Lynette Eason - Bounty Hunter

“I’m happy to bring Star to see him. Just let me know when.” They walked to the elevator. “So the doctor told me a little bit about what happened. He said Asher is your nephew.”

“Yes.”

“And Van Blackman, the man you mentioned, killed your sister. He shot your nephew, too.” The doctor had given her the information, but she wanted to hear it from Riley. Guilt pierced her. She remembered him trying to tell her why he wanted the reward money and she’d cut him off.

“Yes. He stalked her for months before he finally snapped and opened fire on them in the grocery store parking lot. She died and I now have custody of Asher.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He nodded and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “I am, too.”

Harper bit her lip. “Asher’s why you need the money, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. The medical bills are piling up. The insurance plan my sister had wasn’t a very good one and Asher needs surgery. Extensive, expensive surgery. We’ve had a few people donate to a fund that was set up, but that money’s running out and it’s getting harder and harder to pay the bills.”

Her heart went out to him. How awful.

Harper’s phone rang again and this time she pulled it from the clip on her belt. “Excuse me. Why don’t you get in line and get your food? Go ahead and eat if I’m not back in time.”

“You want anything? You didn’t have time to eat if you followed me here.”

“Get me whatever you’re having. I’m not picky.”

“Chicken salad?”

“Sure, and don’t wait on me to eat. I never know how long I’ll be when I get on the phone with Dylan.” She hit the button to answer the phone before it could go to voice mail. “Prentiss here.”

“Harper, this is Dylan.”

“What do you have?”

“Your guy, Riley Martelli, is clean. I couldn’t come up with anything that connected him with Jake Morrow or anyone else that would throw up red flags. He was actually a cop for several years before he became a bounty hunter.”

“What? He never mentioned that.” She cut her eyes to him as he stood at the counter placing his order. Yeah, she could see him in some form of law enforcement. He had that aura about him.

“Yep. A decorated officer, too.”

“Why’d he quit?”

“I don’t know. There’s nothing in his record to indicate what made him change careers. Whatever the reason, he’s still catching the bad guys and putting them away. I did find out that his sister was murdered—”

“I know that part. He told me.”

“He told you she had a stalker? And that he has sole custody of his nephew?”

“Yes.”

“All right, then. Let’s move to Penny.”

“What about her?”

“Nothing. Meaning I couldn’t find anything that might connect her to Colorado. No relatives, no job, no credit card action.”

Harper pressed her thumb to her forehead where the beginning of a headache gathered. “Which might be exactly why she came here. For the very fact there was nothing in her past or present to lead anyone to think she’d run here.”

“True. What else do you need?”

“Nothing. I needed what you just gave me.” The assurance that Riley was on the up and up being the most important piece of intel. She was rather surprised at the intense relief that flowed through her.

“Great. Then I’ve got one more thing for you.”

“I’m ready.”

“I just got off the phone with Max. We’ve got the evidence in house and will be going through it shortly.”

“Keep me updated.”

“Of course.”

“Thanks, Dylan.”

She hung up. The fact that the evidence was already back at headquarters amazed her although it really shouldn’t. Their unit’s resources by far surpassed anyone else’s. By helicopter, the flight time was probably slightly over an hour. Which meant they should have more information about the evidence by dinnertime.

In the meantime, assuming she had Max’s okay, she needed to see how Riley felt about striking a deal with the FBI.

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