Page 92 of Building Courage

“I pulled over at the grocery store just up from the apartment complex.”

“Okay. Where are you in the parking lot?”

“Toward the back of the lot. Just off the highway.”

“It will take me a few minutes to get there. I’m still at Tucker’s.”

“Okay. Be careful.”

“I will. See you soon.”

She hung up and texted Tucker that she was picking up Jess and why, then grabbed her purse and keys.

Traffic was heavy, and it took forty-five minutes to get to the grocery store. She turned toward the back of the lot and saw Jess perched on the hood of her car. She parked beside her dark blue Nissan, turned off the engine, then exited the car. She locked her purse inside her car and pocketed the fob.

“Have you got a temporary tire?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s get that on, and you can take the car to a repair shop and get the tire plugged or replaced.”

“You know how to do that?” Jesse asked.

“Yeah. My brothers taught me before I started my cross-country trip. I’ve had to change a couple of tires since then. Pop the hatch.”

Jess removed the key fob in her pocket and pushed it. The hatch rose.

“Watch while I do this, so you’ll know how to do it next time,” Brynn said.

She positioned the jack, fitted the handle in the slot, and started pumping. The car started to rise.

“Need some help, ladies?” a voice came from behind them.

Recognition brought Brynn’s head around with a snap. Her breath caught as Tim Garner pointed a black pistol at them.

“Cooperate, and no one will get hurt,” he warned.

Chapter 27

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The motorcade traveling from the base to the airport wasn’t as bad as he’d expected. But traffic was slow, and the airport was…an airport, busy, crowded, noisy, with everything moving along as slow as molasses. As the last service he and the other members of the honor guard could provide, they removed the coffin from the hearse and placed it into a special transport that would take it out on the tarmac to the plane.

Even though Tucker’s duty was over, he lingered next to the transport, waiting for it to be moved. He wished he’d had time to talk to Jordan before he’d deployed. He didn’t know what difference it would have made… None, obviously. But there was still lingering regret.

What would he have said to him if he’d had that time? Probably nothing of consequence. Take care, kick ass, or call if you need me to do something while you’re gone would have covered it. They had said all of that a number of times before he or Jordan had gone wheels up.

Now, the only thing he could do was keep his eyes and ears open for any information that might come down the pike about the investigation. And let his parents know when the fucker was caught. They deserved justice. Jordan deserved justice.

His phone vibrated, signaling a text, and he reached for it.

She’s on the move. Looks like she’d going to her apartment.

He’d hoped Brynn would be content to hunker down at the house where she’d be safe. What had happened to make her leave?

The driver of the tractor climbed into the vehicle, started it, and pulled away. He looked after it a moment, then turned away. Once at his car, instead of turning for home, he drove toward Brynn’s apartment. He’d meet her there and make sure everything was okay.

He parked in front of the apartment complex, but Brynn hadn’t made it yet.

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