Pay the Price (Harmony Grove Book 3) by Carol Post (which ebook reader txt) 📕

that quickly. Less than fifteen minutes had passed since he’d placed the call to Alan. The cruiser Hammy had seen had to be Alan’s.

What was he doing? Shane had given him specific instructions—don’t try to come in until the others arrived. His fellow FBI agents were more qualified than a newbie small-town cop to handle situations like this. Polk County was, too, especially if they sent a SWAT team. If Alan charged in trying to be a hero, he could get them all killed.

A tense two minutes later, Hammy returned. “It’s Alan. He’s asking about Jessica and Shane. I told him they both ran off into the woods, but he still wants to come in and check.” Hammy was winded, probably from apprehension more than the exertion of running the length of the shipping and receiving area. He wasn’t the seasoned criminal that his brother was.

“I’ll handle Alan.” Branch turned to follow Hammy, but with none of the urgency that the younger man was showing. The chief seemed to have one speed—an ambling saunter.

When Branch came back into the room, it was at that same relaxed pace.

“Well?” Spike asked, his tone impatient.

Branch shrugged. “He’s gone.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. I watched him turn around and go back up the drive and out to the road.” He spoke with a confidence that left no doubt. “I told him I’ve searched the whole place, and there’s not a trace of them, so he can go back to bed.” His lips curled up in a devious grin. “And my guys always obey their chief.”

Spike nodded toward Shane. “This one must have called them before you caught him.”

“He underestimates my reach. At least we don’t have to worry about any more visits tonight.”

Shane would have smiled if it weren’t for the tape. Respect for the young officer rose up within him. Alan wasn’t simply disobeying orders. His knocking on the door had been brilliant. Not only would Hammy, Spike and Branch let down their guard, believing that no one else was coming, but the others would know there were three bad guys to take down instead of two. Alan bought them some time also.

Spike asked his earlier question again. “So what do we do with these two? How do you want to get rid of them?”

Branch shrugged. “Shoot ’em. Bury ’em in the woods, drop ’em in the lake, whatever. Just don’t leave me a mess to deal with this time.”

Shane’s pulse kicked into overdrive. They had to stall. All they needed was another five or ten minutes and the others would be in place. Lord, please let them get here in time.

Spike tilted his head. “You really want to off an FBI agent?”

“FBI?” Worry flashed in Branch’s eyes. But just that quickly, it was gone. “I won’t be offing an FBI agent. You will.” He crossed his arms and leaned back against one of the pallets. “Untie their legs, and take them outside.”

The distraction Shane prayed for came then, courtesy of Hammy. Over the past twenty minutes, he’d slowly come unhinged. Now the inevitability of being an accomplice in a double murder pushed him over the edge.

He shook his head, stepping backward until a pallet stopped him. “No, I can’t do this.” His voice rose, in both pitch and volume. “I won’t have any part of killing someone. We’re going to get caught. Someone’s going to find out. Then we’ll spend the rest of our lives in prison. Maybe even get the chair.”

“Shut up!” Spike’s words were loud and sharp, penetrating Hammy’s hysteria like a red-hot poker cutting through lard. He aimed his weapon at his frazzled little brother. “If you don’t get a grip, you’ll be joining these two.”

Hammy’s gaze darted around the room as his fists clenched and unclenched. When he seemed to have regained control, Spike lowered his weapon.

“Now untie their legs, but keep their hands tied. And watch that one’s feet.”

Shane smiled inside at Spike’s caution. Whatever happened, Jess wouldn’t take it lying down. She would fight till her dying breath. Hammy finished untying their feet and removed the rope that bound them to the chairs.

Spike lifted the weapon. “Get up and walk. If either of you try anything, I’ll shoot you right here.”

Shane tried to send Jess a silent message. He looked at her hard and shook his head no, almost imperceptibly. They needed to make it outside. Help would arrive at any moment.

Jess seemed to communicate a message of her own—apology, sadness, regret. And love. He knew it as surely as if she were able to say the words.

They rose from their chairs, but before they could take their first steps, Hammy’s voice cut in. “I’m not going.” An unusual strength filled his words, especially in view of his recent hysteria. “You do what you have to, but I’m not watching.”

Spike hesitated for an extended beat, eyes raking Hammy up and down. They held indecision. Disgust, too. Finally, he spoke. “Fine. If you’re too much of a wimp to do what needs to be done, just stay inside. I’ve got enough guts for both of us.”

He herded them toward the back door, and Shane stepped into the lead, only to set the pace. Walking slowly could buy them an extra thirty seconds. In situations like this, every second counted.

Just before they reached the door, Spike ordered them to stop and moved in front of them. He held the door wide. Shane stepped out into the mild night, followed by Jess. The woods lay a short distance ahead, and beyond that the airstrip. A light breeze rustled the trees, a steady whisper that would be soothing under any other circumstances.

Alan was out there somewhere. Shane knew that for a fact. Maybe Tommy was there, too. Had Polk County made it yet? What about his fellow agents? Lord, please get them here quickly. And give them wisdom and success.

He cast another glance at Jess. She walked beside him, staring straight ahead, shoulders back, hands tied behind her. Her jaw was rigid, her