Witness In Hiding

TWO

She’d ditched him. Jude could hardly believe she’d actually done it. Slipped out the back door right when his back was turned, leaving him standing in the hallway talking to himself. He sprinted to the door and ran outside. Looked around. She was gone from the areas lit by streetlights. Had she hidden in the shadows?

“Police!” a voice called from the front door. “Anyone here?”

A woman screamed. Not Zoe; it must have been the purple-haired woman from behind the counter. She needed help.

What he wanted to do was search all the dark places out back for Zoe. Instead, Jude announced himself as he strode into the Laundromat, then explained to the responding officers what had happened. An ambulance showed up, and the injured woman was taken to the hospital. Then two suited detectives and a couple of crime scene investigators arrived. Moose’s body had to be processed.

He explained again what had happened, but all Jude could think about was those wide green eyes. Terrified. Scared of him, and searching for a way out.

“She just left?”

Jude nodded. “I only turned around for a second and she was gone.”

The detectives shared a look.

“She was scared. Jittery. I’m going to search the back parking lot some more. Maybe you can pull feed from the security cameras. Get a picture of her.”

“If Moose actually had real cameras instead of fake plastic ones then that might be doable.”

Jude sighed. His lead was gone, and so was the woman. Now he was back to square one on who had been sending money to the pharmaceutical company. Or why. He said, “I’m going to look out back.”

What he should do was head back to the office and write a report on what he’d tried—and failed—to do. Though he’d rather drive the streets in this area and try to find the woman. He’d probably never see her again.

Why that bothered him Jude didn’t want to think about. She was probably a criminal involved in a deal with Moose, walking the darker side of the law.

The detectives shook his hand. One said, “We’ll call if we need anything.”

Jude nodded and headed to the door, his thoughts still on Zoe. The fear in her eyes had been real. She’d been scared. Frustrated she couldn’t find whatever she was looking for. Had she stuck around, Jude might have been able to find out more about her. If she needed help, she should have asked him for it.

Jude clicked the locks on his car and realized he’d left it unlocked when he heard the gunshots. Thankfully no one had stolen it while he was inside. Couldn’t be too careful in this part of town. He slid in behind the wheel, ruminating about the case.

Everything about it smelled of a powerful broker who needed...something from the Salt Lake City–based pharmaceutical company. Money laundering, but why had they used this approach? Surely there were easier ways to do it than using the many accounts held by such a high-profile company.

As Jude drove in the general direction of the office, his phone rang. He touched the display screen, and said, “Agent Brauer.”

“Jude, honey. It’s Mrs. McAffrey.”

“Is something wrong with you or Turner?” Mrs. McAffrey was his eighty-six-year-old neighbor, the widow of a Salt Lake City police officer.

Turner was Jude’s dog, who she kept an eye on. He figured she left the gate between their yards open because she wanted the company of his old mutt. She also gave him so many treats, and scraps of chicken, Jude hardly needed to feed him.

“No, honey.” She used the endearment like it was going out of style. “He was out barking at the squirrels an hour ago, but it’s all quiet now.”

“Oh, good. What can I help you with?”

“Well, see, the water in my bathroom sink won’t shut off. I’ve turned and turned the knob but it just keeps streaming out.” She paused, and then in her hopeful voice said, “Could you come look at it, honey?”

“I’m at work right now, but I can call a plumber for you.” He knew she didn’t sleep much, but had she looked at the time?

“And have some stranger traipsing through my house?” There it was, her hopeful voice again.

Jude ground his teeth, but heard a noise in his backseat. It didn’t sound like any of the debris rolling around back there. Instead, it almost sounded like a giggle. He glanced in the rearview, but couldn’t see anything. He needed to keep his eyes on the road, not lower the mirror’s angle. He made a right-hand turn instead of getting on the freeway, and headed for a store parking lot.

He explained to Mrs. McAffrey how to shut off the water using the valve in the cupboard under the sink.

“It’s very tight. I’m not sure...” She went quiet for a second. “I did it!”

“Good,” he said. Half his attention was on the backseat, but he didn’t hear anything else from that direction. “It’s still broken, but at least you’re not leaking water anymore. I’ll come by first thing in the morning and check it out.” Hopefully it would be an easy problem, like a worn-down washer.

“Thank you, honey.”

“No problem, Mrs. McAffrey.” Jude hung up and pulled into a parking space. He got out of the car and drew his weapon, stepped to the back door and yanked it open.

The redhead with green eyes sat in the foot well behind the driver’s seat, one hand over her mouth as tears streamed down her face. Zoe took a breath, let go of her mouth and burst out laughing. “That was hilarious. That old woman totally bamboozled you.” She seemed on the verge of hysterics.

“Get out of my car.”

Even though she was laughing uncontrollably and tears still rolled down her face, she shook her head. She clambered onto the backseat and shifted away from him at the same time, the duffel over one shoulder so that it bunched against the backrest and lifted her elbow that lay on it.

“Don’t get out the other side.” If she ran again, he’d have to chase her.

She leaned forward. That was the moment Jude knew she’d completely lost it. The hysterical laughing turned to hysterical crying and lasted long enough for Jude to child lock the rear doors on both sides before shutting her in. Then he got back in the front seat and pulled the wad of coffee house napkins from the glove box. “Here.”

She looked at him. She was still pretty, but this might be what his sister called ugly crying. He didn’t put his weapon away, but he did wait until she had pulled herself together before he said, “Why are you in my car?”

Zoe shook her head. Her hair snagged under the strap of the duffel on her shoulder and...shifted. Jude blinked before he realized what was happening. “You’re wearing a wig?”

She blew out a breath and pulled the long, gorgeous red hair from her head. Shame. Still, the dark hair pinned against her head wasn’t unappealing. Those eyes though...

Wait. Was she wearing colored contacts? Maybe everything that drew him to her was fake. Jude’s stomach churned at the idea he’d been duped. This beautiful, innocent-seeming woman was clearly a fraud. He’d been right to be suspicious, and now he was harboring a criminal.

“What do you want, Zoe? Or is that even your real name?” He didn’t like the hard edge to his voice, but what did she expect after she lied to him? At least she had the decency to wince. Jude was out of patience. “Either start talking or get out.” A thought occurred to him. “You ran out of the Laundromat. You left. You could have gotten away clean. Why are you in my car? And how did you get in it without being seen, since those cops pulled up right beside it?”

“They were inside,” she said. “They didn’t see me, and neither did anyone else.” Why did it seem like she didn’t know if that was good or bad?

“You should’ve stayed and talked to the cops. They need your statement.”

She shook her head then, and a fresh tear rolled down her face. “I can’t talk to the cops.”

“You witnessed a crime.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to testify. They can’t make me if I don’t want to tell them anything.”

Jude frowned. Why was she in his car if she didn’t want to talk to the cops? He was law enforcement. “Sure, they can’t force you to say anything, but isn’t the right thing to tell them what you know? It could help catch that guy.”

Her gaze flicked away.

“He knew you.” When she didn’t say anything, Jude said, “He used your name.”

* * *

He had. And this man, Secret Service agent Jude Brauer, had heard it. When she’d run out the back door she’d only gone two steps before she ducked to the side and hid behind the Dumpster. If movies were to be trusted, Jude would run past her, expecting her to be ahead of him. Hardly anyone thought to check right where the chase started.

And so she’d hidden, the same way she’d been hiding for three weeks now—right under their noses.

Zoe should be miles away by now, but she was out of options. Her final plan—the fake passports Moose had made—was out of reach now. Zoe had no one to turn to. She was out of ideas.

Enter Jude Brauer.

For whatever reason she didn’t much want to ponder, Zoe had crept from that hiding spot and around the building to the imposing car with government plates. He’d looked at her with so much compassion, and she hadn’t been ready to let that go.

As soon as the coast had been clear, she’d booked it across the lot, not really sure what she’d been expecting to do. And then she thanked God a million times his car had been unlocked. She’d been able to hide. God might not like her right now, but she knew when thanks were due.

His car. That phone call. For a few minutes everything she’d been through had washed away and she’d actually felt...safe.

He held out his hand from the front seat of his SUV. Zoe stared at it. She wasn’t agreeing to anything; she wasn’t trusting him, but she had to do something.

So she put her hand in his. Strong, warm fingers closed around hers. His eyes glowed with approval. Attraction wasn’t something she could deal with right now, so she pushed the feeling aside. Safety meant so much more.

“It’s nice to meet you, Zoe. I’m Jude.”

“Hi, Jude.”

He let go, but the feeling didn’t dissipate. Inside this car she actually felt safe. It was so foreign she almost didn’t recognize it. Some part of her had seen him in that hallway and just...known. Either way, she knew she’d done the right thing.

It didn’t mean she was trusting him, but Zoe had to face the fact that she seriously needed help. Moose was dead. That guy, the one who had been chasing her for three weeks, so close she’d almost been able to feel his breath hot on her neck...he’d shot Moose and let her live. He must have been given orders to keep her alive, but why? Silencing her would mean the truth died with her. She had nothing but questions—and no way to find answers.

Echoing her thoughts, Jude asked, “So, what now?”

Zoe shook her head. “I have no idea.”

“Why do I think you don’t just mean you have no idea where we should go right now?” His lips curled into a smile. “Maybe I meant coffee, or dinner.”

Zoe set her hand over her queasy stomach as the image of Moose falling to the floor played through her mind. “I don’t think I’m going to eat for a week after that.”

“I know what you mean.” His face turned grim.

“Is that woman okay?”

Jude nodded. “We do need to talk. You’re obviously in trouble, or you need help. I’d like to know why.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong!” The words burst from her lips, the need to defend herself as strong as it always had been.

“I’m not saying you did. What I meant was, why would you turn to me?”

“You were there.”

He waited. Then said, “And?”

Zoe shrugged. It wasn’t the connection. There was one, but that wasn’t it. She hadn’t known before she got in the car that being in here with Jude Brauer would feel so...safe.

“You have to talk, Zoe. You have to tell me something so I know how to help you.”

“What about getting back to work? That’s the excuse you gave Mrs. McAffrey.”

“It wasn’t an excuse. I am working—it’s why I was at the Laundromat. To talk with Moose.”

Her arm on the duffel bag tightened on a reflex. Jude’s glance went to it, not missing a single thing. Why couldn’t she have been better at this cloak-and-dagger, superspy stuff?

Zoe sighed. “That’s why I can’t talk to the cops. They’ll think I had something to do with Moose’s business.” Technically, they wouldn’t be wrong. No, she wasn’t a regular customer. She didn’t know, or want to know, who his usual customers were. But she had hired his services. If Jude wanted to question her about Moose, she wouldn’t have anything to tell him. She hadn’t transacted anything with Moose before he died. The introduction had been conducted through a third party, and today was only the second time she’d even seen the man.

Jude studied her. Great. He probably thought she was a criminal. “How did that shooter know you?”

Zoe measured her words. “I’ve seen him before, several times over the past three weeks. Usually just out the corner of my eye, or on the street. Today was the closest he’s come, and look at what happened.”

She’d always been able to slip away, and yet it seemed like he’d known exactly where she would be today. Had Moose, or the man who’d introduced her to him, sold her out? No, Moose had come out and confronted the man with a shotgun. The man who made the introductions had been killed in a drive-by the week before.

Zoe rubbed her hands down her face. That random “accident” suddenly didn’t seem so random. Had this whole thing been a setup?

Jude didn’t let up. “He didn’t hurt you. Does he have other plans for you?”

She lifted her gaze to his. “I don’t know.”

That was the truth—ish. Zoe did know why the man wanted her, she didn’t know what he was going to do with her.

Jude sighed, then started up the car.

“Are you taking me to the police, or turning me into your people?” She’d come so close to actually getting herself and her son and sister out of this. Instead, this was the end of the line. Unless she could somehow convince Jude she hadn’t done anything to warrant being turned in.

Could she talk about it? That night had been so harrowing she didn’t even know if she could say it out loud.

“I’m not taking you in,” he said in a tight voice. Trying to convince himself?

Zoe glanced out the window, relieved he wasn’t pushing her. If she asked, would he drive her where she wanted to go? There was only one way to find out. “Take the next exit.” Zoe needed to hold her son. “Please.” Her voice sounded small even to her own ears.

He took the exit. He could drop her a few streets over from the house her sister had rented with cash, and he would never know where she was headed. So long as he didn’t follow her. She’d have to be careful.

Jude said, “I really want to take you back to the office. You have no idea how badly I want to do that.”

Zoe nodded, whether he saw it or not. She knew he’d locked the rear doors of the SUV while she’d been laugh-crying. She hadn’t been oblivious.

“Maybe you should.” It was tempting. So tempting. “But you should know, the last time I talked to the police I was followed home that same day. I never heard from the officer again, and I didn’t want to call him if he was the one who betrayed me. After that, I went to my local church. I guess I figured at least God would be on a minister’s side.” She shook her head. What a mess. “No one can help me, Jude.”

“Maybe I can.”

“I can’t trust you with what I know. As much as I want to, I can’t tell you what I saw—” She slapped a hand over her own mouth to stop the flow of words.

“Why get in my SUV if you don’t want my help?”

“I don’t even know what I want.” Maybe that was a lie, maybe she wanted the connection of someone else in the world—apart from her son and her sister—knowing she was here and that she needed help. Just knowing.

Jude frowned, but headed in the direction she indicated. Ten minutes later he pulled into the neighborhood behind the one where the house was located. She could cross the park behind this street and cut through to the street behind.

“What is...”

She glanced over and saw him peer through the passenger window to a cloud of smoke. Zoe cracked the door and a waft of burning wood hit her nostrils.

“Fire.”

THREE

Zoe practically dived out of the car and set off running down the street. Jude got out and locked the car, then chased after her as she ran down an alley between two houses.

He pursued her toward the fire. Her house? Did she know if there were people inside?

At the end of the alley, he stumbled off the sidewalk onto grass. The fence gave way to an open space. Trees and a playground. Jude had spent many Friday nights hanging out at parks just like this as a rebellious teen, pushing back against his father, a pastor. He’d excelled at doing what everyone said was wrong and had the scars to prove it.

Zoe tore across the park like everything she loved, or cared about, was in danger. Was she married? She had no ring, but some people didn’t wear one. She could have a husband or boyfriend at home, though in his opinion no man worth anything sent a woman into a dangerous situation alone. And that was exactly what she’d done. Zoe had walked into—and out of—that Laundromat by herself.

Jude didn’t know whether to be impressed or exasperated by her.

He followed Zoe until the source of the smoke was in view, a tiny square house whose peeling paint was now melting from the siding. She raced down the sidewalk, and he knew what she was going to do. It would be so tempting to go inside and try to save whoever she had left behind. To play the part of hero, instead of waiting for the fire department. But it was too dangerous—the fire was too advanced.

He pumped his arms and legs and caught up to her just as she was about to cross the grass. Jude grabbed her. Before she could wriggle out of his grip, he wrapped his arms around her. “Don’t. You can’t go in.”

Hot wind blew at them as the flames licked at the house. All around the outside it was on fire. “Let me go!” She kicked her legs, but Jude didn’t release her.

“You can’t save them.”

“I have to. Tyler—” She grunted, and struggled against him.

The knowledge she had a man in her life stung, even though there was nothing between them. “The fire department—”

“Let go of me.” She kicked at his shins.

A neighbor ran over. “I hooked up my hose.” He thumbed the end and the pouring water sprayed in an arc.

Jude wrestled with Zoe, but she kicked him again. Then elbowed his side. He sucked in a breath and released his grip only a fraction, but it was enough for her. Zoe broke free. “Aim for the front door,” she ordered the neighbor. “I have to get Tyler out.”

She raced for the wet, scorched door. Jude ran with her. Zoe reached for the handle with her bare hand.

He yelled, “No!”

She turned to him, her gaze as scorching as the fire. “I’m going in and you aren’t going to stop me.”

“That handle will burn the skin off your hand.”

Before she could bluster, or do anything else crazy, he kicked the wood beside the handle. The door splintered, but the lock remained intact. What on earth?

He checked the lock without touching it. A black substance had been poured inside the mechanism where the key would be inserted. To keep whoever was inside from getting out?

Jude shuddered. Zoe stepped up beside him, and he said, “Be careful.” If she was going to risk her life, then Jude would go with her and make sure she didn’t get hurt simply because her instinct to protect this Tyler overrode her common sense.

He held her elbow as she clambered over the broken door. Inside was thick with smoke. Jude unbuttoned his shirt, thankful his father had instilled in him the need for an undershirt, and ripped it in two. He handed half of his dress shirt to her.

“Tie this over your nose and mouth.” He couldn’t help adding, “This is reckless. You aren’t a firefighter, are you?” He was pretty sure she wasn’t. A firefighter would have known about the handle.

“I’m not a firefighter.”

“Then we should go outside. This is crazy.” They couldn’t even see anything, and yet Zoe knew where she was going. “Is this your house?”

She shot him a look, then yelled, “Tyler!” A second later, she yelled, “Ember!”

Who was Ember? “Who are we looking for? They probably ran out back when the fire started.”

“Tyler is my son.” Zoe made her way down a hall. “Ember is my sister, and she was watching him.”

“Your son?” He looked around. The outside had been far more burned than the interior seemed to be. The fire still raged, and yet in here there were no visible flames. It was like someone had doused every wall and door of the exterior and set it ablaze. Inside was scorched and hot, but not burning. Had Zoe’s family been trapped inside a house burning down from the outside?

He shivered. “How old is Tyler?”

“He’s seven, but he’s tall for his age so everyone thinks he’s older.” There was a note of pride along with the worry. “I hope they got out. I do.” She coughed. “But we can’t wait to check while they could be suffocating in here.”

“Instead it’s us who are suffocating. Firefighters have equipment for this.” He choked out the words through his raspy throat, but she wouldn’t be swayed. “Thirty seconds. If you don’t find them, I’m getting us out of here whether you agree or not, Zoe.” He paused. “Is that even your real name?”

“Of course it is.” She pushed open a door with her foot. A master bedroom. “Tyler. Ember.” Zoe moved to the closet. Door open, empty. He followed her to the en suite bathroom. The curtain had been pulled down and discarded and the shower was running.

A squeak came from Zoe, and she rushed over. Jude followed to see what had caught her eye, and saw as she did the two huddled in the bathtub. Both soaking wet, a young woman with dark hair was curled around a little boy. The woman had a nasty burn up the outside of her arm.

Zoe crouched. “Tyler.” She touched the woman’s cheek. “Em.”

Jude reached down and pressed two fingers to the woman’s neck. She couldn’t be more than nineteen. This was Zoe’s sister?

Zoe gasped, but he said, “She has a pulse.”

The boy’s eyes snapped open. “Mom—” The word dissolved into coughing and Zoe reached for him. The woman never stirred.

Zoe held her son to her. “Tyler.”

“We couldn’t get out, Mom. He trapped us inside.”

Tyler wrapped his arms around her neck, and Jude found himself wanting to soak in the sight of the two of them so closely entwined. The way he’d done with his mom as a kid when he got hurt. But there was no time for that now. “We have to get out of here.”