Taking Aim (3 page)

Jacie blew into the man’s mouth. His lungs expanded, pushing his chest up.

Zach resumed his compressions. For every five, Jacie breathed one breath.

Hank and the bodyguards scoured the vicinity while Zach and Jacie worked over Mr. Jones.

When they returned, Jacie glanced up at Hank. “Any sign of my sister?” She knew the answer, but she had to ask.

“None.”

Rather than let the news cripple her, Jacie renewed her efforts to save Mr. Jones.

After fifteen minutes, Zach quit pumping the man’s chest and he touched Jacie’s arm before she could breathe into the man’s mouth.

“He’s gone.”

“No.” Jacie sat back on her haunches. “He might have told us where they went.”

“I doubt it. From what you said, he was hit before they grabbed Tracie.” Zach rose to his feet and held out a hand to Jacie. “Come on, let’s get you back to the ranch. We’ll start the search in the morning.”

“She has to be okay.” Jacie let him pull her to her feet, where she leaned against him, pressing her forehead against the solid wall of his chest. “She’s all I have.”

Hank patted her back. “We’ll find her. Don’t you worry.”

Zach stood beside her. “I saw his lips moving, but I couldn’t hear him. What did Jones say to you before he died?”

“I’m not sure.” Jacie shook her head. She’d never had someone die on her. Hell, she’d never seen someone get shot in all the years she’d been working on the Big Elk Ranch. She’d never seen someone die of a gunshot wound. She pushed the image of the dead men from her mind and concentrated on the only clue she might have to find her sister. “At first he said what sounded like ‘set...up.’ Then he said ‘Not Jones...D...E...A.’”

Zach stiffened against her, his hands gripping her arm. “Are you sure?”

She glanced up into his face. “As sure as I can be. The man was barely able to whisper. I could have gotten it wrong. Why?”

“Damn. These men most likely were agents with the DEA.”

Hank ran a hand through his shocking-white hair and looked around the canyon walls. “Think they were set up?”

“Sounds like it.”

Jacie froze. “Oh, dear God.” She didn’t, she couldn’t have... “My sister is an FBI agent here on vacation to visit me.”

Zach still held her.

Jacie was sure, if he weren’t still gripping her arms, she’d have fallen to her knees. “Do you think she was working undercover, as well?”

“If so, and it was a setup...” Zach’s jaw tightened. “Apparently, there’s some bad blood in both agencies.”

Hank sighed. “Holy hell. I was too late, then.”

Zach dropped his hold on Jacie. “What do you mean?”

“I’m sorry, Jacie. I’ve failed your sister.” Hank reached out for one of Jacie’s hands. “You see, Tracie came to me yesterday asking for my help.”

“I don’t understand.” Jacie’s head spun. Had she been walking around in the clouds since her sister arrived? “My sister only got here two days ago. Why would she come to you?”

“She wanted help finding out who was the leak in her agency and she didn’t want to go through official channels.” Hank’s gaze shifted back to Zach. “Since you are former FBI, this was to be your first assignment.”

Chapter Three

Zach rode back to the Raging Bull Ranch, a knot the size of Texas twisting his gut.

Hank couldn’t be serious. To ask him to take on the FBI as his first assignment? The organization that had left him and Toni to die in the godforsaken hell of the Los Lobos cartel in the Mexican state of Chihuahua?

Captured in Juarez on assignment, drugged and transported to a squalid compound in Mexico, Zach and Toni had been tortured and starved in the cartel’s attempt to attain information from them about who in the FBI was supplying military weapons to their archrivals, La Familia Diablos.

He’d been forced to watch as they raped, mutilated and finally killed Toni. Bound and gagged, he’d been helpless, unable to do anything to save her.

When another gang stormed the compound, they’d crashed into the concrete building where Zach had been held, giving him the opportunity to escape under cover of the night. But it had been too late for Toni.

Wounded, dehydrated and barely able to see through swollen eyes, he dragged himself out of the compound and hid in the mountains, stealing food from a farmer until he could make his way back to the States.

Two years, surgery, rehab and psychiatric treatment had healed the external scars, but the internal ones festered like a disease.

Jacie rode on the back of the four-wheeler, her arms circled around Zach’s waist.

Hank wanted him to help her and her sister, who was certain to be experiencing exactly what Toni had been subjected to, if not worse. If she wasn’t dead, likely she would be wishing she was soon.

No. Zach couldn’t do this. He couldn’t commit to finding Tracie, not when he knew the outcome wouldn’t be good. Her twin would expect him to come back with a woman intact, healthy and cared for.

The arms around him tightened, reminding him that the woman on the back of the vehicle was already counting on him to help her.

As he pulled into the barnyard of the Raging Bull Ranch, he mentally prepared his exit speech. “Hank, I’d like to talk with you privately.”

No use bringing the woman in on his cowardly departure. She wouldn’t understand, and seeing the desperation in her eyes would only drive another stake through his heart.

Red and blue flashing lights shone from the road leading into the Raging Bull Ranch.

“Zach, we’ll talk as soon as I’ve had a chance to bring the local law enforcement up to date on the situation. Meet me in my office in five minutes.” Hank and his two bodyguards left. The foreman rode one of the four-wheelers to the back of the barn, leaving Zach alone with Jacie.

He glanced away from her, the look of worry and sadness in her eyes more than he could handle.

A hand on his arm precluded ignoring the woman. “Zach, what are we going to do now? How are we going to find my sister?”

“There is no
we.
” His words came out sharper than he’d intended.

Jacie snatched her hand away from his arm as if she’d been bitten. “What do you mean? I thought Hank said you were the one assigned to help Tracie.”

“If I chose to accept the assignment and go to work for Hank in his insane business.” Zach snorted. “Truth and justice. There is no truth and justice when a gun’s held to your head or a whip’s lashed across your naked skin. I won’t be a part of Hank’s fantasy.”

“You mean you’re going to turn your back on my sister and leave her to die?”

Her words struck him where it hurt most. Square in his gut where guilt ate away at his insides. “I can’t do anything for your sister.” He turned his back to her. “She’s as good as dead.”

“No! She’s alive. She’s my twin. I can feel her presence.” Jacie grabbed his arm and jerked him around. “You can’t just walk away. My sister needs you. I need you. I can’t do this on my own. I will if I have to. But I wouldn’t know where to start.”

“Don’t worry, Hank will find some other cowboy to ride to your rescue. It just won’t be me. I’m not the right man for this job.”

“You’re not a man at all,” Jacie spat out. “What kind of man would run away rather than help save a woman’s life?”

Zach rounded on her and grabbed her arms in a vicious grip. His heart slammed against his ribs, and rage rose up his neck to explode in his head. “That’s right! I
can’t
help your sister. I
can’t
save a woman from the cartel. I couldn’t save Toni and I refuse to watch it happen all over again. I. Can’t. Help.
Got that?
” He shook her hard.

Tears welled in Jacie’s gray-blue eyes, her long, rich brown hair falling down over her face. “I get it. You have your own issues. Fine. I’ll do this without you.” She struggled against his hold. “Let go of me. I don’t want or need you or any of Hank’s hired guns. I’ll get my sister back. Alive! Mark my words.” She shook free of him. “In the meantime go find a bottle to crawl into or see a shrink. Whatever. I don’t give a damn.” She spun on her booted heels and marched away from him.

The farther away she moved, the more Zach’s chest tightened. If Jacie went tearing off after her sister, she’d end up captured and tortured, as well. What kind of fool would throw herself at the cartel and expect to survive?

The rage subsided, leaving Zach cold and empty.

Jacie was a fool. But she was a fool who loved her sister enough to sacrifice her life to save her twin.

Zach had begged his captors to torture him and leave his partner alone. Instead they’d tortured her in their efforts to drag information out of
him.
Sadly he didn’t have the information they’d wanted and Toni had paid the price for his ignorance. His captors had wanted the name of the agent feeding their rivals information about upcoming sting operations. While the Los Lobos cartel took hits, losing some of their best contacts, La Familia Diablos got away with all their people and goods intact.

Heartsick by his own agency’s betrayal, Zach had returned to the States, healed his wounds and quit the FBI. Tired of the politics, the graft and corruption.

If Tracie had been after the same person...the one disloyal to his country and fellow agents...she was crazy. The traitor kept his hand so close to his chest. No one knew who he was.

As Jacie disappeared around the corner of the ranch house, Zach started after her. Jacie, unskilled in the art of spying and tactics, wouldn’t last two minutes going up against a drug cartel.

His footsteps sped up until he was jogging. Since he was on the outside looking in, he might discover who the mole was in the FBI, the man who’d sacrificed his own people to line his pockets with blood money.

Jacie had almost reached Hank when Zach caught up with her. “Wait.”

The woman kept walking. “Why should I? I told you, I don’t need you or anyone else to help me find my sister.”

He snagged her arm and spun her toward him. “Look. Despite what you’re saying, you won’t last two minutes out there. The cartel employs trained killers. What kind of training have you had in shooting and dodging bullets?”

Her shoulders were thrown back, her chin held high. “I’m a damned good shot.”

“At game. Ever shot a person?”

Her eyes narrowed. “Not before tonight.”

“You have to be willing to shoot before you’re shot.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to find my sister and bring her back alive.” She swallowed hard, her chin rising even higher. “Even if it means killing a man to do it. And I might just start with you if you don’t let go of me.”

He dropped his hold. “You were also right that I have issues. I won’t go into it, but they involved the cartel. I’ve been on both sides of the border. I know what to expect.”

“So? You just said you wouldn’t help me.”

He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly before capturing her gaze with a steady one of his own. “Though I think the effort is futile, I’ll help you find your sister.”

Jacie snorted. “No, thanks.” She turned away and would have walked off.

Zach grabbed her hand and steeled himself to reveal a piece of his soul he hadn’t revealed to anyone. “I watched someone I cared for tortured and killed by the Los Lobos Cartel. It’s not something I want to do again. I promise to do my best to find your sister before she meets the same fate.”

Jacie’s eyes flared wide, then narrowed again. “How do I know you won’t flip out on me again?”

“I’m a good agent.” He paused. “I
was
a good agent. I know when to focus and I’m driven to get the job done.”

“Then why did you quit the FBI?”

“For the same reason your sister asked for help from Hank. I was betrayed by someone on the inside. My partner paid with blood. If I can find your sister and, in the process, find the mole, my partner will not have died in vain.”

Jacie’s eyes narrowed even more and she chewed on her bottom lip. Finally she stuck out her hand. “Okay, then. Let’s go find my sister.”

* * *

J
ACIE
SHOOK
Z
ACH
’
S
hand, her fingers tingling where they touched his. She wasn’t completely convinced Zach was her man, and she didn’t like the way her pulse quickened when he was near, but she didn’t have a whole lot of choices. Going searching for the people responsible for her sister’s abduction would be hard enough on her own.... Hell, it would be impossible. Having a former FBI agent on her side would be a step in the right direction. He might still have connections and contacts.

Hank led the county sheriff over to join them. “Zach, this is Sheriff Fulmer from Wild Oak Canyon. He’ll be working with the FBI and DEA on this case.”

Zach shook the sheriff’s hand.

Jacie refused to, knowing the man’s track record since he’d taken office a year ago. He tended to look the other way rather than stop the flow of drugs through his county. “When will the DEA and FBI be sending someone out to assist?” And hopefully take over the operation.

“I spoke to the regional director of the FBI a few minutes ago. They’re as concerned as you are to get your sister back. As for the DEA agents, the county coroner and the state crime lab are on their way out as we speak. If you could show me where the bodies are, I’ll cordon off the crime scene until they arrive.”

“My foreman will take you out there,” Hank said. “If I need to sign any statements, let me know.”

“From what Mr. Derringer says, I’ll need a full statement from you, Ms. Kosart, as you’re the only eyewitness.”

“I’ll provide one in the morning. Right now I need to get back to the Big Elk Ranch and notify my employer of the situation and check on the horses.” She hadn’t even thought once about the horses since Tracie had been taken. Now she focused on them to keep from going crazy with inaction.

“I’m going with you.” Zach glanced at Hank. “I’m in.”

Hank nodded, ignoring the raised eyebrows of the sheriff. “Keep me informed, will ya?” was all he said; then he turned his attention to the sheriff. “Scott, my foreman, and I will show you where we found the two agents.” He led the officer away.

“Give me a minute while I get my keys.” Zach pointed toward a black four-wheel-drive pickup standing in the circular drive. “You can wait by my truck.”

“Okay, but hurry. I’m worried about the horses.” Jacie was worried about a lot more than just the horses, but she trudged toward the vehicle, taking her time, while Zach ducked into the ranch house.

Jacie recognized the truck as a model produced a couple of years before. It wasn’t new, but it shone like a new truck with only a thin layer of dust coating the shiny wax finish. The man had some issues, but taking care of what was his wasn’t one of them.

He returned in two minutes, carrying a small duffel bag in one hand, wearing a black cowboy hat and a light leather jacket. When it flapped open, the black leather of a shoulder holster was revealed with a pistol nestled inside.

Jacie had spent her life around men and guns, working for the Big Elk Ranch. Leading hunting parties required a thorough knowledge of how to shoot, clean and unjam weapons of all shapes and sizes. Knowing Zach carried a pistol and was former FBI gave her a small sense of comfort that she wasn’t the only one who could handle a gun going forward in the search for her sister.

Before he reached her he clicked the door lock release.

Jacie climbed into the truck and buckled herself into the passenger seat.

Zach stashed the bag in the backseat and settled behind the steering wheel. “You’ll have to tell me where to go. I’m new around here.”

She gave him the directions and sat back, staring ahead where the headlights illuminated the road, keeping an eye out for the wildlife that skirted the shoulders looking for something to eat. Too many times she’d had near misses with the local deer.

In her peripheral vision, she watched the way Zach handled the truck with ease, his fingers gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, his face set in grim lines. She wanted to know more about him; what made his eyes so dark and caused the shadows beneath? Had his experience with the cartel left such an indelible mark he couldn’t separate that chapter of his life with a possible future?

“Toni was your partner?” she asked.

The fingers on the steering wheel tightened until the knuckles turned white. For a long moment Zach didn’t answer.

About the time Jacie gave up on getting a response, he spoke.

“Yes, Toni was my partner.”

“I’m sorry. You two must have been close.” Jacie dragged her gaze from the pain reflected from his eyes. “Did he leave behind a family?”

“
She
wasn’t married. Her father was her only relative.”

Interesting. So his partner had been female. Which would explain his reluctance to go after another female when he’d failed the first. Jacie chewed on that bit of information. “Were you in love with her?”

As soon as the question left her lips, Jacie could have smacked herself. The man was torn up enough about losing his partner. Bringing it up had to be killing him. Her curiosity didn’t warrant grilling him about his past. “I’m sorry, this must be painful. I’ll shut up.”

“Yes.”

“Yes that you want me to shut up or yes that you loved her?”