Tanner disconnected the call without another word.
He immediately called Bree and tried not to panic when the call went to voice mail. She never answered her phone if she had an option.
He texted her instead.
Problem with Jeter. Stay inside the coffeehouse until I or an officer comes for you. Call me.
He waited a few seconds for a response, fighting back a little more panic when there was none. She was focused. Might be in a situation talking to the other kidnappers online where every second counted and couldn’t answer him.
Tanner tried to focus on the facts. The prison warden had assured Greg no prisoners had escaped. There was no reason to think that wasn’t true. And even if Jeterhadmanaged to escape unnoticed, how would he even know where Bree was? Until thirty minutes agotheydidn’t even know where Bree would be, so there was no way Jeter could’ve set a trap for her.
Somehow none of this reassured him.
He placed a call to Whitaker. He couldn’t leave here, since he didn’t have a car anyway, but he needed to get eyes on Bree immediately.
Whitaker picked up on the first ring. “What’s wrong?”
Whitaker knew Tanner well enough to know that he would not be calling in the middle of an important operation if it wasn’t important.
“I just got word that Michael Jeter is currently MIA. There was a prison transfer bus accident with multiple injuries and right now we’re not exactly sure where he is, although there is no report of any escapees.”
“What do you need?”
“I can’t get to Bree myself, but I’d feel much better knowing we have eyes on her. I know there’s no reason to think Jeter is anywhere nearby, but...”
“I’ll get a couple of uniformed officers over to the coffeehouse right away. Better safe than sorry.”
“Thanks, man. I didn’t want to leave my post, but Bree didn’t answer my text and everything about Jeter makes me uncomfortable.”
“No need to explain,” Whitaker said. “Not to mention, we need Bree more now than ever. I’ll have somebody on her in less than five minutes.”
Tanner disconnected and immediately tried Bree’s cell again, biting back a curse when the call went straight to voice mail again and his text still went unread.
He was about to try again when the walkie-talkie in his hand clicked on.
“The perp is on the run,” Penelope announced. “Repeat, perp is on the run. He sneaked out some back door and is probably headed in your direction, Tanner.”
“Roger that. I’m ready.”
“No weapons unless you perceive a direct threat to you.”
“Got it.” Definitely didn’t make things easier, but it wasn’t Tanner’s policy to shoot a fleeing suspect in the back unless he was a direct threat to those around him.
Less than thirty seconds later Tanner heard the door open in front of him. He immediately brought up his weapon. He wasn’t going to shoot the guy, but the guy didn’t need to know that.
And, damn, this one was definitely much bigger than Elliot Webster. Guy looked like a linebacker.
“Police,” Tanner shouted. The perp didn’t need to know that Tanner wasn’tDallaspolice. “Stay where you are and put your hands where I can see them.”
The guy didn’t even slow down. He was running at Tanner at full speed.
Damn it, Tanner did not have time for this. He didn’t want to chase this guy down the block and waste valuable time that could be used making sure Bree was safe. He didn’t care if the guy looked like he was going to run over Tanner. Tanner had played some football in his time too.
He knew how to take a hit. And he definitely knew how to keep an opponent from reaching his objective. In high school that had been keeping a running back from scoring a touchdown.
Now it was keeping this guy from escaping the alley.
Tanner bent his knees and braced himself for the impact as the guy paid no heed to the warning of the gun and continued to barrel toward him. At the last moment Tanner dropped even lower in his stance and flew toward the guy, tackling him low in the legs.
