Janet Evanovich - Full Speed

"Where are we going?" Jamie asked.

"To an airstrip."

"And after that?"

Nick smiled. "It's a surprise. You'll love it."

Jamie thought of her newspaper and the little town in which she'd been born and raised. She wondered if she would ever see Vera again. "Will I be able to write to my friends?" she asked.

"Darling, we will make new friends. You'll be so busy you won't have time to think of your old ones."

"Really?" she said, trying not to sound sarcastic. "Well, you just saved me a shit load of money on Christmas cards and postage."

Victor returned. "It's bad, Boss. Three cars involved, several people hurt. The cops are waiting for an ambulance."

"Did they give any indication how long it would take?"

"Said they were trying to hurry things along, but there's glass everywhere."

Nick leaned his head against the seat. "Call the pilot and inform him we're going to be late."

In the distance, Jamie could hear the wail of a siren. She leaned against the door and closed her eyes, but her thoughts never stilled. Her door was locked. She assumed there was a master lock by the driver's side, which meant she was not going to be able to unlock her door on her own. Nevertheless, as the siren grew louder, Jamie began to hope.

The ambulance arrived, and the siren died. Victor opened his door and headed toward the scene once more. He returned a few minutes later. "They're loading people into the ambulance now. Shouldn't take much longer."

Jamie's heart pounded loudly in her chest as the sirens whined out once more. The ambulance was obviously rushing its victims to the hospital. The car inched its way closer to the scene. When they were less than 100 feet away, Jamie sighed expansively.

"Are you OK?" Nick asked as though sensing a shift in her mood.

"I'm wondering if we're going to sit here forever, that's all."

Nick smiled. "You're an impatient woman."

"Would somebody turn on the radio?"

Rudy glanced over his shoulder at Nick, who nodded his OK.

"See if you can find a good country-western station," Jamie said.

Nick looked surprised. "I would never have suspected you liked that kind of music."

"Yes sir," Jamie said. "I like it fast and loud."

Nick chuckled as a Patsy Cline song came on. Fleas stood in the back and let out a growl.

"Turn it up," Jamie said.

Rudy shrugged and turned it up.

Fleas began to bark.

Nick turned. "What's wrong with him?"

"Maybe he has to go to the bathroom," Jamie said.

"Bad timing, boy," Nick replied.

Fleas became more agitated. He tried to climb over the seat toward Jamie.

"Down, boy!" Nick shouted. The dog snapped at him. "What the hell?"

"He's nervous," Jamie said. "The music will calm him down. Turn it louder."

Rudy did as he was told, and the car was suddenly flooded with loud music.

Fleas snarled and bit Nick. Suddenly the dog was all over him. "Let me out of the damn car!" Nick shouted.

Rudy instantly hit the automatic lock. Jamie opened her door, whistled for Fleas, and ran as fast as she could toward the sheriff's cars. She heard Nick shout her name, but she kept running.

One of the deputies looked up and frowned at the sight of her. His name tag read: Higgins. "What's wrong, miss?"

"Listen to me!" Jamie cried. "My name is Jane, and I'm wanted by the police for killing Harlan Rawlins."

He frowned. "What?"

"I'm Jane!" Jamie cried. "You've seen me on the news. I killed Harlan Rawlins. I'm pretty sure there's a reward for my capture. Something like one hundred grand."

The deputy frowned. "I haven't heard of any reward. Lady, are you crazy?"

Jamie was only vaguely aware that Nick had walked up beside her. He suddenly, and without warning, burst into laughter. "Honey, that is not funny."

The deputy looked surprised to see Nick. He glanced around, then stepped closer. "I didn't see your car back there, Mr., um, Juliano," he whispered. "Is everything OK?"

"Fine, Bill. I'm afraid my girlfriend has had too much to drink. How much longer are we going to have to wait? We have a plane to catch."

"I'll clear the way immediately."

Jamie gaped at the man.

"Your hand is bleeding, Nick," Rudy said once Nick and Jamie were inside the car.

"It's nothing. Just give me something to wrap around it."

Victor passed him a clean handkerchief.

"What do you want me to do with the dog?" Rudy asked.

"Kill him." Nick looked at Jamie. "Use the same knife you used on Rawlins."

* * * * *

Detective Pete Sills reached for the telephone and mumbled into it. He looked at the clock on his nightstand. Six-thirty in the morning.

"Detective Sills, my name is Helms, and I'm with the FBI. Could you spare me a few minutes of your time? It has to do with the Rawlins case."

Sills sat up and rubbed his eyes. "How can I help you?"

"I think maybe I can help you."

* * * * *

"No-o-o-o!" Jamie screamed. She lunged across Nick's lap and half-fell from the car. Fleas rushed over to her even as Rudy reached for him. "Don't kill him!" Jamie cried, pounding Rudy's thighs with her fists, even as Nick tried to pull her back into the car. "For God's sake, Nick, please don't kill him. Please, oh God, please!" She burst into tears.

"Hold it," Nick said to the man.

Rudy paused, knife in hand.

"The dog is dangerous," Nick told Jamie. "Look what he did to my hand."

Jamie saw the blood soaking into the handkerchief. "It's my fault," she said, sobbing against him. "Fleas goes berserk at the sound of country music. I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. You won't have any more trouble with him. I promise." She looked up. Nick's eyes were hard. "Nick, I swear to God I'll do anything."

Nick didn't seem to be listening.

"If you kill the dog you may as well kill me, because I'm not going to cooperate."

Nick sighed. "The dog comes with us," he said. "Keep the radio off." As Rudy loaded the dog in the back once more, Nick looked at Jamie. "This is your first and last warning: One false move and the dog dies."

* * * * *

Sweet Pea's airport was no more than a length of asphalt beside a small building. A twin-engine aircraft waited, lights flashing on each wing, the stairs lowered and ready for boarding.

The pilot and co-pilot wore crisp uniforms and nodded at the group as they assisted Nick's men in loading the luggage. Nick helped Jamie out of the Hummer as the pilot waited at the bottom of the steps. Fleas sidled up to Jamie.

"Jamie, I'm afraid we can't take the dog," Nick said.

She blinked at him. "You promised."

"It's not really up to me."

"Bullshit. You make all the rules."

"I can't risk taking the animal on board an aircraft. Not after what happened earlier."

"I've already explained—"

"Rudy will see that Fleas has a good home."

"I'm not going without him, Nick."

"Don't be difficult, Jamie. I have enough to worry about at the moment. I'll buy you a new dog when we get to where we're going. You can have as many pets as you like."

"I don't want a new dog."

Rudy stepped up to Nick. "We've got trouble." He nodded toward the road that led to the airport.

Jamie turned in the direction they were staring. She sucked in her breath at the sight of her truck bouncing along the road, Max at the wheel.

Nick looked at Jamie. "How did he find out?"

"You're asking me?"

"You spoke with him earlier."

"And you heard every word of my conversation. I never mentioned we were going to the airport, he figured it out for himself. I think you underestimate Max."

"Get on the plane."

"Not without my dog."

Nick slapped her hard. "Either you get on the plane now or I order Rudy to shoot him."

Jamie tasted blood. "I don't take orders from you!" she shouted. "I'm not one of your boys. You shoot my dog and you'd better be prepared to shoot me, because I'm going to do my best to kill you with my bare hands. I will not get on that plane without my dog, you got that?"