knew Slim felt it.
MacDugal grumbled. “Where are the fucking clothes?”
Jake jerked his chin toward the SUV. “On the front seat.”
The man yanked the door open and pulled out the garments then entered the FBI’s van to change. Carter followed him after the man lanced a concerned glare at Jake.
Jake sighed and Slim’s grip relaxed on his arm. “W
ho did you say the leader was?”
“Some guy named Evan. A large man who’s seen better days.”
Slim nodded. A desolate look breezed over his face.
Jake’s brow rose. “You know him?”
Slim pursed his lips. “Maybe.” Then he swerved and walked away.
Jake headed to the SUV. Time was critical. They needed to move.
—
Marie heard the truck’s engine. She sat up and eased herself into the corner. Jake was back.
The wind picked up and the old building creaked. Her swollen eyes were blurry but she heard one of the men stir in the murky light. She blinked to clear away the sleep in her eyes and watched Evan nudge Bill with his foot.
“Wake up, Martin. Time to go.”
It took her ex-partner a few moments to register his surroundings then he sat up and stretched. “About damn time that cowboy got here.” He looked at Marie and scowled. “I can’t wait to give him his.”
“Humph.” Evan unsnapped his gun holster. “I’d like to see you go toe-to-toe with the sheriff.”
Her ex-partner leered at Evan as Bill rose and donned his jacket.
Cason drew his handgun and headed for the entrance. He cracked open the metal door and carefully glanced outside. “It’s them.” He turned to look at Evan when he spoke.
Evan nodded. “Get the equipment packed.”
Cason grabbed his coat as Bill sauntered over to Marie and knelt on one knee in front of her. “You slut,” he whispered to her, just loud enough for her to hear. “You slept with the fucker, didn’t you?” He raised his arm as if to backhand her.
“Martin,” Evan called. “Leave her alone. Get your ass over here and help.”
“Yes, sir,” Bill sneered then leaned into her, his voice even lower. “You know I won’t let him have you, don’t you?” He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek and stood.
She steeled herself. She wanted to puke at his touch, tell him what a bastard he was, but then the step out front creaked and the door opened wider.
Jake stood in the entrance with her bag. He glanced her way then at Bill. His eyes narrowed at her ex-partner.
“Where are my men?” Evan pulled his pistol and held it on Jake. Cason stopped packing the gear and swerved with his hand on his holster.
Jake stepped in and shut the door behind him. “Something moved out there. They’re checking around back.”
Evan gave him a disgusted look. “Probably a deer.”
“More likely a moose.” Jake stepped forward, his face somber.
“These guys are city folks. They find a moose and they’ll pee their pants.”
Jake handed Evan the bag. “Here’s what you want. I suggest we leave before too long. My men will be looking for me.” The lines around his lips turned downward. “I don’t want them involved.”
Evan slid the handgun in his holster again. When Cason saw that, his body relaxed and he went back to packing.
Evan plopped the bag on the table and unzipped it. The corners of his mouth eased upward as he flipped through the papers. “It looks like they’re all here.” He snorted as he looked at Martin. “Even the accounts Miss Taylor moved the rest of the money into.”
Bill grimaced. “She’s the investor. That’s why I couldn’t find the cash. I only ran the computer so we could keep our activities hidden from her. If she had known about any of this, she wouldn’t have cooperated and we would never have made so much.”
Evan glowered as Cason lifted up some of the gear and walked outside.
The door flapped. The wind screamed through the opening. Marie shivered and pulled the blanket tighter around her.
“I’ll take your pistol now, Sheriff.” Evan held his palm out and waggled his fingers. “Sorry, but I can’t trust you yet.”
Jake hesitated. Marie thought his body tensed for a brief moment but then his hand went to his side and he gave the BAM leader his pistol.
A thump hit the side wall.
Jake pounced. He took Evan but Evan’s instincts must have been honed from years of experience. Evan countered but he was too late. Jake had him in a hold and wrestled him for his gun.
The gun dropped and skidded in Marie’s direction. Marie went to reach for it but Bill grabbed her and yanked her back. He hurried and picked up the firearm.
Jake and Evan still struggled. Marie flew for the door but Bill was faster. He caught the tresses of her hair before she could reach it. She screamed as Bill wrenched her to him and locked his arm around her neck in an iron grip. He put the cold muzzle of the gun to her temple.
“Let him go, Sheriff,” Bill commanded as Slim and some other men broke through the door, guns drawn.
Jake stood and released Evan. “You hurt her, Martin, and I’ll see you pay for it.”
Marie winced as Bill’s grip tightened. She could barely breathe.
Slim relaxed his crouched stance and glanced from Bill to the BAM leader. “Evan.”
The big man nodded. “Jim. I should have expected it’d be you.”
Slim Jim’s brows narrowed. “Let her go, Martin. It’s over. There’re more of us than there is of you. One way or the other, you won’t get away.”
Evan drew his pistol as the others focused on Martin. “I’m afraid he can’t do that, partner.” He stepped away from Jake. “You know why. This has become my life’s mission.” He pointed the pistol at Slim. “Put your guns down.”
“And let you shoot us? No deal.”
“All right.” Evan didn’t take the time to argue. “All of you, back out. You too, Sheriff. I want to see you in the middle of the clearing out front.” Slim gave his men the signal and Evan picked up the bag of papers as Jake backed away.
Before Jake left the building, he glared at Bill. “Remember my warning, Martin.”
Marie felt the goose bumps as they rolled up Bill’s arm and his hold loosened. She sucked in a breath as Jake stared a moment longer then left. She had never seen such deadly force in Jake’s eyes before.
Evan strode to the side of the open doorway and laid flat against the wall. “Send my driver in here, Jim. Give him the keys.”
“Can’t do that, Evan.”
He signaled to Bill to move toward the door. Marie squirmed as he held her between him and the firearms of the FBI.
“I’ll say it again,” Evan called. “Send him in.”
“I can’t, Evan. He’s not walking.”
Evan let his head fall against the wall. “Damn.” He peered around the corner again. “You tricked Cason, didn’t you, Sheriff? Cason wouldn’t have left the building if he knew those men belonged to you. Cute move, mister, dressing them up as mine.”
Silence.
Evan huffed. “What about the other two men, Sheriff. Where are they?”
“One’s in jail. The other’s in the hospital. I think he’ll make it,” Jake answered.
Evan scoffed and yelled out, “You play rough, don’t you, Sheriff?”
“When it comes to me and mine, yes.” The edge in his deep voice accentuated his threat.
Evan chuckled softly in response. “I understand, son.” The BAM leader’s face transformed and his gaze seemed to turn inward. Then he spoke to Bill. “You move out first. I’ll cover your back.” Evan’s face grew dark. “And no funny stuff with the sheriff. You go off half-cocked and you’ll get us all killed, you got it?”
“Yeah.” Hate tinged Bill’s voice.
Evan eyed him a minute then called out again. “Jim.”
Slim said nothing for a moment then replied, “I’m here.”
“Put Cason in the truck and get it started for me then move away.”
Slim didn’t answer.
Evan jerked his jaw toward her and Bill pulled Marie to her toes. She felt the cold metal against her temple again. “Do it now, Jim,” Evan warned. “I don’t want to hurt her but I will if I have to.”
Marie heard Slim speak in the distance. “Mac, take care of it.” The other FBI agent grumbled as he
walked away.
After Evan heard the doors open and the truck start, he looked at Bill. “Is Cason in the car?”
“Yeah,” Bill growled.
“Good.”
Evan called again as he peered around the corner of the door. “We’re coming out, Jim. Tell your men to lower their guns.”
Slim raised his hand and gave his men the signal then Evan nodded at Bill.
“Okay, babe.” Bill shifted the gun to her back. “Move with me.” He practically carried her down the steps. Evan followed close behind.
They passed outside of Jake’s reach and all at once Bill lifted his gun arm and aimed at Jake. “No,” Marie yelled. With a force she didn’t know she had, she reached around to push Bill’s arm away.
The shot fired into the night sky.
Jake was already in motion. In a flash, he’d wedged himself between her and Bill then locked Bill’s arm out and forced him to drop the gun as well as his hold on her.
“You idiot,” Evan yelled at Bill when she stepped back. The FBI had surrounded the BAM leader and he had his hands in the air.
Jake whipped Bill around and locked his hand to the middle of his upper back. “Slim,” he spoke between his clenched teeth, “have someone get this scum before I do something I’ll regret.”
Kyle Thornsen came over to place his cuffs on him. Kyle grasped Bill’s wrist as Jake released him but Bill jerked free and threw his weight into a punch at Jake before he got shackled. Jake sidestepped him, his fist was a blur as it landed on Bill’s chin with a crack.
Marie gasped as her ex-partner flew backward. He fell into Evan and both men tumbled to the ground. Bill’s eyes closed as he lay on the bigger man.
Evan sat up. Contempt for Bill crawled across his face. “Damn idiot,” Evan growled.
Bill’s eyes fluttered open. He moaned. Evan rolled to push him off and struggled to stand as he looked at Jake. “That,” Evan kicked Bill in the shoulder, “at least gives me some satisfaction.” He eyed Jake for several moments then looked at Marie. “Take good care of her,” the BAM leader’s voice choked as an FBI agent took him away.
