Read Online Safe In His Arms (Manhunt) by Rita Herron - Free Book Online Page B

murder weapon.
    Alex consulted Wilson’s file. “It says here that you’re from Austin.”
    Wilson’s eyes narrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”
    “Did you know a man named Geoff Jones?”
    His fist tightened on the table. “I heard of him. He was that lawyer who went to jail for beating his wife.”
    “That’s right,” Alex said.  “He almost killed her. Did you know him?”
    “No,” Wilson, said his tone becoming defensive. “Why? You think he murdered Ms. Joleen?”
    Alex leaned forward, using his size and cold stare to intimidate the young man.  “He escaped prison and came here looking for Mia. She’s his ex-wife.”
    Wilson coughed, a panicked look twisting his face.
    “We also believe that Jones hired someone to find her. How did you find out about the job here?”
    Realization dawned, Truitt’s eyes widening with fear.  “I heard about it in town,” he said. “But I’m not working for Jones if that’s what you’re implying.”
    Out of the corner of his eye, Alex saw something moving. A man.
    He zeroed in on the man’s face. His flat nose, wide jaw, the scar above his eyebrow. Emmett Ross. He recognized him from the employee file.
    Emmett was sneaking out the back door.
    “Stay here, I’m not done with you,” Alex warned.
    Alex raced after Emmett, but Emmett spotted him, darted out the back door and made a run for the woods.
     

     
    Mia jumped at the sound of her cell phone ringing. Assuming it was Alex with news about Joleen, she snatched it from her purse without bothering to look at the caller ID screen.
    “Hello, Alex –“
    “No, it’s me, Mia.”
    Nausea rose to her throat at the husky sound of Geoff’s voice. 
    “No one will ever love you like I do.”
    A chill skated up Mia’s spine.
    “You don’t know what love means,” Mia snapped. “You’re a monster.”
    “And you’re my wife. A very naughty disobedient one, but you’ll learn.”
    “I will never obey you,” Mia whispered.
    “You’d better.” His voice turned low, more menacing. “If you don’t, everyone around you will die.”

C HAPTER E IGHT

     
     
    Alex jogged outside. “Wait a minute, Royce.”
    Instead of stopping, the man picked up his pace, running toward the woods. Alex cursed and sprinted after him, grateful for his training as he caught the man and tackled him.
    “Let go of me,” Royce shouted. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
    Alex jerked his arm behind him, twisting it to a painful level.  “Then why the hell were you running?”
    Royce struggled slightly and Alex tightened his hold.  “Why. Were. You. Running?”
    “Let me go and I’ll talk.”
    Alex jerked him sideways and slammed him up against a tree. “Talk and then I might let you go.”
    A frustrated heave came from the wiry man, his nostrils flaring as he stared up at Alex.  “Because I have a record. And I knew the minute you found out, you’d look at me as a suspect.”
    “Right now everyone is a suspect,” Alex said.  “What was your prior for?”
    Royce’s lips thinned into a snarl.  “Assault and battery.”
    Alex arched a brow.  “Who did you assault?”
    “A friend of mine. At least he used to be before he screwed my wife.”
    Alex studied him, then gave a nod of understanding.  “Where did you do time?”
    “The state pen,” Royce said.
    The hair on the back of Alex’s neck prickled.  “Do you know a man named Geoff Jones?”
    Royce cut his eyes sideways. That hesitation gave Alex his answer.
    “Let me rephrase that. Did he pay you to track down his ex-wife?”
    Royce jerked his gaze back to him.  “What the hell are you talking about? And what’s this got to do with Ms. Joleen being murdered?”
    “That’s what I’m trying to figure out.” Alex growled low in his throat. “Now, answer the damn question. Did he hire you to find his ex wife?”
    Royce shook his head, a vein pulsing in his neck.  “No. Why would he?”
    “Because he’s obsessed with her and