The Escape (US Marshals #1) - Lisa Harris Page 0,49
Street. The restaurant is two blocks ahead on the right.”
Bull’s Bar & Grill was old and run-down, but the parking lot was packed. Inside was just as rustic, though the smell of garlic and seared beef made Jonas remember he’d missed lunch. If they managed to get through before the place closed, he wouldn’t mind coming back for a burger and fries.
He walked up to the bartender and raised his voice above the music. “We’re looking for Charlie Gibbons. We heard he comes here after work.”
“Who’s asking?”
Jonas held up his badge.
The bartender frowned, then nodded across the room. “He’s over in the corner. Black T-shirt and a white beanie.”
“Thanks.”
They walked across the room, ignoring the stares from a couple of the patrons, then stopped across the table from him, blocking his exit. “Charlie Gibbons, I’m Marshal Jonas Quinn and this is my partner, Marshal Madison James.”
Charlie pushed his chair back, but there was nowhere for him to go. “What do you want?”
“We need to talk.”
Charlie hesitated, then shoved the entire table forward, knocking it over before running past them and heading outside.
“Seriously?” Madison threw up her hands.
“I’m always surprised at how often they run,” Jonas said as they chased after him. “Where does he think he’s going? We know his name, where he lives, where he works.”
Charlie jumped into his pickup and peeled out of the parking lot, but they were right behind him.
Madison pulled out her cell phone and put the call on speaker. “Sheriff, Charlie Gibbons got spooked and decided to run. He’s heading northeast out of town toward the highway, driving a red pickup truck.”
“I know the truck. I’ll send a deputy your way for backup, but he won’t get past the roadblock.”
“Copy that. And tell the officers there that we’re coming right at them and to hold all cars coming in our direction.”
Madison grasped the armrest as Jonas flew down the two-lane road headed out of town.
Jonas jerked the steering wheel to the left, matching the erratic turns of the pickup as it darted around the corner. He followed as close as he could. Things were starting to add up. This had been nothing more than a wild-goose chase so Barrick could run. Which meant he could be anywhere.
“Where does he think he’s going?” Madison asked.
“I don’t know, but the sheriff’s right. He’ll never make it past the roadblock.”
Jonas pressed on the accelerator, knowing what she was thinking. Car chases with the authorities rarely ended well and should be avoided. There were too many chances of involving civilians. But the one running rarely thought of that.
A mile later, Charlie was still in front of them, but now they could see the roadblock up ahead. Two patrol vehicles had blocked the two-lane road where the tree line hugged the road, giving drivers no real choice but to stop.
Charlie had to see it as well, but at the speed he was going, his options were limited to running the roadblock or trying to skirt around it. Neither was a good option.
“He’s not slowing down. He’s going to ram right through it.”
Jonas’s hands clenched the steering wheel. He’d never make it.
Tires squealed as Charlie tried to stop at the last second. Too late. The truck flipped three times, then landed upside down, skidding across the road before smashing into a tree.
Jonas parked a couple dozen feet from the accident and hurried out of the vehicle. A second later flames erupted at the back of the pickup.
He ran toward the wrecked vehicle. “We need to get him out of there now. The fuel tank must have ruptured.”
Charlie was hanging upside down from his seat belt. Both deputies who’d been working the roadblock ran toward the truck with fire extinguishers.
“Madison—”
“I’m right behind you. I’ve got the fire department and ambulance coming.”
Jonas held his hand up across his face as they approached the truck. So far the fire was behind the cab, which would hopefully give them the precious extra seconds to get Charlie out. He tapped the handle of the door, thankful it wasn’t hot yet. But the man wasn’t moving.
“Charlie . . . Charlie, can you hear me?” Jonas tugged on the door, but it was stuck. He kicked at the bent frame, but it wasn’t going to open. A plume of smoke gushed out of the cab. A tire exploded in the back with a loud pop. They were running out of time.
“We’re going to need to get him out through the window.”