Evidence in their hands...

And a crime ring on their trail.

Someone will do anything to get Mackenzie Weaver’s documentary footage—even kill her. US deputy marshal Jake Riley won’t let anyone harm Mackenzie, especially since he’s beginning to see her as more than his late friend’s little sister. But exploring their growing connection isn’t an option…because keeping an emotional distance is his best hope of outmaneuvering criminals determined to make this project Mackenzie’s last.

KATHLEEN TAILER is a senior attorney II who works for the Supreme Court of Florida in the office of the state courts administrator. She graduated from Florida State University College of Law after earning her BA from the University of New Mexico. She and her husband have eight children, five of whom they adopted from the state of Florida. She enjoys photography and playing drums on the worship team at Calvary Chapel, Thomasville, Georgia.

Also By Kathleen Tailer

Under the Marshal’s Protection

The Reluctant Witness

Perilous Refuge

Quest for Justice

Undercover Jeopardy

Perilous Pursuit

Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk.

Perilous Pursuit

Kathleen Tailer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ISBN: 978-1-474-09651-5

PERILOUS PURSUIT

© 2019 Kathleen Tailer

Published in Great Britain 2019

by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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Version: 2020-03-02

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“I could have just shot you!”

Jake lowered his weapon, did a quick take of the hall and, seeing no one else, covered the distance between himself and Mackenzie in three seconds flat.

“Get out of here now!” he whispered vehemently, trying to push her toward the door, but she held her ground.

“I’m not leaving, Deputy Riley. I have a job to do, just like you.”

“We’re in pursuit of a suspect. You’re in danger here, and you just might end up in the line of fire again if you’re not careful. Now get out of here!”

“You’re wasting time. While you’re standing here arguing with me, you could be chasing him down.”

Jake’s eyes flashed. “You’re making my job very difficult, Mackenzie.”

Mackenzie frowned. “You’re not making mine very easy, either.”

Jake shook his head and motioned with his gun again. “We’ll talk about this later. For now, stay here. Do not go any farther into this building. Do you understand? The man we’re chasing is armed and isn’t afraid to shoot at anything that moves.”

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

—Isaiah 43:2

For my wonderful family, Jim, James, Bethany, Keandra, Jessica, Nathan, Joshua, Anna, Megan and our newest members, Daniel and Joshua. God is good, all the time! I have been blessed beyond measure.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

About the Author

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction

Bible Verse

Dedication

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

About the Publisher

ONE

“Really?” Mackenzie Weaver groaned and shuffled the groceries in her hands, trying to get the right key in the lock so she could get into her apartment. She’d been out all day and was bone-tired after spending hours meeting with the executives involved in her latest project for the local US Marshals office. They’d finally hammered out a deal and had approved her action plan, but it had been a long and arduous process. She shifted again, still not able to get the right key in her hand. Her purse slipped from her shoulder to her elbow, and the weight made her movements even more awkward. She juggled a bit more, and two oranges fell from her grocery bag. She let out an exasperated sigh. If she wasn’t careful, the deli container of salsa she had purchased would open up and make a truly nasty mess.

Dear God, please help me make it through this day.

Her prayer was short but heartfelt. Just as she bent down to pick up the oranges, the first bullet ripped into the door frame. The sound was deafening. Splinters and paint chips spit at her as a second bullet hit just below the first. For Mackenzie, the noise from the gun was just as shocking as the sight of the bullets tearing into the wood.

She dropped her bags and hit the floor, her heart beating so hard it felt like it was about to come out of her chest. Her breath came in gasps. She scooted against the wall and then fumbled for her phone so she could call 911. She never had an opportunity. Suddenly, two rough hands pulled her to her feet and dragged her into her apartment. Another man closed the apartment door behind them.

“You idiot!” The man at the door spoke gruffly as he approached. “Why did you shoot at her? We don’t want her dead! Not yet anyway, and now the noise is going to bring us company we don’t need.” His words sent a chill down her spine, and she started shaking.

Mackenzie tried to scream, but her captor quickly put his hand over her mouth and squeezed. His other arm was around her waist, and he pulled her roughly against him. She was sure his tight grip would leave a bruise, and his pungent body odor made the situation even worse. “Shut up, sweetheart, or you’ll never speak again.”

She stopped screaming but didn’t stop struggling until he used the hand still clasped over her mouth to pull her head at such an awkward angle that it hurt to even move. The man was much larger than her, and even though she couldn’t see his face, she could feel his polluted breath prickling the skin on her neck. When he spoke, his voice was gravelly and cruel. “Now you’re learning.” He pulled her head again, and she whimpered in pain. “Don’t try anything stupid. Got it?”

The second man took a step forward so he was clearly in Mackenzie’s line of sight. He was a large, burly man with a shock of dark hair and thick, beefy forearms. His hands were the biggest ones she’d ever seen. Even his eyebrows were bushy and accented the fierce expression on his face. He was truly formidable. “Your name is Weaver, right?” His voice was deep and menacing.

Her captor removed his hand from her face, but she didn’t answer until he jerked her head once again by yanking her hair.

She whimpered in pain. “Yes.”

“You make movies, right?”

“Yes.”

“Where do you keep the copies?”

“Copies of what?”

The hairy man shook his head as if he was reasoning with a small child and took a step closer. “Are you trying to make me mad?” He pulled a pistol from his belt and put it under her chin. She could feel the cold metal biting against her skin. “I don’t play games. Got it? Answer my question.”

“I’m not trying to be difficult,” she said softly, hoping to calm him down so she could figure out what he wanted. She was so scared it was hard to think, but she kept talking anyway. “I just don’t understand what you want. I’ve made lots of movies, and I have all sorts of copies and edited versions of various scenes. If you tell me more about what you’re looking for, I might be able to help.” She glanced at her desk, which was behind the man, and he followed her eyes. He instantly turned and started searching through the drawers and filing cabinet. Papers were soon strewn about, and books and other items were thrown into disarray throughout her home office space. What were they looking for? Which of her projects had garnered their attention? None of this made any sense to her, but her confusion did little to ameliorate her fear.

Suddenly, there was a noise at the front door. “Deputy US marshal. Drop your weapons and come out with your hands up!”

The hairy man quickly looked behind her to the thug who held her captive, and then they both started backing away from the living room, pulling Mackenzie with them and using her body as a shield. They headed toward the balcony, the only other exit from her apartment.

She glanced toward the door and hope surged within her as she noticed a man with a gun quickly look around the doorjamb. He instantly took cover behind the door again, but he had to be law enforcement, just as he’d announced. She’d only gotten a quick look at him, but he had the law enforcement look—short dark hair and strong military features. There was also something vaguely familiar about him, but her mind still seemed frozen and she couldn’t place him. Maybe she wasn’t going to die today after all. Still, there was only one of him, and two men were holding her captive, both with loaded weapons. Anxiety formed a hard knot in her stomach, and she stumbled as the man holding her continued to pull her backward.

She was being held at such an awkward angle that she couldn’t catch herself. Her abductor lost his grip, and she ended up on the floor. She expected the man to reach down and pull her up again, but instead, he left her sprawled on the tile and then turned and followed his companion out through the sliding glass door that led to the balcony. She still didn’t get a look at the face of the man who’d held her but did notice dark brown hair, blue jeans and a red plaid shirt. She also saw that the hairy man had grabbed her laptop on the way out. A protest formed on her lips, but she stayed silent as she watched the two disappear by jumping off her second-floor balcony. She could buy another laptop. At this point, she was just relieved to still be alive.

* * *

Jake Riley heard the sliding door open and took another quick look. He was off duty and didn’t have any backup, so he was less concerned with capturing the men with the guns than with keeping their victim safe. Seeing no one but the woman, he entered the apartment, his gun drawn.

“Stay down,” he said softly as he approached, motioning with his hand. “Is there anybody else in the apartment?”

“No,” she answered, “I don’t think so, anyway. There were two guys that grabbed me when I came into my apartment, but they just escaped out the balcony.”

Jake carefully approached the sliding door with his gun still drawn and ready. He cautiously stepped outside and quickly spotted the two suspects running through the parking lot on foot. A moment later, a black Buick four-door sedan sped away, but not before Jake was able to catch two of the numbers off the license plate. He holstered his weapon and blew out a breath. He had already called in the incident when he’d heard the gunshots, so his next move was to go to the side of the woman, who was still cowering on the floor. She had pulled herself up to a sitting position and was now leaning against her couch, hugging her legs. Jake noticed her hands were shaking as she pushed some of her long brown hair behind her ear.

“Are you hurt?”

It took a moment for her to look at him, and he imagined she was trying to compose herself. He didn’t blame her. It probably wasn’t every day that someone broke into her home and threatened her at gunpoint. She had to be terrified.

Finally, she glanced up at him, and his heartbeat fluttered. She had pale blue eyes, and her long brown hair framed her heart-shaped face perfectly. Her lips were a vibrant pink, and with her smooth and fresh skin she looked like a porcelain doll. He sucked in a breath. She was one of the prettiest women he had ever seen, but there was something about her... He made a conscious effort not to stare at her and was relieved that she didn’t seem to notice his bad manners.

“No, I’m not hurt. Not permanently, at least.” She winced as she tilted her head. “I’m a bit sore, but you arrived just in time.” She looked him directly in the eye, and suddenly, recognition spread across her features. “Jake Riley?”

He raised his eyebrows, his brain frantically searching for the woman’s identity. He could only remember one person with eyes that particular color of blue, but the woman before him looked very different from what he remembered. He hazarded a guess.

“Mackenzie? Mackenzie Weaver? Is it you?”

She smiled. Yet the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes, and she was quick to look away.

“Yes, it’s been a few years.”

Jake was floored. Mackenzie was the little sister of his best friend, Jonathan Weaver, who had been killed by a land mine in Afghanistan over four years ago. He and Jonathan had been boon companions all through high school and college, but then Jonathan had joined the army and died shortly thereafter. Mackenzie was four years younger than Jonathan and had followed the boys around like a puppy during most of their friendship. She had always wanted to be included in their escapades, but Jake and Jonathan had spent a great deal of time trying to break away from her constant pursuit. Jake had even thought that Mackenzie had a crush on him for a time when she was in high school and he was in college, but he had never been interested. Of course, the girl he remembered was nothing like the lovely woman before him. She had truly blossomed.

“The last time I saw you...”

“Was at the funeral,” she finished for him.

“You’ve changed a bit since then,” he said carefully, noting that she seemed less and less pleased that they had reunited.

“You could say that,” she said, still not looking directly at him. “I’ve lost my braces and gained a few pounds. And I finally let my hair grow out. I guess you could say I’m all grown-up.”

The girl Jake remembered had been a skinny tomboy with short hair, braces and a wardrobe filled with jeans, sports T-shirts and jerseys. The lady before him looked nothing like he remembered, with the exception of those penetrating, lovely blue eyes. She now had wonderful curves and was dressed in a pretty floral shirt that accented her femininity. “That’s an understatement. You look amazing.”

She shifted, apparently uncomfortable with his compliment. “I’m sure they would have killed me if you hadn’t come along. Thank you for arriving when you did.”

He nodded at her and turned away, still hoping that she didn’t notice how much she had affected him. He met people nearly every day in his job as a deputy marshal, both old and new acquaintances, strangers and friends, but it had been quite a while since someone had garnered his attention so acutely for something other than breaking the law.

Her eyes. That was what got him. They were such an unusual shade of blue. They reminded him of the morning sky right after the sun came up. He kicked himself mentally. Morning sky? Yep. He was definitely slipping. What had gotten into him? Not one to lose focus normally, Jake quickly forced his thoughts back to the welfare of the victim and stopped thinking about the past and how much Mackenzie had changed. Besides, it was obvious that she wanted to keep the past in the past. Their shared history had ended when her brother died. Jake took a breath. “Sure thing. I was visiting a friend who lives a couple of apartments down when I heard the gunshots. I think I scared the intruders away before they did too much damage.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you catch your breath while I call in to the office and give them the update.” He busied himself with his phone and then gave dispatch the news about the men’s escape and the vehicle, knowing the report would be shared with the local authorities. When he turned back, he noticed that Mackenzie had pulled herself up and was heading toward the door on shaky legs.

He quickly stored his phone. “Whoa. Where are you headed?”

She turned. “I just thought I’d grab my purse and groceries from the doorstep before I have any other visitors.”

He nodded and motioned toward the couch. “Why don’t you take a seat and let me get those for you?”

She shrugged. “I can get them. This may sound kind of weird, but I need to do something to work off this adrenaline.” She took a step, but her legs seemed to give out underneath her. Jake reached her just in time to keep her from crashing to the floor. He swung her up into his arms and breathed her in. Was that lilacs? Or maybe jasmine? He wasn’t an expert on perfumes, but he did know one thing: she smelled as good as she looked. The tomboy he remembered had totally disappeared.

She leaned against him, and he tried to ignore how comfortable she felt in his arms. It was a strange sensation for him, and once again he quickly tamped down the attraction he was experiencing. He was off duty, sure, but this woman was a victim of a crime, and despite the fact that they had known each other growing up, he was here as a law enforcement officer. He also wondered what her brother, Jonathan, would think if he knew how Jake was reacting to his little sister. Would he have been indifferent, or would he have warned Jake to stay away? He mentally gave himself a shake. Even if Jonathan had given him his blessing, Jake had no interest in having a relationship with anyone. He was shocked at his own reaction to her. He steeled himself and carried her to the couch. Then he gently set her down and took a step back. “Just try to breathe easy and relax. The local police will be here soon.”

“I don’t know what happened,” she said softly. “All of a sudden, my legs just wouldn’t work.”

“No worries,” Jake reassured her. “That’s a common sign of stress. You were just held at gunpoint by two thugs. I’d say you’re doing amazingly well.” He took a seat across from her. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

She scooted back a bit on the cushion and then looked him in the eye again. She had always had a toughness to her, and he was pleased to see she hadn’t been reduced to tears or hysterics. Dealing with emotional victims was part of his job, but he was glad that Mackenzie was strong and able to talk to him coherently, despite what she’d just been through.

“I was trying to find the key to my door, but my hands were full. I ended up dropping some of my groceries, and when I bent down to pick them up, the bullets hit the door frame above me. Then the man in the blue jeans grabbed me and pulled me into the apartment.”

“Did you recognize either of them?”

“No. I’ve never seen them before.”

“Okay. Then what happened?”

“The guy in jeans held me, and the hairy one put a gun under my chin and said he wanted to know where I kept my movies.”

“Your movies?”

“Yes. I’m a videographer. I make documentaries, commercials, training videos—that kind of thing.”

That surprised him, but he couldn’t really remember much about Mackenzie’s plans when she had been in high school, and they had barely talked at Jonathan’s funeral. “Did he say which of your movies he was interested in?”

“No. We didn’t get that far. He started going through my desk, but I don’t know if he took anything except my laptop. He grabbed that on the way out.”

Jake put his hands on his hips. “Did you have anything important on that laptop?”

“I do some work on it, but most of the footage and movies are stored on portable hard drives. That seems to be what they were looking for. I guess they figured I had the files on my laptop.” She paused, and Jake could see that her hands were still trembling. “I can’t figure this out. I don’t understand what they wanted. Nothing I’ve worked on has ever been controversial.”

Jake heard the distant sound of sirens and knew local law enforcement would be there soon. This case probably wouldn’t fall under the local US Marshals unit’s jurisdiction, but it intrigued him nonetheless, especially since he knew the victim. One of the criminals also looked like an escaped fugitive he had been hunting recently, and he hoped he could get Mackenzie to come down to the office to check out some mug shots, just in case the perpetrator was his man after all.

He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. He was relieved he’d gotten there just in time and realized he had probably saved her life. The two criminals had meant business, but since he had interrupted them, he doubted they had gotten what they were looking for. Once thing was certain in his mind—sooner or later, they would be back.

“Look, I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay here tonight. Once the local law enforcement team interviews you, you’ll need to find a new place for a few days, at least until we have more information. Do you have friends you can stay with until this is over?”

Mackenzie shrugged. “I guess so, but if these men didn’t get what they wanted, won’t they just come after me again and put my friends in danger, too, when they return? I don’t want anybody else’s life disrupted because of me.”

She had a point. Normally he would leave it to the local police to sort this out, but he couldn’t just drive away. Just then two local detectives arrived and started interviewing both Jake and Mackenzie. The entire time they were asking questions, Jake tried to tell himself it was the connection to his fugitive that had garnered his interest in this case, and by the end of the interviews, he almost believed it himself. Almost. After Jake and Mackenzie answered all the questions, Jake pulled aside the detective in charge.

“Look, she’s afraid to go stay with friends and she can’t stay here. How about I take her to a local hotel and then bring her in to the local US Marshals office tomorrow so she can sit with our sketch artist? I’ll share any leads she gives.”

The man raised an eyebrow. “You trying to take this case away from us, Riley?”

Jake held up his hands and smiled, his slow Southern drawl salting his words. “No way. You can have the case and the paperwork. One of the perps seems an awful lot like one of my fugitives. That’s all. I just think there might be some connections here, and if we share intel, we can help each other.” He pulled a business card out from his wallet and handed it to the officer. “Cooperation between agencies is one of our mandates. I won’t leave you out in the dark.”

The detective seemed to be weighing his words, but in the end he agreed. Jake had always done his best to keep a positive, friendly relationship with the other law enforcement agencies in Tallahassee, and tonight his efforts were paying off. Although he didn’t know this officer personally, he and his team had an excellent reputation with the local agencies. The way he figured it, law enforcement personnel were all on the same team—even though they served different functions. He went to Mackenzie’s side. “Go ahead and pack a bag. I’ll take you somewhere safe until we can figure out what’s going on here.”

She raised an eyebrow but then did as she was told, returning to the living room a few minutes later with a small rolling suitcase. She also grabbed a portfolio from her desk and added several papers and a couple of files from the filing cabinet. The fear was still radiating in her eyes, but he could see that she was determined to push forward and put this incident behind her as best she could. His admiration for her went up a notch. She really was tough. He liked that. It had been a long time since anyone outside of law enforcement had impressed him on any level. He was used to dealing with the dregs of society, and Mackenzie’s strength was a welcome ripple in a sea of viciousness he dealt with on a constant basis.

He started leading her out to his car. “So here’s the plan. I’ll take you to a hotel for the evening, one that our office uses a lot. We know we can trust the folks that run it. Then tomorrow morning, I’ll pick you up around eight a.m. and bring you to my workplace so you can describe those two men to our sketch artist and maybe look at some mug books. Will that work for you?”

She nodded. “That will do nicely. I actually already have a meeting scheduled there tomorrow anyway. I can do both in one fell swoop.”

Jake raised his eyebrows, surprised. “Really? Anything you care to share?”

“My new video project is about the working of the local US Marshals office. I’ve been hired to do a documentary for them. I was already scheduled to meet with Chief Deputy US Marshal J.T. Austin. He runs the unit I’ve been assigned to work with. Do you know him?”

Her words stopped Jake cold. He froze and turned slowly to meet her eyes. “J.T. Austin is my boss.” He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “You’re doing a movie about our office?” He could tell the gruffness of his voice shocked her, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. Surely she was mistaken. His boss wouldn’t really sanction this type of project, would he? A documentary would put his life and the lives of others who worked with him at risk. They didn’t need the exposure, and they didn’t certainly need to be worrying about the safety of someone who was following them around while they were doing a very dangerous job. Jake also had a full caseload and a heap of work on his desk. He didn’t have the time to push all of that aside to help with something as extraneous as a public service video.

“Yes, it’s all been arranged. They didn’t tell you I was coming?”

“No, they neglected to mention that.” Again, his voice was frosty, even to his own ears. “I’m sure we can sort it out tomorrow, though. There’s no way you’re making a documentary of my unit. That’s just not gonna happen.” He’d make sure of that. He’d set Mackenzie Weaver up with the mug shot books and then meet with J.T. and voice his concerns. Jake Riley wasn’t going to have any documentary made about him or the work he did, even though the videographer was an old family friend who had become a beautiful woman. He’d put a stop to the film the first thing in the morning.

TWO

Mackenzie dared another glance behind her and opened the door to the local office of the US Marshals. As she entered the building, she wasn’t sure if she was being watched or not. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone had their eyes on her and was paying attention to her every move, despite the presence of Jake Riley, who followed just a few steps behind. Last night she had stayed at the hotel suggested by Jake, but she had been truly surprised at the change in his attitude, which seemed to have gotten distinctly frostier once she’d mentioned the documentary. He’d turned into an iceberg in two minutes flat, and arriving to pick her up this morning, he hadn’t said more than a handful of words to her or even met her eye.

She shouldn’t really have been surprised at his behavior. As a kid, she had done her best to garner Jake’s interest, but he had largely ignored her. Nothing had changed. Sure, they were both adults now, but it was painfully obvious that he still found her to be a nuisance. His distaste for her seemed even worse than when she had been following him around as a teenager. She didn’t know what she had done to offend him so, but at this point, she didn’t want to dwell on it. She had moved on years ago.

Maybe she was just being too sensitive. She hadn’t slept very well last night. The feel of the man’s gun under her chin was still too real, and the entire experience from yesterday still had her nerves on edge. But life had to go on, and she had two meetings in this office today—one with Jake Riley to look at mug shots, if he still wanted her to do so, and one with the chief to go over her action plan and start the wheels turning on her video project. As she expected, Jake Riley disappeared soon after their arrival at the building, so she asked for the chief at the front desk and was soon ushered back into a small conference room.

J.T. Austin, Chief Deputy US Marshal, came in with a warm smile and his hand out, ready to shake. He was a large man who exuded authority, with a tough-as-nails appearance. Yet his smile was genuine, and Mackenzie felt instantly at ease, incredibly glad that he was more receptive to her project than Jake Riley was. She stood to greet him and then sat back down and pulled out her portfolio.

“I’m so glad we’re going to be working together, Chief Austin. I’ve heard great things about your unit and its amazing closure rate. You must have a truly excellent team.”

“We do indeed,” Austin agreed.

The door opened and Jake Riley reappeared. Mackenzie smiled at him but was met with a scowl. He still refused to meet her eye.

“I believe you already know Deputy Marshal Riley,” Austin intoned.

Mackenzie was a bit flustered by Jake’s icy expression, but she took it in stride. “Yes, he actually saved my life last night. A couple of men broke into my apartment and held me at gunpoint, but Deputy Marshal Riley scared them off before they could do any serious damage.”

Austin raised an eyebrow. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

He leaned back as Jake took a seat at the conference table. “Looks like you were in the right place at the right time, Jake.” He smiled. “Mackenzie Weaver is the videographer we are working with to create our documentary. We’d been keeping the project under wraps until we worked out all the details, but now that we have a contract in place, we’re ready to move forward. Ms. Weaver is making a one-hour special that will be broadcast on one of the biggest networks in the country. It should bring the agency some wonderful exposure from a media standpoint and may even help us with our budget requests. The more the legislature knows about what we do and how we do it, the better likelihood we have of getting properly funded. This movie is really important to us and will make a big impact. It’s good to have her.” He turned to Mackenzie. “Ms. Weaver, I’ve assigned you to Jake and his team so you can make your documentary. He’ll be showing you the ropes and answering your questions as you go through the filming process.”

Mackenzie expelled a breath, hoping her disappointment didn’t show. She’d hoped Chief Austin had been planning to assist her personally, especially after Jake’s negative comments the night before. She dared another glance at Jake and was still surprised at his frigid expression. He obviously didn’t want to be working with her. The question was, why? Had she said or done something last night to turn him off or insult him? Did he still think of her as a lovesick tomboy from high school? She needed his cooperation for this film to become a success. She decided to put her best foot forward and let her professionalism shine. “I’m so pleased to be working with you, Deputy.”

Austin stood. “I’ll leave you two to get to work. Ms. Weaver, if you need anything, my office is just down the hall. Jake, I’ll trust you to take care of Ms. Weaver and help her get her work accomplished. I’m already anxious to get some popcorn and watch the final version!” He shook Mackenzie’s hand again, clapped Jake on the back and left the room.

Once they were alone, Jake sighed audibly. Mackenzie raised an eyebrow. “So I take it this wasn’t your first choice of assignments.”

“Not even close,” Jake agreed in his southern drawl.

“Did you even know this project was in the works?”

“Nope. The chief must have known how I’d react. That’s why he played this one close to the vest. I didn’t even have an opportunity to talk to him about it this morning like I’d planned.” He leaned forward. “Look, you’re gonna get in our way. It’s that simple. You’re making my job a hundred times harder. I know the chief seems to have high hopes for this film of yours, but I sure wish you had chosen a different agency for your exposé.”

“Exposé?” Mackenzie said, hoping her frustration wasn’t showing. “That’s hardly what I’m doing. My film will be a positive documentary about the good work that you’re doing. It’s designed to make the US Marshals look good—not hurt you.” She shifted. “You should also know that this was your agency’s idea, not mine. They sent out a request for bids, and my proposal won the contract. If I wasn’t the one behind the camera, it would have just been someone else doing the work instead of me.”

He seemed to ponder her words, but in the end he didn’t change his expression. “Regardless, you’re still going to be in my way.”

“The more you cooperate, the sooner I’ll be out of your hair. That’s a promise,” Mackenzie said, hoping her frustration wasn’t coming across in her tone. There was no reason to antagonize the man, especially since he had come to her rescue just last night. Arguing with him was also a waste of time. She would just have to prove to him that her work would reflect well on his unit and the job he did. She pulled out her storyboard sheets and laid out her plans for the movie, going over the various scenes she hoped to film and giving him the narrator’s script, which would tie it all together.

“This is just my initial plan. I’d like for you to read over all of this and let me know your opinion. I want to create a realistic piece—not a work of fiction. Your input is vital.”

* * *

Jake gathered all the papers together in a stack but barely glanced at them. “Fine. I’ll take a look as soon as I get time, if I get time.” He grimaced, wanting to stay focused on doing his job and doing it well, not on making a video that he had no interest in. “For now, I would like for you to take a look at some mug shots. I think I recognized one of the guys from your attack last night, and if I’m right, he’s a mean, nasty character that I really want to get off the streets. Do you mind taking a look?”

He could tell that he’d offended her by not studying the papers she’d brought, but his focus was on catching criminals, not helping make a movie for publicity. When she nodded, he quickly led her out to the bull pen where the deputies had their desks. He seated her at a long table with three large books of pictures. He left her for about half an hour and then came back once he noticed she’d flipped through the last of them.

“Did you see anyone you recognized?”

Mackenzie shook her head. “Nope, sorry. I only saw one of them for a few seconds as he was leaving, and the other one didn’t look like any of the guys in these books.”

Jake was frustrated by the news but handed her a stack of flyers. Each page showed a fugitive’s picture and had a short description. “Try these. Maybe you’ll see him in there.”

She took the flyers and started thumbing through them. Suddenly, she became animated and held up a picture. “That’s him! That’s the hairy one that put the gun under my chin. I’ll never forget those eyes for the rest of my life.”

Jake took the paper, his suspicions confirmed. The photo was of Carter Beckett, a thief and murderer who had robbed a bank in Cairo, Georgia, and killed a convenience store clerk in Tallahassee. He had been on their local most-wanted list for almost two years. “Good work, Ms. Weaver.” He was so pleased he’d gotten a lead on Beckett that his negative attitude melted a bit. “Look, I’m glad you’re okay after everything you went through. I’ll call the local police that worked the scene last night and give them the update. Once we catch him, we’ll need you to come down again and pick him out of a lineup for us.”

“No problem. I’m glad I could help.” She smiled. “And don’t forget, I’ll be here anyway, working on the movie.”

He gave a small, humorless laugh. “Yeah, I guess you will.” His feelings warred within him. He still wasn’t happy about the movie, but by identifying Beckett, Mackenzie had given him the first big lead in the case, and he did need her help. He had to work with her if he was going to make any progress, whether he liked it or not. His cell phone rang, and he excused himself and answered.

“Riley.”

“Marshal, this is Kevin Bourdain with the Tallahassee Police. We met yesterday?”

“Sure, I remember. I was about to call you. Ms. Weaver just identified one of the perps who attacked her yesterday. He’s a local boy named Carter Beckett. I’ll send over his sheet in a minute or two.”

“Sounds good. I’ll take a look. In the meantime, I’m calling because we’ve had another incident at the Weaver apartment. Someone broke in and ransacked the place. They tried to torch the apartment, too, but thankfully, the entire building didn’t go up in flames. There isn’t much left in her living room. We’re here now and are looking for Ms. Weaver. It sounds like she’s okay and with you, but we just wanted to verify her safety.”

Jake glanced at Mackenzie. “Yes, she’s fine. We’re just finishing up with the mug shots. Do you want me to bring her over?”

“That would be great. We need her to take a look around and let us know what’s missing. Maybe she can give us some insight into these crimes, as well.”

“Sure thing. We’ll be right there.” He hung up and gestured at Mackenzie. “I’m sorry to say there was another break-in at your apartment and a fire.” He put his hand on her shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort. “I’m really glad you didn’t stay there last night.”

Mackenzie’s face showed alarm, and she stood rapidly and started stowing her paperwork. “Was anybody hurt?”

“Thankfully, no. The perpetrators ransacked your apartment, though. I’m also guessing the guys that started the fire were only amateur arsonists, because the flames didn’t spread beyond your apartment. The fire department has everything under control, and police have secured the scene. They want me to take you over right now to let them know if anything was stolen.”

“Are you sure it’s safe?”

“Yes, they wouldn’t ask me to bring you if it wasn’t.”

The answer didn’t seem to persuade her, and he could see her hands had started to shake like they had yesterday at the crime scene. He softened his tone. “The perpetrators are probably long gone, especially with all those police and fire department personnel walking around. And I’ll be with you the whole time. I promise.”

This answer seemed to help, and he noticed a grateful look in her eyes. “Was it the same guys that attacked me?”

“I don’t think they know yet, but we’ll find out for sure once we get there if they have any leads.”

He noticed her skin turn a shade paler, but to her credit, she gathered the last of her things and headed toward the door. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

As they rode over to her place almost in total silence, he couldn’t help observing that a wonderful smell wafted over from Mackenzie. It was again some sort of flowery perfume that Jake couldn’t identify, but it tantalized his senses and was sweet without being overwhelming. He tamped down his reaction and tried to focus on his driving.

When they pulled up into the parking lot of her complex, Jake kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings. He wasn’t looking for anything in particular, but his years with the US Marshals had trained him to be a keen observer and to always expect the unexpected. He noticed a blue SUV parked about halfway down the block that seemed to have a driver sitting in the car, and he kept an eye on the vehicle to see if the man would stay inside or drive away. The driver could be harmless, or he could be involved. All of the other parked cars appeared to be empty. He noted the first three numbers of the SUV’s license tag, which was all he could see, just in case.

He did a fast parking job but turned to Mackenzie before getting out of the car. “Does anything look out of place to you here? It may be hard to tell, but it’s possible that whoever did this might still be hanging around. I want you to be careful and aware of your surroundings at all times.”

“I thought you said it was supposed to be safe to come back.”

“You’re right, I did, and with all these cops everywhere, I’m sure the perps are long gone. Still, you’re the one who lives here, so you would know better than anyone else if something strange is going on. All I’m saying is that I want you to keep your eyes open. If you see something that doesn’t sit right with you, then you need to share it immediately. Okay?”

She nodded just as the first bullet ripped into the seat by her shoulder. She screamed as the second bullet cracked the windshield. Jake didn’t wait for the third. He gunned the engine and flew out of the parking lot, the tires screeching against the pavement in protest as the back of the car fishtailed to the left. He heard other officers yelling and returning fire, but his primary concern was keeping Mackenzie safe. “Get down!” he yelled, pushing her lower on the seat. He stomped on the gas, feeling the surge of the engine as it roared and jolted him out of the parking lot and into the traffic on the main road. Another bullet shattered the rear window of the car just as he maneuvered around a large truck that would shield them temporarily from the onslaught. Somebody definitely wanted Mackenzie Weaver dead. But why?

THREE

Jake spun the steering wheel as the velocity from the swerve slammed his body against the car door. The tires screeched in protest, but he kept the car on the road. They darted ahead of two other cars and then swung back into their own lane. He checked the rearview mirror. The blue SUV was now a few cars behind them. It was slowly gaining on them but had gotten stuck behind an antique VW bug and a minivan. Jake couldn’t see who was driving, but he did note that there were two of them in the vehicle instead of just the one he had originally seen. He glanced over at Mackenzie, who was still scrunched against the seats, and he touched her shoulder lightly. “Hold on. I’m going to try to put some distance between us and the guys with the guns.” He punched the accelerator and felt the engine surge as the car ate up the pavement.

Mackenzie glanced up at him, and even though there was fear mirrored there, Jake also saw a level of trust. It bolstered him and made a warmth spread through him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. He tamped the feelings down. He might decide to analyze them later, but right now, all he wanted to think about was getting away from that SUV. He called in on his radio and let his team know what was happening, but nobody was in the immediate area. He did hear sirens in the distance, however, so he was sure the local police who had been working the apartment building were giving chase. They had to have heard the gunshots and his reports on the radio.

Jake took another look in his rearview mirror. The blue SUV had finally passed the two slower vehicles and was moving closer. Jake swerved to pass a red sedan and barely missed a truck coming toward them in the other lane. Tires squealed, and the truck’s driver laid on his horn as Jake maneuvered back into their own lane just in the nick of time to avoid a head-on collision. He looked back again in his mirror and saw a hand holding a pistol come out of the passenger side of the SUV. The perp fired two more shots at them, and Jake swerved to miss the flying bullets. The car skidded on some gravel in response, but he kept control of the wheel. A plume of smoke rose near the asphalt as the tires protested. Despite his maneuvering, one bullet caught the back of the vehicle near the trunk, but the other went wild. The man fired another shot that missed and then pulled his arm back inside the window. Suddenly the SUV turned onto a side road, abandoning the chase. It didn’t take Jake long to figure out why—two police cars were coming up fast behind them, lights and sirens blazing.

“Need some help, Deputy, or should we follow the perps?” asked the deep male voice that came over the police radio.

“We’re good. Stay with the perps. We’ll rendezvous back at the Weaver apartment.”

Mackenzie’s eyes rounded. “Are you insane? You want to go back there?”

“Don’t you? The guys with the guns will be in custody soon, and we still need you to take a look around and see what’s missing.”

Mackenzie sat up. She turned to look behind her and then brushed some of the broken glass off her shirt. She paused before answering, apparently giving the idea a great deal of thought. Finally, she nodded. “I guess so, if you think it’s safe. I mean, I want to see what’s left of the place, but I’m not too anxious to get shot at again. Being shot at may happen to you every day, but it’s a new experience for me.” She was quiet for a moment but then gave him a smile that surprised him. “It’s too bad I didn’t have my camera. This would have made some great footage.”

Her comments made him smile in spite of himself. Spirit. That was what she had. A good dose of spirit. He admired that. She’d always had more than her fair share. Even though he found it appealing, however, her bravado wasn’t enough to change his mind about her video project. His smile disappeared. He was still adamantly opposed to her filming his team in action. He pushed thoughts of her movie to the back of his mind. Right now, all he wanted to do was focus on finding Carter Beckett and his cohorts and putting them behind bars. This lead had sent that case to the top of his list.

He slowed the car and made a U-turn, and a few minutes later, they were back in her apartment, stepping gingerly over the charred remains of her end tables. According to the fire inspector at the scene, the blaze had been started in the kitchen and had spread into the living room. Unfortunately, it had damaged her desk and everything on and near it. Jake looked over at Mackenzie, wondering how she was going to cope with the loss of so many of her belongings. It was bad enough to have someone break in and ransack your apartment, but the fire had ruined some very expensive-looking equipment, as well. He felt bad for her. He didn’t know how he would be handling this kind of loss if he were in her shoes.

* * *

Mackenzie’s heart seemed to stop as she made her way into the damaged areas. Her flat screen TV had basically melted and was now a large lump of black plastic sitting on a charred wooden stand. The fire had gone up the walls and left black marks where her pictures had been hanging, and the tiled floor was littered with ash, soot and the residue from the fire extinguishers. A horrid smell of chemicals and burnt wiring permeated her senses and all of her belongings.

Finally she turned and viewed what she had been dreading—the damage to her video and audio equipment. She had an office set up in one corner of the living room, and besides her desk, she had two large video monitors, an editing board and a computer where she did the majority of her work. To the left had been the audio equipment stacked in an adjustable shelving unit and to the right a large wooden filing cabinet had stood. It was now all a heap of twisted metal and melted plastic, totally destroyed by the fire. It was as if someone had poured gasoline directly on her equipment to ensure that it would burn.

The loss was like a literal blow to her stomach, and she rubbed her abdomen absently as nausea spun and twisted inside her. She was thankful that the fire hadn’t spread into the bedrooms or other apartments in the complex, but the ruined equipment represented her livelihood, and she felt the loss keenly. She was insured, but it would take a while to deal with the insurance company and rebuild her setup. Fortunately, her video camera and lighting equipment were all stored at her assistant’s house. If those had been in the apartment today, her business would have come to a total standstill.

“I’m sorry you lost so much.” Jake offered.

Mackenzie nodded, appreciating his words, especially since he wasn’t a fan of her project. She took a deep breath and tried to focus on the positive. She had always been extremely self-sufficient and self-reliant. She would weather this storm, even though it seemed more like a hurricane. “Thanks. At least no one was hurt. That’s the main thing. This is all stuff. I’m sorry to see it go, but it is replaceable.”

She said a prayer of thanksgiving. God would see her through this catastrophe. She still had much to be grateful for. It would take time and effort, but she would rebuild, and God would be there to help her along the way and remind her about what was truly important in life if she got frustrated by the process.

Jake took a step in her direction. “I know it’s hard to tell with all of the fire damage, but the local police want to know if you can tell them if anything is missing. It might help us figure out why someone has targeted you.”

“Okay. I’ll take a look around.” She stepped over some unidentifiable object on the tile and moved toward the bedrooms. Both were untouched by the fire. She opened a few drawers and pulled open the closets in the guest bedroom, but everything looked the same as when she had left it. She moved to her own bedroom and did the same checks. “I don’t know what they were after. There doesn’t seem to be anything missing.” Her eyes moved to the cherished picture of her and her brother, Jonathan, which was on top of her dresser, and she touched the corner of the frame. At least the photo had been spared.

“That’s a great shot,” Jake asked, motioning to the photo of the two siblings smiling in the sunlight.

Mackenzie turned at his words. “That was the day I got my braces removed. I was thrilled. Jonathan took me out to dinner to celebrate. It was a big day.”

“I can tell. That’s a big smile.” He paused. “Look, you need to pack a bag—a bigger one this time, and I’d also take your valuables, just in case. You’ll need to stay at the hotel until we can get a handle on this.”

Mackenzie shrugged. “I guess I’ll go back there for now, but I can’t stay there forever.” She went to her closet, pulled out a suitcase and started packing. A few minutes later, she heard Jake approach behind her.

“Do you have any idea why someone would want to destroy your equipment?” Jake asked.

Mackenzie folded a shirt and placed it in the suitcase. “No idea at all. None of this makes any sense. I’ve never faced any opposition to my work. The biggest problem I’ve had is competing bids with other production companies, and really that’s just part of the business and nothing out of the ordinary.”

“The things Beckett said when he threatened you and the damage to the equipment make me think it does have something to do with your work—even if the answer isn’t readily apparent.” He leaned against the door frame. “Tell me about your last couple of projects. What were they about?”

Mackenzie answered as she packed. “I started the year with a training video for the Southern Pines Pediatric Clinic, and then I did a couple of commercials for the children’s museum downtown. After that, I finished an overview of the governor’s literacy program and a series of productions for the state’s tourism campaign. My latest work was an hour-long documentary on homeless children and runaways.” She closed the suitcase. “Nothing I’ve worked on was controversial.”

“Have you turned over all the final copies to the buyers?”

“Yes, all except for the homeless children project. I just have a tad more editing to do before it’s finalized.”

“How did the fire affect your copies? Did everything get destroyed?”

Mackenzie shook her head. “The equipment is ruined, but I have two sets of hard drives where the files are stored. One was here in the filing cabinet and that is probably completely destroyed, but I have a second set I keep in a safety deposit box at the bank. I update the files weekly in both locations. I’ve always done it that way—just in case of hurricanes or whatever. I’ve been playing with the idea of using cloud storage, but I’m still exploring that. I’m not convinced of the security.”

Jake nodded and then motioned for her to wait when his cell phone rang. He turned to answer it, and her own phone rang at the same time. She recognized her parents’ number and hesitated. Could she handle a call from them right now? She hadn’t told them about the men breaking into her apartment yesterday, but it would be hard hiding the fire from them, especially if she wouldn’t be home for a while. She glanced at Jake, who was still deep in conversation, then back at her own phone, which was still ringing. Finally, she accepted the call.

“Hello, Dad,” she said on hearing her father’s voice.

“Mackenzie, I’ve got the best news for you!”

“Oh, really? What’s up?” she asked.

“Do you remember Miller from the advertising firm? I was talking to him yesterday and mentioned you were looking for a new job. He actually has an opening and would like to set up an interview! Isn’t that fantastic? All you have to do is give him a call.”

Mackenzie’s heart plunged. Neither of her parents felt that making movies constituted a “real” job, and they were constantly sending their disapproval her way, along with various job offers that they felt would help her settle down and take life more seriously. Mackenzie loved them both dearly, but she wasn’t about to give up her production company. She enjoyed her work and found fulfillment in the process. Her parents, however, couldn’t seem to understand. She was convinced that they wouldn’t be happy with her career choices until she was locked into a nine-to-five schedule with benefits and a hefty retirement plan. After Jonathan’s death, their pressure had increased rather than lessened. She was now their only living child, so all their hopes and dreams rested heavily on her shoulders.

“Thanks, Dad, but I’m doing fine with my current job. I’m really not looking for anything new right now.”

“But it has a great starting salary. Don’t you want to at least talk to him about the opportunity? It might be too good to pass up. It’s entry-level, but it has some exciting possibilities.” The disapproval was heavy in his voice, and Mackenzie struggled with the desire to hang up on him. His censure was difficult to hear after everything else that had happened the last couple of days, and she was already stressed from being shot at again and having her belongings burned to a crisp. Not to mention the volatile relationship she had with Jake. She could usually handle her father’s criticism and take it with a smile, but today it seemed even harder than normal to keep the optimism in her voice. God, give me strength.

She steeled her voice. “Dad, I’m sorry, but that’s really not the path I want to take right now. I’ve had a fire at my apartment, and most of my equipment has been damaged. I really need to work on getting my production company up and running again so I can meet my current contracts.”

“A fire? Were you hurt?”

“No, Dad, I’m fine, but like I said, I lost my board and audio equipment. It just happened, and the police and firemen are here right now sorting through everything. I really need to go so I can finish up with them and assess the damage.”

There was a pause as her father absorbed everything, but then he pushed again. “Mackenzie, maybe this is the perfect time to talk to Miller after all. With your equipment damaged, it might be the best time to get a real job and put this filming behind you. You had a good run and worked on a few fun projects, but this job with Miller could turn out to be a great career. It has health benefits, a great dental plan...”

Mackenzie’s head started pounding, and she rubbed her face absently. “I’m sorry, Dad, but the police really need to ask me some more questions, so I’d better go. I realize I’ve got a lot of work to do to rebuild my business, but that’s where I want to focus my time and efforts right now. If you run into Miller again, please thank him for his time, but I’m really not interested.”

“All right.” She could still hear the disappointment that was heavy in his voice. “Where are you staying? Are you safe?”

“Yes, Dad, I’m safe,” Mackezie answered, relieved that the conversation had shifted from her employment situation. “The US Marshals office here is helping me and has gotten me set up in a nearby hotel. I’ll have to find a new apartment, but I’ll let you know once I’m settled.”

“All right, then. Call if you need us. We’ll come help you move if you’d like.”

“Sure thing. I’ll let you know once I’ve decided where I’m headed. Bye, Dad.” She hung up and sighed. Her parents meant well, but they had never really understood her work and career choices. They thought making movies was a great hobby, but certainly not a full-time occupation. With every passing year, they seemed to get more concerned about her future, and nothing she told them ever seemed good enough to please them. She desperately wanted their approval but, at this point, she was unsure if she would ever actually get it. Their lack of support ate at her yet also drove her to prove them wrong and work even harder at becoming a success. She was going to make a name for herself in the film business, and one day, she would garner their support. She glanced back over at her ruined equipment. Right now, that day seemed very far away indeed.

FOUR

A hand on her shoulder brought Mackenzie out of her contemplations, and she turned to see Jake.

“Good news. The local boys caught the two men that were shooting at us.” He showed her his phone, which had a mug shot of a man with dark hair and eyes. “Do you recognize this man?”

Mackenzie shook her head. The man’s face didn’t set off any bells, but the emptiness in his eyes scared her. He looked like someone that would hurt her with no qualms whatsoever.

Jake swiped the screen and showed her another picture. “What about him? Have you seen him before?”

This man’s face was narrower, and he had a large mole near his mouth. His lips formed a menacing sneer.

“Nope, I don’t know him. Sorry.”

Jake nodded and stored his phone. “Okay. They’re running criminal history checks on them now. The first one I showed you is a known associate of Beckett’s. It’s likely that this is all tied together. All we have to do now is figure out how.” He reached down, grabbed her suitcase and then motioned toward the door. “Let’s get you out of here.” He walked her into the living room, and after updating the two policemen, took her arm and led her toward the car.

“Will I be allowed back in there at some point to get the rest of my things?” Mackenzie asked as he opened the passenger door for her.

“Sure, at some point. Both the fire department and the police have to finish their investigations first. It’ll take a few days. Hopefully, by then we’ll have a handle on what’s going on here.” He closed the door, put her suitcase in the back seat, walked around the car and got in the driver’s side. “Everything about your projects sounds innocuous, except for maybe the homeless children documentary. Tell me about that.” He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot but looked over at her expectantly.

Mackenzie waited a moment before answering, wondering if they were going to be shot at a second time. Part of her wanted to stay indoors, where it might be safer, but she quickly remembered that men had broken into her apartment. There was no guarantee she was safe anywhere right now. She glanced at Jake, who also was taking a good look around them with a wary eye. At least Jake was helping her, despite the animosity he had shown her after hearing about her movie for the US Marshals.

A moment passed, then another. When nothing happened, Mackenzie took a deep breath, a wave of relief sweeping over her. She suddenly realized she had been clenching her hands. Her nails had left marks on her palms. She rubbed her hands against her jeans, trying to help the marks disappear. She thought back on her latest video project, hoping their conversation would erase some of the fear she was feeling. “Tallahassee has been experiencing a huge increase in homelessness lately, but it isn’t just adults that are sleeping on the streets. Due to the recent foreclosure crisis, families are losing their homes in record numbers, and there’s also a runaway component that is a big problem. A large part of the struggling population is teenagers, and I wanted to shine a light on that social issue. I’m hoping that if I ruffle enough feathers, the legislature and the Department of Children and Families will aim more of their resources into helping teens. A lot of the young adults I interviewed were foster kids who aged out of the system and didn’t have a job or home to go to.”

Jake turned a corner. “Who paid for that project?”

“A nonprofit charity named the Safe Harbor Group.”

“I’ve heard of them. They’re a pretty powerful advocacy group, from what I understand.”

Mackenzie nodded. “Yes, they’re a Florida-based organization with offices in Tallahassee, Tampa and Miami. Last year they sank a heap of money into lobbyists to get a bill passed through the Florida legislature to combat homelessness. It didn’t pass, so they hired me to make a video to highlight the problem, and they are gearing up to try again next year. They want to show my documentary on the local cable channels to garner support from the public, who they hope will pressure their representatives to vote for the legislation the next time around. It’s scheduled to air in about a month. I’ve got a small amount of editing to finish, and then I’ll be sending the final versions to their home office.”

“Is there any major opposition to the bill that you’re aware of?”

“Only the normal issues surrounding the cost of the legislation. Everybody seems to think helping the homeless is a good idea, but nobody wants to pay the tab. In the past, this type of legislation has been full of unfunded mandates, but this time around, the bill calls for some serious money to be spent on mental health services and child welfare programs.” Mackenzie suddenly sat up straighter and took a look at their location. “Instead of heading to the hotel, would you mind dropping me by my assistant’s house? It’s actually just around the corner from where we are now. I need to stop by and pick up my video camera and lighting equipment, and if she’s home, she can probably take me back to the hotel so you won’t have to. I want to take some live action shots of your team at work, starting tomorrow.”

Jake frowned, and his distaste for her idea was almost palpable. She was discouraged by his attitude and thought it was time to confront him. Being shot at two days in a row had also reduced her inhibitions. She just didn’t understand his hesitance. “Okay, Jake. It’s obvious you don’t want me to film you. What’s the problem?”

Jake shrugged, and Mackenzie could tell he was trying to decide how much to say. He had been ordered by his chief to help her, but the chief couldn’t make him like the idea or participate in the shots she needed for her storyboard to come to reality. She could probably make the film without his help, but it wouldn’t be easy, and it wouldn’t be as good. Mackenzie hoped that if he shared his concerns, maybe she could address them. The silence stretched between them, but finally he spoke.

“I have two reasons why I don’t want to make this movie. Like I told you before, you’ll get in our way. That puts you in danger, and it puts our officers in danger since we have to be thinking about your safety at the same time we’re trying to do our job. Second, you’ll make it impossible for any of us to go undercover in the future. Once our names and faces are publicized, we’ll never get that back.”

Mackenzie waited, hoping for more, but Jake seemed to have become a man of very few words. She wondered fleetingly if she had ever really known him at all. “I can’t solve the undercover problem short of keeping your names out of the movie and pixelating your faces anytime you’re on the screen. That’s not my first choice because seeing the real you would have a larger impact on the viewers, but I certainly don’t want to put your lives at risk. You already do a dangerous job, and I don’t want to make it worse. I can also assure you that I’ll do my best to stay out of the way. Once you really look at the script and storyboard, I think you’ll feel better about the project. I’m open to changes if you have some ideas. I’d really like to sit down with you tomorrow and go over my plans.”

Jake shook his head. “Don’t count on it.”

Mackenzie pursed her lips. It was too bad that she had to have such an unwilling partner in this, but she was committed to the project and would see it through, with or without Jake’s help. She surveyed him closely as he drove. His short, military-style dark brown hair framed his face perfectly, and his clean-cut features and Southern gentleman manners made him seem professional yet also approachable. If anything, he had gotten more handsome over the years. How was that possible? He was perfect for her movie and would do an excellent job of representing the US Marshals, if she could just get him to cooperate.

She snuck another look at his profile. Over the years, he had honed his muscular physique, and he probably worked out on a regular basis to keep his strong, athletic body fit. She had always thought he was good-looking, and a new whisper of attraction swept over her now as she admired the man he had become. She shook her head and tried to push it away. How ridiculous. Back in school, Jake had never returned her sentiment, and she had made a fool of herself around him on more than one occasion. She certainly didn’t want to do so again. She forced her eyes to look out the window and watch the passing scenery. A few moments later, though, she returned to her perusal, almost without realizing it. His eyes. Those had always been his best feature. Jake Riley didn’t say very much, but his intense green eyes took in everything around him, and his mind was sharp, always catching the little details that others probably overlooked. A quiet observer of all he surveyed—that was an apt description of the deputy. There was a sadness in those eyes, though—as if he had seen the worst humanity had to offer and never really recovered. She wondered what he did for fun outside the workplace or if he even had any hobbies away from the job that brought joy to his life. He’d never been a “life of the party” kind of guy, but she remembered him enjoying sports and going to movies. Now his job seemed to define him. Was there more beneath the surface?

“What about your laptop?” Jake asked, suddenly breaking her train of thought. “Did you want to stop somewhere to buy a new one? We can do that now, too, if you’d like.”

The question startled her, and she abandoned her musings. “I have a Costco membership and can probably find something there. I don’t need anything fancy—just something with enough speed to support my video software. I would appreciate it if we could stop, but I don’t want to keep you away from the office if you need to get back.”

Jake was quiet for a moment. “Actually, I’d rather take you on your errands. Until we have a better handle on the folks threatening you and what they’re after, I want to make sure you’re safe. That’s my priority.”

Mackenzie’s immediate reaction was surprise, which was quickly replaced with doubt. “But I know you’re really busy, and like you said, I don’t want to be in your way...” His opposition to her project was already a mountain she needed to climb, and she didn’t want to make it worse by interrupting even more of his work.

Jake stopped at a streetlight and turned to look her in the eye. “It’s a done deal, Mackenzie. And you don’t need to worry. You’re a victim in the Beckett case, and I’ve been assigned to work with you on this film project, so either way, spending time with you is appropriate.” He leaned a bit closer. “I’m going to make sure you’re safe, movie or no movie.” The Southern twang of his accent softened the forcefulness of his statement, but friction still sizzled in the air. She was still uncomfortable with having him serve as her escort. A moment passed as their eyes locked, but then the stoplight changed and he turned his attention back to his driving.

* * *

Jake drove the rest of the way to the warehouse store in virtual silence, but he kept a vigilant watch on Mackenzie as she shopped. She picked out a new laptop and case that would meet her needs, as well as a new portable hard drive to replace the one that had been damaged in the fire, so she could store and back up her video clips as she had before.

A few minutes later, they retrieved her camera and other equipment she needed from her assistant’s house. Then they made a third stop by her safety deposit box at her bank, and she downloaded copies of all her movies onto her new hard drive, leaving the original backups in the box so they would remain safely tucked away. Jake was anxious to watch her film about homeless children to see if he could find any connections to the case, so he was glad a copy of her work still existed. Even though he wasn’t thrilled to be working with her, he realized that Mackenzie and her movie project were his best leads for finding and arresting Beckett. Before he could watch the video, however, he knew he had to do something about her safety. She had already been attacked twice in twenty-four hours. He couldn’t risk losing her to Beckett and his goons. As soon as they returned to his workplace, Jake led her along a long hallway. He unlocked a door and motioned for her to follow him in.

“What’s this about?”

“Security. Have you ever worn a bulletproof vest before?”

Mackenzie shook her head. “No. I’ve never needed one before.”

“Until we have Beckett behind bars, you need one.” He pulled a vest off a hook, checked the tag and handed it to her. “This is a medium. Let’s see if it fits. It’s the smallest size we have.” He helped her get it on and showed her how to tighten the straps. When he breathed in, he paused. Jasmine. It had to be jasmine in her perfume. The sweet scent distracted him once again, and he gritted his teeth. Why did this woman affect him so?

He thought back to the skinny, awkward kid whom he and Jonathan had done their best to ditch when they were in college. They could have treated her better. He felt a pang of regret.

“Wow! It’s so heavy!”

“Yeah, they’re definitely heavier than they look.” He stepped back, trying to erase the memories and put as much space between them as possible. “I think that’s the right size—at least, it’s the best we can do.”

Mackenzie adjusted the vest and stood up straight. “What do you think? Am I ready to go?” She flashed him a smile that sent a warm sensation from his head to his toes. He didn’t think she was purposely trying to flirt with him, but he seemed unable to resist her innocuous grin. How could she still be smiling after being shot at and losing all her equipment? Why wasn’t she reduced to tears and hysterics the way most people would be?

He didn’t understand. After everything that had happened to her, Mackenzie should be stressed and bad-tempered, but she wasn’t. Even on the job, Jake had seen so much ugliness that he now came to expect it, even from the victims. Mackenzie’s attitude was like a breath of fresh air. Yet it also irritated him for reasons he couldn’t quite identify. She was nothing like he remembered. In fact, he was starting to believe that he had really never known her at all.

He shook his head and leaned back in his chair, focusing again on the vest. “You’re not even close to being ready, Mackenzie, but it will have to do.” He reached over and adjusted the straps one more time. “You do need to tighten it a bit. We don’t want it to chafe you as you move.”

Mackenzie nodded and seemed to note his adjustments. Then she removed the vest since it wasn’t necessary to wear it while they were in the US Marshals office. “Okay. What next?”

“Now we’re going to watch your movies and see if we can figure out why you’ve become target practice for Carter Beckett and his friends.”

“Got any popcorn?”

Jake raised an eyebrow at her quip but didn’t smile. Her positive attitude was such a different reaction than what he usually experienced that it was starting to concern him. Didn’t she realize that her life was in danger? That most of her business equipment had just gone up in smoke? That she had to move and find a new place to live? Why wasn’t she depressed and angry? Why wasn’t she taking the threat seriously?

“Look, this is grave business, Mackenzie. Carter Beckett and his friends aren’t playing a game. They’re criminals, and for some reason, they’ve focused their attention on you. Carter is a murderer. He’s also got a history of committing all sorts of other crimes. He hurts people and doesn’t think twice about it. You’d be wise to take both him and his threats seriously.”

His words made her eyes flash, but the smile didn’t waver from her lips. “Believe me, Jake. I am very aware of the gravity of the situation. I don’t get shot at every day, and I’ve certainly never had my apartment burned by an arsonist. In fact, this entire situation is totally new to me, and it scares me to the bone. But I’m not going to crawl into a hole and let them win, either. I’m in no hurry to die, but I’m not going to just roll over and cry ‘uncle.’ I’ve got a job to do and a life to live, and neither Carter Beckett nor his friends are going to keep me from doing either one.”

Jake raised an eyebrow again but decided against continuing the argument. She was driven to succeed, and apparently nothing he said was going to change her mind. Once again, he found himself admiring her spirit, despite the fact that her attitude scared him a bit. Anybody with that much determination might also act recklessly, though, and like it or not, it was now his job to protect her—at least until her movie about his US Marshals unit was completed and the threat against her was extinguished.

Mackenzie followed him to an interview room, and they plugged in her new laptop and hard drive. A few moments later her documentary on the homeless was rolling across the screen. Jake realized she had probably seen the footage hundreds of times—both throughout the filming and then again during the editing process. This time, however, he hoped she might be looking at it with fresh eyes. Maybe one of them would see a link between her movie and the horrible events of the last two days that would bring some insight into the case at hand. Right now, the pieces just weren’t fitting together.

They watched the first half hour or so without comment, but suddenly, Jake’s chair fell forward. “Stop right there.” He motioned to the screen where there was a kid sitting on the sidewalk in the foreground. “See that man there in the back? Can you blow up that image?”

Mackenzie looked where he was pointing, and with a few clicks on her keyboard, isolated the image. There were a few people in the background, including a couple of teenagers, but she quickly focused on the man Jake had identified and expanded the picture. Jake leaned forward to get a better look. Once it became clear, it was easy to identify Carter Beckett’s features.

“That’s our man,” Jake said, unable to keep the excitement from his voice. “There’s the link we were looking for.”

Mackenzie gave him another smile. “It sure is. You have a good eye for this. I don’t think I would have even recognized him.”

Jake shrugged. “I’ve dealt with Carter in the past on more than one occasion. You only saw him for a few minutes during a high-stress encounter.” He looked closer at the screen. “Where was that shot taken?”

With a few more clicks, she expanded the view further and moved it around so the buildings were more identifiable. “We filmed this over on Mission Road. Yes, here,” she said, pointing. “It looks like the address is around the 4500 block. That’s an office building there, but I’m not sure what organization rents the space.” She turned and raised an eyebrow. “So what’s the connection? Do you think Carter Beckett was doing something illegal in that building and wanted to destroy my film so no one noticed he was at that address?”

“That’s a good guess. Or maybe his activity is illegal and he just happens to be meeting someone there. In either case, I think we should head over to that office building and see if we can learn anything.” He looked at his watch. “Now’s a good a time as any. I’ll assemble the team, and we’ll head on over and see what we can discover. Hopefully, we’ll find Mr. Beckett himself.”

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