Fugitive Pursuit

No caring allowed. Keep your mind on business. “Head for the bench over there and I’ll take a peek at your wound.”

After a glance in the direction of the seat, she scanned the park. She remained rooted to her spot.

“If you run, Jamie, I will catch you.”

She brushed her fingers against her temple. He almost had her cooperation. He could feel it in his gut. But why was it so important to him?

“All right.” She nodded and walked by his side to the wooden seat. The backpack came off her shoulder, but she kept a tight grip on it. Once she sat, he crouched down beside her and lifted her sleeve. Closing her eyes, she breathed out slowly. Blood had gathered along a gash about two inches long. “It doesn’t look too bad.” Seared flesh, but no hole. “The bullet grazed your arm. It’s not too deep and it’s not bleeding anymore. How does it feel?”

“Like someone’s stuck me with a hot poker.”

He gingerly touched his knuckle to the skin around her wound. She hissed, jerked upright. “Sorry.”

“Do you have any tissues in your backpack or something to wipe your arm?” No way would he leave her side to grab paper towels from the restroom close by. He had no doubt she’d be gone before he returned.

“No.” She tugged the backpack closer to her, one arm over it protectively.

“What do you have in there? Gold? A wad of bills? Weapons?”

“Some clothes.” Helplessness brought moisture to her eyes. “And things more important to me,” she whispered.

He almost set his hand on her knee. Almost. “Like what?”

“Pictures of my family, gifts my sister gave me as we grew up, her and my journals from when we were teenagers, things like that.” She sniffled and swiped her fingers beneath her eyes. “So, what’s the verdict on my arm?”

“You’ll live.” He released the fabric and stood. “But from the actions of those two guys at your campsite, you’re in a lot more trouble than you realize. Definitely more than I thought.” After he pulled his cell phone from his pocket, he slapped it in his palm while he paced in front of her. No, he didn’t want to call his brothers. They’d probably tell him how foolish he was being, but he needed a clearheaded response.

* * *

Jamie’s world had shifted upside down, becoming more dangerous than she’d ever expected. “I’m not strong enough,” she whispered. She glanced at the red marks on her sleeve, then gently lifted the cloth away from her injury. The skin burned. Like Zack said, she hadn’t been shot, but it looked like the piece of metal had singed right past her on its way to a tree trunk. Her brain still shook with the reality of being so close to dying, to breaking her promise to her sister.

The urge to hug her niece, to hold her close, took life within her. Did Charlotte wonder where Jamie was? It had been two and a half weeks since she’d left the child in another state with someone Charlotte had never met. Did she wish her aunt instead of Jamie’s best friend from elementary school was the one reading her stories as she drifted off to sleep?

Jamie had expected life alone on the run to be challenging, but never had she expected bullets to be grazing her skin, or an attractive bounty hunter to be deciding what to do with her. He was comforting, with his quiet voice and his gentle touch. If she let them, thousands of thoughts could easily overwhelm—

No. She closed her eyes for a few seconds and shook her head. He wasn’t her friend or a possible date. He was with her only because he wanted to collect the money he’d get for bringing her in to the authorities.

Still, trusting him was a risk, but at the moment, she had no choice. Her ability to make sound decisions in such danger had grown weaker with each day.

“Lil, I need to talk to Parker.” Zack stood before her with his phone stuck to his ear, his tone tense, his gaze scanning their surroundings. Seconds ticked by. “Hey, listen...Yes, I know, but I need you to stop for a minute. I need one of you to come pick me up on the Ponahochet side of Champlain Park...No, there’s no time to explain. You just need to make it as fast as you can...Parker, please. It’s important.” With a glance her way, he added, “And bring the first-aid kit.”

He got off the phone and tucked it into his pocket. “They’ll be here soon.”

With a push off the bench, she got to her feet and slung the backpack over her shoulder.

Zack held his hand out toward her waist. “Where are you going?”

She shook her head. “I can’t risk you getting into trouble for me.”

He rolled his eyes. “You just saved my life. I’m thinking I still owe you.”

“I can’t go to jail, either.”

“What exactly do you think your sister’s husband has done that makes him such a menace?” A hint of disbelief still threaded through his expression.

He killed my sister. She lowered her gaze to the bloodied sleeve. “Too much.”

“Those guys we just ran into might be deputies, as you say, but they aren’t on my side of the justice fence. Clearly, you’re in over your head. Going into a state police station might be best.”

“No.” She scanned the park. “I’ve made my decision. I’m not going.” She took a few steps in the direction of the park entrance. Two little girls giggled from their upside-down positions on the monkey bars, one wobbling back and forth, the other with big pigtails dangling next to her ears.

Memories rushed forward to a time when she and Erin had been cared for, loved, cherished. Thoughts of the last time she and Erin had brought Charlotte for a playdate sprang to mind, as well. That day, Erin had insisted Drew needed her to bring him back to God. And for doing her duty as a child of God, Drew had killed her.

“Where will you go?” Zack’s voice brought her back to the present. “Where you have the kid stashed? You can’t go back to the camping area I just found you in. Or your apartment across town. If the goon squad found you once, they’ll find you again. Are you planning to fight the next round while you’re less than one hundred percent?”

She stepped around him. But he was right. At the moment, depending on him might not be the wisest choice, but she had no one else. Not even God would give her a break.

When she turned back, Zack stood there, his eyes pleading for her trust. Several moments filled with tension ticked by. “Jamie, let me help you figure out what’s next.”

Her head grew dizzy, but from the loss of blood, the adrenaline-charged events or as a result of his offer to help, she couldn’t be sure. Could she afford to accept his assistance?

Could she afford not to?