Native Cowboy by Rita Herron

Author:Rita Herron [Herron, Rita]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: cookie429
Publisher: Harlequin Intrigue
Published: 2012-01-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Cara followed Mason and the special agent up the sidewalk to Morningside’s apartment door. A few beat-up cars were scattered across the parking lot, the building weathered and dark. The lights that should have illuminated the sidewalks were burned out, the deserted buildings a place for criminals and those who didn’t want to be found to hide out.

“Stay behind me and Agent Whitehead, Cara,” Mason said. “And if there’s any sign of trouble run to the car.”

Cara clenched her hands into fists. She hated to be treated like the weakling, but she was smart enough to know that he was right. He and the FBI agent were armed.

She was pregnant and the focus of this man’s rage.

They made their way to the corner unit, bugs buzzing around the doorway. Mason knocked and they waited, but no one answered. Mason pressed his ear to the door to listen for someone inside, then shook his head.

“I don’t hear anyone.”

Agent Whitehead arched a brow, her hand on her gun as she faked a smile. “I don’t know, I think I heard something. Maybe someone’s in trouble in there.”

Cara understood her underlying meaning. They had to have probable cause to enter, and they had none. Unless they invented a reason, and they all seemed fine with that.

Mason used a lockpicking tool to open the door then gently nudged her into the corner of the foyer. “Stay here while we clear the place.”

She nodded, her lungs squeezing for air as she waited for them to search the apartment.

What if Morningside was hiding upstairs? What if he ambushed Mason and hurt him?

* * *

MASON RUSHED THROUGH the second floor of the apartment to clear it. There was only one bedroom and bath, both dingy and dark rooms with minimalistic furnishings. A chair, ratty dresser, an unmade bed.

Agent Whitehead stepped into the bathroom to examine the contents while he checked the closet. He found a couple pairs of jeans and a few T-shirts, a pair of military issued boots, fatigues, an army duffel bag and a dress uniform.

A button was missing on the sleeve.

A button that looked like the one he’d found at the landfill.

He’d have to bag it for analysis though to be sure.

“Looks like he’s been staying here,” Agent Whitehead said. “Toothbrush was still damp.”

“Confiscate it for DNA,” Mason said. “I’m going to take this uniform in to compare it to the button we found at the second crime scene.”

Downstairs he thought he heard footsteps, then a scream, and remembered Cara. Dammit. Had Morningside returned?

His heart pounding, he raced down the steps. The front door was wide open and Cara was sprawled on the floor.

“He came to the door and saw me,” Cara gasped. “Then he shoved me and ran. Go after him, Mason!”

Agent Whitehead followed on his heels. “Stay with Cara,” he shouted.

He jogged outside, searching the property. He didn’t see movement in the parking lot, so he inched around the bushes to the right. Darkness shrouded the exterior, the wooded area nearby thick with trees and brush.

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