Read Online Running for Cover by Shirlee McCoy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Shirlee McCoy
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let me get a look before we drive off .
As if his thoughts had conjured them, three men exited the building. One was dressed in a business suit and hurried toward a waiting cab. The other two surveyed the area, their casual attire and relaxed demeanor hinting of nothing beyond what they seemed to be. There was something about them that drew Jackson’s attention, though. Something that didn’t seem right. Maybe it was the stealthy, fluid way they moved. Or maybe it was the way they seemed to avoid looking in Jackson’s direction. He caught just a glimpse of their profiles before the taxi pulled into traffic exiting the airport and he lost sight of them.
Had they gotten in a cab?
He’d find out soon enough. If they were the guys who’d attacked Morgan, they’d follow. To the diner, to Spokane, to anyplace where they thought Morgan and the disk might be found.
“Did someone follow us?” Morgan asked, shifting in her seat so that she could look out the back window. Watery sunlight filtered through the taxi’s window, bathing Morgan’s face in blue-gray light and adding depth to the bruises that tracked along her jaw and her cheek.
She had a tough, sharp-edged personality, but there was a fragility beneath it that made Jackson want to tuck her away in a safe house until she was out of danger.
Of course, if he tried, she’d fight him, kicking and screaming the entire way.
“I saw a couple of men walk out of the airport,” Jackson said.
“I saw a couple of dozen people walk out of the airport. What was different about the two you noticed?”
“Nothing I can put my finger on, but it won’t hurt to see if they follow us.”
“And if they do? What then?”
“We’ll call in the police and have them questioned.”
“Before or after they pull guns and shoot us?”
Her comment surprised a smile out of Jackson, and he patted her knee, realizing too late the mistake he was making.
Heat shot through him at the contact, and he pulled away, irritated with his reaction. He’d worked plenty of cases since he joined Kane Dogherty’s PI firm, Information Unlimited, had had other clients as beautiful and compelling as Morgan. None of them had affected him the way she did.
He took a deep, steadying breath, forced himself to focus on the conversation. “If they’re the men from last night, they flew in from Virginia. No way are they carrying guns.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose it’s something to be thankful for. Although I think I’d rather be shot than stabbed. It seems like a faster way to die.”
“Depends on where the wound is. I’ve investigated homicide cases that involved a knife wound directly to the heart or neck. It’s amazing how quickly that can kill a person.”
“Thanks for that image, Jackson. I’m sure it’ll help me sleep tonight.”
“Sorry. I forgot I was talking to a delicate flower of a woman,” he said, grinning as she scowled.
“‘Delicate flower of a woman.’ You’re one of those kinds of men, aren’t you?”
“What kind of man would that be?”
“The kind that flashes a charming smile and gets what he wants?”
“I’d like to say that’s how I used to be,” he responded lightly. He’d changed a lot since Lindsey died. Become more serious. Less playful. Started to yearn for something permanent and strong. Like what his parents had and what he’d always said he didn’t want.
“You’d like to say it?”
“I guess it’s up to other people to decide whether or not I’ve changed,” he responded absently, his gaze on the traffic behind them as the taxi driver pulled into the parking lot of a small diner.
“Here we are, folks. You want me to come pick you up in an hour? I can take you back to the airport or to your hotel or wherever you’re staying.”
“How much would it cost for you to wait here?” Jackson asked, his eyes on a taxi that had stopped a block away from the diner.
“Normal rate. You pay by the minute.”
“Do you know
As if his thoughts had conjured them, three men exited the building. One was dressed in a business suit and hurried toward a waiting cab. The other two surveyed the area, their casual attire and relaxed demeanor hinting of nothing beyond what they seemed to be. There was something about them that drew Jackson’s attention, though. Something that didn’t seem right. Maybe it was the stealthy, fluid way they moved. Or maybe it was the way they seemed to avoid looking in Jackson’s direction. He caught just a glimpse of their profiles before the taxi pulled into traffic exiting the airport and he lost sight of them.
Had they gotten in a cab?
He’d find out soon enough. If they were the guys who’d attacked Morgan, they’d follow. To the diner, to Spokane, to anyplace where they thought Morgan and the disk might be found.
“Did someone follow us?” Morgan asked, shifting in her seat so that she could look out the back window. Watery sunlight filtered through the taxi’s window, bathing Morgan’s face in blue-gray light and adding depth to the bruises that tracked along her jaw and her cheek.
She had a tough, sharp-edged personality, but there was a fragility beneath it that made Jackson want to tuck her away in a safe house until she was out of danger.
Of course, if he tried, she’d fight him, kicking and screaming the entire way.
“I saw a couple of men walk out of the airport,” Jackson said.
“I saw a couple of dozen people walk out of the airport. What was different about the two you noticed?”
“Nothing I can put my finger on, but it won’t hurt to see if they follow us.”
“And if they do? What then?”
“We’ll call in the police and have them questioned.”
“Before or after they pull guns and shoot us?”
Her comment surprised a smile out of Jackson, and he patted her knee, realizing too late the mistake he was making.
Heat shot through him at the contact, and he pulled away, irritated with his reaction. He’d worked plenty of cases since he joined Kane Dogherty’s PI firm, Information Unlimited, had had other clients as beautiful and compelling as Morgan. None of them had affected him the way she did.
He took a deep, steadying breath, forced himself to focus on the conversation. “If they’re the men from last night, they flew in from Virginia. No way are they carrying guns.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose it’s something to be thankful for. Although I think I’d rather be shot than stabbed. It seems like a faster way to die.”
“Depends on where the wound is. I’ve investigated homicide cases that involved a knife wound directly to the heart or neck. It’s amazing how quickly that can kill a person.”
“Thanks for that image, Jackson. I’m sure it’ll help me sleep tonight.”
“Sorry. I forgot I was talking to a delicate flower of a woman,” he said, grinning as she scowled.
“‘Delicate flower of a woman.’ You’re one of those kinds of men, aren’t you?”
“What kind of man would that be?”
“The kind that flashes a charming smile and gets what he wants?”
“I’d like to say that’s how I used to be,” he responded lightly. He’d changed a lot since Lindsey died. Become more serious. Less playful. Started to yearn for something permanent and strong. Like what his parents had and what he’d always said he didn’t want.
“You’d like to say it?”
“I guess it’s up to other people to decide whether or not I’ve changed,” he responded absently, his gaze on the traffic behind them as the taxi driver pulled into the parking lot of a small diner.
“Here we are, folks. You want me to come pick you up in an hour? I can take you back to the airport or to your hotel or wherever you’re staying.”
“How much would it cost for you to wait here?” Jackson asked, his eyes on a taxi that had stopped a block away from the diner.
“Normal rate. You pay by the minute.”
“Do you know
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