Page 35 of Above ’N’ Beyond

“Yeah.” Jamie snorted. “A total prick that preys on defenseless women.” He searched until he found a tree trunk just the right diameter. “Move,” he ordered again, pushing Hoover in front of him.

“That wasn’t what I was doing,” Hoover insisted. “If anything happens to me, you’ll get the death penalty.”

“I seriously doubt that.” But the guy’s words told Jamie what he needed to know.

Hoover didn’t know he was undercover. Jenkins must have assigned him to surveil Bella but had wisely kept Jamie’s ID intact.

He released the agent’s wrist and whirled him around until both his hands were behind a tree, then snapped the loose cuff around Hoover’s other wrist.

“You sonofabitch. I’ll have you charged with assaulting a federal officer.”

Jamie chuckled. “Don’t overestimate your self-worth.” Being careful to remain behind Hoover so he couldn’t bite or spit at him, Jamie searched the guy’s remaining pockets, tugging out a set of keys, then tossing them about ten feet away in the brush.

Last, he ran his fingers along the inside of Hoover’s belt, searching for a spare handcuff key that might be taped there. It wasn’t a precaution most feds took, but Jamie didn’t want Hoover getting loose until he was long gone.

“You might as well have a seat.” He nodded to the ground. “I have a feeling you’ll be here a while.”

While Hoover cursed, Jamie grinned. Hoover was standing in a particularly lush patch of poison ivy. “One more thing.” He reared back, then slammed his fist into Hoover’s jaw. Not a bone-cracking slam, but enough to bruise the guy and leave a mark big enough that he’d have trouble explaining it away. “Don’t ever come near Bella Bianco again.”

As he and Jax stalked from the woods, Jamie clenched his hands. He hadn’t known that kind of rage in a very long time. When he’d realized someone was after Bella, he’d wanted to pound the guy headfirst into the ground. He didn’t know what Hoover had in mind by chasing after Bella the way he had, but any man who frightened a woman like that deserved to be put six feet under. Anyone who did that to Bella…

Didn’t deserve to breathe.

“C’mon, Jax.” He picked up his dog’s leash and began jogging back to the parking lot. With every step, more rage rolled through him, even stronger, as he considered what could have happened. Whatever Hoover’s assignment was, Jamie had a feeling he was to blame.

This had to be the work of Special Agent Jenkins, but was it because Jamie had pushed back too hard by refusing to wear a wire? Was this why Hoover had been assigned to make contact with Bella? If so, it was Jamie’s fault that Bella had nearly been hurt.

When he and Jax ran back to the parking lot, her Mini Cooper was gone. A few other cars had pulled in near his. Sooner or later, another runner or dog walker might spot Hoover cuffed to a tree, or the agent might start calling for help.

Not wanting to be anywhere around when that happened, Jamie loaded Jax into the back seat, then got in and backed out. Another vehicle sat a hundred yards away at the far edge of the parking lot—a black Explorer with tinted windows that screamed cop. He couldn’t see if there was anyone inside. Probably just one of the locals writing up reports or having his morning coffee. Another reason to beat feet.

Just before driving through the park gates, he cued up the number he’d memorized, exhaling slowly through his nose to quell his irritation.

The phone rang three times before a sleepy voice answered. “Jenkins.”

Jamie chuckled. It was barely seven o’clock on a Sunday morning. Serves you right, dickwad. “What are you doing sending another agent into Bianco’s Bistro?”

“I told you to check in every day,” Jenkins said. “You refused. I told you to wear a wire. You refused that, too. What did you expect? HQ doesn’t like that kind of pushback. They were afraid you’d miss getting critical information, and I have to agree. I need someone to report in on what’s happening, and you made it clear you weren’t about to cooperate.”

Jamie pulled over on Route 9W, just outside the park. He tilted his head back, trying not to go ballistic. What he wanted was to tell Jenkins that if he pulled this nonsense again, he’d take himself off the case. But he couldn’t do that. His dad’s health was at stake. In fact, a check-in with his mother was long overdue. Succinctly, he filled Jenkins in on what he’d learned so far.

“You’re kidding?” Jenkins’s voice was filled with awe. “That’s amazing! That’s more information than we could have hoped for so soon.”

“Yeah,” Jamie quipped. “So cut me a little slack, and let me do my job. Alone.”

“Fine. But let’s compromise. How about checking in at least once a week so I know you’re still alive?”

Jamie hesitated. “Okay, but I want Hoover off this case. Permanently.”

Dead silence came through the phone. “How did you find out his name?”

“It was printed on his creds.”

“He showed you his creds?”

“No.” Jamie shook his head in disbelief. “I saw it when I pulled out his wallet. He was face down in the dirt at the time after scaring Bella Bianco to death. Whatever he’d been planning, he screwed it up. Royally.”

“What?” The sound of an engine starting came through the phone. “He was only supposed to try and get to know her.”