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Cross That Line

Page 55

by Barbara Freethy

Tyler pulled up Jack's shirt, revealing multiple tattoos and a bandage.

"There's an adhesive bandage about the size of a quarter," she told Tyler. "I can't imagine why it would be there."

"Can you take it off?"

She got out of the car and opened the door on her side, then reached in and pulled the patch off. There was a silver disk fastened to the inside. "What's this?"

"A tracker," Tyler said, letting Jack's shirt down. He took the disk from her hand and helped Jack into a more comfortable position. "This was on you, Jack."

Jack stared at the disk in bemusement. "Something kept itching me. Couldn't reach it."

"What are we going to do with it?" she asked.

"We're going to leave it here," he said, closing the door.

She got back in her seat, watching Tyler deposit the tracker in a garbage can in front of the market. Then he came back to the vehicle and started the engine.

He drove for another five minutes, taking turns in such a random way she had no idea where they were going.

"It looks like we lost them," he said finally.

"That's good. I think you broke about ten laws during our escape."

"Only ten?"

She ignored that comment. "Plus, you exchanged gunfire with that man in the van. I can't believe the police didn't come after us."

"We got lucky." He gave her a cocky smile that told her he didn't believe luck had anything to do with it.

"What now? Do we go to your place? Do we call the police?"

"We're not going to my place. While it's likely they tracked Jack to the laundromat through that device, there's a slim possibility they were also following us. You got that threatening note right before you came to my house."

"That's true. But if they were tracking him, why didn't they get there before us?"

"Maybe they didn't realize he was gone right away. I don't know. That's why we need to be careful."

"I didn't think you liked the word careful," she said.

"Sometimes, caution is necessary."

She turned to Jack. "Are you still awake, Jack?"

"So tired," he muttered.

Even though his eyes were closed, she was happy with the response. Turning back to Tyler, she said, "Did he say anything when you were in the laundromat?"

"Just rambling about how they had a lot of questions, and he knew he wasn't supposed to answer them."

"Questions about what?"

"He didn't get into it. He's obviously under the influence of something."

"I agree. If we're not going home, where are we going?"

"Somewhere safe. I need to call in." He picked up his phone and punched in a number. "Jason," he said. "It's Tyler. I tracked down my friend. Someone started shooting at us at Thirty-Ninth and Skillman in front of a laundromat. He fired four times. I fired twice. I don't believe anyone was hit, but a car windshield was shattered. It appears that Jack had a tracking device on him, which I've now gotten rid of." He paused for a moment, then continued. "I'd appreciate that. I also need a safe house for tonight." He listened for several minutes, then said, "Thanks. I'll call you back when we get there. We can get into it in more detail then."

"We're going to a safe house?" she asked when he hung up.