Page 102 of Turn the Tide
Chapter 4
As they raced through the Forest, Marco tried to ignore the way Sarah’s arms felt wrapped around his middle, her breasts pressed against his back. He couldn’t let his mind go back to all his teenage fantasies of the rich horse-farm owner’s daughter. That had netted him nothing but heartache in high school. She’d been everything he’d ever wanted—and everything he couldn’t have.
He was so focused on not thinking about Sarah that he almost ran into the back of Hunter’s ATV when the other man suddenly held up his hand in a signal to stop.
Marco veered sharply left and slid to a stop as Josh and Charlee did the same. He waited until Sarah slid off before he dismounted.
Hunter had his phone to his ear. When he hung up, his expression was grim. “That was Lieutenant Abrams. Our old friend Freddie Marshall escaped from the sheriff’s work-farm van this morning.”
Marco bit back a curse, as did Josh.
Charlee propped her fists on her hips. “The work farm? How does a lowlife in for attempted murder and sexual battery get on the farm crew? That makes no sense.”
“Abrams didn’t have details yet, but Pete told him the sheriff’s department is scrambling to find out, since only misdemeanors are allowed on the crew.” Josh and Charlee’s older brother, Pete Tanner, worked for the sheriff’s department, and both agencies frequently worked together.
“He’s going after Patty and Donny,” Marco said. From the looks on everyone’s faces, they were thinking the same thing.
Josh nodded as he put his helmet back on. “We need to split up and find that lowlife before he finds them. I’ll head to the school and get Donny.”
Marco rubbed the back of his neck, weighing his options. He couldn’t take a civilian along to chase down an escaped fugitive, but he didn’t have time to take her back to town. And Mama T needed her insulin. “Sarah and I will head to Mama T’s to deliver her meds. Then I’ll take her back to town and catch up to you guys.” He nodded to Josh. “After you get Donny stashed somewhere safe, head back to Mama T’s, in case Freddie goes that way. I’ll meet you there.”
Josh nodded. “Let’s hope Pete and the sheriff’s department nab him before he disappears into the Forest.”
Hunter nodded, then turned to Charlee. “Do you mind running by the community center on your own,cher? I’ll head to the Corner Café and find Patty.” He turned back to Josh and Marco. “Once I make sure Patty’s safe, I’ll meet up with you guys and we’ll throw a net over this guy.” He relayed their plan to dispatch and Lieutenant Abrams.
By the time he finished talking, Charlee already had her ATV running. “I called the new director, told him what he should secure before the worst hits. You are not going after Marshall on your own, Hunter. I’ll be right behind you.”
Marco had expected that response and figured Hunter had, too. Charlee had been an FWC officer until last year, when her mom had a stroke. She had resigned and taken over running Tanner’s Outpost so her dad could take care of her mom.
Hunter scowled. “Look,cher, I know you want to—”
Sarah’s face was pale above her light-blue scrubs as she turned back to Marco. “You’re talking about Donny, as in Mama T’s grandson?” she asked.
“Yes. Patty is Freddie’s ex-girlfriend and the mother of his son. About a year ago, Freddie decided he wanted Donny with him, and when Patty refused, he almost killed her.” Marco paused. “You okay to come with me?”
Sarah nodded without hesitation and climbed back on the ATV. “We both have jobs to do, so let’s move.”
Marco wanted to explain the possible danger, make sure she understood, but his words were drowned out by Josh’s ATV.
“Everybody stay in touch and stay safe,” Josh said and roared off.
“Roger that,” Hunter said, then went back to trying to talk Charlee out of going with him.
Marco waited until Sarah wrapped her arms around his waist before he revved his engine. He nodded to the still-arguing Hunter and Charlee and shook his head. Like everyone else in their FWC Ocala scrub squad, he wondered how long it would be before those two acknowledged they had the hots for each other. But he couldn’t worry about them right now. He winked at Sarah, tried to put her at ease. “I’m going to pick up the pace, so hang tight.”
She nodded, putting on a brave face, but he could see her worry, and it mirrored his own. Between the weather and crazy Freddie Marshall on the loose, things were about to get worse.
Worse came several miles later when the sky opened up and they were soaked to the skin in seconds. Still, Marco pulled under a tree and grabbed ponchos from the cargo box as thunder shook the ground. Once they were wrapped up, he took off again, desperate to get them out of the storm.
Sarah ducked her head and burrowed closer as the rain pelted them and they raced through the Forest. As he squinted through the downpour, Marco felt a moment’s panic. He knew these woods, had made it his business to know them.
Where was Mama T’s? They should have been to her place by now.
***
When the driver finally pulled into the gravel lot outside Joe’s Diner, Freddie swore, long and loud. The place was abandoned, closed, done. And it looked like it had been that way for a while now, based on the height of the weeds growing around the perimeter and the faded For Sale sign plastered across the front window.
Fury pounded through his veins, and he pointed the gun at the driver and yelled, “Out! Now!”
