ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESCUE Read Online Free PDF

said.
    “You can give me the information.” Patrick flipped open his credentials on the counter.
    The boy’s eyes goggled. “Y-yes, sir. A woman like the one you described checked in about fifteen minutes ago. She’s in Room 141—out back.”
    “What name did she register under?”
    The boy turned to a computer and rapidly typed in some information. “She registered as Kathy Jackson. And she paid cash for her room.”
    “I need to reserve the closest vacant room to hers I can,” Patrick said.
    “That would be 142—right next door.”
    “I’ll take it.” He handed over his government credit card and filled out the reservation information.
    “That room has two double beds and a microwave and minifridge,” the clerk said as he handed over the card key.
    “Is there someplace I can order in food?” He hadn’t eaten since breakfast and it was beginning to catch up with him.
    “There’s a pizza place that delivers. The menu is in your room.”
    “That’ll do.” He drove the Rover around and parked in front of his room. There was no reason Stacy should recognize it, but in case she was looking out the window to see who had arrived, he kept the vehicle between him and her door and entered the room quickly.
    Once inside, he made his way to the wall that separated his room from hers and pressed his ear against the sheetrock. The muffled music and voices from the television obscured any other sound at first, then he heard what he was sure was a child, and the unintelligible answer in a woman’s voice.
    They were there, probably in for the night, but he’d stay alert just in case. If anyone came to see her, or if she left to go out, he’d know. In the morning, he’d follow her and see where she went. Who she talked to.
    He ordered pizza and listened to the sounds of splashing from the bathroom next door. Probably the boy getting a bath, but the disturbing image of Stacy in the shower drifted into his mind. Though she was petite, she had a good figure. Was he a creep for fantasizing about a woman he was supposed to protect? Or merely human for thinking about an attractive woman who was separated from him by only a wall?
    And her own resistance to having anything to do with him. Maybe her years with the Giardinos had made her wary of trusting anyone, especially those on the right side of the law. But he couldn’t take the chance that some offshoot of the family—or their enemies—would come after her. The other women were in protective custody, and agents were busy tracking down everyone connected with the family and piecing together evidence for a multitude of crimes. Stacy was the only loose end at the moment.
    After the pizza was delivered, he wedged the door open an inch, the better to hear any activity next door. He ate, then lay on the bed fully clothed, his weapon on the blanket beside him. All was quiet next door, even the TV silenced. He didn’t expect to sleep much, if any, but he was used to long nights. He’d learned how to get through them and catch up on his rest later.
    In spite of Patrick’s resolve to stay awake, he must have drifted off. He woke to the sound of a woman screaming in the room next door.

Chapter Four
    Instinct propelled Patrick out of bed, weapon drawn and ready. A dark sedan idled in front of the room next door, a bulky figure at the wheel. A woman’s wails and the crying of a child shattered the predawn stillness and sent a jolt of adrenaline through the marshal.
    He slipped out of his room, keeping to the shadows, out of reach of the parking lot lights. The door to Stacy’s room stood open and just as he started to move toward it, a man ran out, Carlo clutched to his chest.
    “Halt!” Patrick shouted, and shot wide, in front of the man. He didn’t dare aim directly at him, too fearful of striking the child.
    The kidnapper scarcely slowed as he returned fire, the shots muffled by a silencer. Patrick ducked into deeper shadow as bullets splintered the brick to his