Fugitive Justice (15 page)

“And what if it doesn’t end the way you expect?” Annie asked.

Lisa smiled knowingly.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

The newswoman shook her head and raised her thinly plucked eyebrows. “Nothing at all. I have faith in you two.”

“I can’t speak for Jake,” Annie said. “The choice’ll have to be his.” She didn’t want to admit Jake was a fugitive, but she was becoming more and more convinced Lisa was sincere and had her facts straight.

“Look at it as a business decision,” Lisa continued. “I’m sure you could always use the positive exposure. It would be very good for Lincoln Investigations.”

“Perhaps it would, but it’s a personal matter, and Jake would have to okay it.”

Lisa raised her chin and smiled. “Give me your word you like the idea and you’ll try to convince your husband. I happen to know Jake doesn’t take much convincing as far as you’re concerned.”

Lisa was right about that. Jake was a pushover when it came to her, but she didn’t want to take advantage of him. Nonetheless, if the deal kept the public from being aware of what was going on, it was a good thing.

“You have my word,” Annie said. “I’ll talk to Jake about it.”

Lisa smiled.

“On one condition,” Annie continued. “If the public becomes aware the police are hunting for Jake, whether or not the information comes from you, the deal’s off.”

“Fair enough,” Lisa said.

“Are you going to tell me your source?” Annie asked, knowing it was a futile question.

“I can’t do that, Annie. You know better than to ask.”

“Normally, I wouldn’t ask,” Annie said. “But if it helps me get to the bottom of this, I’d appreciate anything you can give me.”

Lisa paused, then spoke flatly. “Telling you my source won’t help you.”

“Is there anything else you know that might?”

Lisa narrowed her eyes and stared at Annie as she considered the question. Finally, she said, “I don’t know how relevant it is, and it’s going to come out in my story this evening, but Niles Overstone mentioned to me his wife’s dying of cancer. According to him, she might only have a short time left, and he wants the world to know.”

Though Annie wasn’t sure how useful it was, the revelation was surprising, and she wondered if Hank was aware of it. She’d have to give the information some thought and run it by Jake later.

“Anything else?” she asked.

Lisa shook her head. “I don’t believe so. Just some sketchy information from witnesses at the bank robbery. If properly edited, it’ll add some interest to my piece, but there’s nothing in their stories that means anything as far as reliable evidence is concerned.”

“If you come across something, don’t keep it from me,” Annie said. “Anything that helps Jake out is good for everyone.”

“I won’t,” Lisa said, and Annie decided the newswoman was telling the truth. Lisa appeared to want Jake’s story badly, and Annie knew she’d do just about anything in her power to make it happen.

“Have you been in contact with Jake?” Lisa asked.

“I can’t tell you that.”

Lisa smiled knowingly. “I’ll take that as a yes.” She paused and gave a short laugh. “That was my curiosity as a newsperson. I had to ask.”

Annie stood. “If there’s nothing else, Lisa, I have some things I have to do.”

Lisa stood, brushed down the wrinkles in her blouse, and offered Annie a genuine smile. “That’s all for now.”

Annie saw her to the door and let her out.

The newswoman turned her head and called over her shoulder as she headed down the pathway to her van, “Give my regards to Jake.”

Annie closed the door and hoped she’d done the right thing in making the promise to Lisa. She decided she had. Lisa wanted Jake’s story, and instead of the woman causing trouble, as was characteristic of her, it was good to have her on their side for a change. That meant one less problem to overcome, and for all she knew, it might help.

Chapter 24

Wednesday, 1:28 p.m.

JAKE WORKED THE bicycle behind a hedge at the rear of a strip plaza not far from Richmond Realty. He concealed it as well as he could with dead leaves and branches and stood back. It would be safe there for the time being.

He might come back for the bike later, but it was becoming more of an annoyance than useful transportation, drawing looks from curious drivers and amused smiles from pedestrians. With his long legs, he could make just about the same speed. And anyway, he had nowhere to be at the moment.

He crossed the street to a grassy area near a towering office building facing Main Street, then sat and leaned against a shade tree. He played the little talk he’d had with Overstone over in his mind for the umpteenth time.

Pedestrians hurried up and down the sidewalk, cars sped by on the street, and furry animals played in the bushes nearby. It seemed like he was the only one without real freedom.

The cell phone in his back pocket rang, and he answered it. Other than Sammy, Annie was the only person with his number, and he was happy to hear her cheerful voice, even if it appeared forced. Though not hampered by the law on her heels, he knew she had to be going through as much as he was.

“Lisa was here,” Annie said.

“Oh? Causing more problems?”

Annie explained the proposition the newswoman had presented to her. “I know it’s not something you want to think about right now,” she said. “But I had to see how you’re doing, anyway.”

“I’m doing great,” Jake said, knowing it was a half-truth. “And tell Lisa I’ll do the interview. As long as it helps me move around more safely, it’s no big deal to me. She can have whatever she wants.”

“She also told me Merrilla Overstone’s dying of cancer,” Annie said. “According to Niles Overstone, his wife might have only a short time left.”

“Cancer?” Jake said. “Overstone didn’t mention that to me.”

Annie chuckled. “You two aren’t exactly on the best of speaking terms. Why would he?”

“No reason, I guess. He seemed more concerned with calling the cops on me. I didn’t get anything from him, anyway. If he knows anything about the bank robbery or his wife’s shooting, he never gave me any hint.”

“Other than your talk with Overstone, have you found out anything else?” Annie asked.

“Not a thing. I’m still waiting to hear from Sammy, and I’m also hoping you’ll find a lead. I’m tired of not knowing what’s going on, and I need to get digging into this thing.”

“It’ll come,” Annie said. “Up until now, Hank’s been forthcoming with me, and I keep in touch with him.” She paused, then said, “We miss you here, but you’d better go. You don’t want to kill the charge in your cell phone. And I’m going to be doing some snooping around this afternoon, and I’ll call you if I find out anything.”

“Be careful, and I miss you, too,” Jake said, then hung up and glanced at the phone. He still had a half charge. He tucked it into his back pocket, then pulled his cap low and dropped his head when a police car drove by. The officer had his head halfway out the window, craning his neck as he peered to get a better view.

Jake decided he’d better scram.

Too late.

The cruiser came to a quick stop, and the officer jumped out. Jake sprang to his feet and headed for the rear of the apartment building. He spun around the corner and poked his head back around.

The pursuing cop was fast, and his beltload of goodies didn’t seem to be slowing him down. One hand was on his two-way radio, no doubt calling for backup. The cruiser had disappeared.

He turned and ran down the back of the apartment building toward an adjoining side street. He assumed the cop car would be circling the block in an attempt to cut him off, and he hoped to get past the danger area before the cruiser appeared.

By the time he touched the street, the cop on foot had rounded the building and was not far behind.

“Police! Stop! Put your hands up!”

He wasn’t about to do that.

To his left, the cruiser sped up the street, its lights flashing, its siren off. It would soon be on him if he didn’t make tracks. The vehicle screeched to a stop as Jake leaped over a hedge and scurried down the side of a house.

Now both cops were on foot, and backup would be on the way—perhaps even ahead of him, anticipating his next move.

He couldn’t hide. The area would be thoroughly searched, and he’d be discovered. He had to hurry and get out of there before it was too late. Maybe he should’ve hung onto the bicycle a little longer.

Perhaps he could find another one.

Or better yet …

Jake tore past the house and landed on the sidewalk of the next side street. He glanced in both directions, then took a right and circled back to Main. A choir of sirens sounded in the distance. Backup was coming—more than one car—and they weren’t far away.

“Police! Stop!”

It came from behind him. His pursuers weren’t getting closer, but they weren’t giving up, either. His one advantage was they would never shoot an unarmed man in the back. As long as he kept ahead of them, he’d be safe.

But if he didn’t do something quickly, and maybe something drastic, he’d soon be outnumbered and surrounded.

He took another right turn at Main and beat a furious path down the sidewalk, tearing past startled pedestrians and dodging obstacles. He’d circled the block. It didn’t really matter where he ran, as long as he kept out of the arms of the law. And soon those arms would be everywhere.

And then, dead ahead, he saw his way out.

As he ran, he stuffed a hand into his pocket and pulled out the roll of bills. He peeled off two hundred dollars, shoved the rest back into his pocket, and folded the bills up in his fist.

He ground to a quick stop beside a startled man in the process of kick-starting his motorcycle. The man’s head spun toward Jake, and his eyes widened.

“Sorry,” Jake said. “I need your bike.”

With one huge fist, Jake grabbed a handful of the back of the man’s leather jacket and lifted him clear off the motorcycle. He planted the frightened man onto his feet beside the bike, smoothed down the guy’s jacket, and offered him a friendly grin.

“You’ll get your bike back,” Jake said. “I’ll take good care of it.”

He pressed the bills into the man’s hand, then leaped onto the bike and kicked it into gear.

“You can pick it up at the police station,” Jake yelled over the roar of the engine. “Thanks for the loan.”

He left the man with his mouth hanging open and pulled from the curb. He took a look over his shoulder. The pursuing cops were close, but they were going to be too late. He swerved into traffic and glanced in the mirror, smiling grimly to himself as the cops on foot came to a stop beside the confused man.

Sirens were blaring not far behind, cruiser drivers undoubtedly aware of the current situation. Cops would be leaning over their steering wheels, probably chomping at the bit, eager to be the one who marched the fugitive into the precinct.

But it wasn’t gonna happen if Jake could help it.

He edged between two lanes crammed with vehicles waiting at a red light. Coming to a stop, he tightened his fingers around the grips, ready to run the light if he found himself in danger of being nabbed.

The light changed green and the bike leaped off the line.

Sirens screeched in his ear, almost on him now. Cars pulled to the side in front and behind to make way for the pursuing vehicles.

But police cars, even with the best drivers, were no match for a motorcycle on city streets. Especially if Jake was driving.

With cruisers at his heels, he swerved to the right, leapfrogged the curb, then sped down an alley between two storefronts.

He spun onto a service road behind the building, spitting up loose stones as he veered left, then quickly approached another side street. Crossing over, he took an access lane behind a line of stores and continued on, the screech of sirens now fading.

After a couple more minutes, he’d put a safe distance between himself and the sure-to-be-frustrated cops.

It’d been close.

Chapter 25

Wednesday, 3:11 p.m.

HANK HAD SPENT THE last four hours conducting a second interview with anyone remotely involved in either the bank robbery or the shooting of Merrilla Overstone. Whether or not Jake was involved, the detective had been hoping to find the one tidbit of information to break the case wide open.

King had been on the streets talking to any of his CIs who had connections to the seedier side of the city. Most of his CIs were known to be in the drug world, but where there was a buck to be had, a handful of his criminal connections had their claws everywhere, spreading their expertise among a variety of unlawful acts.

Both detectives had come up empty-handed.

News of the near capture of Jake had spread throughout the precinct. Hank knew many had silently cheered when they heard Jake had eluded arrest, but he also knew not everyone in local law enforcement called themselves a friend of the Lincolns. Whether it was jealously due to the Lincolns’ relationship with RHPD, or something else, Hank didn’t know, but there was no doubt that an undeniable trace of resentment toward his friends existed in the department.

Hank didn’t know exactly where he stood on the near miss. A part of him wanted to see Jake brought in; he just didn’t want to be the one to do it.

But right now, he had a lot of paperwork to do—a mundane task that kept him from doing what he really wanted to get at.

He looked up as Officer Spiegle weaved his way through the maze and approached Hank’s desk, his usual cheery face now sporting a serious expression.

“What is it, Yappy?”

“Diego wants to see you and King,” the young cop said.

Hank glanced toward Diego’s open office door. The captain’s door was always open. Though he could be tough when he needed to be, he had the backs of those who called him Captain, and he’d earned the respect of the men and women who enforced the law under his command.