LITMIR.BIZ

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do it.”

      He sighed and rose to his feet. “I will give you credit for one thing, though. You found Willis. A lot of bounty hunters are never able to find the guy they’re looking for. How did you know he was here?”

      Her face flushed, a sign that his compliment hadn’t gone unnoticed, and she smiled. “I remember hearing your dad talking to you one time about being a bounty hunter. He said you had to research your fugitive until you knew everything about him. I found out that Peter likes to gamble in Tunica and that his family had this cabin nearby. I asked around about him and finally spotted him at a blackjack table in one of the local casinos. I followed him back here tonight and was just about to take him into custody when your guy showed up.”

      Adam pushed to his feet and glanced around the cabin. “Well, we’ve lost both of them now. But as long as we’re inside the Willis cabin, we should take a look around.”

      Claire started to stand, but she groaned and sank back to the sofa. “I can’t. See if you can find anything that might help us.”

      He pointed to the room just off the living area. “This looks like it could be his bedroom. I’ll look in there.”

      She nodded and patted the couch. “Okay. I’ll wait right here.”

      Adam walked into the room and looked around. A lamp on a bedside table cast a glow across the room, and he glanced around to see if Peter Willis might have left anything behind. An open suitcase sat on the floor against one wall, and he squatted down beside it. A few rumpled clothes that looked as if they were ready to be laundered lay inside. Rising, he walked across the room to the closet and opened the door. Two pairs of pants and three shirts hung there. One thing was evident. Peter Willis hadn’t taken enough clothing for an extended trip.

      Adam walked back into the living room and glanced at Claire. She sat up straighter on the couch. “Did you find anything?”

      “No. He had very few clothes.”

      She frowned. “But that doesn’t make sense. If he was planning to disappear indefinitely, why didn’t he bring enough clothes to last for a while?”

      “I don’t know. Maybe he had clothes stashed somewhere else.” Adam glanced at the coat rack on the wall just inside the door and the leather jacket that hung there. He walked over, rammed his hand into the pocket, and pulled out a cell phone. He held it up for Claire to see. “Well, well. Look what Peter left.”

      Claire sat up straighter on the couch and motioned for Adam to bring her the phone. “Maybe we can find out where he’s been by looking at his recent calls and texts.”

      Adam nodded and sat down next to Claire on the sofa. “I was just about suggest that.” She scooted closer and watched as he scrolled through the calls. He frowned as he stared at the phone. “There are several calls to a number in the Middle Tennessee area code and more to a number in the Smoky Mountain area in the eastern part of the state. These other ones are all to a number in Memphis, probably his wife.”

      Claire stared down at the phone for a moment before she glanced up at him. “Why don’t you call the ones we don’t know and see who answers?”

      Adam started to call the first number but stopped. “We can do this later, Claire. Right now we need to get that ankle taken care of.” He let his gaze drift over her once more. “Do you think you can stand?”

      “I’m sure I can.”

      She placed her hands on the cushions on either side of her and pushed up. She made it halfway to a standing position before she cried out in pain and toppled forward. Adam caught her before she fell to the floor and scooped her up into his arms once more.

      He tightened his grip around her and shifted her in his arms. Then he looked down at her and chuckled. “You don’t have to be brave for me.”

      She glared at him. “I wasn’t trying to be brave. I thought it was better.”

      “No matter what you thought, we need to get that ankle checked out. I’ll take you to the hospital in my car. Then I’ll get my brother, Lucas, or Jessica to come back with me tomorrow to pick up your car.”

      “I don’t think that will be necessary. I think by tomorrow I’ll be able to drive.”

      He quirked an eyebrow and smiled. “Whatever you say.”

      Adam glanced around the cabin to make sure he wasn’t leaving anything behind before he headed across the room. He stopped at the front door, and Claire reached up and switched off the light. Juggling her in his arms so he could reach the door knob, he turned it and pulled the door open.

      Before he could take a step, a rush of air exploded next to his head, and wood splintered on the door facing. Claire screamed and buried her head in his shoulder as he staggered backward and kicked the door closed.

      Another bullet struck the front door as Adam landed on the floor with Claire on top of him. In one swift move he rolled over and covered her with his body. He heard her sob and felt her tremble as he continued to shield her from the gunfire that shattered the cabin windows and streaked over their heads.

      Adam had never felt so helpless in his life, but there was no way he could make it outside to confront their attackers without being shot down. His mind raced to find a solution as the barrage grew heavier, but nothing came to mind.

      He and Claire were at the mercy of someone who wanted them dead, and they might very well succeed in their mission. All he could do at the moment was lie still and try to protect Claire and hope that no stray bullet found its mark.

       TWO

      Terrified, Claire tried to lie still, but she couldn’t control the fear that shook her body. She jammed her fist in her mouth, but it only softened her crying a bit. She closed her eyes and said a prayer as the bullets continued to strike the front door and the window next to it. She cringed beneath Adam as the shattered glass hit the floor.

      When would it stop? Surely they had to run out of ammunition at some point.

      Adam pressed his mouth to her ear and whispered, “Don’t be afraid. You’re going to be all right. They should get tired of this soon.”

      She didn’t respond but wondered if he really meant it or if he was only trying to comfort her.

      Then just as suddenly as it had started, the shooting stopped. Neither Adam nor Claire moved for a minute or two. Then he slowly raised his head, cocked it to the side and frowned as he listened. “Do you think they’re gone?” she asked.

      “Maybe,” he said. “I’m going to get up and check. Don’t move until I get back.”

      He crawled away from where she lay to the front door and stopped as he pulled his gun from its holster. Then slowly he reached up, grasped the door knob and pulled the door open. He waited, as if expecting a bullet to strike, but nothing happened. After a minute he crawled out onto the porch and disappeared from her view.

      The eerie silence sent new chills through Claire. She listened for any sounds outside but heard nothing. The minutes ticked by without Adam’s return, and a feeling of panic began to grow in her mind.

      Had their attackers left? If so, where was Adam, and why didn’t he come back? A new fear flashed in her mind. What if they had knocked him out? Or worse yet, stabbed him, and he was lying in the yard bleeding to death.

      The more she imagined what was happening outside, the more frightened she became. She had to find out where he was.

      She crawled to the front door and hesitated a moment before she pushed up on her good leg and peeked out. No sign of Adam. Taking a deep breath, she hobbled onto the front porch and leaned against the railing.

      Which way would he have gone? Earlier, Peter’s car had been parked on the left side of the house, and she faced in that direction. Holding on to the railing,

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