Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 Dana Mentink (e books free to read TXT) 📖

him? Even after this morning? He wasn’t sure, but the witness of Hannah, Murray and Natalie impressed him. They’d shown intense faith in difficult circumstances. Deep down, he wanted that same faith. If only he wasn’t so skeptical. Why couldn’t he take that leap and step into the unknown and unseen? He pushed the poignant question aside. He’d give it more thought later.

He parked the Jeep beside a dented Ford 150. “I think this is Cash’s truck. We’re in the right place. Stay alert.”

“Always.” She climbed from the Jeep.

He followed and checked the truck’s license plate. “It’s a match, and it appears that our suspect is home. For once, we’re one step ahead of them. Let’s go, and stay behind me.”

“Will do.”

He peered at the three-story walk-up. The dilapidated building needed urgent care. He noted shingles missing, broken balcony railings and the front door hanging from its hinges.

“This building doesn’t look safe. Be careful.” Layke took a step as an SUV pulled out of its parking spot only just missing him. “Watch out!” He shoved her to the side, pushing her from harm’s way.

The vehicle raced out of the parking lot like a race car driver. Someone definitely on a mission. Wait—

“Did that SUV look like the one trying to run us off the road earlier?” It came so quickly he’d missed the license plate.

“It was dark like the previous one.”

Not good.

“Let’s get to Cash’s apartment.” Something told him he wouldn’t like what he found.

A state trooper walked toward them and extended his hand. “Officer Jim Allard. I’ve been apprised of the situation.”

Layke made introductions and they entered the building, taking the stairs cautiously. He didn’t trust anything about the structure. He checked the numbers posted on the wall to determine which direction to head, then turned right. Layke halted. He immediately noticed Cash’s broken door. He unleashed his weapon and turned to Hannah. “This doesn’t look good. Be prepared for anything.”

She pulled out her gun but stayed behind him.

“Officer, this is your jurisdiction,” Layke said. “You lead.”

The trooper edged the door open and stepped inside. “Police! Identify yourself.”

Silence and musty air greeted them.

Layke walked into the living room with Hannah at his heels.

She gasped.

He turned to see her gaze focused on the couch.

A foot protruded from behind it.

Layke rushed over to investigate and braced himself for what he’d find.

Tupper Cash lay on the floor with a bullet in his head, his lifeless eyes staring at the ceiling.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Hannah listened as Layke spoke to Goliath-type Alaska state trooper Jim Allard. She sighed. Their first real hope of solving this case had been taken out with a single shot. The image of the dark SUV barreling out of the parking lot now made sense. They had just missed the assassination. Could they have stopped it? Had the gang discovered they were on their way to interrogate Tupper and decided to take him out? He obviously knew too much.

“This guy has been on our radar,” Jim said. “However, we haven’t been able to catch him in any act of crime.”

“What can you tell us about him?” Layke had his pen and notebook ready.

“Cash is known in these parts as a major troublemaker. Always involved in the next get-rich-quick scheme, no matter the cost.” He knelt beside the body. “Looks like this was an assassination. Didn’t stand any hopes of survival.”

Hannah stepped closer. She’d seen a few bodies, but none taken out like Tupper. Nausea slammed her and she gagged. She covered her mouth and turned away from the pair. She wouldn’t let them see the effect this body had on her. Breathe, Hannah, breathe. She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth. She pulled out her inhaler and took a puff.

Layke touched her back. “Hannah, you okay?”

Busted.

His gentle hand at the small of her back somehow eased the terror threatening to consume her body. She could get used to him by her side. She shoved the thought away and turned. “I’m fine. Just hit me wrong.”

A knock at the door sounded.

Jim jumped up. “That would be the crime scene investigator.” He let in the lanky young man.

Layke’s eyes widened and he leaned closer. “Looks like a teenager,” he whispered.

His minty breath tickled her ear and she shivered. “I know, right?” Her cell phone played Doyle’s ring. She fished it out of her pocket. “What do you have for me, boss man.”

“I hate when you call me that.”

“I know.” She chuckled.

“Listen, my contact got back to me. Seems like there’s a smuggling drop happening at midnight tonight.” He continued to tell her about the airstrip where the plane was expected to land. She tilted her head and cradled the phone between her chin and shoulder, grabbing Layke’s notebook and pen. “Give that to me again.” She jotted the information down. “Got it. We’ll be there. Will you?”

“No, I’m following another lead. Can you and Constable Jackson handle it along with the other border patrol officers?”

“We’ll be fine. Give me the contact’s info in case we need to call him.” She added it to her scribbles in Layke’s notebook. “Got it.”

“Be safe, little one.”

She smiled at his term of endearment. “Always.” She clicked off.

“What’s happening?”

Hannah told him about the smuggling drop. She checked her watch. The day had gotten away from them and it would soon be dusk. “We need to leave if we’re going to get there on time. How about we grab some munchies for the stakeout?” Excitement bubbled and she bounced in place.

“Have you ever been on a stakeout?”

“No. Why?”

“They’re not as fun as television portrays them. Boring, actually.”

She never believed anything she saw on the tube. They rarely got their facts straight. “Can we head out now?”

“I’ll check.” He conversed with Trooper Allard and they agreed to stay in touch. Sharing information between the two agencies was necessary in this case. Layke pulled the keys out, dangling them. “Let’s go.”

Thirty minutes later, Hannah directed Layke back across the quiet border crossing and into Canada. The freezing