Colorado Manhunt: Wilderness Chase / Twin Pursuit

“Good,” Withers said. “We don’t need this turning into more of a circus than it already is.”

“Yes, sir.”

Withers was all about damage control. Noah didn’t fault him, but playing all the angles had to be exhausting. Now that he was within twenty miles of Amy’s home, Noah didn’t want that SUV to show up again. It would mean leading them right to her.

“Everyone in the Northwest is out looking for those missing inmates.” Withers sighed. “I could call the local police to meet you.”

“I’m not sure what we could tell them, sir.” Noah wasn’t about to call in a suspicious SUV without having to explain who she was and why he was here.

Withers said, “They’re probably watching for Sanders and Pepperton, anyway, considering the BOLO just went nationwide.”

“Good.” Noah was glad law enforcement across the country would “be on the lookout” for Jeremiah Sanders and the other escaped prisoner—Richard Pepperton.

“Gotta go,” Withers said. “Another case update just came in.” He hung up.

Had Jeremiah made his way to Colorado? And how would he even know where to find his sister, considering she was a protected witness? Everyone knew he hated her. Those who hadn’t heard him screaming in that courtroom had learned about it from the media coverage.

How much time did Noah have before Jeremiah somehow discovered his sister’s whereabouts?

Noah glanced back again to check for the blue SUV. Nothing. Could be cartel foot soldiers following him. Jeremiah had worked with them and was reportedly still doing so in prison. Maybe they’d deployed people all over, looking for Jeremiah or his sister.

Noah would almost rather see the SUV again. Then he could lead it somewhere that was nowhere near Amy’s cabin. He wasn’t about to put the woman in danger. Noah was going to ignore the fact she fired all his instincts to keep someone safe. Well, obviously that was true since he was a marshal. Keeping people safe was what he did.

But Amy and her huge green eyes, full of fear, just hadn’t let go of him. It had been a year since they’d had that…moment. Since they’d almost kissed, and then one of his coworkers had walked in. He should’ve forgotten about her by now.

Noah sighed, a reply to the hum of the tires on the road. He’d vowed a long time ago that relationships weren’t for him if he wanted to make director before he was fifty. There were too many people who needed protecting, and he couldn’t be distracted by a woman he wouldn’t know for long before she faded out of his life.

Again.

Noah checked his rearview once more before the turnoff to her cabin. He drove down the gravel road, past the vacation cabins. A couple of cars were parked outside.

It was another six miles to Amy’s place. When the marshal in charge of her case had securely sent him the location, simply because he was closer, Noah hadn’t been able to believe the city girl would be so far from anywhere.

Then he saw it. Her cabin, nestled in a clearing. Single story. Probably one bedroom. Boards on the outside had been replaced, the varnish on those planks a slightly different shade than the rest. Floral drapes. Empty flowerpots on the porch.

She needed a rocker.

The idea of getting one for her made his lips curl into a smile. He parked and trotted to her front door, energized by the idea of seeing her. Seemed a shame to make her leave, but he could get her back here to her nice cabin soon enough. It was the exact kind of place he’d love to go on vacation. If he ever took one.

Noah knocked on the front door, and it creaked open. His other hand readied to pull his gun. He had to be prepared for anything.

“Amy? It’s the US Marshals.” He could get to who he was soon enough, when she knew she was safe.

He stepped inside and looked around. Tiny kitchen, rustic furniture that looked more comfortable than his. The TV had been left on.

Paused.

The screen showed a prison picture of Jeremiah and the other man, both still at large. Presumed extremely dangerous. Across the bottom of the screen it read Call Police Immediately.

Noah called out, “Amy!” again.

No answer.

He walked through the cabin, checking for her in the bathroom and bedroom. His pace quickened as he went, as each second ticked by and he didn’t find her. The mudroom at the back was piled up with boots, shoes and tennis shoes. Jackets and sweaters hung, and the back door was wide open.

She wasn’t here.

Noah stood on the step at the back door and yelled, “Amy!”

Amy gripped the gun in trembling fingers, crouched behind a downed tree. She knew that voice.

It was Noah.

Relief rushed through her, but hot on its heels was the realization that she couldn’t be certain she could trust him. Right now she wasn’t certain she could trust anyone.

She bit her lip. Seeing her brother’s face on the TV, and then hearing the car out front, she’d fumbled with the remote before dropping it. There had only been time to grab the gun and run out the back door. No panic to cloud her thinking, which meant she was already outside running across the frozen grass of the lawn before she even thought to get shoes. Now that the adrenaline had dissipated she could think straight.

Amy stood. She held the gun in front of her and gingerly wandered in his direction. “Noah?”

Even if he meant to hurt her, she could shoot him. Right? Okay, probably not, given their history. She tried to act strong, but it wasn’t like she could actually get over the fear that liked to paralyze her. She’d thought her days of facing down her brother were over.

Now all that had come rushing back with one word.

Escaped.

“Amy!” He trotted over as she made her way to him. The look of worry on his face helped. He scanned her, head to toe. “You ran outside with no coat, and no shoes?”

Only then did she realize that under the sleeves of her shirt gooseflesh prickled her skin. She had a short-sleeved T-shirt on over a long-sleeved undershirt. That was something, at least. But with skinny jeans and wool socks, it wasn’t much protection against the frigid temperatures.

“There was no time,” she argued. “I thought you were Jeremiah.” She would have left that spot where she’d been hiding and run deeper into the brush if it had been anyone but Noah. She didn’t even trust the marshal assigned to her case.

His gaze softened further. “Let’s get you inside.”

She nodded. Her socks were wet, making her toes numb. “I just put a pot of coffee on.”

“We can turn it off before we leave.”

She glanced over at him, slowing her pace. “I’m not leaving.” He wasn’t just here to brief her? She’d assumed he would hang out here until her brother was caught. Make sure nothing happened to her.

Amy shivered at the idea that her brother might actually find her. Didn’t Witness Security—which most people knew as the witness protection program—have measures in place to keep that from happening? It was hard to believe that in a matter of hours after escaping from federal custody, her brother would be able to locate her and reach her doorstep.

She didn’t want to ask, but had to. “Is there something I don’t know?”

Noah said, “Let’s get inside. You’re shivering.”

“I’m not all that worried about being cold, considering there’s a murderous maniac on the loose.” Even after all this time she didn’t like referring to her brother that way. But there was little point in refusing to accept reality.

She stepped inside, and he shut the door behind them. “You have a bag ready?”