Running for Cover Read Free Page A

answered. She looked beat-up and scared, so I searched the perimeter of the building to try to get a feel for what was going on.”
    “You didn’t think to call the police?”
    “For all I knew, she’d been in an accident of some sort and didn’t need help.”
    “So, you walked around the house and…?”
    “I didn’t see any reason to be concerned.” But he hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that something was wrong or to forget the look of stark terror in Morgan’s eyes. “I was going to leave,but decided to check on the owner one more time. Before I got to the door, she ran out. Next thing I knew, two men were shooting at us.”
    “And you fired back.”
    “One shot.” He repeated the answer he’d given before, knowing he’d probably be asked the same thing a hundred times before the night was over.
    “Have you been back in the gallery since you fired the shot?”
    “I was never in the gallery.”
    “I see.”
    Before she could explain what she thought she saw, another squad car pulled into the parking lot. The door opened and a tall, dark-haired man got out. He wasn’t alone. Morgan sat in the passenger seat, huddled beneath a blanket, a coffee mug cupped in her hands. She met Jackson’s gaze, offering a smile that turned into a grimace of pain.
    “You should be on your way to the hospital,” he said as he walked to the vehicle, ignoring the deputy’s sputtered protest.
    “She will be,” the man offered before Morgan could reply. “I’ve already called an ambulance, but Morgan wanted to make sure you were all right while we waited for it. I’m Sheriff Jake Reed.”
    “Jackson Sharo.”
    “From New York?” The sheriff’s brow furrowed and he cocked his head to the side, studying Jackson.
    “That’s right.”
    “You’re here for the Sinclair wedding?”
    “Right again.”
    “Jude told me you were coming. Said you were partners when you worked homicide in New York. I’m surprised you’re not hanging out with him. This being his last night as a bachelor and all.”
    “That’s exactly what I’d be doing if I hadn’t run into trouble.”
    “I guess what I’m asking is how you ended up at Morgan’s gallery tonight.”
    “I’m happy to tell you, but you might want to get some men out looking for the perps before you waste time listening to my story.”
    “I’ve already taken Morgan’s statement and issued an APB based on her description of the suspects. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear your story.” If the sheriff was annoyed by Jackson’s comment, his tone and expression didn’t show it.
    “You want the long or short version?”
    “Either will work.”
    “I was working on a case and missed my flight out of New York last night. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get another flight, so I drove down here. I got into town a few hours ago and realized I’d left Jude and Lacey’s gift in New York. After Jude’s rehearsal dinner, I decided to drive around town to see if I could find a place to buy one.”
    “So that’s the short version?”
    “Yeah.” The long version was something Jackson didn’t plan to share. He had wanted to find a gift for his friend, but he’d also needed space. Seeing Jude’s family together had reminded Jackson of his own family and the loss that had torn them apart. It was that more than anything that had driven him to his solitary search for a gift. If he’d been the kind to believe that God intervened in the business of men, Jackson would be tempted to think that He’d put him in just the right place at just the right time to save Morgan’s life.
    “Tell me what happened when you got here,” the sheriff said, interrupting Jackson’s thoughts.
    Jackson gave him as many details as he could, his gaze drawn to the squad car and the woman inside it. She looked vulnerable, her eyes hollow and empty. Jackson had gone into police work to help people like her. He’d left it because he’dfailed when it counted most. The truth was a