Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Dana Mentink (novels to improve english txt) 📗

face. “Hannah, I’ll tell you about Henry Harrelson another time. I don’t want to talk about him yet.”

“It’s okay. I understand. You don’t need to give me an explanation.” After all, once this case was over, he’d be out of her life anyway. The thought of his absence brought an inexplicable ache in her heart. How was that even possible? She couldn’t fall for anyone with the burden she carried. She’d barely had time to process the fact that she couldn’t have children. Plus, they’d just met. Could intense attraction explode that quickly?

Murray walked into the room with the broom and garbage can. “Coming through.”

Hannah stepped back to allow Murray between them. It was for the best. She needed to stay away from Layke’s touch. It kept doing strange things to her feelings, and she knew she had to curb them—fast.

Scarlet returned, waving her sketch with Gabe at her side. “We got it. Gabe agreed this is the man at the ranch.”

Hannah and Layke peered at her composite. A man with spiked hair snarled back at them.

Hannah froze.

Layke grabbed her arm. “What is it?”

“That’s the man from the border crossing. The one who saw my face.”

And was probably after her because she could recognize him. If she didn’t say it out loud maybe it wouldn’t be true. Hardly. Reality sank in. Her life was also in jeopardy.

Layke stood in front of her. “We will catch him. I won’t let him hurt you.” His voice held a gentleness to it.

Her heart danced a beat.

“I’ll send it in so we can put it through facial recognition.” Scarlet grabbed her equipment and went back to the dining room.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a match.” Layke walked back over to Murray and lifted the garbage can so his brother could dump the ruined porcelain-laced sandwiches into it.

Layke’s cell phone buzzed and he pulled it from his jean’s pocket. “Just got a text from Elias saying they got a hit on the license plate from the truck. With the partial number, make and model of the truck, they were able to determine it belongs to a Tupper Cash.”

“Cash! The name Rob gave us. Broderick’s right-hand man.”

They were getting closer.

“We got an address.” Layke angled his phone at Murray. “You know this place?”

Murray’s eyes widened. “It’s a few kilometers into Alaska.”

“How long will it take us to get there?”

Murray looked outside. “About seventy-five minutes in good weather. The freezing rain is starting again, so you should wait until it lets up.”

“We can’t. We need to catch this guy. He could be the key to finding Noel.”

Murray placed his hand on Layke’s shoulder. “Brother, we just found each other. I don’t want to lose you, too.”

Layke’s face softened. “I know, but I want to find Noel.” They embraced.

Hannah’s eyes moistened at their exchange. The emerging bond between the brothers was evident.

Murray pulled back. “Okay, if you’re going then you will need an emergency winter travel kit.” He left the room.

Hannah pulled the keys from her pocket. “You’re driving this time.”

Scarlet rushed back into the room. “That’s the fastest result I’ve ever had. We’ve identified the man.”

Layke glanced at Hannah. “Let me guess. Tupper Cash?”

Scarlet frowned. “How did you know?”

“Just got a hit on his truck. We’re headed now to his address in Alaska.”

“You and her? Is she trained?” Scarlet pointed to Hannah, the disdain heavy in her tone.

Hannah stiffened. When would people realize CBSA officers were trained on more than interview and communication skills? She excelled in her defensive and firearms classes.

“Hannah knows what she’s doing. I’ve seen evidence of it.” Layke grabbed his jacket from the chair he’d thrown it on earlier. “We gotta roll.”

“Should I stay with Gabe?” Scarlet fingered the weapon at her side. “We can’t leave him alone with civilians without protection.”

“No one but us knows he’s here, Scarlet.” Hannah bit her lip, silencing what she really wanted to say to the pushy officer.

Scarlet grabbed at Layke’s arm, ignoring Hannah’s comment. “Layke, I think I should stay. I brought an overnight bag with me and the roads are iffy. There must be an extra room in this enormous house.”

Really? This woman had an obvious crush on the handsome constable.

“I’ll check with Murray on the way out, but I’m sure it would be fine.” He turned to Hannah. “We should probably have someone else here protecting Gabe. This case is too unpredictable to take any further chances.”

She sighed, knowing he was right. Gabe needed protection.

Even if it meant the irritating woman had to stay.

* * *

Eighty minutes later, Layke pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building in Alaska housing the parolee Tupper Cash. Now that they had a composite sketch, Layke had Corporal Bakker put a BOLO out on Cash in Canada and with the US authorities in Alaska. He’d also requested a state trooper meet them at Tupper’s apartment. Hannah had used Layke’s laptop to find out more about Cash and read the information to him on the drive into the States. Forty-two years old, born in Anchorage, Alaska, served time in a US prison for armed robbery, assault and human trafficking. What drove a person to commit these crimes? A question he’d struggled with ever since he became a cop and even more so when he found out about his father.

Hannah updated her boss on the situation, and they were now waiting for a possible lead on a scheduled smuggling drop happening soon. Superintendent Walsh was in contact with an informant and would let them know more once he heard back.

Layke was hopeful Cash could lead them to the ring. They only had to catch him and convince him to talk. That would be the challenge. Layke was hopeful a US district attorney would give Cash a plea in exchange for securing the children. Maybe.

Thankfully, the freezing rain had subsided and their uneventful drive over to Alaska was a welcome change, for which Hannah had given praise to God out loud. Could he put his trust in a God who had abandoned