possibilities, Morgan. And plan for them,” Jackson said, his gaze focused on the people waiting outsidethe departure gate. Family and friends, people going about their daily lives, excited and happy to be greeting loved ones.
Was someone else waiting?
Someone hoping to get a chance to speak with Morgan again? There was no doubt where such a meeting would lead. Whether they got what they wanted or not, they’d kill her.
“I agree. That’s why I’m going to find my connecting flight and stay by the boarding gate until it’s time to leave. Once I get on the plane to Spokane, I’ll be fine. Sheriff Reed said he’s informed the police there of my arrival, and I’m sure they’ll be there to look out for me.” She hedged around the issue of whether or not Jackson would continue the journey with her.
Jackson had expected her to begin arguing her points as soon as the plane touched the ground, doing her best to convince him to go back to Lakeview. She hadn’t. Maybe she was feeling exactly what he was. A pump of adrenaline, a hum of awareness, a silent warning that trouble was nearby.
He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her to his side and holding tight when she would have pulled away. “Let’s stick close for a while, okay?”
“Close? We’re nearly joined at the hip,” she huffed, but she didn’t try to move away again. The scent of her perfume swirled around them. Light and subtle with an exotic undertone, it matched its wearer perfectly. It was something Jackson shouldn’t be noticing. Not when there was so much at stake.
He frowned, hurrying Morgan toward the arrival gate.
“Are you leaving?” Morgan asked, as if she really believed he would.
“ We’re leaving. I thought we’d go get something to eat.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m not hungry.”
“I’m not, either,” he responded, glancing around as he stepped into the busy terminal. The place was teaming withpeople, and if any of them were watching Morgan and Jackson, they weren’t being obvious about it.
“Then why….” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes widened. “You think they’re here.”
She didn’t say who “they” were. She didn’t have to. They both knew.
They were the men who’d beaten her, who’d do worse if they got their hands on her again.
“I think there’s a possibility they’re here. I figure we’ll walk outside, get in a cab and see if anyone follows. That should confirm or allay my suspicions.”
“Go outside and get a cab? Are you kidding? That’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull.”
“I was thinking of it more as baiting a rat trap.”
“And we’re the bait?”
“If it brings our perps out of hiding, it’ll be worth it,” he said, not releasing his hold as he led Morgan outside into the cool fall day.
“I hope you have a plan for when the bull decides to charge.”
Dark clouds hung over the sky, trapping the scent of the exhaust that wafted from the mufflers of a dozen taxis that idled nearby.
Jackson urged Morgan to one of them, glancing over his shoulder as the driver opened the door and then the trunk. Several dozen people had walked out of the airport. A couple. A family. A woman alone. None of them looked like the kind of danger Jackson was expecting.
And he was expecting it.
Someone had killed Cody in an attempt to retrieve the disk he’d hidden. Had it been an act of desperation or an act of cold calculation? The disk was worth a lot to someone, and whoever wanted it believed Morgan knew where it was.
He tossed the carry-on into the trunk and got into the taxi,positioning himself so that he had a clear view out the back and side windows.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Know a good place to eat around here?”
“There’s a diner a couple of miles away. Good food. Quick service.”
“Sounds perfect,” Jackson said, his attention focused on the door they’d just exited through.
Come on. I know you’re in there. Just step outside and
Was someone else waiting?
Someone hoping to get a chance to speak with Morgan again? There was no doubt where such a meeting would lead. Whether they got what they wanted or not, they’d kill her.
“I agree. That’s why I’m going to find my connecting flight and stay by the boarding gate until it’s time to leave. Once I get on the plane to Spokane, I’ll be fine. Sheriff Reed said he’s informed the police there of my arrival, and I’m sure they’ll be there to look out for me.” She hedged around the issue of whether or not Jackson would continue the journey with her.
Jackson had expected her to begin arguing her points as soon as the plane touched the ground, doing her best to convince him to go back to Lakeview. She hadn’t. Maybe she was feeling exactly what he was. A pump of adrenaline, a hum of awareness, a silent warning that trouble was nearby.
He slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her to his side and holding tight when she would have pulled away. “Let’s stick close for a while, okay?”
“Close? We’re nearly joined at the hip,” she huffed, but she didn’t try to move away again. The scent of her perfume swirled around them. Light and subtle with an exotic undertone, it matched its wearer perfectly. It was something Jackson shouldn’t be noticing. Not when there was so much at stake.
He frowned, hurrying Morgan toward the arrival gate.
“Are you leaving?” Morgan asked, as if she really believed he would.
“ We’re leaving. I thought we’d go get something to eat.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I’m not hungry.”
“I’m not, either,” he responded, glancing around as he stepped into the busy terminal. The place was teaming withpeople, and if any of them were watching Morgan and Jackson, they weren’t being obvious about it.
“Then why….” Her voice trailed off, and her eyes widened. “You think they’re here.”
She didn’t say who “they” were. She didn’t have to. They both knew.
They were the men who’d beaten her, who’d do worse if they got their hands on her again.
“I think there’s a possibility they’re here. I figure we’ll walk outside, get in a cab and see if anyone follows. That should confirm or allay my suspicions.”
“Go outside and get a cab? Are you kidding? That’s like waving a red flag in front of a bull.”
“I was thinking of it more as baiting a rat trap.”
“And we’re the bait?”
“If it brings our perps out of hiding, it’ll be worth it,” he said, not releasing his hold as he led Morgan outside into the cool fall day.
“I hope you have a plan for when the bull decides to charge.”
Dark clouds hung over the sky, trapping the scent of the exhaust that wafted from the mufflers of a dozen taxis that idled nearby.
Jackson urged Morgan to one of them, glancing over his shoulder as the driver opened the door and then the trunk. Several dozen people had walked out of the airport. A couple. A family. A woman alone. None of them looked like the kind of danger Jackson was expecting.
And he was expecting it.
Someone had killed Cody in an attempt to retrieve the disk he’d hidden. Had it been an act of desperation or an act of cold calculation? The disk was worth a lot to someone, and whoever wanted it believed Morgan knew where it was.
He tossed the carry-on into the trunk and got into the taxi,positioning himself so that he had a clear view out the back and side windows.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
“Know a good place to eat around here?”
“There’s a diner a couple of miles away. Good food. Quick service.”
“Sounds perfect,” Jackson said, his attention focused on the door they’d just exited through.
Come on. I know you’re in there. Just step outside and
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