Bounty Hunter (Classified K-9 Unit)

by Lynette Eason

  Star stopped. She pranced a little, sniffed again then moved toward an open clearing that looked to be a prime camping spot. Surrounded by large stone cliffs, it was tucked back from the river. They approached it with Star eagerly leading the way.

  “Has she got something?” Riley asked.

  “Possibly.”

  Riley nodded. “There’s a tent and a bicycle. No sign of a vehicle.”

  “Can you even get one up here?”

  “Yes, I’ve only been up here a handful of times, but there’s a road that you can follow around the edge of the mountain that leads up here. But if we drove, we might miss something. Like all of the hiking paths that branch off around here.”

  They continued to follow Star to the edge of the campsite. Harper held her weapon ready. Then Star skirted the area and started climbing the rocks behind it. It wasn’t quite as steep as it had looked from a distance. “Okay, then, if Star can do it, so can I,” she muttered. “Up we go.”

  Harper stayed behind the dog and climbed. Loose debris tumbled behind her. She turned to see Riley working his way up as well. He placed one bandaged hand on a protruding rock and jerked back with a grimace.

  “Why don’t you see if there’s an easier way up here?”

  He scowled up at her. “I can make it.”

  She stopped Star for a moment and the dog waited, panting, tongue lolling over the side of her mouth. “I’m not questioning that. But it might be better if we come at this from two different angles. If he’s up there, we can trap him between us.”

  Riley hesitated, then nodded. “All right.”

  He made his way back down and disappeared around the edge of the campsite. She told Star to seek and the two of them continued up the sloping cliff. It wasn’t a terribly hard climb, but she was in a sweat by the time she got to the top.

  She stopped and took in the view. It was gorgeous to her back, but in front of her there was a small expanse of green, then trees clogged the area. Perfect for hiding if someone got too close. She looked around for Riley, but he wasn’t in sight yet. It was possible he had to walk a fair distance in order to find another route to the top.

  Should she wait on him?

  Star tugged on the leash, trying to get into the trees. “Star, hold.”

  The dog stilled, but her sides quivered with the desire to go. She had Jake’s scent and wanted to follow the trail.

  Harper gave one last look over her shoulder. Still no Riley. He couldn’t be much longer, could he? She hated to keep waiting and give Jake a chance to get farther away. Star pulled again on the leash. “Okay, girl, we’re going.” She pressed the button on her radio. “Riley, location?”

  “Heading your way.”

  “Star has Jake’s scent. I’m going after him.”

  “Where are you?” Max asked.

  She gave him her approximate location.

  “Harper, wait for me,” Riley said.

  “Just a minute more then I’m going after him.”

  “I don’t know how far away I am. I had to walk awhile.”

  She dropped a glove to the ground then leaned down to position it. “Keep coming until you see the tree line just ahead of where I climbed up. My glove is on the ground. Follow the direction of the index finger. And bring my glove with you, please.”

  She headed for the trees, her weapon ready. Star bolted ahead of her, straining against the leash. Harper scanned the area, watching, her nerves tense, senses alert. Star really wanted to race into the woods, but Harper didn’t want to let her go. If Jake was in there and he didn’t want to be found, he’d shoot the dog. And he wouldn’t aim for the vest she wore. No, she’d keep Star with her where she had more control.

  Star broke the tree line and Harper followed. She placed a hand in front of Star who immediately quieted. Harper stood still and simply listened. When she heard nothing, she once again gave Star the order to continue. The shepherd turned right and Harper followed.

  And came face to face with Jake Morrow, his weapon aimed at her head. “Hello, Harper.”

  * * *

  Riley had to make his way up the cliff in a roundabout way, but he finally stepped out onto the top and paused to catch his breath. He’d still had to climb, but not as much as Harper.

  So, where was she?

  He almost called out then figured he’d better keep the noise to a minimal level. No sense in alerting someone to the fact he was there. He held his weapon in his right hand and lifted his radio with his left. “Harper? Where are you?”

  Silence.

  Riley frowned. “Harper?”

  Still she didn’t answer. He knew she had on the earpiece that allowed only her to hear him. So why wasn’t she answering?

  The options weren’t good. Alarm slithered through him.

  He walked toward the woods and then realized he was quite a distance from where Harper would have come out at the top of the cliff. Could he simply be out of range of her earpiece? Surely, they had better equipment than that. He started the trek that would take him in her direction.

  “Harper?”

  Still no answer.

  “Riley, is something going on?”

  Max’s voice in his ear. “I’m not sure. Give me a few minutes and I’ll get back to you.” He paused. If Max could hear and answer him, why couldn’t Riley?

  It took him a good five minutes more to arrive to the place where Harper would have crested the hill. But she wasn’t there.

  He found the glove she’d told him about and leaned over to pick it up and tuck it in his pocket. He knelt and examined the red dirt that covered the ground. A boot track that could be Harper’s led toward the trees. Star’s prints were also there, just slightly ahead of Harper’s. Exactly as she’d told him.

  He took off at a jog and was almost to the tree line when he heard the gunshot.

  A split second later, fiery pain raced through his side and he stumbled to the ground. Riley lay still as he tried to breathe. But he knew exactly what had happened. Van Blackman had seen him first. Riley pressed a hand against his bleeding hip and rolled into the cover of the woods just as another bullet kicked up the dirt where he’d been lying. He shoved the top edge of his jeans down and glanced at the wound. Just a graze. It was ugly and would leave another scar to add to his growing collection, but as far as Riley could tell it was nothing too serious. Nothing that would keep him from continuing the hunt.

  * * *

  The gunshot echoed around them and Harper flinched. She turned. “Riley!” She started to head back toward the tree line when Jake held up a hand and jerked the weapon at her. “Keep walking.” When she’d first run into him, he’d immediately taken her weapon then forced her to walk with the excuse he wanted to talk to her back at his camping site.

  She’d agreed simply because she wasn’t sure what he would do if she refused. Only now Riley could be in trouble and need help.

  “I’m going to check on my friend.”

  “And I said don’t move, Harper.” He inched the gun up so that it pointed to her forehead.

  She froze. Star did the same, looking up and waiting for Harper’s next command. “What are you doing Jake? Are you going to shoot me?”

  “Not unless you give me a reason to.”

  “Stop this. Put your weapon away and let’s talk.”

  “Not until I’m sure you’ll listen to me first.”

  “I’ll listen, but I need to make sure Riley’s all right.” Riley would know something was up when she didn’t answer. But she didn’t want him to walk into trouble without some kind of warning.

  Her radio was in her pocket. A mere click of a button would bring help. But if she moved her hands, she wasn’t completely confident that Jake wouldn’t shoot her. And Agent Morrow would know what she was doing. He’d once worn a radio exactly like hers once upon a time. He’d yanked the earpiece out and forced her to remove her vest and leave it, afraid she’d have some sort of tracker on it when he confronted her so if Max or anyone said
anything, she wouldn’t know. She did notice that he kept the radio.

  “I’m not concerned about your friend. Keep going.”

  “That was two gunshots, Jake. He could be hurt.”

  “Or he could have been shooting a snake or a wolf or whatever. Walk!”

  Harper’s pulse continued its frantic pace but she reluctantly continued to head in the direction Jake ordered. She truly wasn’t certain that he wouldn’t kill her. And she wouldn’t be any good to Riley dead.

  But she had to try to warn the others. She slid her hand down toward the radio.

  Jake jabbed the weapon at the base of her skull. “Don’t. Keep your hands where I can see them.”

  Harper bit her lip. This wasn’t the Jake she’d known when they’d worked together. No, she hadn’t liked him all that much as a person, but he’d been a top-notch agent and never hesitated to rush in to help someone in need. “What’s happened to you?”

  “A bad break in life.”

  “Can’t you see that you don’t need the weapon? Put it away. We’ve talked before without you holding a gun on me.” Could he really be a double agent? She was sure leaning in that direction. Trusting him was out of the question at this point.

  She bit her lip on the words and prayed that Max or one of the others was trying to get ahold of her and would know something was wrong when she didn’t answer.

  Finally, Jake directed her to a small shelter. An old cabin that had probably been there for decades sat up on a sloping hill that led down to the river. “Nice spot.”

  “I like it. Nice, quiet and private.” He smirked. “And hard to find unless you know where you’re going and what you’re looking for.”

  “What are you doing here in Colorado?”

  “Looking for someone.”

  “Penny?”

  “Yeah.”

  He led her inside and she noted the rustic appearance. A dirt floor, the front door that didn’t close all the way, open windows that could use some glass panes. A small cot with a sleeping bag lay next to the far wall.

  He’d been roughing it.

  Jake motioned to a chair at the round four-person table someone had made from an oak tree. “Have a seat and keep your hands where I can see them.” She did and he pulled the radio out of her pocket and tossed it onto the counter. “I don’t need any more company until I can convince you why I can’t come in yet.”

  Conflict raged inside of her. “What are you saying, Jake? That you have a good reason for this wild-goose chase you’re leading us on?”

  She sent up a silent prayer for Riley and settled on the edge of the chair, ready to fight back if she had to.

  Jake stood at the old-fashioned hand-pumped kitchen sink, his back to it, watching her with hooded eyes. He kept the gun steady on her head. Where the bullet wouldn’t be blocked by her vest. “A good enough reason,” he said.

  “Like what?”

  “Like I managed to escape from Angus Dupree after the shootout in the warehouse in Los Angeles. But while he had me captive, Dupree threatened to kill Penny...” He met her gaze. “And my son.”

  The raw anger there was real. But were the words? If they were, then maybe there was a valid reason for his behavior after all. And yet, Jake had been a good agent for a reason. He was very skilled at playing whatever part he had to. “So you went after them.”

  “Yes. Then you guys showed up at her house and she ran.”

  “And so did you.”

  “I didn’t have time to stay and explain my actions. I had to catch up with Penny.”

  That made sense in a weird sort of way. “And did you?”

  “Yes. I told her about Dupree and the threats and sent her away. I told her I’d catch up to her later. But when I went to meet her as planned, she’d disappeared.”

  “That doesn’t really make sense. Why not go with her?”

  “I wanted to circle back and make sure no one was following her. I finally tracked her here, using informants I’ve made over the years. I don’t trust Dupree. I’m sure he’s hunting her just as I am and I’m scared to death he’s going to catch up to her before I can find her and convince her that I just want to keep her and Kevin safe.”

  “Why haven’t you asked for our help? You’re a part of this team. We’d back you in a minute and you know it.”

  “I know. But I couldn’t involve the team. This was personal. You had enough to do trying to track down Dupree and his goons. I couldn’t pull your attention from that for something like this. I needed to take care of this by myself.”

  Now that sounded more like the Jake she knew. Or thought she knew. “I get that Penny’s on the run from Dupree, but why run from you? Hide from you? It makes no sense.”

  He raked a hand through his hair. “She doesn’t trust me. I think she’s afraid of me.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “Who knows? The stuff on the news, probably. The whole story’s not there and I know the director’s only releasing what he deems relevant, but Penny knows I’m not with Dupree any longer and she knows I haven’t gone in for help. I guess it doesn’t look good to her.”

  “It doesn’t look good to anyone.” She paused. “The team thinks you’re a double agent.”

  His nostrils flared. “A double agent?” He laughed. A short sound that held no humor. “No. No way.” He waved the weapon. “See? That’s why I need this. I didn’t want it to get ugly between us with me answering all your questions and you having to apologize. This way, we just cut out the harsh part.”

  “Then prove yourself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Let me cuff you and put you in custody,” she proposed. “I’ll take you in and we’ll get all this sorted out back in Billings.”

  “Take me in? Seriously?” Star shifted beside Harper and Jake’s eyes flicked to the animal then back to Harper. “That’s what it’s going to take? Harper, come on.”

  For a moment she wavered. Then stiffened her spine. “Yes, that’s what it’s going to take.”

  He sighed and dropped his head for a moment, all the while still holding the gun on her. Different thoughts raced through her mind. Visions of diving across the table and taking him down danced with him surrendering. What would he do?

  “All right.”

  “All right, what?”

  “Take me in.” He set his weapon on the table and held out his hands. “Cuff me.”

  She hesitated, watching his eyes. But they were shuttered. Hooded. Everything in her warned her not to trust him. “Move the gun farther away.”

  He rolled his eyes and shoved it off the table. It hit the floor with a thud. “Satisfied?”

  “Somewhat.”

  He held his hands back out to her.

  Lips tight, she stood, pulled the cuffs from the case on her belt, and slid them across the table. “Put them on.”

  He took them and clicked one around his wrist then fumbled with the other. He tried again and almost got it—until he dropped it. He held his arms back out. “Just get this over with, will you?”

  Still she hesitated, searching his face, his body language. Unable to get a clear reading on him, her internal alarms screaming at her, she decided she really had no choice. If he went for the weapon that was now on the floor, she’d have time to stop him. Then again, he could have another on him. “Pull your pants legs up from the ankle.”

  “You think I have another weapon?”

  “Just do it.”

  With a grunt, he leaned over and did as she asked. He looked clean. When he straightened, he held his hands out yet again, the one cuff dangling from his right hand.

  “Not yet. Turn around and let me see your back. Pull your shirt up.”

  He laughed. “Turn my back on you? Are you kidding? No way. You’re cuffing my hands in front of me. Pretty sure I’m not going to be able to reach a weapon at my back.”

  She stared at him and he sighed. He kept an eye on her over his shoulder, but did as she asked. He lifted the
hem of his shirt and clearly had no more weapons on him. He turned full circle and held out his hands.

  She stepped forward and reached for the cuff to finish the job.

  His arm swung and the cuff caught her in the forehead. Pain shot through her and she cried out, falling to her knees. Her vision went dark for a second.

  Jake dove for the gun. Star barked and lunged at Jake. Harper blinked and saw him grab the weapon he’d tossed and turn it on Star. Star latched onto his arm. Jake cried out. “Call her off or I’ll shoot her!”

  “Star, release!”

  Star stopped her attack and released her grip on his arm, but she didn’t back away from Jake. She kept herself between him and Harper.

  “Sit, Star.”

  The well-trained animal sat, her gaze bouncing between Harper and Jake.

  Jake stumbled away from Star and cursed.

  Harper raised a hand to her bleeding forehead. She’d ignored her better judgment and paid for it. “Guess you’re not going in peacefully after all, huh? Did that whole story you just spun have any truth at all in it?”

  Jake sighed, walked over and grabbed her arm. “Shut up, Harper.” Star growled and rose to her feet.

  “Star, stay.” Harper quickly threw out the command before Jake could turn the gun back on the dog and possibly pull the trigger.

  Jake pulled her to her feet then shoved her back into the chair. He reached behind him and grabbed a coil of rope from the counter. “Well, I was going to use this to do a little rappelling, but guess I can use it to keep you out of the way instead. And I’ve got to get out of here. I’m sure someone’s looking for you.”

  He bound her hands, then bent to tie her feet. She kicked out and caught him in the shoulder. He fell backward with a shouted curse and she lunged from the chair toward the door.

  A hard hand wrapped around her left ankle and pulled her back toward the chair. She slid across the floor like a sled on ice. He was big and much stronger than she. “You are one feisty little thing, aren’t you?”

  He picked her up as though she weighed no more than a bag of sugar and tossed her back into the chair. This time he turned her sideways and tied her hands to the back of the chair.