Other than a small strip of light from the sunshine, all Liam could see beyond the door was blackness. He couldn’t make out any other figures in the room.
Butler looked at him. “Okay, go now and see if he checked in alone, and I’ll keep watch.”
Liam removed his ballistic vest. It was a risk, but if Vickers happened to look his way and seeUS Marshal,they’d lose their edge. He didn’t want their cover to be blown.
He made his way to the motel office. The bell above the door rang as he entered.
“Can I help you?” A middle-aged man who’d seen better days sat behind the counter.
“Deputy US Marshal.” Liam showed the man his badge. “The man who checked into room twenty-four. Did he check in alone?”
The man glowered at him but looked at his computer screen. “Room twenty-four booked by a John Smith yesterday. He was alone when he checked in.”
“Thanks.” Liam started to leave, but then turned back around. “I wasn’t here. Got it?”
The man nodded. “I just work here. I don’t make it my business to know nothing ’bout no one.”
Liam walked back to the truck and climbed in. He grabbed the radio. “Confirmed Vickers checked in alone yesterday under an alias.”
Butler lifted his radio. “Doesn’t mean he’s alone now though. Stanton and Kennedy, get in position behind the motel. Albright and Glover, you’re with us.”
“We’re in position,” Kennedy responded.
“Let’s go.” Butler pulled into the parking lot, blocking the car Vickers had been in moments before.
The four of them jumped from their vehicles. Liam pulled his weapon. Albright grabbed the ballistic shield from his SUV and led the way as they approached the door.
They took position, Albright closest to the door on the left, near the window, shield at ready, Glover behind him. Butler to the right of the door against the wall. Liam took position next to him.
“Ready?” Butler asked.
Everyone nodded.
He reached over and banged on the door. “US Marshals! Open up!”
They listened and waited.
Nothing.
Butler banged again. “US Marshals! Open up, or the door is coming down!”
“We got a runner!” Stanton yelled over the radio from behind the building.
Butler and Liam both twisted around and took off to join the chase.
Liam turned the corner of the motel in time to see the fugitive disappear into the treed area Butler had told him about, Albright and Glover on his heels.
“Fugitive has entered the rundown patch of trees,” Liam notified Stanton and Kennedy.
Kennedy responded, “We’ll meet him on the other side.”
“I’ll go right, you go left,” Butler commanded.
“US Marshals! Stop!” Albright yelled from the copse of trees.
Liam spotted flashes of the chase and entered the tree line just as Albright tackled Vickers. The two men tussled on the ground. Glover was a few paces behind with her gun ready, just in case.
A gunshot rang out. Albright fell back and grabbed his shoulder. Vickers surged to his feet and aimed his gun at Glover. She slid to a stop, raising her weapon with deadly precision.
