Free Finish the Course (The Barnes Family Book 1) by Becky Riker

as they were slowing and knelt backwards in her seat, “I’ll see if they have a spare.”
    She pulled up the floor and looked at the tire below, “Um, spare – yes; aired up – no.”
    He grunted, “Does it look like it could be?”
    “Not really,” she poked at it. “I’d say it would hold air for all of ten feet if we were lucky.”
    “Okay,” he drove slowly alongside the highway, “we’re going to leave the vehicle. Do you have any other clothes with you, Captain?”
    “I have a couple things. What do you need?”
    “Change into something comfortable. You need to blend in with the community.”
    She dug through her bag and pulled out an article of clothing and a pair of shoes, “Am I changing now or when we stop?”
    He reached up and turned the rear-view mirror toward Hanbali.
    She made quick work of her clothes and was done by the time he found a school and was driving around the perimeter.
    “I need to move the truck so nobody starts looking for the owner. See those dumpsters?”
    The women nodded.
    “I am going to drop you off beside them along with the bags,” he was removing his shirt while he spoke, driving all the while, “Can you find me a plain t-shirt and a pair of jeans or the bottom half of my PTs?”
    Anna obliged.
    He threw the car in reverse and backed up to the dumpsters and then took the pants and shoes. “I’ll be right back,” he winked at Hanbali before he climbed out.
    He made such quick work of his clothes that Anna had to wonder if there was some special forces technique she should learn.
    “Okay,” he extended a pistol to Anna, “take this.”
    She did so, “Won’t you want it?”
    “I acquired an extra one at the base.”
    “You want the holster?” he held up the one he had been wearing on his thigh all day.
    “Where will you keep yours?” she spoke before she thought. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
    “It would look strange to be out jogging with a holster. Wear it if you need it,” he started toward the truck, “otherwise, put it in my bag.”
    She lifted the hem of her sundress, and fastened the holster. Slater turned quickly, but not soon enough to avoid catching a glimpse of her leg.
    “I’m going to park the truck a couple miles away and run back. I shouldn’t be more than half an hour. Stay hidden if at all possible; if not, try to look like you are just going for a walk. If I lose you somehow, I’ll turn my phone back on.”
    Slater climbed into the truck and drove down the street. About three miles down the road, he found a mall. Perfect.
    He stopped the truck near the back of the crowded parking lot and checked the seats to be sure they hadn’t left anything behind. He was climbing out when a police cruiser pulled up beside him.
    Slater’s heart rate increased.
    “You having car trouble?”
    Slater slid his sunglasses over his eyes, “I blew a tire, but the spare is flat. My wife is on her way with a different spare.”
    “Okay,” the cop nodded and drove away.
    Slater waited until the man had rounded a corner before turning in the opposite direction and sprinting back toward the school.
    “That was fast,” Barnes commented as she rose, “Where did you park?”
    “A mall,” he leaned over and rested his hands on his thighs, “about three miles.”
    Barnes looked at her watch, “You’ve been gone for twenty-nine minutes. How fast did you run?”
    He shook his head and reached into his pocket. Whatever he pulled out was apparently a master key for the school – or something that worked equally as well. He held the door for the women and followed quickly after.
    “I cannot even get into my own apartment that quickly,” Hanbali commented softly.
    “I’m surprised we didn’t set off an alarm,” Barnes whispered.
    Slater moved ahead of them and held out his arm to stop, “The custodian is in the building. I’m sure the alarm will be reactivated for the night.”
    Barnes leaned a little closer to drop her voice further,