Page 24 of Tangled

A man’s voice said, “We have a warrant for the arrest of a Ms. Colleen Frost.”

Colleen jumped in his arms. When she looked up at him, her dark eyes widened in fright.

Damn those Butorins.

A woman’s voice, gruff like she was trying to lower a natural soprano tone, added, “We have reason to believe that she is on this plane.”

Jian asked them, “Do you have a search warrant?”

The man repeated, “We havereasontobelieveshe’s on this plane.”

“But that’s not probable cause, and I asked if you had a search warrant. This plane has been rented by my employer, Mr. Tristan King. We have no reason to believe that the person you are looking for is on this plane.”

The woman officer said, “Look, we can do this the easy way, or we can do this the hard way. We can stand right here, right by the door of this plane, and call to get a judge out of bed and have them sign a search warrant, or you can just let us take a look.”

Jian said, “I’m very sorry, but my employer has a strict policy of not allowing law enforcement on his property for fishing expeditions. It takes up too much of his valuable time.Ifyou can get a search warrant,thenyou may come aboard. In the meantime, I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to step back. I am closing the door.”

Aclangrocked the plane, and the wheel grated as the gears secured the door again.

Colleen shrank in Tristan’s arms and pressed herself against the wall of the plane. Her skin was paler than usual, and her breath vibrated as she inhaled. “They’re afterme.”

Footsteps, and then Jian stepped around the edge of the galley kitchen. “I presume you heard.”

“They want to arrestme,”Colleen said, her gaze darting around the kitchen in fright. She whisper-shouted, “I have to give myself up. But I don’t know why. I haven’tdoneanything. Maybe it’s about the restaurant? But I didn’t even have a gun. The Russians were the ones shooting!”

“The Butorin bratva sent them,” Tristan told her. “They’re trying to get to me. They’re threatening you so I’ll give them what they want.”

“But those arepolice officers,”she said. “Did they show you their identification, Jian?”

He nodded. “It appeared authentic.”

“So that’s it. I’m being arrested. But I didn’t even do anything!”

Tristan hated to tell her, but she needed to know. “The Butorin bratva has bought themselves two police officers, maybe more, and they wouldn’t take you to the police station.”

Colleen’s mouth opened, and then she snapped her teeth shut.

Tristan was thinking fast, trying to come up with something to get them all off the plane and out of the airport. “Can we just leave? You could schedule another flight plan for us. Maybe to Chicago this time?”

Jian shook his head. “It’s after ten o’clock at night, Mr. King. That office is closed. Perhaps money could change hands?”

Tristan shook his head. “That’s inadvisable unless you know who you’re talking to.”

“That’s unfortunate. It always seemed to work for my previous employer.”

That made Tristan chuckle. “Ikenna had diplomatic immunity because he’s royalty. Must be nice.”

“Indeed. I thought that was rather standard in the States. Other options?”

From behind Tristan, Colleen piped up. “I might have an idea.”

12

Moves Like Taylor

Colleen

Darkness.