Shotgun Justice Read online

  “Three.” His voice cracked. He was telling the truth. “You really don’t remember? You don’t feel weird or anything? You’re good. Not faking it?”

  Reading him was so easy for her. Weird because she seemed to have a handle on so few others. “I’m a little sore and my chest hurts, but not half as much as my neck from the weight of this thing.”

  “I’m surprised you’re walking around.”

  Genuine concern poured from the look he gave her. So much that she opened her mouth to ask him why he’d left her that night. Ironically, even with all the questions floating around in her supercharged brain, that night was clearer than most.

  The long kisses, the yearning looks, the feel of his hand hesitantly touching her breast for the first time... It was as if she could feel all of it at that exact moment. Her mind was playing tricks on her. Jesse was only skimming the skin above the monster necklace. She cleared her throat and his hand dropped to his lap. They scooted a little farther apart. Of course, they had more relevant problems—as in how to survive the next few hours.

  “Are you sure there’s nothing around here to pry this off? This collar weighs a ton.”

  Searching the back edge of the picnic area with her eyes, there was something lighter in the brush. The sun highlighted a patch that looked a lot like skin.

  “Is that a...a body?”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Can you estimate how long they’ve been dead?” Avery asked behind him.

  When Jesse had searched the picnic area before, he’d missed the two bodies on the edge of the back fence. He carried them closer to the parking lot. Avery was still shaky, but not admitting it to him. Her normally tanned features were pale. He’d heard people talking about turning as white as a sheet. He’d never seen it until today.

  “I assume they arrived with us. No animals have been at them. Stripped to their underwear. No ID. No shoes.”

  His feet were missing shoes, too. Probably a deterrent to running away. He was going to miss those boots.

  Scooting off the bench, she stood to take a look at their faces. “I recognize one of them. He’s come through Dalhart driving New Mexico plates. But I don’t recall his name. The other one, I haven’t ever seen.”

  “They must have set the fires. Snake Eyes doesn’t leave witnesses.”

  “Shoot, Jesse. Snake Eyes doesn’t even work with anyone for very long. I can’t imagine how many people have been a casualty of his crimes.” She sighed. The shock collar was having more effect on her than she’d admit. “He’s left us alive but we’re in a public area? It’s daylight. People will be driving by. We can ask for help.”

  “He wants Garrison and Kenderly Tyler, his witness. Without them the state has no case. The remaining evidence would be thrown out.”

  “We can still ask for help.”

  “How can we possibly get out of this?”

  “Together. I don’t suppose there’s extra ranger training for this sort of thing?” She tugged at the collar.

  “The subject of how to remove a shock collar hasn’t come up.” Just in case Snake Eyes could listen via the phone, Jesse left it with the dead men, then sat next to her.

  The sun was full in the sky, almost topping the trees on the east side of the grove. They could see more clearly and had about ten minutes left before Snake Eyes was supposed to call them.

  “What would he do if you gave him a false address?” she whispered.

  “Kill anyone there or some other innocent man he asks to check it out. I don’t know where they are.” He wished he didn’t know. Then there’d be no chance in hell he’d share the information.

  As it was, he didn’t know if Avery would survive a fourth shock. He had no idea how much electricity was flowing through her body. The third time had lasted quite a while and her heart had stopped. She’d come back, but would she the next time?

  “Any good ideas? If not, I’m going to the restroom over there. Shock or no shock.” She stood and spoke while turning in a circle. “You hear me, Snake Eyes? I’m going to cross the parking lot and have a private moment.”

  His mind was a blank. Maybe it was a side effect of the drug he’d been given, but he couldn’t think of a single thing to do. Not a damn way to protect her.

  “Ah!” she cried out as she opened the door. “It’s all right. I’m okay. There are more moths in here than I’ve ever seen in one spot.”

  He’d jumped up, ready to do battle as he was, dressed in jeans, a T-shirt and bare feet.

  “Ah! More moths. They’re creepy.”

  More creepy than two dead strangers about thirty feet away?

  “Oh man, Jesse, can you help me? I’m going to be sick.”

  He ran across the gravel parking lot, not caring that every step was painful.

  “What?” He pushed through the door. Avery had a finger over her lips, instructing him to be quiet.

  “I’m all right. I checked every crevice in here. No listening devices or cameras, so I’m testing something,” she whispered. “I think you might be able to get the toilet-paper holder off the wall.”

  “I could have kicked this off easy if I had my boots.” He bent to one knee, taking a closer look. “I need something thin enough to work as a screwdriver or a heavy rock. He took everything from my pockets. I’ve already tried to break my zipper pull. No luck.”

  “I’m going to pretend to remain sick. Maybe that will give you time to find how he’s watching us. Or find something to knock this loose. There has got to be something around here that you can pick a lock with.”

  They might be in a tight spot—some might call it hopeless—but Avery wasn’t about to go out without swinging. It hadn’t crossed her mind to give up. Her color was coming back, so she might be feeling better but wasn’t about to let Snake Eyes realize it.

  She reached around him to open the door and he saw the solution. “Our answer has been staring me in the face. Literally.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you still wear an underwire bra?”

  She nodded.

  “Take it off. I can use that to jam open the lock on that collar.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “It’s worth a try. Let me help.” He reached under her T-shirt and unhooked the hooks. The collar began beeping.

  Without removing her shirt, she slipped the bra off and pushed her arms through the holes.

  “I’ll get sick again in a few and we’ll come back in here to try it.” She stumbled out the door, and the red light stopped blinking. Twirling in the parking lot, she spoke to the trees. “There is a lot I want to say to you, Snake Eyes. A lot of words I’d like to call you. I’ll wait until we’re face-to-face.”

  Standing half in and half out of the restroom, Jesse held the bra behind his back, working until one of the wire ends ripped through the material. He pulled it out and stowed it under his shirt.

  Their situation wasn’t good, but he’d never been prouder to watch Avery shake her fist at anyone. They’d both get out of this alive because they’d work together to get the job done.

  Avery didn’t receive a shock, but the phone rang. She carefully picked up the bag and flipped it open.

  “Here are the rules,” the altered voice said. “I need an address. You and your ranger stay. I’ll let you go once my friend has verified he’s there. If someone happens by... It’s your choice. I’m glad to kill anyone you invite to the party.”

  “We know you’re going to kill us. Why should we give you my brother, too?”

  “There is so much more fun we can have.”

  Avery dropped the phone, shaking back and forth. If Jesse touched her, he’d be useless.

  “How much can you take, Ranger Ryder?”

  The shaking stopped and Jesse caught her
before she hit the ground.

  “Son of a B, that hurts.”

  “At least this time you’re not passing out. Must have been a lighter current.”

  “Restroom, please.” She squeaked out the words as she clung to him.

  “I hope you’re faking this. At least a little,” he whispered and picked her up in his arms. He left the phone on the ground. His only concern was Avery. “You can’t take much more of this.”

  She sat on the closed toilet seat. “Then get me out of this thing.”

  “I’m with you there, sweetheart.” He stuck the underwire into the lock. “This thing looks like a cylinder lock that can sometimes be opened with just a credit card. Worst type of lock there is. So maybe...”

  The collar began beeping. A bead of sweat rolled into Jesse’s eye.

  “Oh God, please hurry, Jesse. I can’t—”

  “Almost...” He jammed and twisted. “Got it.”

  The collar fell to the concrete floor, stinging his fingertips as he released it. Avery pressed herself into his body so fast they both fell backward.

  “I’ve never been so thankful something worked before in my life.” She kissed his mouth.

  Quick with gratitude. It was better than handcuffs for sure.

  “You going to be able to run? He’s got to have eyes on us. He’s going to know you aren’t wearing that thing and he has no control any longer.”

  “There’s an empty house on the corner. It’s been on the market for months. I don’t know what’s inside, but it’s not in the open like this.”

  “You said it would be faster to stay on the dirt road and not cut across the field. Yeah, that’s where we were heading before the second shock. We’ve got to blast out of here and not stop. Something happens to me, just keep going. Don’t look back.”

  “There’ll be none of your Texas Ranger heroics. This is my county. Remember? We stay together. Don’t worry. I can keep up.” She held out her hand. “Just as soon as you get me off this filthy floor, because I don’t think I can move.”

  “Elf Face?”

  She winked. “Just kidding. I can run a marathon to get out of here. Come on.”

  * * *

  JESSE LED THE way from the restroom as the collar beeped and buzzed behind them. The parking-lot gravel hurt. Avery ignored the pain, pushing through the sharp bruising.

  “Okay?” Jesse reached back and took her hand.

  “Just winded and braless.”

  They hadn’t made it to the road yet. How was she supposed to run a half mile? Blessed relief hit her feet as she stepped onto the soft dirt road. She stayed in the tire tracks, where it was packed down and a little easier to run through.

  Jesse ran in sand, imitating an ocean sand dune. If he’d let go, he could take the other tire rut. But he held on tight to Avery.

  The wind whooshed by, much different than the stillness of the grove. She barely saw the dirt kick up in front of them. There were definite pops and puffs of sand in the air.

  “Snake Eyes is shooting,” she panted.

  “We can’t turn back. Keep going.” They both slowed and turned toward the sound of shots. “Down.”

  He pulled her to the dirt, covering her with his body. Bullets peppered the road. He rolled them closer to the ditch, which was more like an extension of the field.

  “What now?”

  “I can’t tell where the bastard’s shooting from.” He raised his head even with the wildflowers and some kind of flowy grass. Nothing happened. “Can you run?”

  They shifted to where they were looking not only at each other but at the perimeter behind the other.

  “I’m slower than normal. But I’m not going back, so it has to be forward.”

  The dang house looked farther away than before. She could see the roof and more trees. But around them was nothing. No tree or wood fence post or telephone pole...no anything except grass and flowers.

  “Make a dash for the house.”

  She saw the desperation in his eyes. He was about to do something stupid.

  “What happens when he shoots you? I can’t—” Even now it was hard to admit it out loud. “I can’t do this alone, Jesse. Please don’t make me.”

  Weaving her fingers in his, she began to stand. Shots brought them back to their bellies.

  “Can you crawl?”

  “Watch me.” Their arms would be raw from the plants that had dried like tumbleweed.

  “This is going to hurt,” Jesse said, moving a couple of feet.

  “Not as much as being dead.”

  He sort of snickered as they moved forward. Ten arm pulls along the ground and he tapped her shoulder. “You ready to make another try?”

  “Absolutely.”

  They stayed low to the ground, began running, kicking up dirt behind them. Jesse had a tight grip on her upper arm. She heard the shot. A rifle behind her and on the side of the grove.

  “Keep going!” Jesse shouted, instead of falling to the ground again.

  The house was closer. Another hundred feet and they’d be on pavement. It was tempting to stop and crawl through the barbed wire, but it might give him time enough to make a shot.

  If Snake Eyes was back around the grove, he wouldn’t have a shot as they rounded the corner. They kept running past the fence to the driveway. A broken swing set had been left in the yard. They kept running.

  The door was locked. Jesse didn’t hesitate. He broke the window with something left on the porch. They were inside, leaning against the walls at the base of a stairway, breathing so hard she didn’t think she would ever catch her breath. She really needed water and prayed it had been left turned on.

  “Now what?”

  Chapter Thirteen

  The inside of the house was dark with the exception of a morning shaft of light from the broken window next to the door. There was a staircase opposite the front door, a closet under it and two rooms on either side. Jesse couldn’t shake the bad feeling.

  “I’m going to see if the water’s running.” Avery dusted off debris from her feet and cautiously moved around corners.

  “He has to be following us. Let’s stay together.”

  “Jesse, we’ve been drugged. I’ve been shocked to unconsciousness. We just ran a half mile. We’re both dehydrated. Water is a necessity for us to be able to think.” Avery slid her hand down his arm and laced her fingers through his. “Come into the kitchen.”

  “We need a plan.”

  “Dehydration keeps us from thinking clearly. My brain’s muddled enough.” She turned the handle and cupped her hands to drink. “Your turn. I’ll watch. I can see the front door and out back from here.”

  He’d been staring out one window without a memory of what he’d just seen. She was right. They both needed water, food, sleep...a weapon. Essentials. He splashed his face, scrubbed it to wake up. He began looking through cabinets and drawers.

  Avery stood watch at the door. “We can’t look for a weapon and keep watch on both sides of the house. He’s going to come after us.”

  “He’s probably already here. Maybe already gone through here for a weapon. It’s unlikely there’s anything to hold him off.”

  “Okay. We’ve been quiet. We would have heard him if he came through another window.” She had lowered her voice, emphasizing the quiet that surrounded them. “I’ll follow your lead on this, Jesse. My mind... Seriously, I’m having problems thinking straight.”

  “He hasn’t gotten what he wanted. His goal is Garrison, not us. We’re just a necessary step—even if he enjoys killing.” Jesse forced his mind to work.

  “You’re a smart man. If the positions were reversed, what would you do?”

  “Wound us? Drug us so he could start over? He could have shot us on the road, but
he didn’t. He needs his information. He likes the hunt, wants us to run.”

  “So we make a stand.” She nodded. “With what?”

  “A banister rail? Maybe there’s something that got left behind.” He turned, opened a door. Nothing. “What about the barn? And I noticed a shed.”

  Avery leaned close to the window, taking in as much of the perimeter as possible. “I haven’t seen him come down the road.”

  “That’s it! We’ve got to find his vehicle. That’s how we’ll both get out of here alive.”

  “Together. You promised. Don’t go sacrificing yourself for me. You know Garrison would kill me.” She smiled.

  The thing was...he would sacrifice himself for her. And it had nothing to do with his friendship with her brother.

  The strong emotions that rushed through him would have set him on his ear under normal circumstances. Yeah, they already had. Here he had to push them aside until they were safe. Eight months ago he’d pushed them aside and run. He’d be running again, but not away from Avery.

  “Let’s get out of here before he has us pinned down again.”

  “We can do this, Jesse.”

  “We zigzag across the open yard. I don’t see a lock on the shed, so we’re good. You hear shots, run faster. We’re out the door on three.” He turned the lock and removed the chain. “One—”

  “Wait. Wait.”

  “Did you see something? What’s wrong?”

  “I...I can’t remember.” There was pure panic in her eyes. “Don’t laugh, but I can’t remember what comes after one.”

  “Must be the shocks your body has had. Don’t worry. It’ll come back.” He surveyed outside again.

  No sun reflected off anything. No one in sight, but Snake Eyes was out there. He was certain of that. Maybe he should leave Avery hidden in the house and take the bastard on by himself. If she couldn’t remember how to count, what else would her mind blank on?

  It was a fleeting thought. Gone almost as fast as it came. He couldn’t leave her alone... She’d never allow it.

  “I asked you not to laugh.”

  “I’m not. I’ll wave you forward. Okay?”