Chapter 1 #2
“Come here.” She scooped the kitten up and cradled him to her chest. He stayed still as she descended the tree.
Emily waited with arms wide open for his safe return. “Thank you!” She hugged her kitten.
Sam crouched. “You’re welcome, Emily.”
“That was awesome.” Greer clapped her on the shoulder. “Were you in the circus before moving to Renegade?”
Sam’s stomach tightened as she straightened. “I guess you’ll never know.”
She never talked to anyone about her past, and she never would. Her and Bella’s safety depended on no one ever finding out who they really were or how Madison had testified in federal court and sent a dangerous man and all his cronies to prison for life.
If anyone discovered her past, she and Bella would be moved out of Renegade so fast their heads would be spinning.
For the sake of this life she had built, no one could ever find out her secrets.
Adrenaline coursed through Deputy US Marshal Liam Roberts’s body as he shifted his weight from foot to foot, ready for the hunt.
But this wasn’t a fugitive apprehension task force.
Nope. He’d given up that career, become the guardian of his niece, and taken a job at the Marshals office in the city of Renegade.
He looked around the room, taking in his new coworkers, who were busy gearing up, all wearing some fashion of blue jeans, tees, and running shoes.
This was a far cry from his old life.
But if he didn’t make this work, he’d be ruining more than one future.
Liam looked down at his black slacks and button-down shirt. Not his fugitive-hunting apparel. He’d been in his new office all of two minutes before his new boss, Supervisor Daniel Howard, had told him to grab his gear and meet in the conference room for a briefing about a fugitive apprehension.
He already had his vest and duty belt on by the time the others filed into the conference room.
A whiteboard filled the entire right wall.
Pictures of criminals were taped along the board, with notes written all around them.
A table that seated eight was centered in the room.
Instead of sitting, everyone stood behind a chair.
Just as anxious to get the hunt started as he was.
Except he shouldn’t be this excited. He’d kissed the late nights kicking in doors and arresting bad guys goodbye.
The adrenaline-filled life of fugitive apprehension didn’t mesh well with single parenthood.
A role change in his personal life had required a role change in his career.
Now he was supposed to spend his days guarding the courthouse, transporting criminals, and handling witnesses—all with the caveat that he could be called for fugitive apprehension if needed.
Not what I expected on the first day, Lord.
Maybe after Sophia turned eighteen and went off to college, he’d go back to that life. If it was still available. He’d been told Renegade was where good marshals went to die career-wise. Apparently, no one ever transferred out of Renegade.
Which was a small price to pay, seeing as his sister sat in prison because of him.
He’d made a decision as a teen that had sent her running down the wrong path and straight to a life of crime.
He’d made something of himself, becoming a marshal on the straight and narrow, trying to absolve himself of his guilt.
His sister hadn’t been so successful, no matter how he’d tried to help her.
In the end it had been a no-brainer to become Sophia’s guardian. After all, it was another way he could make amends.
No way would he have let her disappear into the foster-care system.
But he couldn’t help feeling like God had thrown a wrench in where Liam had thought his life was going.
He’d hoped to one day become a father; he’d just expected to start at the beginning—with all-nighters, diapers, and spit-up.
The works. Not to be thrown immediately into the hormones and high school stage. And doing it as a single man, at that.
“Okay.” A broad-shouldered man wearing stonewashed blue jeans, a simple black shirt, and a US Marshals ball cap yelled over the activity, pulling Liam from his thoughts. “We’ve got John Vickers. Number eight on the list.”
The US Marshals’ Most Wanted list: the fifteen criminals the Marshals considered the most dangerous. There were some real bad guys, and occasionally gals, on that list.
Supervisor Howard stepped up. “Before we get into the details, let me introduce you to our newest team member.” He gestured to Liam, and all eyes turned to him. “This is Liam Roberts. He’ll be our new WITSEC and court-security guy. He comes to us from the fugitive apprehension team in Virginia.”
Supervisor Howard went around the room putting names to the new faces, starting with the broad-shouldered man. Ethan Butler.
Next, Howard gestured to a man in his mid-forties, close-cropped dark-brown hair graying at the temples. “Nick Stanton.”
He then pointed to a woman with warm-toned skin and light-brown hair slicked back into a bun. “Emma Kennedy.”
“Cody Albright.” A man sporting a two-day beard was next.
“Finally, Jodi Glover.” She was the shortest member of the team but not by much. Blonde hair tucked through the back of a US Marshals ball cap.
Each team member acknowledged him in some fashion, whether a wave or head nod.
“Okay, Butler, fill us in on Vickers.” Supervisor Howard turned the room over to Butler.
“He’s wanted on multiple counts of capital murder.
Known to be armed and violent. The last encounter law enforcement had with him, he said he’d die before going back to prison.
Word is he’s here in Renegade. One of my informants just called and said he’s at the Blue Moon Motel on Jefferson.
” Butler crossed his arms over his chest.
Great. Fantastic way to start his first day. Fugitive with a suicide-by-cop attitude.
“On a scale of Rendell to Lowe, what are we talking about?” Albright asked.
“Lowe.”
Albright grimaced.
They threw around names like he should know who they were. “Someone want to fill in the new guy?”
“Rendell said he wouldn’t be taken alive, but once we showed up, he gave up without issue,” Glover supplied.
“Then cried for his momma.” Albright chuckled.
“Silas Lowe was the complete opposite.” This time Kennedy chimed in.
“Was being the operative word.” Albright’s jaw stiffened.
Lowe had obviously meant what he’d said and hadn’t survived the encounter. Which one of Liam’s new teammates had been the one to pull the trigger?
Butler tapped his upper thigh. “Roberts, you’re with me. Stanton and Kennedy, set up on Lincoln. Albright and Glover, you’ll set up on Pine. We go in slow and keep our distance until we know it’s him. Once we’ve verified it is Vickers, we’ll make the arrest. Let’s go.”
The other four agents filed out of the room while Butler hung behind. “Follow me.” He didn’t wait for a response. Just turned and walked away.
Liam followed him to the secure elevator to the first floor, where they exited into a secured parking lot. Butler climbed into a black pickup truck that was backed into a spot right by the exit. Liam climbed into the passenger seat.
Butler threw the truck in Drive and tore out of the parking lot.
“What’s the plan?” Liam looked in the side mirror to see two black SUVs following behind.
“You heard it. Verify and arrest.” Butler glanced over. “Figured you’d know by now what you’re doing, Mr. Fugitive Task Force.”
“Right, but what’s the plan on the arrest? How’s the hotel set up?”
Each department executed arrests differently. With Butler as the lead on this case, he’d be making the decisions.
Still, Liam pulled up a map of the area on his phone and took a look at the layout.
Butler gave him a side-eye and gripped the steering wheel tighter.
“The hotel is in the shadier part of Renegade. It’s on the corner of the lot.
Stanton and Kennedy will be set up a block north to maintain visual on the back of the motel.
Albright and Glover will be a block to the east, watching the front. You and I will be half a block west.”
Sounded like Butler had a good perimeter set up.
“Once we verify it’s Vickers, we’ll make a decision on how to take him down.”
“Okay.” That’s all he needed to know.
Because he was new in town, he had studied maps and knew general locations and roads, but he wanted to know what the maps wouldn’t tell him. The things he’d learn working with this team and operating on the streets of Renegade.
His phone rang in his hand. The words Marshal Samuel Dennison High School filled the screen.
“I have to take this.”
Butler nodded.
He slid the Answer icon across the screen. “Liam Roberts.”
“Good morning, Mr. Roberts. This is Vice Principal Woodworth. I’m calling you regarding Sophia.”
His stomach sank. “Is there a problem?”
“Well, yes. Sophia was caught with several young ladies vaping in the bathroom this afternoon when they were supposed to be in class.”
Liam closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Skipping class and vaping in the bathroom? Next she’d be skipping school entirely. After that, how long would it be before she ended up like her mother?
“She was given lunch detention. We just wanted you to be aware of the situation. We know she’s new to Renegade, and had hoped she would start off on the right foot, but this isn’t it.
Her records from Virginia indicate she’s been in some trouble before the transfer.
We’ll be encouraging her to take this fresh start more seriously. ”
And so would he.
Liam cleared his throat. “She was having some difficulties in her home life that caused issues. We’re working on making sure that trouble isn’t repeated here.”
“We’re aware. Just know that we are a compassionate and understanding administration. If you need any assistance with locating services in Renegade, please let us know. We only want what’s best for our students.”
“Thank you. Sophia and I will talk tonight.” He disconnected the call and shook his head. “That kid.”
Renegade was a fresh start for him and Sophia. New lives in a new town. The past was behind them. More hope for a better future for Sophia. Starting over was going to be hard, and they’d both have to make adjustments. They were each nursing broken hearts. For different reasons though.
That hope didn’t stop the little voice in his head questioning everything and worrying about the future.
Liam knew he needed to take those thoughts captive and trust God’s plan, even though it didn’t make sense.
It was hard, but he was trying. God would give them the strength to overcome the past and move forward.
“Did you get your business squared away?” Butler glanced over.
“For now.”
“Good, because we’re here.” Butler eased the truck to the curb and killed the engine.
Silence filled the truck. Adrenaline coursed through Liam as he studied the motel, waiting for Vickers to make an appearance.
Tried to feel like himself, a marshal on a fugitive apprehension team.
Rather than a father with no idea what he was doing.