Twin Targets (14 page)

“Okay.” He wouldn’t persist when she so clearly didn’t want to hear it. If he had doubts, he’d keep them to himself. He’d been wrong about Jade too often. That first day he’d thought her rigid and uncaring, and that had colored his dealings with her.

Now…now he knew her. Now he understood the courage and tenacity that dwelt behind that beautiful exterior and that prim manner. Those were qualities he admired in anyone, but in Jade, in went beyond that. Far beyond that.

He cared. Cared deeply…deeply enough to risk his job, his future, his life for her.

Love. He let his mind circle around the word cautiously, unwilling to admit to it. Then he pushed it away. Whatever he felt for Jade, it would have to wait. Right now the only important thing was her safety. He didn’t dare let his emotions get the better of him when her life was at stake. And if he was going to keep from betraying his feelings, he had to steer away from saying anything personal. He sucked in a breath, realizing he’d been quiet too long. She’d be thinking…well, he wasn’t sure what. He just knew he had to be careful, or he’d fall so hard for her that all of his professional skill might just vanish in a whirlwind of emotion.

“I guess…” He paused, cleared his throat. “We haven’t really talked enough about what’s going on as far as the case is concerned.”

“We’ve been a little busy.” The trace of a smile touched her face. “You don’t have to tell me anything that you’re not supposed to. I trust you.”

“Thanks, but in this situation I think the time for professional discretion has passed.” He tried to arrange the thoughts in his mind. “I was out of the office this morning in order to meet with a woman who is in hiding until it’s time for her to testify against Vincent Martino. The Martino crime family from Chicago. You know about them?”

Her forehead wrinkled. “Vaguely. There was something on the news lately about a Mafia don in Chicago who was critically ill. Is that the one?”

“That’s Vincent’s father. Word is out that Vincent is trying to pay a final tribute to his father. We think the tribute is killing a woman who put his father in jail years ago. Apparently the Mob knows that the woman is supposedly living somewhere in Montana.”

“Somewhere?” She caught the salient point. “You mean they don’t know where or you don’t know where?”

“She was in witness protection, but she left.” He sifted through what he’d learned from Jackson about Kristin Perry’s birth mother. That part of it wasn’t his to tell.

“Okay,” she said slowly, sounding as if she were doing some sifting, too. “Even if we assume they’re after me because they’re not sure whether I’m Jade or Ruby, I still don’t see what that has to do with Ruby. She’d never even been to Chicago.”

“That’s the part that had us confused, too. But it’s beginning to look as if Vincent Martino put out a contract on the woman. No one knows much about her, but they do know that her last known address was in Montana. And that she has green eyes. And that she’s in the Witness Protection Program.”

“But that…that’s ridiculous.” Jade’s logical mind rejected that instantly. “Even if they are thugs, they can’t be stupid enough to go around killing every green-eyed woman in Montana who’s under protection.”

“Never underestimate the stupidity of the average bad guy. If they were Einsteins, we wouldn’t catch as many as we do.”

“Even so…”

“I know. But two women who were in Witness Protection in Montana have been killed. Both had green eyes. And now they’re making a concerted effort to kill you.”

It sounded unlikely, even put that way.

“Look, I’d dismiss it as coincidence, except that someone’s gone to a lot of trouble to bribe or threaten the locations of those women out of a federal employee. And there’s another thing. That woman…the one they’re trying to kill…her name is Eloise.”

He saw that hit. Her green eyes widened as she took her gaze from the road for an instant.

“That was the name that man called me. The one at the library.”

“Right. That’s what put us on to it. My brother is convinced that there’s an open contract out on Eloise. That means that anyone can kill her and claim the reward.”

“So there are a bunch of armed maniacs roaming around Montana.”

He grimaced. “I wouldn’t exactly put it that way. Vincent Martino is no dummy, from everything I’ve learned about him and his organization.” His thoughts flickered toward the endless files and photographs he’d scanned through after that initial memo from Jackson about the Martino crime family. “He can’t be happy that his goons are drawing attention to themselves.”

“If that’s so, then once he realizes that I’m not the woman he’s after, he’ll leave me alone.” Her voice lifted, as if she saw her way through the dark. He wanted to encourage her. She deserved to have a little hope at this point. But once Martino had set this bloody rampage into motion, how would it end? Two women were dead already.

Not Jade next.
Please, God, not Jade.

“We’ve got to hope so.” He tried to infuse optimism into the words. “And to keep you safe until then.”

As if it had heard his words and despaired, the engine died.

FOURTEEN

Black despair settled on Micah. He fought it off. He couldn’t let himself think that way. They weren’t done for yet.

Jade shot him a wide-eyed glance. Then she turned the key. The engine answered with a trembling death rattle.

“Don’t bother. I’m afraid that’s it. Poor old lady never let me down before.”

“Are you talking about me or the car?”

Jade’s question was pure bravado, but he was glad to hear it. She wouldn’t give up easily.

“The 4x4, definitely.”

“What do we do now?”

He frowned through the windshield at the road ahead. The snow was finally slacking off, but it lay a foot deep and untracked on the macadam. He weighed the options, not liking any of them.

“Conventional wisdom says to stay with the vehicle, keep warm, wait for help. But this isn’t an ordinary situation. With the engine dead, it’s going to be as cold inside as it is outside in a matter of minutes.”

“You have an emergency kit. I’ve always heard you should light the candle and wrap up in blankets until someone comes.”

He eyed her thoughtfully. Jade was reasonably fit, but she was no athlete. To tramp through the snow took strength.

“We haven’t seen a single vehicle come down this road since we’ve been on it. I’d say the chances of someone coming along to help aren’t too great. And if someone does come along, it might be the people we want least to see.”

She took a breath as that unpalatable truth sank in.

“You think we should start walking.”

She obviously didn’t want to.

“Let’s have a look at the map first and figure out where we are.” He reached across her to yank a highway map from the pocket next to the driver’s seat, flipping it open.

He traced the map with his finger, and she leaned close to watch. Soft curls brushed his cheek, distracting him until he dragged his thoughts back to the problem at hand.

“This is where we were before the accident.” He ran his finger along the winding gray line. “I’m guessing we’ve gotten maybe twenty miles since then.” He tapped the map. “We haven’t reached that crossroads, that’s for sure. And it’s an access road that leads to the interstate, so there ought to be traffic on it.”

“How far do you think it is?”

“Maybe a couple of miles.” Maybe farther, but there was no point in discouraging her.

She glanced up at him, her face so close that his breath hitched. Worry darkened her eyes. “Do you really think you can make it that far? Your head…”

She was afraid for him, not for herself. Emotion gripped his throat, and he tried to speak normally.

“I’m fine. A brisk walk on a winter day will do me good.”

“I doubt that.” But her expression lightened at his reaction, so he must have been convincing. “Well, let’s get going.”

“Not so fast. Preparation is half the battle.” He turned to reach behind the seat, trying to ignore a wave of dizziness. “Let’s see what’s here that we can use.”

It took some maneuvering in the close confines of the vehicle, but he pulled his duffel bag and backpack into the front with them.

“I’m not putting on your sweatpants,” she warned.

“And I’ve already used your T-shirt on your forehead.”

“What do you say to a University of Chicago sweatshirt? Frayed but clean.” He held it out. She shook her head. “I’m fine. You put it on.”

She was still trying to take care of him. He appreciated it even as it irked him. “This parka of mine is good to thirty below. You need the extra layer more than I do.”

Her fingers closed over the sweatshirt reluctantly, but at a stern glance from him she dragged it on over her head. She pulled on her jacket, struggling a bit in the confined space against the steering wheel until he grabbed the hood and pulled it into place, his fingers brushing her cheek.

Oddly reluctant to let go, he tucked her wool muffler carefully around her neck, taking an unnecessary amount of time. “You have a hat and gloves, I hope. That’ll keep your head warmer than just a hood.” His voice was husky.

“In my pocket.” Hers sounded just as husky. He lingered a moment longer. Then, giving in to temptation, he kissed her lips. Lightly, very lightly. But even so, he felt the impact shoot straight to his heart. He pulled back, fighting for control, and busied himself checking the contents of the backpack. “I have water and a few energy bars. You want one before we start?”

“Not right now.”

She had to be hungry, but there was no point in making an issue of it. They might be glad of those bars later, when the extra calories could keep them going a bit farther.

“Let’s go, then.” He opened the door and slid out into the road, feeling the cold bite into him. Jade followed suit.

Please let this be the right decision.
He’d been acting on instinct all along, and he didn’t know whether to trust it or not. But if he hadn’t trusted it earlier, Jade would have been lying dead in that hotel parking garage back in Billings.

“We’ll have to walk on the road, even if we’re more visible that way. If we get off into the snow, we won’t have to worry about the bad guys or anything else.”

She fell into step with him, glancing at the snowy woods on either side of the road. A shiver went through her. “This is not a place where I’d like to be lost.”

Obviously he shouldn’t talk about all the things that could go wrong. Realizing she was trying to keep pace with him, Micah shortened his stride.

“So.” He blew out a steamy breath. “Once this is all over, what will you do?” Keep her focused on the future, not on the icy present.

“Do?” She looked startled. “Go back to my job, of course. Assuming they’ll have me.”

“I thought maybe you’d have developed a distaste for Montana after all you’ve been through.”

“Never. I love it here, cold and all. It’s the first place I’ve ever lived where I really feel as if I belong.”

“That’s good to hear. On behalf of my adopted state, I appreciate the fact that you’re calling it home.”

She frowned down at the snow that dragged at their feet. “Home,” she said softly, her breath coming raggedly.

“I’ve never had one before. I don’t want to lose it.”

He wrapped his hand around hers. “You won’t. Not if I can help it.”

She nodded, and he suspected she didn’t have enough breath left to carry on a conversation. To tell the truth, he wasn’t doing so well himself. Maybe it was the head injury, but his limbs seemed to weigh hundreds of pounds. Shaking off the thought, he kept moving. They were all right as long as they kept moving. No walk in the park, but he was fit. He could do it.

Twenty minutes of slogging through the snow later, he wasn’t so sure. It was all he could do to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And Jade looked as if she was walking in a dream. Or maybe a nightmare. He stared down the road. No signs. No indication of habitation. How far were they from that crossroads? Did they stand a chance at all of making it?

Please, Father. Give us strength. Send us help.

“Are you praying?” Jade’s voice was a whisper, carried on the cold air.

“Yeah.” Were they on the same wavelength?

“Me, too.”

“I’m glad.” He squeezed her hand, thinking of all she’d revealed about her spiritual struggles. “Remember Elijah and the ravens?”

“Vaguely,” she said

“They brought help didn’t they? We could.”
Please, Father.

A few more steps, and Jade stopped moving. She bent over, hands on her knees, breathing hard. “Just a minute’s rest. That’s all.”

At least she was on her feet, not sinking down into the snow. “Just a minute.” He put his arm around her, supporting her. His heart twisted with concern. Then he heard a sound, breaking the smothered silence of the snowy woods. An engine. Someone was coming. He swung, looking back the way they’d come. He loosened his jacket, reaching for his weapon. If it was the maroon sedan…

It wasn’t. He eased his hand away from his weapon and raised his arms to flag down the driver. The pickup was so old that it was impossible to tell what its original color had been. Mostly rust, now, but it couldn’t be in as bad shape as it looked. It came grinding through the snow and pulled to a stop next to them. The driver was considerably older than the truck, her leathery face a mass of wrinkles. Wiry gray hair made a fringe around a battered Stetson. She lowered the window a cautious couple of inches, and a pair of bright blue eyes surveyed them.

“Looks like you folks been having some trouble.”

“We went off the road a ways back.” He’d identify himself if he had to, but he’d rather they remain anonymous. “I guess we shouldn’t have gotten off the interstate.”

“I got no use for them interstates. Bunch of fools going nowhere too fast.”

“Maybe so.” He suspected that was a shotgun tucked down beside the seat. She wasn’t being too quick to trust, and he didn’t blame her. “We’re on our way to visit a friend up near Helena. Any chance you can give us a lift to someplace where we can make a call?”

She surveyed them for a moment longer. Then she jerked a nod. “Hop in. I’ll take you as far as I’m going, anyway.”

He opened the door, helping Jade up into the seat and climbing in after her.

Thank You, Lord. We’ll take ravens in any form when sent by You.

Heat blasted from the truck’s dash, but Jade couldn’t seem to stop shivering, even tucked between their rescuer and Micah’s solid body. Maybe she just hadn’t been able to feel how cold she was until relief had come. She stretched hands and feet toward the source of all that heat. The truck’s cab was cramped and a little smelly, but it felt great.

“That’s right. You just get yourself warmed up now.”

The elderly woman’s voice sounded rusty, as if she didn’t have much use for it. “What’s your name?”

“Jade.”

Micah shot her a sidelong warning look, and she knew what he was telling her as clearly as if he had spoken.
Don’t tell her what’s going on. Don’t say anything you don't have to.

After that disaster with the truckers, she’d follow his advice.

“My name is Micah.” He reached across her to shake hands with the woman. “We’re grateful to you for giving us a lift.”

“Mamie Carson.” She gave a sound that could only be described as a snort. “Couldn’t leave you out there to freeze to death, could I?”

“We’re fortunate you came along, Ms. Carson.” Micah shifted a bit, his arm going around Jade’s shoulders so that she felt the comforting weight of it.

“Never mind thanks. You’d best get your girl’s hands warmed up. She oughta have warmer gloves than that. Mittens work best of anything.” She flapped a pair of oversized fur-lined mittens that lay in her lap. Most of the time Jade didn’t care for that use of the word
girl
applied to her, but this use of it warmed her. Micah’s girl.

He drew her gloves off carefully and wrapped his hands around hers. “You should have told me your hands were getting this bad.” His tone was intimate, gently scolding. “I’d have given you my gloves.”

“Then you’d have frost-bitten fingers, which wouldn’t help us at all.” She tried to make the words tart to override the treacherous melting that his touch engendered.

“Rub ’em real easy,” Mamie cautioned. “Don’t want to be rough.”

“I won’t be.” He massaged her fingers, the movements as tender as a kiss.

“Here.” Mamie reached behind her seat and pulled out a plaid blanket, dropping it on Jade’s lap. “Put that over you ’til you warm up.”

The blanket was rough and frayed, and it smelled like horse. She wrapped it around herself thankfully. “Thanks. I think I’m actually starting to feel my hands and feet.”

“Good.” Micah shot her a look that would warm her all by itself. “I was getting worried.”

“I reckon Jade’s tougher than that.” Mamie elbowed her. “Right?”

The old woman’s question seemed to demand an honest answer.

“I’m trying to be.”

Ruby had always been the tough one. Jade had told herself she didn’t have to take that path—that she could rely on intelligence and hard work. Maybe she’d never appreciated toughness enough. Mamie Carson certainly seemed like an example of that.

“You live out here, do you, Ms. Carson?” Micah asked, looking up from his focus on Jade’s hands.

“Got a little spread down near the crossroads. Born there and gonna die there, if I have my way.”

Near the crossroads. That meant they’d have to climb out there and walk toward the interstate, hoping to pick up another ride. Her heart failed at the thought of getting out into the cold again.

Nonsense. She’d do what she had to do.

“Are you on the telephone, by chance?” Micah’s tone sharpened.

“Nope. Never saw much need for it. I guess the phone company never did neither. Never ran the lines out. Some folks have those fancy cell phones, but I hear tell they don’t work so good out here.”

Micah pulled his out of his pocket and flipped it open. He shook his head. “I see what you mean. I’m not getting a signal.”

So they couldn’t count on getting help anytime soon. She bit her lip, studying Micah’s face. It was pale, and there were lines of strain around his eyes and mouth. How much longer could he keep going? He ought to be in an E.R. getting checked out.

He wouldn’t give up or give in, no matter how much he hurt. But his body might overcome his indomitable will.

“Here’s my lane.” Mamie pulled the truck to the side of the road, nosing into a lane that was nearly invisible in the snow. “There’s the road you want just ahead. Turn left, and it’ll get you onto the highway in about a mile or so.”

Micah let go of her hands. “We thank you for the lift, Ms. Carson.”

“Hold on there. You think I’m just gonna desert the two of you?” Mamie’s leathery face cracked in a smile. “I know folks in trouble when I see them. Reckon I know good folks from bad, too. You two take the truck and get on your way.”

She was already sliding out before either of them found words.

“We can’t do that. What will you do for transportation?” Bless her heart—they couldn’t leave her alone out here, either.

“I’ve got a horse that’s as reliable as this old truck any day.” Mamie pulled a couple of canvas bags out of the back, taking one in each hand. “Got all the groceries I need now for a long spell. I’ll do what I do every winter—hole up and wait for spring.”