means that somehow they know that you’re in the hotel.”
Jackson began searching the hotel room for anything to use as a disguise. When he returned to the main room, Callie was still standing there looking dumbstruck and on the verge of tears.
“Look, Ms. Martin. You can think about this all you want later. Right now, we need to disguise you and get you out of this building before they figure out where in the hotel you are.”
He asked the other marshal for his coat and hat and shoved it at her. “Here, take this. Turn it inside out and stuff your hair up into the hat. Where’s your scarf? Wrap it around your face.”
He watched impatiently as Callie did as he’d directed. “Make sure there’s no hair showing and let’s go. We can’t disguise anything else now. We have to get moving.”
He turned to the marshal. “Once we’re clear, say five minutes, call it in. If anyone else shows up or asks about her, tell them—” He looked down at the tray. “Tell them she went out to dinner.”
Jackson opened the door and scanned the hallway. “Come on.”
He took her by the hand and led her down the hall away from the elevator. “We’re taking the stairs.”
“Fifteen flights?”
He stopped long enough to recognize the panic settling over her. “No,” he reassured. “Down four and then I’ll wait for an empty elevator.”
Once they reached the eleventh floor, Jackson kept her hiding in the hallway until an empty elevator arrived. He pulled her into the corner, shielding her from view as other guests got on. When they reached the fifth floor, they got off and he led her through a maze of conference rooms and down a series of escalators until they came out in a back alleyway onto 54th Street. He was tempted to swing around the block and take a look at the car, but it wasn’t worth risking his witness. A sudden peal of sirens in the distance told him the call had been placed. Now to make good their escape.
A line of cabs was waiting, but Jackson didn’t want to leave a trail from the hotel. Grabbing Callie’s hand, he dashed through traffic, crossed the street and ducked into the lobby of another hotel. He turned to face her. Callie was gasping for breath.
“It’s okay. We’ll get a cab from here to the airport.”
She looked upset, on the edge of breaking down. Once he had them settled in a cab, he wrapped an arm around her and rested her head on his shoulder. “Hang on,” he whispered. “We’re almost clear.”
By the time they arrived at JFK, Callie had recovered her color and some spunk. Jackson led her into the terminal, where they ducked into a shop to buy some tourist gear and cheap reading glasses. He sent her into the bathroom to fix up while he called to arrange a rental car.
His phone rang just as the car arrived. A quick glance at the display revealed his boss on the line.
“Walker here.” He juggled the phone while he traded car keys for a tip. He considered moving to another space, but Callie should be out soon. He’d use his badge if necessary to keep the space.
“I hear you stopped by to see Ben.” John Logan’s voice held more understanding than censure.
“Sir. I don’t like operating blind. Just wanted some answers.”
“Which is why I’m calling. Figured you couldn’t come in for an update.”
“I’m better off on the move.”
“Agreed. The car was abandoned.”
Jackson listened as his boss filled him in on the details, then blew out a breath of frustration. “Any sign of them?”
“Nothing.”
Jackson didn’t like the sound of that. Were they still searching the hotel for Callie? He didn’t think they could have been followed, but it wasn’t likely the thugs had just given up.
Jackson stared into the distance, watching the planes take off and land. There was a pattern to it, a rhythm. Most things had one. Few occurrences were random, including today’s attack. “What are you thinking?”
“Someone found her and wanted to send a message. Take her or take her out.”
Jackson chewed on that for a minute. He didn’t like the taste. “You don’t think she’s involved?”
“Callie Martin?” His boss sounded surprised. “Nope. I don’t think so. You do?”
Jackson was relieved his concern wasn’t dismissed out of hand. “I haven’t talked with her long enough to form an opinion. It just seems likely.”
There was a long pause. “You aren’t the first to question it, but most change their mind after getting to know her a little better.”
Jackson acknowledged his superior’s unspoken advice to give her time. He still intended to stay alert—and not just when looking for the bad guys.
“Let me know when you’re settled in. I’ll see to backup.”
“Will do, thanks.”
As Jackson disconnected the call he turned and found Callie standing behind him. How much had she heard? Enough to be suspicious—and angry—based on her expression. She walked silently to the car, climbed into the backseat and settled against the door, all without looking at him.
Jackson put away his phone and climbed into the front. He turned the key in the ignition, put the car in gear and headed west.
Miles rolled away under the wheels of the rental car while Jackson mulled over his conversation with Ben at the hospital. Something was nagging at him, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly it was.
He glanced at his witness in the backseat. She made him uneasy, too. He’d protect her, but he wouldn’t be fooled. You didn’t last long in witness protection if you let the witness burn you.
As the hours passed, the hum of the tires on the blacktop began to lull Jackson. Fatigue burned his eyes and the lane lines started to blur. He needed sleep. Coffee would have to do. The last sign had indicated a rest stop in twenty miles. He had to be pretty close to that now.
Traffic had been light and there was no indication anyone was trailing behind them. He’d varied speed enough and watched the cars carefully as they passed, so he was 100 percent confident no one had followed him. Still, when he saw the exit, Jackson skipped using the turn signal and waited until the very last second to make an abrupt turn into the rest-stop parking lot. There was no sense in advertising his plans. He pulled in close to the rest station and turned to check on Callie. The slow rise and fall of her chest and her gentle, even breathing told him she was deeply asleep, as she had been ever since they’d left the airport. He probably should wake her and see if she needed to go inside.
“Ms. Martin?”
She muttered something in her sleep and huddled deeper into the seat.
He didn’t like leaving her alone, but he’d do neither of them any good if he fell asleep at the wheel. Hopefully, he’d be back and on the road without
