Chapter 1
ONE
There was no going back to the good ole days for Cole Stuart. But that didn’t have to be true for the rest of Last Chance County—so long as he caught the escaped convict.
Detaining Blair Mackey would be the best gift this holiday season, but it would require a Christmas miracle. The job was proving to be the quest of the year—follow the shining star to the culprit, except Mackey’s location continued to shift.
Cole zipped up his police jacket, then donned his winter gloves.
This time of year made him grateful for the layers to his uniform that held the heat inside.
The last thing he could afford right now was frostbite.
Anything that would delay being out in the field to find Mackey.
A mix of rain and snow flurries pelted his face, and he kept his gaze downwind.
He pulled up his hood and lowered his sunglasses to block out the sun’s glare.
“Just got to the east side of Crest Forest. Cole, what’s your status?” Officer Anthony Thomas’s voice crackled in Cole’s in-ear piece.
“Titan and I are on the west side. We’re taking the Midpoint Trail in.” Cole clapped his hands and started walking, Titan right on his heel.
“I want Mackey caught yesterday. We’ve got two of the convicts back behind bars. The sooner Mackey’s apprehended, the sooner everyone can get on with their Christmas plans.”
Cole coughed to keep a laugh from escaping.
Thomas’s sarcastic tone reminded Cole he wasn’t the only one who didn’t exactly enjoy the holidays.
Cole wanted Mackey found too, and if he had to work through Christmas or miss their staff Christmas party, he wouldn’t complain.
That would be a bonus miracle to the season.
It would give Cole a legitimate reason not to attend any festive gatherings, instead of having to come up with another lame excuse.
Before Cole could respond, Ramble’s voice cut in. “And I don’t want to be sitting out on the action.”
“You’re doing one of the best jobs, manning the tip line at the station.” Cole smirked and held back a chuckle.
“Says the one who’s front and center with the action.” Ramble huffed.
“What did the doctor say?” Thomas asked.
“More like Nurse Ainsley at this point. Said I need to take it easy, especially in this storm. But I only have another week left in the arm sling, and it’s already much better.”
Cole could picture Ramble pulling his arm out of the restraint to prove his point. “Ainsley’s doing what any good girlfriend would do. Don’t give her a heart attack and make her think you’ll get hurt again.”
“Someone’s getting sentimental around the holidays.” Ramble paused. “I’ll let you know if any other tips come in.”
Cole almost interjected with I know what it’s like to lose someone around the holidays.
Once again, he held back and didn’t vocalize the thought.
Now wasn’t the time to walk down memory lane.
If he wanted to keep people safe from a killer’s snare and make sure they had a blissful Christmas season, he needed to do his job.
“I’ll let you know if Titan and I find anything.
” Cole trekked down the narrow path. His shoes squished in the slush of leaves and dirt mingled with the freezing rain and snow.
The canopy covering from the pine trees should have helped, but the wind worked against them and blew the pellets of icy rain every which way.
“Let’s hope this tip pans out and Mackey hasn’t gotten far,” Thomas said. “Cole, I’ll circle around and meet you at the overlook in fifty.”
“Copy that. Mackey can only survive so long in the elements.” Cole scanned the open expanse in front of him. The bare trees and overcast sky didn’t help visibility. But Cole wouldn’t let the forecast deter him. “If he’s nearby, we’ll find his footprints too. This weather is working against him.”
Cole pulled out a bag with a piece of fabric in it.
Thanks to a quick DNA test, forensics had confirmed the patch of clothing was Mackey’s.
And Titan’s skills were top notch. His partner could find Mackey, even though the convict had changed outfits and was no longer wearing the easily identifiable orange jumpsuit.
“Titan, sniff.” Cole held the bag open, and the German shepherd stuck his nose toward the fabric.
“Good boy. Titan, track.” The dog veered to the left and cantered alongside the path.
“All right, Mackey, where are you?” Cole’s voice was drowned out by the rain.
Other officers had spread out to cover more ground and cut Mackey off.
The latest tip had Mackey spotted near a makeshift cave, thanks to a few locals who had cabins up here in the woods. They didn’t see many travelers on foot this time of year unless they were coming in for snowshoeing or ice fishing. Although the lake on the south side wasn’t fully frozen over yet.
Cole forged ahead, following Titan. The dog let out a bark and picked up speed. Cole broke into a jog and grabbed his radio with one hand. “I think Titan’s found something. When’s the copter coming in?”
“What direction are you headed?” Thomas asked. “Copter should be airborne in five minutes.”
“Northwest.” Cole focused on Titan, whose black tail wagged behind him. “Good. We need as many eyes as possible.”
The flight crew would be able to see a larger expanse than any of the officers on the ground. If Titan led them to Mackey, Cole wanted the copter to have eyes from above. Make sure Mackey knew there was no chance of escape.
The sleet fell harder now. Droplets flew off his waterproof jacket, and Cole wiped the precipitation off his brow. He followed Titan around a bend to a clearing among the trees. Titan let out a bark and barreled to a set of boulders. He sat on his haunches near a small opening and whimpered.
“I’m at a clearing, and it looks like there’s a place to hide in the rocks.” Cole pulled his Glock from the hip holster and kept it aimed at the ground in front of him. “Thomas, how far are you from my location?”
Each of the officers had a tracking device on their uniform. For search and rescue cases, or in this situation, search and arrest, it proved helpful in making sure no one got lost when they covered a large coordinate grid.
“Copy. I’m two minutes out,” Thomas said.
Cole whistled. “Titan, go.”
The dog barreled into the opening and disappeared.
Cole positioned himself to the right of the rocks and waited. The moment Mackey stepped out of hiding, Cole would be there to put an end to the man’s plans. His pulse throbbed in his neck, and his cheeks warmed. The adrenaline rush warded off the frigid temperatures.
Seconds ticked by, and Cole held his breath. Where was the snarl from Titan? Or a human cry from the dog’s quick response to latch onto the culprit? Cole exhaled, and his breath puffed in front of him.
He didn’t have all day to wait around, and Mackey couldn’t hide in there forever. Cole pulled out his flashlight with his free hand and flicked on the switch. With his weapon still in his left, he shone the light into the cave and ducked into the opening.
“It’s time to give it up, Mackey.” He moved the light around the space. A pair of footprints marked the territory and led to the back.
Titan turned around and whimpered.
Cole let out a grunt. The guy wasn’t here. The space wasn’t more than eight feet wide, and giant rocks closed off the back area. Only one entry and exit point.
“Titan, come.” Cole crawled back out of the space and tucked his weapon and flashlight away. “You did good, boy.” He rubbed the German shepherd’s head, then handed him a treat.
“Negative on Mackey.” Cole relayed on the radio. “But he’s been here at some point.”
“You’re kidding.” Thomas sighed.
“Hold on. It’s not over yet, guys,” Ramble said. “Another lead just came in.”
“Where at?” Cole stopped walking and signaled for Titan to wait.
“Mountainview Ridge Overlook.”
Cole pulled up his map of the area. “On foot, we’re thirty minutes away.” Footsteps came from in front of him, and Cole lowered his phone to see Thomas approaching.
“We can make it ten by car.” Thomas’s breath came in pants.
At least Thomas had the same idea. Cole wanted to take the fast route. No way could they let Mackey gain extra ground.
More precipitation hit Cole’s skin and stung his cheek. Hard pellets dropped faster to the ground. Great. His car might be equipped to handle the snow, but if the sleet kept up, it could delay their ETA.
“Be careful, you guys.” Ramble’s voice deepened. “The radar shows more precipitation in the forecast for the next hour.”
“Work crews should be out treating the roads.” Cole walked faster, his eyes focused on the trail so he wouldn’t slip and fall. They just had to get out of this remote area first. Once they were on main roads, they shouldn’t have a problem.
“They can only work so fast. A car careened into the guardrail and crashed at the overlook. The tip on Mackey’s sighting came in from the driver. Kianna and Trace are en route too.”
Kianna.
Cole’s breath caught in his throat. It had only been a few days since he’d seen the Eastside Firehouse EMT. They had both witnessed the aftermath of the initial collision with the transport van carrying the convicts.
Kianna was gifted at what she did. Her calm demeanor and peaceful disposition were evidence she was in the right profession.
Someone could be bleeding out, but she had a way of keeping them from panicking while she did her job.
Not to mention she was gorgeous. Her face entered Cole’s mind—the way she smiled at someone like they were the most important person in the room.
Cole’s foot caught on a branch covered with leaves, and he jerked forward. Titan let out a bark. Cole compensated with his other foot and caught himself.
“It’s okay, Tite.” He smiled at his partner, even while his own pulse skittered.
“You good?” Thomas raised a brow.
Cole nodded and clamped down on his lips.
Now was not the time to think about Kianna. Not when she could be stripped from him in the blink of an eye. He’d seen it happen before. Which meant there was no use hoping for something that would only end in heartache.
Cole had to keep his head on straight. Focus on what lay ahead, not behind. And right now, that meant doing his job.
The tree line opened up into the parking lot, where his cruiser was the lone vehicle.
Thomas slid into the passenger seat while Cole opened the back for Titan to climb in. Once his K-9 was settled, Cole got into the driver’s side and turned on the ignition, then put the heat on full blast.
“That feels good.” Thomas leaned closer to the vents and took his gloves off.
Titan must have sensed the warm air too, because he turned around in his kennel and stuck his head between the bars, lifting his snout.
“Attaboy.” Cole smiled, then put the car in reverse. “Time to go catch this killer.”
He pulled out onto the road. Sleet pinged off the windshield. The car’s wipers swished in a rapid motion to clear away the precipitation.
Five minutes later, Cole turned onto a main road. A plow truck drove past in the opposite direction, sprinkling salt behind it. Cole waved to the guy.
“They’re making our job easier.” Thomas leaned forward and saluted the driver.
“Thank the Lord.” Cole followed the curve of the road, then hit the accelerator to climb the short hill. He eased up on the gas as the approaching stoplight turned yellow. “The roads still covered fast.” He pressed down on the brakes, which kicked back from the slush.
He lifted off the pedal, then pushed down again. Except the tires didn’t catch traction, and the front of the car veered to the left.
“Whoa, man. Watch the ditch.” Thomas gripped the door handle.
Cole tightened his grasp on the steering wheel, fighting the urge to swing to the right and overcorrect. “I’m trying.”
The car straightened but gave no sign of stopping as it continued to slide toward the intersection.
“We’re going to run this light.” Cole steeled his back against the seat. “Is there any oncoming traffic?” His voice rose a notch, and he glanced to the left.
“We’ve got another plow truck coming up on our right,” Thomas shouted and tapped the window.
Please, Lord. Let the brakes do their job. Cole blew out a breath and flicked on his lights to alert the other truck.
Cole tapped the brakes once more. The cruiser lurched forward, then slid to a stop, halfway in the intersection.
The plow truck whizzed around them, spraying salt across their windshield.
Thomas whistled. “That was close. Good work, man.”
Cole leaned his head against the seat. They were still a mile away from the Mountainview Ridge Overlook crash site. Every second created more distance between Mackey’s arrest and his escape. No thanks to this weather, the manhunt for Mackey was becoming more treacherous than Cole had bargained for.
Only time would tell if they were too late.