Fugitive Justice by Rayven T. Hill Page B

the opposite side of the lot toward the other exit onto Main. She slowed at the corner of the building, then stopped, poking the nose of her car ahead enough to see the tail sitting and waiting, facing the other way, but no doubt keeping a close eye in all directions.
    The other white Toyota appeared fifty feet beyond the tail, heading for the far exit and the street. Annie had no doubt that, for a few precious moments, the driver of the unmarked car would be intent on determining whether or not the vehicle was Annie’s. She could picture him leaning forward, squinting at the license plate.
    Giving her enough time to ease forward and pull onto Main Street, leaving the tail wondering what had happened.
    She smiled to herself as she hit the far lane and passed another vehicle. She kept an eye in her mirror, but the persistent gray car never reappeared. Would she see it again, its driver waiting and watching near her home when she got back?
    A couple of minutes later, she eased onto Front Street, took the wide road south a couple of miles, then pulled to the side of the road short of the Richmond River overpass.
    Jake stepped into view from behind a concrete abutment, a big grin on his face as he approached the vehicle.
    “We’d better make this quick,” Annie said after Jake had gotten in and welcomed her with a smothering kiss. “This might not be a safe place to stop.”
    “They’d never catch me anyway,” Jake said. “My legs are too long and all they’ll see is my back. And they’ll never shoot me in the back.”
    “I would’ve been here earlier,” Annie said. “But I had to ditch a tail.”
    “A tail?”
    “I think it was a cop. Not sure.” Annie reached into the backseat, retrieving a stuffed grocery bag. She handed it to Jake. “There’s some food in there for you and Sammy along with the other stuff you needed.”
    Jake opened the bag, peeked inside, and pulled out his extra watch and an iPad mini.
    “Thought you could use the iPad,” Annie said. “It’s fully charged, but use it sparingly.”
    Jake stuffed the tablet behind his belt and put the watch on. He reached into the bag again, removed a wad of cash, and put it into his side pocket.
    “There’s five hundred there,” Annie said, motioning toward the money. “That should last you. It might not be safe for us to meet again until this is cleared up.”
    “Soon, I hope,” Jake said.
    “I hope so, too,” Annie said. “But there’ve been some new developments.”
    Jake looked at Annie and frowned.
    Annie continued, “Hank told me they found a burner phone in the backseat of this car when they searched it.”
    “A burner phone?”
    Annie nodded. “With a text message to Merrilla Overstone’s cell stating you were bringing her some money.”
    “Not me,” Jake said.
    “I know it wasn’t you. That’s just what the text said.”
    “It was planted at the same time the photos were erased,” Jake said, scratching his head.
    “There’s more,” Annie said. “The gun that shot Mrs. Overstone was the same one used in the bank robbery.”
    “I’m not surprised to hear that,” Jake said. “We knew it was related somehow.”
    “Hank also checked Niles Overstone’s alibi. It’s solid, but that doesn’t prove he wasn’t involved in this somehow.”
    “I’d like to talk to him,” Jake said, then asked, “How’s Merrilla?”
    “Still in intensive care,” Annie said, glancing at Jake’s attire. “Where’d you get the clothes?”
    “Sammy picked them up for me.”
    “Are you going to stay with him?”
    Jake shrugged. “I don’t have much choice.”
    “Tell him I said hello and thanks.”
    “I will.” Jake grinned and gave Annie another kiss. “You’d better go.” He opened the door and climbed out.
    Annie watched him disappear down the bank, hoping he’d be careful, then she pulled a U-turn and headed for home.
    There wasn’t much she could do tonight, but bright and early in the morning, she’d figure out a