Since it was late in the day, the lot was almost empty. Jake wiped his fingerprints off the steering wheel and the interior of the front seat while she opened the back door and uncuffed Carter Frederick’s hands.
Jake leaned into the other side of the car and worked on the man’s feet.
When he was untied, they helped him sit up. Then they both wiped away any remaining fingerprints and walked into the market where they stood behind a nearby pillar and looked out toward the car.
It’s time to wake up, Rachel said gently.
From her hiding place she saw Frederick blink and look around.
Who’s talking?
Rachel Gregory. You were going to get information from me, but you changed your mind because of what happened to Evelyn Morgan.
Alarm contorted his features. “She’s dead.”
But it was an accident. You want to tell that to the police. You want to come clean, because you don’t want to end up in the bad place when you die. Do you remember that you were on your way there when I pulled you back? It will be for all eternity next time.
He shuddered, and she knew he was remembering thehorror of what had happened when she’d snatched him back from the brink of death.
Jake grasped her hand, giving her a silent message, and she glanced at him before looking back at Carter Frederick.
You’re going to forget that I talked to you. You’re going to forget that you found us in Houma. You never left New Orleans. You fought with us here. You tried to kidnap me here. But you never caught up with us again.
“Will that work?” she whispered to Jake.
“I don’t know. But we have to try.”
She sent the same messages to him again, then ended with words of encouragement.You’re very brave to turn yourself in. But it’s the best thing. You want to change your life because you don’t want it to end the way it almost did. You should go right to the police station now. It’s on Royal Street. You’ll feel so much better when you tell them about the accident with Evelyn Morgan.Rachel waited a beat before asking,Do you know how to get to the police station at 334 Royal Street?
Frederick nodded. Then, as they watched, he climbed out of the car and looked around as though he had just realized where he was. Or maybe he was looking for them.
Rachel heard Jake gasp.
“What?”
“He’s got a gun. It must have been hidden somewhere in the car.” He cursed.
“Can we get it away from him?”
“We can’t take the chance.”
Before Frederick got more than twenty yards from the car, a uniformed policeman stepped out of the French Market and into the parking lot.
Frederick saw him and froze.
Then he raised the gun.
Oh no!When Rachel started to dart out from around the pillar, Jake held her back.
Stay here. You can’t do anything.
She knew he was right. She’d only get them arrested.
Then the sound of gunfire made her gasp.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jake fought against the sick feeling rising in his throat. They’dexpended a lot of time and effort setting Frederick up to turn himself in. Apparently, his criminal instincts were too strong. As soon as he’d seen a cop on the street, he’d pulled a gun.
