The Escape (US Marshals #1) - Lisa Harris Page 0,88

reached up and tried to rub the knots out of the back of his neck. After nearly a week of hunting Barrick and always being a step behind him, he was ready to put an end to this.

“Stay closer on his tail. I don’t want to lose her.”

“Relax. If I’m not careful, he’s going to spot us following him. Besides, we’re tracking her phone and she’s got a tracker on her. We’ve got them.”

Jonas frowned, still uncomfortable with the situation. He should have insisted on driving. He might not know Houston like O’Conner did, but sitting in the passenger seat only made him feel less in control. He drummed his fingers against the armrest, keeping his eyes focused on the black sedan ahead of them. One thing he did remember about the handful of times he’d been in Houston was that rush hour wasn’t limited to morning and evening hours. Even at midday, the multilane highway felt congested. But O’Conner was right. Even if they lost sight of the car, they could still track her. Worrying was only going to eat him up.

“Are you usually this keyed up during a case?” O’Conner asked.

Jonas pulled his hands into his lap and folded them. “Let’s just say it’s been a difficult few days.”

“I skimmed through the report. You guys have had it rough.”

“I guess a few missed nights of sleep will be worth it in the end.”

“So what’s up between you and your partner?” O’Conner asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I got the impression you were . . . I don’t know. Maybe more than friends.”

Jonas sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was defend his relationship with Madison. “I met her back in Nashville for some field training and now we’re working this case, but just as partners.”

“So is she single?”

Jonas frowned at the probing questions. “Widowed.”

“Same thing. Does she date?”

“I wouldn’t know. You’d have to ask her that.”

A wave of overprotectiveness shot through him. Madison wasn’t exactly helpless and didn’t need him acting in her defense, but still the move rubbed him wrong.

Because you wouldn’t mind dating her yourself.

The thought tripped him. He had no desire to date Madison or any other woman he knew at the moment, because he was, in fact, perfectly happy with his life. Moving to Seattle wasn’t a sign that he was burnt-out. It was simply that he wanted to move in a different direction. Change didn’t have to equal running from something.

He frowned, realizing his focus was off. If he was going to ensure Madison’s safety, there was no time for distractions.

His phone rang, and Jonas pulled it out of his pocket. “What have you got, Patterson?”

“Something you might to like to hear. Local PD just found Yuri. And let’s say, he had no problem ratting out Barrick if it will keep him out of jail. He gave us the fake name he used for Barrick’s passport. Sean Montgomery. He was on a flight from Denver to Houston.”

“Anything out of Houston now?”

“He’s got a ticket out of Hobby for South America,” Patterson said. “Leaves in two hours.”

“Good work, Patterson. We’ll stick to the plan and pick him up at the airport. Make sure our backup teams are watching for any sign of him at Hobby.”

He hung up the phone as a semi pulled in front of them, blocking his view.

Jonas leaned forward. “Pull around the semi in front of us.”

The truck finally pulled into the right lane, but Madison’s car had disappeared.

“Where is she?” he asked.

“They should be three cars ahead.”

Should be, but she wasn’t. He drew in a deep breath. Not that he was worried. Not only could they track her, they now had confirmation where she was headed.

Jonas grabbed his phone and sent Madison a text.

Where are you?

Avoiding traffic. Turned off onto 45.

“Take the 45 exit,” Jonas said. “They just took the turnoff.”

we’re right behind you.

“I’m on it,” O’Conner said.

They crossed a few lanes to take the next exit. He caught sight of the vehicle again and blew out a sharp huff of air. O’Conner was right. He was too on edge. Too jumpy. This was exactly why he refused to get involved with people he worked with. Putting his life on the line and watching each other’s back was one thing but putting his heart out there . . . He’d already learned that lesson.

Before long, the city turned into farm roads and fields of cattle south of Houston.

“Where are they going?” Jonas asked.

“I don’t know,” O’Conner said. “They’re heading west now.