The Escape (US Marshals #1) - Lisa Harris Page 0,57

their safety, until Barrick was back behind bars, she wasn’t going to be able to rest.

Jonas walked up to the desk where she was sitting and set down a to-go bag. “Michaels is arranging our flight. Said we can be out of here within the hour. In the meantime, I grabbed us breakfast from one of the local cafés. You need to eat. We both do.”

She opened up the bag and breathed in the smell of bacon and sausage. She’d always told her sister she could be a vegetarian if it weren’t for bacon and sausage.

“They’re breakfast burritos,” Jonas said. “Something I remember you liking from our training. There’s also orange juice. I hope that’s okay.”

“It’s perfect.” She pulled out one of the burritos, handed it to him, then pulled out a second one for herself. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was, but this smells delicious.”

He sat down across from her, hesitating before unwrapping his. “You’ve been quiet since we decided to go. Are you okay with the plan?”

“Considering the circumstances, yes. I think this will work. It has to.”

“I’ve said it before, but if you want to fly back to Seattle to be with your family instead, no one would question your decision.”

“No.” She took a sip of her orange juice. She’d been tempted to tell him she had to leave, but she didn’t feel at peace about that decision. And if she stayed, she needed to be one hundred percent on board. “The best thing I can do for my sister is find Barrick and stop him. And that’s what I plan to do. Michaels will make sure they’re safe until then.”

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure you’re good with how things are moving forward, because I know this is tough. I know you’re worried about your family.”

“I am.”

She’d always known she’d end up working in law enforcement. Between her grandfather’s and father’s examples of serving their country, it had always seemed inevitable. But up until this point, she’d always been able to keep her work and family separate. This time, things were hitting far too close to home.

“Madison?”

“Sorry. You’re right though. It’s hard not to want to be in both places at the same time. Because my sister just had a baby, she tends to be overly emotional, though I can’t blame her. She has every reason to be worried, but my dad’s going to be the biggest struggle. He hates anything out of his schedule. Danielle will definitely have her hands full with all of them cooped up together.”

“I know this is hard, but your sister will be with him, and she won’t be alone. He’ll be okay. Especially if he’s as stubborn and feisty as his daughter.”

“Funny.”

She glanced up at him and caught his goofy smile as he looked back at her. Something unexpected flipped inside her. Surely he wasn’t flirting with her. She shoved away the thought as quickly as it surfaced. That was ridiculous. Jonas had made it very clear that he was not looking for a relationship, and she certainly wasn’t. She liked him. As a friend. Respected him even more as a colleague, but anything beyond that couldn’t be in the picture.

It had to be the fact that she needed a good night’s sleep in her own bed without the heaviness of the case keeping her up. But until she got that . . . just because she’d let herself become vulnerable with him didn’t mean anything.

“Consider that a compliment,” he said, before biting into his burrito. “We make a good team.”

She couldn’t deny that. “Yes, we do.”

“Why don’t you take a few minutes to call your sister before we leave and make sure she’s okay. We’ll head for the airstrip in about thirty minutes.”

“I’ll be ready.”

She finished her breakfast then, deciding that the noisy sheriff’s office wasn’t the place to make a call, and headed outside. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, hesitating before placing the call. The sun felt good on her face. She’d been so cold since that night in the forest. She took in the view of the picturesque Wyoming wilderness. Mountains rose up in the distance, and the air felt invigorating. After living in Seattle for so long, she felt drawn to the rugged yet small-town feel. And being here was almost as if she’d stepped back into another century.

The US Marshals had been established over two hundred years ago by George Washington and were known for their posses and manhunts on