“Get in.” He let go of Quinn’s hand and pointed to the SUV.
“The police are on their way.”
“Yes, but we don’t know who pulled that trigger, and we’ll find out before the police get here.”
She took a moment and then pushed JJ toward the vehicle. “Get in, JJ.”
The boy followed directions and climbed into the back seat. Reid climbed in and put the vehicle in drive. The man from the alley stepped out and raised his gun.
“Get down!” Reid jammed his foot on the accelerator an instant before the rear windshield shattered.
CHAPTER TWO
“JJ!” Quinn jerked around, her bodytrembling.
The man who had helped them in the alley grabbed her shoulder and shoved her down. “He’s okay. He was already down on the floorboard.”
Her heart thundered in her chest. She had to see him with her own eyes. Still crouching, she turned in her seat. “JJ?”
He was lying huddled on the floorboard. “I’m okay, Momma.” His voice quaked.
Knowing he was okay eased the panic rising in her. “Thank You, God.”
The car slowed. “It’s okay now. You can sit up.”
She turned back toward the front. She’d caught a glimpse of the other man who’d helped them get away back at the diner. She must have been seeing things. It had looked like Joe Lockhart. It couldn’t be, though. She hadn’t seen him in almost seven years. Not since he told her he loved her and then left her to raise their child alone. After telling her he was a married man. She needed answers, and the man sitting next to her could give them to her.
“Thank you for saving us back there, but how did you know what was going to happen?” Realization slammed into her, stealing her breath. He had known someone was going to attack them. Was he in on it? Was his rescuing them just a ruse so she’d trust him? “Take us to the police station right now.”
“That is our current destination. I have no intention of keeping this car. And maybe, the police can shed some light on what’s going on.”
She whipped her head around. “You mean you don’t know what’s going on? You knew those guys were going to come into the diner.”
He flipped on the turn signal. “I didn’t know that until mere minutes before they walked in.”
“How did you know? How did you know we were the targets?”
“I was at the diner to meet an old private investigator buddy. He called and told me they were coming.”
Could that buddy be Joe Lockhart?“That man back there. The one who helped us.” She took a deep breath, steeling herself for her question. “Was that Joe Lockhart?”
Reid’s eyebrow rose. “How do you know Joe?”
It was Joe.Quinn’s vision blurred, and nausea rolled in her stomach. What was he doing here?
“Quinn?” Reid’s voice broke through the fog.
“Oh, um, we have a history.” She glanced back at JJ.
“I see.”
Questions swirled in her mind.Why is Joe here? Is he still alive?“We need to go inside.” She wasn’t going to get answers sitting in the parking lot.
“Come on, JJ.” She climbed from the SUV and opened the back door. As soon as his feet were on the pavement, she gathered him in her arms.Thank You, Lord, for keeping my baby safe.A tear slid down her cheek. JJ hugged her just as tight. His body quivered. She knelt in front of him and looked him in the eyes. “We’re okay now.”
She smoothed the hair from his forehead. He nodded and wiped tears from his eyes with the back of his hands.
“We’re going to go inside and talk to the police. They’re going to have a lot of questions, and we need to tell them everything we know, okay? That will help them figure out what’s going on.”
