Free Undercover Marriage by Terri Reed Page A

You left your position.” She’d gone off on her own, just like her brother. And that had turned out to be a deadly decision. A shudder worked through him.
    “I saw something, so I peeled off.” She shook off his hand. “Obviously they’ve been using this place as a hideout.” She swung the beam of her light over empty take-out cartons.
    Reining in his anger, he kicked aside a soda can and reached down to check the pockets of the man lying on the mattress. Empty. “I’m calling this in.”
    Serena put a hand on his arm. “Shhhh. Did you hear that?”
    The scuff of a shoe. On the other side of the curtain. They were vulnerable.
    Josh grabbed Serena and yanked her down just as the deafening retort of gunfire split the air, accompanied by a blinding muzzle flash. A bullet whizzed over their heads and slammed into the concrete wall behind them.
    A door banged open. For a moment light spilled into the warehouse before winking out when the door closed.
    Josh jumped up, taking Serena with him. They ran from the curtained makeshift room, nearly ramming into Officers Bergman and Trudy.
    “We heard a gunshot. Are you two okay?” Bergman asked.
    Their four flashlight beams danced in the darkness.
    “Yes,” Serena stated. “Did you see which way the suspect went?”
    The door at the front of the building opened showing the silhouette of the suspect escaping.
    “He’s getting away,” Josh shouted and raced toward the front entrance.
    He hit the door, sending it swinging open. Sunlight assaulted Josh’s eyes. He blinked to clear his vision. The squeal of tires on pavement screeched through his head. He ran for the corner of the building. The white van sped down the alley. Josh fired off a shot and hit the back door. The van swerved drunkenly, then turned at the end of the alley and disappeared from view.
    Josh lowered his weapon.
    “We have the license plate number,” Serena said, halting beside him. “He won’t get far.”
    Josh holstered his weapon with more force than necessary. Frustration pounded at his temples. “So much for ending this assignment today.”
    They left the police officers to handle the details of the deceased man and returned to the cover house. Josh pulled Linda’s car into the garage. As soon as the garage door closed, Serena was out and heading inside before he had his door open. He understood her irritation. She’d expected a better outcome.
    “So?” Linda asked when Josh entered the den.
    “One got away.” He gave Linda the lowdown on the events. A few minutes later, Serena came in wearing running attire. Josh cocked an eyebrow.
    Serena shrugged. “Susan Andrews takes care of herself.” She stretched her long, lean legs. “I’m going to check out the neighborhood.”
    “If you’ll wait, I’ll join you,” Josh said. He could use some exercise to burn off the earlier rush of adrenaline.
    Ten minutes later, they set out at a steady pace. Serena had her cell phone attached to her arm by a band. They’d agreed that they would only use the burner cell phone for contact with Perfect Family.
    “I never run without it,” she said, meeting his gaze. “I twisted my ankle once while out on a run and was glad to have it with me to call for help.”
    Josh didn’t have to ask if it had been Daniel she’d called. The way her mouth pursed and her eyes glistened with sadness said it all.
    He diverted his gaze to the houses. The high-end neighborhood with manicured lawns, expensive vehicles and children playing in the yards was such the American dream. So different from his own experience.
    Serena’s phone chimed. She winced. “Oops, forgot to turn off the ringer.”
    The caller ID identified Bud as the caller.
    Slowing their pace, Serena slipped the phone from the band and answered. She listened for a moment then thanked him before clicking off. “That was actually Burke on the line. Bud was driving. They heard about the warehouse incident and wanted to let us know they would be