“JJ, what have I told you about talking with food in your mouth?”
He shrugged and took a swig of his juice to wash it down. “Sorry, Momma.”
“That’s quite all right, ma’am.” Reid turned his attention to JJ. “You look like you could fit under one of those booths. When I knocked my coffee over, I dropped my cell phone under the table. Now, I can’t find it, and I’m too big to crawl under there. Do you think you could look for it while your mom helps me clean up my mess?”
“Yes, sir.” Not only was he willing to help a stranger; he was polite, too.
Reid let Quinn lead the way, JJ followed her, and he brought up the rear, keeping himself as a shield. She got within sight of the booth and spun, then stepped between him and JJ. “Look. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but we won’t be a part of it. Now, you need to pay your tab and leave.”
He lowered his voice, hoping she wouldn’t bring attention to them. “It’s no game. I had to get you and the boy away from the front door.”
She started inching backward. JJ tried to peek around her, but she shoved him behind her. She looked over her shoulder at the small supply closet by the bathroom. Thanks to his hour wait and observation skills, he knew there was a door that would lead to the alley. That’s how he planned to get them out.
He could see the fear in her eyes, so he raised his hands in front of him in a gesture of surrender. “I’m not going to hurt you. My name is Reid Lucas. I’m a private investigator, and I have credible information that you’re in danger. Someone is going to walk through that door and try to kidnap you and your son.”
“No offense, but I don’t believe you.” She jutted her chin.
The bell over the entrance rang, and she leaned around Reid. “Welcome to Sunrise Café. How may I help you?”
Reid turned and recognized the man as one of the men from the black SUV. His stomach tightened. Time was up.
Not bothering to remove his sunglasses, the man scanned the diner, and his gaze stopped on her. Then, he started walking toward them while reaching into his coat pocket. When he pulled his hand out, he held a dark, shiny gun. “You and the boy are coming with me.”
Reid spun, using the momentum to punch the man, sending him to the floor. He turned to Quinn. “Go out the back. I’ll be right behind you.” He turned back around and crouched over the man, then punched him again and took his gun. “Who sent you?”
The man said nothing, only fought back. Reid dodged a fist and used the butt of the gun to knock the man unconscious. Patrons of the diner stood frozen, staring at the scene. One person had a cell phone out, recording the incident. Why did people automatically want to record something like that instead of calling the police? “Call 911.” He ejected the magazine from the gun and emptied the chamber, leaving the gun on the booth table for the police. He hated guns.
Now, he needed to find Quinn and JJ. He slammed against the supply door, but it didn’t budge. Instead, his arm folded, and his shoulder slammed into it. Quinn must have used something to block it to keep him from following her. Ordinarily, that would be a good decision—except, he was the good guy.
He turned and raced to the entrance, stepping over the man he’d knocked unconscious. He made it to the door and shoved it open. The black SUV was idling at the side alley entrance. To the left, Joe was propped against the side of the building, blood oozing from his side. Reid knelt and felt for a pulse. A steady beat pulsated beneath his fingers.
Joe opened his eyes. “I’m fine. Find Quinn and JJ. Get them out of here,” he rasped as he stood, grimacing and clutching his side. “The other guy went around back after he stabbed me.”
Reid took off around the building, not waiting on Joe. He came to the corner and stopped.
“Let’s go.” A voice boomed from around the corner. Just then, Quinn and JJ appeared. The man had a grip on the collar of JJ’s shirt and was using Quinn as a shield.
“Excuse us,” the man said, pushing Quinn and JJ forward. “Just the family out for a stroll.” The man must not have seen Reid in the diner.
Even if Reid didn’t know what was really going on, he’d be able to tell something wasn’t right. “Looks like kidnapping to me.”
“Is that so?” The man pulled JJ closer to him. “What exactly do you plan to do about it?”
Movement at the opposite end of the alley caught Reid’s attention. Joe had gone around the block. He was sneaking up behind the man. Reid’s pulse kicked up a notch. All Reid had to do was stall. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that.”
“Seeing as I’m the one with a gun and the kid.” The man placed a gun to JJ’s temple.
Quinn gasped, and JJ’s eyes widened.
“No!” Quinn spun around.
Reid took a step forward and grabbed JJ right as Joe barreled into the man, sending him to the ground.
“Go!” Joe kicked the gun away. The man wasn’t unconscious, but he was stunned.
Reid didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Quinn’s hand and pulled her and JJ away. They raced to the front of the building. Sirens sounded.
Reid had parked his car a couple of blocks south of the diner, which was part of his routine when meeting Joe. He spotted the black SUV still idling by the curb. A gunshot sounded from the alley. He hoped it was Joe behind the trigger, but he wasn’t going to stick around long enough to find out.
