The sheriff said, “We’ve known each other a long time, Ian. I know you raised those boys after their parents couldn’t. But that doesn’t mean the men they are now are worth you still saving them. Sometimes we have to give a person up to the consequences of their actions and let justice take its course.
“Something is going on in this town, and it seems like your grandson is at the center of it. I need to talk to him so we can straighten this out.” He moved to the edge of the porch. “It would be better for him if he turns himself in.”
Tessa watched the sheriff walk away. She didn’t speak until he was pulling away in his SUV. “There’s no way we’re handing Caleb over to the police.”
Pops started to chuckle.
“What?”
“You like him. But Tess, honey, you don’t need to save Caleb. He’s got this.” Ian stood. “He can take care of himself.”
She didn’t need to hope that was true. It probably was. “I’m still going to do what I can. Which will start, continue, and end with a whole lot of prayer.”
“Great idea.” He held out his hand and she took it. “Heavenly Father…”
Chapter Fifteen
Caleb hit the ground and didn’t stop. He crawled, elbows to the gravel, not thinking about anything but survival.
The gunshot blasted over his head.
Thank You. It didn’t hit him. His chest, where he’d been shot in his vest the other day, and the healing burns on his arm hurt more than he wanted to admit even to himself.
The gunman, whoever had stolen the package off his passenger seat, would be coming around. Caleb had to get to his gun in the duffel on his backseat, since he’d never make it to the one in the glove box. The idea had been tonothave a gun on his person if he came across law enforcement. Problem was that left him vulnerable now.
And it might actually get him killed.
He jumped up to a crouch and got the back door open, but the man rounded the back of the vehicle. Caleb didn’t have any recourse other than to act as fast as he could, certain he was about to get shot.
Before he could even think about whether this was a good idea or not, he launched up and slammed into the man’s torso. The gun went off behind him. Hopefully pointed nowhere near him.
Sounded like it pinged off the side of Pops’ truck, but it was hard to tell.
Caleb shoved the man back. The gun clattered to the ground. They didn’t go down. The guy pushed back, planting his rear foot and countering Caleb’s tackle.
That told Caleb what he needed to know about this man’s strength. And the force behind his punch.
Caleb flinched and his head jerked back with a punch he hadn’t seen coming. He balled his fist and hit the guy at the bottom of his ribcage, right in the diaphragm. The guy nearly doubled over, and Caleb heard an audible, “Oof.”
He backed up a step, rallying for the next attack. The guy looked up at him.
Bruce Edwards.
He was the FBI agent Tessa had met at the hospital. Caleb knew that, because he’d met this agent before. They weren’t friends and never would be. First time Caleb worked with him on a joint taskforce he’d known the guy was dirty and vowed never to get in a situation where he needed to trust the guy ever again.
Trusting this man would get a person stabbed in the back.
“Edwards.”
A car drove past them going eighty, ruffling Caleb’s hair across his face. In the split second his view was obscured Bruce had a knife out.
Caleb flicked both sleeves down over his fists and raised his arms. He needed a way to defend himself against a wicked blade, and there weren’t many.
Bruce swung at him. Caleb swiped his arm across, pushing the knife hand out with a smack of forearm against forearm. He kicked Bruce in the knee and knew that wasn’t what the guy expected him to do. Badge on his belt, like he was the honorable one in this situation. Suit and tie, like he’d never been to thenorth this time of year and had no idea how to dress for the weather.
Caleb grabbed his wrist with every ounce of strength his grip had. He brought up his knee and slammed it into Bruce’s stomach twice.
Someone sped past them, honking their horn.
