Denver paused and studied him. Was he for real? “You don’t know?”
Barney shook his head. “Should I?”
Jesus. “I guess not. Listen. You can’t keep me here.” He had to work this guy, and now, to get free.
Thick eyebrows rose. “I kinda think we can. You were in a hotel room that was busted open, filled with tear gas, and somebody shot you full of a tranq. There’s obviously a missing baby, and based on the pretty panties we found on the floor, her mama is missing, too.”
Noni. Denver yanked against the cuff. They had Noni and Talia. Fucking Madison and Cobb. Those soldiers were too well trained to work for anybody else. “Maybe I got in a fight with my woman, and she plugged me full of darts. That makes her the criminal and not me. I’m the victim.” He was babbling now, but he had to get free. He had to find them. Were they okay? They had to be terrified. Fury swept him, hazing his vision. “Just uncuff me.”
“Nope. I’m thinkin’ that’s not the way to go.” The cop shook the bag of nuts and then reached inside again.
The hospital was quiet now that the wailing had stopped. A quick glance toward the window confirmed it was still dark, so maybe around five in the morning? The hospital would be short staffed, and apparently this was the only guy guarding him. If Denver was going to make a move, it had to be soon. “Where am I, anyway?”
“Hospital.” Barney leaned over, his brow furrowing. “You get hit on the head? The doc said he couldn’t find anything but the darts in your chest. Speaking of which, you’re lucky a trucker saw you outside in the snow. You should be dead from frostbite and exposure.”
He wasn’t sure he could die from that. Well, probably, but it would most likely take longer for him than for most people. “So the trucker called you?”
“No. The trucker called 911.” The cop shook his head. “They called an ambulance and us. When I saw your face, I remembered the picture that was sent across the wires from North Carolina.” His chest puffed out. “I’ve never caught anybody like you. You’re an international fugitive.”
Denver blinked. “North Carolina is in this nation.” He almost felt bad planning to hurt this guy.
“Yeah. I know.”
Enough chitchat. “All right, Barney. What’s your plan?” The feeling was rapidly returning to Denver’s legs like sharp needles poking out from his veins. He shifted them restlessly, trying to move the process along.
The cop just looked at him.
Damn it. Another five minutes, and Denver would have to make his move. If he could kick the covers off, he could swing and catch the deputy in the face. Then it’d just be a matter of taking him down to the ground and getting the keys. “This is a mistake.” It’d be so much easier to just reason with the guy.
“I don’t think so,” the cop said. “We have your picture on the bulletin board in the office. You’re wanted in North Carolina.”
“I’m not wanted. The sheriff is just trying to work a case. There’s no warrant,” Denver said. There probably wasn’t a warrant, right? Maybe Cobb hadn’t issued one and had just sent person-of-interest photos around. The video hadn’t specified, which was just like Cobb. It gave him plenty of wiggle room. Bastard. Heat coated Denver’s throat, and his hand fisted against the cuff. He was losing it.
Barney the deputy sighed. “All I know is that I did my job. A good one. Haven’t even called the sheriff in Hawaii. The guy needed a break.”
Denver forced calmness through his muscles when all he wanted to do was yell. Terror poured through him, making the world finally come into sharp focus. Noni and Talia needed him. They were vulnerable and at the mercy of psychopaths. The reality of that made it hard, nearly impossible, to keep from losing his mind. But he had to stay calm. Somehow. “Come on, man. Let me out of these cuffs.”
“Not a chance. I already called this in.”
Denver needed Malloy and now. But fuck. He’d had Malloy kidnapped to Montana. That had seriously backfired. There was only one chance. He didn’t know the guy, and he probably couldn’t trust him. “I need to call Special Agent Fred Reese from the FBI.”
“I hardly think that is necessary,” came a low voice from the doorway.
Denver’s bones chilled. He looked up and the biggest monster from his childhood stood there, blond hair cut short, blue eyes gleaming. The world narrowed to right here and right now. “Well, now, Sheriff Cobb. What a surprise,” Denver said quietly.
Now that the moment had finally arrived, Elton Cobb wanted to savor it. Truth be told, he’d figured he would be full of adrenaline and already punching. But this was better. Like when he’d torn wings off butterflies as a kid. Slow and satisfactory.
The hick cop shoved to his feet, taking his time with it. When he reached his full height, Cobb had to look up. Several inches.
“Sheriff Cobb.” The cop held out a hand. “Deputy Barney Acres.”
Barney? Cobb stared to make sure he wasn’t being made fun of. “Like Barney Fife?”
“Who?” the cop asked, frowning.
Cobb studied him. Nope. The kid’s eyes were clear and earnest. “Forget it.” He took the offered hand and shook. “You’ve done a hell of a job here, Acres. This is one dangerous fugitive.”
Denver snorted from the bed.
