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away. She drew on her reserves and sped. Their runner was so close. She ordered him to stop one last time and he ignored her.
    Drawing a deep breath, she gathered her strength and her power in the soles of her feet and sprang, leaping forward, grabbing a handful of him and taking him down just as Josh sped out of the trees from the right, his teeth bared in a snarl, eyes narrowed.
    The guy beneath her tried to buck her off so she dug her knee into his back and bent his arm up, pinioning his wrist enough that if he continued, he’d break something. He shrieked and stilled.
    “God. I don’t know why you guys always do this. This is the eventuality. I will get you, and if you make me run, I’m going to be cranky.”
    “I didn’t do anything!”
    “I told you to stop. I identified myself. You kept running. Now, back to my earlier point about eventualities.” She managed to cuff him before getting to her feet and toeing him to his back. “Hi. I’m Officer Slattery and I’d very much like to ask you some questions.”
    “I didn’t do anything!”
    “We’ve covered that. I want to ask you some questions.”
    “Fuck off, bitch.”
    Josh growled. Honest to goodness growled and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. The guy on the ground stilled and she got to her haunches.
    “That’s officer bitch to you. Now, what’s your name?”
    He didn’t answer so she patted him down and pulled out his wallet, flipping it open. “Charlie Hixton.” She pulled out her phone. She really should have checked in with Portland PD when she arrived in town, but it was too late for that now so she’d go through her own people first and then do the checking in. Easier to apologize than to ask permission.
    The dispatcher had her hold on while she ran a check on him.
    Very quietly, Josh leaned in and told her they had a contact in the police department and gave her a name.
    “You work here at the gas station, Charlie?” She hauled him to his feet and nudged him to walk back.
    “Priors. Armed robbery. Reduced sentence because you testified. A few assault raps. Did some time for that.” She kept listening as dispatch continued to fill her in. “Car theft. Check forging. You sure do like getting arrested, Charlie. Burglary. Felons aren’t supposed to be carrying weapons, and here you are with a handgun and a knife. Tsk tsk.”
    Damon and GiGi waited, as Josh had said they would, in the parking lot. She instructed dispatch to call Portland PD, giving them the name Josh had told her, and get them out to pick Charlie up. He was in violation of his parole, and if he was in jail, she’d know where he was.
    “So, while we wait, you want to answer my questions so I can say you were helpful? Probably knock some time off for you.”
    “Fine. No I don’t work here. I do odd jobs for my brother-in-law. I was visiting Bobby, the owner of this place.”
    “Why’d you run out the back door and do not waste my time telling me you were on your way home and you like running.”
    “Just stopping by. I looked out the window and saw you get out. You got cop written all over you. I didn’t need the hassle. Bobby’s a felon too.”
    A double parole violation with the weapons possession.
    “You ever see this woman?” She held out a picture of Allie. He shook his head.
    “I’d remember her. I like blondes.”
    She curled her lip, barely restraining the urge to shake him.
    “Know anyone with a blue SUV? Jeep Cherokee.”
    That he did know. She saw recognition in his features even as he tried to school it. Christ, no wonder he got arrested so many times. He was a dumbass.
    “Everyone and their brother has an SUV. Hell you drove up in one.”
    “Sure I did. But we both know you know exactly which SUV I mean.”
    “I really don’t. I know at least ten people with SUVs. Can’t say I notice the colors much.”
    “I think I need to talk to Bobby about this whole thing.” She stepped away, her hand still at his back, and he leapt at her,