Page 67 of The Deputy's Secret Double

JJ stumbled. It slowed her down two steps. The man moved diagonally just behind her.

“She cried that much?” JJ ventured.

The man snorted.

“Buckets. But I guess most girls would lose it when they know they’re in danger. Why? You can’t believe your kid doesn’t have the stones to not make a peep?”

That cinched it.

“No,” she said. “She just doesn’t seem the type.”

* * *

The man hadsome moves, Price would give him that. He got his cuffs out and on one wrist before the man was a snake in the grass. He slithered this way and that until Price lost his grip.

The second the man realized he was free, he was off and running.

It surprised Price. He thought the man he’d fought in Jamie Bell’s house would have more, well, fight in him. Especially without the threat of fighting against the speed of a fire. But the man turned into a rabbit and made quick time of leaving the land next to the barn and running right along the tree line like it was nothing.

Part of Price wanted to change direction and chase after JJ and the other man. The other part wanted to keep up with his suspectforJJ. He was a part of her family’s trouble. Which meant he could help lead them to a way to solve it.

He couldn’t let that lead go.

Not when he was this close.

I’m actually really good at fighting.

JJ’s words from the elevator echoed in his head as he made the final decision to track his guy. Then it was an all-out race.

Price put everything he had into each step. His lungs burned. His muscles complained. The service weapon in its holster at his hip beneath his jacket bumped along for the ride. He wasn’t going to pull it out.

Not yet.

Not when all he had to do was—

They were moving along the curve of the tree line when the open land between the woods and the western gate came into view.

Instead of a big nothing, Price nearly lost his footing when he saw a whole someone trucking it in the same direction as the gate.

It was a woman.

“JJ?” he yelled out, voice strong despite his running.

Thankfully, it carried.

He could see her head turn their way.

But she didn’t stop.

If anything, she picked up speed toward the gate.

It was unsettling.

It also was distracting.

The man he was chasing had slowed.

It cost him the lead.