The Marshal's Justice (Appaloosa Pass Ranch 4)
right. Perfect credit, perfect driving record. Hell, he even had a perfect grade point average in college. Everything in his background lines up in perfect detail.”
    Normally, a good clean record didn’t bother Chase, but it did in this case. “You think he’s living under a created identity?”
    “Maybe. But if so, he’s not in WITSEC, and he’s not an undercover cop or in any other form of law enforcement that I can find. That means if he’s living under a false identity, he’s likely doing it for his own reasons.”
    And Chase figured those reasons probably weren’t good ones. “Were you able to get his financials?”
    “Some. Lots of money in and out of his accounts. Hard to tell if he’s getting regular payouts from someone like Crossman. But I’ll do some more digging.”
    “Thanks,” Chase told him, and he took the final turn to the hospital. “Anything new with the prisoner this morning?” Not that he expected Gene Rooks to start blabbing, but Chase could hope the man had had a change of heart.
    “Nothing yet, but Rooks is with his lawyer now. And no, I can’t trace the lawyer back to Crossman or Renée. Already tried.” Jericho paused. “The lab called on that blood they found in Quentin’s house. It wasn’t his, and it’s not a match to anybody in the system.”
    April shook her head. “But Quentin was shot.”
    “Not there at his place. Or if it was there, he didn’t leave any blood behind. I questioned Quentin about his injury, but he’s being very vague. If you get answers from him, I want to hear them.”
    “Of course. Any news about Renée?”
    “She’s still at large. Still nothing on those bugs and cameras the CSIs gathered from your house. There were no prints or trace on them, but they’re trying to find the location where the images and recordings were being sent.”
    “They can do that?” Chase asked.
    “They can try. Don’t get your hopes up. I think our best bet at finding out who’s behind this is to get what you can from Quentin.”
    Chase believed that as well, and he ended the call when he pulled into the hospital parking lot. He spotted Jax right away under the awning at the drop-off area, and Jax motioned for him to park right by the door. Good. Because Chase didn’t want April out in the open any longer than necessary.
    “How’s Quentin?” April immediately asked him.
    Jax didn’t answer right away and didn’t waste any time near the door. Firing glances all around, he got them moving out of the reception area and up the hall. “He’s fine. The doc said he’ll be released this afternoon.”
    April didn’t seem relieved about that, and Chase knew why. Being released could mean Quentin would be in even more danger since they weren’t sure yet if they could trust the marshals.
    “Who’ll be protecting him?” April pressed.
    Jax seemed annoyed, not with the question exactly but with the answer. “Me. The other deputies weren’t exactly jumping to volunteer.”
    Chase didn’t blame them. Quentin had been business partners with a cop killer. That wouldn’t put the man on any popularity lists with law enforcement.
    “Thank you,” April said as they made their way down the hall.
    “No need for thanks. I’m hoping Quentin will lead us to some information about who kidnapped Bailey.” Which meant Jax thought Quentin might have played a part in that, too.
    Chase didn’t have to guess which room Quentin was in because the uniformed hospital security guard was posted outside the door. He opened it for them, and Jax went in ahead of April. Probably to make sure the area was still safe. It was. Only Quentin was there, and he was in the bed hooked up to an IV.
    April didn’t rush toward him, but Chase did get her inside the room so he could shut the door. He could have sworn the temperature in the room dropped with the frosty looks April and Quentin were giving each other. Seeing that was a first for Chase. April had always jumped to defend her

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