Page 14 of The Hero She Loves
Parker raised a brow. “Look, kid, I’m not here to step on your toes. I’m here to help.”
Owen looked like he wanted to argue about the kid comment, but when Jenna shot him a hard look, he just nodded.
“Olson was living in Markell.” Parker kept scanning the document.
“Yes. It’s a tiny speck of a town, about three hours from here.” Owen sat in one of the chairs. “He apparently stuck to himself, but made occasional trips into town. He frequented the bar, and the local store for supplies and ammo.”
“Markell is known as a place where people hoping to disappear live,” Jenna said. “When law enforcement come to town, many of the residents dissolve into the hills.”
Parker flipped a page. “A lot of places in Alaska like that. Olson must have been staying somewhere outside the town.” He tapped the page. “But he likes his weapons. The store in town is the only source of ammunition. We need to talk with the store owner.” He eyed both of them. “We need to go in quietly, not pull up with sirens and lights and spook people.”
Owen straightened. “We know how to blend.”
Parker met Jenna’s gaze. She bit her lip. She knew Owen didn’t blend at all, not with his fondness for designer jackets and tailored pants.
“Okay, let’s hit the accident site, then pay—” she checked the file “—Marty Price, proprietor of the Markell Trading Post, a visit.”
“It’s a three-hour drive,” Owen said.
“You don’t have to come, kid,” Parker said.
Owen straightened. “I’m coming. And I’m not a kid.”
Jenna glanced at Parker. “You armed?”
“Yes.” There was a faint twitch of his lips. “And yes, I have a permit to carry concealed.”
She stood. “Let’s go. Every second Olson is out there, he has a better chance of getting away for good.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Parker stood on the road, his hands on his hips.
The cars were gone now, but he saw the skid marks on the road and in the dirt beside it.
“The marshals’ SUV was here.” Jenna motioned. “It was on its roof. The state trooper vehicle was there.” She pointed.
Park nodded. “Olson got free of his restraints, then attacked your marshals, and caused the crash. He would have purposely hit the state trooper vehicle.” He scanned the surroundings. “He took a marshal’s weapon, killed your men, then shot and injured the troopers. Then he took off.”
“We know all of this already.” Owen stood nearby.
Park ignored the guy. He was young, cocky, and feeling threatened.
Focusing on the ground, Park walked the path that Olson had taken. He imagined climbing out of the car after killing the marshals, and firing at the troopers. Park swiveled. Large, grassy fields flanked the roads, with hills in the distance.
“The scent dog followed a trail through here.” Jenna walked in front of him. She was in another pair of jeans today, with a brown jacket. She looked stylish, the denim hugging her ass in a way that was hard to ignore.
Focus on the job, Conroy, not the marshal.
They walked into the field. The grass was knee-high and the ground was muddy.
Owen grumbled. Park saw him glaring at his mud-splattered shoes and felt a spurt of amusement.
“Stay with the SUV if you don’t want to get your shoes dirty,” Park suggested.
The man’s gaze narrowed, and he stubbornly stomped after them.
“The dog lost the scent here.” Jenna motioned to a flat patch of grass.