The Shark (Forgotten Files Book 1) Read Free

intended to get her attention. Where the hell was he?
    Dusk was closing in; soon it would be dark.
    As she watched Carter’s chin sink deeper into his chest, she recognized an opportunity to act. She tied the dog’s tracking line to a tree and rose. She advanced several steps as she leveled her gun at Carter’s chest.
    In a blink, Carter’s eyelids popped open. His gaze telegraphed wild, desperate fear, pain, and anger. Sweat dripped from his nose as his dirty, bloodstained hand reached for his gun.
    “Don’t touch it!” she shouted.
    Carter’s fingers were inches from the gun when a shot cut through the air and struck the ground by the weapon. Carter recoiled but reached out again. Another shot hit the ground by his leg. The well-placed bullets gave her the seconds she needed to reach the gun and secure it.
    Carter stared up, his eyes burning into her. “Bitch!”
    Out of the thick woods the stranger moved into position behind Riley, silent, alert. She grabbed the cuffs from her belt and tossed them at Carter. “Handcuff your right hand.”
    When he glared at her, the stranger moved forward a step, his weapon trained on Carter, his finger on the trigger.
    “I won’t ask again!” Riley said.
    Carter cuffed his hand.
    “Now wrap your arms around the tree and cuff the other hand.”
    “What the hell!”
    “Do it!”
    Carter grunted and, straddling the tree, reached around and cuffed his left hand.
    The stranger moved to the spot where his bullets had struck, and unsheathing the knife from his leg holster, he dug both slugs out of the ground and pocketed them. She’d bet serious money the shell casings in the woods would never be found either.
    “Who the fuck are you?” Carter demanded.
    Riley stared at the stranger, trying hard to get a read on his features hidden under the paint, hat, and the growing shadows.
    He leaned forward a fraction as he searched Carter for a second weapon and whispered something to the man she couldn’t hear. Carter’s face paled.
    Riley kept her SIG trained on Carter. “Is he clear?”
    “Yes. Do you have this?” The stranger’s deep voice sounded calm.
    His words electrified her senses and planted the unsteady feeling she knew this guy. “I’m good.”
    He motioned Riley out of earshot of Carter. “Keep this between us.”
    “You sure? Good publicity for Shield.”
    “I was never here.”
    “What about Carter?”
    “He won’t talk.” Certainty underscored the words. “Right, Carter?”
    Carter eyed the stranger as if fearful to take his gaze off him. “Right.”
    She wondered what he’d said to Carter.
    With a nod the stranger turned and melted into the woods.
    “You dumb bitch,” Carter said. His face was pale, either from pain or the stranger’s whispered warning.
    Drawing in a steady breath to dilute the adrenaline, she moved toward Cooper and untied his tracking line. “I’m dumb? Who’s the one cuffed to the tree?”
    Carter tugged at the cuffs. He spoke in a low, gruff tone. “I’m going to kill you!”
    Ignoring Carter, she inspected his leg. It was oozing blood, but his makeshift tourniquet had stopped most of the bleeding. “Where are the other girls you’re running?”
    Carter shifted, wincing as his leg rubbed the tree. “I don’t have any damn girls.”
    “One’s in the hospital now. Where are the others?”
    He rolled his head from side to side. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    She rose, staring at his leg and knotting her brow as if pondering. “That tourniquet ought to do you until the deputies arrive.”
    “When are they gonna be here?” He glanced toward the thick woods, which were growing darker by the moment.
    “Don’t know,” she lied. “Could be all night. And I hear it’s going to rain.” An owl hooted. “Other than the black bears, the animals should leave you alone as long as you don’t fall asleep.”
    The metal cuffs chewed into the bark as he again struggled to get free. “You can’t leave me