Christmas Witness Pursuit

“And why would you say that? I could be some recluse who lives with a houseful of cats and only goes out to check the mail.”

“Somehow I don’t think so. You’re easy to talk to, you have a sense of humor, and we already know how well you do in a medical emergency.”

She couldn’t help but smile. She liked the way he managed to disarm her fears and make her laugh. “Keep trying to make me feel better. You’re doing a good job.”

“There’s something else,” he said. “I know you put your life on the line to put a murderer behind bars. Something like that takes a lot of courage.”

His statement brought on another flash of memory, but she could not quite grab on to it. She glanced out the window at the falling snow that had already left a dusting of white across the landscape. She might have had to risk her life for justice, but even if that were true, it did little to erase the terror that wouldn’t leave her alone.

Griffin studied her reaction for a moment as they headed down the two-lane dirt road toward the ranch, knowing everything that had happened had left her unsettled. He couldn’t blame her. Not only was her life in danger, she could not remember what had brought her to this point beyond what had been written in an FBI report.

“I meant what I said. What you did took a lot of courage.”

“Maybe, but I’m just trying to figure all this out without getting too terrified. I keep asking myself the same question. What was my motivation? I obviously had to realize there was going to be a cost.” She skimmed through the file. “There’s a section in here about Jinx Ryder. He’s been arrested for racketeering, conspiracy to launder money, murder, and is known to be involved in several criminal enterprises. Sounds to me like anyone would be crazy to cross this guy.”

“Or extremely brave,” he countered.

“I’m not feeling brave.” Tory drummed her fingers against the armrest. “Instead I’m wondering what made me think I could survive going up against this guy.”

He felt his jaw tighten as he debated whether or not to share with her what had been nagging him all afternoon. What he had to say would shake her already precarious world, something he didn’t want to do. But if there was any chance that he was right...

“What are you thinking?” she asked, somehow sensing the shift in his thoughts.

“What if they weren’t trying to kill you?” he asked, feeling the burn in his arm.

Her eyes widened as she glanced up at him. “I’m not sure I understand. They killed the men transporting me, chased me through the woods and then shot at the car as we left. I’d say they were definitely trying to kill me.”

“They killed the agents you were with and shot at me. Did they ever shoot directly at you?”

His question seemed to throw her off. “They shot at the car.”

“Yes, but what if they were trying to stop the FBI detail. To extract you. Alive.”

“Alive?”

He hesitated again, knowing that what he was saying would probably make no sense from her point of view. From the little they’d been told about the case, it seemed clear that Jinx and his men’s only objective was to silence her. She was the sole witness to a heinous crime, and it didn’t matter if she could remember the details or not. She had the evidence the FBI needed to put Jinx behind bars for life.

“Why would they want to me alive?” she asked. “I’m a witness to a murder. Aren’t I better off dead to them?”

“That’s an obvious assumption, but there are things that don’t add up.”

“Like?”

Griffin searched for the words to clarify what he was thinking. “What if you have information they want? Something that would make you worth more to them alive than dead?”

“Like what? Because at this point even if that were true, I can’t remember the murder, let alone any information I might have.”

“True, but they don’t know that. Just think about it. There were two men after you, but three helmets on the bikes. And on top of that, they never shot at you. They killed the agents and they were shooting at me.”

“I’m not convinced you’re right, but until I get my memory back, I have no way of knowing.”

“I’m sorry.” His parents’ house appeared in the distance as the snow began to fall heavier. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“What I do know is that they found me once and I’m sure they can find me again. I’m the only witness in a case that could put Jinx behind bars for the rest of his life. That’s pretty strong motivation on his part to get rid of me.”

He didn’t miss the fear in her voice as she spoke, making him regret he’d ever brought it up. “Forget all of that for now. All we really need to do is to focus on keeping you safe.”

“And when the storm passes?” she asked.

“We’ll get you to Denver. But it won’t be easy for them to trace you here.”

“Are you sure? What’s to stop them from finding me here just like they found my escort?”

“The sheriff’s office is going to be on alert, and I’ll also make sure our ranch hands are on the lookout for anything suspicious.”

Beyond that, all he could do was pray it would be enough to keep her safe.

Griffin’s phone rang, interrupting their conversation. He checked the caller ID and opted to answer on his cell instead of through the car’s speaker system.

Thirty seconds later he ended the call. “That was the FBI.”

“Why do I have the feeling this isn’t going to be good news?”

“Because it isn’t.” His frown deepened. He wished he could find a way to lessen the blow. “Jinx was in the process of being transferred to a new facility, so he’d be near the courthouse for the trial.”

“Griffin...what happened?”

He sucked in a sharp breath. “Jinx escaped.”

FOUR (#uf558d047-b5f5-5e7f-a852-889243c2fef8)

It didn’t matter that she couldn’t remember Jinx Ryder’s face, or even all the details of what she’d witnessed. Tory knew enough about the situation to realize her life was in danger. Now that Jinx had managed to escape from custody, there was a good chance he’d come after her himself. And that terrified her.

“Would you like more bread?”

Tory jumped at the question clearly posed at her and looked up at the basket of garlic bread Griffin’s mom, Marci, was holding. She wondered how long the older woman had been waiting for her to answer.

Tory grabbed a piece then passed the basket to Griffin. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Marci’s smile seemed genuine, just like everything else about his family. “This entire situation has to be unsettling for you.”

“I just can’t stop jumping at every shadow.” She glanced across the room as if to prove her point, but the reaction was automatic. “I’m convinced he’s going to come after me himself.”

“Not any time soon.” Griffin’s dad, Jacob, looked up from his bowl of stew. “I’ve lived in these mountains my whole life, and I’ll be the first one to tell you that he’d be a fool to try to find you in this kind of weather. I know every inch of this ranch, and trust me, even I’m still planning on staying right here in this house until the weather clears.”

Tory could hear the wind howling against the side of the house, giving her a tangible reminder of the storm now brewing outside. But Jacob’s words failed to take the edge off her fear. Jinx had managed to call a hit on her FBI transport before escaping from custody. She had no doubt that if he wanted to, he could find a way to make it through the storm and come after her here, as well.

“And when the storm’s over?” she asked. “He’s not going to stop until I’m silenced.”