Wild Justice (Nadia Stafford 3)

At least as well as it could be explained right now.

Jack checked outside as I held the door. I peered out. The street was empty.

"They're long gone," I whispered as Jack motioned us out. "How are we going to find them?"

Quinn lifted a portable device. "We can track Koss with this. I volunteered to man it. We just need to hurry before Contrapasso find out I went rogue and they shut down access."

"They track their agents?" I said. "How the hell do they do that?"

The same look of discomfort passed over Quinn's face, obviously reluctant to give away their secrets.

I held up my hand and said, "It doesn't matter. So where is he?"

"Not far," Quinn said as Jack waved us toward our car. "It took them a while to get him in the vehicle. We should be able to catch up."

Jack looked over his shoulder at us.

"Or we will," I said. "If we shut up and move faster. Right?"

Jack didn't reply, only waved for me to lead the way to the car.

Jack and I went ahead to get the car, while Quinn stood guard near the road.

"You okay?" Jack asked when we were out of Quinn's earshot.

I nodded.

"Sorry about all that. Could have told you. With the earpiece. But . . ."

"You needed a genuine reaction from me, which you wouldn't get if I knew what was going on. I know. It's fine. I figured it out. Eventually."

He took the keys from me as I held them out. "And the rest? Koss?"

I started to say that

was fine, too, but I could feel his gaze on me. I shrugged. "That's harder to take. I was so certain, if I was right about Amy, that there was an explanation. Not that you can ever explain something like that, not really, but that it was a one-time thing, he regretted it, he suffered for it, and he tried to make amends. Obviously not."

"We'll get him."

CHAPTER 51

Jack drove. Quinn navigated. I got the backseat. I tried to help, leaning over the seat and watching the darkened road for Jack while checking the GPS over Quinn's shoulder.

"Sit," Jack said. "Butt down. Seat belt on."

"Before we swerve and you go through the windshield," Quinn said.

"Seriously? I'm not twelve, guys. I can--"

"Next right," Quinn cut in.

Jack took the corner sharp and fast, and I went flying back in the seat.

"Got that belt on?" Jack said as I recovered.

I flipped him the finger as he checked in the rearview mirror. I did, however, fasten my belt. There wasn't really much to do anyway. They didn't need the third pair of eyes. I felt helpless, imagining Koss getting away. Chicago wasn't a quiet city, even at night. Eventually, we'd hit traffic and once we did, we were screwed. There was no way of forcing the other car off the road with onlookers.

Luckily, the Contrapasso guys seemed to be sticking to the least-traveled roads. And Jack was a good driver--a fast one when he wanted to be. It was probably a wise idea for me to have my belt on.