Taking Aim. Elle James
You just said you wouldn’t help me.”
He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly before capturing her gaze with a steady one of his own. “Though I think the effort is futile, I’ll help you find your sister.”
Jacie snorted. “No, thanks.” She turned away and would have walked off.
Zach grabbed her hand and steeled himself to reveal a piece of his soul he hadn’t revealed to anyone. “I watched someone I cared for tortured and killed by the Los Lobos Cartel. It’s not something I want to do again. I promise to do my best to find your sister before she meets the same fate.”
Jacie’s eyes flared wide, then narrowed again. “How do I know you won’t flip out on me again?”
“I’m a good agent.” He paused. “I was a good agent. I know when to focus and I’m driven to get the job done.”
“Then why did you quit the FBI?”
“For the same reason your sister asked for help from Hank. I was betrayed by someone on the inside. My partner paid with blood. If I can find your sister and, in the process, find the mole, my partner will not have died in vain.”
Jacie’s eyes narrowed even more and she chewed on her bottom lip. Finally she stuck out her hand. “Okay, then. Let’s go find my sister.”
JACIE SHOOK ZACH’S hand, her fingers tingling where they touched his. She wasn’t completely convinced Zach was her man, and she didn’t like the way her pulse quickened when he was near, but she didn’t have a whole lot of choices. Going searching for the people responsible for her sister’s abduction would be hard enough on her own…. Hell, it would be impossible. Having a former FBI agent on her side would be a step in the right direction. He might still have connections and contacts.
Hank led the county sheriff over to join them. “Zach, this is Sheriff Fulmer from Wild Oak Canyon. He’ll be working with the FBI and DEA on this case.”
Zach shook the sheriff’s hand.
Jacie refused to, knowing the man’s track record since he’d taken office a year ago. He tended to look the other way rather than stop the flow of drugs through his county. “When will the DEA and FBI be sending someone out to assist?” And hopefully take over the operation.
“I spoke to the regional director of the FBI a few minutes ago. They’re as concerned as you are to get your sister back. As for the DEA agents, the county coroner and the state crime lab are on their way out as we speak. If you could show me where the bodies are, I’ll cordon off the crime scene until they arrive.”
“My foreman will take you out there,” Hank said. “If I need to sign any statements, let me know.”
“From what Mr. Derringer says, I’ll need a full statement from you, Ms. Kosart, as you’re the only eyewitness.”
“I’ll provide one in the morning. Right now I need to get back to the Big Elk Ranch and notify my employer of the situation and check on the horses.” She hadn’t even thought once about the horses since Tracie had been taken. Now she focused on them to keep from going crazy with inaction.
“I’m going with you.” Zach glanced at Hank. “I’m in.”
Hank nodded, ignoring the raised eyebrows of the sheriff. “Keep me informed, will ya?” was all he said; then he turned his attention to the sheriff. “Scott, my foreman, and I will show you where we found the two agents.” He led the officer away.
“Give me a minute while I get my keys.” Zach pointed toward a black four-wheel-drive pickup standing in the circular drive. “You can wait by my truck.”
“Okay, but hurry. I’m worried about the horses.” Jacie was worried about a lot more than just the horses, but she trudged toward the vehicle, taking her time, while Zach ducked into the ranch house.
Jacie recognized the truck as a model produced a couple of years before. It wasn’t new, but it shone like a new truck with only a thin layer of dust coating the shiny wax finish. The man had some issues, but taking care of what was his wasn’t one of them.
He returned in two minutes, carrying a small duffel bag in one hand, wearing a black cowboy hat and a light leather jacket. When it flapped open, the black leather of a shoulder holster was revealed with a pistol nestled inside.
Jacie had spent her life around men and guns, working for the Big Elk Ranch. Leading hunting parties required a thorough knowledge of how to shoot, clean and unjam weapons of all shapes and sizes. Knowing Zach carried a pistol and was former FBI gave her a small sense of comfort that she wasn’t the only one who could handle a gun going forward in the search for her sister.
Before he reached her he clicked the door lock release.
Jacie climbed into the truck and buckled herself into the passenger seat.
Zach stashed the bag in the backseat and settled behind the steering wheel. “You’ll have to tell me where to go. I’m new around here.”
She gave him the directions and sat back, staring ahead where the headlights illuminated the road, keeping an eye out for the wildlife that skirted the shoulders looking for something to eat. Too many times she’d had near misses with the local deer.
In her peripheral vision, she watched the way Zach handled the truck with ease, his fingers gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, his face set in grim lines. She wanted to know more about him; what made his eyes so dark and caused the shadows beneath? Had his experience with the cartel left such an indelible mark he couldn’t separate that chapter of his life with a possible future?
“Toni was your partner?” she asked.
The fingers on the steering wheel tightened until the knuckles turned white. For a long moment Zach didn’t answer.
About the time Jacie gave up on getting a response, he spoke.
“Yes, Toni was my partner.”
“I’m sorry. You two must have been close.” Jacie dragged her gaze from the pain reflected from his eyes. “Did he leave behind a family?”
“She wasn’t married. Her father was her only relative.”
Interesting. So his partner had been female. Which would explain his reluctance to go after another female when he’d failed the first. Jacie chewed on that bit of information. “Were you in love with her?”
As soon as the question left her lips, Jacie could have smacked herself. The man was torn up enough about losing his partner. Bringing it up had to be killing him. Her curiosity didn’t warrant grilling him about his past. “I’m sorry, this must be painful. I’ll shut up.”
“Yes.”
“Yes that you want me to shut up or yes that you loved her?”
His lips twitched, the movement softening his features to almost human. “Both.”
Jacie sat back, her gaze back on the road, her chest tightening. “Turn left at the next road.”
Zach nodded.
“Did she know you loved her?” Jacie closed her eyes. “That was too personal. You don’t have to answer. I’m sorry. While Tracie went into the FBI, I knew I couldn’t because I can’t keep my mouth shut unless I’m out hunting.”
“Pretend you’re hunting.” Zach turned where she’d indicated. “And no. She didn’t know.” He pulled up to a closed gate attached to six-foot-high fencing. “Game ranch?”
“That’s what I do. I didn’t go to Quantico or study to be a doctor. I got my marketing degree from the University of Texas and came back here to work as a hunting party coordinator, a fancy title for trail guide. It allows me to be where I love to be, outside, and working with horses and people.” She couldn’t help the defensive tone in her voice.
“I’m not