Fugitive Trackdown. Sandra Robbins

aimed at James Lester. “Jessica, thank goodness...”

      He growled, grabbed Claire’s other arm and pulled her in front of him. His left arm encircled her waist, and his right one, which held the gun, pressed across her chest. She realized she had just become James Lester’s shield. “Put your gun down unless you want your friend here to get hurt.”

      Jessica didn’t back off but inched forward. “Let her go.”

      “No way.” James pulled Claire backward toward the kitchen. She glanced down at the floor and noticed the trail of blood he left behind. She tried to claw at his face, but his arm across her chest held her so tightly she could barely move. “I’m leaving, and I’m taking her with me. If I see any cops following me, I’ll dump her body out of the car. Do you understand?”

      “I understand you’re going nowhere but to jail,” Jessica said.

      “Not today, sweetheart,” he replied. “So back off.”

      They were almost to the back door now, and Claire knew she had to do something. He released the arm around her waist and reached behind him to open the door, and the pressure of his other arm lessened.

      In that split second Claire ducked her head and clamped her teeth into his hand. He yelled in agony and hurled her away from him as the gun clattered to the floor. She stumbled forward and fell against one of the kitchen chairs. She looked up in fear as he took a step toward her. “You’ll pay for that!”

      Jessica appeared in the doorway, her gun pointed at James. “Hands up, Lester.”

      The look that washed over his face reminded Claire of a cornered animal. He glanced from side to side, then reached for the coffeepot on the counter next to him and hurled it at Jessica. When she ducked, he opened the door and stumbled out.

      Before Jessica reached Claire, he had disappeared, and the sound of a car roaring away split the night air. Jessica dropped to her knees next to Claire. “Are you all right?”

      She nodded. “I’m fine.”

      “Then I’m going to see if I can catch him.”

      “I don’t think you will. I heard a car drive off. Peter Willis must have been waiting for him outside.”

      Jessica rushed out the back door, and Claire lay there for a moment thinking about what had just happened. This was the second time tonight that someone she’d known since childhood had been put in danger because of her. How could they ever forgive her for that?

      Claire tightened her grip on the back of the kitchen chair she’d landed against and pulled herself to her full height just as Jessica walked back into the apartment. “He got away, but at least we know who he was. I’ve called the police, and I’ve also called Adam. Everybody should be here in a few minutes.”

      “Why did you call Adam?”

      “He would have been angry with me if I hadn’t.”

      Claire groaned. “Now I get to listen to him lecture me again.”

      Jessica frowned and shook her head. “You need to get over this idea that Adam doesn’t like you. He’s really quite fond of you.”

      “I’m sure he is. About as fond as he his of a headache. But anyway, I’m sorry I put both of you in danger tonight. I didn’t intend for that to happen.”

      “We know that, Claire. It’s just that we’ve been doing this kind of work for a long time. You’re new to it.”

      “I may be new, but I’m learning fast. For instance, I know James Lester broke in here to get Peter Willis’s cell phone, but he didn’t. Those phone numbers must be more important than we thought at first.” Claire took a deep breath and hobbled toward the living room door.

      “Be careful of your foot, Claire,” Jessica called out.

      Claire gritted her teeth and took another step. “James Lester was right about one thing. I have to toughen up. I put my best friend and her brother in danger tonight, and I don’t want to do it again.”

      Jessica followed her into the living room and watched as Claire staggered to the couch and took a seat. Claire reached down and picked up the cell phone James had dropped in the struggle.

      “At least he didn’t get what he came for. Back at the cabin Peter let it slip that James was also involved in my father’s death, and I’m determined they’re not going to get away with it. There must be something in this phone that’s so important they’d risk breaking in here to get it. Now all I have to do is find out what it is.”

      Jessica dropped down beside her. “How do you expect to do that?”

      Claire shook her head. “I don’t know yet, but one thing is for sure. The next time I meet up with those two I intend to be ready for them.”