Christmas In Hiding. Cate Nolan

that. The car I saw. It looks like the one they showed in the picture. Even had the same dent.”

      Jackson froze. Ben said the car had a dent. He looked up, but the news had moved on to another story.

      “You think there’s a reward?”

      The first guy hesitated. “A reward is nice, but not if it costs me this job.”

      “I thought you were on break. It’s not like you were sneaking out or something. Talk to the boss.”

      “Yeah. Let me just deliver this burger to 1408 first.”

      Jackson fiddled with his phone, pretending to read a message, then reached over and pressed a different button to get off at the floor below Callie’s.

      He took off down the corridor, through the fire exit and up the flight of stairs, taking the steps two at a time. He dashed down the hall and flashed his badge at the man standing guard. “Inside. We’ve got trouble.”

      The marshal took one look at Jackson’s face and started defending himself. “No one saw her, sir.”

      “What?”

      “The room service. I placed the order and I accepted the food. She stayed in the bedroom. No one saw her.”

      “That’s not the problem, and it’s not your fault.” Jackson wanted to kick something. The only person at fault was him for leaving her. How had they managed to find her again already?

      He burst into the room, calling to Callie to grab everything. “We’re leaving.”

      “Again?” She sighed. “Can’t we wait until I finish eating?”

      “No. Staying to finish could cost your life.”

      “Don’t you think that’s a little extreme?”

      “I just rode up in the elevator with hotel staff who recognized the car that was used this afternoon. It’s parked outside the hotel.”

      She looked confused. Little wonder.

      “Which means that somehow they know that you’re in the hotel.”

      Jackson began searching the hotel room for anything to use as a disguise. When he returned to the main room, Callie was still standing there looking dumbstruck and on the verge of tears.

      “Look, Ms. Martin. You can think about this all you want later. Right now, we need to disguise you and get you out of this building before they figure out where in the hotel you are.”

      He asked the other marshal for his coat and hat and shoved it at her. “Here, take this. Turn it inside out and stuff your hair up into the hat. Where’s your scarf? Wrap it around your face.”

      He watched impatiently as Callie did as he’d directed. “Make sure there’s no hair showing and let’s go. We can’t disguise anything else now. We have to get moving.”

      He turned to the marshal. “Once we’re clear, say five minutes, call it in. If anyone else shows up or asks about her, tell them—” He looked down at the tray. “Tell them she went out to dinner.”

      Jackson opened the door and scanned the hallway. “Come on.”

      He took her by the hand and led her down the hall away from the elevator. “We’re taking the stairs.”

      “Fifteen flights?”

      He stopped long enough to recognize the panic settling over her. “No,” he reassured. “Down four and then I’ll wait for an empty elevator.”

      Once they reached the eleventh floor, Jackson kept her hiding in the hallway until an empty elevator arrived. He pulled her into the corner, shielding her from view as other guests got on. When they reached the fifth floor, they got off and he led her through a maze of conference rooms and down a series of escalators until they came out in a back alleyway onto 54th Street. He was tempted to swing around the block and take a look at the car, but it wasn’t worth risking his witness. A sudden peal of sirens in the distance told him the call had been placed. Now to make good their escape.

      A line of cabs was waiting, but Jackson didn’t want to leave a trail from the hotel. Grabbing Callie’s hand, he dashed through traffic, crossed the street and ducked into the lobby of another hotel. He turned to face her. Callie was gasping for breath.

      “It’s okay. We’ll get a cab from here to the airport.”

      She looked upset, on the edge of breaking down. Once he had them settled in a cab, he wrapped an arm around her and rested her head on his shoulder. “Hang on,” he whispered. “We’re almost clear.”

      By the time they arrived at JFK, Callie had recovered her color and some spunk. Jackson led her into the terminal, where they ducked into a shop to buy some tourist gear and cheap reading glasses. He sent her into the bathroom to fix up while he called to arrange a rental car.

      His phone rang just as the car arrived. A quick glance at the display revealed his boss on the line.

      “Walker here.” He juggled the phone while he traded car keys for a tip. He considered moving to another space, but Callie should be out soon. He’d use his badge if necessary to keep the space.

      “I hear you stopped by to see Ben.” John Logan’s voice held more understanding than censure.

      “Sir. I don’t like operating blind. Just wanted some answers.”

      “Which is why I’m calling. Figured you couldn’t come in for an update.”

      “I’m better off on the move.”

      “Agreed. The car was abandoned.”

      Jackson listened as his boss filled him in on the details, then blew out a breath of frustration. “Any sign of them?”

      “Nothing.”

      Jackson didn’t like the sound of that. Were they still searching the hotel for Callie? He didn’t think they could have been followed, but it wasn’t likely the thugs had just given up.

      Jackson stared into the distance, watching the planes take off and land. There was a pattern to it, a rhythm. Most things had one. Few occurrences were random, including today’s attack. “What are you thinking?”

      “Someone found her and wanted to send a message. Take her or take her out.”

      Jackson chewed on that for a minute. He didn’t like the taste. “You don’t think she’s involved?”

      “Callie Martin?” His boss sounded surprised. “Nope. I don’t think so. You do?”

      Jackson was relieved his concern wasn’t dismissed out of hand. “I haven’t talked with her long enough to form an opinion. It just seems likely.”

      There was a long pause. “You aren’t the first to question it, but most change their mind after getting to know her a little better.”

      Jackson acknowledged his superior’s unspoken advice to give her time. He still intended to stay alert—and not just when looking for the bad guys.

      “Let me know when you’re settled in. I’ll see to backup.”

      “Will do, thanks.”

      As Jackson disconnected the call he turned and found Callie standing behind him. How much had she heard? Enough to be suspicious—and angry—based on her expression. She walked silently to the car, climbed into the backseat and settled against the door, all without looking at him.

      Jackson put away his phone and climbed into the front. He turned the key in the ignition, put the car in gear and headed west.

      Miles rolled away under the wheels of the rental car while Jackson mulled over his conversation with Ben at the hospital. Something was nagging at him, but he couldn’t figure out what exactly it was.

      He glanced